The Scottish Church College alongwith the Collegiate School,
which celebrates the 150th Year of its foundation this year,
has rich heritage. Initially known as the General Assembly's
Institution, it was founded on the 13th July, 1830 by Allexander
Duff, the first overseas missionary of the Church of Scotland
to India. Dr. Duff with Raja Rammohan Roy, the father of modern
India, played significant rolein supporting Lord AMcaulay in
drafting his famous minute for the introduction of English education
in India. Successive eminent missionary scholars from Scotland,
viz. Dr. Ogilvie, Dr. Hastie, Dr. Macdonald, Dr. Stephen, Dr.
Watt. Dr. Urqahart and others contributed to the spread of the
liberal Western education. Dr. Duff played a leading part in
founding the Calcutta University in 1857, he was associated with
the Agro-horticultural Society and the establishment of a medical
college. He also aimed at breaking down caste-barriers by founding
several girls schools. The Scottish Church College played a pioneering
role in women's education as well as co-education in the country,
girls comprise half the present roll strength of the College.
With the aded interest of the missionaries in educational work
and social upliftment, the College stands as a monument to Indo-Scottish
Co-operation. The aims and principles of the College are essentially
those of its founder namely, the formation of character through
education based on Christian teaching. The motto of the College
in NECTAMEN CONSUME BATUR i.e. burning and yet not consumed.
With Honours cources in almost all important subjects, a well-equipped
Science Department and a Library with rare manuscripts and collections,
a B.Ed. Department for women and six hostels, the College caters
primarily to the students from middle and low-income families.
The galaxy of a alumni includes men of international fame like
Swami Vivekanand, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and others. Under
a constitution adopted in 1953, the controll till then vesting
in the Church of Scotland was transferred to a Council representative
of the Church of North India and the staff of the College. The
Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue
a special postage stamp to commemorate 150 years of service by
this renowned institution to the nation.