Kazi Nazrul University was established under West Bengal Act XIX of 2012 and was assented to by the Governor on 16th August 2012. Named after India’s rebel poet and Bangladesh’s national poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam (1899-1976), our university stands for creative freedom and intellectual exchange.
Our History
The university started its journey when Professor Anuradha Mukhopadhyay took charge as the first vice chancellor on 3rd December 2012. A major milestone was achieved when West Bengal Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Bandopadhyay laid the foundation stone near Nazrul’s birthplace at Churulia on 10th January 2013. Academic activities began in July 2013 with 4 core departments, and by 2018-19 we had 17 postgraduate departments with 1269 students. Now we are affiliating 20 colleges with 14,833 undergraduate students.
Vision and Mission
We want to take higher education beyond urban centers, focusing on teaching, research, and knowledge dissemination. Our university follows the Humboldtian model of research-intensive education, where knowledge creation and dissemination are given equal emphasis. Located in the Damodar River valley of Asansol, we have gone beyond traditional humanities and sciences to include specialized engineering departments in mining and metallurgy.
Core Values and Commitments
We are a socially inclusive institution with 66% female students and a significant number of first-generation learners and minority communities. Through the Nazrul Centre for Social and Cultural Studies, we are promoting international research collaborations, especially with Bangladesh, and contributing to cross-border cultural diplomacy.
Education Philosophy
We are providing affordable and quality education while promoting critical thinking and an interdisciplinary approach. Our teaching methodology helps students to overcome challenges, broaden their knowledge, and prepare for future professional requirements. As a public university we are an instrument of social change, especially for geographically and culturally marginalized communities.
