Fergusson College : Seeing how the education system, controlled & directed by the Govt. & Christian Missionaries was perverting India’s future generations, but English education itself could become the surest foundation of national progress & solidarity, Tilak, G.G. Agarkar & V.K. Chiplunkar started the New English School on 1st January 1880 in Poona. Emboldened by its unexpected success, the founders decide to start a college by first forming the Dakshīna (Deccan to non/anti-Indians) English Society to manage the college & the institutions that might spring up in the future. Sir James, Wedderburn, Ranade, K.T. Telang & Chiplunkar were elected patrons of Fergusson College; its Fellows included Principal Wordsworth, Professors Selby & Bhandārkar, V.N. Mandlik; its life-members were Tilak, Namjoshi, Apte, Agarkar, Kelkar, Gole, & Dharap. The College was inaugurated by Sir James Fergusson, Wedderburn & Prof Wordsworth on 2nd January 1885. On 5th March Sir James laid the foundation for the Poona Girls’ High School. On 29th March the Bombay Govt. gifted the site to D.E. Society. On 10th March, Time of India (Bombay) remarked: “The minds of the present generation of educated natives have been moulded by European scholars.... The minds of the future generation will be moulded by men, who have founded a college on the historic site of the Peshwa’s palace & who have strong views about patriotism”. [S.L. Karandikar]
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