St. Thomas College, Thrissur
Encyclopedia
St. Thomas College, Thrissur is located in Thrissur
city, the cultural capital of Kerala
State, India
. Founded by Mar Adolph Medlycott
in 1889, this college played a very important role in the development of Kerala. It gave birth to the thoughts of the communist leader and Kerala's first chief minister E. M. S. Namboodiripad
. His government was the World's first communist government which was elected to power in a democratic manner. Kerala's education minister Prof. Joseph Mundassery
was a professor of St. Thomas College, Thrissur; it was he who brought the revolutionary Education bill which is thought to have transformed the face of Kerala.
St. Thomas College, Thrissur is the first Roman Catholic college in Kerala
, India
. It is conducted by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur. It was found by the Rt. Rev. Dr. John Menachery, the Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of Trichur in April 1919 for the service of the people in the field of higher education. The stated objective are not only intellectual excellence and imparting of skills but mainly formation of good citizens of character and ability, committed to the service of their fellow man. The vision is enshrined in the motto: "Veritas Vos Liberabit" - the truth will set you free. The objectives are intended to be achieved not only through instruction, but also the general atmosphere of the college and the personality, character, disposition, example, motivation and dedication of all persons involved. Fr. John Palocaren was the first Principal of St. Thomas college.
Masters Degree in Social work (Medical and psychiatric) and community development
Thrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
city, the cultural capital of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
State, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Founded by Mar Adolph Medlycott
Mar Adolph Medlycott
Mar Adolph Medlycott is the first Bishop of Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur. He was born at Chittagong on May 15, 1838. Medlycott spent his last days in Bangalore where he died on May 4, 1918. His remains were later re-interred first in the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours....
in 1889, this college played a very important role in the development of Kerala. It gave birth to the thoughts of the communist leader and Kerala's first chief minister E. M. S. Namboodiripad
E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad, , popularly known as EMS, was an Indian Communist leader and the first Chief Minister of Kerala. As the first non-Congress chief minister in independent India, he became the leader of the first democratically elected communist government in the world...
. His government was the World's first communist government which was elected to power in a democratic manner. Kerala's education minister Prof. Joseph Mundassery
Joseph Mundassery
Joseph Mundassery was a renowned literary critic and Indian politician from Kerala state. He was one among the towering literary critics in the Malayalam language and literature...
was a professor of St. Thomas College, Thrissur; it was he who brought the revolutionary Education bill which is thought to have transformed the face of Kerala.
St. Thomas College, Thrissur is the first Roman Catholic college in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is conducted by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur. It was found by the Rt. Rev. Dr. John Menachery, the Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of Trichur in April 1919 for the service of the people in the field of higher education. The stated objective are not only intellectual excellence and imparting of skills but mainly formation of good citizens of character and ability, committed to the service of their fellow man. The vision is enshrined in the motto: "Veritas Vos Liberabit" - the truth will set you free. The objectives are intended to be achieved not only through instruction, but also the general atmosphere of the college and the personality, character, disposition, example, motivation and dedication of all persons involved. Fr. John Palocaren was the first Principal of St. Thomas college.
History
Started as a lower secondary school in 1889, the founder, the first Vicar Apostolic of Thrissur, Adolphus Edwin Medlycott, named it St. Thomas’ College. In 1919, it was raised to a second grade college in arts, affiliated to the University of Madras. The college was raised to the rank of a Second Grade College for the service of the people in the field of higher education during the period of Rt. Rev. Dr. John Menachery, the Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of Thrissur in April 1919.Academic courses
The college offers graduate, postgraduate and Ph.D.-level courses in a wide range of subjects. There are sixteen teaching departments (including the three research departments and the nine postgraduate departments) that encompassed 140 teachers. This college is affiliated to University of Calicut, Thenjipalam, Malappurad District.- Languages
- Department of English
- Department of Malayalam
- Department of Sanskrit
- Department of Hindi
- Humanities
- Department of History
- Department of Political Science
- Social Sciences
- Department of Economics
- Department of Commerce
- Mathematical Sciences
- Department of Mathematics
- Department of Statistics
- Physical Sciences
- Department of Physics
- Department of Chemistry
- Natural Sciences
- Department of Botany
- Department of Zoology
- Department of Physical Education
- Department of Computer Science
Masters Degree in Social work (Medical and psychiatric) and community development
Department of Physics
The Department of Physics was started in 1922 within three years of the establishment of the college itself. In 1951 a B.A Degree in Physics was started (later changed to BSc) was started with the affiliation of the Madras University. In 1961 MSc Physics (of Kerala University) was started which was a rare course in those days (one among four colleges in Kerala then). This Department offers Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in Physics.Notable alumni
- Eknath EaswaranEknath EaswaranEknath Easwaran was a spiritual teacher, an author of books on meditation and ways to lead a fulfilling life, as well as a translator and interpreter of Indian literature....
- Internationally respected spiritual teacher - EMS Namboodiripad - Indian Communist Leader
- Panampilly Govinda MenonPanampilly Govinda MenonPanampilly Govinda Menon was an Indian politician, freedom fighter, and lawyer. He was born at Chalakudy and started his lawyer practice there as a junior to Adv. M. C. Joseph . He was the first treasurer of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham. He moved his practice to Ernakulam afterwards...
- Union Cabinet minister for Law and Railways. - Professor Joseph MundasseryJoseph MundasseryJoseph Mundassery was a renowned literary critic and Indian politician from Kerala state. He was one among the towering literary critics in the Malayalam language and literature...
- Noted Literary critique and Education Minister of Kerala (1957 to 1959) - Mathai ManjooranMathai ManjooranMathai Manjooran was an Indian independence activist from Kerala, socialist revolutionary, Member of Parliament, Minister of Labour in the second E.M.S...
- Indian Independence Activist. - C. Achutha MenonC. Achutha MenonChelat Achutha Menon was a senior leader of the Communist Party of India . He was the Chief Minister of Kerala state for two terms. The first term was from 1 November 1969 to 1 August 1970 and the second 4 October 1970 to 25 March 1977. Achutha Menon is widely considered as the best Chief Minister...
- Political Leader - V. M. SudheeranV. M. SudheeranV. M. Sudheeran , The former Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly and Health Minister, is an active social and political leader in Kerala and an active member of the Indian National Congress. He was born to V. S. Mama and Girija at a small village named Padiyam in Anthicad Panchayat of Thrissur...
- Political Leader - Kochouseph ChittilappillyKochouseph ChittilappillyKochouseph Chittilappilly is an Indian businessman and the Managing Director of V-Guard Industries Ltd and a chain of amusement parks like Veega Land, Kochi and Wonderla, Bangalore.-Early life:...
- MD of V Guard Industries - Mar James Pazhayattil- Bishop of Irinjalakuda
- Professor George MenacheryGeorge MenacheryGeorge Menachery is a professor, anthropologist, historian of Syro Malabar Church and history of Kerala. He is the editor the of the St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India and the Indian Church History Classics.Menachery is also the recipient of the 'Order of Saint Gregory the Great', known as...
– Historian - M.P. Parameshwaran - Scientist turned Social Activist
- OuseppachanOuseppachanOusephachan is a National Award, Filmfare Award and Kerala State Film Award-winning Indian music director who sets scores for Malayalam films. He is one of the most sought-after musicians in the Malayalam film industry.-Biography:...
- Malayalam Film Music Director - Shimju David - CEO, Emax Software
- Alphons JosephAlphons JosephAlphons Joseph is a music director and playback singer in the Malayalam film industry who got a break as a film music composer after composing for the film Vellithira. Alphons is also noted for singing the famous song "Aaromale" from the film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, which was composed by A. R...
- Malayalam Film Music Director - Kalarical Janardhanan SreeramKalarical Janardhanan SreeramKalarical Janardhanan Sreeram , is a scientist at the Central Leather Research Institute...
- Scientist, Winner of CSIR Young Scientist Award - P. T. Kunju MuhammedP. T. Kunju MuhammedP. T. Kunju Muhammed is a noted director and producer in Malayalam parallel film industry. Magrib was his first film venture. He received a number of awards for his movies at the state level...
- Malayalam Film Director and Producer - Ajaikumar B. Kunnumakkara - Scientist and writer,National Cancer Institute, USA.
- T. PradeepT. PradeepThalappil Pradeep is a professor in at .- Research summary :Pradeep’s work is in the area of molecular materials and surfaces. In his formative years, he measured the very first vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectrum of Ar2 and discovered a novel transition metal ion, NiH2+. These days most...
- Professor of Chemistry, Chennai - Justice P. R. Raman - Retired Judge, High Court of Kerala
- Dr Mar Aprem - Metropolitan of the Church of the East in India
- Bishop George Alapatt - Fourth Bishop of Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur
- Bishop Dr Paulose Mar Paulose
Gleanings from the College Chronicle
- 1889 - St. Thomas School (even then called college) opened by The Vicar Apostolic of Trichur, Rt. Rev Dr. Adolphus Edwin Medlycott.
- 1893 - Incomplete high school.
- 1895 - Rev Fr. John Menachery appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Trichur.
- 1895 - Rev Fr. John Menachery appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Trichur.
- 1901 - July ; The school shifted to the present site by Bishop John Menachery.
- 1904 - August; The school recognised as a complete High School.
- 1904 - December; First batch of Matriculates.
- 1918 - May 4; Demise of Bishop Medlycott at Bangalore.
- 1919 - April; The high school raised to the rank of a second grade college in arts, affiliated to the University of Madras.
- 1919 - June 23; Admission to first Pre University Course started.
- 1919 - August; Formal inauguration by His Highness Sree Rama Varma, Maharaja of Cochin.
- 1919 - Patron-Bishop John Menachery, Manager-Rev Fr. Francis Vazhappilly, Principal-Rev Fr. John PalocarenJohn PalocarenFr. John Palocaren was the founding principal of St. Thomas College, Thrissur. Palocaren was born on 8 September 1886 in the Nadathara Palocaren family, an ancient Syrian Christian family of Kerala State, India....
B. A. - 1919 - December 19; Demise of Bishop Menachery.
- 1921 - The boarding house shifted from the college campus to Thope.
- 1921 - July; Bishop Francis Vazhappilly became the patron of the college, Manager- Rev Fr. A. J. Ukken, Principal- Mr. P. Sankaran Nambiar, B. A. (Honours) officiating principal.
- 1922 - Further affiliation in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry (Intermediate).
- 1924 - January; Rev Fr. PalocarenJohn PalocarenFr. John Palocaren was the founding principal of St. Thomas College, Thrissur. Palocaren was born on 8 September 1886 in the Nadathara Palocaren family, an ancient Syrian Christian family of Kerala State, India....
, M. A. (Edin) Principal. - 1925 - March; Affiliation sanctioned as a first grade college History group. Rev. Fr. M. Edakkolathur as Manager.
- 1926 - June; B. A. course started in Group 1 Mathematics.
- 1927 - June; Suppression of Boarding House and starting of Major Seminary in Thope.
- 1927 - October 14; Mahatma Gandhi addressed a meeting of staff and students.
- 1928 - Madras University First General Commission inspected the college.
- 1934 - Two Hostels built (St. Mary's and Cosmopolitan).
- 1936 - Main block of college buildings extended and made two storeyed (Medlycott Hall).
- 1937 - Seminary building in Thope was converted into a Hostel called St. Thomas Hostel. The title "Monsigneur" conferred on the Manager and the Principal.
- 1938 - October; Madras University Second Commission (Vice chancellor and Registrar) visited the college.
- 1939 - Affiliation in Hindi for the Intermediate and B. A.
- 1941 - Separate Science Block constructed (Menachery Hall)
- 1942 - May 12; Demise of Bishop Vazhappilly.
- 1944 - Silver Jubilee of the college. May; Rt. Rev Dr. George Alapatt, the Bishop of Trichur-Patron of the college, Rt. Rev. Msgr. A. Pondicherry-Manager.
- 1945 - Extensive play ground laid out in Thope.
- 1946 - March; Madras University Third General Commission inspected the college.
- 1948 - August 19; Demise of Msgr. PalocarenJohn PalocarenFr. John Palocaren was the founding principal of St. Thomas College, Thrissur. Palocaren was born on 8 September 1886 in the Nadathara Palocaren family, an ancient Syrian Christian family of Kerala State, India....
. September 20; Mr. Joseph Petta M. A. Officiating Principal. - 1949 - May 1; Rev. Fr. Joseph Kallingal M. A. -Principal.