Indian Institute of Science: Tata's endowment, Mysore's land and a Bangalore campus
Background
In the 1890s Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata decided to set up a world class university in India using his personal wealth.
The Regent Queen Maharani Kempananjammani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana provided 371 acres and 16 guntas of land in Bangalore, funds for capital expenditure, and an annual contribution.
The remaining money to set up the Institute came from the colonial government of India.
The Indian Institute of Science came into existence on 27 May 1909 in Bangalore following a vesting order and resolution passed by the government of India.
Its first Director was the English chemist Morris Travers, and twenty-four students joined when the Institute opened its doors to students in 1911.
The Institute started with just two academic departments: General and Applied Chemistry, and Electrical Technology.
The Department of Physics was set up under Sir CV Raman, a Nobel Laureate who also became the first Indian Director of the Institute in 1933.
The Institute has expanded to include a 1500-acre campus at Challakere in Chitradurga district, Karnataka.
In plain words
Gunta A traditional unit of land area — Used along with acres in the Institute's founding land grant.
Vesting order A government order transferring property or rights — The order through which the Institute formally came into existence.
IISc Indian Institute of Science — A research university at Bangalore, with a second campus at Challakere.