Moulana Azad College inherits a history of progressive development since December 9, 1926, when Islamia College was founded by Lord Lytton, the then Governor of Bengal, as a culmination of sustained efforts of contemporary Muslim leaders like A. K. Fazul Haq, Syed Nawad Ali Choudhury and Sir Abdul Rahim. The object was to promote Islamic learning and general education among the muslim subjects of British India. Immediately after independence, the College was renamed as Central Calcutta College and its door was made open to all the students irrespective of caste, creed and religion. In 1960, the college was renamed Maulana Azad College in memory of the great national leader and eminent scholar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. From the very beginning the college became an affiliate of University of Calcutta. In 1996-97 the College was declared as a co-educational institution and from then on, the girls form a significant proportion of our students. The college has celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of its glorious existance in 2001.