20°27′27.77″N 85°53′47.72″E / 20.4577139°N 85.8965889°E / 20.4577139; 85.8965889 Ravenshaw University (earlier Ravenshaw College) (Odia: ରେଭେନ୍ସା ବିଶ୍ଵବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟ) is a co-educational state university situated in Cuttack, Orissa, on the east coast of India. After the great famine of 1866, the people of Orissa and few liberal Britons wanted to start a college at Cuttack. Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, Officiating Commissioner of Orissa Division finally made the Government of Bengal realise the difficulties of Oriya students in getting College education and succeeded in obtaining permission to start collegiate classes in the Cuttack Zilla School. Thus the first College in Orissa was born in January 1868 with only intermediate classes and having six students on roll. In January 1875 Commissioner Ravenshaw proposed to convert the Collegiate School into a full fledged degree College. The Government of Bengal accepted the demand with the condition that a public contribution of Rs.30,000/- be deposited for the proposed College. Ravenshaw took up the matter as an object of personal interest and guaranteed the collection of the required amount. Mr. H. Woodrew, DPI of Bengal supported Ravenshaw.