One of the premier higher education institutions in Assam, Biswanath College has come a long way since its establishment on 7th September in 1960 on the north bank of the river Brahmaputra. The College was the brainchild of the socially conscious benevolent people of Biswanath Chariali with indomitable thirst for knowledge and strong desire to educate the masses of the locality at a time when Biswanath Chariali was considered to be an interior part of Assam. Away from Guwahati by around 254 km, it is now headquarter of newly created Biswanath district. The people of the locality then firmly believed that education is the movement from darkness to light. The logo and the motto line, तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय (lead us from darkness to light), of the college capture the essence of enlightenment which is the avowed objective of the College. The motto line is taken from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. The emblem of the college depicts a glowing sun in the innermost circle which symbolises the college’s march towards enlightenment.
Vision
Earlier the stated vision of the College was to impart liberal quality education and to produce intellectually sound, morally upright, socially concerned and spiritually oriented men and women to the service of the nation. But with the change of time, an institution has to make a specific goal than a generalised goal for its growth. Drawing inspiration from the aforementioned ancient Indian mantra in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the College now envisions itself to be a premier institution of learning in the country committed to excellence. The college firmly believes that the world is full of possibilities, and with this conviction it will persistently try to transform itself from a mere institution of higher education on the north bank of the river Brahmaputra to an institute of excellence in the country in future.
Mission
To empower the students with quality education, make them realise their potentialities and responsibilities so that they become the real human resources for the nation;
- To bring the underprivileged and socially disadvantaged sections of society, specially the women folk, to the fold of higher education;
- To take measures towards sustainable development of society and environmental care and to help the students form a holistic personality combining skills and values;
- To give the students an ideal platform for debates and discussions to cultivate democratic spirit;
- To train up the learners in a line that facilitates them to find avenues for self-employment;
- To make students aware of rich cultural heritage of our pluralistic society where there is the much-coveted unity in diversity;
- To promote gathering and sharing of new knowledge among students through research activities and publications;
- To promote the effective use of information and communication technology in academics and administrative areas.
Named after the historical Biswanath temple, one of the oldest temples in the north-eastern part of India, the College stepped into the diamond jubilee year on 7th September of 2019. The concluding programme of the year-long diamond jubilee celebration on 7th September, 2020, would have been spectacular one from all sides had there been no lockdown constraints. Despite the lockdown constraints, the IQAC of the college organized an International Webinar on “Mahatma Gandhi and his Legacy” to make the day remarkable, in which internationally acclaimed writer, former visiting professor of London School of Economics, winner of Sahitya Akademi award and Padma Bhusan, Professor Ramachandra Guha participated as the resource person.
The college got recognition as a member institute of United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) in 2020. The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) of the college also received recognition as member of Innovation Cell of MHRD and got 2.5 star rating in the calendar year 2019-20. The college has signed MoU with other institutions like Biswanath College of Agriculture, Assam Start Up The Nest, operated by IIM Calcutta Innovation Park and made collaboration with E&ICT Academy under IIT Guwahati, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health (LGBRIMH), Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA)—India (an NGO) and Forest Department of Assam to promote research, entrepreneurial and innovative works.
Brought under deficit-grant-in-aid by the Government of Assam on 1st April, 1963, our college introduced the faculty of science in 1970, the faculty of commerce in 2012, the BCA in 2017 and PG course in Assamese in 2018. It has green sprawling 29.62 acres campus with built-up area of 14300 square metres. It has adequate infrastructure for all-round development of students. Today our college has 4 streams (arts, science, commerce and computer applications), 18 UG programmes, 1 PG programme, 3 certificate courses, and offers honours programmes in 13 subjects.
The College was for the first time accredited by NAAC at B grade (71.00 points) in 2004. It was reaccredited by NAAC in the 2nd cycle of accreditation in 2015 with B grade (CGPA of 2.80). It has diverse student population belonging to almost all communities in Assam. It has been relentlessly supporting the growth of the spirit of co-existence and cooperation among them in such a way that it is an example of unity in diversity.
Through the competent and committed teachers and effective student support mechanism the College maintains academically encouraging atmosphere. After graduation, significant numbers of our students move to post graduation and research.
The College has central library with ILMS, good collection of books, journals and newspapers, Wi-Fi facility, open access system and spacious reading rooms which is the member of N-LIST. It has a democratically elected students’ body to best represent the aspirations of the diverse student population. The vibrant Alumni Association organises development programmes and raises fund for the College.
The College has a Bio-Tech Hub under the sponsorship of Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
The College offers a certificate course on tea husbandry and has a tea garden on 1.34 hectares of land which is a good source of income. It has adequate infrastructure for teaching, learning and extension activities with Wi-Fi coverage in almost major parts of the campus. The students of the College shine in cultural, literary, sports, NCC and NSS activities. The college enjoys confidence of stakeholders.
To turn a backward village into an ideal village, the NSS unit of the College in cooperation with NCC unit adopted an interior backward village Kro Arong, in Karbi Block of Biswanath.
Some of the College’s alumni have made mark for themselves in various fields. This is enough proof of the college’s pursuit for excellence. But the world is constantly changing. The only thing that remains constant is change. Higher education has entered a turbulent time, enabled by new online technologies and disrupted by change in our political and cultural environment, let alone COVID constraints. These are only accelerated by new habits, at warp speed, of information sharing. In this atmosphere the College has to be dynamic in the literal sense of the term to survive, thrive and accomplish the ultimate goal of moulding young mind.
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