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Women’s college traces its beginnings to the Nampally Girls School,

whose principal’s ardent desire was a college education for her girls[1];

for she believed it was essential to their development. The sanction of

the government came in 1924 after which the college started

functioning at the Nampally school itself, with seven students and the

four of the school teachers with Miss Pope acting as the principal of the

college as well as the school.

Women’s college was shifted to two places from Nampally Girls School

before it was finally shifted to the vacant British Residency Campus in

July, 1949. The first one is to the Golden Threshold and the second

one is to a group of squalid buildings near Moajjam Jahi Market. Every

year there was a considerable increase in the strength of the students

and with it, an increase in the teaching staff and the grant of finances.

By 1939, it had 200 students on its rolls and by the time the college

shifted the Residency campus the strength was 440.

Miss Linnel (Principal: 1947 – 1955) had succeeded in getting the

authorities[2] to agree to shift the University College for Women from

its dilapidated buildings to the magnificent splendor of the British

Residency which was then lying vacant.

[1] St. George’s Girls school and St Francis Girls school has opened in 1850, followed

by the St Ann’s Convent School. All were originally meant for European and Eurasian

girls but later on admitted local Christians and others. When Mir Mahboob Ali Pasha,

the sixth Nizam, came to the throne in 1869, the government began to take an interest

in the education of girls, and Zenana girls school was started in 1887. Some more

schools such as Mahboobia girls school was established for the daughters of the

aristocracy and the upper classes who were still not being formally educated, although

they were being taught at home by governesses, much in the manner of their

counterparts in England

[2] ‘We sought every where for a change of building, she said later, but no

improvement seemed likely until January 1949 when our vice chancellor Nawab Ali

Yavar Jung, brought Dr Radhakrishnan (then vice-president of India), and the

university Education Commission to inspect the college. Dr Radhkrishnan whimsically

chose the worst of all our buildings – the Botany department, that had been

condemned by the Public Works Department engineers as being physically unsafe, to

site in and discuss our shameful condition. He then left, saying that ours was the most

miserable and depressing women’s college he has ever seen. He asked the vice

chancellor what he proposed to do about it. Nawab Sahib had a plan all ready and that

very evening Maj. Gen. Chaudhri was approached and asked to recommend the

transfer of the old British Residency to Osmania University for the use of the Women’s

college.’

The decision of handing over the Residency building for the use of

Women’s college was taken by General Chaudhri who took prompt

action, wired Delhi, and with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s

support, sanction was granted in March 1949.

In July 1949, women’s college shifted to the Residency.

‘For the long suffering students who have a trying time in dingy

building, this was unbelievable good luck. They freaked out. There was

sense of joy and sheer exuberance at finding themselves amongst

spacious grounds, lawns and sheer exuberance at finding themselves

amongst spacious grounds, lawns and shady trees. A lovely campus,

plus and imposing building[1]!

Our college building is in many ways unique among the colleges of

India and the world. For where else do students live in a fortress and

cross a drawbridge to go from one lecture to another? Where else do

they have a chance to enjoy sixty acres of college campus in the very

heart of a great city and where else have they connected with the

college building an authentic and highly romantic love story[2]? Do we

all realize our unusual possession or know much of its history?

Though there are other colleges in the city for women to go for college

education, such as Arts College at Osmania University and Nizam

College; University College for Women was chosen by many of the

girls over the others because of the sheer space and freedom offered

by the campus. In the next five decades, it has become a pioneer in the

field of girl’s education in Hyderabad by its wide range of courses

offered according to the changing requirements from the society.

[1] ‘For one week,’ recalls Soona with a smile, ‘they couldn’t hold classes because we

were roaming every where, inspecting every thing, soaking up the beauty of the place

and simply delighting in our surroundings. It was a blissful time.

[2] ‘She told the story of Kirk Patrick and Khairunnissa, says Soona. All the three

versions of how they met, their marriage and how he remained faithful to her and faced

criticism of his choice of a wife, from his superiors, rather than give her up.’

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The Women’s College adapted to campus so well as the factors of

‘Protection and Privacy’ which were of primary importance to a

women’s college at that time were immediately available as the same

was required during the Residency period (1779 – 1949)[3].

Miss Linnel, who was instrumental in the transformation of spaces

belonging to the institution of Residency (1779 – 1949) to the

institution of Women’s College (1949 – 2009), was awarded a Pamda

Sri in 1971, posthumously, for her contribution to education in India.

[3] The Residency was heavily fortified after the attack on the Residency in 1857. The

high walls around the Residency and the large site and lush vegetation in the gardens

gave privacy to the people at the Residency

Conservation Management Plan, Osmania University College for Women, Former British Residency, Hyderabad 15

Draft Report for discussion Jan 2009 Chapter

ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN’S COLLEGE 1949 - 2009

In the last 50 years, many new buildings were added in the campus to accommodate the growing

needs of the women’s college. (Refer drawing no…..) such as the Administrative building, PG block, IT

block, Library, Meeting hall, chemistry block, hostels etc. Some of the buildings came in place of the old

buildings such as the bungalow of first Resident. The college was awarded with A++ Category by the

University Grants Commission of Government of India for the quality of education being imparted. It has

being an autonomous status by the Osmania University.

Most of the academic activities such as classrooms and laboratories were accommodated into the

erstwhile buildings by adaptively reusing them in best possible manner. The main house was used for the

administration and for ceremonies which perfectly fits into the grandeur of the interior. Currently, the main

house is vacated (due to its physical condition) except for a few classes, principals’ room, storage of

furniture and WMF project office. Most of the base storey continues to be used as a storage space till

today. The rooms in the second floor of the main house were used as class rooms until recently.