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Home / Historical Perspective

Historical Perspective

“Sanatan here does not signify strict adhere or orthodox attitude to life or religion. Sanatan Dharma is evergrowing and embracing new ideas without disregard to eternal values, pursuit of knowledge and duty-consciousness. A true Sanatanist respects tradition, pursues knowledge with utmost sincerity and integrity of purpose…feeling for fellow-men, facing the problems of life cheerfully and courageously…is a true sportsman and knows his duties in the field of life”- Udayachal, ARSD College Magazine

Sanatan Dharma College (rechristened Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College in May, 1968), a co-educational Constituent College of the University of Delhi, was founded in August 1959 by Shri Sanatan Dharma Sabha (Rawalpindi), registered at Delhi. Originally founded in 1882 at Rawalpindi, Shri Sanatan Dharma Sabha had been the premier organization of the Sanatanist Hindus that for over six decades had catered to the various needs of the community in the Rawalpindi Division of pre-partition Punjab and had successfully run a degree College, a high school, two middle schools and four primary schools there. The Sanatan Dharma Sabha was registered in 1952 at Delhi.

The Legacy

Old patrons like Shri Lala Devi Ditta Shah Talwar, Shri Goswami Ganesh Dutt Ji Maharaj, Shri Mela Ram Jaggi, Shri Ganga Ram Gujral and many other philanthropists joined hands and began to raise funds towards realizing their dream of locally rehabilitating their efficiently run institution. In the event of a massive influx of Bangladeshi refugees in 1971, the students and teachers of this College were in the vanguard of relief operations at places like the Chakrabhata camp in Bilaspur (then Madhya Pradesh) and Bangaon camp in West Bengal.

ARSD History

The Birth of ARSD

On 12 July 1959, permission arrived to open a College as a Constituent College of the University of Delhi in a rented building at Anand Parbat area. Shri F.C. Mehra took charge as the Chairman of the Governing Body and Dr. R.N. Rai, a reputed physicist, became the first Principal of the College.

On 3rd August the grand inaugural ceremony of the College was performed under the Chairmanship of the then Speaker of Lok Sabha, Hon’ble M.A. Ayyangar. A commanding site spanning 12.31 acres of land at Dhaula Kuan was acquired from the government at a cost of Rs. 87,000 and on 6th December the foundation stone of the new building was laid by Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant.

The Motto

The motto of the College, Tejasvi-naav-adhitam-astu, has been taken from Taittiriya Upanishad and means May our learning be endowed with radiance.

Traditional and Institutional values

Since its very inception, in addition to the pursuit of academic and professional excellence, the Sanatan Dharma College put emphasis on character-building and idealism informed by Sanatani values. In a show of commitment, the inaugural issue of College magazine Udyachal was published with sections in Sanskrit, Hindi and English within four months of the founding of the College.

The Academic Foundation stone

In the second year of College’s functioning, an Honours course in Hindi was started and another new course Hindi (Elective) was launched. Permission was also received for starting Honours courses in English, Maths and Economics (eventually started in 1962) and also a B.Sc. course.

College’s commitment towards promoting women’s education can be gleaned from the fact that as early as the second batch, there were 34 female students in an overall strength of 307 students.

ARSD History

Principals and the Governing Body

In 1962, Shri B.N. Paruthi took over as the Principal. The college shifted to its current sprawling campus on the main Ring Road at Dhaula Kuan in July 1965.

  • 1968: Name changed to Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College.
  • 2013: The current Principal, Dr. Gyantosh Kumar Jha took charge.

The College’s exponential growth—both infrastructural and of human resources—can be determined from facts such as how a College which had started its journey with just 18 teachers now has close to 190 of them.

Infrastructural and Extra-Curricular Achievements

Thanks to unwavering support from the College Governing Body helmed by Chairman Shri Pawan Jaggi, the College has been able to fast-track and successfully complete a lot of projects.

Infrastructure

The entire ground and first floor are being retrofitted and earthquake-proofed. New science laboratories, research laboratory, 14 classrooms, and a mini-auditorium are being inaugurated.

Recognition

Selected as a STAR COLLEGE by DBT (Govt. of India). "Rangayan" organized the "Rangshirsh Jaidev Natya Samaroh". North-east Students’ Welfare Committee organizes Rainbow Fest.

“You can’t lead anyone if you can’t lead yourself”- Maxine Driscoll, Founder Think Strategic