History
Islamiah College (Autonomous) is a symbol of devotion to education and love for learning among the Muslims of Vaniyambadi, who, inspired by the message of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, established the Vaniyambadi Muslim Educational Society in 1901. The Society was registered in 1905, and soon under its auspices, the Islamiah Elementary School was started. The phenomenal growth of the school was due to the untiring and dedicated services and leadership of Janab T. Hajee Badruddin Sahib, Janab Malang Hayath Basha Sahib, Janab T. Ameeenuddin Sahib, and Janab Malang Ahmed Basha Sahib. The full-fledged Islamiah High School came into being in 1912.
In 1915, the Society resolved to establish Islamiah College, and the foundation stone was laid by His Excellency Lord Pentland, the then Governor of Madras Province. With princely donations from Muslim philanthropists, the College was started in 1919 and got recognition in July 1921. The building in which the College is presently housed was opened by Nawab C. Abdul Hakeem Sahib.
In 1946, the College was upgraded to offer instruction in the two-year degree courses B.A. Economics and B.Com. In 1954, B.A. Mathematics was introduced. In 1956, the College received affiliation for pre-University and three-year degree courses, B.A., B.Sc., and B.Com., which commenced in 1957.
The College obtained affiliation from the University for various additional courses:
| S.No. | Name of the Course | Major Subject | Year of Affiliation |
|---|
| 1 | B.Sc. | Chemistry | 1963 |
| 2 | B.A. | History | 1967 |
| 3 | B.Sc. | Zoology | 1967 |
| 4 | M.A. | History | 1974 |
| 5 | M.Com. | Commerce | 1975 |
| 6 | M.Sc. | Mathematics | 1976 |
| 7 | B.Sc. | Physics | 1981 |
| 8 | B.A. | Corporate Secretaryship | 1982 |
| 9 | B.A. | Industrial Organization | 1983 |
| 10 | B.Sc. | Biochemistry | 1985 |
| 11 | M.Phil. | Commerce | 1986 |
| 12 | M.Sc. | Chemistry | 1986 |
| 13 | B.Sc. | Computer Science | 1988 |
To cater to the evolving needs of the community, B.A. (Industrial Organisation) was converted to B.B.A. in 2005, and B.Sc. (Zoology) was converted to B.Sc. (Biotechnology) in 2006.
The College also received affiliation for the following unaided courses:
| S.No. | Name of the Course | Major Subject | Year of Affiliation |
|---|
| 1 | Ph.D. | Commerce | 1986 |
| 2 | M.Phil. | Mathematics | 1988 |
| 3 | M.Phil. | History | 1993 |
| 4 | Ph.D. | History | 1996 |
| 5 | M.Sc. | Physics | 1998 |
| 6 | M.Sc. | Biochemistry | 1999 |
| 7 | M.Phil. | Chemistry | 2000 |
| 8 | B.C.A. | Computer Applications | 2000 |
| 9 | Ph.D. | Chemistry | 2005 |
| 10 | Ph.D. | Mathematics | 2005 |
| 11 | M.Phil. | Biochemistry | 2009 |
| 12 | M.Phil. | Physics | 2009 |
| 13 | B.A. | English Literature | 2010 |
| 14 | M.A. | English Literature | 2010 |
| 15 | M.Sc. | Biotechnology | 2010 |
| 16 | Ph.D. | Physics | 2010 |
| 17 | B.Sc. | Computer Science | 2013 |
| 18 | M.Phil. | Biotechnology | 2013 |
| 19 | Ph.D. | Biotechnology | 2014 |
| 20 | Ph.D. | Biochemistry | 2016 |
| 21 | B.Com. | Commerce | 2016 |
| 22 | B.Sc. | Chemistry | 2019 |
| 23 | B.Sc. | Data Science | 2022 |
In view of the changing scenario, two courses—B.A. (Economics) and B.Com. (Corporate Secretaryship)—were converted to B.Com. (Finance & Accounts) and B.Com. (Computer Applications), respectively, with effect from the academic year 2010–11 to enhance the employability of the students.
The College, which had a humble beginning in 1919, has now grown into a full-fledged postgraduate and research institution catering to the needs of rural students who might otherwise have not dreamed of pursuing a research degree.
Following the establishment of Thiruvalluvar University, the College has been affiliated with it since the academic year 2002–03. In pursuit of academic excellence and acting on the suggestion of the NAAC peer team, the College applied for Autonomy in 2008. An expert team inspected the College in March 2010 and recommended autonomy. The College was conferred autonomy effective from the academic year 2010–11, and successfully completed the first phase of autonomy during the academic year 2015–16. By the grace of Almighty, the UGC granted an extension of autonomy for six years from 2016–17 to 2021–22.
The College entered a new era of educational partnership with Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) from the academic year 2013–14, widening learning opportunities for both employed and unemployed students seeking degrees, as well as regular students pursuing additional courses.
The aim of the College is to foster in teachers and students, and through them in society, the attitudes and values needed for developing a "good life" in individuals and society.
The College has earned for Vaniyambadi a prominent place on the educational map of India, keeping its portals open to members of all castes and communities.
