In Purulia District most students drop out of high school due to economic hardship and the literacy rate is extremely low. Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, the founder of Ananda Marga, had a vision to elevate the educational status and improve the standard of living in the most backward areas of India through a comprehensive system of education. Initially, there was no higher educational institution in and around Ananda Nagar. He founded the Degree College at Ananda Nagar in the year 1966, providing higher education and a path out of extreme poverty to members of the poorest communities. This is A RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE with Hostel facility for Boys having separate campuses for Boys and Girls. There are 2 boys hostels, each seating 20-40 students.
The college is the top level of the local educational system and has been an undeniable success, serving more than 60 villages around Ananda Nagar over the years—villages that had previously had little access to higher education. The college has produced approximately one thousand graduates who otherwise would have had no higher educational opportunity. These graduates have pursued successful careers in diverse areas including industry, government and education. In turn, their achievements have facilitated the improvement of the economic and living standard of the people around Ananda Nagar.
The college, is affiliated with SIDHO KANHO BIRSHA UNIVERSITY, currently offers bachelor level degrees in the arts and science, and a curriculum encompassing Bengali, biology, chemistry, English and English Honors, history, mathematics, philosophy, physics, political science and Sanskrit. Geography will be added during 2010. The final two years of the high school curriculum is also available to students who must complete these requirements before college matriculation. In addition, the college promotes and imparts moral and spiritual values as the basis of a successful personal and social life.
In 1966, Ananda Marga College was founded at Ananda Nagar to provide higher education to the poor communities of Purulia district. Ananda Marga College is affiliated with Sidhu Kanho Birsa University and offers Bachelor degree programs in the Arts and Science, and courses in the academic areas of literature and history, physics and mathematics, chemistry and biology, Bengali and English. There are current plans to expand the Honours programs and to also develop Masters Degree programs. Currently, there are more than 500 students studying at the College.
The College has been a great success, for having served more than 60 villages around Ananda Nagar over the years. Every year, hundreds of young students graduate from the College, after passing the Burdwan University examinations, and get job placements or go to pursue higher technical or professional education at different prestigious universities. The College has produced over one thousand graduates, who otherwise would have had no higher educational opportunity. These graduates have gone on to have successful careers in industry, government and education. In turn, their achievements have facilitated the improvement of the economic and living standard of the people around Ananda Nagar. The College has been granted special status in Burdwan University and the State, for the brilliant academic performance of its students and its dedicated service in this neglected part of the state of West Bengal. More information about the college can be found at: http://anandamargacollege.org
