Vatchal Fergussonchi by V. M Bachal

In 1879 Tilak and Agarkar stayed in the same room while in the Deccan College hostel. While talking about those days he says; “Both of us were completely captivated. We could think of nothing else but the condition of our country. After much brain storming we believed that only education could rescue us from the bad situation.” This brain storming later resulted into a school project. The New English School was established on 1st January 1880 under the able leadership of Vishnu Shastri Chiplunkar. The Deccan Education Society was established on 24th October 1884 while Fergusson College came into existence on 2nd January 1885. Fergusson College completed 125 years on 2nd January 2005. Fergusson College has always been one of its own types. It was a completely new venture. It is a combination of contrary aspects. It allows freedom of thoughts. It has aimed at selflessness. Persistence has been at its core. Since, it was first in the row, there were many types of problems and hurdles like in any other institution. Difference of opinion, government opposition, economic and administrative challenges, extreme efforts taken in an attempt to run the institution, the teachers’ contribution to take the education to definite heights, the honest efforts by the students, their love for the institution, their contribution in different areas of life including politics, economics, social commitment, literature and art and the continuous support from the society had always been a part and parcel of the institution. This book tries to fathom these various aspects. This book is divided into three parts: Establishment to Golden Jubilee year: 1885-1935; Golden Jubilee to Century: 1935-1985 and Century to Post Century Silver Jubilee: 1985-2010.