For much of the 1970s, the people of Rangapara and its neighboring regions had long nurtured the aspiration of establishing a higher education institution. While the idea had been planted years earlier, it was only in the mid-1970s that the vision began to take tangible shape. In 1975, the communities of Rangapara, Balipara, Chengelimari, Missamari, Chariduar, Khanamukh, Ghoramari, and surrounding villages and tea gardens came together to form a college management committee. Mr. A. J. Singla was elected as president, and Lt. Mahendra Sarmah as secretary. With Mr. Singla’s committed leadership, the committee worked tirelessly, and the groundwork for the college progressed with remarkable speed.

In response, the University of Gauhati appointed Mr. Abdul Jalil to assess the feasibility of setting up a college in the area. He conducted his inspection with urgency and diligence, ensuring the proposal moved forward. At the same time, Mr. Lokeswar Gogoi, who had recently been appointed joint secretary of the committee, reached out to Mr. R. P. Telfor, the manager of Phulbari Tea Estate, seeking land for the campus. Mr. Telfor worked relentlessly to secure a generous donation of 122 bighas and 3 kathas of land from M/S Barelly Tea Company, the estate’s owners. The college remains deeply grateful to the tea company for their pivotal contribution.

Yet, just as the dream of a college seemed within reach, an unforeseen obstacle arose. On May 31, 1975, the Government of Assam issued a circular banning the establishment of new colleges, abruptly halting the momentum that had been so carefully built.

Though the people’s enthusiasm was initially dampened by the setback, their determination remained unshaken, and they continued to work with optimism, patiently waiting for a more favorable time to realize their dream. It was during this period of uncertainty that a blessing came in the form of Hiralal Patowary, the then Member of Parliament for Mangaldai. His visit to Rangapara injected a renewed sense of hope in the community. Addressing a meeting at the Rangapara Namghar, he uplifted their spirits and, taking a bold step toward the future, donated a sum of Rs. 10,000 to the college fund, with the instruction that it be used for the college’s establishment when the time was right. His unwavering enthusiasm inspired the community, leading to a further public donation of Rs. 20,000. This collective generosity was placed in a fixed deposit at the UCO Bank, Rangapara, and became the cornerstone of the college’s foundation. The institution owes its very existence to the vision and selflessness of this great leader, and words cannot fully express the community’s gratitude to him.

In 1979, the Government of Assam issued a new circular permitting the opening of new colleges where needed. Encouraged by this development, the reconstituted college committee, which had formed after the untimely death of Mahendra Sarmah, began working with renewed vigor. During this time, Mr. Lakhyadhar Choudhury, the then Education Minister of Assam, was invited to a meeting aimed at discussing the establishment of the college, an initiative spearheaded by Mr. Golak Ch. Kakati, the MLA of Sootea LAC. In his address, Mr. Choudhury assured the people of his full support, and true to his word, he personally contacted the authorities at Gauhati University to expedite the process. As a result, the university sent Mr. Khitish Medhi, the Inspector of Colleges, and Dr. H. P. Das to inspect the proposed college. Their favorable report led to the university granting permission to start Pre-University (P.U.) classes in Arts and Semi-Commerce subjects, including English, Assamese, Bengali, Economics, Political Science, History, Education, Commercial Geography, Bookkeeping, and Business Method.

The college began its journey with just eight students enrolled. It was formally inaugurated on August 16, 1979, by Mr. R. Borah, IAS, the then Deputy Commissioner of undivided Darrang District, in the premises of the Union Theater Club, Rangapara. The college expresses deep gratitude to the management of the Union Theater Club for their generous accommodation during this initial phase.

On August 16, 1983, the college officially moved to its current site. We are profoundly thankful to Mr. A. J. Singla and the other members of the Governing Body for their tireless efforts in constructing the present college building. The foundation stone ceremony was attended by a large number of people from the surrounding areas, and the first person to contribute to the foundation was Markas Bading, a respected elder from the tea community, who poured the first concrete into the foundation post.

The college is deeply indebted to the people of Rangapara, Balipara, Chariduar, and Misamari, as well as to the business community, tea garden management, employees, tea labourers who contributed one day’s wage, and the TITAN TRUST, whose generous financial support made the construction of the college building possible. We also acknowledge their assistance during the period of financial deficit, which ensured that salaries for both teaching and non-teaching staff were disbursed on time.

Mahidhar. Dutta served as the founding principal until August 10, 1981, after which Dr. K. N. Das took over as principal, serving until his retirement on August 31, 1990.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Assam for placing the college under the Deficit Grants-in-Aid scheme starting from January 1, 1987. This marked a significant step toward the institution’s growth and sustainability. In 2005, the Arts stream of the college was provincialized, followed by the provincialization of the Commerce stream in 2013. The Government of Assam further expanded the academic offerings by introducing the Science stream in 2020. That same year, the college also began offering Post-Graduate classes in Hindi, further enhancing its academic portfolio.

In 1996, due to the tireless efforts of then principal Umesh Ch. Sarmah, the college was recognized under Sections 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act. This recognition opened the doors for the college to receive central funding and greater academic opportunities. In 2004, under the able leadership of Dr. Samim Behzad, as Principal-in-Charge, and Dr. Ranendra Mohan Deka, as the Coordinator, the college underwent assessment and was accredited by NAAC with a B+ grade. This accreditation was a testament to the institution's commitment to quality education.

In 2011, the college was reassessed by NAAC and awarded a B grade under the revised assessment system, reflecting its continued progress. The most remarkable achievement came in 2023 when the college was reaccredited by NAAC with a B++ grade, achieving a CGPA of 2.88. This is the highest CGPA ever attained by any college in Sonitpur District, underscoring the college’s dedication to excellence in education and its growing reputation in the region.

From 1993 to 2018, the college was led by a succession of ten distinguished principals, both regular and in-charge, who shouldered the responsibility of guiding the institution through its various phases of growth. These visionary leaders include Dr. Gagan Ch. Baruah, Dr. Purabi Bhattacherjy, Umesh Ch. Sarmah, Dr. Pradip Kumar Das, Dr. Semim Behzad, Dr. Sailendra Borthakur, Miss Laksmi Nath, Sri Ram Charan Baishya, Dr. Harekrishna Sahoo, and Baneswar Talukdar. Their collective contributions helped steer the college toward excellence in higher education.

The present chapter in the college’s history began with the appointment of Dr. Ranjan Kalita as principal on July 9, 2018. Under his dynamic leadership, the college has made significant strides toward realizing its vision of becoming a beacon of excellence in higher education. One of the most remarkable milestones during Dr. Kalita’s tenure is the introduction of the Science Stream by the Government of Assam, along with the initiation of Post-Graduate classes in Hindi in 2020.

Another landmark achievement under Dr. Kalita’s leadership is the establishment of the National Service Scheme (NSS) in 2018. The NSS team, led by Dr. A.K. Deka, Assistant Professor, has achieved outstanding success in its inaugural year, winning the Silver Medal (2018-19) for Leadership in Tobacco Control, followed by a Gold Medal the next year (2019-2020), awarded by the Assam Cancer Care Foundation, a collaboration between the Government of Assam and Tata Trust. In 2022, Sri Subhankar Dey was honored with the prestigious NSS State and National Award, while Dr. Aswini Kr. Deka received the NSS State Award 2023 for his contributions.

Dr. Kalita’s efficiency and leadership in college management have earned him several prestigious awards from national organizations. Additionally, two other faculty members, Sri Prasanta Boro and Sri Dipen Sarma, were recognized with the Best Teacher Award, further highlighting the excellence in teaching at the college.

The college’s commitment to environmental sustainability was also recognized when the Ministry of Education, Government of India, conferred the District Green Champion Award, a testament to the institution’s dedication to eco-friendly initiatives. Moreover, the college takes immense pride in the achievements of Sri Ratan Choudhury, Assistant Professor of Botany, and Dr. Biman Kr. Sarma, who were awarded a patent by the Intellectual Property Office, Government of India, marking a significant milestone in the college's pursuit of research and innovation. Under Dr. Kalita's visionary leadership, the college continues to scale new heights, fostering a culture of academic excellence, social responsibility, and environmental consciousness.

The college has consistently excelled in the field of sports, demonstrating outstanding performance across various disciplines. Many of our athletes have achieved recognition at both national and state levels. Notably, the Girls’ Tug of War team was honored as the National 3rd Best Team in 2024, and also clinched the State Championship in 2023 and 2024. The Girls’ Football Team earned the District Runner-up title in 2024, while the Boys’ Football Team has garnered several awards at both district and state levels. Beyond individual achievements, the college has played a pivotal role in organizing numerous state-level sporting events, including the Gauhati University Inter-College Football Tournament, GU Weight and Powerlifting Competition, All Assam Karate Championship, and Inter-District College Volleyball Competition, further enhancing its reputation in the sporting community.

As a rural college situated in a socially disadvantaged area, the institution recognizes its responsibility to serve the community and contribute to its development. In line with this vision, the college has adopted five local villages under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, a program initiated by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Additionally, the college has taken the initiative to support an orphanage, providing educational assistance and essential amenities to the children. Furthermore, the college is actively working to combat social evils, such as witch-hunting and deforestation, in the surrounding areas, fostering a culture of awareness and social responsibility.

The college boasts impressive infrastructure, which supports both academic and extracurricular growth. With three girls’ hostels, three boys’ hostels, a large playground, an indoor sports complex, and ten digital classrooms, the college offers a well-rounded educational environment. Other notable facilities include digital seminar halls, an auditorium, campus Wi-Fi, and a fully digital library, all contributing to a modern and accessible learning space.

Currently, the college is home to over 2,800 students across the Arts, Commerce, and Science streams. In addition to degree programs, the college also offers a range of diploma and certificate courses, ensuring diverse academic opportunities for its students. This robust infrastructure, combined with the college’s unwavering commitment to community service and holistic development, positions it as a beacon of excellence in the region.

We are thrilled to announce a major milestone in the journey of Rangapara College. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has conferred Autonomous Status on our institution, effective from the academic year 2025–26. This prestigious recognition empowers us to craft a dynamic and flexible curriculum, embrace innovative teaching methodologies, and more effectively nurture the academic and career aspirations of our students.

Adding to this exciting development, we are proud to launch the Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP – BA-BEd) from the upcoming session. Approved by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), this new programme reflects our unwavering commitment to shaping the educators of tomorrow.