Willingdon College

Willingdon College is a college named after the former Governor of Bombay, Baron Willingdon (later Marquess of Willingdon), who served as Viceroy of India from 1931 to 1936. The college was established in 1919 in Sangli, in the Vishrambag area of the Sangli–Miraj–Kupwad Municipal Corporation, between the twin cities of Sangli and Miraj. It provided access to higher education for students from southern Maharashtra and the districts of Belgaum, Dharwad, Karwar, and Bijapur.

National leaders and patriots, including Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, and Madhavrao Namjoshi, laid the foundations of the New English School in 1880 and the Deccan Education Society in 1884 in Pune. Fergusson College was founded in 1885. In response to the demand for a college in Southern Maharashtra and due to the desire of the ruler of the Sangli State, the Society founded Willingdon College in Sangli in 1919. The President of the Society, Shrimant Chh.Shahu Maharaj, along with the Vice-Presidents, Rulers of the Sangli and Miraj States and other citizens contributed to the cause. The College was inaugurated on the morning of 22 June 1919 in Sangli City, in the building where Rani Saraswati Kanya Shala stands today.^[1]

The college was named after Major The 1st Baron Willingdon, then Governor of Bombay. Lord Willingdon later served, as the Earl of Willingdon, as Viceroy of India. In 1936, he was further elevated in the peerage as The 1st Marquess of Willingdon. Initially, only the Arts wing existed, with an enrolment of 220 students. Later, Wrangler R. P. Paranjapye and the founding Principal of the College, Shri C.G. Bhatye, secured an area of 125 acres (0.51 km²) at Vishrambag for the college and construction began.

During this period, centres of higher education and colleges were rare. Students in Southern Maharashtra and from the districts of Belgaum, Dharwad, Karwar and Vijapur in Karnataka benefited from the establishment of the college. The college moved into its current buildings on 8 August 1924. At the time, only the L-shaped wing to the east and the south had been completed.

The square block building of the Boys' Hostel was completed in 1925, and the two-storeyed Shahu Block in 1927. In 1932–33, the Science wing was started.

Between 1935 to 1944, the Gymkhana building, residentals quarters for professors on either side of the approach road, the Girls' Hostel, the Guest House (Karve Sadan) and a laboratory were constructed. In 1944, the college marked its silver jubilee.

Following the silver jubilee celebrations, additional infrastructure was developed on the campus. Between 1945 and 1957, more Hostel for Girls, two more Hostel buildings for Boys, Velankar Assembly Hall, a Recreation Hall, and an extension to the western building of the main building were constructed. The hostels currently accommodate 110 boys and 85 girls.

Over the next fifteen years, the Biology Laboratory, a three-storyed library building, a post office building, an additional girls' hostel, a canteen, National Cadet Corps (NCC) buildings, and an open-air theatre were completed. In the Science faculty, subjects including Biology, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics were introduced.

In 1969, the college marked its Golden Jubilee. Alumni residing abroad, along with other former students and well-wishers, attended the celebrations and contributed donations to the college.

Funds collected during the Golden Jubilee were utilised for further development. Eleven new Classrooms, a teachers' hostel, (constructed with grants from the University Grants Commission covering approximately two-thirds of the total expenditure), a tube-well for water supply, an extension to the Gymkhana Building, and a badminton hall were completed.

The college was recognised as a permanent postgraduate centre by Shivaji University. In the Science faculty, Microbiology and Electronics. In the Arts faculty, Psychology, Logic and Philosophy were added.

The Diamond Jubilee was observed during this period.

As part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, several projects were initiated. These included the establishment of pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools (in English and Marathi medium) on the Willingdon campus, as well as the construction of a health club and an overhead water tank.

In 2011, Willingdon College celebrated its Platinum Jubilee, marking 75 years since its establishment. The celebrations included academic and cultural programmes on the campus. As part of the observance, new initiatives were undertaken, including improvements to campus facilities and the organisation of events involving current students, faculty, and alumni.

The main building of Willingdon College is a quadrangular stone structure, forming the central part of the campus. It houses administrative offices, classrooms, and other academic facilities. An open-air theatre is located within the quadrangle, providing space for cultural and educational events. The building is a notable example of early 20th-century institutional architecture in the region.

The main building of Willingdon College consists of multiple floors with academic and administrative facilities.

Basement – The basement contains four medium-sized rooms, including one used as a control room for university examinations, and a storeroom.

Ground Floor – This floor houses the offices of the Principal and Vice-Principal, the Administrative Office, the Geography Department, Staff Common Room, Ladies’ Common Room, and the library. It also includes the Departments of Botany and Mathematics, the National Cadet Corps (N.C.C.) office with a separate entrance, three large classrooms, one small classroom, and a strongroom for the university’s Central Assessment Programme. An open-air theatre is located on this floor and is used for the annual prize distribution ceremony.

First Floor – The first floor accommodates seven large rooms and one medium-sized room, which are used by the Departments of History, Statistics, Hindi, English, Marathi, Economics, Physics, and Zoology.

Terrace – On the front side of the terrace is a tower where the National Flag is hoisted annually on 15 August, 26 January, and 1 May. The Zoology storeroom and the Animal House are located on the north-west side of the terrace.

In total, the building contains 24 classrooms.

Applied Sciences Building – This building currently houses the Departments of Microbology, Biotechnology, Computer Science, and BCS.

Velankar Auditorium

• Department of Microbiology

• Department of Biotechnology

• Department of Mathematics

• Department of Physics
• Department of Chemistry
• Department of Statistics
• Department of Zoology
• Department of Botany
• Department of Electronics

• Department of English
• Department of Marathi
• Department of Hindi
• Department of History
• Department of Economics
• Department of Sanskrit

Gymkhana and Pavilion Building – Facilities for sports and physical activities.

• Chemist Laboratory No. 1
• Chemist Laboratory No. 2
• Chemist Laboratory No. 3

• N.C.C. Armoury
• Residental Bungalows: Bungalow No. 1 (Principal's Residence), Bungalows No. 2–7 (for life-member teachers)
• Ladies' Hostel
• Boys' Hostel: Shahu Block, Square Block, Chavan Block, Kabbur Block
• Cycle stand, Hobby Workshop, Non-residential Students' Centre

In 2010, the Computer Science Department began organising the competition event Willsoft. The event includes activities such as paper presentations, poster presentations, gaming competitions, and C programming contests, among others.

^[2]

Dr. Bhaskar Vinayak Tamhankar (4 July 2014 – present) ^[3]

1. Dr. Suresh R Kumbhar (Electronics Department)(July 2019 onwards)
2. Dr. Ravindra A Kulkarni (English Department)(July 2019 onwards)
3. Dr. Rajendra S Ponde (English Department)(July 2019 onwards)

• Govind Chimanaji Bhate
• K.G.Pandit
• Devdatta Dabholkar
• V. K. Gokak
• R. S. Mugali
• N. B. TARE
• M.D.Hatkanaglekar
• K.M.Agashe
• Dr. B.A.Patil
• S.S.Bodas
• Dr.Harishchandra Sidram Nirmale
• Dr.Pramila Lohoti
• Dr.Bhaskar V Tamhankar

• S. R. Ekkundi
• P. L. Deshpande

• Willingdon College[2]

• http://www.willingdoncollege.in/