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| Patna uiversity, Patna, Bihar beontheroad.com |
Patna University, established on 1st October 1917 by an Act of the legislature, is said to be the seventh oldest university in the Indian subcontinent and the first university in Bihar. It began as an examining body with the authority to conduct examinations ranging from matriculation to postgraduate levels. In its early years, the University’s jurisdiction extended over a vast region including Bihar, Orissa, and Nepal.
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The transformation of Patna University into a teaching and residential institution was formalized with the enactment of the Patna University Act, 1951, which received the Governor’s assent on 6th July of that year. The Act expanded the University’s role to include instruction in various branches of learning, including professional studies and technology, and emphasized the advancement and dissemination of knowledge. This shift marked a significant moment in Bihar’s educational history, especially as the state looked to education as a tool for economic progress and social transformation in the post-independence era.
Patna University is deeply intertwined with the state’s educational, cultural, political, and economic development and holds a unique place as the only teaching-cum-residential university in Bihar with a national character, drawing students and scholars from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The University has nurtured countless leaders who participated in India’s freedom movement and who have since held prominent roles in academia, politics, the judiciary, and administration. It continues to embody Bihar’s ancient legacy as a center of learning, following in the footsteps of institutions like Nalanda and Vikramshila that attracted students from across Asia.
Today, Patna University comprises thirty postgraduate departments across the faculties of Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, Education, Commerce, Law, and Medicine. While most of the postgraduate departments are located in architecturally significant buildings, ten constituent colleges such as Patna College, B.N. College, Science College, Patna Women’s College, Magadh Mahila College, etc reflecting the University’s commitment to gender inclusion. The postgraduate programs have been introduced in response to growing public demand for higher education access, and they operate under the academic supervision of respective colleges.
The University’s Central Library, on the campus, serves as an essential resource hub for students, researchers, and faculty. It houses over 400,000 books, 87 periodicals, 50,000 back issues of academic journals, and more than 5,000 rare manuscripts. Fully computerized and connected to the INFLIBNET network, the library is a vital tool in the University’s efforts to keep pace with contemporary developments in information and communication technology. Patna University is actively working to enhance digital learning tools and equip its academic community with skills to face the evolving demands of the professional world.
The University also has the UGC Academic Staff College, which organizes orientation and refresher courses, workshops, and seminars to help educators stay current with emerging teaching methods, etc.
In addition to its academic offerings, the University remains deeply committed to holistic student development. Agencies such as the National Service Scheme (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), Sports and Cultural Boards, and various scholarly societies provide platforms for students to explore their talents outside the classroom. Students from Patna University have consistently performed with distinction at the university, state, and national levels in both academic and extracurricular fields. The institution has also taken special care to support the needs of economically and socially disadvantaged students, as well as those with disabilities, ensuring access and opportunity across all sections of society.
With its rich history, nationally significant role, Patna University continues to be a beacon of learning in Eastern India. As it enters a new phase of modernization and collaboration, it upholds its legacy while striving to meet the academic and societal challenges of the 21st century.
https://www.beontheroad.com/2010/07/visit-to-patna-university.html?m=0
