The story of S.N. Sen B.V. Post Graduate College, Kanpur begins more than a century ago, with a promise and a courtyard school. Today the college is the flagship of the SEN Group of Institutions — a family of institutions that pioneered the cause of non-missionary women’s education in Uttar Pradesh from 1898, with successive generations of the Sen family carrying the mission forward.

Origins (1898)

The college traces its origins to 1898, when Late Dr. Surendra Nath Sen had a promise to keep — a promise made to his dying mother to champion the cause of women’s empowerment through education.

A social reformer and the sole qualified doctor from Calcutta Medical College in Kanpur, Dr. Sen personally campaigned for girls’ education despite the prevalent social barriers of the time. He began by establishing an initial school in his courtyard.

Growth of the School (1914–1925)

The courtyard school had expanded by 1914. A massive building began to come up on that field, and it was formally opened by His Excellency Sir W. Sinclair Marris, Governor of U.P. & Oudh, on the 9th of March, 1925.

Establishment of the Degree College (1953–1963)

After independence, the institution took its next major step. In 1953, with the commencement of undergraduate classes, S.N. Sen B.V. Inter College grew into a Degree College — S.N. Sen Degree College, established by Dr. Siddheswar Sen.

The degree college was granted affiliation by Agra University in 1957, and later by Kanpur University in 1963.

Vocational Focus (late 1970s)

By the late 1970s, vocational training emerged as an educational focus of the institution, to provide career-oriented pathways for women. This reflects the college’s guiding philosophy that only proper education can ensure employment — placing career development at the centre of women’s financial independence and empowerment.

Postgraduate Expansion (1985)

In 1985, the institution grew into a Post Graduate College with the commencement of M.A. Sociology and M.A. Hindi classes.

New Degree & Vocational Courses (2019 onwards)

Building on this tradition, new job-oriented degree and vocational courses were started from 2019, including B.C.A., B.B.A., B.Com., B.A. Home Science, M.A. Psychology, M.A. Education and M.A. Economics. The professional programmes (B.Com., B.C.A., B.B.A. and Home Science) are offered on a self-financed basis.

The College Today

S.N. Sen B.V. Post Graduate College is an all-women’s aided post graduate college on Mall Road, Kanpur, with faculties in Commerce, Arts and Sciences, affiliated to Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj (C.S.J.M.) University, Kanpur.

• Postgraduate: M.A. in Hindi, Sociology, Economics, Education and Psychology.
• Undergraduate: B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., B.C.A., B.B.A. and B.A. Home Science. Arts subjects include Sanskrit, Philosophy, History, Psychology, Political Science, Music, Drawing & Painting, Physical Education, English, Economics and Education; Science subjects include Zoology, Botany and Chemistry.
• Research: Ph.D. programmes in Education and Hindi.

The SEN Group of Institutions

Today the four institutions of the SEN Group provide education from Play Group to Post Graduation, along with vocational training, to over 6,000 girls annually:

• S.N. Sen B.V. P.G. College — the flagship all-women’s aided PG college (est. 1953).
• SEN Inter College — a girls’ inter college offering education from Class 6 through Class 12.
• Dr. S. Sen Memorial Shishu Mandir — a co-educational primary school from Play Group through Class 5.
• S. Sen Nursery Teachers Training Institute — a professional teacher training institute for early childhood education.

Timeline at a Glance