Heramba Chandra College, a premier co-educational institution popularly known as South City Day College, is situated in Golpark, the cultural hub of South Kolkata. With a long and glorious history, the college is surrounded by a lush green lawn adorned with colourful flowers and plants, creating an eco-friendly atmosphere conducive to mental growth and openness of mind.
In the history of our nation, City College is remembered not only for its pioneering efforts in the field of education but also as an embodiment of the liberal spirit that enriched the nineteenth-century Renaissance in India. A genuine humanistic approach to education is practised here, fostering a warm and friendly relationship between teachers and students. This age-old tradition of a nurturing student-teacher relationship is a rich legacy handed down by the founders of this group of colleges. The college celebrated its golden jubilee with great fervour in 2006.
City College began modestly as City School, founded on January 6, 1879, by the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. The initial expenses were borne by Late Ananda Mohan Bose, the then President of the Samaj, along with contributions from Late Sivanath Sastri and other prominent members. In 1881, just two years after its establishment, the City School was elevated to a college with the introduction of F.A. classes. The college quickly advanced, opening a B.A. course in 1884, and within five years, it became a first-grade college. In January 1905, City College was placed under the control of "The City College Institution," a society registered under Act XXI of 1860, known as the Brahma Samaj Education Society.
Currently, the college is government-aided, having been taken over from the Brahmo Samaj. The Commerce Department of City College was started in 1939 to address the practical and vital needs of the time, training personnel for leadership in industry and commerce. Due to the prevailing disturbances, it was decided to provide education in a safe zone for students of South Calcutta, leading to the establishment of an institution in November 1946 at Lansdowne Road. In July 1952, the institution moved to 50 Mahim Halder Street, Kalighat. Late Horendra Coomer Mukherjee, the then Governor of West Bengal, laid the foundation stone of the present South Calcutta Building on January 6, 1954, with the opening ceremony held on January 6, 1955. On June 1, 1961, the South City College Branch of City College branched off into three separate colleges: Sivanath Sastri College (Morning), Heramba Chandra College (Day), and Prafulla Chandra College (Evening). Thus, Heramba Chandra College was born.
The college continues to excel in academics as well as in sports, earning a B+ rating from the NAAC Peer Team in the second cycle of accreditation in 2016. It offers 4-year Honours/Honours with Research courses in Commerce, Bangla, Economics, Education, English, Geography, History, Political Science, and a Multidisciplinary Course in Commerce. Students can also take Statistics and Mathematics as Minor and Interdisciplinary subjects. For over 60 years, the college has earned a reputation as one of the leading colleges in South Kolkata. Committed to the all-round development of students, the college organises regular departmental excursions and excels in sports, with students winning several trophies both individually and in groups. Social upliftment programmes are also a significant focus, with initiatives like the St. John Ambulance, Campus Harmony and Social Service Unit, and Ramdhanu (an initiative for underprivileged children of the locality) providing humanitarian support.
Heramba Chandra College not only prepares students academically but also instils confidence to face the world. The college offers benefits such as placement arrangements, job market training, and various add-on and certificate courses. Many companies visit the institution for recruitment, much to the students' satisfaction. The Principal and all staff members warmly welcome all students to Heramba Chandra College and wish them every success in life.