- Sydenham College will honor alumna Yasmin Khurshedji Surveyor, Asia’s first female commerce graduate, with a statue and a ₹1 lakh annual women’s scholarship in her name, funded by a Rs 20 lakh endowment shared with the Central Bank of India.
- Surveyor graduated in 1925, became the first woman appointed at the Central Bank of India in 1926, served there for 35 years, and later worked at Tata Trusts until age 81.
- A special programme marking her 100th graduation anniversary will be held on August 18, attended by prominent alumni including singer Sanjeevani Bhelande and Dilnavaz Variava.
Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics will pay tribute to its alumna and the first Asian woman to graduate with a degree in commerce, Yasmin Khurshedji Surveyor, by installing her statue and introducing a scholarship programme in her name to celebrate the 100th anniversary of her graduation. The scholarship will be funded from an endowment fund of Rs 20 lakh provided equally by the college and the Central Bank of India, where Surveyor served after completing studies.
The bank contacted us to honor Surveyor and we collectively decided to announce a women's scholarship program in commerce", said the principal Shriniwas Dhure. The best female commerce student from the college will be given Rs 1 lakh annually under the scholarship program, he further added.
"Surveyor set an example a century ago and the scholarship and her sculpture will inspire future generations of women in commerce", the principal stated.
Surveyor was compelled to meet great challenges and even relocate the court to gain entry in what was a boys' school at that time, said Dhure. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, who taught political economy at Sydenham College from 1918 until he departed to pursue his further studies in London, and the college head assisted her avail the facilities she needed, he added. "The statue of such a motivational woman will propagate the college legacy and inspire upcoming students".
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Surveyor graduated in 1925 and shortly thereafter, in 1926, became the first lady to be appointed at the Central Bank of India, which was among the first banks to recruit women in clerical positions. Her appointment was a milestone in professional freedom of Indian women at a time when higher education among women was not common, as per the bank's records.
Asia's first female commerce graduate served at the bank for 35 years before moving to the Tata Trusts, where she served until the age of 81.
The college will host a special programme on August 18 to celebrate her 100th graduation anniversary, Dhure said. It will be graced by noted alumni such as playback singer Sanjeevani Bhelande and Dilnavaz Variava, who was among the first three women post-graduates from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in 1964-66.
