Delhi NCR
Meeting people at Indraprastha College for Women
Indraprastha College for Women is DU's oldest women's college, founded in 1924, on a 21-acre heritage campus at Alipur House in Civil Lines. It is the only DU college offering the BMMMC mass media degree, and its dramatics, music and debating societies are where most students find their circle.
Founded in 1924, IP College is Delhi's oldest women's college and the only University of Delhi college offering a dedicated Bachelor's degree in Mass Media and Mass Communication (BMMMC).
The story of Indraprastha College for Women
IP College grew out of Indraprastha Girls School, set up in 1904 in Old Delhi's Chhipiwara by Delhi theosophists led by Lala Jugal Kishore at the urging of Annie Besant. In 1924 an intermediate college began in two rooms of the school, with Leonora Gmeiner from South Australia as principal, and that is the year the college counts as its founding.
Degree courses followed in the 1930s, and in 1938 the university listed IP as a degree college. The same year it moved to Alipur House in Civil Lines, a building designed by Walter George that had served as the British Commander-in-Chief's office. Vicereine Lady Linlithgow formally inaugurated the premises on 7 February 1939.
The building received heritage status in 2002 for its Indo-British style, with semi-circular arches and turrets. IP celebrated its centenary on 7 February 2024, with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar as chief guest, the same date as the 1939 inauguration.
What the campus is like socially
IP has a strong sense of history and a strong sense of self. Students are proud of the college's role in women's education and its long tradition of student activism, and the campus, with its arches, lawns and sports facilities, feels very different from the newer DU colleges.
Civil Lines sits just north of Old Delhi and a short ride from North Campus, so IP students get both a quieter, leafy campus and easy access to Kamla Nagar, Hudson Lane and the North Campus fest circuit. The BMMMC course adds a media-production crowd that is always filming something.
Traditions every Indraprastha College for Women student knows
- Shruti: IP's annual spring fest and the biggest event on the college calendar.
- Vivaad: The inter-college debate tournament run by the English Debating Society.
- Kirdaar: The theatre fest organised by Abhivyakti, the dramatics society.
- Foundation Day, 7 February: The college marks its foundation on the date Alipur House was inaugurated in 1939. The 2024 edition was the centenary.
Campus lore and insider spots
- The Commander-in-Chief's office: IP's main building once housed the British Commander-in-Chief's office. Now it is a women's college, which students enjoy pointing out.
- Two rooms in 1924: DU's oldest women's college started in two rooms of a girls' school in Old Delhi.
- A pool, a range and a squash court: IP has a swimming pool, shooting range, squash court and judo floor, facilities that surprise visitors from other DU colleges.
- Open to all: From early on, Leonora Gmeiner opened the institution to girls of all castes and communities, with no economic barriers.
How to find your people here
Join a society or the fest committee at Indraprastha College for Women in your first few weeks. DU friendships tend to form around a shared activity, not the classroom, and the North or South Campus ecosystem makes it easy to meet people from other colleges too.
Fests and societies at Indraprastha College for Women
Signature fests
- Shruti
- Vivaad
- Kirdaar
Notable societies
- La Cadenza (Western Music Society)
- Abhivyakti (Dramatics Society)
- Alaap (Indian Music Society)
Societies worth knowing at Indraprastha College for Women
- Abhivyakti: The dramatics society and one of the most competitive on campus. It runs the Kirdaar theatre fest.
- La Cadenza: The Western music society.
- Alaap: The Indian music society.
- Croydon: The fine arts society.
- English Debating Society: Runs Vivaad and competes across the DU debating circuit.
Careers, internships and placements
IP's placement cell brings in consulting, analytics and FMCG recruiters, and economics, psychology and computer science students are often the most active in campus drives. BMMMC graduates tend to head into journalism, PR, content and production.
Students recommend chasing internships beyond campus drives, and many use their society and fest experience as proof of event, media and leadership skills. The college's long line of alumnae in public life also inspires a steady stream of civil services and law aspirants.
Notable alumni
- Meira Kumar: The first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
- Sucheta Kriplani: Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the first woman to hold the office of Chief Minister in India.
- Aruna Roy: Social activist and Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient.
- Kusha Kapila: Internet personality and actor who studied English honours at IP and has said college dramatics shaped her.
- Deepika Singh: Television actor, listed among the college's alumni.
Rivalries and eternal debates
Miranda House is IP's closest peer and rival, the other historic women's college in North Delhi, with LSR completing DU's best-known women's college trio. Debates over prestige, cutoffs and campus vibe run every admission season. On the fest circuit, IP's dance and dramatics societies regularly meet Gargi, Kamala Nehru and Miranda House teams.
What Indraprastha College for Women is talking about now
Centenary pride runs through IP's recent content, from the 2024 celebrations to later foundation days. Students have also pushed hard on campus safety and administration issues, especially after an intrusion during the Shruti fest in 2023.
Meeting people at Indraprastha College for Women by interest
A lot of friendships here form around a shared interest rather than a class or a hostel wing. If you are into music and jamming, theatre and dramatics, poetry and open mics, reading and book clubs, and running, those pages cover where that scene actually happens in India and how to find people near you who are into the same thing.
Colleges nearby
Indraprastha College for Women sits close to Daulat Ram College, Hindu College, and St. Stephen's College, all part of the same Delhi NCR student scene. Cross-college friendships often start at inter-college fests, hackathons, or shared-interest communities rather than in class.
Similar campuses across India
If you are looking beyond your own campus, students at Janki Devi Memorial College, Jesus and Mary College, Jesus and Mary College Delhi, and Kamala Nehru College share a similar campus culture, and Zyber works the same way at each: showing you verified people nearby who match on interest, intent, or timing.
Zyber on campus
Zyber is live at Indraprastha College for Women, matching you in real time with people nearby who share your interests or your drive, with verified profiles only.
New to Indraprastha College for Women? Start here
If you are just starting out, these freshers guides are written for exactly this moment: first week of college checklist, how to choose societies in college, making friends beyond your branch, and internship in first year.
FAQ: Indraprastha College for Women
Where is IP College for Women located?+
IP College is at Alipur House on Sham Nath Marg in Civil Lines, North Delhi, a short ride from North Campus.
When was Indraprastha College for Women founded?+
The college dates its founding to 1924, growing out of Indraprastha Girls School, which was set up in 1904.
Is IP College the oldest women's college in DU?+
Yes. Indraprastha College for Women is the oldest women's college of the University of Delhi.
Which DU college offers BMMMC?+
IP College for Women is the only DU college offering the Bachelor in Multimedia and Mass Communication (BMMMC).
What is the IP College fest called?+
IP's annual cultural fest is Shruti. Vivaad and Kirdaar are its debate and theatre fests.
Does IP College have a swimming pool?+
Yes. IP College has a swimming pool, along with a shooting range, squash court, gym and judo floor.
How do I make friends at Indraprastha College for Women?+
The fastest way to make friends at Indraprastha College for Women is to join a society or activity group in your first few weeks and keep showing up, since Delhi NCR's campus culture here rewards consistency over one-off networking.
What societies should I join at Indraprastha College for Women?+
At Indraprastha College for Women, the societies and clubs tied to what you actually care about, not the biggest or most popular ones, tend to build the strongest friendships.
What are the main societies and fests at Indraprastha College for Women?+
Indraprastha College for Women's social calendar centers on Shruti, Vivaad, and Kirdaar, alongside societies like La Cadenza (Western Music Society), Abhivyakti (Dramatics Society), and Alaap (Indian Music Society).
How do I meet people from other colleges nearby?+
In Delhi NCR, cross-college friendships usually start at inter-college fests, hackathons, or shared interest communities rather than in class. Apps like Zyber help by showing you nearby people at other campuses who share your interests.
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