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HIGHER EDUCATION
CHAPTER IV
HIGHER EDUCATION
The high rate of literacy in South rpravaflcore created in the
minds of the elites, the desire to have a University of their own. More
over the English School at Trivandrum cI1od his Ilighnoss tue
Maharaja's Free School started in 1855 with eight students, became a
reputed institution. The demand for English education grew rapidly and
in 1863-64, the strength of the school was five hundred. In 1864, the
school presented the first batch of students for the matriculation
examination of the University of Madras,' and in 1866, a class was
formed of those who had matriculated to prepare them for the First in
Arts (F.A) examination. The school was thus boosomed into a college.
The first batch of the F.A. examination was presented in 1868 and for
the Bachelor of Arts (B-A) in 1870. In 1887, the college was affiliated
1. The University of Madras was one of the Universities in Indiafounded in 1857 with the object of the better encouragement ofHis Majesty's subjects in the pursuit of a regular and liberalcourse of education and for the purpose of ascertaining byexamination of persons who had acquired . proficiency in differentbranches of literature, science and arts and of rewarding them byacademic degrees, as evidence of their respective attainments.The functions of the three Universities - Calcutta, Bombay andMadras - were limited to examining candidates and conferringdegrees. The Indian Universities Act of 1904 provided for asystematic supervision of colleges by Universities and laid downcertain minimum conditions to be completed with by the collegesbefore affiliation could be seen.
193
to the University of Madras for courses leading to degree in Arts and
Law.'
The Holy Angels Convent opened a high school for girls at
Trivandrum in 1880 and in 1888, the school secured the honour of being
the first girl's school in South India which presented students for the
matriculation examination of the University of Madras. In 1890 the
CMS college at Kottayam was affiliated to the University of Madras and
became a II Grade College. The Nagerçoil Seminary presented
candidates for matriculation in 1875 and became a II Grade College in
1893. In 1896 the Holy Angel's Convent School was raised to a II Grade
College with the formation of the F.A. class. 3 In the Sanskrit Girl's
School, when a batch of four students matriculated in 1896 Miss. S.B.
William, the headmistress, opened the FA. class, in 1897, it was given
}O Offi ition of a II ( rn(Io Col logo by lhn tin ivors i ty of'Mitdrim iii ( I ii.
came to be known as the Maharaja's College for Girls.
When the F.A. classes were started in the Maharaja's High
School, St. Joseph's Convent and the Girl's High School, Trivandrum
and in the high schools at Kottayam and Nagercoil, the college sections
in these schools were affiliated for purpose of examination to the
University of Madras. It was in this time a demand for a separate
2. University of Kerala Silver Jubilee Volume, Trivandrum, 1963,pp.6-7.
3. The college section of the Holy Angle's School was closed in 1906.
194
University was made in the Srimulam Popular Assembly.' The
Government of India's resolution on education policy issued on
21 February, 1913 had indicated a possible line of action for the
development of new Universities for each of the leading proviiices in
India.5 Therefore in 1917, the Government of Travancore issued an
order6 consisting of a committee of sixteen members with principal L.C.
Hodgson of Maharaja's College as chairman, to consider ways and
means of establishing a University for the State. The committee
submitted it's interim report in 1918, suggesting to establish an unitary
type of University. However, the committee was dissolved on 2 March,
1920. Again another committee was constituted on 15 April, 1923 with
Rao Bahadur, K.A. Krishna lyangar, deputy president of the Legislative
Council as president. The committee suggested a federal type of
University.8 Inspite of the detailed proposals of the University to be
4. Padmanabha Iyyer, Modern Travancore, Trivandrum, 1941, p.70.
5. As early as in 1882, the Indian Education Commission had hintedat the possibilities of Trivandrum becoming, in course of time, thecentre of a new University.
6. Government of Travancore, Education Department, OrderNo.E.3983, 23 November, 1917.
7. University of Kerala, Silver Jubilee Volume, pp.19-21.
8. The fundamental aim, the committee suggested, was that theUniversity to make suitable provision for higher teaching andresearch. Every teacher in the University was to be a researchworker as well, he was to awaken in the student a genuineintellectual curiosity by imbuing his teaching with the spirit ofenquiry.
195
set up in Travancore, it had not been possible to establish one as the
scheme involved consultations with other Governments of Cochin and
Malabar before a decision could be taken. Hence the Education Reforms
Committee of 1932 was asked to examine the University question 'de
novo'. The committee was, therefore, specifically required to report also
on the desirability or otherwise of establishing a University for
Travancore. The committee's finding was that: "taking all things into
consideration we feel that we are not able to recommend that any
immediate step should be taken to establish a University for
Travacore."° The committee expressed the view that before a decision
was taken for the formation of a University it was necessary to make
the existing institutions more satisfactory and organise new institutions
providing for practical course of study, directly related to the economic
and industrial needs of the state.
This reorganisation of secondary and collegiate education
recommended by the committee became a matter of urgent necessity in
the years that followed, consequent on the ;policy and programme of
vigorous and rapid industrialisation initiated by Dewan, Sir C.P.
Ramaswamy Iyer. As subservience to the requirements of University of
Madras made it extremely difficult for the state to go forward with its
9. Report of the Education Reforms Committee, 1932.
196
scheme and phuas for educational reorganisàtion and reconstruction, the
government finally decided to break away from it.'°
C.V. Chandrasekharan," Director of Public Instruction was
appointed special University officer by the government in May 1937 and
he drew up a memorandum on the proposed University. At that time
there were 282 English schools among them ninety six were high schools
with an enrolment of 37,923, potential matriculates numbered 4,563.
There were ten colleges affiliated to the University of Madras, six
government and four private. Thus the University of Travancore was
established and incorporated under the Travancore University Act I of
1937 by a royal proclamation issued by his Highness Sri Chitra Tirunal
Maharaja on the auspicious occasion of his twenty sixth birthday
on 1 November, 1937.12 The Act was framed broadly on the basis
of the principles and proposals set forth in the
10. University of Kerala, Silver Jubilee Volume, p.26.
11. C.V. Chandrasekharan was a distinguished educationalist, and aneminent Oxonian. The government selected him as ambassadorof education to be sent outside the state to study the thoderntrends in educational ideas with special reference to the workingof Universities in India, submitted his report which was ofconsiderable help in the attainment of the object in view, namelythe University of Travancoré (K.G. Vijayalekshxnj, EducationalDevelopment in South India, New Delhi, 1993, pp.22-26.)
12. Ibid., p.27.
197memorandum.' :' The Maharaja was pleased to be the Chancellor, Sir
C.P. Ram aswamy Ayer, Dewan of Travancore was appointed the Vice-
Chancellor, and C.V. Chandrasekharan assumed the charge of Pro-Vice
Chancellor, A. Gopala Menon was appointed the Registrar and also
principal of the Maharaja's College.
A beginning in the direction of implementing the
recognition of University education recommended by the Papworth
Committee was made in 1946-47 by passing an ordinance instituting the
University previous examination. The appropriate authorities then
started working on the details of the Three Year Degree Course that
was to follow. 14 Admission to Junior Intermediate Course was stopped
from 194816 and the first examination in the faculties of arts,science and
oriental studies of the Three Year Degree Course was started in 1949.10
However intermediate and the Two Year Degree Classes with the
13. Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, Dewan of Travancore made it clearthat the University would not be a mere replica of the Universityof Madras. He envisaged the University not only as an institutionfor the mere advancement of learning and knowledge as had beengenerally conceived but as one existing for the general service ofthe community when young men of the state could be trained toplay their part worthily in the various schemes for industrial,agricultural and commercial development.
14. Minutes of the Meeting of the Syndicate of the University ofTravancore, 2 February, 1948, p.13.
15. ibid., 2 March, 1948, p.40.
16. Memorandum submitted to the All India Universities Commissionby the Syndicate of the University of Travancore, 16 Decmber,1948, p.1.
198
Pre-University and the Three Year Degree Course with the first year of
the Three Year Degree Course conducted simultaneously was
recognised.
In 1952, the Secondary Education Commission appointed
by the Government of India Act, recommended the abolition of the
Intermediate Course. It suggested for the introduction of a One Year
Course leading to the University previous examination and a Three Year
Course for the first degree level. This recommendation was a revival of
the courses which were experimented on earlier by this University. In
November 1954, the Senate resolved that the new system be brought
into force. Accordingly, the University 'previous course' was started In
1956, and stopped the admission to the Junior Intermediate Class.
At the time of the establishment of the University of
Travancore - the Scott Christian College, Nagercoil - is the only college
functioned in South Travancore. 17 As many private agencies came
forward to start new colleges, the University of Travancore amended the
relevant 'section 20' of the Act as follows. "The University may with the
prior sanction of our government admit any institution to the privileges
of the University and any such institution so admitted shall
17. The other three mofusil colleges existed in Travancore under theChristian missionaries were the Union Christian College, Alwaye,the St. Berchmen's College, Changanacherry and the C.M.S.College, Kottayam.
1.99
retain such privileges subject to the proviaion of the statutes and
ordinances.'18
It is in this background the working of the existing college
and new colleges established in South Travancore by the Christian
missions is dealt with.
scori CillUS'i1AJ' COLLEGE, NAGEItCOIL
The Scott Christian College, named after Septimus R.
Scott, 19 was started by the LMS in the year 1893. The Central School or
seminary it was called, housed in a mud walled shed, started by William
Tobias Ringeltaube at Myladi in 1809 had the distinction of being the
first English school in the erstwhile princely State of Travancore. it was
finally shifted to Nagercoil in 1818 by Charles Mead. James Duthie who
took charge of the institution in 1860,20 had a more abiding interest in
it and played a vital role in raising the seminary to a college. While in
England in 1889 on his penultimate furlough, Duthie obtained the
sanction of the directors of the LMS for raising funds for a college in
South Travancore.
18. University of Travancore Amendment Act, 1946.
19. Septimus R. Scott, an English philanthropist was one of thedirectors of the LMS.
20. To the galaxy of missionary and European educationalist whoserved in this seminary during the years upto 1860 belongCumberland, Mault, Rev. William Miller, W.B. Addis, Roberts,Rev. Charles Miller, Pattison, Rev. J.W. White House, Rev.Russel, Rev. John. Joll Dennis, Rev. Samuel Jones, Rev. S.O.Newport and Alfred Thompson, Scott Christian College, PlatinumJubilee, Nagercoil, 1967, p.1
200
The main aim of the institution was to establish an
educational society in the southern most part of the country to impart
higher education to the people irrespective of caste and creed. For this
the society promised to give an educational missionary for the college
and some friends of the society promised large sum of money. The chief
among them was Scott. In the year 1893 the seminary was raised to a
II Grade College affiliated to the University of Madras. The first batch
of students consisted of six Christians and six non-Christians. The
progress of the college during the earlier decades of the twentieth
century was an evidence of an evergrowing efficiency and progress in
the various departments to meet the needs of the changing and flexible
society of the time.
A commission of enquiry presided over by Lindsay, Master
of Billiol came to India to study the working conditions of Christian
colleges in India and recommended that some colleges should be
strengthened and the rest be scrapped, to enable concentrated Christian
efforts on a few specific places only, instead of dissipating energies over
a broader area. The leading citizens of Nagercoil invited the members
of commission to a party, had a discussion with them and pressed that
the college should be raised to a I Grade, so that the students
might be benefited by more years of Christian teaching. It was
then decided that the college should continue as a 11 Grade
201
College. 21 Lord Irwin, the Viceroy with Lady Irwin visited the college on
9th December 1929, and expressed satisfaction over the progress of the
college. 22 In 1938 when the University of Travancore was started the
college was affiliated to the University of Travancore.
Since 1948 a period of expansion commenced. The necessity
of more land and buildings was acutely felt and there was a
considerable thinking on the ways of growth for the college. Since this
period A. Nesamony, who played a distinguished role in church and
public life took up the responsibility for the aliround progress of the
college. In March 1948 the College Council appointed a bursar and
defined his (1-Uties.23 The council decided that the bursar would receive
the fees and other income of the college and keep them in safe custody.
He should also hold all the prizes and scholarship funds, reserve fund
and building fundY' rllII(i council also decided that the l)rincipal should
21. A member of the commission asked a Hindu citizen - who by theway was the District Judge of the locality - how the college hadinfluenced by him by the way of Christian teaching? Thegentleman replied to the amazement of the commission th'at 'thefact that he choose to dine with them was the. effect of Christianteaching, more years of Christian teaching would produce greaterresults"... Nagercoil breathed a sign of relief when it was knownthat it was spared and the Wesely College at Madras and theFindlay College at Mannaragudi were scaped by therecommendations of the commission (Platinum Jubilee Souvenir,pp.30-41).
22. Ibid.
23. Minutes of the College Council No.S 18130, March 1948.
24. The Provident Fund was kept with the treasurer, LMS Nagercoil.
202
conduct all correspondences of the college and deal with all non-financial
matters; and the bursar should make disbursements on the authority of
the principal. Further it was decided that the bursar should consult
with the principal if at any time the principal should authorise
disbursements that exceed could be incurred. If not, the expenditure
should be postponed pending a decision by the college council. Taking
into account of the progress of the college in 1950, the college was
approved as a I Grade College by the University of Travancore.
J.E. Dennison, was the first principal of the college as well
as the first educational missionary sent by the LMS to the college. He
served as principal from 1894-1898 and in 1898 he left to London.
Duthie 25 was in charge of the institution till the arrival of the next
principal from England. Rev. George Parker, the second educational
missionary assumed charge in January 1901. He was fully equipped for
the work by training and experience in England. The college had a rapid
progress under him. He equipped the library and secured permanency
in the staff by employing local talents and by increasing the
emoluments. When Parker left for England on his first furlough in April
1909 the LMS sent Rev. Sydney Cave, who was young and fresh from
25. The Golden Jubilee of Duthie's service was celebrated by thecollege on March 15, 1906. The Duthie memorial scholarship andthe Duthie Memorial Library were the outcome of the celebration.It was by this time the news came that his almamatér, theUniversity of Aberdeen had conferred on him the Doctor ofDivinity. Duthie died on July 4, 1908 and his mortal remainswere inferred in the local cemetery, Nagercoil.
203
the University, to be incharge of the college. Parker returned in
February 1911 and resumed charge. Cave was again in charge from
November 26, 1915 to the beginning of November 1917 when Parker
was on his furlough. Cave later took the Degree of Doctor of Divinity
and became principal of a Theological College in Britain.
Rev. 11.11. Eastaff' was appointed to assist Parker. He
arrived on 3 February, 1921 and tookover the principalship in June of
the same year when Parker left on furlough. On the return of Parker in
November 1923 Eastaff left the college where he worked with great
success for over two and a half years and took charge of the Divinity
School in Trivandrum. In 1926, G.W. Trowell, was sent by the LMS
Board to act as vice-principal and to be in charge of the Science
Department in the college.
On 1. February, 1.927, G.H. Marsden Tripos of the
University of Cambridge and one who had good experience in England
and Egypt took charge as principal. He admitted regular batches of
women students27 from 1927 onwards. In 1928, he introduced an annual
medical inspection of students. His services were appreciated by Lord.
26. To Eastaff goes the honour of having started, 'the Scott ChristianCollege and School Magazine' which was published every termduring his period of service in the college.
27. There had been sporadic cases of women students being admittedto the college from 1919, the total number of women students till1926 ccning up only to five.
204
lrwin,the ViceroyY8 G.H. Marsden's great interest in astronomy brought
him the rare distinction of being chosen to observe and take recordings
of the solar eclipse in Japan in 1936. G.H. Marsden went on furlough in
the year 1954 and T.Y. Harris served as acting principal in the vacancy.
He contributed his share to the growth of the college, particularly in the
purchase of eight acres of land near the college and further in
beautifying the college campus through landscaping and gardening.
During the period 1894-1898 the ground floor of the
western most block, then , intended to accommodate the college classes
was constructed. In 1899, the chief event was the completion and
opening of the new college building, the gift to the mission of Septimus
Scott and family at a cost of Rs.7946. The college building was opened
on 31 August, 1899. 0 Parker built the science block for the college
during 1908 and 1910 from the grant from the Government of
Travancore. An extensive plot of ground was purchased for the
recreation of students with money donated by Parker's father-in-law,
M.E.D. Pochin of Manchester. With the growth of the college, the need
28. Lord, Irwin, the Viceroy when paid a visit to the college withLady, Irwin on 9 December, 1929 wrote, I saw enough to satisfyme of the value of what is being done and of the spirit that liesbehind and inspires the work.
29. Scott Christian College, Platinum Jubilee, p.8.
30. Annual Report of the LMS, Travancore District Committee, 1899,p.6.
205
for extra accommodation was felt and a single storeyed building was
constructed to provide lecture halls for English, history and
mathematics groups.
It was proposed to upgrade the college into a I Grade
College and a special committee was set up in 1944 for the purpose with
G.H. Marsden as the convener. 31 The committee at the outset recorded
it's view that a very great deal of progress made by the churches that
the LMS founded in Travancore was due to the educational work of the
churches and the mission and, that it's leadership owed an especially
great debt to the Scott Christian College. And the college had served the
whole population and not the Christians only. Therefore, anything that
would increase the usefulness and service and influence of the gollege
would be a great benefit to the people of the whole area. The committee
felt that if the college became I Grade one, it might be well equipped;
the work must be well done; it might compare favourably with what was
done in other colleges of similar standing. It must be on the excellent
new site, 32 and the curriculum of its Post- intermediate classes must
include science subjects as well as subjects such as mathematics and
history which need no laboratory accommodation.
31. Minutesf the Mission Council No.T4124, August, 1944.
32. The new college has land of thirty acres on the outskirts ofNagercoil.
206
The committee felt that to start such a scheme would cost
large sum of money eventhough the land was already available and
some of the materials required would be obtained by demolishing some
of the existing buildings. The committee also assumed that the eastern
portion (about one and a half acres) of the then college compound and
the whole of the area (about eight areas) then used by the two hostels
and two bungalows would be sold, the rest about one and a half acres
of the college compound being transferred to the Scott Christian High
School; and that the money raised by these sales would be available
towards the cost of the new scheme. The committee further suggested
the Church Council to collect a substantial sum with in five years in
order that a I Grade College might be established as a celebration of the
150th anniversary of the starting of the LMS in 1795, an appeal could
be made also to the people of South Travancore generally and to the
LMS in England, and details of the cost of th scheme could be worked
out. But the committee could not present to bring the detailed proposals
which it was asked, largely because the whole structure of University
education might at an early date be remodelled.
The Mission Council appointed a second special College
Committee in 1946 to consider the project for making a college - a
Degree College-and for starting a Pre-University school. The committee
33. Minutes of the Mission Council No.T4022, January-February,1946, p.45.
207
emphasised hat unless the college took the Dpportunity to go forward
with the programme of starting a Degree College, it would cease to exist
and never had the chance to start again. The committee also appraised
the resolution of the Travancore Christian Educational Council passed
at it's meeting on 11 August 1945 and found that the council gave
cordial wishes to the plans of the College Committee in making the
college a Degree College.34 This resolution had received the approval of
the Central Board of Christian Education in India. The convener was
asked to enquire the Southern District Council and the Nagercoil Home
Church whether they could suggest any ways and means by which
money could be raised for this project. The Church Committee on 4th
December 1946 placed resolutions before the church meeting which were
adopted agreeing to the sale of the properties at Vadassery and Kottar
and give one Itilch rupees out of the sale proceeds to the college
scheme. The Directors of LMS sanctioned the sale of properties in
Nagercoil in aid of the college scheme.36 For the sale of properties a sub-
committee was constituted with Messers. Gunamany, Kesari,
34. The Travancore Christian Educational Council passed theresolution: 'The Travancore Christian Educational Council givesits cordial good wishes to the plans now under consideration atKottayam and Nagercoil to develop the colleges there to theDegree standard, with associated Pre-University Schools".(Minutes of the Mission Council, January-February 1946, pp.47-49.)
35. Third Report of the Special College Committee, September 1946.
36. Fourth Report of the Special College Committee, July 1947.
208
4.Nesamony, M. Satyadas and G.H. Marsden. The committee appealed
to the Missicn Council to grant Rs.1,00,000 from the accumulated funds
and tho grii n I 1)0 I'' ul in four I nIIrnunt. For cot loclirig s UI)Ncripiiol)H
from outside, the committee appointed a College Appeal Committee of
twenty five members with A. Nesamony as the president, Stanünatha
Iyer as the vice-president and the principal as the secretary and
treasurer, and the representatives of both Christian and non-Ch'ristian
leaders in South Travancore- 37 The committee suggested to form a
College Endowment Fund and the revenue from the Tamarakularn
coconut plantation would form a major source of the fund.
Though much progress was not made in the construction of
additional buildings till 1947, a period of expansion commenced since
1948. The necessity of more land and buildings was actually felt when
there was considerable thinking on the ways of growth consequent on
the assumption of the office of the bursar by Rev. R.H. Eastaff. As a
first step necessitating to raising the college to a Degree College it was
decided to increase the strength of the intermediate classes so that
before 7 Ju.ne, 1949 the accommodation for the science subjects might
be doubled. For this purpose the required building be constructed at an
estimated cost of Rs.50,400. The necessary equipments, chemicals and
37. Fourth Report of the Special College Committee, July 1947.
38. Ibid.
209
apparatus to a cost of Rs.56,300 was to be provided. The total capital
expenditure on the intermediate section was estimated at Rs.106,700.
The Building Committee proposed. 39 (1) a two storey building for the
science classes on the northern side of the then science block, similar to
it and attached to it. (2) a lecture ball to accommodate 150 students but
as an extension to the then English lecture hail between it and the
college office. (3) additional accommodation in the hostel. For the Degree
College, separate provisions were made:4°
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
An W. shaped building estimated to cost
Shed, latrine etc.
Furniture
Equipment, apparatus, chemicals
Books
Total
2,07,600
10,000
39,000
1,07,600
29,500
3,93,700
Total capital expenditure for the whole scheme was Rs.5,00,400.
The University Commission consisting of Papworth, Vice-
Chancellor, P.R. Parameswara Panicker Registrar, and Gopala Menon
formerly Director of Public Instructions and the then principal of S.D.
College AUeppy, appointed by the Syndicate of the University of
Travancore visited Nagercoil on 5 Marsh 1949 and inspected the
39. Minutes of the Building Committee No.8382 November 1948.
40. Ibid.
210
buildings of both the college and the high school and the plans and the
other essential details of the development scheme. The commission was
satisfied with the plans. But it insisted to remove the high school to
another site. The commission also stated that the second commission
would have to visit the college to sanction the additional seats in the
intermediate classes after the accommodation and equipments were
ready. A similar commission would have to visit the college when
arrangements were ready to start the Degree Course. The College
Council requested the Education Board to remove the high school as the
public were expecting admission to the Degree College and because of
the fear that the schemes of a Degree College would be collapsed if this
condition was not satisfied. Finally, the college and the Finance
Committee accepted the proposal of the transfer of the school .4' The
Education Board considered the request of the College Council and
authorised the corporate manager to get approval from the government
for shifting the school to the Whitley Hostel compound from 1950.42
But the College Committee resolved on 23 March, 1950 that
the principal should not apply for the University permission for degree
classes in June on a promise that the new building would be ready by
the end of October, 1950. The appeal for subscription was made by the
College Council on the promise of a Degree College in June
41. Minutes of the College Council, No.ST.9098 March 1949.
42. Minutes of the Education Board No. ST.9 105, March 1949.
211
1950. Duri.ig 1949-50 the building committee spent Rs.15,000 for
apparatus and equipments and Rs.22,000 for gas plant, gas-house and
gas-holder. In April 1950, a contract for Rs.1,15,000 was given for the
foundation and downstairs of the new building which was to provide a
hail, a staff room and accommodation for several degree classes. The
foundation stone of the new building was laid in January 1950 by Rev.
Sidney M. Berry, chairman of the International Congregational Council
and former chairman of -the LMS. On 15 May, 1950 the University
Commission inspected the site and expressed their approval of what was
already done and of the plans. On 13 June, 1950 another comthission
recommended to the Syndicate for allowing to have degree classes.
Accordingly on 26 June, 1950, the college became a I Grade College, a
notable forward step, which was long hoped for and for which the LMS
Were devoutly thankful.44
The College Council recommended to buy the Nagercoil
building and land formerly used as the distillery at a short distance
north of the college property and separated from it by only a small
field.45 There was direct access by a public road. The distillery property
comprised of a walled area of about five and a half acres containing
eight large stone buildings and just over two acres of a tank lying
43. Report of the College Building Committee, 1949-50.
44. Ibid., June 1950.
45. Minutes of the College Council, ST.1459, December, 1951.
212
immediately to the north of the walled area. The building and compound
wall were vcry strongly built of rubble and lime. The buildings were
eminently suitable for the college hail, laboratories and library and
could be used in conjunction with the accommodation in the college
compound. The land and buildings were purchased by using the first
instalment of Vadassery land sale and the surplus profit of the
Tamarakulam fields and Nagercoil lace industry already accumulated.
Thus sufficient buildings were made available for the Degree Courses.
The Indian Universities Act of 1904 intrbducecj
intermediate examination course in the place of FA examination course
and the college, accordingly adopted the same course. In 1909 the college
implemented new curriculum. In 1926, the natural science was
introduced, but there was regrettable decline in the number of history
students. The college ofTered Tamil, Malayalam, Sanskrit, 1-[indi, Arabic
and French as second languages for the intermediate courses. The
subject groups offered were;
L Mathematics, physics and chemistry
2. Physics, chemistry and biology
3. Chemistry, biology and psychology and
4. Ancient history, modern history and psychology.
The year 1950 saw the introduction of degree classes in the
college and the first majors introduced were mathematics and history,
213
and this wa followed by chemistry in 1952-53, economics and physics
in 1954 and zoology in 1956.
The staff members who did meritorious service to the
college during the period of Parker between 1901 and 1908 were C.S.
Daniel, G.N. Nehemiah, V.S. Krishna Iyer, Paul Appolos, Tamil pandit,
Subrainonja Sastri, Malayalam pandit, Sthanoo Sastri, Sanskrit pandit.
A. Vetha Siromoni, M.P. Samuel, P.S. Harthara Sastrhi, Maláyalam
munshi. A. Zacharja, A.J. Nayagam, demonstrator, Vasudeva Poduval,
S. Ramaswamy Iyer, A. Adkikesava Iyengar, I.K. Padmanabhan,
Vythianatha Iyer, S. Parameswara Iyer, A. Gunamony, T. Joseph, J.
David, P. Ramanathan, demonstrator, Sankaranarayana Sasthri,
Sanskrit pandit, J. Karnalam, S. Sthiya Vagesswara Sastri, Sanskrit
pandit, Veeraraghava Sarma and I. John. G.D. Samuel worked as writer
in this college.
The college which was growing by leaps and bounds .under
G.H. Marsden's fostering care was fortunate in having an excellent staff
members like A. Vetha Siromony, A. Zacharia, R. Kris hnamachari, T.K.
Narayana Iyer, S. Sundareswara Iyer, R. Parameswara Sastri, T.S.
Sethuraman, A.P. Mathew, S.P. Ragland, A.J. Cherian, G.P. Selvam,
K.C. Ramaswamy, N. Thanoo Iyer, B. Arumai Ray, J. Fenn. George,
J.M. Arthur, J. Cyril Librarian, S. Arunachalam, clerk, M. Velupillaj, V.
Venkita Subban, E.K. Joseph, D. Joseph, D. Giles Lal, Ben J. Titus,
Narayana Iyer, H.D. Moses, S. Subrahmoniya Moosath, and M.R. Roy
214
Daniel. By 1943 there were twenty one staff members, nine of them
belonging to non-teaching section." In the earlier period the Scott
Christian College was catering to the needs of the F.A. students. A brief
account department-wise on the working of various faculties in the
college especially after the introduction of degree courses is dealt with
here.
Department of mathematics
C.S. Daniel was in charge of the department of
mathematics. In 1950 B.Sc. degree course in mathematics was
introduced with Arumairaj as professor. In 1952 A.N. Johnson was
appointed as professor besides Arumairaj. After the demise of professor
Johnson, S. Jayasingh joined as lecturer in 1955.
Department of Physics
V.S. Krishna Iyer working as the head of the department
of physics and chemistry prior to 1924. There were only intermediate
classes and then there were only a handful of students. The Inspection
Commission of the University of Madras took exception to the
arrangement and insisted that the departments of physics and
chemistry should be separated and controlled by two different
individuals. Accordingly in the academic year 1924-25 two separate
46. Scott Christian College Platinum Jubilee Souvenir, p.14.
47. Ibid, pp.14-15.
215
departments were created.48
Subsequent to the retirement of V.S. Krishna Iyer in 1932,
J.M. Arthur became the head of the department. The department of
physics was upgraded to the B.Sc. level in 1954 with J.M. Arthur as the
professor.
Department of Chemistry
Chemistry lecturers from Madras State were unwilling to
come and serve in Scott Christian College since it was II Grade College.
So in May 1925, G. Parker, the then principal requested Fr. A. Haes,
professor of chemistry in the St. Joseph's College, Trichinopoly to
suggest a suitable hand to run the department of chemistry and the
latter recommended the name of R. Krjsbnamacharj° He joined as the
head of the department of chemistry in the year 1952. Chemistry degree
course was introduced in the year 1952. The laboratory was well-
organised for forty eight students to work at a time. Krishnamacharj
was promoted as professor of the department of chemistry in 1952.
Natural Science was introduced for the intermedjath class
in 1926, with A.P. Mathew as the head of the department. He left the
college in May 1928 and K.C. Ramaswamy took charge of the
department. After the departure of Ramaswamy in 1929, A.J. Cherian
Was appointed as head of the department. According to the original
48. Ibid., p.16.
49. Ibid.
216
programme cf the college the B.Sc. Degree Course in zoology should
have been started in 1950. But due to lack of- funds and consequent
delay in the construction of the new building, B.Sc. zoology degree
course was introduced only in the 1956 with V.J.I. Grant' as professor.
The department of zoology with all modern equipment was planned by
V.J.I. Grant in 1950 itself. The department of zoology had a good
museum with almost all representative types of fauna. Most of these
specimens were collected locally by V.J.I. Grant and his colleagues.5'
During the period 1894 .1895, when J.E. Dennison was the
principal, tennis and badminton till then unknown in the part of the
country were introduced. In anticipation of the University scheme where
by physical training would at the beginning of 19J0-31 becwuu
compulsory for all students and must be under the guidance of a trained
physical director, G.P. Selvan was appointed as physical director in June
1929.52 But very soon he left the college and so his place was taken by
J. Fenn George in 1934. Puring his period, a lively programme of games
was organised and so enthusiastically did the students participate in
these games that from among them blossomed forth outstanding
50. V.J.I. Grant came to this college from the Zamorin College,Calicut in 1950.
51. After the introduction of the degree course, V.!1.i.L Grant went toEngland for two years for advanced research studies with thehelp of the leadership Training Scholarship sponsored by theLondon Mission Board.
52. Report and Accounts of the Mission Council, 1931.
217
sportsmen & , d leaders in the country. In 1948 Fenn George left the
college and Gould Jacob acted in the vacancy for a year. In 1949 the
college looked after five .hundred students for compulsory games. In
1951 the college volley ball team reached the finals of the University of
Travancore Totamament-54 Hence, inspired, dedicated and far-sighted
missionaries while founding the college gave it a well thought out and
comprehensive curriculum of literary and scientific education. To
complete the picture, they saw to it that proper facility was given for
games and sports.
Though the college was started with twelve students in the
year 1893, the strength increased to twenty five in 1899- 56 There was a
uniform increase in the total number of students upto the year 1929.
The students included Hindus, Christians and Muslims. Women
students also came forward for the college studies. During the period
1930-1940 there was a considerable increase in the enrolment of
students. In 1930 the total number of students was 138, including five
Muslims and three girls.5° Christians constituted thirty six per cent. In
the year 1940, the total number of students was224 including one Jian
student. The maximum number of women students numbering twenty
53. Platinum Jubilee Souvenir, p.20.
54. Ibid.
55. Annual Report, Travancore District Committee, 1899, p.6.
56. Ten Years of Church and Mission in Travancore, 1931-40,Nagercoil, 1942, p.65.
218
three was re orded during the year 1939. During the decade 1930-1940
the average strength of the students was 182 where as the average
number during the previous decade was forty two. In June 1948 there
were 113 students including eight women in the senior intermediate
class and 152 in the junior intermediate class including seven women.
In the academic year 1940-50 the college admitted 340 students
including thirty one girls in the junior intermediate class as a policy of
admitting maximum number of students as allowed by the University.
After 1950 the strength of the college increased substantially consequent
upon the introduction of degree classes.
The Scott Christian College maintained uniformly good
results over other colleges in the State. in 1907 the result in F.A
examinations was a notable one. Twenty two students passed out of
twenty eight students sent to the examination out of class of thirty
one. 67 In the subsequent years, the college produced satisfactory results
in the intermediate examinations.
Parker, the first principal, t}ough he himself was a
historian, wished that science men should be at the head of affairs in an
expanding institution and so persuaded the Board of Directors of the
LMS in London to get an English man as superintendent of laboratories
for the college.58 G.W. Trowell, of London University came to Nagercoil
57. Annual Report of the Travancore District Committee, 1907.
58. Annual Report of the college 1925, p.3.
219
in October II 25 for this purpose.59 And G.H. Marsden of the CambridgeUniversity was appointed the principal. 60 G.H. Marsden took special
interest for development of the science department and remodelled the
laboratories.6'
During the period of Parker P.S. Jacob, L. Devanesan and
D. Appavoo served as librarians. The library of the college was equipped
with upto date volumes which ran up to 4000 in 1924. Being a great
lover of books, G.H. Marsèlen, took pleasure in adding new books to the
library every year, so as to keep pace with the developments in science
and arts so much, so the college had the distinction of Possessing one of
the best libraries among the private colleges in South India. In 1948-49
the library contained 12000 voIumes.°
In 1907 there were 110 boarders in• the college hostel. The
number rose to 140 in 1908. But there was no special living room for
boys and they had to live in the school rooms.The use of same buildings
for classes, sleeping and eating was extremely inconvenient and a great
hindrance to organisation. This was the time when a donor in England
59. R. Krishna lyer, op-cit., p.40.
60. G.H. Marsden was a scientist to the core. He was an Hnoursman in physics with mathematics and chemistry as subsidiarysubjects.
61. Annual Report of the college, 1926, p.5.
62. Annual Report of the college, 1949, p.7.
220
donated 1001 for building the hostel. The college hostel accommodated
students belonging to all communities.64
MAR IVANIOS COLLEGE, NALANCHIRA, TRWANDRIJ1J
The Mar Ivanios College under the management of
Syro-Malankara Church was started in June 1949 with junior
intermediate in history and junior BA classes in economics. Archbishop,
Mar ivanios of the Syro-Ma1anka Church was the founder and patron
of the college. In response to his inborn urg& for educational work and
as a natural and inevitable consequence of the great number of schools
under Archbishop Mar Ivanios, the idea of a I Grade College began to
take form.
The archbishop made correspondences to the Government
of Travancore and the University of Travancore for granting permission
to open a I Grade College at Pattern. The University appointed a
preliminary Inspection Committee consisting of H.C. Papworth, Pro-
Vice-Chancellor of the University, A. Narayanan Thampi, Director of
Public Instructions and Rajya Seva Previna K.L. Moudgil, Dean,
Faculty of Science to examine the proposals of the archbishop. The
commission visited the site proposed for the college on 1st April 1947,
examined the plans for the buildings, discussed the details of the
63. Platinum Jubilee Souvenir, p.15.
64. In 1948-49 in the three hostels there were twenty five Chritians,three Muslims, three Hindu Maravas, three Hindu Nadars, twoHindu Pallans (Vathiri) one Vanian, one Vellala, three Nairs oneEzhava and one Pulaya.
221
scheme with the archbishop and submitted it's report to the Syndicate
of the UnivcL-sity. The Syndicate at its meeting held on 16 April, 1947
considered the report be accepted and communicated to the archbishop.
As such the Syndicate requested the government to sanction permission
of the archbishop to open a I Grade College at Pattom.°5 Even as late as
1948 the idea of a college was too presumptuous and ambitious for the
limited means of the archdiocese. The archbishop plotted the land with
an area of 170 acres in Bethany Hills at Nalanchira in Trivandrum. The
college campus was unique in the state, both in the extensive jrea it
covered and the enhancing panorama it commanded all round from the
elevated spot.
The construction of the college building was started in the
Bethany Hills. Fr. Seraphion was incharge of the construction work. In
1952-53 one building was completed. The main building was rising to
the second floor."' Hence the college building, the olakèttiambalam
(thatched shed) of 1952 had grown up to be a landmark in the city with
its four floors and twenty eight halls - a crown adorning in the Bethany
65. Education Cover File No.1575/47, dated 24-6-1947.
66. Through the windows of the college building and forms the longcorridors, one could see the blue ridges of the Agasthiakoodam onthe eastern horizon and stretching between them and theBethany Hill (Annual Report, of the college 1951-52, p.3).
67. Annual Report of the college, 1952-53, p.5.
222
Hills."' A bi ngalow, about three furlongs away from the campus,
belonging to the archdiocese was placed under, the disposal of the college
for the use of the members of the staff. Staff quarters known as Goretti
Home within the campus was constructed in 1953. In 1956, the
construction of buildings was completed. The students and the teachers
had borne the dust and din incidental to building work going on
overhead or in adjacent rooms. The expansion alone cost the
management three to four lakhs of rupees.
Fr. Benedict was the first principal of the college. His
guiding hand shaped the college well in its infancy. He served as
principal during the period 1949-50 to 1950-51. In his place Fr. N.A.
Thomas, who returned after four years in United States of America
where he was working for a Doctorate in Economics, joined as
principal-69 After five years of meritorious service as principal
NA. Thomas left the college at the beginning of the academic year 1956-
57 and Fr. Francis Kalacherry, formerly vice-principal of the St.
Berchman'g College, Changanachei-ry, was appointed.
Fr. Benedict was appointed vice-principal. When he was
appointed as the auxiliary bishop to the archbishop in the year 1952-53
Fr. Jose Mathew, was appointed vice-principal. But his services was lent
to Mar Theophilus Training College in 1956.
68. Annual Report of the college, 1952-53, p.5.
69. Fr. N.A. Thomas was the headmaster of St. Mary's High School,pattern till then.
223
Curriculum
The college was started in June 1949 with the junior
intermediate history groups and BA. class in economics. From the
beginning of the academic year 1950-51, the college was affiliated to the
University of Travancore with the additional subjects of Hindi,
mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology for.the intermediate class.
For intermediate classes, the college offered group I with mathematics,
physics and chemistry; group II (a) with biology, physics and chemistry,
group 11(b) with biology chemistry and agriculture; biology, chemistry
and logic, and group III with two batches of World history, and Indian
history with logic. With the promotion of the junior students to their
respective senior classes, the college began to work with all the four
classes in intermediate and B.A. In 1951-52 the college applied for
sanction for B.Sc. groups in mathematics and botany. In the academic
year 1952-53, B.Sc. class with botany main and zoology subsidiary
groups,7° was introduced. In 1953-54 B.Sc. mathematics, B.Sc. zoology
and B.Com. degree courses were introduced. The college got affiliation
for B.Sc. zoology from the beginning of the academic year 1955-56.'
From the year 1955-56 the University of Travancore took momentous
decision to introduce the Pre-University and the Three Year Degree
70. Annual Report of the college, 1952-53, p.3.
71. Ibid., 1955-56.
224
Course. The 'ollege too started the Pre-University course and it also
applied for Three Year B.Sc. physics and B.Sc. chemistry courses. 72 The
science laboratories were furnished with up-to-date equipments in 1950-
51. Fr. Hadrian, extended his assistance to the science departmen.73 In1951-52 a library was organised and housed in a temporary hail. K.
Thomas was appointed as librarian. During the year 1953-54, the college
added 807 books to the library.74
The college granted a college union for the student In
1950-51, five associations were begun. By 1952-53 there were
associations for history, economics, science, Malayalam, Hindi and
Syriac subjects. English literature and Debating Society, Arts Society,
comprising Dramatic Club, Painter's Club, Photographic Club, and
Music Club were also formed. The college formed the New Man
Association and it's activities were limited to. discussion on general
subjects having some bearing on religions and morality. A Catholic
Students Union had also been started in the college. In 1954-55, the
college had altogether twelve associations and sixteen clubs. 7 ' Of these,Agri -horticulture Association was the result of the interest which the
students had in agriculture.
72. Annual Report, 1955-56.
73. Report of the principal, 1952-53.
74. Annual Report, 1953-54.
75. Ibid., 1954-55.
23
Jn 1949-50, the strength of the college was 145 and it rose
to 620 in 1950-51 with the promotion of the junior students of the four
classes of the intermediate to their respective senior classes and B.A
degree course."' The strength rose to 1000 ha 1952-53. The number of
students in the year 1953-54 was 951. In 1954-55 the strength of the
students in junior and senior intermediate classes and B.A., B.Sc.
classes stood at 1101 and it rose to 1163 in 1955-56.77 The students on
the roll in 1956-57 was 1170 inclusive of 377 students admitted in the
Pre-University classes. The admission to the junior classes of the
intermediate course was not done as the University introduced the Pre-
University and three year B.A,/B.Sc,/B.Com degree courses in 1956-57.
The first batch of the science students for the intermediate
examinations was presented at the end of the academic year 1951-62. 711
In March 1952, the only first class in B.A. degree in economics of the
University was from this college. In the examination of March 1953 the
college secured one of the, three first classes in B.A. economics and was
placed second in rank. There was eighty four per cent pass in part I
English. It was thirty per cent more than University average. Hundred
per cent pass was secured in Hindi, Tamil and Syriac for the BA.
76. Annual Report, 1949-50 and 1950-51.
77. Ibid., 1955-56.
78. Report of the principal, 1951-52.
226
degree examination. In 1954 the college had scored five per cent passes
more than the previous year. Subject-wise passes had been outstanding
in some subjects as in intermediate world history forty seven out of fifty
five (eighty six per cent), physics one hundred and forty three out of one
hundred and seventy eight (eighty per cent) biology hundred and six out
of hundred and twenty five (eighty five per cent) and chemistry hundred
and twenty eight out of two hundred and eleven (sixty one per cent). An
objective survey of the results of the University examinations showed
that the college had been adding almost five per cent every year to the
total percentage of the pass in the intermediate examinations .79 The first
batch of botany B.Sc. students was presented for the University
examination in March 1953. In part III botany ninety seven per cent
came out successful. In 1955 the college scored ninety one per cent pass
in British history, eighty nine per cent in physics, eighty nine per cent
in biology, eighty four per cent in malayalam and sixty nine per cent in
chemistry. In B.Sc. botany twenty out of twenty nine passed with one
second class. In B.A. economics percentage of pass was seventy nine, in
B.A. Hindi seventy seven, Malayalam eighty five, B.A., B.Sc., B.Com .,
English sixty five, which was the highest percentage in the University.
Percentage of complete pass in B.A/B.Sc. was sixty five. The only second
class for B.Com. (preliminary) was from this college. In March 1956, 319
79. Report of the Principal, 1953-54.
227
students app 'bared for the Pre-University examination, fifty for the B.A.forty eight for the B.Sc. and thirty eight for the B.Com . course. The
percentage of complete pass for the intermediate course was thirty eight
per cent. There were thirty eight per cent pass in English, eighty six per
cent in Malayalam, cent per cent pass in Tamil, seventy seven per cent
pass in the mathematics, physics, chemistry and fifty three per cent
pass in biology, 9griculture, chemistry group. There were eighty four per
cent pass in B.Sc. botany and ninety two per cent pass in B.A.
economics, seventy per cent pass in the B.Com. preliminary class, sixty
seven per cent pass was secured in Hindi of final B.Com . and seventyseven per cent for the B.Com. subjects in the year.8°
A brief account on the teaching staff members worked in
each department in the college are dealt with department wise., In the
academic year 1950-51, T.Y. Harris, Joined as professor and E.J. Cam
as lecturer in the department of English. Three additional tutors were
appointed in the same year A. Sivarama Subrahmonjya Iyer, a teacher
of long experience in different colleges and who retired as the head of
the department of English in the University College, Trivandrum joined
as the head of the department of English in 1951. In 1952 V.K. Kurian,
M.T. John and A.G. Xavier left the college Fr. C.T. Geevarghese
Panicker joined as lecturr; and T. Kunjachan and T.K. Duraiswaniy as
80. Annual Report, 1952, pp.4-5.
2281.
tutors. K.G. Georgekutty, one of the old students was appointed as
lecturer in 10'64. Fr. George Panicker went to USA for higher studies in
1955. In the same year T. Kunjachaj i left for government service. George
Mathew, P. John and S. Moses joined in the department. But in 1956-57
George Mathew, R.A. Raj an and T.K. Kunjachan left the college and so
Fr. Andrews P. Sadasivan and A. Sankaranarayan were taken in.8'
P.A. John, with two assistants took charge of the
department of biology in 1950. Austin Anselm, took charge of the botany
section later in the year vith the introduction of botany course for B.Sc
degree J. Srinivian, a senior teacher was appointed as the chief of the
department of botany. Abraham was appointed as lecturer in the place
of A.N. Nampoothiri who joined in government service. K.J. John was
appointed in the department of zoology as additional demonstrator.
During the academic year 1954-55 I.M. Scaria and K.P. Ravindra.n were
appointed as lecturers and Chacko and N.C. Joseph as demonstrators.
In 1955 K.P. Sebastian took charge as head of the department of
zoology. In 1956-57 K.V. Natarajan was appointed in the department of
botany in the place of Fr. John Mathew. 82
In the depaitment of language, hindi was newly started in
1951-52 with E. Muthuswamy Iyer as lecturer. In the departrçient of
Malayalam two additions and on the Syriac, one addition were made in
81. Administration Report of the college, 1956-57, pp.8-9.
82. Ibid., 10.
229
the same year. Thottam Rajasekharan Nair was appointed in the
department of Malayalam in 1952. P.J. Joseph took the place of
Muthuswamy Iyer in the department of Hindi. C.J. Chacko left the
service in 1954-55 for research work in Malayalam. So V. Kunjusankara
Pillai was appointed as lecturer. Chemmanam Chacko of the department
of Malayalam went for research work in 1955 and K.V. Chacko was
appointed in his place and K.J. Job joined as additional lecturer in
Hindi. S. David was appointed as lecturer in Tamil.
In 1951, A.V. Varkey took up the charge of the department
of physics. V.V. Abraham, Zachariah Mathew and P.V. Oomman, joined
in the academic year 1951-52. In 1953 K.M. Karuppan, P.K. John,
Zachariah Mathew and P.V. Ooznrnan were appointed as lecturers. On
the retirement of A.V. Varkey, Earnest Stephen was appointed as the
head of the department and E.J. Jacob, Thomas George, V.J. Chacko
and S. Ramakrishna Iyer were appointed as demonstrators. K.
Viswanathan Pillai, a senior lecturer was in charge of social service
league in the college. 84 E.J. Jacob left the college in 1954 to take up
work under the government of India, V. Govindan Nair was appointed
instead. K.M. Varghese and C.S. Abraham were appointed in 1955 in
the place of A.J. Michael, E.J. Jacob and K. George respectively, who
83. Administration Report of the college, 1956-57, pp.8-9.
84. Ibid, 19b4, p.6.
230
went for higher studies. In 1956 Mathappan Sebastain and C.S.
Abraham were retrenched with the corning up of the Pre-University
Course.
The department of chemistry was headed by J. Fenn and
he was assisted by three other young scientists, K.M. Antony, and P.J.
Eapen. But they left for higher studies in 1951. Hence O.P. Abraham
and C.P. Xavier were appointed lecturers and V.0 Joseph and
Chitambara Subrahmaniya Iyer, were appointed as demonstrators.8° In
1954 C.P. Xavier left the college and joined in the Moovattupuzha
College and another lecturer Srimulanathan went to Calcutta for higher
studies.
In 1950 K.A. Isac joined in the department of history as
professor George Catlin, one of the greatest authorities on political
science joined the college as its provost. Lawrence Lopez, was added in
the department in 1951-52. T.L. Varghese and K. Rajayyan were
appointed as additional lecturers in the academic year 1954-55. But in
1957 K. Rajayyan and another lecturer Yesu Retna Nayákom left the
college.87
85. Administration Report of the college, 1956, pp.11.
86. Ibid., 1952, p.7.
87. Ibid., 1956, p.11.
231
In 1952-53 Fr. Phillip C. Pantholil, lecturer in the
department of logic was transferred to the archbishop's house and
appointed secretary to archbishop and his place was occupied by
K.C.Mathew. He retired from service in 1955.
With the introduction of the B.Com Degree Course in the
academic year 1954-55. P.J. Mathew, J. Joseph and A.G. Mathew were
appointed as lecturers. V.J. Joseph left the service and M.V.
Subramonian was appointed in the vacancy. In 1956 M.J. Joseph too left
and Antony Swamy was appointed as lecturer."
The agriculture course for the intermediate class was begun
in 1954-55 and S. Rengaswamy lyangar, formerly District Agricultural
Officer, Trivandrum, was appointed as lecturer and C. Antony as
demonstrator. S. Rengaswarriy lyangar and C. Antony left the
department in 1955 and George David and P.C. Eapen were inducted.
George David then left the service and K. Satyadas joined and C.J.
Venkata Subban took charge of the department in the aéademic year
1956-57.°
The college provided courts for volley ball and badminton
in the year 1950-51. In 1951-52 attempts were made to construct a large
88. Administration Report of the college, 1956,pp:11.
89. Ibid., p.12.
90. Ibid, 1957, p.6. ..
232
stadium and it reached the final stage in the construction at the end of
the year. The playgrounds were also expanded in the same year. Some
of the students achieved emarkable ranks in the Olympic Sports and
Inter-collegiate Tournaments in the year 1952-53. Students attended
Inter-University Football and Hockey Tournaments at Annamalai. The
college completed two more tennis courts in the year and formed clubs
for football, hockey, volleyball, basketball, cricket and tennis. Students
were selected for Inter-University Tournaments. In hockey the college
won the 'B' section Trophy of the Hockey League and 'B' section
Basketball Tournament.
V.S. Kuncheria was the physical director from the
beginning of the academic year 1954-55. In the year the college won
three cups at the Inter-collegiate Tournaments at the Fr. Barthalomeo
Memorial Tournaments and the Challenge Cup of the Amatuer Athletic
Association of Attingal. The college represented the Travancore Cochin
State in the National Tennis Championship (juniors) held at Calcutta.
The college contributed its share in the State Olympics Games, scoring
eleven points and won championship trophy and stood third in the Inter-
collegiate Athletic meet held at Ernakulani. In 1955. V.S. Kuncheria,
went to YMCA College of Physical Education Madras, for training in
physical education and hence J.D. Isac was appointed instead. The
college annexed the Barthelomeo Memorial Cup for the scond year in
succession and won theSouth Zone finals in the Intr-collegiate
233
Tournaments. V.S. Kuncherja came back in 1956-57 and took charge.t"
With a view to provide congenial surroundings to the
students, the management of the college intended to make the college
a residential one. Fr. Seraphion, continued with his splendid
construction work and two blocks of the hostel was completed in 1950.
It gave accommodation to 300 students. The principal and thre staff
members resided in the hostel. In 1951 two magnificent blocks for the
hostel with the most upto date facilities were constructed. In 1952, 275
students of all creeds and communities were accommodated in the hostel
ië. thirty seven per cent of the students were staying in the hostel, ten
per cent in the recognised hostels, thirty five per cent either with
distant or near relatives and eighteen per cent in private lodges. In 1953
there were 276 inmates in the hostel. Seventy five students stayed in
the non-collegiate hostel, 100 in private lodges. The hostel record of the
academic year 1954-55 shows that there were 276 students stayed in the
hostel.
The college introduced NCC and ACC units' in the
academic year 1954-55. The college had.a platoon of forty seven cadets
for the NCC unit. In December 1954 the NCC cadets participated in the
camp held at Kalamacherry and the . ACC cadets in the camp at
Kottarakkara.
91 Administration Report of the college, 1956, pp 13
92. Ibid.r ''
234
The social service league formed in 1953-54 was merged
with ACC. Four members of the staff, E.J. Jacob J.A. Moeria, A.J.
Varghese and P. John completed their officers training course held at
the NCC headquarters, Trivandrum in June 1954. In 1955-56 the college
NCC platoon was adjudged the best in the annual camp held at
Chalakudy from among the colleges in Trivandrum.93
MAR ThE OPHILUS TRAINING COLLEGE
Mar Theophilus Training College, Trivandrum came into
existence both as a loyal response to a genuine need of the country and
as an effective fulfillment of the wishes of a man of vision, Benedict Mar
Gregorios, archbishop of Trivandrum. The college was started in 1956
in the memory of the late Rev. Theophi1ose. At the time the task of
training teachers for the high schools was shouldered by four
government and two private training colleges in the State. Hence the
need for more teachers training institution was deeply felt and the Syro-
Malankara Church rose to the occasion and decided to contribute its
share in this field. The late Archbishop Mar Ivanios wished to see an
educational complex established on the Bethany Hills. Mar Ivanios
93. Administration Report of the College,. 1956, pp.13.
94. Theophilus; means lover of God.
95. Administration Record. 1957, p.1.
235
College was the first step towards the materialisation of this noble
vision. His successor Archbishop Mar Gregorios shared the vision of
Archbishop Mar Ivarlios. The Mar Theophilus Training College was
housed in a building which formed a part of Mar Ivanios Co1lege.°
With the starting of the Mar Theophilus Training College
with in the campus of the Mar Ivanios College, the services of Fr. Jose
Mathew vice-principal of the Mar Ivanios College was lent to the
Training Col1egeY But he left in September, 1956 for higher studies in
USA, 98 and Marian C. Itty lype was substituted. But in the beginning
to organise the college an able and experienced leadership was found in
the person of T.Y. Harris, who had a long record of excellent service to
his credit as headmaster, Divisional Inspector of Schools and lecturer in
the Government Training College, Trivandrum and Scott Christian
College, Nagercoil. Hence he was appointed the first principal of the
college .°
The subjects offered during the first year of the
commencement were teaching in English, history natural science,
physical science and mathematics. 100 The college had T.Y. Harris,
96. Annual Report of the college 1956-57, p.3
97. Ibid.
98. Ibid., 1956-57.
99. Ibid.
100. College Calendar, 1956-57.
236
F. Fenn, K.S. Sleeba, V.S. Kuncherja and N. Gopalan Achari in its roll
as teaching staff.'01 The college admitted eighty students, 102 both gents
and females in the academic year 1956-57. Of the eighty students,
twenty seven persons were teachers working in various schools.' 03 V.S.Kuncherju Who got diploma in physical education and who was serving
in the Mar Ivanios College took charge of the physical education in the
College.
Harris, as the first principal of the Mar Theophilus
Training College, set an exceptionally high degree of academic and
disciplinary tradition for the college and laid the institutional foundation
of the college.
From the above analysis it is seen that Christian missions
concentrated in higher education also so that students in large numbers
attended these colleges rather than going to more distant colleges for
higher studies. 104 The LMS not only raised the Scott Christian College
to the I Grade College but brought men of excellence for the benefit of
101. Staff Attendance Register 1956-57.
102. Admission Register 1956-57.
103. Interview with Sbeeha, Principal Mar. Theophilus TrainingCollege, 9.12.1996.
104. When the matriculation examination of University of -Madras wassubstituted by the School Leaving Certificate. Schrri in 1908,and afterwards the potential number of student ligible forcollege admission had not been too small to provid a-Universityeducation.
237
the students of South Travancore. The Syro-Malarij(ara Church started
degree classes in various disciplines and started Mar Theophilus
Training College to produce trained teachers for the schools. Hence
these three colleges-one at the extreme south and the two at the
northern part of South Travancore catered the needs of the majority of
the prospective candidates for higher education.
Recommended