University College Thiruvananthapuram

College rankings
College rankings
General – India
NIRF (Colleges) (2022)	24

University College, Thiruvananthapuram
Former names	The Raja's Free School; (1834–1866); H.H. The Maharaja's College; (1866–1924); H.H. The Maharaja's College of Science; (1924–1942);
Type	Public
Established	1834; 190 years ago
Founder	Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
Principal	Dr. T. Subash
Administrative staff	278
Students	3164
Location	Thiruvananthapuram
Affiliations	University of Kerala
Website	www.universitycollege.ac.in

8°30′07″N 76°56′55″E / 8.50194°N 76.94861°E / 8.50194; 76.94861

University College, Thiruvananthapuram, abbreviated as UCT, is a constituent college of the University of Kerala, based primarily in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. The college, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education in India.

Academics

Faculties

Language faculties

Faculty of English
Faculty of Malayalam
Faculty of Hindi
Faculty of Arabic
Faculty of Sanskrit
Faculty of Tamil
Faculty of French

Humanities faculties

Faculty of Economics
Faculty of History
Faculty of Political Science
Faculty of Islamic History
Faculty of Philosophy

Science faculties

Faculty of Chemistry
Faculty of Biochemistry
Faculty of Mathematics
Faculty of Physics
Faculty of Geology
Faculty of Geography
Faculty of Botany
Faculty of Zoology
Faculty of Statistics
Faculty of Psychology

Other faculties

Faculty of Physical Education

Rankings

It is ranked 22nd among colleges in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2024.^[3]

Notable alumni

University College Thiruvananthapuram has produced luminaries that include a former president of India, two former chief ministers of Kerala, cabinet secretaries, ambassadors, civil servants, IT doyens, teachers, poets, writers, artists and politicians.

Abu Abraham, cartoonist
A. A. Rahim (politician), Member Of Parliament Rajya Sabha
Alencier Ley Lopez, Malayalam Actor
Alexander Thomas, Present judge, Kerala High Court^[4]
Anna Chandy, first woman judge in India; first woman in India to become a high court judge
A. R. Raja Raja Varma, poet, grammatician, professor
Ayyappa Paniker, poet and critic
Balabhaskar, Malayalam music director and Violinist
Balachandra Menon, national award-winning Indian film actor, director, and script writer & lawyer
Bharath Gopi, Indian film actor, director, and producer
Bheeman Raghu, actor
C. K. Chandrappan Parliamentarian and former Kerala state secretary of CPI party
C. V. Raman Pillai, playwright and novelist
E. D. Jemmis, Bhatnagar award winner and former director of IISER-TVM
Fathima Beevi first woman judge of Supreme Court of India
George Joseph
G. Madhavan Nair, former chairman of ISRO
G. R. Anil, Minister for Civil Supplies & Legal Metrology, Government of Kerala
G. Venugopal, Malayalam playback singer, composer
Jacob Punnoose, former Director General of Police, Kerala
Jassie Gift, Indian playback singer
J C Daniel, "father of Malayalam cinema"
J. Alexander (politician), Former Chief Secretary and Cabinet Minister, Karnataka State
Karamana Janardanan Nair, Malayalam actor
Kesari Balakrishna Pillai
K.M. Chandy - former Governor (MP, Gujarat & pondicherry)
K. T. Chacko, former Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Former secretary of CPI(M) Kerala state, Former Minister of Home affairs State of Kerala
K. R. Narayanan, former president of India.
Kris Gopalakrishnan, CEO of Infosys
K. Shankar Pillai, cartoonist and Padma Bhushan recipient
Madhu, film actor
Mahesh Narayan, Malayalam film director and editor
Malayattoor Ramakrishnan, IAS officer, author, cartoonist
Mary Poonen Lukose, obstetrician, gynaecologist, first female surgeon general of India
M. Krishnan Nair, writer, literary critic, and orator
M. K. Sanu, professor, orator, critic, biographer
Mohan Sivanand, Former Editor-in-Chief, Reader's Digest India, painter
M. M. Jacob, Former Governor of Arunachal Pradhesh
M.S.Swaminathan, "father of Green Revolution" in India
Nitya Chaitanya Yati, philosopher, psychologist, and poet
O. N. V Kurup, poet, lyricist, professor and Jnanpith award winner
Pattom A. Thanu Pillai, former chief minister of Kerala
P. C. Alexander, civil servant, administrator
P. Gopinathan Nair, Gandhian and Padma Shri recipient
P. K. Iyengar, Indian nuclear physicist
P. Padmarajan, Indian author, screenwriter, and film director
P. Parameswaran, Padma Vibhushan awardee, president of Vivekananda Kendra
Prasanth Reghuvamsom, Senior Journalist, Asianet News
Priyadarshan, national award-winning Indian film director, script writer, and producer
Raja Ravi Varma, world-famous painter
Raman Viswanathan, chest physician and Padma Bhushan awardee
R. Sankar, former chief minister of Kerala
Sabumon Abdusamad, Malayalam actor and television anchor
Sethunathasarma Krishnaswami, geochemist, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar laureate
Shaji N. Karun, national award-winning Indian film director and cinematographer
S. Guptan Nair, Malayalam writer, critic, scholar, and orator
S. Suresh Babu, atmospheric scientist, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar laureate^[5]
Sudheer Karamana, Malayalam film actor and artist
Sugathakumari, poet and environmentalist
Sukumaran, Malayalam film actor, producer
S. Venkitaramanan, former governor of Reserve Bank of India
Thanu Padmanabhan, Indian theoretical physicist
T. K. Rajeev Kumar, Malayalam director'
Krishnan Rajeshwar, Chemist, researcher and academic
Tony Mathew, Orator, Writer
T. P. Sreenivasan, Indian diplomat, former IFS officer
Venu Nagavally, Malayalam director, actor, screenwriter
V. Madhusoodanan Nair, professor, poet

Succession list of principals

H.H. The Maharaja's College

John Ross M.A. 1866–1884
Robert Harvey M.A., L.L.D. 1884–1890
H. N. Read M.A. 1890–1892 (acting)
Dr Alexander Crichton Mitchell D.Sc., F.R.S.E 1892–1909
A.W. Bishop PhD 1909–1915
L.C. Hodson M.A. 1912–1915
A. R. Raja Raja Varma Kovil Thampuran M.A 1915–1916, 1918
Dr. J. Stephenson, BSc, A.R.D.S.C. 1916–1927

H.H. The Maharaja's College of Science

R. Krishnaswamy Iyer, V.A. 1924–1927
James Pryde, M.A., BSc 1927–1930
C.V. Chandrasekharan, M.A (Oxon) 1930–1931
K.V. Rangaswamy Aiyangar, M.A. (Oxon) 1931–1935 (on leave)
K.L. Moudgil, M.A., D.Sc., F.L.C. 1933–1934 (acting) and 1935–1937 and 1938–1941
A. Gopala Menon, M.A., B.Com. 1934–1935 (acting)
R. Srinivasan, M.A. 1937–1938 and 1941–1942

H.H. The Maharaja's College of Arts

K.V. Rangaswamy Aiyangar, M.A. 1924–1928 and 1930–1933
C.V. Chandrasekharan, M.A (Oxon) 1928–1930 (ag.) and 1933–1935
A. Gopala Menon, M.A., B.Com. 1935–1937
P.G. Sahasranama Iyer, M.A. 1937–1942

University College

Sr. H. Subrahmonia Iyer, M.A., PhD 1942–1948
Sri. V. Narayana Pillai, M.A., B.L. 1948 (acting)
Sri. V. Sundararaja Naidu, M.A., B.L.T.D, 1948–1949 (acting) and 1950
Dr. T.K. Koshy, M.A., PhD 1949–1950
Sri. C.V. Subbarama Iyer, M.A. 1950–1951 (acting)
Dr. C.S. Venkateswaran, M.A., MSc, D.Sc., F.Inst.P.FA.Sc. 1951–1957
Dr. A. Narayanan Potti, M.N., PhD January–August 1954 (acting)
Sri. C.S. Venkateswaran 1954 August – 1956 November
Dr. A. Narayanan Potti, M.A., PhD November 1956 – March 1957
Dr. K. Bhaskaran Nair, MSc, D.Sc. April 1957 – February 1960
Sri. V.R. Pillai, M.S., MSc February 1960 – March 1962
Sri. E.P. Narayana Pillai. M.A. (Madras and Oxford) March 1962 – March 1964
Dr. N. Subramonia Wariyar, MSc, MSc, PhD, FIC. March 1964 – March 1969
Dr. S. Parameswara Iyer, MSc, PhD 1-4-1959 to 3-7-1969 (acting)
Sri. R. Suryanarayanan, M.A., B.T. 1969 to March 1977
Dr. (Mrs.) N.I. Joseph 1-4-1977 to 31-3-1978
Sri. P. Madusudana Perumal Pillai 1 April 1978 to 6 April 1981
Sri. K.M. Zachariah 6 April 1981 to 31 March 1982
Sri. G. Nagappan Nair 1-4-1982 to 31-3-1984
Sri. A.G. Ramachandran 1-4-1984 to 29-3-1985
Prof. A. Nabeesa Ummal 1-6-1985 to 31-3-1986
Prof. C. Ebertchellam 1986–1987
Prof. S. Ponnayyan 5-8-1987 to 31-3-1989
Prof. K. Somanadhan from 20-4-1989 to 31-3-1990
Prof. Rama Sarma 5-5-1990
Prof. M. Sarojini 14-2-1991 to 31-3-1991
Dr. H. Parameswaran from 3-4-1991 to 30-4-1991
Prof. V. Hamsa Devi 21-8-1991 to 24-6-1992
Prof. R. Balakrishnan Nair 24-6-1992 to 3-11-1992
Prof. I. Sundaram Pillai 4-11-1992 to 31-3-1993
Prof. R. Balakrishnan Nair 24-6-1992 to 3-11-1992 and 5-4-1993 to 18-5-1993
Prof. R. Harihara Subrahmonia Iyer 18-5-1995 to 26-12-1995
Prof. B. Padmakumari 26-12-1995 to 17-6-1996
Prof. P. Sahadevan 17-6-1996 to 31-5-1998
Dr. K.Sukumaran 31-5-1998 to 17-7-1998
Smt. P. Saraswathy Amma 17-7-1998 to 31-3-1999
Sri. S. Mohan Kumar 31-3-1999 to 16-6-1999
Prof. B. Rishikesan Thampy 16-6-1999
Sri. G. Gopalakrishnan
Sr. V.R. Ramachandran
Prof. S. Varghese 6-8-2001 to 16-8-2002
Smt. Vijayakumi Jaya Singh 17-8-2002 to 31-3-2003
Prof. Prasanna 28-6-2003 to 30-6-2003
Prof. A. Salahudeen Kunju 1/7/2003 to 31 March 2004
Prof. Dr. D. Maya 1/4/2004 to 31 March 2005
Prof. M.S. Girija 18 August 2005 to 28 April 2006
Dr. Cyriac Mathews 28 April 2006 to 28 July 2007
Dr. Asha Balagandharan 27 July 2007 to 30-6-2008
Smt. Shobha Ravindranath 19 July 2008 to 31 March 2009
Dr. B.S. Mohanachandran 18 July 2009 to 31 March 2010
Dr. M. Abdul Rahim 18 June 2010 to 31 March 2011
Dr. D. Premlal 26-08-2011 to 22-02-2012
Prof. K. B. Ajithakumar 22-02-2012 to 31-05-2012
Dr. S. Rajoo Krishnan 27 September 2012 to 04/10/2012
Prof. R. Thulaseedharan Pillai 04/10/2012 to 02-03-2013
Prof. T. P. Nalinakshan 21-03-2013 to 30-04-2013
Dr. T. G. Sarachandran 09-05-2013 to 24-06-2013
Dr. C. Moly Marceline 24-06-2013 to 31-03-2014
Dr. Thomas Kuruvila 09-04-2014 to 12-05-2014
Dr. J. Vijayamohanan 19-05-2014 to 30-07-2014
Dr. V. T. Beena 02-08-2014 to 31-03-2015
Prof. K. Jayakumar 28-05-2015 to 31-05-2015
Dr. M. K. Thankamani 26-06-2015 to 31-03-2016
Dr. D. K. Satheesh 18-07-2017 to 16-10-2017
Dr. Omana Pankan 01-01-2018 to 31-05-2018
Dr. J. Anil Kumar 05-07-2018 to 31-03-2019
Dr. C. C. Babu 19-07-2019 to 14-10-2019
Dr. K. Mani 16-10-2019 to 31-03-2020
Dr. B. Unnikrishnan Nair 21-05-2020 to 31-08-2021
Dr. Saji Stephen D. 01-11-2021 to 30-04-2023
Dr. T. Subash 17-05-2023 to till date

Controversy

On 3 May 2019, a first-year BSc Chemistry student attempted suicide on campus, alleging harassment from SFI leaders for not taking part in their programmes and disruption of classes.^[6]^[7]

On 12 July 2019, a final year B.A. Political Science student was stabbed amid a dispute between two groups of students belonging to the SFI, following which two SFI leaders were arrested.^[8]^[9]^[10] Later in the day, answer sheets and the official seal of an Assistant Professor were recovered while clearing the SFI office on campus, raising questions on the credibility of examinations conducted by the university. The police also found fake seals and university answer sheets from the residence of a prime accused.^[11]^[12]

References

^ "History of College – University College, Thiruvananthapuram".
^ "National Institutional Ranking Framework 2022 (Colleges)". National Institutional Ranking Framework. Ministry of Education. 15 July 2022.
^ "2024 NIRF Ranking" (PDF).
^ "Official". Retrieved 21 May 2023 – via Official website High Court of Kerala.
^ "Biographical Information – Suresh Babu" (PDF). Space Physics Laboratory. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
^ "Girl who attempted suicide in University College to move out of college". Mathrubhumi. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
^ "University College student's suicide attempt: Minister KT Jaleel seeks report". The New Indian Express. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
^ "SFI kingpins in stabbing of University College student case held | Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
^ "Violence erupts in University college campus in Thiruvananthapuram; student stabbed - India News". India Today. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
^ Staff Reporter (12 July 2019). "Thiruvananthapuram University College on the boil as student is stabbed on campus". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
^ "Stabbing case suspects in rank list: Kerala PSC orders probe". The New Indian Express. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
^ "Kerala Governor summons University College VC, PSC chairman - Education Today News". India Today. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2020.