Lala Narayan Prasad was a true Chandni Chowk-wala and proudly claimed to be the first person from Delhi to pass the Chartered Accountant examination, way back in 1946. He owed his success to Lala Shri Ram, the founder of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), which marks its centenary in 2026.
Lala Narayan Prasad was a student of SRCC when it functioned from the Commercial School building in Daryaganj. Like him, many young men aspired to become Chartered Accountants while studying there. At the time, the institution was known as Commercial College. Its journey had begun as a school in Charkhewalan in 1920 with fewer than 15 students, before it formally evolved into a college in 1926.
In 1951, on its Silver Jubilee, the institution was renamed Shri Ram College of Commerce in honour of Lala Shri Ram’s contributions, cementing its focus on commerce and economics. The move to its present North Campus location in 1954 marked a new phase of growth. The college became co-educational in 1957 and introduced the BA (Hons) Economics programme the following year.
Once, Lala Charat Ram—the doyen of the Indian corporate world and the second son of Lala Shri Ram—told this writer in 1994, during a conversation at his Sardar Patel Marg residence, that his father’s true legacy lay in education.
“He firmly believed that commerce education was essential for India’s economic independence and growth, especially in the pre-Independence period when vocational and technical education found little place in mainstream academia,” he said.
Early milestones
SRCC became a degree college in 1932 with the introduction of the BA (Pass) in Commerce. Several milestones followed in quick succession: the launch of the student magazine Yamuna in 1928, the BA (Hons) in Commerce in 1943, and postgraduate programmes such as the MA in Economics and the MCom in 1948.
The 1980s and 1990s saw further expansion. The Girls’ Hostel was established in 1985, making SRCC the first co-educational Delhi University college to offer residential facilities for women. The Placement Cell was set up in 1996, followed by the Post Graduate Diploma in Global Business Operations (PGDGBO) in 1999. These developments reflected SRCC’s ability to adapt, growing from a modest diploma institution into a comprehensive college serving over 3,000 students today.
Legendary teacher
For several generations of SRCC students, Professor KPM Sundaram remains the most revered teacher associated with the college. He taught at SRCC for nearly four decades.
“Hardly any economics student in this country would not have read KPM Sundaram’s Principles of Economics. Even though I studied at Hansraj College, I was always in awe of those he taught. Thanks to teachers like him, SRCC became such a formidable institution,” says Nikhil Jain, a noted Chartered Accountant whose wife is also a CA and an SRCC alumna.
Professor Gopal, who taught Economics at SRCC for many years, adds that teachers at the college closely monitored each student’s progress and would not proceed with a lecture until everyone had grasped the concept.
Global alumnus
Bingu wa Mutharika, who served as President of Malawi from 2004 to 2012, studied at Shri Ram College of Commerce between 1961 and 1964 under an Indian government scholarship. He later completed his Master’s degree in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics.
When he visited Delhi in 2010, he was felicitated at Delhi University. During the visit, he met then-Vice President Hamid Ansari and reportedly said he would always remain indebted to SRCC for shaping his life.
Jaitley years
Arun Jaitley—one of India’s most prominent lawyers and Union Finance Minister from 2014 to 2019—often spoke fondly of his student days at SRCC. Appropriately, the college’s Sports Complex has been named after him.
Afsar Ali, who teaches Political Science at the Commercial School in Daryaganj, says: “Many SRCC alumni still visit our school, from where the college functioned for several years. We continue to regard SRCC as our own.”
Why SRCC
SRCC’s dominance in commerce education is widely acknowledged, and it is often described as the “IIT of Commerce”. What sets it apart?
“A hundred-year legacy as Delhi University’s first commerce-focused college, rigorous academics, exceptional faculty, and outstanding placements,” says Dr AK Singh, Joint Dean of Students’ Welfare at University of Delhi. “Recruitment by top firms such as McKinsey, Bain and Deloitte, a vibrant campus life, and an influential alumni network together give SRCC an unmatched edge.”
Looking ahead
As SRCC completes a hundred years, it stands as a living embodiment of Lala Shri Ram’s belief in education as a tool for national empowerment. From fewer than 15 students in a narrow Chandni Chowk lane to a globally recognised institution, its journey continues to inspire. In a rapidly changing world, SRCC remains committed to excellence, poised to shape future leaders in commerce and beyond.
