Progressive Education Accentuated by Holistic and Humanistic Perspectives

Academic excellence is essential and the college strives to cultivate intelligence that comes with being when one acts in perfect harmony both intellectually and emotionally. Thus, the teacher and the student together explore the whole of life and knowledge that stems from within. The teaching learning environment is in line with NEP 2020 where every effort is made already towards capacity building, which is strengthened by giving freedom to work to achieve the desired outcome. The vision, mission and objectives of the institution clearly point towards a value-based education for girls, based on the curriculum of the affiliating university combining it with the core values of J. Krishnamurti, Annie Besant and Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya.

The college has an eco-friendly campus located on the banks of the river Ganga. Nevertheless, it has educational connectivity quite well with its affiliating University, sister colleges, other major universities in Varanasi, airport and railway station making it accessible for students and staff. This situatedness has helped further in digitalization of teaching-learning process. It has a small forested area and nature instills in it a spirit of co-existence. It is situated in the campus of Krishnamurti Foundation of India and is believed that Lord Buddha during the spiritual journey to Sarnath stopped here for a while for meditation. The premise has been an archaeological excavation site and the college has maintained a museum to preserve the antiquities obtained from these mounds and other parts of Kashi as well. The college has a K-trail to allow students and staff to have a sublime walk amidst nature. Within the campus there is a mini open theater created for learning performative arts beyond four walls. Thus, the whole ‘campus’ is an epitome of learning through Mother Nature.

The college has a lush green campus with numerous perennial trees that is rich with wildlife conservation and co-existence. Bird-diversity, insect-diversity, peacocks, porcupine, snakes, goh (various families), and Nilgai (blue bull)are common. Due to its green location, there are sitting arrangements under the trees facing the Ganga River and during pleasant weather the teachers take the classes in open classrooms. The campus has also an open-air theater to conduct cultural events and plays with seating capacity of approx. two thousand students. The college thus has a self-motivated and disciplined atmosphere coupled with freedom of expression to lead students to an overall environmental consciousness.

The college has worked to revive the pride of Indian culture and heritage and has tried to alter the system of education towards Indian culture and secular outlook leading to a more humane society. The practice in the college is an amalgamation of traditional as well as modern forms of imparting knowledge. The use of ICT platform and tools has become a regular feature for teachers and students in keeping pace with the global requirements. The college has well-maintained heritage buildings along with sufficient open learning spaces, technology supported classrooms which enables the students consistently. The students secured rank in academics which makes it one of the best colleges of Banaras Hindu University. In the middle of the crisis lies opportunity and it was pandemic that brought forth the virtual connection. Despite distances it brought many together and the college too celebrated the transformation by connecting with various learned teachers all over the world.

The college endeavours to enlighten and impart students the spiritual legacy of Buddha and Krishnamurti, reformative zeal of Annie Besant and Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya to retain a sustainable environment, live a creative life and share a vision to make a better future. In this line the college is privileged to have distinguished alumnae viz. Late Maharani Vijaya Raje Sindhia, Prof Vidula Jaiswal, Prof Jyoti Verma (granddaughter of Dr. Rajendra Prasad) Prof Meenakshi Thapan, Prof Sushila Singh and Prof Kalpalata Pandey, to name a few who have proudly stayed connected with their alma mater.

NGOs like ASHVA, Deshpande Foundation, Muskan and different units in the college like Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, NSS, NCC the college has been able to reach out to deprived strata of the society and has worked tremendously hard to create an awareness towards various issues of life. The Institutional Social Responsibility Committee too has continued to work in this area.

The college maintains its art and cultural traditions which are in harmony with the rich cultural heritage of ‘Banaras’. Performances by music maestros and Gurus at college premises through Spic Macay, presentations of cultural diversity in college annual programmes and ‘Spandan’, and performances of nationally and internationally acclaimed college faculty in art exhibitions, performances in Subah-e-Banaras are but a few examples.

Vasanta College for Women is admitted to the privileges of Banaras Hindu University and in totality follows the curriculum of the University. Any change in the curriculum is possible only at university level but the college has the freedom to introduce add-on/value-added short-term courses. The college does explore opportunities for further development such as it has a gender sensitized and rich women friendly environment combined with active process of learning. The college has successfully adopted ICT and has initiated the blended mode efficiently. The college has encouraged faculty and students to do research-oriented projects and activities and has offered diploma/certificate courses to enhance employability. It is working to strengthen academic, social and industrial formal collaborations for further job opportunities. Vasanta College sensitizes students to an inclusive education through its Equal Opportunity Cell/Minority Cell to allow girls to head a secured personal and professional life.