# Handique Girls College

Handique Girls College is a constituent college of the University of Gauhati. It is one of the oldest colleges located in the Indian state of Assam and offers undergraduate courses in Arts and Science.

## History

The college has its roots initially as Panbazar Girls' High school. Subsequently, the Handique Girls College was established in 1939 as the Guwahati Girls College. Mrs Rajabala Das was the founder principal of the college. The college was initially located in the Panbazar area of the city. With the shifting to the present site in 1940, the college was renamed Handique Girls College (in honour of noted philanthropist R. K. Handique), and became affiliated to the University of Calcutta. The college later become affiliated to the University of Gauhati following its establishment in 1948.

### College principals

The college has had eleven principals:
| Year | Principal |
| 1939–1965 | Rajabala Das |
| 1965–1974 | Sarat Chandra Goswami |
| 1974–1984 | Ameda Rasul |
| 1984–1992 | Ratna Kanta Baruah |
| 1994–2000 | Gagan Chandra Baruah |
| 2004-2014 | Indira Bardoloi |
| 2015 – 2022 | Utpal Dutta |
| 2023 - | Ranjit Sarma |

## Campus

The college is situated on the western bank of the Dighalipukhuri in Guwahati. The present campus is spread over two acre of land. The Government of Assam has allocated an additional four acre of land for future expansion.

### Student accommodation

The Nirmal Prova Bordoloi Hostel is situated just opposite to the college campus on the eastern side of the Dighalipukhuri. It is a three storied building with additional residential complex for Hostel Super and other staff members.

## Departments

The college has eighteen departments offering major and general courses. The college offers courses of study in both Arts and Science faculties up to Degree Major level. The medium of instruction is English. However, Assamese is also used as complementary to English. Conforming to the national pattern of education, 10+2+3 structure is followed in the state of Assam and the Three Year Degree Course (TDC) has been introduced from the 1984-85 session.
The following is a list of courses offered at the college:
* Assamese
* Bengali
* Botany
* Chemistry
* Computer Science
* Economics
* English
* Hindi
* History
* Home Science
* Mathematics
* Microbiology
* Philosophy
* Physics
* Political Science
* Psychology
* Sanskrit
* Statistics
* Zoology

## Seat intake

Subjects Offered and Number of Seats Allotted :
| Higher Secondary Courses ||
| Course | Seats |
| Higher Secondary (Arts) | 100 |
| Higher Secondary (Science) | 100 |
| B.A Arts ||
| Subject | No. of Major Seats | No. of Minor Seats |
| Assamese | 70 | 200 |
| Bengali | 30 | 20 |
| Economics | 100 | 150 |
| Education | 70 | 120 |
| English | 80 | 170 |
| Hindi | 50 | 30 |
| History | 90 | 120 |
| Community Science (Home Science) | 30 | 30 |
| Philosophy | 65 | 100 |
| Political Science | 70 | 200 |
| Psychology | 50 | 60 |
| Sanskrit | 30 | 20 |
| Mathematics | 10 | 10 |
| B.Sc Science ||
| Subject | No. of Major Seats | No. of Minor Seats |
| Botany | 50 | 70 |
| Chemistry | 40 | 120 |
| Computer Science | - | 25 |
| Community Science (Home Science) | 20 | 20 |
| Mathematics | 40 | 60 |
| Microbiology | - | 30 |
| Physics | 50 | 25 |
| Statistics | 30 | 40 |
| Zoology | 60 | 70 |
| Other Courses ||
| Course | Seats |
| Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) | 35 |

## Societies

The following is a list of societies active in the college:
* Aangik – A society for cultural activities
* Adventure sports activities
* Assamese Literary Society
* Astronomy Club
* Bohemian Souls- The Dramatics Society
* Disputatio: Unleash the orator in you - debating society
* Economic Society.
* Educational and Psychological Society
* Entrepreneurship Development Cell
* Handique Girls’ College Science Society
* Health Awareness Cell
* Home Science Society
* Philosophical Study Circle.
* Photographic Society
* Phuloni-Society for green thumbs
* Red Ribbon Club
* Sanskrit Sadanam
* Srijan – A society for creative writing
* The Fountain Head
* The Weavers Society for Creative writing in English
* Women’s Studies Research Centers' Cell

## Festivals

The college celebrates two major festivals during the annual session:
* Freshers Social
* Saraswati Puja
* Cultural week followed by Cultural Night

## Student Union

The Handique Girls College Students Union is the general body of the students of the college. Its membership is compulsory for every student admitted into the college. The office bearers of the Union are elected annually through direct ballot. The Students' Union organizes various activities mainly Games and Sports, Debate, Cultural items and Social Service among the students. It also brings out a magazine annually as a medium for developing the potentialities of students.

## Notable alumni

* Shakuntala Choudhary — social worker.
* Sudakshina Sarma — Assamese language singer and musician.