Renowned educationist Professor Shyama Prasad Srivastava was instrumental in paving the way for the establishment of the college. He arrived at Jamalpur in 1956 and was deeply impressed by the lush green surroundings, salubrious climate, excellent transport facilities, the Eastern Railway's workshop, and the cosmopolitan character of the locality fostered by the railway workshop. Since the area lacked a degree college and, being a philanthropist, he embarked on a quest to establish one for the education of the children of railway workers, he soon connected with Mr. Shukdev Mandal, an activist of the Railway Men’s Congress who shared his vision. The duo then approached Mr. Shobhani and, shortly thereafter, met Mr. Nawal Kishore Lal, General Secretary of the Railway Men’s Congress, along with Mr. Yogendra Mahto, the then MLA from Jamalpur. Their persistent efforts culminated in the formation of Sharmik College on August 15, 1957, with Mr. Yogendra Mahto and Mr. Nawal Kishore Lal assuming the roles of founder chairman and secretary of the college management respectively, while Professor Shyama Prasad Srivastava became the principal.

Initially, the college operated from the premises of RB High School in the city. Although the early days were challenging, this noble quest attracted the attention of the then Union Minister for Railways, Baboo Jagjivan Ram, whose support led to the college receiving ₹98,000 and 11.63 acres of land. A significant milestone was achieved when the college obtained affiliation with Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, and on March 31, 1958, it was renamed as Jagjivan Ram Sharmik College (JRS College) in his honour. Initially offering only I.A. and B.A. courses, the urgent need for modern scientific education was later addressed when, on April 1, 1975, the college became a constituent unit of T. M. Bhagalpur University. The indomitable spirit of Baboo Jagjivan Ram was pivotal in this process, although the transfer and subsequent retirement of Principal Professor Shyama Prasad Srivastava proved to be an irreparable loss, slowing down further development.

After Professor Srivastava’s tenure, Dr. Sharda Prasad, then Head of the Department of Economics, and Dr. Kalipad Banerjee, then Head of the Department of Chemistry at T. M. Bhagalpur University, briefly led the college in 1980. This was followed by Dr. Ram Balak Prasad Singh, who served for over three years, and subsequently, in 1985, by Dr. Ganga Charan Kapri, whose dynamic leadership ushered in a golden period marked by remarkable progress in both academics and sports.

Students began securing merit positions in university examinations and excelling in inter-university sports events, with the college’s teams consistently winning championships in popular games such as football, kabaddi, and various athletic events.

A turning point in the college’s development came in November 1995, when 11.63 acres of land were transferred to the institution during the tenure of Railway Minister C. K. Jaffer Shareef. This acquisition enabled the college to create an academic ambience conducive to both learning and extracurricular activities, paving the way for the introduction of several new courses. Under the determined leadership of the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of T. M. B. U., Dr. Ram Ashray Yadav, and the innovative vision of the college’s Professor-in-charge, Dr. Moni Kumar Das, construction activities surged and the academic culture strengthened significantly. The generous funding from the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, led to the construction of a library building, a botany laboratory, and additional classrooms. Recently, following the bifurcation of the university and the establishment of Munger University, Munger, on March 18, 2018, JRS College, Jamalpur, emerged as one of the premier colleges under the new university.

This college is truly an oasis in the desert. The faculty, renowned for their expertise, are committed to inspiring dynamism among students, many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds. A large number of alumni have gone on to excel in esteemed roles within both government and corporate sectors.

The college has also earned a distinct stature through its achievements in sports and cultural activities. In sporting events, it consistently leads the way by delivering excellent results despite limited infrastructure. However, the college still lacks certain facilities such as a boundary wall, an auditorium, hostels, and a proper administrative building. The founders envisioned a structure reminiscent of Visva-Bharati (Shantiniketan), where the mind is fearless and the head held high; yet, even in this era of globalization, this vision remains distant due to a shortage of both teaching and non-teaching staff. The entire university is currently undergoing significant upheavals, and the college, too, is in a state of transformation.