During the later part of 1930s there was no provision for teaching of Arabic and Persian in the then existing colleges, the Muslim girls could not commence formal education in these subjects. Even some of the educational institutions in Calcutta would not allow non-Hindu students to be admitted in their institutions. Thus there was a dire need for a college for these students, where they could get all kinds of proper facilities for education including these basic subjects.

They needed places which, would help facilitate the future intellectual careers of many bright girls, who through lack of adequate facilities were denied formal main stream knowledge.

Thus the "Purdah College" or "the Lady Brabourne College," came into being on the 26th August, 1939 with 35 Muslim girls in the first year Arts at a rented house in 106, Park Circus and later shifted to its official premises in Suhrawardy Avenue, for the education of Muslim women.

From the commencement of the first session 1939-40 of the newly established Girl's College in Calcutta, which was originally denominated " Purdah College for Muslim Girls", but subsequently named "The Lady Brabourne College Calcutta", was affiliated to the Calcutta University in English, Vernacular ( Bengali and Urdu).Arabic(2nd language), Persian(2nd language), Bengali (2nd language) Urdu (2nd language), History, Mathematics, Geography, Logic and Elements of Civics and Economics to the I.A. Standard.

(The Calcutta Gazette, June 22, 1939) Honours classes were started from 1941. The establishment of the Department of Persian, one of the oldest departments of the college dates back to the inception of the college in 1939.At that time Persian, Arabic and Urdu constituted a single department. Since then many learned and illustrious teachers have enriched the department with their vast knowledge and intellectual prowess.

Among the first teachers to be appointed for the department in 1939 were Syeda Khandkar for Urdu; Fatima Begum for Persian and Maulavi Abdul Khalique (lecturer in Arabic & Persian, Presidency College, Calcutta) for Arabic. Later on erudite scholars like Khan Bahadur Maulvi Reza Ali Wahshat, retired Urdu lecturer, Islamia College Calcutta (present Maulana Azad College, Calcutta) also a renowned Urdu and Persian poet of Calcutta was appointed as Professor of Urdu on 2nd July, 1941. He acted as the head of the department of Persian. He was followed by Dr. Mujibur Rahman (1947-1950), lecture, Presidency College, Calcutta) joined the department in 1950-1960, he was transferred to Maulana Azad College.

The Urdu department separated in 1969 with Smt. Atiya Murshed as the head of the Urdu department and Mrs. Fatimah Mahmud, who used to teach Urdu, became the head of Persian and Arabic department with Ms. Kulsum Jalil and Smt. Husna Bano. After Mrs. Fatimah Mahmud's retirement in 1978, Prof. Wajhiuddin from Presidency College joined the department.

When he retired Smt. Husna Bano ran the department alone with the help of Prof. Samiullah Asad of Arabic from Maulana Azad College who joined and stayed for about three years. Smt. Nur Jahan joined as part timer in Arabic and Dr.Nasrin Jahan joined as part timer in Persian, but later on in 1981, Dr. Nasrin Jahan joined as full timer and in 1983 Smt. Jahan Ara joined as full timer.

Due to scarcity of teacher the Arabic department was ultimately closed. All the above mentioned teachers steered the department very efficiently.

After the retirement of Smt. Husna Bano, Dr Tanwir Ahmad from Maulana Azad College, Smt. Nasrin Hossain and Smt. Syeda Shariqatul Moula Alquadri who first joined as part timer, then in 2001 became a full time lecturer.

Smt. Yasmin was transferred from Maulana Azad College to Lady Brabourne College, after the retirement of Dr. Nasrin Jahan and at present alone is rendering great service to the students with all sincerity and dedication.

In March, 2016 Dr. Syeda Shariqatul Moula Alquadri was transferred as Officer-in-Charge of Government Girls' General Degree College and Smt Jahan Ara retired in September of the same year. She is now coming as guest lecturer.

Several students made great academic achievements and won gold and silver medals from the university and college. It is a matter of pride that all present and past teachers are college Alumni. The Department is involved in organizing seminars and lectures by learned scholars alike. Students have also gone on educational trips and tours to widen their horizon of knowledge. They are also guided to help and care for the down trodden and poor around them. Iran Society awards some need - based scholarship to meritorious students of Persian.