Calcutta, University of

the oldest and largest university in India. It was established in 1857 on the basis of Hindu College (founded in 1827). The University of Calcutta also includes the following colleges: Presidency (founded in 1855), Sanskrit (1824), Bethune (1849), Doveton College (1823, for youths from Christian families), La Martiniere, the Muslim Madrasah College (1781), and the Armenian College (established in 1821 by wealthy members of the Armenian community). The University of Calcutta is an affiliating and teaching university: it works out programs for the colleges under its administration, conducts examinations and awards diplomas, and instructs students. In 1912 graduate work was established in the humanities, and in 1917 in the natural and exact sciences.

During the academic year 1971-72 the university had underits jurisdiction 212 colleges and schools in Calcutta and othercities in West Bengal. In the same year the university includedthe following faculties: humanities, science and mathematics, commerce, law, journalism, teacher training, fine arts and music, engineering, technology, medicine, agriculture, veterinaryscience, and home economics. At that time the university withits affiliated colleges and schools had an enrollment of about200, 000 students. In 1972 the university library contained ap-proximately 430, 000 volumes. The university also has an obser-vatory (founded in 1875).