The establishment of a new college in Thrissur was proposed to the Maharaja of CochinAikya Keralam Thampuran by a committee of citizens, including Cheloor Mana Itti Ravi Namboodiri. The Maharaja approved the proposal, granted the permission for use of Merry Lodge Palace, and agreed to name the institution Sree Kerala Varma College.[6]
The Maharaja extended a grant of ₹100,000 to the college and a loan of ₹400, 000 for capital expenditure, along with 250 cubic feet of timber for construction.[7] The college opened on 11 August 1947; the first student admitted was V. K. Malathy, who later joined the English Department faculty, and Kavithilakan Prof. P. Sankaran Nambiar served as the institution's first principal.[8]
Initially, the college offered Intermediate and B.A. Junior courses. In 1948, B.Com. and B.A. (Music) were introduced, with the music course noted as the first of its kind in Kerala before being discontinued in 1952–53.[9] Science courses began in 1953–54, and in 1965 the college introduced two postgraduate programmes: M.A. in English and M.A. in Economics.[10]
Sree Kerala Varma College is managed by the Cochin Devaswom Board and is affiliated with the University of Calicut. The campus is approximately 3 kilometres from the centre of Thrissur.[11][12]
Academics
Departments
Sree Kerala Varma College offers undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), and research programs across various disciplines.
Academic departments and levels of study
Department
Undergraduate (UG)
Postgraduate (PG)
Research
Botany
Yes
—
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Chemistry
Yes
Yes
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Computer Applications
Yes
—
—
Commerce
Yes
Yes
—
Economics
Yes
Yes
—
English
Yes
Yes
Yes
Hindi
Yes
—
—
History
Yes
—
—
Malayalam
Yes
Yes
Yes
Mathematics
Yes
Yes
—
Philosophy
Yes
—
—
Physical Education
Yes
—
—
Physics
Yes
Yes
Yes
Political Science
Yes
Yes
Yes
Sanskrit
Yes
Yes
—
Statistics
Yes
—
—
Zoology
Yes
Yes
—
The college is affiliated with the University of Calicut and follows its curriculum guidelines.
Facilities
Library
The college library occupies a two-story building adjacent to the administrative block. The library contains over 70,000 books and subscribes to online and print periodicals and magazines, with access to back volumes via INFLIBNET and NLIST, an online public access catalogue (OPAC), and reprography services offered through the Cooperative Store adjacent to the library building.
Hostel
There are separate hostels for male and female students. The women’s hostel accommodates 220 students, and the men’s hostel accommodates 120, with a gym facility available to residents.[13]
Sports
The Prof. N. D. Subramanian Stadium on campus offers facilities for cricket, basketball, and football. The campus includes four sports hostels sanctioned by the Kerala Sports Council, housing approximately fifty athletes in basketball, weightlifting, judo, and swimming. The gymnasium in the Main Block is equipped for training, exercise, and bodybuilding.[14]
Student life
Students can participate in organized sports, cultural events, and extracurricular clubs, including NCC and NSS units.[citation needed]
Extracurricular activities
National Cadet Corps (NCC): The college hosts an NCC unit offering leadership development, discipline, and community service opportunities.[15]
National Service Scheme (NSS): Through NSS, students engage in social service initiatives.[16]
College Day: Celebrated near the end of the academic year, featuring cultural performances, awards, and community activities.[citation needed]
The college departments organize several annual events, including the "Oxia" chemistry festival, the "Leyenda" political carnival, and "ASPERA," an inter-collegiate IT festival.[citation needed]
Saptati celebrations: In August 2017, the college commemorated its 70th anniversary with a three‑day programme of cultural and academic activities.[citation needed]
Sree Kerala Varma College has been involved in several controversies over the years, primarily related to student politics and campus activities.
Student union election disputes
The student union election held in November 2023 was contested. KSU candidate Sreekuttan Sivadasan was initially declared the winner by a narrow margin, but after an SFI request for a recount, the result was reversed in favour of the SFI candidate, prompting KSU allegations of malpractice and court action. The Kerala High Court noted discrepancies—four votes treated as valid in the original count were marked invalid during the recount—raised concerns about procedure, and ordered a fresh recount.[citation needed]
Subsequently, when the principal halted the recount without a written request, protests ensued, and the involvement of the Cochin Devaswom Board’s president drew further scrutiny as students pressed for transparency and adherence to university rules.[citation needed]
Controversial posters and campus activities
In June 2019, a poster depicting Ayyappan in a distorted manner appeared on campus and prompted protests from several political groups. The SFI leadership, in whose name the poster was displayed, said it was an attempt by rivals to malign the organisation and removed it upon discovery.[citation needed]
In October 2021, posters with provocative language appeared on campus and drew public criticism; attributed to the SFI, they prompted debate about the nature of student activism and the content promoted on campus.[citation needed]
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