A noble effort to further higher education amongst aspiring rural students bogged down by infrastructural and communication drawbacks, the curse of emerging modern India, resulted in the humble beginnings of Narajole Raj College, way back, on September 12, 1966. Located in remote Paschim Medinipur (then undivided Midnapore) district of West Bengal, The College was the dream child of a group of magnanimous minds, led by Rani Anjali Khan (of renowned Khan Dynasty, erstwhile rulers of the area and contributors to the Indian freedom movement), renowned political activist, Shri Rajanikanta Dolai and social activist, Shri Radhayashyam Mondal. The trio were actively supported and helped in their mission by the people of the locality. Srimati Khan leased out her palace in Narajole for the purpose of running the college. The college began functioning with 6 teachers, 5 non-teaching staff and 30 students. Initially, the college offered 3 years Undergraduate Degree courses (General) in 6 subjects, and the Pre University course under Calcutta University. We respectfully remember our first Principal, Prof. Sital Bhattacharya, who meticulously looked into all legal and governmental issues that would ensure the smooth functioning of the Institution in the years ahead.
When reminiscing about its early days, one bow in respect to those teachers of Mahendra Academy Boys’ High School, Narajole, who willingly accepted the burden of taking classes at the college which was suffering from dearth of teachers (the economic condition of the college was not such that it was capable of hiring part time teachers).
In the chequered history of the College one major landmark was the introduction of B. Sc. in Pure Science (General) in 1983. After de-notification by the then affiliating body, the University of Calcutta, in 1987, was shifted over to the recently established Vidyasagar University (Midnapore) as per Government order. Another major breakthrough in the history of the College came in 1991, with the College offering Honours Courses in Bengali and History, and B.Sc. in the Biological Science (General).
The institution was growing continuously catering to the needs of the rural students and the society. The residential quarters of the palace building from where the College started its journey was proving to be inadequate. As the proverb goes, necessity is the mother of all inventions. Thus, the institution, with the help and support of the locals had managed to acquire their own property and began constructing a building there. Thus the College had its new campus and gradual shifting from the old campus to new campus was planned. The college in turn donated land to the government so that a Boys’ Hostel for the weaker section of the community could be constructed. In 2005, the subjects under the discipline of humanities were shifted to the new campus. From 2006 onwards, we undertook serious efforts to develop the new and main campus. In the new and main campus a Science Block was constructed. A Ladies’ Hostel, with complete assistance from the UGC, is coming up and will be operational very shortly. The administrative wing was shifted in 2009 and the Science Block accommodating the Science subjects became operational in 2013.
Narajole Raj College now offers a total of 10 Honours courses and 13 general courses at the degree level. At present the College is offering two Post Graduate Courses, one in Bengali and another in Sanskrit. With about 1750 students, about 60 teaching staff and 30 non-teaching staff members the College has emerged as one of the premier college under Vidyasagar University. It has a rich Library with more than 22,000 books with about 3000 titles and 23 varieties of journals. The Central Library of the College maintains one well-equipped reading room for the students and the teachers. In addition, the Dept. of Sanskrit and that of Human Rights (under the Dept. of Political Science) maintain their respective Book Banks. The institution boasts of devoted staff (teaching and non-teaching) that is ever ready to help and support their students in all aspects. The students are engaged in social activities through the two NSS and one NCC units(s). Every year, the Dept of Political Science is efficiently running a Certificate Course in Human Rights. The students of the College is also actively participating in programmes like University Sports, Youth Parliament Programme organised by the Govt. of West Bengal, to name a few.
Very recently the College has been assessed and accredited by National assessment & accreditation council (NAAC) of University Grants Commission, New Delhi and was graded in category ‘B’ by it.
The college caters not only to the academic interests of the students, but to the overall development of their personality. The College is also planning to take serious initiatives so as to improve the employability of students.