08 February,2014 08:07 AM IST | | Jeet Dalvi
The institute, which is celebrating its diamond jubilee year, started its month-long celebrations with a slew of events yesterday; President Pranab Mukherjee to inaugurate today’s events
To commemorate its diamond jubilee year, Kishinchand Chellaram (KC) College, Churchgate, commenced its month-long celebration yesterday. Some of the events include a vintage car rally from the college to Girgaum chowpatty, and âwall of fame' on which pictures and bios of some of the prominent alumni will be kept on display on the college premises.
Students rehearsing for one of the several events in the celebrations
Some of the dignitaries attending today's events are Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Ambani (alumnus), Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Governor Kateekal Sankarnarayanan and the President of Hyderabad Sindh National Collegiate Board (HSNC) Niranjan Hiranandani. President Pranab Mukherjee will be inaugurating the function. Dimple Kapadia was felicitated on behalf of late Rajesh Khanna (alumni) yesterday.
With the "The â60s" as its theme, the celebration will comprise screening of an in-house feature film âThe Diamonds of Rough', followed by a launch of the book âOur universe celebrating 60 years'. Also launched would be KC's official college anthem, composed and sung by college students and professionals.
In addition, national conferences on the Sindhi language (Feb 14 -15), Media and Globalisation (Feb 20-21) and a national-level seminar on Hindi language (Feb 28-Mar 1), sponsored by the state government, are part of the diamond jubilee celebrations.
Birth of KC
Barrister Hotchand Advani and K M Kundnani came to Mumbai from Pakistan as refugees in 1950. Sensing that there was a need for an educational institution to uplift the Sindhi community, as well as others, they sought donations from the community members and built R D National College in Bandra.
Wanting to establish a similar institute, they leased a plot for 99 years from Ratanben Fauzdaar in Churchgate and constructed KC College in 1954. The very first batch of students were admitted to college, designed by K M Gidwani, on June 1, 1954. Later, they purchased the land from Fauzdaar. Refusing to stop there, they established the HSNC Board.
Beyond education
Known for taking social initiatives, the college recently adopted the entire village of Karavali in Sapahale district near Virar. The institute supplied solar lamps, raw material for handicrafts and initiated âKanyadaan' wherein every married girl, who is over 18 years, is given household items on behalf of her maternal side.
