Mahendra College turns 125
By Jagjit Puri

MAHENDRA College, Patiala, is a premier institution of higher education and perhaps one of the oldest educational institutions in the region. Even Panjab University came into existence after the college became functional. It was affiliated to Calcutta University in 1877. The foundation stone of the college, which is named after the then ruling king, Maharaja Dhiraj Mahendra Singh of Patiala, was laid on March 13, 1875. Maharaja Mahendra Singh was very keen to give his subjects the opportunity to opt for higher education. Khaliffa Sayyaid

Hussain Mohammad Khan Bahadur, the then Prime Minister of Patiala state, in his famous book Tareekh-e-Patiala, published in 1877, writes that the foundation stone was laid by the then Maharaja of Patiala in the presence of His Excellency Lord North Brook, who was then Governor-General and Viceroy of India.

As per the author, at that time Patiala state had 90 educational institutions and 6000 students. At the function, Lord Brook stressed that it would be better if quality education was given to the students instead of mass education. Lord Brook also presented a gold medal to the institute on this occasion to be given to the student who stood first. Khaliffa Sayyaid also states that the miniature replica of a snake in gold was kept (so that the institute became pious) in a small bottle and on the mouth of the bottle a plaque was put with the inscription: Today, on Samvat 1935 in the Hindus’ Chet month 29th Tith i.e. 3rd March, 1975 i.e. 21st day of Safar Mahina 1292 Hizri (Tuesday) in the presence of Hazoor Right Hon’ble Lord Tamas George Berrings Sahib Bahadur Theran North Brook GMSI Queen Victoria’s Viceroy General of India in the presence of distinguished gathering of Amirs, the foundation was laid by Maharaja Rajeshwar ji Raaj Mahendra Singh Bahadur, GCSI of Patiala, with his own hands.

Started with barely 92 students in 1877, now the 125-year-old Government Mahendra College has a strength of 4000 students and has the distinction of being the Alma Mater of hundreds of eminent persons.