Ramakrishna Mission Residential College at Narendrapur is a reputed academic institution, which can boast over excellent results in University Examinations for many decades. The college is purely residential and only boys are allowed to study here irrespective of their caste, creed and religion. The campus of the college and ashram occupies an area of 150 acres, which is full of lush greenery.
The college endeavors to spread education among the young men of the society according to the best traditions of the country and instructing them in modern arts and science. It prepares the students for the university examinations and educates them also with the thoughts of Swami Vivekanada so that they can achieve growth and development in all prospects of life. The college encourages the students to become strong and healthy individuals with good morality and principles, who have respect for the higher values of life and are well conscious of their obligations to the poor and wretched part of the society. The college aims at involving the students in a series of well-planned activities and creating an elevating and conducive atmosphere in the whole campus.
The Ramakrishna Mission Residential College at Narendrapur was built up in 1960 and is affiliated to the University of Calcutta. It has six science departments viz. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics and Economics in honours courses. The honours in arts subjects are offered in English and History. Apart from this there are departments of Bengali, Political Science, Sanskrit, Hindi, Philosophy and Biology in general courses. The Post Graduate course is taught in this college in Physics and Chemistry. There is also a dedicated Research and Development wing for active Researches in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science. The medium of instruction is English and the poor and meritorious students are provided with financial help in various form.
The Ramakrishna Mission Residential College at Narendrapur has gone through a journey over six decades. It was started in Pathuriaghata immediately after the Bengal famine in 1943. This was a branch center of Ramakrishna Mission, which had a very humble beginning with a very small number of students. Later it shifted to its present site near Garia, in the year 1957 and gradually grew into large educational complex to achieve educational excellence. This journey was never smooth but co-operation came from different well wishers. Revered Swami Lokeswaranandaji Maharaj played a pivotal role in giving the present shape to this huge institutional complex. Presently the ashrama has more than two thousand scholars and hundred of workers. The students come from different parts of India, speaking different languages and having different religious faith. The institution has earned its fame due to excellent performance in various public and special examinations.
The College follows the ideal of man making and character-building education propounded by Swami Vivekananda. The College gives much emphasis on both moral and spiritual values and on games and sports. The college consists of well-equipped prayer halls and hostels. Ramakrishna Mission Residential College also encourages sports and games and there are cricket, football and table tennis teams, which perform credibly well in different sports meets and intercollegiate competitions.
At the beginning of the session, the senior students welcome the fresher through a ceremony named as `Vidyarthi Vrata`. Cultural activities are observed in the college with sincere efforts. Drama, debates, quizzes, musical treats etc are held at regular interval here.
The staffs of the college are also inspired by Swamiji`s ideal of service and sacrifice. The staff members who reside on and around the campus participate in the corporate life of the institution. The students have opportunity to learn from the greater life outside the classroom also.
The college being fully residential, all the students have to stay in hostel. The monks play an important role in looking after the hostel atmosphere and discipline so that perfect harmony is maintained. The hostels overcome all barriers of castes and creed. At present there are three hostels under the supervision of the college. The hostels are called Students` Homes as attempts are made to create a homely atmosphere there. Fellow feeling and understanding are the basis of life in these homes and strict discipline is maintained. Students admitted to this college are accommodated in any one of the homes. The food is simple and nutritious and both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals and tiffin are served.
The central library of the college contains nearly sixty thousand books as was recorded in the year 2000-2001. There is a wing called textbook library from which students can borrow books on long-term basis. Apart from this each Honours department of the college has a seminar library, which contains text and reference books. Forty-nine journals are subscribed by the college library and Honours Departments. Besides the college library there are seminar libraries, a big central library on the ashrama campus, which aids the teachers and students through their sectional libraries. The library has a huge number of University books and reference books and also opens for the public, thereby fulfilling the need of its students as well as the local people.
A multigym with twelve stations has been installed at the Brahmananda Bhavan kitchen complex so that the students can avail the facility. The gym was inaugurated by the Secretary Maharaj, Swami Asaktanandaji Maharaj on April 26,2001. The students are encouraged to join the gym everyday to improve their physique and for all-round development. The students are given regular training to develop their skills in physical exercises.
Students are also advised to take part in sports and athletics. Regular training is provided to them. The students play many friendly matches in football, cricket and table tennis as well as play several tournaments under CAB and CU. The Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur also took part in the Inter Non-Govt College Football and Athletic Championship at the district and zonal level. The Ashrama has a big standard stadium and playgrounds where the tournaments are held.
The College has a NCC unit, which has earned praise for its successful activities. Voluntary Blood Donation camps are held once a year in which about two hundred students donate blood. Social service camps are held in rural areas where students and teacher work in collaboration with the local youth.
The Ashrama has a well-equipped hospital named as Arogya Bhavana. The hospital has twenty seven beds. Qualified doctors take the charge of the hospital and some specialists visit at weekly interval. The boys are admitted to the hospital for indoor care. There is a free charitable dispensary attached to the hospital, which provides free treatment to the wretched people of the locality.
The college alumni or ex-student body aims at providing service to the distressed people in the society. A considerable amount is spent per year for the benefit of past and present students and also the students of the locality. People who need the medical treatment are helped. Monetary help is provided to the workers of the Bhavanas at the time of their retirement. The college can boast over both its teaching and non-teaching staffs who are most dedicated at their works. It is also proud of its students. The alumni association of Ramamkrishna Mission Residential College Narendrapur, which is known as Praktani makes an attempt to foster a brotherly feeling among the students of both past and present. The Mahavidyalaya Praktani organizes biennial Reunion, which falls on December 25 of every odd year. The past students are always welcome to their Alma Mater in every alternate year
The admission to this college is purely based on merit basis. There is a cut off marks that students must get in the relevant examination to be eligible to sit in the screening test. For admission in HS the marks of Madhyamik or equivalent examinations are considered while for admission to degree courses the marks of higher secondary examination or equivalent are considered. The performance in screening test is most important to get chance for study in this college.