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The Bengal Engineering & Science University, established at Shibpur, Howrah (just opposite to the city of Kolkata), is the third oldest engineering college in existence in India. It was formally established as Civil Engineering College, Calcutta, in 1856 with the idea of introducing engineering education to the country. Every year students from this institution form a large intake of the administration, management and technocracy, both in the public sector and private companies in India and abroad.
The University will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2006.
Historical roots
It has had a long and checkered past. Initially known as Bishop's College, Bengal Engineering College came to be known as Calcutta Civil Engineering College from 24th November, 1856, when there were only 10 students and a few instructive staff. From 12th February, 1920, the name was changed to B.E. College Shibpur. The word Shibpur was deleted from 24th March, 1921.
From 1865 to 1879 the College functioned as Civil Engineering Department of Presidency College, Kolkata. In 1880 the college shifted to its new and permanent home the lush campus at Bishop's College, Howrah. It got its name, Bengal Engineering College in 1921.
From May 1857 to 1992, it was a constituent college of the University of Calcutta. In recognition of its services to the nation, the college was elevated to the status of a Deemed University in 1992. The then President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, formally inaugurated the University on March 13, 1993. On 1st October, 2004, Bengal Engineering College (A Deemed University) was elevated to the status of a full-fledged University with its present name. The Central Govt is now considering it to upgrade to an IIT, along with seven other institutes in various parts of the country.
In a recent survey conducted by India Today, it has been rated as one of the top 10 engineering colleges in India.
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India, formally inaugurated it as Bengal Engineering and Science University,Shibpur, BESUS, on 13 July 2005.
Location
The University is located in the sylvan surrounding on the western bank of the Hoogli River in Howrah, opposite the city of Kolkata, which is connected by transportation to all the major Indian cities as well as to some foreign ones by rail transport and air routes and also by the Golden Quadrangle Road Network presently nearing completion. The nearest railway station is Howrah Station, which is six kilometres from the University Campus, and the Airport is at a distance of thirty kilometres from the Main Gate of the campus.
Campus life
The university has a lush green campus, with a number of ponds. There is a four storied central academic building, an eight storied extension building, a workshop complex, an one storied building for material science, a canteen and a university auditorium. Classes start from 8am in the morning and continue upto 4pm.There are a number of hostels for 1st and 2nd year students, a number of halls like McDonald hall, Richardson hall, Sen hall,Sengupta hall, Wolfenden hall etc for 3rd and 4th year students. The ladies hostel is called Pandya hall. The campus also has a well-equipped gymnasium, a swimming pool and a hospital. There is a model school named BE College Model School in the campus.
Campus activities include games in two large ground called Oval and Lords, that good old "adda" at Netaji bhaban or at the canteen. Apart from all these there is the annual fest cum alumini meet called REBECA,an acronym for "REunion of BECollege Alumni".
There is a cultural club called FOBECS an acronym for "Forum Of BECollege Students".This club organises all kinds of activities from quiz, poetry competition,elocution etc to photography exhibition. It also publishes a monthly magazine called Unmesh.
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Universities and colleges in India | Howrah | Education in Kolkata | Engineering colleges in India | Education in West Bengal
"Bengal Engineering & Science University"