Historical Perspective

"Sanatan here does not signify strict adherence or orthodox attitude to life or religion. Sanatan Dharma is evergrowing and embracing new ideas without disregarding eternal values, pursuit of knowledge and duty-consciousness. A true Sanatanist respects tradition, pursues knowledge with utmost sincerity and integrity of purpose… feels for fellow men, faces the problems of life cheerfully and courageously…is a true sportsman and knows his duties in the field of life."

                                                                                                                                                                           - Udayachal, ARSD College Magazine

Sanatan Dharma College (rechristened Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College in May 1968), a co-educational Constituent College of the University of Delhi, was founded in August 1959 by Shri Sanatan Dharma Sabha (Rawalpindi), registered in Delhi.

Originally founded in 1882 at Rawalpindi, Shri Sanatan Dharma Sabha had been the premier organisation of the Sanatani Hindus that for over six decades had catered to the various needs of the community in the Rawalpindi Division of pre-partition Punjab and had successfully run a degree College, a high school, two middle schools and four primary schools there. The Sanatan Dharma Sabha was registered in 1952 in Delhi.

Inception of ARSD

On 12th July 1959, permission was obtained to open a college as a constituent college of the University of Delhi in a rented building in the Anand Parbat area. The inaugural ceremony was held with the then Speaker of Lok Sabha, Hon'ble M.A. Ayyangar, the Chief Commissioner of Delhi, Shri A.D. Pandit, and the Hon'ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. VKRV Rao, as distinguished guests.

Shri F.C. Mehra took charge as the Chairman of the Governing Body, and Dr R.N. Rai, a reputed physicist, became the College's first Principal. A commanding site spanning 12.31 acres of land on 6th December, the foundation stone of the new building was laid by Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant. To keep up the traditions of Sanatan Dharma culture, soil brought from old institutions at Rawalpindi was poured over the current site.

The Motto

The motto of the College, Tejasvi-naav-adhitam-astu, has been taken from Taittiriya Upanishad and means May Our Learning Be Endowed with Radiance.

 Core Values

Since its inception, in addition to pursuing academic and professional excellence, the College has emphasised character-building and idealism informed by Sanatani values. In a show of our commitment, the inaugural issue of the college magazine Udyachal was published in Sanskrit, Hindi, and English sections. The College is sensitive towards students from economically weaker sections, which can be gauged from the fact that it strives to provide a book bank facility for loaning books to needy students for an entire year, from the very first year of its existence.