Sydenham College
Encyclopedia
Sydenham College or Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics is the first college of commerce in Asia.
It is an institute in Mumbai
(previously Bombay), affiliated to the University of Bombay, and offering undergraduate degrees in commerce
and undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in management
. The college's motto is "Labor Omnia Vincit" ("Work conquers all") and in Sanskrit, "samudyogo hi vishvajita" {Diligent Efforts Conquer the World} . The college is operated by the government of Maharshtra.
of Bombay, Lord Sydenham of Combe
, who was instrumental in making the undergraduate degree of Bachelor of Commerce
possible in Mumbai. This makes Sydenham College the oldest degree-awarding institution in commerce
. K.S. Aiyar acted as first honorary principal of the college. It was only in 1941, twenty-eight years after the establishment of Sydenham College, that any other institute started offering courses in the subject.
On the college's seventy-fifth anniversary in 1988, the Indian Post Office issued a commemorative stamp. In 1990, TIME
rated Sydenham College as the "Best Commerce College this side of the Suez."
s large and small. There are also celebrities who have graduated from Sydenham.
It is an institute in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
(previously Bombay), affiliated to the University of Bombay, and offering undergraduate degrees in commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
and undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
. The college's motto is "Labor Omnia Vincit" ("Work conquers all") and in Sanskrit, "samudyogo hi vishvajita" {Diligent Efforts Conquer the World} . The college is operated by the government of Maharshtra.
History
Sydenham College, "the first college of commerce in Asia," was established in October 1913. It was named after the then-governorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Bombay, Lord Sydenham of Combe
George Clarke, 1st Baron Sydenham of Combe
George Sydenham Clarke, 1st Baron Sydenham of Combe GCSI, GCIE, GCMG, GBE was a British colonial administrator and British Army officer.-Background and education:Clarke was born in Lincolnshire...
, who was instrumental in making the undergraduate degree of Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
possible in Mumbai. This makes Sydenham College the oldest degree-awarding institution in commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
. K.S. Aiyar acted as first honorary principal of the college. It was only in 1941, twenty-eight years after the establishment of Sydenham College, that any other institute started offering courses in the subject.
On the college's seventy-fifth anniversary in 1988, the Indian Post Office issued a commemorative stamp. In 1990, TIME
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
rated Sydenham College as the "Best Commerce College this side of the Suez."
Location
- 1955 onward: Since 1955, Sydenham College has been on "B Road" at ChurchgateChurchgateChurchgate is an area in downtown South Mumbai. During the eighteenth and up to the mid 19th century, Bombay was a walled city. The city walls had three gates, and Church Gate, named after St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai was one of the gates. The gate was situated near the present day location of...
, very near the terminusTerminal StationTerminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
of the Western Railway section of the Mumbai suburban railwayMumbai Suburban RailwayThe Mumbai Suburban Railway system, part of the public transport system of Mumbai, is provided for by the state-run Indian Railways' two zonal Western Railways and Central Railways. The system carries more than 6.99 million commuters on a daily basis. It has the highest passenger densities of any...
. It is close to the Marine DriveMarine DriveMarine Drive is a 3-kilometre-long boulevard in South Mumbai in the city of Mumbai. It is a 'C'-shaped six-lane concrete road along the coast, which is a natural bay. The road links Nariman Point to Babulnath and Malabar Hill. Marine Drive is situated over reclaimed land facing west-south-west...
sea front on the Arabian SeaArabian SeaThe Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
. - 1922–1955: The college was on the premises of the present-day Sir J. J. School of Architecture in Fort, opposite the Victoria TerminusChhatrapati Shivaji TerminusThe Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. Situated in the Bori Bunder area of Mumbai, it was built as a new railway station on the location of the Bori Bunder Station in 1887...
railway station. It was then known as the Indo-British Institute. - 1914–1922: The college moved to the Whiteway Laidlaw Building on Hornby Road, near the present-day Handloom House in Fort.
- 1913: The college was run from the Elphinstone CollegeElphinstone CollegeElphinstone College is an institution of higher education affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Established in 1856, it is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Mumbai. It was exalted as a prestigious seat of learning during the British Raj and is generally observed for its vibrant alumni...
premises in Fort.
Courses offered
- Bachelor of Commerce (since 1913)
- Master of Commerce (since 1925)
- Masters in Management Studies and Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (since 1983; under "Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship EducationSydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship EducationSydenham Institute of Management Studies and Research and Entrepreneurship Education was founded in the year 1983 by Government of Maharashtra to provide business knowledge with flexibility and embark a journey towards a progressive career, foster a spirit of co-operation, innovation and vision,...
" SIMSREE) - Bachelor of Management Studies
- Bachelor of Commerce (Banking and Insurance) (since 2003)
Student activities
As part of educating the whole human, Sydenham College students participate in programs beyond the classroom setting. They are encouraged to be involved in student-organized events, community service, and a wide range of cultural, recreational, and social activities. Sydenham offers many opportunities for students to learn new skills and improve on existing ones through our creative and eclectic clubs and societies. The college festival “Brouhaha” and the magazine A-Mag are such great examples of student-managed endeavor.- The Annual Magazine Committee (A-Mag): As the name suggests, A-Mag (as popularly known) publishes the college annual magazine at the end of each year. In addition to the annual magazine, A-Mag explores the realm of journalism with a well-received periodical, a newspaper called Speak. Sydenham has won many awards for the best college magazine.
- The Book Circle (BC): Aims at promoting reading habits amongst the students. Runs an informal library in the common room and organizes other literary events.
- Dramatics Society (DS): Aims at promoting theatre by organizing various plays. Also helps potentials with valuable on-stage experience and professional breaks.
- Hindi Sahitya Mandal (H.S.M.): Promotes traditional Indian culture and Hindi as a national language. Also organizes other popular events and programmes.
- Marathi Wangmaya Mandal (M.W.M.): Promotes Marathi, the state language both culturally and literally.
- Nature Club (N.C.): Promotes love for nature and environment awareness. Organizes awareness drives and outdoor trips.
- Performing Arts Society (P.A.S.): Discovers and encourages potential talent in dance and music. Organizes stage events, musical programmes, talent parades and fashion shows.
- Planning Forum: Creates awareness about various aspects of business and commerce through their workshops and seminars.
- Public Speaking and Debating Society( P.S.D.S.): Promote literary thinking and analytical ability. Organizes competitions, quizzes and debates.
- Poor Students' Education Relief Fund (P.S.E.R.F.): Aids financially underprivileged students in completing their studies by providing textbooks and funds.
- Rapport News Media: India's only college news media publishes newspapers, an annual issue, handles two daily bulletin boards — the Wallpaper and Happenings — and organizes workshops and competitions related to creative media.
- Social Service League (S.S.L. - N.S.S.): A programme initiated by the government and launched by Sydenham College. Organizes blood donation drives, health and AIDS awareness and adult education programmes. Adopts villages to bring about rural upliftment by building schools and such infrastructure. Serving members are granted 10 grace marks by the university.
- Sydenham Auditorium Committee (S.A.C.): Maintains the college auditorium and allocates it for society events. Also handles the security arrangements for such events.
- Sydenham Audio Visual Education Society (SAVES): Promotes education and entertainment through audio visual means like laser disc shows and slides.
- Sydenham College Co-operative Stores (Co-ops): A co-operative company solely managed by students. Promotes hardcore business skills among students. Its three divisions include an on-campus retail outlet, C3 - the Computer Centre and La Pub - a publicity agency.
- Sydenham College Gymkhana (Gym): Coordinates all sporting activities in college and maintains the sport infrastructure.
- Sydenham College Students' Council: Regarded as the apex body of students, the Council represents the student community to the management and serves as a channel of communication between the two.
- Sydenham Computer Centre (SCC): Manages the computer lab in college besides organizing programmes related to information technology and provide internet service to the students of the college, as well as manage website of the college.
- Sydenham Photographic Society (SPS): Promotes photography as an art, science and a profession. Also provides a Platform for amateur photographers and models through competitions, Workshops and exhibitions
- Sydenham Foreign Trade Association (SFTA): The Sydenham Foreign Trade Association is the representative council of the foreign trade course in the college. Its conducts Annual Workshops and Summer Training.
- Sydenham Advertising & Event Management Organisation (SAEMO): SAEMO, the newest entrant in college was formed in 2003. It is a non-profit organization which solely caters to the benefit of the students. SAEMO hosts intercollegiate events and fests.
- Sydenham Banking and Insurance Society (SBIS): It is a society that works for the students of banking and insurance and acquaints them with the various developments in the field of banking and insurance.
Notable alumni
There are a number of alumni from Sydenham who hold senior positions in corporationCorporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
s large and small. There are also celebrities who have graduated from Sydenham.
- Nevin Kurt Lobo, chairman SWT London
- Sanjiv Mehta, owner, East India Company London
- Deepak ParekhDeepak ParekhDeepak Parekh is the Chairman of Housing Development Finance Corporation, India's leading housing finance company. A pioneer in mortgage finance, he has enabled scores of Indian middle class people to own their houses or apartments through affordable loans...
, chairman HDFC - Uday S KotakUday KotakUday Kotak is an Indian businessman. He is the vice-chairman and managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank. He owns a 50% stake in Kotak Mahindra Bank, which he founded and runs. Forbes estimated his wealth to be $3.2 billion in 2011...
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, trader and investor, Rare Enterprises - Girish ParanjpeGirish ParanjpeGirish Paranjpe was the former Joint CEO of Wipro’s IT Business and a Member of the Board of Wipro Limited. He jointly carried the overall responsibility for the strategy and operations of Wipro’s IT Business....
, joint CEO Wipro Technologies - Dr. Jagdish BhagwatiJagdish BhagwatiJagdish Natwarlal Bhagwati is an Indian-American economist and professor of economics and law at Columbia University. He is well known for his research in international trade and for his advocacy of free trade....
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, chairman of Aditya Vikram Birla Group of companies - Rajesh Chaturvedi, Chartered Accountant
- Indranil Deb, investment banker, principal, Mobius Strip Capital Advisors
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, an Indian actor - Fazila AllanaFazila AllanaFazila Allana is an Indian businesswoman. She studied at Queen Mary School and Sydenham College and graduated in 1991. After a couple of years in Oulu, Finland she moved back to Mumbai. There, she joined UTV who asked her to be a part of their Malaysian operations. Finally, she came back to Mumbai...
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, Indian film actor, son of Vinod Khanna - Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
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, film director - Atul AgnihotriAtul AgnihotriAtul Agnihotri is a Hindi actor and director.-Career:Agnihorti's career stretches back to 1983 when he made a brief appearance as a child artist in Pasand Apni Apni. He started his film career as an adult in 1993 with Mahesh Bhatt's Sir...
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, dancer and singer - Aditya ChopraAditya ChopraAditya Chopra is an Indian film producer, screenwriter and director. He is most known for directing his only three films Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge , Mohabbatein , and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi...
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- Indu ShahaniIndu ShahaniIndu Shahani Principal of H.R College was appointed the Sheriff of Mumbai Sheriff of Mumbai on Jan 5, 2008 and is now serving her third term. She is the principal of H R College of Commerce and Economics in South Mumbai since 2000. Shahani graduated from renowned Sydenham College, Mumbai and...
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