One of the oldest women’s colleges in Karnataka, Mount Carmel College (MCC), Bangalore, was established in 1944 in Trichur (State of Cochin) under the University of Madras. It was later transferred to Bangalore University in 1948 to meet the increasing demand for women’s education. It is also the first women’s college in Karnataka.
Set amid lush foliage in the heart of the busy Cantonment area, what began with just 274 students, has more than 4,000 students today. The college
offers 31 UG and 13 PG programmes and various diploma courses. MCC follows a credit system, under which students can choose three different subjects as their main papers for the UG programme. It also promotes various research-oriented activities through special cells like the Centre for Scientific Research and Advanced Learning.
Extending over 2.56 lakh sqft, the campus has eight major blocks, an audio recording and editing studio, four auditoriums, museums exhibiting fossils and zoological specimens and a botanical garden with over 2,000 specimens. The other facilities include an infirmary on campus and a counselling centre to help students deal with emotional distress.
MCC has three huge libraries that caters to the needs of all students in pre-university, UG and PG. They can browse through an inviting array of books and can also access over 70,000 volumes of textbooks, several periodicals, audio and videotapes. It also has over 60 spacious classrooms, five large halls, two conference rooms, 26 laboratories, a museum, a 1,000-seater auditorium, a studio, a stadium with a 200m cinder track, a dispensary and a placement cell. It’s no small feat considering MCC began in a single crowded building that housed the campus, office, hostel, lab, library and convent.
The college stresses on sports and extra-curricular activities. Athletics, snooker, throw ball, football and basketball are encouraged. MCC students have participated in various state and national-level tournaments. Also, Cul-Ah, the biggest cultural extravaganza on campus
attracts talent from across India.
“The college’s USP is its Centre for Extended Education,” says Sheela V Dange, the centre co-coordinator. It conducts around 85 programmes (short-term, vocational or skill-oriented credit courses) like art and poetry, yoga, bharathanatyam, knitting, web tools, ancient maths, e-commerce and legal literacy. These run parallel to the UG programmes.
“The aim is to provide holistic and value-based education. It’s compulsory for students to earn 10 credits through these courses before they complete their degree,” adds Dange.
“Thanks to my teachers, today I love mathematics and am planning to pursue a post-graduate programme in maths from this college,” says Aparna, a BSc computer science student.
Another interesting factor of the institute is that many of MCC’s teachers are former students. “I joined pre-university in 1971 and later went on to do BA. After completing my master’s, I was back in Carmel as a lecturer,” says Shalini Pujari, HOD, department of economics.
The current principal, Sister M Albina is also an alumna — she completed BA Sociology in 1969. After finishing her master’s, she returned to her alma mater as a lecturer in 1976. “My vision is to see women on top. I don’t believe in the 33 per cent reservation system. It should be at least 50 per cent,’’ she says.
The students echo her sentiments. “People may perceive Carmel as a glamorous set-up but they must also understand that the education imparted here is the best. I’ve always wanted to be a part of MCC and I’m happy to graduate from this college,” says Olivia, a final-year, BSc nutrition and dietetics student n
— ashwini@expressbuzz.com