Lucknow University
The University of Lucknow, popularly known as Lucknow University, is a state university. It is a public university that was established on 25 November 1920 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the oldest government-owned higher education institutions in India. The motto of the University is Light and Learning.
Lucknow University has two campuses, one of its campuses is situated in Badshah Bagh, University Road area, which is its main campus; the second campus is located at Jankipuram. It has an academic affiliation with University Grant Commission. The Chancellor of Lucknow University is the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, and its Vice-Chancellor is Alok Kumar Rai.
The University of Lucknow is a residential, teaching, and affiliating university. More than 500 colleges and 17 institutions in and around the city are affiliated with Lucknow University. Colleges in four districts, Hardoi, Raebareli, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Sitapur, are also affiliated with Lucknow University.
History
Lucknow University was established by Raja Sir Mohammad Ali Mohammad Khan, Khan Bahadur, K.C.I.E of Mahmudabad. Sir Harcourt Butler, who was the Governor of United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), is quite famous for making Mohammad Khan’s interest in every matter, particularly in education. Mohammad Khan through his article in a then-popular newspaper, The Pioneer, urged for the founding of a university in Lucknow. For this purpose, initially, a General Committee of educationists was formed, and a meeting was held at the governor’s house. Harcourt Butler being the chairman of the committee, outlined the scheme for a new university.
After rounds of discussion, it was decided that the University of Lucknow would be a teaching and residential university on the lines of recommendations of Calcutta University Mission 1919. It was also decided that the university should consist of Science, Law, Medicine, and Faculty of Arts, including oriental studies. Whether to incorporate the Medical College or not was left open for further discussion for the time being. The Lieutenant Governor and Governor-General gave their consent to the Lucknow University Act, No. V 1920. There were three colleges that provided the nucleus for establishing the University of Lucknow:
- King George’s Medical College ( now popular as King George’s Medical University)
- Isabella Thoburn College
- Canning College
These colleges bought their rich inheritance to the newborn university both intellectually and materially. The generous Talukdar of Oudh also added rupees thirty lakh endowment.
Campus
Sir Swinton Jacob designed the beautiful campus of Lucknow University in the Indo Saracenic style. For many experts, the design of the building was very impressive, elegant, and distinctive that it was sent for demonstration at the Exhibition in London. Walter Burley Griffin designed the university’s Central Library, known as Tagore Library, and it is among the richest libraries in the country. It has more than five lakh books and fifty thousand journals. It also has ten thousand PhD dissertations. The library also has its own website and is active online. Its campus is 219.01 acres. It has 10 faculties and 51 departments of different subjects. Lucknow University offers 15 different undergraduate programs and 67 postgraduate programs.
There is a total of 16,365 students who are studying at this university. There are a total of 426 and 1926 teaching and non-teaching staff, respectively. There is a total of 17 centers/ institutes and 545 colleges that are associated with the university. It also provides residential facilities to its students, teachers, and non-teaching staff. The university has also created 3 independent bodies to maintain a healthy relationship between students, teachers, and non-teaching staff:
- Lucknow University Student’s Union
- Lucknow University Teacher’s Association
- Lucknow University Worker’s Union (Karmachari Parishad).
To create awareness among students about social service, the university regularly organizes National Service Scheme programs. Through its NCC wing, it also imparts military training to its students.
Further, the university campus offers various facilities to its students like a health and medical center, sports facilities, canteen, Yoga Center, counseling and guidance cell, central placement cells, happy thinking laboratory, coaching schemes, student hostel, and guest houses, etc.
Courses and Admission
Lucknow University offers various courses at UG and PG levels like B.Sc, BBA, BA, B.Com, BFA, B.PEd, B.VA, B.Tech, LLB, BA- LLB, MBA, M.SC, LLM, M.Com, MSW, MPEd, MA, MPH, etc. Along with these courses university also offers diploma courses and Ph.D. in different subjects. The procedure of admission includes both merit-based and entrance tests or aptitude tests followed by group discussion and personal interviews. University has released its admission form for the session 2022-2023. University also provides two scholarships to its students Chhatra Kalyan Scholarship and Karmyogi Scheme to students who need financial support.
Accreditation and Ranking
- NAAC, BCI, and NCTE accredit the University of Lucknow.
- The university is also recognized by UGC, ACU, AIU, AICTE, and DEC.
- It was ranked 13 for Law in 2021 by India Today. It is the only state university of Uttar Pradesh that has been kept in the 150-200 rank band by NIRF. However, King George’s Medical College has got 9th
- Education World 2020 State ranking has ranked Lucknow University on 7. It is ranked 52 by Education World 2020 Indian ranking. Outlook 2021 for science has ranked university 105.
Notable Alumni
There are many renowned alumni of this university in different fields. We are mentioning the names of some of the famous alumni here
Politics:
- Arif Mohammad Khan – Former Union Minister, columnist, and Governor of Kerala
- Vijaya Raje Scindia- Late Rajmata of Gwalior
- Harish Rawat- Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand
- Shankar Dayal Sharma- 9th President of India
- Zakir Hussain- 3rd President of India
Education and Science:
- P. Chakravarti- Father of Electronics and Telecommunications engineering education in India.
- Ritu Karidhal- ISRO Scientist
- Raj Kumar – Professor of Surgery
- Rajendra Prasad – Professor of Pulmonary Medicine
Literature:
- Ali Jawad Zaidi: Freedom fighter, writer, poet
- Attia Hosain – British Indian novelist, journalist, actor, author, writer
- Vinod Mehta – Journalist and writer.
Others:
- Adarsh Sein Anand – Former Chief Justice of India and former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission.
- Isha Basant Joshi – India’s first female IAS officer
- N. Kao- Civil Servant, Founder, and 1st Director of R&AW
- Amitabh Bhattacharya – playback singer and lyricist
- Suresh Raina- Indian Cricketer
- Swami Chinayananda – founder of Chinmaya Mission
- Mohini Giri- Padma Bhushan Awardee and social activist
Affiliated Colleges
There are 500 colleges and 17 institutions that are affiliated with Lucknow University some of them are as follows:
- Institute of Management Sciences
Ownership: Public/Government, Total Courses: 13 - State Ayurvedic College and Hospital
Ownership: Public/Government, Total Courses: 7 - AKH College
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 3 - AP Sen Memorial Girls PH College
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 4 - Adarsh Satyendra Mahavidyalay
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 6 - Akbari Begum Law College
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 2 - Amiruddaula Islamia Degree College
Ownership: Private Total, Courses: 5 - Amritanandamayi College of Higher Education
Ownership: Private Total, Courses: 2 - Arjunganj Vidyamandir Degree College
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 2 - Aryavart Institute of Higher Education
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 7 - Avadh Girls Degree College
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 10 - Azad Degree College
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 5 - BIMS
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 6 - Bappa Sri Narain Vocational PG College
Ownership: Public/Government, Total Courses: 9 - Basudev Memorial Girls Degree College
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 5 - Chandra Bhanu Gupt Krishi Mahavidyalaya
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 7 - City Academy Degree College
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 18 - City Academy Law College
Ownership: Private, Total Courses: 4
Location
University of Lucknow
Babuganj, Hasanganj, Lucknow,
Uttar Pradesh, India
Pin- 226007
Email- [email protected]