Cotton University

Cotton University

Motto	Apramattena Veddhavyam
Motto in English	Knowledge in any field
Type	Public state university
Established	1901; 123 years ago (1901) (as Cotton College) 2017; 7 years ago (2017) (as Cotton University)
Founder	Sir Henry Stedman Cotton
Chancellor	Governor of Assam
Vice-Chancellor	Dr. Ramesh Ch. Deka[1]
Location	Guwahati , Assam , India 26°11′12″N 91°44′51″E / 26.1868°N 91.7476°E / 26.1868; 91.7476
Campus	urban
Colors	Orange, Blue, Green
Affiliations	UGC
Website	cottonuniversity.ac.in

Cotton University (formerly known as Cotton College) is a public state university located in Guwahati, Assam, India. It was established in 2017 by the provisions of an Act from the Assam Legislative Assembly which merged Cotton College State University and Cotton College. The university has progressed to become one of the top 200 institutions of the country (appearing on the list of 150–200 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework rank list in May 2020).^[2] However, as of 2024, Cotton University is ranked 373rd in the NIRF, whereas Gauhati University holds a commendable 40th position in the same ranking.^[3][4]

Cotton College was established in 1901 by Sir Henry Stedman Cotton, chief commissioner of the former British province of Assam. It was the oldest institute of higher education in Assam and all of Northeast India.^[5] Cotton College became a constituent college of Gauhati University in 1948, and then of Cotton College State University when it was established in 2011, by an Act (Act XIX of 2011) of the Assam Government. The Cotton University Act, 2017, was enacted to resolve problems between the college and the university.^[6]

Cotton University, then Cotton College, was accredited with an "A++" grade and a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.76 on a four-point scale by the 18th SC Executive Committee of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) on November 5, 2016, reflecting high institutional quality.^[7] As of September 6, 2024, the university's accreditation status was revised to an "A" grade with a CGPA of 3.05 on a seven-point scale.^[8]

In 1899 Manick Chandra wrote to the British government asking to open a college in Guwahati, in so far as Assam was the only province with no college and that Guwahati was the most convenient location. In response, Sir Henry Stedman Cotton, K.C.S.I., then the Chief Commissioner of Assam, announced on 3 November 1899 that a college would be opened in Guwahati. Cotton College, named by the public, was inaugurated on 27 May 1901 by Cotton himself. Before 1948, It was affiliated with Calcutta University^[9] and began with five professors which included Frederick William Sudmerson, the first principal of the college, and 39 students.

The college was the centre of the freedom movement as well as literary and cultural movements of the state, which aimed to build Assam's identity as a distinct, integral component of India. When Gauhati University was established in 1948, Cotton College became affiliated with it as a constituent college.^[10] In 2015, the college was declared a Special Heritage College.^[9]

On 16 October 1992, the college was named as a center of excellence,^[11] an occasion celebrated in a solemn ceremony with Shankar Dayal Sharma, then President of India, and it officially became a post-graduate college.^[10]

Cotton College State University was created through an Act of the Government of Assam (Act XIX of 2011). This act received the assent of the Governor of Assam on 3 September 2011, published in the Assam Gazette on 5 September 2011. The Cotton College became its constituent college.^[12]

The election for the university's first Academic Council and University Court was held on 22 February 2013 with three and five members elected respectively.^[13]

Over time, conflicts emerged between the university and the college chiefly over the custody of properties. The Assam Legislative Assembly passed an amendment in 2015 that the university and the college be run as separate institutes.^[14] The bill, called The Cotton University Act 2017, was passed by the Assam Legislative Assembly on 2 March 2017 in order to resolve these problems.^[6] By this act, the university and college would be completely merged.^[14] Upon enforcement, the university was renamed Cotton University.^[15] By ordinance, the governor of Assam, Banwarilal Purohit became chancellor, who then appointed Bhabesh Chandra Goswami as the first vice chancellor in July 2017.^[16]

Cotton University's campus spans 39.82 acres in Panbazar, Guwahati, an area known for its bustling streets and key landmarks, including the BSNL office, Reserve Bank of India, Gauhati High Court, and Handique Girls College. The Dighalipukhuri bus stop, situated nearby, connects to several key townships, contributing to the area's vibrant atmosphere.^[17]

On 6th October, 2018, violence broke out in connection with student politics at Cotton University in Guwahati, as the university prepared for its upcoming campus elections. Nabajit Dutta, a candidate for the position of general secretary, and another student, Trinayan Baruah, were attacked by unknown assailants in the Japorigog area. Both students sustained injuries but were able to escape. A formal complaint (FIR) was filed at the Dispur police station following the incident.^[18]

On December 8, 2019, a video of Cotton University students chanting slogans of "Azaadi" gained attention on social media amid ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in Assam. The video, shared by Facebook user Ivan Ahmed, depicted students expressing their discontent with the government. The chants included demands for freedom from the CAB and targeted specific leaders such as Assam's the then Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the then Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and the then Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya. The students were heard chanting "Sarbananda se azaadi, Himanta se azaadi, Bharat se azaadi, Siddhartha se azaadi," along with calls for liberation from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The Students’ Union of Cotton University had organized a rally called Rono Hunkaar, or 'War Cry,' to protest the controversial bill, which aims to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented non-Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. This legislation has faced significant opposition from residents of Assam and other northeastern states. The Northeast Students’ Organisation (NESO) announced a regional shutdown to mark collective dissent against the CAB, which was scheduled for final review in the Rajya Sabha.^[19]

On January 8, 2020, students of Cotton University in Guwahati hoisted black flags to protest against the attack on students and teachers at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), which has been a controversial institution often labeled as anti-nationalist. The Cotton University students expressed solidarity with the victims and demanded government action against the attackers. Sudarshan Kaushik Sarma emphasized concerns about student safety, stating that if safety could not be ensured in the national capital, other regions would also be at risk. The Assam Students' Forum also called for the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the incident.^[20]

On January 7, 2022, at least 15 students from Cotton University were injured in a clash between two hostels: Mahendra Nath Deka Phukan (MNDP) and Sita Nath Brahma Choudhury (SNBC). The altercation arose over the results of the university's student union general elections. One of the injured students, Pragyan Protim Bora, was severely hurt and was initially taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) before being transferred to a private hospital in the city the following day. According to Prithviraj Rajkhowa, assistant commissioner of police in Guwahati, the incident occurred around 10:30 PM on Wednesday, shortly after the election results were announced. The elections, which took place on Tuesday, were closely contested. The MNDP hostel, supported by the Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), secured three key positions: vice-president, general secretary, and assistant general secretary. In contrast, the SNBC hostel, backed by the Asom Chatra Parishad (ACP), managed to win only the presidency. SMSS is affiliated with Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi’s Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), while the ACP is the student wing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s key ally, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). Rustom Raj Brahma, the officer in charge of the Panbazar police station, noted that both hostels filed First Information Reports (FIRs) against each other. The MNDP hostel accused students from the SNBC hostel of attacking them with sticks and bamboo, as well as pelting stones, resulting in injuries to over 15 students from the MNDP hostel. A similar FIR was lodged by the SNBC hostel against the MNDP hostel, containing similar allegations.^[21][22]

On July 2, 2022, several students at Cotton University in Guwahati were injured during a clash between two hostels in the early hours of Saturday. Around 1:45 AM, inmates of a boys' hostel reportedly threw bricks, bottles, and other objects at another hostel. Several students who were asleep at the time sustained injuries, with some retaliating by throwing similar objects. One student was seriously injured and required admission to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. The circumstances leading to the clash remain unclear; however, university sources indicated that tensions on campus had increased following the general secretary of the students' union's decision to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). On the preceding Thursday, students, particularly those residing in various hostels, held a demonstration on campus, expressing their belief that he had been supported as an apolitical candidate and arguing that it was "unethical" for him to join a political party. Following the incident, a case was filed, and an investigation was initiated by the police and the students were arrested.^[23]

On November 14, 2022, Guwahati Police arrested Anupam Mali for allegedly attacking Rapido driver Sajid Choudhury on November 10 near the Guwahati Railway Station. The incident involved a group of Cotton University students following their elections. CCTV footage showed Mali carrying a wooden log during the assault. While Trinayan Baruah, an Asom Chatra Parishad leader, was present, he was not directly involved in the attack. The case raised concerns about the safety of app-based drivers, especially during late hours, with calls for more government action.^[24]

A 21-year-old female student from Cotton University in Guwahati was reported to have died by suicide at her residence in Goreswar, located in Assam's Tamulpur district, on December 2, 2022. According to police, the victim was a BA fifth-semester student at the university. Her body was discovered hanging from the ceiling fan at her home. Authorities found a suicide note and are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding her tragic decision. The note indicated that the student attributed her actions to her difficult financial situation, stating, "My economic condition is extremely bad; I am ugly; I hate my life."^[25]

On February 24, 2023, a Higher Secondary student from Cotton University, Surya Narayan Das, was reported missing. Surya last spoke to his mother at 8:30 PM on Thursday, shortly before leaving his hostel room in Uzan Bazaar at 9 PM after dinner. In response to the report, the Latasil Police initiated a search operation to locate the missing student. He was never found and was later declared dead.^[26][27]

On March 6, 2023, four students from Cotton University were arrested by Panbazar police for their alleged involvement in two separate assault incidents. The students, identified as Mriganka Kashyap, Hrishikesh Das, Mausam Mahanta, and Sanjay Rangthal, are all undergraduates in their sixth semester. Kashyap and Das, who reside at the MNDP hostel, are accused of attacking the district general secretary of the BJP Guwahati city unit. Meanwhile, Mahanta and Rangthal allegedly assaulted an employee of NF Railway at the Guwahati Railway Station. Sanjay, who was initially absconding, was apprehended at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. The arrests were made following two First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged at the Panbazar Police Station, leading to charges under sections 143, 279, 294, 307, and 326 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).^[28]

On November 27, 2023, an alleged assault occurred involving students from Cotton University in Guwahati. The incident took place on the university campus, where a woman was reportedly attacked by a group of male students, said to be residents of the MNDP hostel. According to reports, the group of students was initially involved in an altercation with a man they accused of theft. When the woman and her husband attempted to intervene, they were allegedly assaulted by the students. The woman later reported that she was struck on the head, resulting in her losing consciousness. Following the incident, the students reportedly fled to the MNDP hostel and secured the gates. Authorities from the Panbazar police station responded to the scene, and the woman was taken for a medical examination. Panbazar police station Officer-in-Charge Bhargab Borbora stated that a formal First Information Report (FIR) was anticipated to be filed. Investigations were ongoing based on the woman’s account. The woman alleged that approximately six male students were involved in the attack, but one individual who physically assaulted her had not been identified. In contrast, students from the MNDP hostel denied the allegations, asserting that the woman was inebriated and was standing near the hostel gate. They claimed that she was accidentally knocked down by two individuals fleeing the scene after being chased by security personnel. However, police officials maintained that the woman was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. This event is part of a broader context of previous allegations involving Cotton University students, particularly concerning incidents of violence or altercations.^[29]

On December 12, 2023, a female student at Cotton University in Guwahati attempted to take her own life by jumping from the second floor of the MCB administrative building. The student, who is enrolled in the first year of the Higher Secondary (HS) Arts stream, was promptly transported to Nemcare Hospital following the incident. She is currently receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).^[30][31]

On April 10, 2024, an another tragic incident occurred involving Kalina Barua, a first-year student at Cotton University, who died after jumping from her student residence, the Pranalaya PG. The incident has raised significant concerns about mental health awareness among students. Kalina's fall from the second floor resulted in severe injuries, and she was promptly taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Unfortunately, despite the medical team's efforts, she succumbed to her injuries. The reasons behind Kalina's drastic decision remain unclear, leaving the university community in shock and mourning. This incident has prompted serious discussions regarding mental health support systems and the need for greater awareness among students at Cotton University.^[32][33][34]

On August 3, 2024, students residing in the SNBC hostel at Cotton University staged a protest to highlight the lack of basic facilities. The hostellers expressed their grievances regarding inadequate amenities, which have impacted their living conditions and overall experience at the university. The demonstration aimed to draw attention to their demands for improved infrastructure and services within the hostel.^[35]

On August 14, 2024, a former Cotton University student, Sanjan Gohain, was involved in an alleged assault on a security guard at the SNBC (New) hostel on the university's campus. The incident reportedly occurred when the guard, Purbajyoti Kalita, attempted to stop Gohain and another individual from consuming alcohol on the premises. Despite the guard's intervention, Gohain allegedly continued drinking and urinated inside the hostel. The situation escalated when Gohain, with assistance from another person, physically attacked Kalita and damaged his clothing. Following the incident, Kalita filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Panbazar police station. It was noted that Gohain has a history of prior cases registered at the police station. Local residents have also indicated that late-night drinking at the SNBC hostel has been a persistent issue, contributing to disturbances in the neighborhood.^[36]

On September 16, 2024, an incident occurred at Cotton State University in Guwahati when a man was struck by a speeding water tanker near the Mahendra Nath Deka Phukan Hostel, resulting in serious injuries. Following the accident, students from the University reacted by protesting on the streets, expressing their frustration and demanding immediate action to improve safety measures. The students called for the establishment of a 'closed corridor' around the University premises to enhance pedestrian safety and prevent future accidents. Their demonstration caused significant traffic disruptions, as they blocked the road and insisted on a response to their demands. As of now, University authorities have not publicly addressed the students' concerns, underscoring the need for improved safety protocols in areas with high pedestrian traffic.^[37]

In keeping with the former Cotton College's traditions, courses leading to Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate are possible in the Arts and Science streams. This qualification is awarded upon successful completion of two years of study followed by relevant examinations under the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council.^[38]

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Computer Application, Bachelor of Liberal Arts, Bachelor of Mass Communication and Journalism and Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biotechnology graduate degrees are offered. The degrees are awarded upon successful completion of three years of study followed by relevant examinations under Cotton University.^[39]

Postgraduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Library and Information Science, Master of Law, Master in Computer Application and Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are offered. The degrees are awarded upon successful completion of two years of study followed by relevant examinations under Cotton University.^[40]

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is offered in all postgraduate departments. Admission opens annually in June/July.^[41]

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Statistics
• Computer Science
• Library and Information Science.^[42]

• Botany
• Zoology
• Environmental Biology and Wildlife Sciences
• Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.^[43]

• Geology
• Geography.^[44]

• Assamese
• Bengali
• Bodo
• Hindi
• Sanskrit.^[45]

• Arabic
• English
• Persian.^[46]

• Anthropology
• Ancient Indian Culture, History and Archeology
• Economics
• Education
• History
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology.^[47]

• Mass communication
• Journalism
• Media studies
• Law.^[48]

The institution offers Higher Secondary (HS) courses in two streams: Science and Arts. The Science stream has four sections, each with an intake capacity of 380 students, resulting in a total of 1,520 seats. The Arts stream consists of one section with an intake capacity of 160 students. In total, the institution offers 1,680 seats for Higher Secondary (HSSLC) courses.^[49]

In the Undergraduate (UG) programs, there are a total of 511 seats available for Arts subjects and 480 seats for Science subjects. Combined, the institution offers 991 seats for UG Arts and Science courses.^[52]

In the Postgraduate (PG) programs, there are 670 seats available for Arts subjects and 278 seats for Science subjects. Altogether, the institution offers 948 seats for PG Arts and Science courses.^[55]

Cotton University (CU) has released tentative cut-off marks for higher secondary admissions, with 87% for the science stream and 84% for the arts stream. The cut-offs may vary depending on the number of applicants. There are 180 seats in the arts stream and 320 in the science stream. Applicants must complete the application process on both the DARPAN and Cotton University websites. Admissions will be based on a merit list from the candidates' qualifying exam results, followed by counselling and seat allocation.^[58]

Cotton University allocates 40 percent of undergraduate seats across all departments to candidates who have taken the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). The remaining 60 percent of seats will be filled based on academic performance. According to Academic Registrar Bedanta Bora, priority will be given to CUET candidates.^[59]

On September 8, 2021, Cotton University (CU) launched its online UG admission portal, increasing its intake by 25% due to high pass rates in class XII boards. The additional seats are reserved for Assam state board students, and a new 10% quota has been introduced for economically weaker sections (EWS). The intake increase aims to support state board students, while admissions will be based on merit. A conflicting reservation policy, initially mandating 75% seats for state board students, was later adjusted by the education minister to exclude urban areas.^[60]

Chemistry recorded the highest cut-off percentage among all BSc major courses, with the general category cut-off at 90.66%, followed by physics at 89.33% and zoology at 87.66%. The cut-off for mathematics was 87.33%, while botany had a cut-off of 85.33%.^[61]

Cotton University reserves 50 percent of seats in each postgraduate course for its own graduates, based on their CGPA results, subject to certain conditions. The minimum CGPA required is 5.5 for Unreserved Category, 5.3 for Other Backward Class/MOBC, and 5.0 for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (plains/hills) at the undergraduate level. The remaining 50 percent, designated as 'Open Category' seats, are available to graduates with honors or majors in the relevant or related disciplines from recognized universities. Admission to the 'Open Category' seats will be based on performance in the Cotton PG Entrance Examination (CPGEE). In some subjects, all seats, including those reserved for CU graduates, will be filled through CPGEE. The registration fee is Rs 800 per subject. The CPGEE comprises 50 questions, with each question carrying a weight of 4 marks, resulting in a total of 200 marks. There is also a negative marking system in place, where 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer. The entrance exam lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes.^[62]

Out of CPGEE's 200 marks, a maximum of 100 marks and a minimum of 50 marks are required for an Unreserved Category (UR) student to secure a seat. Admission calls are conducted in three rounds based on the availability of seats in respective categories and courses.^[63]

The subject-wise previous years' question papers for the Cotton Post Graduate Entrance Exam (CPGEE) are available for review on the websites Bohikitap.in and FreshersNow.com.^[64][65]

The Candidates applying for the PhD program must have 55% marks (50% for SC/ST) in a Master’s degree from a University Grants Commission-recognized university. Admission requires qualifying the National Eligibility Test or the university’s entrance examination, followed by a viva voce and counselling session. Selected students must complete coursework, including three 4-credit and one 2-credit courses. After passing the coursework, candidates are provisionally registered and must apply for final registration within 18-24 months. The PhD registration is valid for five years, with a possible extension of up to seven years under special circumstances.^[66]

The Dr. Surya Kumar Bhuyan Library of Cotton University, one of Northeast India's oldest libraries, has a rich history dating back to the institution's inception. Initially located in a spacious hall of a single-story building, the library’s evolution began in the 1907-1912 quinquennium with the appointment of its first librarian and the establishment of a faculty committee to oversee its management by 1913. As its collection grew, the library moved to a dedicated building formerly occupied by the Physics department. In 1986, it was renamed in honor of Dr. Suryya Kumar Bhuyan. The library's growth continued with the laying of the foundation stone for a new three-story building by President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma in 1992. This new facility was officially inaugurated on May 29, 2001, by former Chief Minister Sri Tarun Gogoi.^[67] Today, the library boasts an extensive collection of 130,968 textbooks, 4,935 reference books, 56 theses, 6,365 donated books, 648 braille books, and 3,263 bound volumes, reflecting its long-standing commitment to knowledge and scholarship.^[68]

Cotton University is home to four boys' hostels: Rajani Kanta Bordoloi Hostel, Seeta Nath Brahma Choudhury Hostel, Mahendra Nath Deka Phukan Hostel, and Swahid Ranjit Barpuzari Hostel, collectively accommodating up to 320 students. For female students, the university offers three hostels: Nalini Bala Devi Hostel, Swahid Kanak Lata Hostel, and Dr. Kamala Roy Hostel, which together house 335 students. In total, the seven hostels provide accommodation for 655 students.^[69]

This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations. (March 2018)

• Amulya Barua, Assamese poet
• Nayandeep Deka Baruah,^[70] Indian mathematician and professor
• Bhupen Hazarika, Bharat Ratna, Renowned playback singer, musician and filmmaker
• Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya, Indian writer
• Surya Kumar Bhuyan, former president of Asom Sahitya Sabha
• Kopil Bora, Assamese actor
• Gopinath Bordoloi, Bharat Ratna, Former Chief Minister of Assam
• Homen Borgohain, Indian writer
• Nirupama Borgohain, Indian journalist
• Parineeta Borthakur, Assamese actor
• Upendranath Brahma, former president of the All Bodo Students' Union.
• Ambika Charan Choudhury, Indian litterateur, historian and activist
• Moinul Hoque Choudhury, Indian politician
• Rita Chowdhury, Indian writer
• Arup Jyoti Das, Author
• Ardhendu Kumar Dey, Indian politician
• Lalit Kumar Doley, Indian politician
• Akhil Gogoi, Peasant leader and MLA, Sibsagar, Assam
• Ranjan Gogoi, 46th Chief Justice of India
• Bhupendra Nath Goswami, Indian meteorologist
• Indira Goswami, Indian writer
• Jitendra Nath Goswami, Indian scientist
• Parbati Kumar Goswami, Judge of India
• Krishna Kanta Handique, Sanskrit scholar
• Satish Chandra Kakati, ex-editor of The Assam Tribune
• Gauri Shankar Kalita, Journalist
• Kamalendu Deb Krori, Indian physicist
• Jyotiprasad Medhi, Indian statistician
• Okhil Kumar Medhi, former Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University
• Motiur Rohman Mondal, Indian politician and physician
• Arupa Kalita Patangia, Indian Novelist
• Maitrayee Patar, Indian writer and singer
• Kalpana Patowary, playback and folk singer (Bhojpuri and others)
• Anuradha Sharma Pujari, Assamese journalist and author
• Debapratim Purkayastha, Indian academic
• Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa, former governor of Arunachal Pradesh
• Muhammed Saadulah, Prime Minister of Assam Province
• Anupam Saikia,^[71] Indian mathematician.
• Bhabendra Nath Saikia, Indian film director, famous writer
• Hiteswar Saikia, former Chief Minister of Assam
• Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister Of Assam
• Sarat Chandra Sinha, former Chief Minister of Assam
• Sonaram Sutiya, scholar, freedom fighter and educationist
• Zerifa Wahid, Actor
• Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, Indian businesswoman

• Abu Nasr Waheed, educationist, was a professor of Arabic and Persian at Cotton College.^[72]

The institute had 50 principals from 1901 till 2012.^[73]

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