Glorious History of Kanya Mahavidyalaya ( KMV ), Jalandhar

Kanya Mahavidyalaya ( KMV College ), Jalandhar pioneered the concept of girls' education not only in Punjab but entire Indian sub continent. Here is a very interesting account of the institution ( then a school ) around 1904, from the Gazette of the Britishers.

Kanya Mahaviyalaya, was started by the members of the Jullundur Arya Samaj in 1890 in the shape of a Primary School, but was raised to Middle Standard in 1894,though it was intended,as the name implies,to make it a College. The school building is situated at Qilla Mohalla, but for the boarding-house and the orphanage different buildings are hired in the city, or in Kot Kishen Chand.

Instruction in Domestic Economy,Clay Modelling and Drawing is given,besides other subjects prescribed for the Middle Standard Examination for native girls by the Department. The girls do not, however,appear regularly in any of the public examinations. There are about 120 pupils. The boarding house attracts girls from such distant places as Peshin, Gorakhpur, Bannu, Bombay and Gwalior State, and they are afforded board and lodging at the cost of Rs.6 a month each. Twenty two orphan girls, brought in from Central Provinces in the famine of 1897, are taken care of in the orphanage, supported by the charity of the Jullundur City Arya Samaj.

The staff of four male and four female teachers works under the guidance of Lala Dev Raj, Rais and zaildar of Jullundur,who is the most enthusiastic supporter of female education. The total cost of about Rs.1500 per annum is defrayed entirely from private subscriptions and endowments.

AN INSTANCE OF THE HEALTHY SPIRIT INFUSED IN THE GIRLS BY THE EDUCATION OF THE MAHAVIDYALA IS MANIFESTED FROM THE FACT THAT A GIRL WHO WAS EDUCATED HERE HAS JUST SUBSCRIBED Rs. 800 GIVEN TO HER BY HER HUSBAND FOR ORNAMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HALL IN THE VIDYALAYA.