Delhi NCR
Meeting people at Kamala Nehru College
Kamala Nehru College is a women's college on August Kranti Marg in South Delhi with more than 30 societies, from Lakshya theatre to the Crossfire debating society. Ullas, the spring fest, and society auditions in the first weeks are the quickest way to find your people.
Kamala Nehru College was originally opened in 1964 as Government College for Women in Defence Colony; its August Kranti Marg building's foundation stone was laid in 1972, and Indira Gandhi visited the completed building and planted saplings there on Founder's Day 1974.
The story of Kamala Nehru College
Kamala Nehru College opened on 20 July 1964 as the Government College for Women in Defence Colony, led by founder principal Dr. K.K. Gorowara and a staff of sixteen. It was renamed Modern College for Women in 1966-67, and its first graduating batch in 1968 had 209 students.
On 21 November 1972 President V.V. Giri laid the foundation stone for a new campus at Hauz Khas, now August Kranti Marg, and the college was renamed after freedom fighter and social reformer Kamala Nehru. On Founder's Day in 1974, Indira Gandhi visited the new building, unveiled the plaque and planted saplings.
The college auditorium was inaugurated by Vice-President Shankar Dayal Sharma on 17 December 1991, and KNC celebrated its golden jubilee in 2014. In April 2026 the Municipal Corporation of Delhi certified it as a Zero-Waste Institution under the new solid waste rules, a first for a DU college.
What the campus is like socially
KNC is friendly, busy and society-driven. Students describe an easygoing all-women campus where faculty are approachable and the canteen is a genuine highlight. Societies are the social engine, and the most popular ones run auditions that feel like a rite of passage.
South Campus life is on the doorstep: Siri Fort, Hauz Khas and Green Park are close, and LSR and Gargi are nearby, so inter-college friendships form quickly during fest season. Students often commute, which makes society groups and canteen tables the places where friend circles settle.
Traditions every Kamala Nehru College student knows
- Ullas: KNC's annual cultural fest. The 2017 edition, inaugurated by Axis Bank CEO Shikha Sharma, featured the Nizami Brothers and closed with Jubin Nautiyal.
- Nrityakriti: The choreography competition at Ullas, a headline contest for dance teams.
- LaVogue and Bass Drop: Ullas's fashion show and battle of the bands, both big crowd pullers.
- Founder's Day: A long-running college occasion. Indira Gandhi visited on Founder's Day in 1974 to open the new building.
Campus lore and insider spots
- Three names in eight years: Government College for Women, then Modern College for Women, then Kamala Nehru College by 1972.
- Indira's saplings: Indira Gandhi planted saplings on campus in 1974, and students like to wonder which trees are hers.
- DU's first zero-waste college: The MCD certification in 2026 turned waste segregation into a point of student pride.
- The college band: KNC has its own student band, The Rumoured Project, listed among its official societies.
How to find your people here
Join a society or the fest committee at Kamala Nehru College 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 Kamala Nehru College
Signature fests
- Ullas
Notable societies
- Enactus Kamala Nehru College
Societies worth knowing at Kamala Nehru College
- Lakshya: The theatre society, one of the most sought-after on campus.
- Crossfire: The English debating society, with Abhivyakti covering Hindi debate.
- Nupur: The Indian dance society, host of Ullas's Indian dance competitions.
- Sangeetika: The Indian music society, which runs the Indian choir competition.
- Zephyr: The Western music society.
- Asar: The entrepreneurship cell, with Nurture as the college's incubation cell.
Careers, internships and placements
KNC's placement cell, set up in 2006, brings in recruiters such as EY, KPMG and Wipro, with economics and commerce students most active in campus drives. Humanities graduates often lean toward academia, journalism and civil services.
The college has structured routes beyond placements: a Civil Services Forum for UPSC aspirants, Asar and Nurture for would-be founders, and a journalism programme whose alumnae include well-known news anchors and editors.
Notable alumni
- Anubha Bhonsle: Journalist and Executive News Editor at CNN-News18.
- Natasha Jog: Former NDTV journalist.
- Molly Gambhir: Anchor and correspondent at WION.
- Anjali Roy: Former Delhi MLA and Chairperson of the Delhi State Women Commission.
- Rachna Gulati: IAS officer who served in the PM's Secretariat.
Rivalries and eternal debates
KNC sits in DU's women's college comparison with LSR, Miranda House and Gargi, and Gargi is the closest benchmark for economics and commerce. On the fest circuit, Nupur, Sangeetika and Zephyr meet teams from LSR, Gargi, Miranda House and JMC for the same trophies. It is competitive but friendly, and KNC students defend their college fiercely once they are in.
What Kamala Nehru College is talking about now
The zero-waste certification became a big source of campus pride in 2026, and society Instagram handles now carry most of KNC's student culture online.
Meeting people at Kamala Nehru College by interest
A lot of friendships here form around a shared interest rather than a class or a hostel wing. If you are into volunteering and social impact, 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
Kamala Nehru College sits close to St. Stephen's College, Hindu College, Lady Shri Ram College, Miranda House, and Shri Ram College of Commerce, 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 Kirori Mal College, Lady Irwin College, and Maitreyi 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 built for meeting people nearby in real time, with verified profiles only. At Kamala Nehru College, that means showing you people near you who share your interests or your drive, whether or not you overlap on a class or a society.
New to Kamala Nehru College? 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: Kamala Nehru College
Where is Kamala Nehru College located?+
Kamala Nehru College is on August Kranti Marg, near Siri Fort in South Delhi. It moved there from Defence Colony in the 1970s.
When was Kamala Nehru College founded?+
KNC was founded on 20 July 1964 as the Government College for Women and renamed Kamala Nehru College in 1972.
Is Kamala Nehru College a girls' college?+
Yes. Kamala Nehru College is a women's college of the University of Delhi.
What is the Kamala Nehru College fest called?+
KNC's annual cultural fest is Ullas, usually held in spring.
Is Kamala Nehru College in South Campus?+
Yes. KNC is in South Delhi and is grouped with DU's South Campus colleges, close to LSR and Gargi.
Which DU college is zero waste?+
In April 2026 Kamala Nehru College became the first DU college certified as a Zero-Waste Institution by the MCD.
How do I make friends at Kamala Nehru College?+
The fastest way to make friends at Kamala Nehru College 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 Kamala Nehru College?+
At Kamala Nehru College, 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 Kamala Nehru College?+
Kamala Nehru College's social calendar centers on Ullas, alongside societies like Enactus Kamala Nehru College.
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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