11 interesting facts you might not know about the city's prestigious Lucknow University

The city's prestigious Lucknow University (LU) has reasons galore to make the localites proud. But we bet you wouldn't know some of these anecdotes from its rich and illustrious history.

With as many as 556 colleges affiliated with it, 47 departments, LU offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes in varied subjects, including science, arts, commerce, and law.

Below are 11 facts revolving around the university that we find prettty interesting:

Founded on November 25, 1920, the University of Lucknow stands tall as one of the oldest government institutions of higher education in the country! Know what that entails? LU has completed 102 glorious years of imparting knowledge and pioneering in quality education.

Established by Sir Harcourt Butler, the Governor of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh at the time, Lucknow University's main campus is sprawled over some 240 acres of land. It also flaunts several heritage buildings, parks, and several modern amenities.

Lucknow University has been accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with an A++ grade. In July 2022, the institution received the credit, valid for a period of 5 years, owning to its advanced learning methods, efficient teaching practises, and its utmost prestige.

Did you know about some seminal alumni of the prestigious university? Notable names include former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, renowned poet Firaq Gorakhpuri, and social activist Gyanwati Singh!

Some others legendary people who passed out of the Uni are International Indian Cricketer Suresh Raina, former President Shankar Dayal Sharma, first Prime Minister of Pakistan Begum Ra'ana Liaqat Ali Khan, among many more prominent figures.

The university stands apart, showcasing heritage structures and historical buildings. It is embellished by colonial hints and Nawabi architecture, like Lal Baradari. From the Habibullah Hall to the Malviya Hall, the university's main campus is adorned with treasures from the past.

Lucknow University also boasts a humongous library in its campus, decked up with over 1.2 million books, journals, and other resources.

Lucknow University engulfs laboratories and various research centres, including the National Centre of Experimental Mineralogy and Petrology and the Centre for South Asian Studies. Recently, LU inaugurated a Population Research Centre, excelling in technology and research.

A thriving cultural scene also ensues here, with innumerable student-led clubs and societies that are known for organising many events and competitions throughout the year.

The University of Lucknow has a rich tradition of sports and its cricket team has been known for producing national-level players. In a much recent and inclusive news, LU also managed to form its first women's cricket team!

LU is also home to a bedecked museum, showcasing historical artefacts, manuscripts, and paintings, house a wide collection of rare tokens from the past. A large display of fossils and gems also add to the plethora of unique exhibits here.

On account of the plethora of resources and its advanced facilities, Lucknow University also found a place in the top 100 universities in India, as ranked by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).