Photos: A 100 years in, walk through the founding pillars of Delhi University
Before Delhi had its own university, it only had three colleges — St Stephen’s College, Hindu College and Ramjas College
Before Delhi had its own university, it only had three colleges — St Stephen’s College, Hindu College and Ramjas College founded in 1881, 1899 and 1917 respectively. The Delhi University Act came into force on May 1, 1922 with three constituent colleges — St Stephen’s, Hindu and Ramjas.
The old Stephen’s building in Kashmere Gate, also an example of Indo-Saracenic architecture designed by Swinton Jacob, housed St. Stephen's College from 1891 to 1941, The building currently currently houses the office of the Chief Electoral Officer.(Raj K Raj/ Hindustan Times)
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A rather nondescript lane called Katra Kushal Rai lane in Chandni Chowk leads to the Sheesh Mahal building that housed St. Stephen’s School in 1853-54, followed by St. Stephen’s College that started from here in 1881. The Sheesh Mahal haveli in the Chandni Chowk was the main centre in the city in the 1880s. (Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times)
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With its manicured lawns, red brick building and subtle Mughal motifs, the St Stephen's College is now at Delhi University enclave on the north campus.(Amal KS/Hindustan Times)
Hindu College functioned from 1908 to 1953 in Kashmere Gate at a property then owned by one of the trustees RB Lala Sultan Singh, which originally belonged to Colonel James Skinner.(Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times)
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The Kashmere Gate campus of the Hindu College also played a pivotal role in the history of India's independence from the British. The college hostel provided a space to revolutionaries to stay - including Chandrashekhar Azad. The students of this college also participated in the Quit India Movement starting August 1942.(Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times)
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Maha Kumbh Mela is in 2025, between Jan 13 and Feb 26 in Prayagraj (Allahabad). It is one of the world's largest religious festivals. The preparations have already started with Hindu holy men, or Sadhus, inspecting a site for their camp on the banks of the Ganga for the upcoming Maha Kumbh Mela.
