Patiala’s Bikram College Doesn’t Have Own Building

The only institution, which has been providing special education in commerce for the last sixty eight years period, Government Bikram College of Commerce is deprived of an edifice to call its own up till now.

Government Bikram College of Commerce has raised old pupils like Naresh Goyal, originator of Jet Airways, lots of officers in Punjab and public sector banking institutions, IRS heads, many well known CAs, finance heads and bureaucrats, who have swung around the luck of a lot of companies and aided the country confront economic challenges.

But in spite of developing honorees from the area, it still awaits the sunrise, which will witness the high-status institution having its personal building. Transferred from Faridkot to Patiala fifty eight years back, Government Bikram College of Commerce is prevailing from the state college of education grounds, contradicting the tall claims of the Punjab administration of giving appropriate infrastructure for higher education.

For the last fifty one years, the management of Government Bikram College of Commerce has been giving hoards of presentations to the authorities linked, asking for land and finance to have its personal building, but to no benefit.

Ex principal and graduate of Government Bikram College of Commerce, KK Saxena stated that many plans over the years for new building seemed to have diminished on deaf ears that shows the apathetic approach of the section concerned.

“With little yet significant efforts made by the alumni and Parent Teachers’ Association, the college has expanded on the same premises. The shortage of land has limited the intake of students,” he added.

Government Bikram College of Commerce currently provides BCom, MCom apart from traditional IT course. It was set up by Raja Harinder Singh of Faridkot in the remembrance of his grandpa Raja Bikram Singh in the year 1945. Government Bikram College of Commerce was tranferred to Patiala in the year 1955 and was affiliated to Panjab University. In the year 1962, Government Bikram College of Commerce got affiliation from Punjabi University and was transferred to the state college premises.

Principal Satinder Kaur stated that they have forwarded a plan for allotment of land to set up another entity of classrooms in the current building to adjust more pupils in bachelor courses.

“The last year’s cut-off for the college was 86.4%. With commerce stream gaining popularity, the cut-off is set to rise this year but due to shortage of space, we have no option but to limit the intake of students,” she said.