Acharya Prafulla Chandra College was founded on 16 August, 1960 under the Dispersal Scheme-with the joint participation of the State and Central Governments. Late Haripada Biswas was the founder secretary of this college. Initially it was named 'New Barrackpore College'. Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy, after whom the college has its present name, was a great educationist with a vision. It was he who wanted universal literacy; he spoke of 'basic education' and 'utility education'; he advocated the concept of empowerment of women; he wanted the development of indigenous industries through cultivation of entrepreneurial acumen of the educated youth. In the true spirit of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy, the college from its nascent state, has tried to propagate the ideals of this great man and the motto illustrates this; "Service, Knowledge, Sacrifice".