On the eve of Swami Vivekananda's Birthday Centenary in 1963, the District Magistrate of Burdwan Mr. K.P.S. Menon, Chairman of Zila Parishad, Mr. Narayan Chowdhury and other honourable citizens of Burdwan took initiatives to establish a new college in Burdwan town. Burdwan Municipality gifted a large chunk of land in the name of the proposed college in Sarshe Danga Mouza, Near Sadarghat. Mr. Prafulla Chandra Sen, the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, laid the foundation stone for the proposed Vivekananda Mahavidyalaya at the spot on 8th March, 1964, on 23rd Mr. K.P.S. Menon, as President Dr. Sailendranath Mukhopadhyaya, the renewed Physician, as the Vice President, and Chief Engineer of Burdwan Zila Parisad. Mr. Prafulla Kumar Pal, was appointed the secretary to the committee. Meantime a number of illustrious educationists came forward to raise a found of nearly two lakh rupees for the college. Set in peaceful surrounding away from the hubbub of the town, the college officers an ideal atmosphere for pursuing higher studies in the major arts and science subjects.
In 1964, the college was accorded the government affiliation as a Government-Sponsored College. On 26 August 1964, the college was inaugurated formally. The Chief guest of the inauguration ceremony was the then Director of Education, Govt. of West Bengal, Dr. Dhirendra Mohan Sen.
Setting out in a rather unceremonious way, the college has gradually occupied a glorious position in the field of higher education in West Bengal. Over time, the college has grown both in structure and stature. Recently, three buildings have been constructed to accommodate the growing number of students. Postgraduate and Degree Honours Courses in various subjects have been introduced. The college has not merely been created to meet the needs of students in Burdwan and its hinterland, but it has also been successful in maintaining a healthy, disciplined academic atmosphere for purposeful education. Not only that this college plays a special role in promoting gender equity between men and women. Maintaining Gender Equity on Campus provides a framework of principles and practices that will improve the life chances and opportunities of all students regardless of whether they are males or females.
The Governing Body, the Teachers, the Non-Teaching Staff, and the Students, all work in harmony to create an ideal environment for higher study and research. Vivekananda Mahavidyalaya is not just one of the many colleges, it stands tall and proud in its academic achievements. Its students, placed in responsible positions in society and various fields of activity, are a testament to the quality of education and the nurturing environment provided by the college. Their success stories inspire and motivate us all.