Truth Love Knowledge Service. This motto encapsulates the spirit of Indraprastha College for Women. Established in 1924 Indraprastha College is the oldest women’s college in Delhi.
The story of Indraprastha College for Women begins earlier. It started as the Indraprastha Girls School in 1904. Annie Besant a noted freedom fighter inspired its creation. Lala Jugal Kishore led a group of Delhi theosophists in this endeavor. The school began in Chhipiwara Old Delhi.
In 1924 an intermediate school was added. Indraprastha College for Women was born. Leonora Gmeiner from South Australia became its first principal. Soon the University of Delhi recognized it as a constituent college. Degree courses were introduced in the 1930s. By 1938 I.P College was listed as a degree college.
Initially located in Chhipiwara the college moved to Chandrawali Bhawan Civil Lines. In 1938 it moved again to Alipur House near Kashmiri Gate. This building a former office of the commander-in-chief is its present location. The building is now a heritage property.
In 1942 the second principal Kalavati Gupta wrote to parents. She urged them to ensure their daughters attended classes. Student participation in the nationalist movement had nearly closed the college in 1930. By 1942 students were picketing. Gupta’s letter reflects these challenging times.
The college has expanded over the years. In 1952 the Kalavati Gupta Hostel was inaugurated. A new hostel accommodating 200 students was added in 2009. It stands on the 21-acre campus.
Indraprastha College offers a wide range of courses. These include economics liberal arts commerce and computer science. The college also offers multimedia and mass communication. In 2020 India Today ranked it 11th among arts colleges in India.
The college provides excellent facilities. There is a library an auditorium and ICT center. Students also benefit from computer labs an audio-visual production center and medical room. For recreation there is a cafeteria and two hostels.
Sports are an integral part of college life at Indraprastha College for Women. Facilities include a gymnasium a basketball court and a tennis court. Students can also use the badminton court squash court shooting range and swimming pool. The college also supports archery athletics handball volleyball cricket and kho-kho.
Other amenities include Wi-Fi and a Canara Bank branch. The college also has specialized centers. These are the Centre for Earth Studies a Museum and Archives Learning Resource Centre and a Translation and Translation Studies Centre.
Indraprastha College has many notable alumni. These include Abhilasha Kumari the first woman Chief Justice of Manipur High Court. Ambika Soni served as Minister of Information and Broadcasting. Aruna Roy is a social activist and Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient. Meira Kumar was the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Sucheta Kriplani was a former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
Indraprastha College for Women is more than just an educational institution. It is a symbol of women’s empowerment. It has played a vital role in shaping the lives of countless women. The college continues to inspire future generations.