Glimpses of Osmania University

Glimpses of Osmania University : a splendid centenarian

     The Osmania University has just turned hundred. A centenarian. Spectator to a century of learning, giving the nation many leaders in different fields. It was the first university in the erstwhile state of Hyderabad. Hyderabad has a history of over 400 years and is an interesting mix of bazaars, minarets, palaces, monuments, temples, churches, mosques, gardens. Founded by the Qutub Shahis in 1591 , the city has come a long way.  Following a brief period of Mughal intervention, the Asaf Jahis ruled the city for 200 years. The last of them Mir Osman Ali Khan was Nizam the VIIth, he ruled for 37 years (1911 to 1948) and is remembered for his achievements in cultural, administrative and educational fields. He enforced universal primary education and as Nizam VII, he established  the Osmania University.
    

    Looking back, during the 18^th century the progress of education in the erstwhile state of Hyderabad was slow. A few madrasas were there which were either run by Government or by the Ulemas or Sufi saints where elementary education was imparted. These were short lived and closed down when the founder died. The pace of education did not change to half of the 19^th century. The VIIth Nizam Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan ascended the throne in 1911, Mr Arthur Mayhew was appointed as Educational Advisor in January 1910 and he submitted his report in December 1911. He suggested the expansion of primary education, use of mother tongue as medium of instruction in the primary stage, opening of schools for depressed classes, inspection of schools, appointment of teaching staff, revision of curriculum and establishment of a separate university for Hyderabad.

     The need for an University in Hyderabad can be traced back to 1873. Two eminent scholars Rafat Yar Jung and Jamaluddin Afghani were initiators. Jamaluddin Afghani left Hyderabad to settle in Paris. He met Mr. Wilfred Blunt  a member of British Parliament in 1882. Mr. Blunt was on his way to Hyderabad and Jamaluddin Afghani requested him to take up the question with the ruler. He subsequently discussed the same with the Diwan Mir Laiq Ali Khan, Salar Jung II and suggested he submit the proposal to Nizam VI, Mahboob Ali Khan. However it was not carried out since education was in a poor state, it was felt that primary and secondary school education should be developed first. The idea was thus dropped.

    There were three colleges Oriental college, Aurangabad college and Nizam college. Aurangabad College was affiliated to Madras University and was abolished in 1904 for want of students. Oriental College or Darul uloom was affiliated to Punjab University up to 1906. When Universities Act of India came into force and the University had declined the exam and consequently the Nizam’s Govt established its  own Oriental title exams. Later it was merged into Osmania  University in 1919. Nizam College was established in 1887  by merging the Hyderabad College with Intermediate classes of Madras-e-aliya. The courses offered were B.A, B.Sc. and M. A. It remained under jurisdiction of Madras University till 1946. Later it has affiliated to Osmania University. However around 1910-11  the development and organisation of the Public Instruction department  led to an increase in the number of  schools at primary and secondary education levels The rise in primary and secondary education created a demand for the need of university education.

Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, Nizam VII
(1886-1967)

      People of Hyderabad also were very desirous to have a university. In 1913 a Hyderabad Educational Conference was organised by Old Boys Association and enthusiastic people from public services. During the first meeting of the association in 1914 which was held in the Town hall, Public Gardens. Sir Akbar Hydari after due consultation with the Nizam in his presidential address, assured the gathering of the setting up of a university. He submitted detailed proposals and the Nizam suggested the name “ Osmania University”. The founding of Osmania University with Urdu as medium of instruction proved very useful.  A  Farman (Royal order) was issued on 26^th April, 1917 and the proposal to establish a university was confirmed on 7^th August 1918.

                                                                                                                                                                                          By S N Barid - Own work, CC BY-SA                                                                                                         4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46863807

 Osmania University main building under construction,Hyderabad.

See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

       The medium of instruction was Urdu but English as a language was made compulsory as per the farman for every student, so as to ensure they were on par with students in rest of India. In keeping with the farman a translation bureau was set up under direction of Moulvi Abdul Haq. The bureau completed the work in five years.The University first started functioning in various rented buildings in the city which included the Abids area.

          Sir Patrick Geddess

              (1854-1932)

        The present site of 1400 acres was selected by Prof Sir Patrick Geddes, famous Scottish town planner.  The building was designed by Nawab Zain Yar Jung, the state architect with inputs and ideas from Belgian architect Monsieur Ernest  Maximilien Jaspar (1876-1940). During the construction Monsieur Jaspar would stay for a few months every year at Hyderabad. The area is a typical Deccan setting in terms of nature. It has some amazing rocks and flora.


 The birth of Osmania Univesity happened towards the end of the First World War. Urdu was the medium of instruction upto 1947. Departments of Chemistry, Civil Engineering, English, History, Mathematics, Physics were all started during the first 30 years which also saw the start of Sociology, Geography, Zoology, Botany, Geology, Education and Law, Engineering, Medicine and Agriculture and Veterinary Science. Undergraduate programmes were introduced. Post-graduation and Ph.D in several faculties were started at a later stage. Premier institutions of the state were transferred to Osmania University like Nizamiah Observatory, Nizam College, Medical Colleges, Law School.

Arts College, Osmania University

By Nbsubbaiah at English Wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

       The main building was the first to be completed made of granite for which 35,000 labourers were employed. It is an example of Osman Shahi architecture blending both Hindu and Saracenic styles. Medieval Muslim, Arab,Moorish and Gothic schools of architecture are also blended. The construction was entrusted to the Hyderabad Construction Company Limited under its Founder and Chairman Abdul Kareem Babukhan. The later buildings which were added for the main subject areas, as the University grew followed the basic design of the main building, which is the University College of Arts and Social Sciences, simply called Arts College!

                              Dome of Arts College, Osmania University, Hyderabad.

                                                       Pic : Dinesh Singh

       

  Foyer, Arts College (Main building), Osmania University, Hyderabad.

                                                                       Pic  : Dinesh Singh

First floor view from foyer, Arts College, Main building, Osmania University, Hyderabad.

Pic : Dinesh Singh

      

Students , Osmania University, near the main entrance, 1939-45.

Cecil Beaton [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

         English became the medium of instruction in 1948. New departments of Hindi, Political Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Journalism, Public Administration, Library Science, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Statistics, Genetics, Geophysics, etc. MSc. Courses in Astronomy, MA in Psychology, Diploma in Library Science, Post graduate Diploma in Business Management were all introduced to cater to the needs of Independent India. Other buildings were gradually added to the campus. The Law College, the Engineering College, the Science Blocks, Tagore Auditorium, Main Library, and so on. Hostel buildings were simultaneously added as and when there was a need to meet the student inflow.The Law College, Department of Geophysics, Administrative building, hostels from temporary buildings were moved to its present sites. The University also permitted number of affiliated colleges, in 1967 there were 45,000 students with 7500 women students.The University celebrated its golden Jubilee in 1968. 


Stamp released by the Govt of India in 1969.





Public Domain, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24678581

Osmania University Law College,Hyderabad.

By Nbsubbaiah at English Wikipedia (Own work by the original uploader) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

College of Engineering, Osmania University, Hyderabad.

Pic : Vishal Gaikwad

The time between its Golden and Platinum Jubilee saw the growth of new centres. The Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies, Institute of Genetics, Research and Training Unit for Navigational Electronics, Centre for Area Studies, Audio Visual Research centre, English Language  Training centre, Dept of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Applied Geochemistry, University Computer Centre, Centre for Distance Education, Academic Staff College for college and university teachers. The faculty of arts was established in the year 1964 and composed of 15 departments. The University has a Main Library inaugurated By Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, President of India in 1963. In addition there are other departmental libraries.

Main Library,Osmania University, Hyderabad.

Pic : Vishal Gaikwad

    In 1993 the University celebrated its  Platinum Jubilee.  By this time the University had got sanction for several research and development projects by the University Grants Commission, Govt of India.

   The  faculty of Oriental languages was established during the year 1995. The faculty of Management was established in 1997. The Faculty of Informatics was established in 1999. The faculty of Pharmacy was established during the year 2010.

                                                                           Pic : Dinesh Singh

     The University has celebrated its centenary in April 2017. The Honourable President of India  Sri.Pranab Mukherjee has inaugurated the event. Thus the Osmania University lives on and looks forward to the future !

Rock Formation, Osmania University campus, Hyderabad.

Pic : Dinesh Singh

References :

• Pictorial Hyderabad Vol I and II by K. Krishnaswamy Mudiraj,compiler, Chandrakanth Press, 1934.
• Hyderabad 400 years by Raza Ali Khan, Zenith Services, Hyderabad,1990.
• osmania.ac.in
• wikipedia.org

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Soma Ghosh


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