Wilson College in Mumbai is one of the oldest and most reputed colleges, located opposite to Chowpatty Sea Face. In 1832, the college was founded as part of Dr. John Wilson’s institute also recognized as the Ambroli English School. Wilson College in Mumbai was established much before the Bombay University (1857) and it also forms a part of its group of colleges. Having witnessed turn of two centuries, Wilson College has learned to stay abreast of the changing trends in the field of education in India as well as the world. The main objectives of the Wilson College are Spes, Caritas, Fides– Hope, Love, Faith, – Asha, Prem, Vishwas. Hope; that the college is able to achieve the utmost spiritual, moral and intellectual excellence, the love that sails it through the good and bad patches in life and ultimate faith in God.
Wilson College was established in the year 1832 as a part of Dr. John Wilson College. John Adams planned the gothic style of the building. On 10th March 1885, the then governor Dr. James Ferguson laid down the foundation stone of the college. The new i.e. the present building was inaugurated by Lord Reay on March 14th 1889. The college was opened as the General Assembly`s Institution and later renamed as Wilson College. The college was built at the same time with Bombay Scottish School, Mahim. Along with Madras Christian College and Scottish Church College, Kolkata, Wilson College was one among the very few institutions for higher education in India in the earlier parts of the 19th century colonial period.
The courses offered in Wilson College include the subjects from the stream of Arts, Science, Commerce, Mass Media and Management Studies. The college is however well-known for its Arts stream. The different subjects taught in different streams are, Arts: English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Marathi, French, Economics, History, Philosophy, Political Science and Sociology, Professional or Self finance courses: BMM, BMS, Comp. Sc. and Biotech and Science: Botany, Chemistry, Maths, Microbiology, Physics and Zoology. There is a student’s council for students in the Wilson College. The college library is having a large collection of rare books hardly available in any other state libraries in Mumbai.
Wilson College in Mumbai frequently conducts CEP or Co-operative Education Programme. The aim of the C E P is to train students for the world of work, prepare them with the expertise and a mindset essential for success at a workplace. The College has an affluent tradition of promoting and encouraging talent. The Fine Arts Circle organize involvement in inter-collegiate events, organizes competitions, workshops and cultural programs in the college. Boxing, basketball, karate and Volley ball are the different sports available for students inside the college campus. A Nature Club is run by the college where conservation programs together with educational activities are performed. Hostel facility is available for both boys and girls in the college.
The Wilson College alumni include former Prime Minister of India Morarji Desai, B.G. Kher, cricketer Dilip Sardesai, poet Nissim Ezekiel, Jane D`souza, VKRV Rao (founder-director of Delhi School of Economics) and Kevin Pinto.
The life of a student, in the present scenario, has become severely competitive and the Wilson College, Chowpatty, Mumbai identifies the requirement to help and cheer-up the students. The college thus does not leave a single stone unturned in the path to ensure that its students understand their capability and develop the best out of them.
