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After the shift of the capital of British India to Delhi in 1911, the imperial administration noted the need for a new educational institution in the city. The University of Delhi was ultimately established in 1922, after many delays and a decade-long struggle.

Though originally conceived to serve imperial interests, the university underwent transformative changes. It has played an important role in the growth and development of the nation—participating in the nationalist movement, aiding refugees during Partition, and embodying the democratic traditions of independent India even in turbulent times. Over its hundred-year-long journey, the university expanded across the city and evolved to represent the mosaic of the nation, mirroring its struggles and aspirations. It provided an environment for academic and non-academic learning, a vibrant and open space for discussion, and maintained its standard of education and research.

This book presents and commemorates the long journey of the University of Delhi. Based on hitherto-unused archival material, the research here covers the early days of the university’s conception to its growth over the decades, revealing different and complex facets of a century-old institution.