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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION,

(HISTORIA) University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 034,

Kerala State, S-India

Phone : 91471 2475830

E-mail : historiauniversitycollege@gmail.com

Web : www.historiatrivandrum.com

It was on the 15th

February 2010 that a meeting of the students and

staff of the History Department of the University College, affiliated to the

University of Kerala assembled in Hall No.111 of the College. It decided to

register HISTORIA as the alumni of the University College History students

and staff, past and present. It formed a seven member committee to draft the

byelaws and the Memorandum of Association under the Chairmanship of the

then Head of the Department of History, Sri. P.K.Raveendran. The

Committee finalized the byelaws and registered the Historia (No.508/10) as

per the Travancore Cochin Literary and Charitable Societies Act 1955 (Act

XII of 1955). As per the byelaws it elected an Executive Committee

consisting of 15 members including a seven member group of office bearers.

(See appendix II).

THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

In the first half of the XIXth century the enlightened Maharajas of the

erstwhile Travancore State realized the prime need for providing facilities

for English Education to their subjects and consequently started the Maha

Raja’s Free School in the capital city in 1834 during the reign of Swathi

Thirunnal Rama Varma Maharaja (1829-1846) of the princely state of

Travancore lying in the South Western side of the Madras Presidency. The

classes were conducted in an old building located about half a mile to the

south of University College, on the premises where the Ayurveda College

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stands today. Thirty-two years afterwards this Government School

blossomed into a College that offered instruction in a few subjects like

Philosophy, History and Mathematics.

In 1866 during the reign of His Highness Padmanabhadasa

Sri.Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma, Maharaja of Travancore (1860-1880) it

was decided that facilities for higher education should also be provided by

the Government. The Raja’s School was raised to the status of a college

affiliated to the University of Madras. The Madras University was

established in 1857 along with Bombay and Calcutta Universities. On 30th

September 1869 the foundation stone for the main block of the present

college building was laid by Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma and it

was completed in 1873.

For some unknown reasons, the course in History was discontinued in

1886 and revised only in 1901, as “improved Department” when celebrated

scholars like Professor Lepper assumed charge of the department.

In 1870 a single candidate, the late Diwan Bahadur V.Nagam Aiya

(1850-1917) the first of whom we can claim as a student, entirely trained in

the college, according to Principal Prof. John Ross was qualified for the BA

Degree in History and Mathematics. The name of V.Nagam Aiya who

became the first graduate of the college as well as of the History Department

(Feb. 1870) is inscribed above the door nearer to Room No.162 where a

copy of the Magna carta of 1215 of King John of England too was

exhibited. This V.Nagam Aiya although joined the History Department as

Assistant Professor of History and Mathematics (in his alma mater) was

taken to the Huzur office in April 1870 by the then Diwan Sir T Madhava

Rao. He rose to the position of the Diwan Peishkar and held this office for

12 years. Nagam Aiya completed his life mission by compiling the three

volume Travancore State Manual [published in 1906 by the Government of

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Sree Moolam Thirunal (1885-1924)] which is treated as his magnum opus

besides compiling the Census Reports of 1881 and 1891.

Since then the History Department has been growing from strength to

strength. The mode of teaching in those early days was entirely different

from what prevails in the University College now. Instead of giving formal

lectures on the subjects concerned, the learned Professors had a kind of

dialogue with the students on some aspects of the subjects and kindled an

interest in them to make further exploration in the field of study. Professors

Roberts, Harvey and others used to teach Philosophy, History and English.

The era of specialization had not dawned in the educational set up of the

State in that period. [See Reminiscences by Diwan Bahadur Govinda Pillai

in the College Centenary volumes (1866-1966)].

Fourteen years after the establishment of the History Department,

Madras University granted permission to the Government of Travancore in

1914 to start the Honours course in History and Economics. Realizing that

“the main difference between the Honours course and the Pass course lies in

the different modes of treatment accorded to each, the Honours student being

expected to show an independence of mind, do more of his work on his own

account, and to need guidance rather than more instruction, as compared

with ordinary students” [See Report on University Education by Prof.

K.V.Rangaswamy Aiyengar, Head of the History Department during 1910-

1924].

Special attention was bestowed by the senior teachers of the

department in affording proper guidance to the Honours students. In course

of time their efforts began to bear fruit as most of the old boys of the

Honours course came out with flying colours in the University Examination

and joined the teaching staff of the old College.

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Fortunately, during the formative period this Post-graduate

Department was manned by two towering personalities, Professor

K.V.Rangaswamy Aiyengar and C.V.Chandrasekharan.

Prof. C.V.Chandrasekharan was the Professor of History during 1928

to 1934 whose deep erudition and sense of dedication endeared him to

several generations of students. Shortly afterwards their fame travelled far

beyond the confines of the State. The highly sophisticated, glamourous

personality of Prof. C.V.Chandrasekharan, a product of Madras Christian

College and Cambridge University stood in marked contrast to the

commanding figure of Prof. K.V.Rangaswamy Aiyengar, a prodigy noted for

his remarkable strength of character, orthodox views, and rock-like will.

Although each had his ‘area of specialization’ they preserved in the

department an exhilarating atmosphere of intellectual awareness,

occasionally marred by acrimonious controversies stemming from personal

predilections and prejudices. The generations of students over whom they

cast their spell with their wonderful learning will be remembered with

affection and gratitude for years to come.

The BA Honours courses in English and History were started in 1914.

The starting of new courses BA as well as BA Honours increased the student

strength in the college. In 1923 it rose to 837 and there was great pressure for

additional accommodation.

Consequent to the popular demand for increased facilities for higher

education, the old College was bifurcated in 1924 into Arts and Science

Colleges. An Arts College thus came into existence in the colourful setting

of Thycaud, hardly a mile away from the old College, where the History

Department naturally became the leading Department providing instruction

to a larger number of students in different branches of History, Politics and

Economics. In the thirties it was mainly staffed by a group of unassuming

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scholars whose patient and persistent efforts to improve results in

Examinations yielded handsome dividends. A glance at the Examination

results from 1924 onwards would show that every year almost all the

students presented to the M.A Examination came out successful, some

topping the list of successful candidates of the University of Madras. The

results of the B.A Degree Examinations were equally encouraging. The

healthy competition with private colleges at Nagercoil and Kottayam gave a

stimulus to the staff and students to improve the percentage of result every

year.

The Scott Christian College, Nagercoil and the CMS College,

Kottayam are the references here. In fact CMS College, Kottayam founded

in 1857 is the first college established in today’s Kerala and University

College Thiruvananthapuram is the second oldest college (1866) and

followed by Govt. Law College, Trivandrum (1875), Maharaja’s College,

Ernakulam (1875) and Govt. Sanskrit College, Trivandrum (1889).

To Prof. A.Gopala Menon (1924-37) a volume entitled ‘Kerala

Studies” was dedicated on the 26th

July 1949 as part of his

Shastiabdapoorthy edited by Dr. P.K.Narayana Pillai (Professor of Sanskrit)

and it was modelled after the Kerala Society Papers. Mrs. L.C.M. Owerkirk

(1937-1939) after her tenure in University College moved to Maharaja’s

Women’s College, Thiruvananthapuram. She prepared here a monograph on

her Travancore experiences. But she stipulated that it should be published

only after her death. In 1990’s her experience had been published in a book

form with the title “No Elephants for the Maharaja”. The papers of Prof.

Damodaran Nambisan (1939-44) and the books of Prof. V.Rangacharya

(1944-1947) added new stimulus for the youngsters to write papers and

books. Rangacharya’s books form a class by itself even in libraries like

those at Connemara, Chennai. On the eve of his retirement Prof. R.S.Lepper

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(1901-1910) instituted Lepper Memorial Prize to both BA and MA History

and Economics top rankers. This is continued even today. At the time of his

appointment in 1901, Lepper was the Principal and Professor of History in

the Pachiyappa’s College, Chennai.

Far more remarkable than these efforts were the publications of some

members of the Department. The Extension lectures delivered by Prof.

C.VChandrasekharan under the auspices of the University of Madras on

‘Problems of Political Science’ were the first of these publications. Equally

significant were the works of Prof. Rangaswamy Aiyengar on ‘Pre-Muslim

Period in Indian History’ and ‘Ancient Indian Polity’. Later on Mr.

K.Mammen, a Lecturer of considerable experience, wrote ‘Kerala Culture’

Volumes I and II and ‘Historical Method in its Application to Kerala

History’. In 1944, Prof. K.P.Pillai published an interesting sketch of ‘Anglo-

Saxon Polity’ thereby met one of the long felt needs of students who studied

Constitutional History of England. The tradition set up by the illustrious

predecessors of the department was well maintained by the later generations.

Mention may be made of the works of Dr. V.K.Sukumaran Nair on ‘World

Constitution’, and Prof. Lawrence Lopez on the ‘Rights of Man’ and on the

Life of Nehru ‘Architect of Modern India’. Prof. Lawrence Lopez’s

magnum opus is however “The Social History of Kerala” published in 1985.

JOURNAL OF INDIAN HISTORY

Perhaps what brought imperishable glory to the History Department in

this field was the publication of the Journal of Indian History, indispensable

to the students of Indian History both in India and abroad. For more than a

quarter of a century the Heads of this Department had been entrusted with

the work of editing this Journal and they did their work with commendable

zeal and distinction.

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The well known Journal of Indian History had its origin in 1922 when

it was edited by Sri Shafaat Ahmed Khan (1893-1947) Professor, Modern

History, University of Allahabad. When problems of publications arose it

was entrusted to the University of Madras in 1924 and Dr. S.Krishna Swamy

Aiyengar edited it down to 1946. When Dr. Aiyengar died in 1946 it was Sir

C.P.Ramaswamy Aiyar who took control over the prestigious journal in his

capacity as the Vice Chancellor of the Travancore University. From 1946 to

1972 the Journal was edited by successive Professors of History in the

University College, Thiruvananthapuram like Prof. V.Narayana Pillai (1945-

1948) Prof. K.P.Pillai (1948-1957), Prof. P.S.Raghavan (1957-1962), Prof.

P.K.K.Menon (1962-1963), Prof. R.Easwara Pillai (1963-1968) and Dr.

Sooranad Kunjan Pillai (1968-1970). When Prof.P.K.K.Menon joined the

newly set up History Department of the Calicut University it was managed

by Padmasri Dr. Sooranad P.N.Kunjan Pillai, then Chief Editor of the

Malayalam Lexicon, followed by Dr. T.K.Ravindran when he took over the

Readership in 1972. It continues to be the most popular academic journal all

over the globe down to the present. It is a legacy of the College to the

History Department of the University of Kerala.

At the request of the Government of Travancore a few members of the

Department, served in different capacities for the cause of higher education

in the State. Professors like K.V.Rangaswamy Aiyengar,

C.V.Chandrasekharan, A.Gopala Menon and A.N.Thampi became Directors

of Public Instruction. To study the case for a separate University, the

Travancore Government constituted a Committee with Prof. Rangaswamy

Aiyengar as Convener. The Report of the Committee forms one of the

precious documents on the Early History of Collegiate Education in the

State.

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After the achievement of Independence, the Government of India

reconstituted the Indian Historical Records Commission to collect and

preserve old records with the idea of rewriting the History of the country.

Thereupon the Head of the History Department of this College was

appointed as a member of the Commission and as Convener of the Regional

Records Survey Committee. Assisted by able and devoted colleagues, Prof.

K.P.Pillai did much spade work in this field too. Closely associated with this

work was the compilation of the History of the Freedom Movement in

Kerala.

Following the efforts of Oxon Prof. K.P.Pillai, Prof. P.S.Raghavan

(1957-1962) and Prof. P.K.K.Menon (1962-63) brought out the first two

volumes of the History of Freedom Movement in Kerala. The third volume

covering the period 1938 to 1947 was brought out by Sri. S.Raimon when he

was the State Editor of the Kerala Gazetteers Department (2005).

When the State Government was called upon to organize a

Department of Gazetteers with a view to publishing the Gazetteers of Kerala,

Prof. A.Sreedhara Menon, a senior member of the History Department of the

College, was deputed for that work.

Prof. Menon who was conferred Padmabhushan in 2009 by the

Government of India, during his State Editorship (1958-67) brought out

eight District Gazetteers – a model for all Gazetteer volumes at the all India

level. Then there were only nine Districts in Kerala. Later he worked as the

Registrar of the University of Kerala from 1967 to 1977. Prof. Menon’s A

Survey of Kerala History (1967) Kerala’s Cultural Heritage (1968),

Triumph and Tragedy in Travancore – a study of Sir.C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer

and the History of the University of Kerala (2 Volumes) etc. had earned

fame and name for him as a historian. He was in the History faculty from

1950 to 1958 until his deputation to the newly set up Gazetteers Department.

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He was also Visiting Professor of the Calicut University (1977-78) and

Senior Fellow, ICHR. As part of the Sathabhishekam, a festschrift was

dedicated to him in 2009 (December 18) entitled, India: Yesterday and

Today edited by Dr. TPS Nair.

The Department of History was bifurcated into the Department of

Economics, and the Department of History and Politics in 1949. Politics was

introduced as a main subject for the B.A course. The Politics department

was bifurcated from the History Department in May 1968 and Dr.

P.N.Narayanan Nair became the HOD of Politics.

The United States Educational Foundation in India offered Fulbright

and Smith Mundt Scholarships to three brilliant members of the History

Department in 1953. Sri. P.N.Narayanan Nair, Lecturer in Politics, became

a student of the Cornell University and worked on “The Role of District

Collectors in Indian Administration” for his Doctorate. Dr.P.N.Narayanan

Nair later on became the Principal of the Government Sanskrit College,

Pattambi.

Prof. A.Sreedhara Menon worked in Harvard University for a couple

of years and took his A.M. in International Relations. Prof. V.K.Sukumaran

Nair was admitted to the Yale University, and worked on ‘Gandhian

influence on the Indian Constitution’ for his Doctorate. Subsequently he

joined the University of Kerala as the Head of the Department of Politics and

later became the Vice Chancellor of the Kerala University (1977-81) – the

first History teacher of the College to become the Vice Chancellor of the

Kerala University.

To coach candidates for All India Competitive Examinations, special

classes were organized in the College as a result of the efforts made by the

then Chief Minister Sri. Pattom A. Thanu Pillai in 1961. The decision was

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taken after the All India Education Minister’s Conference at New Delhi.

Prof. R.Easwara Pillai was selected as the Professor-in-charge of the scheme

(1961-72). Almost every year a few students thus coached under this

scheme have secured selection to All India Services.

Following Prof. R.Easwara Pillai, the following teachers of the

History Department were also put in charge of the IAS Coaching Scheme as

Professors in charge of the Scheme (1982-2007).

(1) Prof. M.Parukutty Amma 1972-76

(2) Prof. L.S.Karuna Bai 1976-80

(3) Prof. Lawrence Lopez 1980-82

(4) Dr G.Krishnan Nadar 1993-96

(5) Dr. T.P.Sankarankutty Nair 1999-01

(6) Prof. B.Chandrachoodan Nair 2002-04

(7) Prof. V.Karthikeyan Nair 2004-06

The Library of the History Department setup in 1910, has been the

‘workshop’ for all, both staff and students throughout. Today it has a good

collection of more than 7000 volumes on different branches of History,

Political Science and International Law besides invaluable journals of

international repute.

A word must be said about the past students of this department. Many

have attained very high positions in different walks of life in India and

outside and have brought great honour to their alma mater. Some of them

found their way back to this institution to serve on its faculty while others

succeeded in finding pastures new. Their number is too large to be

individually mentioned in this brief report. The present generation of staff

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and students will gratefully remember them and will strive to keep up the

traditions established in the course of the century.

The following students of the History Department merit our special

attention:-

1. Former presidential candidate Dr. P.C.Alexander, Governor of

many states in India, studied in the History faculty and

compiled a thesis on Buddhism in Kerala.

2. P.Parameswaran, now Director of the Bharateeya Vichar

Kendra and the All India President of the Vivekananda Kendra

(Kanya Kumari) secured the national award of Padmasri in

2003. He studied here for his BA Hons. in History during

1946-1950. Recently his well-wishers observed his

Sathabhisekham. His books in English and Malayalam like

those on Aurobindo Ghose, Bhagavad Gita, and Sree Narayana

Guru has secured all India acclaim.

3. In the long list of University College Principals only a few

History Professors of the College could climb the ladder. Prof.

C.V.Chandrasekharan became the Principal during 1930-1931,

Prof. K.V.Rangaswamy Aiyengar during 1931-1934, and Prof.

A.Gopala Menon during 1934-1935. Prof. V.Hamsa Devi was

Principal of the College from 21-08-1991 to 24-06-1992 in

recent years – a unique honour in contemporary days.

Prof. M.Parukutty Amma, Prof. P.G.Edwin, Prof. J.Indira, Prof.

L.S.Karuna Bai, Prof. P.Janardana Panicker, Prof. V.Hamsadevi

and Dr. G.Krishnan Nadar – all students and staff of the College

History Faculty became Principals / Dy. Directors of Collegiate

Education in different periods.

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4. Sri. T.K.A.Nair, the present Principal Secretary to the Prime

Minister of India, Dr. P.J.Alexander, DGP (Kerala),

R.B.Sreekumar DGP (Gujarat), S.S.Radhakrishnan, Customs

Collector (Mumbai), Cherry George, Secretary, Indian High

Commission U.K, G.Bahuleyan Nair (Africa) S.Sivadasan

(Goa) etc. are all former students of the History Department.

This is not exhaustive.

5. Prof. R.Eswara Pillai, Prof. N.Prabhakaran, Prof. S.Bhaskaran,

Prof. K.Gopalan Nair, Prof. N.R.Kunjukuttan, Prof.

N.K.Narayanan etc. led the Department of History at different

periods. Prof. Kunjukuttan’s “Mainstreams of British

Constitutional History” became a very popular text at the PG

level. Others became known authors of different textbooks.

6. Prof. A.G.Menon became a well known figure because of his

PhD thesis on the History of the Sree Padmanabhaswami

Temple besides other books on Indian History and British

History. Dr. N.Rajendran was deputed to the post of the State

Director of Archives, but before he could complete a full term

met with a tragic car accident at Punnapra, Alappuzha and

breathed his last prematurely (1987). His thesis on English –

Malabar Relations in the 18th

century is a well known research

work.

7. Prof. M.P.Sreekumaran Nair, a former student (1950-1952)

became the Professor of History in the Calicut University

besides becoming a Fullbrighter. Later he worked as Visiting

Professor in Indonesia, Mangalore, Paris and other Universities.

One of the early doctorates in History from South India, Dr.

Nair’s studies on the role of Constitutionalism in Indian

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National Movement, “Values in Conflict” etc. merit the special

attention of his students and researchers. He also edited and

brought out a volume on “Emergence of Swaraj”, a project of

ICHR.

8. Prof. C.P.Rajamma, the Senior most Patron Member of Historia

after her education in University College served the Govt.

Women’s College more often and left her indelible impress. So

is the case with Prof. L.S.Karuna Bai, Prof. M.Parukutty Amma

and Prof. J.Indira. Prof. L.Bhargavi Amma too a student later

joined the NSS Collegiate Services and retired as Principal of

the NSS College for Women, Trivandrum. All of them played a

decisive role in the Women’s movement in

Thiruvananthapuram.

9. Dr. K.Rajayyan who became Professor of History of the

Madurai Kamaraj University opened new vistas of knowledge

in Tamil Nadu History. He also became the founder Secretary

of the South Indian History Congress in 1980 besides setting up

the Tamil Nadu History Congress.

Dr. A.Balakrishnan Nair although a student of the History

Department, later opted for Politics like his contemporary Prof.

T.C.Rajan. Both, in course of time became contestants for a

posting in University College. There were only two first grade

Professors in Politics, one in University College and the other in

Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam. Both occupied this seat

alternatively. Dr. Nair published a dozen research studies

including, Govt. and Politics in Kerala, Chattambi Swamikal,

Defence in India, Public Administration in India etc.

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10. Dr. Y.Yesuretnam after his doctorate headed the Malabar

Christian College, Kozhikode and his thesis is accepted as one

covering a unique phase of Freedom Struggle. Dr. Alexander

Karakkal, Dr. M.O.Koshy former students of University

College became Principals in Private College and both became

Pro-Vice Chancellors in the Kannur University. Dr. M.J.Koshy

and Prof. A.P.Ibrahim Kunju became Professors in Kerala and

Calicut Universities and their Keralological studies enriched

Kerala History and Culture, the former of the 19th and 20

th

centuries and the latter on the 18th

century. Their publications

became textbooks at the P.G. Level. Dr. Koshy was also the

Editor of both the Journal of Indian History and the Journal of

Kerala Studies, University of Kerala.

11. Prof. A.K.Premajam HOD of History during 1989-91 entered

politics and became the Mayor of Kozhikode. After two terms

of Lok Sabha Membership from Vatakara, she once again

became the Mayor of Kozhikode in 2010.

12. Dr. P.K.Bhaskaran Nair former student of History opted

Sociology later and became Professor and Head of the

Department of Sociology, University of Kerala. He was elected

and selected to Chair many international conferences. Many of

his sociological studies particularly gerontological studies had

made him a unique expert from the whole of South Asia. Prof.

P.C.Menon, (Principal NSS Hindu College, Changanassery),

Prof. T.G.Pappan (HOD of History, Catholicate College,

Pathanamthitta), Dr. Rajasekharan Nair (HOD of History, S.D.

College, Alappuzha) were all students of History in this

College.

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13. Prof. M.K.Gopinatha Menon (Poonjar), Prof. P.C.Joaquim are

two other eminent teachers of the Department. Prof. Leela

Pandalai a former student opted Economics later and became

HOD of Economics and Principal in many Colleges. Dr.

P.Vijayaraghavan and his wife Prof. Sathi, Prof. R.Sukumari

were all former students of History of the College and later

became Principals of various S.N. Colleges in Kerala, Prof.

N.Guhan Nair, a former student became the HOD of History for

a long time in Govt. Arts College until his premature death.

14. Prof. E.Sreedharan although not a student of the college,

became a staff member and compiled well known studies like

those on Historical Method and Historiography. Later he

joined the University of Kerala and retired as Reader in History

in the Distance Education Department. His Malayalam World

History text was reprinted more than a dozen times (degree

level).

15. The late N.Gopalakrishna Pillai, a student of the History faculty

became the first member of the Board of Revenue, Govt. of

Kerala and unfortunately died while in service.

16. Dr. C.K.Kareem, former faculty became the State Editor of

Kerala Gazetteers and subsequently became the Registrar of the

Cochin University. His Charithram publications added new

dimensions to the study of Kerala History.

17. Sri. K.Sadasivan Nair and Sri. Malayinkizh Gopalakrishnan, the

former of the Malayala Manorama and the latter of the

Mathrubhoomi dailies proved their mettle either as

Administrators or as Special Correspondents. The latter has

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written several books like those on Mahatma Gandhi, Barrister

G.P.Pillai etc.

18. Dr. K.K.Kusuman, Dr. R.N.Yesudas, Dr. B.Sobhanan, Dr.

S.Ramachandran Nair, Dr. S.Sivadasan all former students

became Professors in Kerala or Sankaracharya Universities and

contributed their might for the promotion of Kerala History and

culture. Their studies added new stimulus to the new

researchers. Dr. Sobhanan is elected the General President of

the SIHC (2010), to be held at Cuddapah, AP.

19. Dr. N.Sasidhran Nair and Sri. P.K.Sasi became Controllers of

Examinations in the Calicut University during different

intervals.

20. Sri. M.M.Hassan, History student of the college became an

MLA many times and was Minister for Parliamentary Affairs,

Govt. of Kerala. He is also the Chief Whip of the Opposition

Party in the Legislature. During his student days he was

selected as the best debater of University College and of the

University of Kerala and was the University Union Councillor.

21. Dr. C.A.Perumal a former student of History became the

Professor and Head of the Department of Politics, Madras

University. Dr. Bright Singh, Dr. S.S.Hector, Prof. Jagadeesan

all products of the History Faculty enjoyed top positions in

Tamil Nadu either in the academic or in the administrative field.

Sri. Lenin Rajendran a film Director who got several national

awards also studied here in the History Department.

22. Dr. T.P.Sankarankutty Nair, former HOD of History was

deputed to the Sree Sankaracharya University as the Founder

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Director of the Vallathol Institute of Kerala Studies (1995-97)

and is the President of the Indian Association for American

Studies. He was chosen as a sectional President of the

International Association of Asian Historians at Dhaka (Bangla

Desh) and at Taiwan. His study A Tragic Decade in Kerala

History secured the 1977 Prize for original research

(K.P.Panikker Prize) of the University of Kerala. He also

secured the Prof. P.Kochunni Panikker (Professor of History,

Presidency College, Chennai). Best College Teacher Award for

1996.

23. Prof. V.Karthikeyan Nair became the Director of Higher

Secondary Education, Govt. of Kerala and at present he is the

General Secretary of Historia. He is a Senior Fellow of the

Higher Education Council, Govt. of Kerala. His translations of

the books of Prof. D.D Kosambi and Dr. Irfan Habib was

published recently.

24. Dr. S.Raimon was deputed to become the Director of Archives.

Later he worked, as State Editor of Kerala Gazetteers in

different periods.

Evening College:

The University Evening College was started during the year

1965-66 with a few Degree Courses, including BA History. It

functioned effectively for over four decades. But with the beginning

of more and more correspondence courses in various Universities, the

Govt. abolished it in 1991-1992. Prof. K.Sathyabhama, Prof.

N.Velayudhan Nair, Prof. J.Indira, Prof. V.Hamsadevi, Prof.

K.Gopalan Nair, Prof. G.Krishnan Nadar, Prof. K.Sivadasan, Prof.

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T.P.Sankarankutty Nair, Prof. V.Karthikeyan Nair etc. taught the

Degree Students at different phases (1965-1991).

M. Phil:

The M.Phil course in History was started during 1995-96 and it

is continuing with greater vigour. Five students are admitted every

year. There are over seventy five dissertations available in the History

Library. Covering a wide spectrum of Kerala History.

Ph. D Research Centre:

The University College History Department proved to be an

important research centre for Ph.D programme. Though many of the

Professors were not with Ph.D, their preeminence was accepted by the

Madras University and later on the Travancore University. When the

Kerala University was established after the formation of the state,

quite often the University College Professor was accepted as the

research guide. Small wonder History Professors of the College like

V.Narayana Pillai, K.P.Pillai, P.S.Raghavan, P.K.K.Menon, R.Eswara

Pillai, M.Parukutty Amma and P.G.Edwin proved to be well known

Supervising Guides. Scholars like Dr. M.G.S.Narayanan took his

Ph.D under the guidance of Prof. Narayana Pillai while Dr.

A.P.Ibrahim Kunju, Dr. Kuppuswamy etc. took Ph.D under the

guidance of Prof. P.S.Raghavan. Dr. N.Rajendran, Dr. M.J.Koshy etc.

took Ph.D under the guidance of Prof. R.Easwara Pillai. Dr.

N.Rajendran guided Dr. G.Krishnan Nadar, who after his Ph.D,

guided Dr. S.Sivadasan who is now a research guide of the Kerala /

Sree Sankaracharya Universities producing numerous Ph.D’s. Even

after the development of a full History Department in the University

19

of Kerala, University College continues to this day as a major Ph.D

Research Centre.

The History BA, MA, M.Phil and Ph.D courses in the college is

more attractive to the students than that is available in the Kerala

University Campus. The Parent Teacher Association in History is also

functioning cordially besides the History Association of students and

teachers. Due to semesterization, at the degree level, the students and

teachers are busy with their academic programmes throughout the

year. Naturally many of the top rank holders of various examinations

are from the History department of the University College. Although

it was affiliated to the Madras and Travancore Universities from its

inception, it was affiliated to the Kerala University ever since its

formation in 1957.

This is a draft prepared by Dr.T.P.Sankarankutty Nair and it is

subject to corrections and additions.

Please point out corrections or email the additions to

(1) historiauniversitycollege@gmial.com

(2) nair.tps@gmail.com

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APPENDIX - I

SUCCESSION LIST OF HISTORY PROFESSORS

1. R.S.Lepper, M.A., L.L.M. 1901-1910

2. K.V.Rangaswamy Aiyangar, M.A. 1910-1924

3. C.V.Chandrasekharan, M.A.(Oxon) 1910-1924, 1928-1934

4. A.Gopala Menon, M.A. B.Com. (London) 1924-1937

5. T.M.Krishnamachari, M.A.B.L. 1910-1932

6. L.C.M.Owerkirk, B.A. (Cantab) 1937-1939

7. N.S.Narasimha Iyengar, M.A.B.L. 1939-1940

8. T.Damodaran Nambisan, M.A. 1939-1944

9. V.Rangacharya, MA 1944-1947

10. V.Narayana Pillai, M.A.B.L 1940-1948

11. K.P.Pillai, M.A (Oxon) 1948-1957

12. P.S.Raghavan. M.A 1957-1962

13. P.K.K.Menon, M.A.M. Litt. L.T 1962-1963

14. R.Easwara Pillai, B.A. (Hons.) 1963-1972

15. M.Parukutty Amma B.A. (Hons.) 1972-1976

16. L.S.Karuna Bai 1976-1980

17. Lawrence Lopez 1980-1982

18. J.Indira 1982-1984

19. K.Gopalan Nair 1984-1986

20. N.R.Kunjukuttan 1986-1988

21

21. N.K.Narayanan 1988-1989

22. A.K.Premajam 1989-1991

23. S.Kochukunju 1991-1992

24. P.A.Kunju Cherukkan 1992-1993

25. K.Sivadasan 1993-1995

26. Dr.G.Krishnan Nadar 1995-1997

27. L.Vijayan 1997 (few months)

28. B.Chandrachoodan Nair 1997-1998

29. Dr. A.Jadeeda 1998-1999

30. Dr. T.P.Sankarankutty Nair 1999-2000

31. C.Gopinathan 2000-2001

32. Salim Balakrishnan 2001-2002

33. Dr.T.P.Sankarankutty Nair 2002-2005

34. Dr. A.Radha 2005-2008

35. Dr.A.Jadeeda 2008-2009

36. P.K Ravindran 2009-2010

37. Dr. Norjam Beevi Since April 1, 2010