...... It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you all to Prof. S. Shabihe Raza Baqri, a prestigious institution which was established in 1919 with a lofty vision that spreading the light of learning is not just a noble cause but a sacred obligation. The college has been founded on the premise that education is the greatest instrument of individual or social transformation and knowledge is precisely the key to conquer the world. Education, which is a primary avenue for acquisition of knowledge, can empower individuals by encouraging critical thinking and leads them to informed decisions when facing the challenges of life. Most importantly, this enterprise is an indispensable tool for evolving an intellectually coherent view of the world. Going a step further, education is also the key to self-realization which, according to Imam Ali (a.s) is a prerequisite for realization of God. The founders of Shia College deserve accolades for seeking inspiration from Imam Ali's wisdom in erecting this magnificent structure for educating the society. Since its inception, this citadel of learning has been a popular destination for seekers of knowledge who hail from diverse backgrounds and are nurtured in an ambience that is highly conducive for discovering their hidden talents.

This unity-in-diversity which is the hallmark of India's grand pluralistic culture reflects prominently in the heterogeneous mix of our students. The sprawling campus which houses a majestic Mursal-e-Azam Block along with several newly constructed buildings, a huge playground and a canteen, provides students a nostalgic experience. In keeping with the changes of a technology-centred world, the college management has carried out digitization of our offices, acquired WiFi facilities and installed modern equipment to promote ICT-enabled teaching in smart classrooms. However, despite possessing an impressive infrastructure, our true strength lies in providing quality education at affordable rates which often requires taking pro bono steps to ensure that underprivileged children are not deprived of education.

The college was accredited with A-grade in NAAC during 2022 which stands as a milestone in our academic journey, for it recognized our endeavours to align ourselves with the needs of NEP-2020. It also gave credence to our efforts of bringing all round development of our taught through fostering cocurricular and extracurricular activities. I am extremely pleased to see that our students have not only excelled in various competitive exams but have also brought laurels in sports and various cultural activities. Our NCC cadets and NSS volunteers are always on their toes in serving the society. The legal cell of the college offers free consultancy to people living in rural areas and is lending a commendable service. While we strive to reform the society, we reckon that the strategic use of knowledge can be the most reliable driver of social change.

Over years, our efforts to elevate the standards of education have paid rich dividends. The college had introduced the courses of 5-year integrated LL.B, and M.A (Political Science, History and Education) in the last academic session. As we embark on the new academic session, we announce the launch of three more courses including LL.M, M.Sc (Physics), and B.Com (Hons) which are likely to expand our spectrum of popular courses and will be helpful to students in finding better placements.

At last, while taking pride in the accomplishments of our staff, students and illustrious alumni, I hope that our historic institution will keep scaling the ladder of excellence in imparting holistic education to students so as to attain greater heights and will emerge as the brightest beacon on academic horizon.