Alia Madrasa was founded by Warren Hastings, the Governor General of Fort William in Bengal. It was established in 1780 in Kolkata, India. The purpose of the madrasa was to provide education to Muslim in the region. The madrasa offered courses in Arabic, Persian, and Islamic law. It also offered courses in secular subjects such as mathematics and science. The East India Company initially funded Alia Madrasah. However, in 1835, the company withdrew its funding. The government of India then took over the madrasa.