Grand old college’s Founder’s Day today

[sajiv]

Grand old college's Founder's Day today

VISAKHAPATNAM: Mrs. A.V.N. College, one of the oldest colleges in the State, is celebrating its 148th Founder's Day on Tuesday, Principal A. Subba Rao informed at a press conference here on Monday.

The institution, which started as a vernacular school in 1860 by the then Inspector of School Alexander Grant became a second grade college in 1878 by the name Hindu College, thanks to the donations received from the public. It was affiliated to Madras University. In 1892 the then Deputy Collector of Visakhapatnam A.V. Narasinga Row donated 11 acres of land on which stood a palatial building dating back to 17th century to the college, which is declared as a heritage building now, Rs. 1 lakh as donation and Rs. 15,000 as building fund to the college which was named after his wife as Mrs. A.V. Narasinga Row College. A new management committee took over the Hindu College in 1897. The college was raised to I grade college and B.A. course was introduced. B.Com. and B.Sc. were added in 1949.

Several courses were introduced to meet the demand and the college was also a partner institution of the IGNOU and the Government also established a Jawahar Knowledge Centre in the college to help students in placements and many were benefited by getting jobs in top companies.

The college has a student strength of 3,000 and nearly 60 are pursuing PG courses. It was awarded B++ grade by NAAC.

Dr. Subba Rao said the college was planning to introduce MBA from the next academic year and proposals were sent to the UGC for construction of a women's hostel and to add two floors to the building in the Raman Square area and to sanction nine research fellowships under the faculty improvement programme.