Gauhati Commerce College, a leading institution of Higher Education in Assam and the North East region imparting Commerce Education, or Business Education, came into existence on 10th September 1962.
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Let's go back in time to learn about the history of the institution. 'Jagannath Baruah College' of Jorhat was the pioneering institution of Commerce Education in Assam and North East India that started the Commerce Department in 1944. Thereafter, in 1948 after the establishment of Gauhati University 'Undergraduate' and 'Postgraduate' studies in Commerce Education started under the able leadership of a scholar of Oriental Studies and Literature, an educationist of repute, Dr. Krishna Kanta Handique, the Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University. In the early sixties, Gauhati University authorities decided to abolish Undergraduate Studies. Pandit Pabar late Trithanath Sarma, Principal of Pragjyotish College, started the Intermediate Commerce College and later decided to abolish the Commerce department. There was a vacuum in Higher Studies in greater Guwahati. The intermediate courses of Commerce Education were being imparted at B. Barooah College and Arya Vidyapeeth College.
Realising the importance of Commerce Education in Degree and Intermediate Courses, some educationists, scholars, and social workers convened a public meeting at Nabin Ch. Bordoloi Hall in the early part of 1961 to start a full-fledged Commerce College. In the same year, in September, another public meeting was held at Kamrup Academy H.S. School, and a permanent Governing body was formed. Late Dr. Birinchi Kumar Barooah as President and Late Bhagaban Ch. Lahkar as Secretary of the meeting also decided to start the college and named the college 'Gauhati Commerce College' in the following academic session in 1962. It is worth mentioning that under the dynamic leadership of Late B.C. Lahkar and as per his appeal to the then Education Minister Late Debakanta Baruah, the classes of the Commerce College were permitted to start in the New Arts Building of Cotton College in the evening shift. Again, a rented house was taken at the back of 'Money Making Pharmacy,' Panbazar, to start the College Office.
On 10th September 1962, Gauhati Commerce College started functioning in the evening shift in the New Arts building of Cotton College. Prof. Late Badan Chandra Baruah took the first class.
The college got affiliation for Intermediate classes in 1963 and for the B.Com. classes in 1964. It got Govt. concurrence in 1965. After getting the affiliation and Govt. concurrence, the next important step was to make the College a 'Deficit College.' For this, the College must have its own land and building. Principal/Secretary Dr. Bhagaban Ch. Lahkar approached the Govt. to get land for the College. His untiring effort became successful when the Govt. of Assam allotted 17 bighas of land at the present site, Chandmari. Out of these 17 bighas of land, only 5 to 6 bighas of land were suitable for building construction, and the rest was "Marshy Land."
As soon as the problem regarding the classrooms and land was partially over, the college was shifted to its permanent site at Chandmari in 1966, and the Govt. Assam was kind enough to bring the college under Grant-in-Aid (Deficit system) in the year 1966. Late Dr. Birinchi Kumar Baruah was the founder President, and Late Dr. Bhagaban Chandra Lahkar was the founder Principal/Secretary of the college. The college got a regular Grant from U.G.C. under the plan period for the construction of classrooms, and the College also received grants for Books, Journals, etc. Since 1966, Gauhati Commerce College has not been looking back. The college got the U.G.C. Grant for the construction of an R.C.C. double-storied building for the boys' hostel. The two-story (R.C.C) building of the 'Boys Hostel' and the superintendent's quarter were constructed between 1968 and 1970. Dr. Lahkar took all initiatives to construct the library building for the college, and with the Grant received from the U.G.C., the Library building was constructed in the year 1977-78.
In the 1973-1974 session, the College got permission to open Honors courses in Business Management in Degree courses. Gauhati University and AICTE accorded the permission, and the author (Dr Umesh Chandra Sarma) was the first Head of the Department of Business Management.
The enrollment of students was steadily increasing from the sixties. It was 1000 and moved to 1500 in the seventies and to 2000 in the eighties. The nineties witnessed a strength of 3000 students enrolled in HS, TDC, and M. Com Classes.
In 1984 Late Dr. B.C. Lahkar left the college (online) as he was appointed as the founder Chairman of the newly formed Assam Higher Secondary Education Council. He resigned from the Chairmanship in 1985 to realize his political aspiration and fought the Lok-Sabha election from the Gauhati Constituency on the Congress ticket. After Late Dr. B.C. Lahkar left the college, Late Dr Purnanda Saikia, a noted Vaishnavite scholar of Assam, became the Principal of the college. During his short period in the college as Principal, along with the routine work, he took the initiative in separating the departmental rooms from the Teachers' Common Room and guided the college on the academic front as well.
The college has a musical, cultural, and dramatic society. Some reputed singers, musicians, and actors of the state are the product of our college. Dr. Rati Kanta Pathak, Prof in charge of music and culture of this college is a reputed folk song singer, Dr. Purna Bhatta a young upcoming poet of the state. Prof Hemanta Deka, Prof in charge of music and cultural affairs of this college has performed his duties successfully.
The College has produced some eminent musicians, actors, and actresses of the state, namely, Bhupen Uzir, Music Composer and Director, Late Gopal Boro, Mendolist, Anupam Choudhury, accordionist, Dipak Sarma, Flute player, Bidyut Mishra, Violinist, Actress, Prastuti Parashar, and Actor, Rabin Neog, etc. Bidyut Chakraborty got the National Award as a debut director for an Assamese film "Raag Biraag."
