General Assembly's Institution founded in Calcutta

Background. Alexander Duff, a Scottish missionary, arrived in Calcutta on 27 May 1830 after a voyage involving two shipwrecks. He established an English-medium institution inspired by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Colonial policy discouraged English knowledge dissemination, but Duff emphasized teaching in Bengali as well. Ram Mohan Roy, a social reformer, supported the venture by providing the venue vacated by the Brahmo Sabha and getting the first batch of students.

Founding. The institution was founded on 13 July 1830 in a house on upper Chitpur Road in the Jorasanko neighbourhood. It initially operated as a school before expanding into a missionary college known as the General Assembly's Institution. The college was affiliated with Calcutta University. Ram Mohan Roy's contribution included providing the venue vacated by the Brahmo Sabha and securing the first batch of students.

Legacy. The General Assembly's Institution and the Free Church Institution, both founded by Duff, were merged in 1908 to form the Scottish Churches' College. After the unification of the Church of Scotland in 1929, it became known as Scottish Church College. These institutions, alongside Serampore College and Hindu College, ushered in intellectual inquiry and Enlightenment ideals among Bengali Hindus.