Maharajas College
Encyclopedia
The Maharaja's College is one of the biggest centres of learning and higher education in Kerala
, India
. Located in the heart of Cochin city, it is spread over a campus of 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) on the banks of Vembanad Lake
. Blanketed by tall and rare species of trees, its campus features a mix of old and modern architecture and covers a total area of 19,525 m², providing infrastructural facilities for the 19 departments of the college.
in 1845 "to impart such instruction to the students as would enable them to converse with Englishmen without the aid of an interpreter". The school was upgraded to a college in 1875 and in June 1925 the college acquired its present name. The college provided instruction in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, History and Economics; it was affiliated with Madras University. At that time there were two hostels and physical education, literary and science associations functioning in full swing. Sir C V Raman and Dr S Radhakrishnan were among the speakers at the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 1925.
The first PG course was started in 1947 in the Department of Chemistry, which already had research facilities holding to M.Sc and Ph.D. Following the integration of Cochin and Travancore states, the college was transferred from Madras to Travancore University in 1949. The student body grew from 500 in 1925 to 2,802 in 1998; the teaching faculty saw a parallel increase from 21 to 195.
(hundred thousand) books, including a prestigious collection of rare literature books. The reference section itself has 2000 books. However, lack of space is one of the vexing problems of the library. A reference and information section, inter-library networking and Internet facility are some of the immediate requirements of the library.
hostels include the new hostel for men and the ladies' hostel. The former has 90 rooms with a capacity of 240 students and two tutors; the latter has facilities for only 104 students and one tutor. Nowadays, the demand for accommodation in the ladies' hostel is greater than the availability due to the increase in the number of girl students. To remedy this situation, a concrete proposal for a women's hostel has been submitted to UGC during the IX plan.
The P.G. courses are:
Maharajas also offers PhD
programmes under the departments of Arabic, Chemistry, Economics, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Philosophy, Physics, Politics, Sanskrit and Zoology.
The thrust areas of research are Material Science, Nano-magnetic Materials, Magneto-optics, Rubber Ferrite Composites, Luminescence, Laser optics, Molecular vibrational spectroscopy, Theoretical Physics, Nonlinear physics, Quantum Computing, and Astrophysics.
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...
. Located in the heart of Cochin city, it is spread over a campus of 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) on the banks of Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake
Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala. It is also one of the largest lakes, in India. A lake spanning several districts in the state of Kerala, it is known by different names in different localities viz. Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad, Kochi Lake in...
. Blanketed by tall and rare species of trees, its campus features a mix of old and modern architecture and covers a total area of 19,525 m², providing infrastructural facilities for the 19 departments of the college.
History
This multidisciplinary centre of higher learning had its humble beginnings as a single room English school started by Royal Kingdom of CochinKingdom of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin was a late medieval Hindu kingdom and later Princely State on the Malabar Coast, South India...
in 1845 "to impart such instruction to the students as would enable them to converse with Englishmen without the aid of an interpreter". The school was upgraded to a college in 1875 and in June 1925 the college acquired its present name. The college provided instruction in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, History and Economics; it was affiliated with Madras University. At that time there were two hostels and physical education, literary and science associations functioning in full swing. Sir C V Raman and Dr S Radhakrishnan were among the speakers at the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 1925.
The first PG course was started in 1947 in the Department of Chemistry, which already had research facilities holding to M.Sc and Ph.D. Following the integration of Cochin and Travancore states, the college was transferred from Madras to Travancore University in 1949. The student body grew from 500 in 1925 to 2,802 in 1998; the teaching faculty saw a parallel increase from 21 to 195.
Library
The college library is 135 years old and has a collection of nearly one lakhLakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...
(hundred thousand) books, including a prestigious collection of rare literature books. The reference section itself has 2000 books. However, lack of space is one of the vexing problems of the library. A reference and information section, inter-library networking and Internet facility are some of the immediate requirements of the library.
College grounds
The facilities available for sports activities include a 400-meter synthetic track, a football field-cum-cricket ground, a stadium pavilion with a capacity of 25,000 people, and courts for games like hockey, volleyball, basketball, kho-kho, kabady, and ball badminton. Facilities are available for indoor games like table-tennis, carom, chess, wrestling, weightlifting and power lifting.Staff and students co-operative society
The Maharaja's College staff and students co-operative society Ltd. no. 207, functioning on the campus, aims at promoting the spirit of cooperation and independence among its members. The society runs a bookshop in which textbooks and notebooks and various study materials are made available for students. It also houses a photocopying machine where photocopying is done at a reduced rate.Career guidance cell
A career guidance centre was started on the college campus in 1994, with a view to enable the students to manage themselves and to provide personal counseling on environment and qualifications for entry into various careers. In spite of the fact that the centre is still in its infancy and has few infrastructural facilities, it could arrange campus interviews for Cochin Maintenance Centre, NITT and Eureka Forbes. Many lectures on career opportunities are arranged on a regular basis by the centre.Hostels
The Maharaja's College Rama VarmaRama Varma
The name Rama Varma refers to a number of persons from many royal families of Kerala, including many members of the Cochin Royal Family:* Rama Varma Sakthan Thampuran* Sir Sri Rama Varma a.k.a Rajarshi and Abdicated Highness of Cochin...
hostels include the new hostel for men and the ladies' hostel. The former has 90 rooms with a capacity of 240 students and two tutors; the latter has facilities for only 104 students and one tutor. Nowadays, the demand for accommodation in the ladies' hostel is greater than the availability due to the increase in the number of girl students. To remedy this situation, a concrete proposal for a women's hostel has been submitted to UGC during the IX plan.
Old Students Association
An Old Students Association (OSA) formed in 1925 still functions on the college campus and its members have been involved in many of the activities of the college, such as arranging lectures by eminent personalities and awarding prizes to rank holders. It has also played an instrumental role in initiating the ongoing restoration work in the campus.Courses
The college conducts 19 degree courses, 21 postgraduate courses and 11 doctorate programmes. The degree courses are:- Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of ArtsA Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English, Malayalam, Arabic, Hindi, Sanskrit, Music, Economics, Politics, Philosophy, History, and Islamic History;
- Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of ScienceA Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Botany, Chemistry, Chemistry (with Environment and Water Management as vocational subjects), Mathematics, Physics, Physics (with instrumentation as vocational subject), Zoology
- Bachelor of CommerceBachelor of CommerceA Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
(with Computer Applications)
The P.G. courses are:
- Master of ArtsMaster of Arts (postgraduate)A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Arabic, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Sanskrit, Economics, Politics, Philosophy, History, Islamic History;
- Master of ScienceMaster of ScienceA Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Botany, Chemistry (Pure), Analytical Chemistry, Applied Chemistry (Oils , Fats and Aromatics), Applied Chemistry (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) , Mathematics, Physics (Theoretical Physics), Physics (Electronics), Statistics and Zoology.
Maharajas also offers PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
programmes under the departments of Arabic, Chemistry, Economics, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Philosophy, Physics, Politics, Sanskrit and Zoology.
Magneto-optic lab
Department of Physics, Maharaja's College is an approved Research Centre of M.G. University since 1991. Presently, there are 9 approved research guides supervising the research programmes. 9 research scholars are currently doing research work.The thrust areas of research are Material Science, Nano-magnetic Materials, Magneto-optics, Rubber Ferrite Composites, Luminescence, Laser optics, Molecular vibrational spectroscopy, Theoretical Physics, Nonlinear physics, Quantum Computing, and Astrophysics.
Milestones in history
- 1875 - The Cochin Rajas Elementary school started by Cochin Sarkar is upgraded into a college. Mr. A.F. Sealy, M.A. took charge as the first principal. It was Mr. Sealy who had designed the building and hence the name Sealy block. F.A. (First examination in Arts) course started.
- 1908 - Intermediate course started
- 1909 - Two separate hostels started - one for Hindu students and another for Christian students
- 1910 - First college magazine published - on the occasion of the 60th birthday of the Cochin Maharaja, Sir Sri Rama VarmaSir Sri Rama VarmaSir Sri Rama Varma XV GCSI GCIE popularly known as The Rajarshi Of Cochin and as Abdicated Highness, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin from 1895 to 1914.- Reign :...
. - 1925 - Golden Jubilee. Sir C.V. Raman and Dr. S. Radhakrishnan visited the college. The college got its present name - "Maharajas College". The college was raised to a first grade college providing instructions in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, History and Economics affiliated to Madras University. Old Students Association formed.
- 1930 - Three new blocks added to the college. 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) plot donated to the college - Maharajas ground established.
- 1935 - Diamond Jubily. B. Sc. Courses in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Zoology started.
- 1947 - B. Sc. Botany started. Year of India's independence. Student's political activities reached new peaks. Student activists hoisted Indian national flag in the Campus and got brutally beaten up by the royal police.
- 1948 - The department of Chemistry that already had research facility started the first P.G. course.
- 1949 - Following the integration of Travancore and Cochin states, the college is transferred from Madras University toTravancore University.
- 1951 - New courses - B.A. (Hons.), M.A. Economics, B.Sc. (Hons.), M.Sc. Mathematics.
- 1954 - New course - M.Sc. Applied Chemistry.
- 1956 - Pre University course started. M.A. Malayalam and M.A. English started.
- 1957 - The College comes under Kerala University. M.Sc. Physics started.
- 1959 - New courses - B.A.Sanskrit, M.A. History, M.A. Hindi, M.Sc Zoology.
- 1964 - Pre University Course metamorphed into Pre Degree course. New courses - B.A. Politics, B.A. Philosophy
- 1968 - New courses - B.A.English, B.A. Islamic History, B.A. Arabic
- 1971 - New courses - M.A. Philosophy, M.A. politics.
- 1975 - Centennial - completed 100 years - celebrations in great style with science exhibitions, seminars, symposia etc.
- 1977 - New Centenary Auditorium inaugurated.
- 1979 - New course - M.A. Arabic.
- 1981 - New courses - M.A. Islamic History.
- 1983 - Affiliation changed to newly formed Mahatma Gandhi University.
- 1990 - Maharajas College declared Centre of Excellence. Departments of Chemistry, Hindi, Malayalam and Physics recognised as research centres for research towards Ph. D, under Mahatma Gandhi University.
- 1993 - Maharajas won overall championship of the Mahatma Gandhi University youth festival. A feat to be repeated in 1994, 1995, 1998 and 2000.
- 1995 - New course - M.Sc. Statistics.
- 1996 - New courses - B.Sc. Physics - Instrumentation and B.Sc. Environment and Water Management.
- 1997 - R. Shankar Award for the best Government College presented to Maharajas.
- 1998 - New course - B. A. Music
- 1999 - New course - B. Com. with Computer Applications.
- 2000 - Completes 125 glorious years. Accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council. Maharajas goes online.
- 2006 - Re-accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council at A - level.
- 2007 - Maharajas College Ground gets synthetic tracks for conducting international athletic events. Students of the college win overall championship of the Mahatma Gandhi University Silver Jubilee youth festival.
- 2009 - Edusat facility installed. Becomes part of Ernakulam cluster of colleges.
- 2010 - Maharajas wins overall championship of the Mahatma Gandhi University youth festival. College selected as a "College with Potential for Excellence" by the University Grants Commission.
External links
- Maharajascollege.in, Maharaja's College official website
- MCOSA.org, Maharaja's College Old Students Association website