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Delhi College's Secret Past: From Haveli to Prestige
13 Sep
Summary
- St. Stephen's College began in 1881 with only five students.
- The college's first classrooms were in an 18th-century Mughal haveli.
- Restoration efforts aim to preserve this historic link to the college's past.
St. Stephen's College, a renowned Delhi institution, commenced its journey in 1881 with a small cohort of five students and three teachers. Its nascent academic activities were housed within the Sheesh Mahal, an 18th-century Mughal-era haveli situated in Chandni Chowk's Katra Khushal Rai.
This historic building, once associated with Ashraf Beg, a dignitary under Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, later served as St. Stephen's School starting in 1841. The college operated from this Walled City location for its initial decades before subsequent moves.
In 1891, the college relocated to premises near St. James' Church at Kashmiri Gate, marking its growth. It became affiliated with Punjab University and later joined the University of Delhi in 1922.
Decades later, the college established its presence on its current campus in North Campus, Delhi. Meanwhile, plans for restoring the original haveli, Sheesh Mahal, emerged in the 2000s, recognizing its architectural significance and connection to the college's origins.
The restoration sought to preserve the building, which represents both the college's early history and a fragment of Chandni Chowk's older architectural landscape. This effort highlights the contrast between the college's modest beginnings and its eventual prominence.
