Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute

Deccan College in Pune is the third oldest educational institution in the country. Stretching back to the Dakshina Fund started by Khanderao Dabhade, a Maratha Sardar and continued by the Peshwas for propagating learning, the Dakshina Fund was given the status of an institution named as the Hindoo College in 1821 (Vijayadasami day) by Mountstuart Elephantine, the enlightened Governor of Bombay Presidency.

 

An English school was added to the College in 1842 and in 1851 the English school was merged with the Hindoo College to form the Poona College. From its original location in Vishrambaug Wada and later in Wanowri, the Poona College was shifted to its present large campus near Yerawada. The land for the campus was donated by the Bombay Government and the Foundation stone of the main Building was laid in 1864.

 

At this stage the College was renamed as Deccan College in recognition of the enrolment of students from the entire Deccan region.In recognition of the excellence achieved by the Institute both in teaching and research, the H.R.D. Ministry, Government of India, awarded it the status of a Deemed University in  1990. It started functioning as Deemed University from  1994.