New Delhi : When the foundation of St. Stephen’s College was laid on February 1, 1881, in Delhi’s Kinari Bazaar in Chandni Chowk, few could have imagined that the small institution would one day become one of India’s most prestigious colleges. On that day, Samuel Scott Allnutt became its first principal. What began in two rented rooms has since evolved into a celebrated institution with a legacy spanning nearly a century and a half.
Now, after 147 years of history, the college has, for the first time, appointed a woman principal. Her name is Suzanne Elias.
This appointment marks not only a milestone in the history of St. Stephen’s College but also an important moment for gender representation in Indian higher education.
Over the decades, St. Stephen’s College has been shaped by visionary, hardworking, and deeply committed principals. Under their leadership, the institution achieved academic excellence while producing influential personalities across politics, administration, literature, academia, sports, and public life. Among its alumni are former Indian President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and former Pakistani President Zia-ul-Haq. The institution’s legacy continues to inspire generations even today.
The Foundation Years
In the late nineteenth century, Delhi was not considered a major centre for higher education. Samuel Scott Allnutt began the college in modest circumstances with only five students and three teachers. Yet he possessed remarkable vision.
Allnutt focused not merely on academics but also on making education accessible to poor, marginalized, and disadvantaged students. The college’s affiliation with Punjab University helped strengthen its academic foundation during its formative years.
His contribution extended far beyond administration. He believed strongly in the holistic development of students and worked tirelessly to create a nurturing educational environment. Under his leadership, enrollment steadily increased and the institution’s foundations became firmly established.
Although he stepped down as principal in 1898, his influence remains deeply embedded in the college’s identity. Every year on December 7, the anniversary of his death is observed as “Founder’s Day,” when the college community remembers his contributions and reflects on the institution’s journey.
Sushil Kumar Rudra: The Indian Face of the Institution
In the history of St. Stephen’s College, Sushil Kumar Rudra occupies an almost legendary position. Serving as principal from 1906 to 1923, he became the first Indian to head the institution at a time when most of the faculty members were British. His appointment itself reflected a profound shift in the institution’s outlook.
Rudra was closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi and C.F. Andrews, and openly supported India’s freedom movement. When Gandhi first came to Delhi on April 13, 1915, it was at Rudra’s invitation. Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi stayed at Rudra’s residence near Kashmiri Gate—a building that now houses the office of the Delhi Election Commission.
Among students, Rudra was affectionately known as “Barasahib.” Deeply committed to social upliftment, he started a night school at the college so that the children of employees and workers could also receive an education.
Rudra was equally passionate about sports and believed they formed an essential part of education. He was among the founders of the Delhi District Cricket Association and encouraged students to participate actively in athletics and games.
After retiring in 1923, he passed away in 1925. In his memory, the college continues to organize the annual “Rudra Dinner” on February 12.
According to Brother Solomon George of the Delhi Brotherhood Society, the Brotherhood of the Ascension of Christ—established in 1877 and later renamed the Delhi Brotherhood Society—continues to administer the college even today.
A Friend of Refugees
The Partition of India transformed Delhi dramatically. Millions of refugees arrived in the city, and refugee settlements rapidly emerged around the University of Delhi campus in northwestern Delhi.
During this turbulent period, St. Stephen’s principal Professor Douglas Rajaram and his wife once noticed children breaking flowerpots near the North Campus. When they asked why, the children replied: “There is no school here.”
The response deeply moved Rajaram.
Using his influence within Delhi University, he immediately helped establish a small school in Maurice Nagar for refugee children. That institution celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary last year and now functions from a large campus.
Rajaram himself had been a student of St. Stephen’s College. He served as principal from 1945 to 1960 and successfully guided the institution through the difficult years following Partition. Under his leadership, the college not only survived a period of enormous upheaval but continued to grow with renewed energy and purpose.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
If Allnutt laid the foundation of St. Stephen’s College, Rudra gave it an Indian identity, and Rajaram strengthened and stabilized it during one of the most difficult periods in modern Indian history. Together, these principals shaped the soul of the institution.
Many others who followed also contributed significantly to the college’s growth and reputation. Today, with Suzanne Elias becoming its first woman principal, St. Stephen’s enters a new chapter in its long history.
It is expected that her leadership will further strengthen academic excellence, inclusiveness, and social responsibility within the institution. The college’s journey over nearly 150 years demonstrates that education is not merely about earning degrees—it is also about character-building, leadership, and nation-building.
Today, St. Stephen’s College stands not merely as a centre of academic excellence but as a symbol of values, ethics, and public service. Students who study here gain not only knowledge but also leadership skills, discipline, and a deeper sense of social responsibility.
According to Paul Swaroop, this transition is not merely symbolic but reflects a broader transformation in educational and social thinking. From its humble beginnings in Chandni Chowk to its stature as one of India’s most respected educational institutions, the college’s journey demonstrates how vision, dedication, and continuity can help build enduring institutions.
With its first woman principal now taking charge, the country will watch with interest as St. Stephen’s College enters a new chapter while carrying forward a remarkable legacy built over generations.
