St. John's College, Agra

St. John's College
Latin: Sancti Ioannis collegium
Motto The Truth Shall Make You Free[1]
Established 1850[1]
Founder Rev. Thomas Valpy French
Academic affiliation
 Agra University
Principal Prof. Peter Edward Joseph
Location Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Website stjohnscollegeagra.in

St. John's College, India, is a college of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, established in 1850, now part of the Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, earlier known as Agra University. It is amongst the oldest and one of the most beautiful Christian colleges in India.[2]

John the Apostle, one of the Twelve apostles of Jesus in whose honour college is built.

History

St. John's College, Agra, was established in 1850 [1] by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) of England, along with Agra C.M.S. Association, and its first principal was Rev. Thomas Valpy French (1825-1891), a fellow of University College, Oxford.[3][4] In 1869-70, it had 297 students, out of which 199 were Hindus, 76 Muslims, and 22 Christians.[5]

From 1862 to 1888, the college was affiliated to the University of Calcutta and till 1927, to the University of Allahabad. In 1927, when Agra University (now known as Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University) came into existence, the college became affiliated to it, and its principal Dr. A.W. Davies became the first Vice-Chancellor of the newly formed University. Since 1893, the college has offered post-graduate courses.

The college celebrated its centenary in 1952, on this occasion a new wing of the college was built,The foundation stone of the Centenary Wing was laid by Bharat Ratna Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan former president of India in 1957 and was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru on 9 October 1959.[6]

Presently the Principal of the college is Prof. Peter Edward Joseph

Vision

To draw inspiration from the teaching of Jesus christ and to engage in the development of God-given intellectual, social, creative, ethical and learning potentials in students and to kindle in them a passion for academic excellence and holistic growth, so that they will be adequately equipped for serving the humanity, with professional competencies, compassionate hearts and humane value.

Present Composition

St. John's College is a co-educational institution of higher learning with men-women ratio of 45:55. it is regarded as good college of Northern India. the college offers courses under five faculties - three in regular and two in self finance mode. The college has sixteen post-graduate departments with facilities for research and three under-graduate departments. the college also runs five self-financed recognized courses viz, B.Com (vocational), B.B.A., B.Ed , M.A. (Urdu), Post Graduate diploma in clinical psychology and two partially self-financed degree programmes in B.Sc with Industrial Chemistry, and B.Sc with Computer Science.

The college has always striven to admit students and select teachers from all communities and from all parts of India. It also admits a small number of students from overseas. The college offers a scholarships and awards to meritorious students.These are endowed over a period of time.

Campus

The college is situated on a large and well-known campus in Agra, on the occasion of its centenary, a new wing of the college was built,The foundation stone of the Centenary Wing was laid by Bharat Ratna Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan former president of India in 1957 and was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru on 9 October 1959. Facilities for a number of sports are provided for on college campus. The annexe, the ladies common room provide facilities for indoor sport and recreation. The Chapel of invitation is open to all members for worship and meditation.

Residence halls

The college's halls of residence are spread across two blocks, named for former principals, as given below:

Library

The St. John's college has a Central Library with over 90,000 books, a reading room open access and a reference section for post-graduate and research student, most of the departments have departmental library for post-graduate students.

The college library also provides INFLIBNET facility to the faculty members, research scholars and post graduate students to consult more than 80,000 e-journals and e-books.

Admission

The college has its own selection process. the college has an online application process( https://sjcportal.in ) where prospective applicants are expected to fill in their interests and academic achievements. the colleges releases a list for students selected to an interview.

Academics

St. John's offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in:

St. John's offers one Ph.D. in Science and Commerce. Students can take vocational courses in Foreign Trade, Advertising and Sales Promotion, Insurance, Computer Science, Demography, Yoga Psychology and Mental Health and Communicative English. The college runs a study centre of Indira Gandhi National Open University.

Student societies

Students club and societies have always played an important role in the life of the college, and seen as vital to student development. many academic subject has a society which sponsors lectures and discussions. the popular extra curricular societies engage in activities concerned with debating, dramatics, photography, social services, quizzing, 'dumcherade', 'antakshri' etc. many societies ie; BOTSO, CHEMSO , regularly invite distinguished visitors to address and join issue with students on various topical issues.

The various societies in colleges are:-

Principals

Thomas Valpy French
- Scholar and Fellow of University College, Oxford. 
 - First Bishop of Lahore, United India. (1877 - 1887) 
- Student and Fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge. 
- Student of Christ's College, Cambridge.
 - First Principal, Cathedral Mission College, Calcutta. (1865)
 - Fellow of Madras University, Madras. (1871)
 - Vicar of Holy Trinity, Cambridge. (1876 - 1893)
- Student of Trinity College, Cambridge.
 - Honours in Mathematics, Trinity College, Cambridge. (1862)
- Student of St. John's College, Cambridge. 
 - Vice Principal, St. John's College, Agra. (1877 - 1878)
 - Vicar of St. Giles's, Norwich. (1893)
- Professor at Cathedral Mission College, Calcutta. (1874 - 1880)
- Student of Merton College, Oxford.
 - Fellow of Allahabad University, Allahabad. (1890)
 - Vicar of  St. Paul's, Leamington. (1894)
- Student of St. John's College, Cambridge. 
 - Fellow of Allahabad University, Allahabad. (1894)
 - Vicar of King's Langley. (1916)
- Scholar and Exhibitioner of Pembroke College, Cambridge.
 - Fellow of Allahabad University, Allahabad. (1901)
 - Vice Principal, St. John's College, Agra. (1905)
 - Canon of Lucknow. (1912)
 - Bishop of Lahore, United India. (1913)
 - Fellow of Punjab University. (1913)
Worcester Cathedral, grave of Rev. Dr. Arthur Whitcliffe in the Cathedral Cloisters
- Scholar of Uppingham and University College, Oxford. (1902)
 - Scholar of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. (1904)
 - Vice Principal, St. John's College, Agra. (1911)
 - Canon of Lucknow. (1917)
 - Kaiser-i-Hind Medal. (1921)
 - First Vice Chancellor of Agra University. (1927)
 - Hon. Canon of Bradford. (1930)
- Student of Magdalen College, Oxford. 
 - Founded Oxford and Cambridge Hostel (now Holland Hall, Allahabad)
 - Fellow of Allahabad University, Allahabad. (1906)
 - Principal, St. Paul's College, Calcutta. (1913)
 - Fellow of Calcutta University, Calcutta. (1916)
 - Canon of Lucknow. (1931)
- Scholar of Wadham College, Oxford. 
- Scholar of Keble College, Oxford. 
- Conferred 'Padam Shree' by the Government of India. (1965)
 - Vice Chancellor of Gorakhpur University. (1968)
- Pro Vice Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University, Shillong. (1979)  
- Scholar of Harvard University, Massachusetts.
- Scholar of Agra and Allahabad Universities.
 - Member, Board of Governors, Ewing Christian College, Allahabad.
 - Member, Board of Governors, St. Andrew's College, Gorakhpur.
 - Member, Board of Governors, Sherwood College, Nainital.
 - Member, Board of Governors, All Saints' College, Nainital.
 - Manager, St. John's Inter College, Agra.
 - Fellow of Plant Protection Science.
 - Fellow and Life Member of Indian Council of Chemists 
 - Conferred Dr. Sam Higginbottom Award for the Best Principal for the year 2004-2005.
 - Member of Board of Studies in Chemistry, Dairy Chemistry, Engineering Chemistry and Home Science. (1984 - 1999)
 - Member of Board of Studies in Agricultural Chemistry, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly. 
 - Member of Editorial Board of The New Agriculturist.
 - Member of Executive Committee of Indian Society of Agricultural Chemists. 
 - Technical Editor of The Allahabad Farmer
 - Conferred Rev. Fr. T.A. Mithias National Award for the Innovative College Educators for the year 2002. 
 - Fellow of Indian Society of Agri-Bio Chemists. 
 - Conferred The Jewel of India Award. (2001)
 - Conferred Vidya Ratan Award. (2001)
 - Fellow of Indian Society of Agricultural Chemists. 
 - Fellow of Bioved Research Society.
 - Acting Principal, Allahabad Agricultural Institute. (1992 - 1993)
 - Head of the Department of Chemistry, Allahabad Agricultural Institute. (1996 - 1999)
 - Dean (Students' Welfare), Allahabad Agricultural Institute.
 - Proctor, Allahabad Agricultural Institute.

Notable alumni

Notable presidents

Further reading

References

  1. 1 2 3
  2. ↑ The Christian college in India: the report of the Commission on higher education in India, by Commission on Christian higher education in India. Published by Oxford university press, 1931. Page 322.
  3. ↑ Thomas Valpy French Britannica.com.
  4. ↑ History
  5. ↑ REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF EDUCATION IN THE NORTH-WESTERN PROVINCES, FOR 1869-70, by M Kempson. Published 1870. pp. Page 67.
  6. ↑ Message of the President- Dr. Rajendra Prasad Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Correspondence and Select Documents, by Rajendra Prasad, Valmiki Choudhary. Published by Allied Publishers, 1984. ISBN 81-7023-002-0. Page 251."It is a pleasure to me to learn that.. St. John's College, Agra complete a century of service.. in 1952..."

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