GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN SAMBALPUR (1944 - 2015)

Sambalpur is the hub of western Odisha. It is famous all over India and abroad as well because of its music and dance, handloom, Hirakud Dam and rich culture. However, in comparison to elementary education, the development of higher education in this Sambalpur district is too late. The first higher educational institution of Sambalpur is Gangadhar Meher College, 1944 and the latest university is the Odisha State Open University, 2015. The main cause of delayed development of higher education in Sambalpur is the lack of interest of the British government. Nevertheless, after India got her independence, higher education was widely promoted through the endeavour of both Government and Private enterprise. Some of the colleges and universities worthy to be mentioned are Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur, Odisha State Open University,Sambalpur University,Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Sambalpur University Institute of Information Technology,Gangadhar Meher University, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose College, Government Womens' College, Lajpat Rai Law College, Hirakud College, Orissa Medical College of Homeopathy & Research, Burla College, Govt College of Physical Education, Sambalpur, Nursing College, Dr Parshuram Mishra Institute of Advanced Studies in Education and Silicon Institute of Technology.