Fergusson College is an autonomous public-private college offering various courses in the streams of arts and science in the city of Pune, India. It was founded in 1885 by the Vaman Shriram Apte, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vishnushashtri Chiplunkar, Mahadeo Ballal Namjoshi and Goplal Krishna Agarkar. Professor Vaman Shivram Apte was its first principal. Social reformer, journalist, thinker and educationist Gopal Ganesh Agarkar served as the second principal from August 1892, till his death in June 1895. The college is named after Scottish-born Sir James Fergusson, the Governor of Bombay, the college has been under the jurisdiction of the University of Pune. In May 2018, Fergusson college was upgraded to a unitary university following an update from Ministry of HRD. The college has two sections: The Junior Wing (junior college) is for students graduating from school. Courses are offered in Arts and Science streams, at the end of which students may appear for the Higher-Secondary State Certificate examination. The Senior Wing offers bachelor's degrees in 29 disciplines and master's degrees in 16 disciplines. Fergusson College is known for its close association with Indian politics. Its founders were pioneers of the Indian National Congress, as well as, Indian Socialist Movement. The college has produced, several ministers and legislators, including two Indian Prime Ministers. Fergusson was among the 19 colleges to get a heritage tag by the central government and UGC in 2015. So, the college receives financial help from UGC for the conservation of campus and buildings. History Foundation After the suppression of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, reformers in India felt a pressing need to modernise the educational system in order to advance the cause of reform. Prominent Indian nationalists, such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, and Gopal Ganesh Agarkar led efforts to found a school designed for the general advancement of the Indian public; leading to the creation of the New English School. Inspired by the school's success, the Deccan Education Society was formed in 1884; a year later Fergusson College was established. An area of of land was donated for one rupee on a 99-year lease by Shirole, the erstwhile Patil of the village of Bhamburde on the west bank of the Mutha River. The college was inaugurated by William Wordsworth, the grandson of the British poet and principal of Elphinstone College in Bombay. Other leaders such as R G Bhandarkar and M G Ranade played a part