Amar Singh College

Amar Singh College

Front view of Amar Singh College in 2021
Motto in English	Light More Light
Type	Education
Established	1913(112 years ago) (1913)
Principal	Prof. Aijaz Ahmed Hakak
Location	Wazir Bagh, Srinagar , Jammu and Kashmir , India 34°02′N74°29′E / 34.03°N 74.48°E / 34.03; 74.48
Campus	Urban, 35 hectares (86 acres)
Affiliations	Kashmir University Cluster University of Srinagar
Website	https://www.amarsinghcollege.ac.in/
Location in Jammu & Kashmir, India Show map of Jammu and Kashmir Amar Singh College (India) Show map of India

Amar Singh College, is an academic and professional college in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is the second oldest college in the Kashmir Valley after Sri Pratap College. ^[1]

History

It was established in November 1913 ^[2] as Amar Singh Technical Institute, to teach willing students art, culture, and basics like masonry and carpentry. It was formally opened on 29 May 1914 by Maharaja Pratap Singh. In June 1942, the Technical Institute was converted into Amar Singh College through bifurcation of Sri Pratap College commemorating the name of the father of Hari Singh, the then Maharaja of Kashmir. ^[1] M.D. Taseer became the first principal of Amar Singh College in 1942. ^[3] was recognized by University Grants Commission of India (UGC) in June 1972. The College is accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with B++ Grade.

Location

The college is located in Wazir Bagh, in the city of Srinagar. It is spread over 35 hectares (86 acres) of land divided into a large playground, parks, gardens, and an infrastructural area.

At present, the college has multiple academic buildings making a total built-up area of about 30,000 square metres (320,000 sq ft). This includes the glorious heritage building, representing the finest blend of Anglo-Indian architecture, constructed in 1910 for running a technical institute. Presently it houses chemistry department, teaching staff room, UGC, IQAC Cell, NSS and NCC rooms, besides having six lecture theaters and three large halls for the conduct of examinations. The heritage building had got damages during earthquake in 2005 and devastating floods in September 2014. ^[4] However, it was repaired and restored to its actual look in 2017-18 by the then Jammu and Kashmir state Government through INTACH. In 2020, Amar Singh college was awarded the prestigious Award of Merit in the Unesco Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation for the restoration of the heritage building. ^{[5] [6]}

About the College

• Amar Singh College served as a nodal college for Kashmir Division acting as a liaison between departments of higher education and about fifty government colleges of the providence. However,nstitute of Advanced Studies in Education (IASE) located at M.A Road has been designated for this j and Amar Singh College no longer remains the nodal collegeob.
• The college has a well equipped library with a collection of about 70,000 books including a collection of rare books.

• The college offers Undergraduate courses in Science, Arts, Commerce and Computer applications, and Postgraduate studies in geography, economics, and english.
• The college also offers UGC sponsored add-on job-oriented courses in information technology, video editing, computer application, and web design.
• The college is also one of the Special Study centers of IGNOU. ^[7]

Facilities

• Library ^[8]
• Computer Labs
• Auditorium
• Gymkhana
• Canteen
• Classrooms
• Sports and Games
• Hostel
• National Service Scheme (NSS)
• National Cadet Corps (NCC)

JKIMS

Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Mathematical Sciences is an autonomous public institution under recognition of University of Kashmir, situated inside the campus of Amar Singh College Srinagar in Indian administered Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which was established in 2014 by the higher education department of government of Jammu and Kashmir. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

Note that the college has its own departments for mathematics and statistics. JKIMS is an independent institute merely located in the premises of ASC, CUS.

Famous alumni

• Kuldeep Khoda IPS

Former Director General of Police, J&K (2007-12) and Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner, J&K (2013-17). Decorated with Presidential Police Medal for Distinguished Services, President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Services, Prime Ministers Medal for Excellence in Public Administration, Wembley Savy Awarded by International Chiefs of Police Association, Washington for conceiving and implementing concept of Village Defence Committees for combating terrorism in J&K. Joined Amar Singh College in 1966. Graduated in 1970. Got 1st Rank from J&K University in Class 12 as student of the college. After graduation joined Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi wherefrom qualified in All India Civil Services Cmpetetive Exam and joined Indian Police Service in 1974.

• Major General Mohammed Amin Naik, (Chief Engineer, Central Army Command, and first Kashmiri General in the Indian Army)
• Prof. Amitabh Mattoo
• Mehrajuddin Wadoo - Football Player
• Chewang Norphel - Indian Civil Engineer
• Keshav Malik - Poet
• Kacho Sikander Khan - Writer
• Shahnaz Bashir - Writer

References

1. "Amar Singh College History". www.amarsinghcollege.ac.in. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
2. "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Jammu & Kashmir". www.tribuneindia.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
3. "Remembering a Personality". 1 December 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
4. Ashiq, Peerzada (18 December 2020). "Restoration work on Amar Singh College building in Srinagar wins UNESCO award". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 17 September 2023.
5. Ganai, Naseer (19 December 2020). "Unesco Award For Srinagar's Amar Singh College Is Huge: Architect Saima Iqbal". Outlook India . Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
6. "Srinagar's Amar Singh College conservation project recognised with UNESCO award". Hindustan Times. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
7. "IGNOU Study Centre Amar Singh College Srinagar Admission". 11 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
8. Chatt, Rakib (14 July 2015). "Amar Singh College, Kashmir's heritage college struggling hard". Rising Kashmir . Archived from the original on 22 July 2015.
9. "Govt approves permanent faculty for JKIMS | Free Press Kashmir". 15 June 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
10. "In a first, JK has Institute for Mathematical Sciences". Greater Kashmir. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
11. ANI (16 August 2014). "Mathematical training workshop held in Kashmir". Business Standard India. Retrieved 10 November 2020.