[3][4][5] It was founded in 1885 by Vaman Shriram Apte, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vishnushashtri Chiplunkar, Mahadeo Ballal Namjoshi and Gopal Ganesh Agarkar.

[7] Social reformer, journalist, thinker and educationist Gopal Ganesh Agarkar served as the second principal from August 1892, till his death in June 1895.

Prominent nationalists, such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vishnushastri Chiplunkar and Gopal Ganesh Agarkar led efforts to found a school designed for the general advancement of the Indian public; leading to the creation of the New English School.

Inspired by the school's success, the Deccan Education Society was formed in 1884; a year later the Fergusson College was established.

An area of 37 acres (150,000 m2) of land was leased for 99-years by Shirole, the erstwhile Patil of the village of Bhamburde on the west bank of the Mutha River.

The British colonial government in Bombay allowed the college to remain autonomous, giving it a free hand in education.

[17]Post-1947, Fergusson College has produced leaders in the fields of politics, academia, literature and art.

He said on the occasion, The Fergusson College was established at a time when the attitude of the Indian masses towards higher education of the western type was yet in a formative stage and when facilities for such education for the generality of Indian students were inadequate… It was an enterprise, which benefited the Nation without offending or alienating the then rulers of India.

PV Narasimharao, India's 12th prime minister and former student, said, This college, born like a twin of the Indian National Congress, has always kept abreast of the country's history.

Fergusson College has been given many epithets by political leaders, including 'cradle of Indian polity' and 'twin of the Congress'.

[19] The founders of Fergusson College, most notably Tilak and Gokhale, were leaders of the Indian National Congress in its early stages from 1885 to 1920.

[21] The college has produced as alumni, notable Congress leaders including Vishwanath Pratap Singh and PV Narasimha Rao, Jivatram Kripalani and Babubhai J Patel.

As a young man, he was inspired by the new generation of radical political leaders — Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai — along with the political struggle against the partition of Bengal and the rising Swadeshi campaign.

After completing his degree, nationalist activist Shyamji Krishna Varma helped Vinayak to go to England to study law, on a scholarship.

The college is largely built in accordance with the Victorian school of architecture, although it has some Gothic and traditional Indian styles as well.

Built entirely in Victorian style, the two-storey structure houses the central office and the principals' chambers.

Years later, it was reinstated by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the Association of Herbal Drugs, and Deccan Education Society.

Some plants found there are Saraca Indica (Sita Ashok), the bark of which is used to heal skin diseases and as a tonic; and Terminalia arjuna, the extract of which is used to treat jaundice.

A second ground, to the south, has courts for volleyball and handball as well as facilities for Indian sports like Kabaddi, Kho-Kho and Mallakhamb.

Services for badminton and other indoor games are available, and the Gymnasium Building provides training for boxing, wrestling, judo, weight lifting and yoga.

[citation needed] The principal resides in an independent bungalow at the main entrance of the college.

In 2014 Fergusson College started special courses for upgrading skills of the national youth.

[29] It has also received National Heritage status and College of Excellence award by University Grants Commission (India).

[34] Departments: Marathi, Hindi, Economics, English, French, Geography, German, Gymkhana, History, Philosophy, Political science, Psychology, Sanskrit, and Sociology.

In the Army wing, cadets are trained by the representative of the Indian Armed Forces at the junior and senior level.