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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION,
(HISTORIA) University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 034,
Kerala State, S-India
Phone : 91471 2475830
E-mail : [email protected]
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
20
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
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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