About the Department
Govt. Victoria college, which was started in January 1888, as a second grade college affiliated to the Madras University, was raised to the status of first grade college in 1925, by starting two degree courses, one of which was in History. History was taught at the intermediate level under Group III. Ancient History, Modern History and Logic were the papers of study for the intermediate classes. Then, both the intermediate and degree courses were of two years’ duration. General Indian History, Constitutional History of Great Britain and Ireland, Outlines of European History, Elements of Economics and Political Science were the papers to be studied for the B A degree course. The intermediate course was later renamed pre-degree and the same pattern of course continued till the pre-degree was separated from colleges in 2000. After a prolonged demand from the student community, MA course in History was sanctioned to the college in 1979. The department has acquired a name of its own through its achievements in the academic field.
The post graduate department of history had its genesis as a degree department in the 1920s. It became a post graduate department in the late 1970s. The department had registered excellence in teaching and could produce an illustrious alumni who are now engaged in various professions including teaching, journalism, and administration. Professor Kochunnippanikkar, a leading historian of Kerala was here as faculty in the department. Among the leading historians produced by the department include Professor Gopalankutty and Dr M Muralidharan. Both belong to Palakkad. Gopalankutty had specialised in modern history of Kerala. Dr Muralidharan’s presence was inspiring to several generations of students. He was faculty in the School of Social Sciences at the time of his untimely demise at a young age. The department attracts students of a high calibre from across the state.
The intake of students for BA History is 70 while it is 22 for M A History. The department library possesses more than 4200 books. Nearly 1000 of them are among the rare books. The department is equipped to engage classes on online mode as well as for ppt classes offline. Over 250 dissertations done by students of M A classes are kept in the library. The department is a centre of Advanced Studies in Local History under the Calicut University and provides consultancy in local history studies. The activities of the Department are supported by the alumni of various periods.
Faulty Profile
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K. Rajan Associate Professor & Head of the Department Teaching interest: Archaeology, epigraphy, historiography, and European history. Research interest: Iron Age, Early historic Kerala, Early medieval Kerala society, Art and architecture of Kerala, People at the margins etc. e-mail: rajanpkd@rediff.com |
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Shiny Joseph Assistant Professor Field of interest: Modern history Research interest: Social history e-mail: shinyjoseph75@gmail.com |
Research activities