From empowering women’s education intertwined within the framework of anti-colonial struggle in British India to its current position as one of the epitome institutions of Liberal Arts in India, Indraprastha College for Women indomitably strides towards its Centennial Celebration.
Immaculately preserved within the pristine, lush green and sustainably developed Historical National Heritage campus, the College’s centennial celebration kicked off with the inaugural ceremony of ‘Shruti’ – a two-day Annual Cultural Fest on 27th March 2023. Being the oldest women’s College of Delhi University, IP College has emerged as an embodiment of education in Liberal Arts, Media and Communication, Computer Science and Economics.
The College traces its origin way back from the establishment of Indraprastha College for Girls in 1904 by theosophist and freedom fighter Annie Besant, marking an empowering transition towards girl’s education in the country. After the establishment of Delhi University in 1922, IP College was formally recognised as a constituent college in 1924 with Leonora Gmeiner – Australian educationist – as the first Principal of the College.
Over the past decades, IP College has produced notable alumnae like Ajit Iqbal Singh (mathematician), Aruna Roy (social activist), Arundhati Virmani (historian), Jaspinder Narula (playback singer), Kusha Kapila (social media influencer), Meira Kumar (Speaker of Lok Sabha), Salma Sultan (News Anchor at DD), Utsa Patnaik (Professor of Economics), Chitra Narayan (Former IFS Officer), etc.
The Annual Fest began with the inauguration by Chief Guest – Navika Kumar, the Editor-in-Chief of Times Now. The event also witnessed an enthralling indigenous fusion dance performance of the students of North East Society of the College.
Art exhibition, quiz on history of DU, cosplay, slam poetry and street play are the major events of the First Day. The Second Day celebrates western singing competition, on-the-spot film-making, inter-college debate and dance competitions. The groovy, knee-tapping performances by Indie boy band ‘Twin Strings’ and playback singer Asees Kaur remain the scintillating and much-awaited performances of the Annual Fest.
“The festival is not just a platform to showcase the artistic and creative talents of our students but also an opportunity for us to come together as a community and celebrate our diversity. We believe that education is not just about acquiring knowledge but also about developing a well-rounded personality. Therefore, I would like to thank UDAAN for collaborating with us on this event and providing our students with this valuable opportunity,” said Professor Poonam Kumria, Principal.
