Mackichan Hall has catered to the needs of thousands of students of Wilson College for nearly a century. The residents have found it not only a comfortable home during their college career but also a training ground to mould them into successful and well rounded human beings. The Mackichanites of yesterday and today have imbibed an attachment and they are proud to be the inheritors of the fine Mackichan Hall tradition. We are confident that the Hall will grow stronger and stronger in the service of the Student community of Wilson College and fulfill always the spirit and glorious challenge behind the motto "From Darkness Lead Me To The Light."

The Reverend Dr. Dugald Mackichan

Dr. Dugald Mackichan, the founder of Mackichan Hall was also the principal of Wilson College from 1884-1920. He arrived in India in 1874 just before the death of Dr. John Wilson, the founder of Wilson College. Dr. Mackichan was thus associated with Wilson College for over 47 years.

A man of great ability and vision, in 1880 he begun negotiations which led to the acquiring of the present site of Wilson College. Dr. Mackichan was the vice chancellor of the University of Mumbai four times, which is a unique record. He was also one of the few scholars to receive an honorary L.L.D. from the university. Under his efficient principalship the college grew very rapidly.

Dr. Mackichan was an advocate of hostels. The present site of Mackichan Hall was chosen by him and in those days it contained the Riding School of the Governor's Bodyguard. In June 1913, the hostel was open for residence. Dr. Mackichan was presented with the bust which now adorns the main entrance of Mackichan Hall. It was designed and executed by a famous Scottish Sculptor, Dr. MacGillivray in recognition of his work as an educationist. Back to top


Building

The building of Mackichan Hall is an exquisite example of outstanding architectural wonder when it comes to aesthetics of design and craftsmanship. Its outstanding features being beautifully designed stone walls and impressive arches that still attract onlookers even after 92 years of its existence. The hostel is divided into three wings, beautified by a garden in its midst, a lawn and a huge volley ball court. A new lobby was added later on the north-west side of the hostel.

During its years the building has seen many changes, the first in 1929 when the ground floor rooms of the two wings were converted into a physics laboratory. In subsequent years the demand for hostel accommodation became much greater and in the spring of 1929 the floors of the bathroom block gave way. It was a major operation to take out the floors and renew them, and the chance was taken to improve the bathroom arrangements. Then next major change was the enlargement of the Hall which took place in 1946. Formerly the North-East corner was a games room and a corridor led to the Hall itself. The walls of the games room gave way to a stage, and a new hall was the result. In 1957, room no. 4/20 was converted into an office for administrative work. Since then, there have been many major and minor changes including the shifting of the T.V room from the ground floor to the first floor, because of college classes being organized in the ground floor area. Recently the much awaited hostel repairs are being carried out under the supervision of Principal V.J. Sirwaiya and Warden Joseph Varghese.

Mackichan Hall is not a building it is a living Organism. Over the years it has grown up to what we call "The Mackichan Hall Spirit", a mixture of energy, vigour, enthusiasm and joy, which manifests itself in every aspect of the life of this Hostel. The hostel should give to students something which the college alone can hardly give, it should teach them the meaning of corporate living, the sense of fellowship of cooperative effort, of unselfish service, of membership in a larger goal and because of this the hostel has made great contribution to the life of Wilson College.
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The Coat of Arms

 

“Argent, a castle triple-towered, on a chief azure a saltire of the first”.

The Mackichan Hall family belongs to the Scottish Clan known as the MacDonalds of Clan Ranald. The 'castle triple-towered' is part of the heraldic shield in honour of the founder Rev. Dugald Mackichan. The college is represented by the St. Andrew's cross, or Saltire, at the top, this upper part of the shield being known in heraldic language as the "chief". The motto on the crest is from an ancient Sanskrit prayer and means "From darkness lead me to the light".

The Coat of Arms of Mackichan Hall thus reminds us of our founder Dr. Mackichan. Our Alma Mater Wilson College, and our Motherland India. Argent and Azure are the heraldic names of silver and blue. "Of the first" means, of the first colour mentioned, namely silver. It was adopted in 1946
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The Wardens of Mackichan Hall - Images

During the last 90 years of its existence the fortunes of Mackichan Hall have been guided by 13 Wardens each of whom has left his individual mark on the Hostel.

Professor John Maclean

Professor John McKenzie

Professor H.R. Hamley

Professor James Kellock

Professor Alexander Normand

Professor James Mackintosh

Professor John Taylor

Professor Augustine Borde

Professor John Alaxender

Professor John Zachariah

Professor M.D. David

Professor V.J. Sirwaiya

Professor Joseph Varghese

1913 -1914

1914 -1919

1919 -1920 & 1921 - 1923

1920 -1921

1923 -1925

1925 -1929

1929 -1954

1954 -1957

1957 -1962

1962 -1968

1968 -1995

1995 - 2000

2000.........

 

Professor John Maclean, the Professor of Mathematics was the first Warden of Mackichan Hall. In December 1914, Professor John McKenzie took up office as the Warden. He was the Principal of Wilson College from 1921 - 1944 and the Vice Chancellor of the Mumbai University from 1931 - 1934. Professor H.R. Hamley who hailed from Australia succeeded Professor McKenzie. He became the Principal of the Secondary Training College, Bombay in 1924. The next Warden was Professor James Kellock who was later principal of the college he was succeeded by Professor Alexander Normand, Professor of Chemistry in Wilson College for a period of three years. After Professor Alexander Normand, it was James Mackintosh who became the warden. In 1929 Professor John Taylor became the seventh warden and presided over the affairs for a full quarter of a century, until 1954 when he joined Scottish Church College, Calcutta and later became the Vice Chancellor Guwahati University. He was succeeded by Professor Augustine Borde, who became the first Indian warden of Mackichan Hall. He was also the professor of Economics at Wilson College. The next warden was Professor John Alaxender who had himself been a resident student of the hostel. He was associated with the Hostel for nearly 25 years and later became the Principal of Catholicate College Kerela. He was succeeded by Professor John Zachariah who was also the Professor of Botany at Wilson College. Professor M.D. David was the next warden and who resided for the longest period of 27 years and in many ways changed the face of the hostel. His contribution to Mackichan Hall was outstanding. Professor V.J. Sirwaiya was the next warden and took charge in 1995 till 2000, he started many innovative ideas for the Hall he is currently the Principal of Wilson College - Mumbai. Currently Mackichan Hall is under the guidance of Professor Joseph Varghese who took charge in July 2000 and is the 13th warden of Mackichan Hall. He also teaches Botany at M. D. College - Parel. A great visionary, Mackichan Hall under went extensive repairs which will promise a stronger Mackichan Hall for the next century.


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