Shibpur Dinobundhoo Institution (College) - SDI

Shibpur Dinabundhoo Institution College (SDBI (C)), Howrah was established in 1948. It is one of the pioneer colleges embracing a vast hinterland of urban and semi-urban areas of Howrah district. The college has consolidated its position as one of the leading institutions of the district, imparting undergraduate learning in driver’s areas of Humanities, Social Sciences, Bio and Pure Sciences and Commerce. The College is affiliated to the University of Calcutta and accredited by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).The College is situated in the southern part of Howrah Municipal Corporation Area on the west bank of the river Hoogly, very close to vidyasagar Setu and on a major arterial road in the city, viz., the Grant Trank Road. With 214 students in the Intermediate course, 18 lecturers and 3 demonstrators, the College began its journey with a motto, "Charaiveti", (March Forward) to meet in a modest way the increasing demand for every type of higher education and to impart a synoptic vision of the different streams of knowledge. The mission at the time of foundation was to extended opportunities for higher general education among the middle class population of Shibpur in South Howrah (roughly 15 Municipal Wards of the Howrah Municipal Corporation at present). The major portion of its area is traditionally, inhabited by middle class Bengalies; but some parts of this region has a cosmopolitan demographic character on account of the location of the S.E. Railway colony, the jute mills and adjacent slums etc. However, the initial demand for higher education came from the Bengali speaking community for various socio-economic reasons; and it was not possible for all local students to go to Calcutta for higher education. From the economic data available in different census reports, it has also been found that this region has a middle and low income profile. Given the above background, and consistent with the general trend in West Bengal, enrolment in the college gradually increased during 1950s. Science subjects were introduced in 1958. During the decade between 1948 and 1958, 1209 students graduated from this college. A tremendous growth in demand for higher education among the local population was observed during 1960s and 1970s on account of which college flourished in subject options, enrollment, faculty and a zeal for imparting quality higher education as comprehended by the idealists in both management and faculty of the college. It is also during this period that demand for higher education was also being revealed among other linguistic group of the local population; participation of girl students in this local process of demand-oriented expansion was also noteworthy. It is for this reason that in 1976 degree courses in B.A. pass in Day Section was made co-educational and the Morning Section of the college was opened exclusively for the girls in the Higher Secondary Classes. In 1977, B.Com pass was introduced.