Kamala Nehru College

Smt. Kamala Nehru was a flame that flickered briefly during the raging storm of the freedom movement in India but left the imprints for generations to follow Her contribution as an individual is not known to everyone. During the freedom struggle, she braved lathi-charges, organised processions, addressed meetings and led picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops. She had to languish in the prison for days for the cause of India?s independence. Her personality had a major influence on her husband Jawaharlal Nehru and she stood by him in his determination to plunge into the movement started by Mahatma Gandhi so that India could be free from the clutches of the British rule. While her husband was sent to the prison for days and months, Kamala Nehru put her all energies into social work. To begin with, she instituted a hospital in Swaraj Bhawan (Nehrus family mansion) to treat freedom fighters and others wounded due to severe lathi charges. She persuaded women to come out of their homes and join the freedom struggle movement. Her determination for the empowerment of women pushed her to work for the education of women and encourage them to get rid of the old custom of purdah. As a member of the Rashthriya Stree Sabha which was set up in 1921, Kamala Nehru worked for the entry of Harijan into temples. She was the first among the group of volunteers to sell contraband salt during the Salt Satyagraha. During the year 1930, Kamala Nehru led Desh Sevika Sangh along with Kasturba Gandhi and Sarojini Naidu and took up the challenging task of policing the disturbed areas of Bombay. While most men fighting for the freedom of the country were behind the bars, Kamala Nehru took up the task of organizing the work related to the freedom movement in her own ways. She was also the President of the Allahabad District Congress. By the end of 1931, Kamala Nehru?s health started deteriorating and she passed away suffering from tuberculosis at the age of 37 in Switzerland. This was the end of the life of Smt. Kamala Nehru who left a legacy of determination and courage for women to follow The life of Smt. Kamala Nehru instils the spirit of hard work, determination and a sense of pride in every student who becomes a part of Kamala Nehru College. The very name of the courageous Kamala Nehru encourages the young women of the college to confidently march ahead against all odds in life.. Kamala Nehru College was established on 20th July 1964. At that time it was known as Government College for Women and was located in Defence Colony. The College initially offered courses only in humanities but later the commerce stream was added. The college began the early years of its journey under the guidance of the founder Principal Dr.K.K. Gorowara. When the college was started it just had 16 staff members and 209 students passed out in the first batch in 1968. The College Magazine Swati was launched in the academic year 1965-66. Further in 1966-67, the College was renamed as Modern College for Women and in 1967-68 the College Magazine acquired a new name Apoorva. On 21st November 1972, the foundation stone for a new building was laid at Hauz Khas (at present August Kranti Marg) by then President Shri V.V.Giri. The college was given a new name and it became Kamala Nehru College. In 1974, on the occasion of Founders Day, Mrs. Indira Gandhi visited the new building, unveiled the plaque and planted saplings. The college has a beautiful auditorium which was built through sincere contribution made by the staff and students through fund raising campaigns. It was inaugurated on 17th December 1991 by the then Vice-President Dr.Shankar Dayal Sharma. Today the college has well maintained sports grounds, computer labs, gymnasium and eco-friendly classrooms (bamboo rooms apart from the main building). The library is well stacked and has a separate audio visual section. The college is physically challenged friendly and is under constant CCTV surveillance. The Placement Cell, NSS, NSO, NCC, Counselling Cell function for the overall wellbeing of the students. Kamala Nehru College has several extra-curricular societies that cover the whole gamut of personality development aspects by providing plural avenues to students for self-discovery.