Pachhunga University College (PUC) is a public institute in
Aizawl, Mizoram, and a constituent college of Mizoram University, a central
university established by an Act of Parliament of India. Founded in 1958 as
Aijal College, it is the oldest and largest college in Mizoram, by enrolment
and campus size. It started with Intermediate of Arts (equivalent of higher
secondary education) courses, and later expanded to bachelor degrees in arts,
commerce and science. With the opening of master's degree courses in Mizo,
philosophy and life sciences, it became the first postgraduate college in
Mizoram.
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The name is given after Pachhunga, a leading businessman and
politician, who provided funds for its initial management in 1962. It became
university college when the North Eastern Hill University incorporated it as
its only constituent college in 1979. The permanent campus, occupied since
1965, is situated at College Veng, a locality located at the eastern end of
Aizawl. The 138-acre campus is the only verdant forest reserve in Aizawl, and
is referred to as the "lung of the city." For its conservation of forests, it received
the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Awards in 1995, a national award for
pioneering and innovative works in afforestation and wasteland management, from
the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
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It received the Best College award from the Zoram Research
Foundation, consecutively in 2004 and 2006. Between 2009 and 2013, the
Department of Science and Technology of India awarded the college with a
special scheme of Fund for Improvement of Science and Technology Infrastructure
(FIST). In 2011, the Department of Biotechnology of India set up Institutional
Biotech Hub, which was promoted to Advanced Institutional Biotech Hub in 2017.
The same year, DBT awarded its Star College Scheme. The National Assessment and Accreditation
Council classified it as B grade with a cumulative grade point average of 2.78
in 2011, and raised it to A+ grade with a CGPA of 3.51 in 2016, the highest
score in Mizoram. The National Institutional Ranking Framework listed it among
the best 150 colleges in India (rank band within 101-150). In 2017, the
University Grants Commission made it College with Potential for Excellence.
History
After the independence of India from the British Empire in
1947, the Mizo people were governed under the Government of Assam as Lushai
Hills district. By 1950s, many Mizo people had finished secondary education
with no further opportunity. J. Malsawma made the first provocative petition
for the establishment of college by writing an open letter titled "Vana Pa
College" in MZP Magazine; but to no avail. He and H.K. Bawichhuaka, set up
what they called an "Organising Board" at Pachhunga's house in 1957.
By then, Pachhunga was known as the "most prosperous Mizo
businessman" or "the wealthiest man in Mizoram", and he was made
Chairman of the board. The board held a public meeting in June 1957 at the
Boys’ Middle English School, wherein the public unanimously voted the Deputy
Commissioner as Chairman of the board. The Deputy Commissioner then was
adamant. In April 1958, Lawrence Singh Ingty from Mikir Hills become the new
Deputy Commissioner. Quick to action, Ingty created the first Organising Board
under his chairmanship, with Bawichhuaka as the Secretary, Malsawma as the
Joint Secretary, and Lalhmingthanga (Pachhunga's son) as the Treasurer. He
inaugurated Aijal College on 15 August 1958 (Indian Independence Day) at Aijal
Theatre Hall (now Vanapa Hall).
Ingty asked Brother Godfrey Danis, who at the time was
Headmaster of St. Paul's High School, to become a temporary Principal. The
faculty were volunteers and originally comprised a team of Christian
missionaries including John Meirion Lloyd, Helen Lowry, G.R. Roberts (Pi Tei)
and Father O'Brien, along with educated natives such as Rita Neihpuii,
Sangliana, and Malsawma. Classes officially started on 1 September 1958.[8]
Initially, classes were conducted at the Theatre Hall itself in the afternoon
(which they called Evening Class). Towards the end of 1961, the college moved
to an abandoned warehouse at Children's Park. For financial support, Ingty
would ask for donation from people applying for arms license. Upon the request
of the Organising Board, the Welsh Mission Board (Foreign Mission of the
Presbyterian Church of Wales) appointed Rev. Alwyn Roberts as the first regular
Principal in November 1960. In 1961, the
college became government aided, and received affiliation from Gauhati
University.
In 1962, it was renamed Pachhunga Memorial College (PMC)
after the philanthropic entrepreneur Mr. Pachhunga, he and his family who were
outstanding benefactors of the college since its inception. It was relocated to
its permanent campus in June 1965. On 1 July 1965, the Assam Government
declared provincialisation (official recognition), and the name was once more
changed to Pachhunga Memorial Government College (PMGC). Permanent teachers
were appointed only in 1967 under the Assam Public Service Commission. UGC
granted full recognition in 1969.
When Lushai Hills became a separate Union Territory as
Mizoram under Assam in 1972, the management of the college was handed over to
the Government of Mizoram. The college was renamed Pachhunga Government College
in 1977. The affiliation was transferred to a newly established North Eastern
Hill University (NEHU), on 19 April 1979. NEHU incorporated the college
administration to its own and made it its only constituent college with a
vision to promote it as a "pace-setting institution." Then it was
renamed Pachhunga University College (PUC). With the setting up of Mizoram
University on 2 July 2002, the authority was once again signed over to the new
university; and remain as such ever since.
Course
For a start, the degree consisted of only Intermediate of
Arts (I.A.; modern equivalent of higher secondary) with five subjects such as
English, Civics, Geography, History and Logic. New courses on basic science
were instituted in 1973. In 1974 the affiliation was transferred to the newly established
North Eastern Hill University. The faculty of commerce was introduced in 1984,
and with this, the college was, and remains, the only institute in Mizoram to
offer the three different disciplines. Department of Public Administration was
initiated in 2005. From 2012 two new departments such as Biotechnology and
Environmental Science were started. In 2018, Bachelor of Business
Administration, postgraduate courses in arts and science were started.[11] All
courses are conducted with Choice-Based Credit System.[12]
As of 2018, there are 11 bachelor degree courses in arts
(English, Economics, Education, Geography, History, Mizo, Philosophy, Political
Science, Psychology, Public Administration and Sociology), 9 in science
(Biotechnology, Botany, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics,
Physics, Statistics and Zoology), 1 each in Commerce and BBA. There are three
master's degree courses, M.Sc. in Life Sciences, M.A. in Philosophy, and M.A.
in Mizo.
Additional courses
PUC is the Study Centre 1923 under IGNOU. Started in 2008,
the centre offers certificate courses such as in Environmental Studies,
Laboratory Techniques, Higher Education, and HIV and Family Education, along
with bachelor's degrees in arts and science.
UGC add-on and skill development courses have been
introduced including Certificate Course in Pisciculture (2009-2013) and
Certificate Course in Human Rights (since 2013). PUC also received UGC
Community College Scheme in 2015 from which Diploma in Mushroom Cultivation course
is offered. The college also conducts a self-financing Finishing School for
graduating students. Coaching Class for
Entry into Civil Services are conducted during winter sessions.
Mizo Cultural Studies and Performing Arts was introduced in
2018.
Faculty
There are 99 permanent teachers, including the Principal.
60.57% of them possess PhD and 12% MPhil in their respective fields. There is 1
Professor, 23 are Associate Professors, and 80 are Assistant Professors. J.V.
Hluna became the first Professor in colleges in Mizoram under UGC regulations.
There are 71 supporting staff including Assistant Registrar, Section Officer,
clerks, peons, drivers and cleaners. There are 25 technical staff including
laboratory assistants, mechanic, electrician and carpenters.
Students
Average number of enrollment of students is 2,200 for the
past five years, with approximately 850 fresh admission every year. Admission
is done through online portal and selection is based on merit in the last
board/university examination. Minimum mark required for application to any
course is 50% of the total marks in the last examination. More than 95% belong
to minority and Scheduled Tribe category. The average annual gender ratio of
male to female is 1.1:1.
The college has official organisations for students such as
Students' Union, National Service Scheme, National Cadet Corps, and Red Ribbon
Club. It offers "Earn While Learn" scheme for students from low
income family to earn their educational expenses. Other independent
co-curricular bodies include Cultural Club, Eco Club, Adventure Club, Literature
Club, and Chess Club.
Awards for students
The college and its alumni provide proficiency awards such
as H.K. Bawichhuaka Proficiency Award for BA students, Lenrual Hlui Science
Proficiency Award for BSc students, and Khawtinkhuma Proficiency Award for BCom
students who secured highest marks in the final university examinations. There
are sponsored awards such as ZET Award from Zoram Educational Trust (ZET) for
meritorious students in physics, and SEL Foundation Award from Sunflower
Electronics Foundation for students in physics, mathematics and chemistry.
NSS
PUC Unit of NSS was established in 1972. It organises
community works and social services regularly. Annual programme includes Green
Mizoram Day, Cleanliness Drive, and Mass Blood Donation.[17] PUC Unit has won
Indira Gandhi NSS Awards two times, in 1994-1995 and in 2015-2016. In the
2015-2016 Indira Gandhi NSS Awards, Zoramdinthara received the Programme
Officer Award, and Chawnghlunchhungi received the Volunteers Award.[18][19]
Since 1998, PUC Unit set the record of most blood donation from educational
institution in Mizoram. In 1998, 333 volunteers donated blood in a day.[20] It
also won first prize under the category of educational institution jointly
awarded by the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) and the Association
for Voluntary Blood Donation (AVBD) at the World Blood Donor Day on 14 June
2018.
Administrative Building.
PUC campus is situated at the eastern side of Aizawl, and
covers 138 acres of land. There are five academic buildings, one central
library, seven staff quarters, health clinic, counseling centre, NSS/Students’
Union Office, power generator room, ring well, basketball court, volleyball
court, and seismological observatory. In addition to classrooms and
departmental rooms, Academic Block 1 consists of Student's Recreation Centre
and Internet Resource Centre. Academic Block 2 consists of a
workshop/maintenance cell. The basement of Academic Block 3 is Language Lab.
Science Building consists of IGNOU Centre 1923. Seminar Hall lies adjacent to
Science Building and Life Science Building, and the basement is a cafeteria.
Research and Instrumentation Centre, Zoological Museum, and Advanced Biotech
Hub are at located within Life Science Building.
The administrative building consists of Principal's chamber,
establishment cell, finance cell, faculty common room and departmental offices.
Multipurpose Auditorium is located at the entrance of the playground. It
consists of badminton court. The playground is standard football pitch size,
surrounded by concrete pavilion. There are two girls' hostel each having 190
capacity, and two boys' hostel, each with 178 boarders . A free-access Internet
Resource Centre, the first of its kind in Mizoram,[23] was established under
NER FIST of the Department of Science and Technology. All offices and
departmental rooms are linked with internet connectivity through broadband
service. All classrooms and laboratories are furnished with fixed LCD
projection system since 2012.
Library
PUC library had been one of the best in northeast India;
however, the original library was completely burnt down on 4 November 1981.[24]
With new building and restoration, it has now collected more than 42,803
general books, 34,242 textbooks, 8,561 reference books, 29 academic journals,
and a number of magazines and newspapers available. Reprography and internet
access are also available. Library automation has been initiated, and is using
INFLIBNET.
Laboratories
All science departments, Geography and Psychology have
separate laboratories. The laboratories are adequately provided with
state-of-the-art equipment for practical classes. Sophisticated instruments are
also available for research activities. Laboratories are further maintained
through NER FIST of the Department of Science and Technology. Departments of
Botany, Chemistry and Zoology are further supported by the Star College Scheme
of Department of Biotechnology since 2012.
The college's music video
Research Centre (ground floor), Biotech Hub (first floor),
and Life Sciences classroom (second floor).
There is a Research and Instrumentation Centre at the
Zoology Department in which research projects are carried out. It also houses
the Advanced Institutional Biotech Hub.
The institution receives research grants from various
funding agencies. There have been 23 research projects from UGC, out of which
21 are minor research projects and 2 are major research projects. There are two
major research projects in Zoology Department from the Department of
Biotechnology. The Department of Science and Technology has given four major
research projects and two Women Scientist schemes. Under the Advanced
Institutional Biotech Hub, a separate research is conducted.
Mizoram Government (Horticulture Department) had sponsored
"Zo Huan". The Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
also had funded research projects on fish diversity and campus conservation.
Zoram Educational Trust (ZET) also offers a minor research scheme.
PUC had its first NAAC assessment in 2011, and received
grade B with CGPA of 2.78. It was the second highest grade among institutions
in Mizoram. In the next cycle in 2016, it was graded A+ with CGPA of 3.51,[26]
becoming the highest graded institution in the state.
In 2018, the National Institutional Ranking Framework listed
PUC for the first time and included it among the best 150 colleges in India
(rank band within 101-150).[6] At 132, the college ranked highest among colleges
in northeast India.
On 23 July 2018, PUC received its first certification of the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) from HYM International
Certifications Pvt. Ltd. It is certified for ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management)
leh ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management).
Pachhunga University College Alumni Association (PUCAA) was
established in 2007, with P.L. Liandinga as its first President. Among the
notable alumni, Lal Thanhawla is one of the most successful politicians and is
the longest serving Chief Minister of Mizoram. He has been in office during
1984-1986, 1989-1998, and 2013-2018. He won general elections nine times, in
1978, 1979, 1984, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2008, and 2013.[29][30] Vanlalzawma is also
another politician. He had been a teacher at Government Hrangbana College,
President of Young Mizo Association (YMA), and Member of Parliament from
Mizoram in the 13th Lok Sabha and 14th Lok Sabha. In 2013 election, he became
Member of Legislative Assembly of Mizoram and Opposition Leader in the
assembly.[31] Laltluangliana Khiangte is a renowned Mizo literary scholar and
Professor at Mizoram University. He was Principal of Serampore College and
Professor at NEHU. He is the recipient of Pu Buanga Award, the highest literary
award of the Mizo Academy of Letters,[32] and Padma Shri, the fourth highest
civilian award in India.[33]
PUC organises a Cultural Day every three years since 2011.
On 14 November 2011, the Principal Tawnenga launched it as a commemoration of
cultural harmony and as promotion of ethnic awareness among the students and
employees. At the event, all staff and students dress up in their own ethnic
costumes. Part of the programme, Laisuih Award is given to an individual who
has made influential contribution to Mizo literature, particularly through
music. The first award was given to V. Thangzama, a traditional musician and
composer. In 2015, the award went to singer Lalnunmawia (Valtea).
The
2018 award was given to Lalnunsanga, vocalist of a rock band T. Melody from
Myanmar.
Lalnusanga perform on the event.
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