Miranda House, University Of Delhi

us verandahs. Its original design was by the renowned architect Walter George, the college shares an architectural affinity with other colonial educational institutions of the country. In the past five decades, as the college has grown, several other buildings have been added to its original design. It is now declared a heritage building and work is on to maintain its pristine glory. MIRANDA HOUSE - A Historical Perspective

The founding of Miranda House was an important event in the history of women's higher education in the country. It is one of the premier women's institutions of University of Delhi. It was the dream-child of Sir Maurice Gwyer, the then Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi, and the founder of Miranda House. Its foundation stone was laid by Lady Mountbatten on 7th March, 1948. Within the first few years itself, 'Miranda' became a model, a tradition and a name to be reckoned with both within the country and abroad. Classes in the college started on 26th July, 1948. Since the building of the college was not yet ready, special permission was sought from the Rector to use the then Registrar's House for residential purposes and the rooms adjacent to the Vice-Chancellor's office for lectures. Classes were also held in the Principal's house which was close to the Central Institute of Education (C.I.E./ Department of Education). On the eve of 15th August, the classes were shifted to the central wing of what is now called Miranda House Hostel. The college celebrated the first anniversary of Independence Day; Mrs. Raksha Saran, a member of the Governing Body, hoisted the National Flag. Name
Why House

Since there was no hostel for women students of University of Delhi, Miranda House, a hostel for women, was established in 1944 by Sir Maurice Gwyer. Initially there were very few students in the hostel but in 1945-46 there was an unexpectedly large increase in the number of residents. Temporary additions to the accommodation became imperative and Sir Maurice approached the Government of India for grants to develop and extend the hostel for 100 students and for eventually developing it into a second women's college (the first being Indra Prastha College). The Government of India agreed and released the funds. Ultimately in 1948, Miranda House, the College, was born. This is the story behind its being known as 'House'. Why Miranda
as per the article of Ms. Veda Thakurdas, the founder. Principal of Miranda House, published in the College Magazine in 1952, Sir Maurice Gwyer gave three reasons for its being called Miranda:

Carmen Miranda was his favourite actress . His daughter's name was Miranda. Shakespeare's Miranda could be a good example for the young ladies passing out of Miranda House. Status
Miranda House is the only University college for women in University of Delhi. The Executive Council of University of Delhi appoints the members of the Governing Be the college. Earlier the Vice-Chancellor of the University used to be the Chairman of its Governing Body but since 1967-68, the Vice-Chancellor's nominee is the Chairperson of the college Governing Body. Growth
Fifty years ago Miranda House came into existence as campus college for women. A generation of young women with the image of new vistas opening up before them entered the portals of the college setting high goals and ideals for themselves. The college has felt the tide of changing times. There has been an ideological shift in the role that the young women of today are called upon to play. Miranda House has always provided the right atmosphere for this growth. All the members of the college i.e. the Principals, teachers, non-academic staff and students have contributed to the, growth of the college. The "Miranda Touch" always remains and is passed on from the past generation to the present and to the coming generation. Presiding over the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the college in 1973, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, remarked that Miranda House girls believed that all the beauty and the brains of the capital-Delhi-came from the college and commented "it is partly true, though not entirely so". In half a century of its existence, Miranda House has maintained its growth in various fields. It started with a student strength of 33 in July 1948, which rose to 105 by September in the same year. The present strength is 2090 (1997-98). The strength of the academic staff increased from six in 1948 to 120 (permanent) in 1997-98 and that of non-academic staff from 11 in 1948 (five in the Hostel and six in the College) to 120 in 1997-98. There were only 43 students in the Hostel in 1948, out of which seven belonged to other colleges of University of Delhi. The present strength of the Hostel is 250. These figures speak for themselves about the growth of the college during the last 50 years. At the time of its founding, Miranda House had six departments, whereas at present there are eighteen. Science teaching was conducted in the University but in 1963-64, B.Sc. General and in 1971, B.Sc. Honours teaching work started in the college. Many new subjects have been introduced in the Humanities and Social Sciences since then. Miranda House, indubitably, has fulfilled the dreams of Sir Maurice Gwyer as a pioneering, prestigious institution of India

Building
Since the very beginning Miranda House has undergone numerous physical changes and has grown with various additions to its original layout plan. The major features of its structure are the main college building, the library, and the hostel block. In the early years, i.e. in 1940's, only the central part of the hostel block existed where the classes started in 1948. Since then the college began to expand in every aspect. In 1950's the new building for lectures was constructed. The Principal's office, college office, teachers' lounge, students' common room, sheds for four college buses were also built during this period. The college auditorium, equipped with its own microphones, and the cafeteria building too came up during this period. In the beginning Annapurna catering service was helping to run it but soon the college students took over the management with Miss Dua to guide them. A cafeteria committee was also formed. In 1960's the Science block was commissioned and laboratories started functioning for B.Sc. Gen. students. Simultaneously plans were drawn for vertical expansion of Chemistry laboratory. Plans were also drawn up for extension of Botany and Zoology laboratories to facilitate the transfer of these subjects for the students who used to go for the classes of these subjects to the University. The auditorium of the college was also taken care of. Improvements were introduced in light system. Financial help was extended by the Arts Activities Committee which decided to allocate, from an endowment. of the Rockefeller Foundation, a sum of Rs.16,000/- for the purchase of special modem stage lights, additional wiring and cost of installation. The Principal's residence was ready for occupancy in 1960. The period from 1970 to 1980 is marked with extensive construction activities. Twelve teachers' flats, teachers' hostel (8 quarters) and eighteen flats for class IV employees were built. The new library building near the old gate of the college also came up. Another remarkable feature was the opening of an extension counter by the University Branch of the State Bank of India in the college premises. It was very beneficial for the staff, administration and students. The foundation stone of the Physics laboratory was laid on 10th April, 1978. In 1980's the new Science block, housing Physics and Chemistry laboratories, became functional. This was an important addition to the college infrastructure. The Art Museum was inaugurated by Justice N.C. Kochhar on 6th March 1988. The cafeteria was renovated; it was enlarged by attaching the table-tennis room. Its kitchen was restructured and provided with LPG connection. Another notable development during the period was opening of the New Gate of the college near the Science block. The old gate was shut down for daily use. Near the New Gate some area was earmarked to provide adequate car and scooter parking facilities. A number of new classrooms were added by partitioning the old library hall. The new administrative section was built in the centre of the teaching wing. Some classrooms on the ground floor were converted into the administrative block which also houses the Principal's new office. In 1990's the students' common room along with it front verandah was repaired. The entire block adjoining the hostel and backyard, which was about to collapse due to water seepage and extensive pressure on foundation, was restored. Recently, in the Golden Jubilee Year, renovation of the college auditorium under the supervision of interior designer and old Mirandian, Ms. Ketaki Sood, and development of a beautiful Rock Garden in the open space behind the students' common room and in front of the cafeteria, have been two noteworthy improvements. Hostel
The central wing of the hostel (C and D blocks) were ready in 1948 and since the college building had not come up the classes were shifted to this building on 14th August, 1948. In 1950's, further expansion of the building took place. A and B blocks, a well-equipped dispensary and infirmary, rooms for warden, housekeeper and nurse, office, and visitors' room came up. Provisions for single room accommodation for teachers were also made. These rooms were placed in between the A and B, and C and D blocks on each floor. In total there are eight rooms of this type. By April 1951, the new fully-equipped and furnished kitchen and pantry, and the dining hall became operational. Keeping in view the security of the hostel iron grilles were fixed across the verandahs in 1987. About this time the visitor's room was renovated. The flats for the warden and the housekeeper, which were built in 1993-94, have been "the last addition to the hostel block. Library
The Miranda House library started functioning right from the year of its founding. Initially it was situated in a big hall consisting of a stack-room and a reading room with reading desks fitted with lights. The reading room was an attractive quiet room which could be used for study purposes at night also. This library comprised the area which now includes N.C.C. room, student~' common room, Room No. 47 and Computer Science Lab. on the ground floor and the rooms above these which used to be a single big hall. The present room Nos. 50 and 52 used to be the office of the Librarian and the counter for issuing books, respectively. The management of the books, newspapers and journals was controlled by the Library and Reading Room Committee. With the expansion of the college and increase in the number of books, the need for a spacious library was felt and finally, the foundation stone was laid by Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, on 7th March, 1973, the college Silver Jubilee Year. The library shifted to the new building in August, 1974. The new library block is a beautiful double-storeyed building consisting of deposit-counter, issue-of-books counter, stack hall, reserve section, reading hall, teachers' reading room, magazine section, and administrative section. In 1988, the magazine section on the second floor was partitioned to make room for Art Museum which at present has been converted into the Seminar Room. Some Highlights
1948

Foundation stone of the college laid. First resident nurse-cum-housekeeper appointed.

1949

Student's Union formed.
'Aloke' set up.

1950-51

First batch of students (who joined college in 2nd year) admitted to the Convocation. The tradition of signing of Roll of Honour, for those students who attained first division, started. Old Students Association formed.

1951-52

First issue of the college magazine (bilingual) published.

1954-55

College acquired 4 buses with drivers to provide transport to the students.

1957-58

M.H. became first women's college in India to start gliding classes.

1963-64

Teaching of B.Sc. General started in the college.

1964-65

M.H. became a member of W.U.S. Tamil section of the college magazine started.

1966-67

Sanskrit section of the college magazine started. Extended college scheme introduced.

1967-68

Bengali section of the magazine started.

1969-70

Students' Union became a member of D.U.S.U.
12 residential flats for teachers ready for occupancy.

1970-71

N.S.S. started. Students general body passed a resolution to stop the annual beauty contest for Miss Miranda. Teaching of B.Sc. Honours started.

1973

Silver Jubilee function presided over by Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India. Foundation stone of the new library building laid. Silver Jubilee Scholarship created.

1974-75

Library shifted to the new building. Teachers' hostel (8 flats) built.

1975-76

Due to emergency in the country, a nominated committee replaced the elected students' union.

1976-77

Extension counter of S.B.I., Delhi University Branch, opened.

1978

Tornado tore through the campus (18th March) smashing one wall of the new library, knocking down the temporary barracks of the Karamcharis.

1978-79

Physics laboratory constructed.

1984-85

Computer Science introduced as elective subject in B.Sc. Secretarial Practice and Office Management course introduced in B.A. Pass course. Signing of Roll of Honour discontinued.

1987-88

Grilles fixed in all the verandahs of the hostel. New administrative block built. Arts Museum created.

1988-89

New college gate started functioning.

1989-90

New Science Block housing Physics and Chemistry labs started functioning.

1992-93

Students' Common Room renovated.

1993-94

The students and teachers participated in RiverRafting Expedition with the support of U.G.C. and National Adventures Foundation.

1995-96

Functional Hindi as an elective subject in BA Pass course introduced.

1997-98

Auditorium renovated. Rock Garden created. Golden Jubilee Year celebrated

Miranda Family in 1948
Principal
Miss Veda Thakurdas. Teachers
Ms. V.Krishna (English Department)
Ms. Puri nee Chaudhari (Hindi &Sanskrit Department)
Ms. Usha Mukerjee (Philosophy Department)
Ms. Thomas (History Department)
Ms. A.C. Janakiamma (Economics Department)
Ms. Kamala Achaya nee Rao (English Department)

Karamcharis
Category 'D'
Asgar (Driver)
Chattai (Chowkidar)
Kacheroo (Safai Karamchari)
John (Chowkidar)
Jeet Ram (Havaldar)
Masih Charan (Chowkidar)
Mohan (Lal Mali)
Peroo (Peon)
Mrs. Phulloo (Safai Karamchari)
Ms. Janaki (Maid)
Category 'C'
Shiv Ram Sharma (Office Assistant)

Some Students
Ms. Pramila Nnda nee Pai (Physics Honours)
Ms. Manasi Ghosh (Botany Honours)
Ms. Malti Gilani nee Bhatia (History Honours)
Ms. Bimla Bissel nee Nanda (English Honours)
Ms. Meena Swaminathan nee Boothalingam (English Honours)
Ms Champak Ranganathan
Ms. Deepali Chandra (English Honours)
Ms. Indu Chatterjee (Philosophy Honours)
Ms. Sneh Lata Puri (MA Maths.) Ms. Krishna Dutt. http://miranda-house.learnhub.com/lesson/12141-miranda-house-general-info