Did you know Amitabh Bachchan once walked these very grounds? This is Kirori Mal College. It is more than just a college. It’s a legacy etched in the heart of Delhi. Established in 1954 Kirori Mal College stands as a constituent college of the University of Delhi.
Imagine stepping back in time. The college began as Nirmala College on Delhi Road. Staffing problems arose after the partition. The trust of Seth Kirori Mal took over. On February 1 1954 it shifted to its present campus.
The foundation stones were laid in the summer of 1955. India’s first President Rajendra Prasad did the honors. Anand Apte and CSH Jhabvala designed the campus. They were a famous architect duo.
Ch. Hardwari Lal was the first principal from 1954 to 1957. Kirori Mal College began full operations in the academic session 1956-57. Sarup Singh followed him. He later became Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University. He then became Lt. Governor of Delhi and Governor of Gujarat.
Kirori Mal College is located off Professor ND Kapoor Marg. It is near Kamla Nagar in New Delhi. The campus is about 18 kilometers from Indira Gandhi International Airport.
In 2010 the Commonwealth Games selected Kirori Mal College for sports training. New facilities were created including a building and a gymnasium. This facilitated sports and other activities.
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council gave it a CGPA of 3.54 in 2023. This earned Kirori Mal College an A++ grade. This is the third highest among Delhi University colleges. In 2021 the college spent over 300 Crores on infrastructure. This also covered the salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff.
Kirori Mal College boasts many departments. These include Bengali Botany Chemistry and Commerce. Computer Science Economics and English are also included. Geography Hindi History and Mathematics are present too. Philosophy Physical Education Physics and Political Science round out the list. Sanskrit Urdu Statistics and Zoology complete the academic offerings.
The college hostel sits next to the sports complex. Around 170 students live in its 89 rooms. These students come from India and abroad. Seats are allocated based on merit.
NIRF ranked Kirori Mal College 9th among colleges in India in 2024. This ranking is by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. In previous years it ranked 18th in 2019 and 19th in 2020.
Kirori Mal College has a vast alumni network. Amitabh Bachchan is one of its most famous alumni. Other notable alumni include Krishnakumar Kunnath also known as KK. Satish Kaushik Naveen Patnaik and Shakti Kapoor also attended. Many others have made significant contributions. They are in acting directing politics and more.
The college has taken initiatives to be eco-friendly. Kirori Mal College installed a 240 kw solar panel. LED light tubes are used across the campus. A water harvesting system is in place. Solid waste management uses a vermi-composting system for dry leaves. Organic fertilizers maintain the college garden.
Kirori Mal College has a library with many resources. There are 68545 books and 199500 e-books. The library subscribes to online journals and databases. The library is automated for easy access.
The campus spans 14 acres. It includes classrooms auditoriums and seminar halls. There are sports facilities for cricket basketball and football. A gymnasium and badminton court are also available.
So as you stand here remember the history. Think of the famous alumni and the college’s commitment to excellence. Kirori Mal College is a beacon of education and a proud part of Delhi University.