University of Kerala: Difference between revisions

| native_name = കേരള സർവ്വകലാശാല

| image_name = Logo University of Kerala.png

| image_size = 210px

| motto = Karmani Vyajyate Pradnya

| established = {{start date|1937}}

| type = [[Public university|Public]]

| affiliation = [[University Grants Commission (India)|UGC]], [[National Assessment and Accreditation Council|NAAAC]], [[Association of Indian Universities|AIU]], [[Association of Commonwealth Universities|ACU]]

| vice_chancellor = Dr V. P. Mahadevan Pillai<ref>{{cite web|title=Vice Chancellor|url=https://www.keralauniversity.ac.in/vice-chancellor|website=www.keralauniversity.ac.in|access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref>

| city = [[Thiruvananthapuram]]

| state = [[Kerala]]

| country = [[India]]

| campus = [[Urban areas|Urban]]

| athletics =

| affiliations =  

[[File:Chitra Tirunal Balarama Varma.jpg|thumb|Statue of Maharaja of Travancore Chitira Tirunal Balarama Varma in front of Kerala University Clock Tower.]]

[[File:Kumaran Ashan.jpg|thumb|Statue of Malayalam poet Kumaran Asan in front of Kerala University]]

'''University of Kerala''', formerly the '''University of Travancore''', is a [[collegiate university|collegiate]] [[public university|public]] [[State University (India)|state university]] located in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]. It was established in 1937 by a promulgation of the [[Maharajah of Travancore]], [[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma|Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma]] who was also the first Chancellor of the University. [[C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer|Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer]], the then [[Dewan|Diwan]] (Prime minister) of the State was the first Vice-Chancellor.

== History ==

{{unreferenced section|date=October 2017}}

 

The earliest origins of the University may be traced back to two institutions of modern learning in Kerala, the [[University College Thiruvananthapuram|University College, Thiruvananthapuram]] and the [[Trivandrum Observatory]]. The University College was initially founded as the Maharaja's Free School by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal in 1834, with Mr John Roberts. A Christian Missionary as Headmaster, and soon grew into a college in 1866, affiliated to the [[Madras University]]. When the University of Travancore was founded, the Departments of the college became the University Departments, only to switch back again when the transformation to University of Kerala happened in 1957. The University College still retains its connection with the University as an affiliated college. The Trivandrum Observatory was founded in 1838 and had an internationally reputed scientist, [[John Caldecott]] FRS as its first Director. It became a part of the Travancore University, but for some time was administered as an independent government institution. It is now the oldest institution under the Kerala University.

 

The University of Travancore was established in 1937 by a promulgation of the Maharajah of Travancore, Sri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma who was also the first Chancellor of the University. Sir C. P Ramaswamy Ayyar, the then Diwan (Prime minister) of the State was the first Vice-Chancellor.

 

Only ten colleges within the State of Travancore, which were at that time affiliated to the [[Madras University]], became the affiliated colleges of the University of Travancore. In 1954, the unified state of Kerala came into being with most of Travancore and whole of state of Cochin and Malabar area of Madras presidency becoming part of it. The Kerala University Act (Act 14 of 1957) was brought into force and the University of Travancore was renamed University of Kerala. The University had three campuses located in three different parts of the State viz. Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. The number of affiliated colleges grew phenomenally. However, in 1968, the University Centre at Kozhikode became a full-fledged University, the [[University of Calicut]], affiliating the colleges located in Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur districts of Kerala and transforming the Kozhikkode Centre into University Departments. The [[Cochin University of Science and Technology]] - CUSAT -(1971), Kerala Agricultural University (1971) and [[Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala|Mahatma Gandhi University]] (1983) were subsequently established, with CUSAT taking over the University's centre at Cochin. These developments have shrunk the jurisdiction of the University of Kerala to Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha Districts and some parts of Pathanamthitta District.

Notable alumni includes 10th [[President of India]] [[K. R. Narayanan]], geneticist [[M. S. Swaminathan]], [[ISRO]] former Chairman [[G. Madhavan Nair]], [[Indian National Science Academy|INSA]] scientist [[Perdur Radhakantha Adiga]], former [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] judges, [[Kurian Joseph|Justice Kurian Joseph]], [[Fathima Beevi|Justice Fathima Beevi]], legal luminary [[N. R. Madhava Menon]], Indian film actor [[Mohanlal]], Malayalam poets [[O. N. V. Kurup]], [[Sugathakumari]], historian [[M. G. S. Narayanan]], cricketer [[Sanju Samson]] and many other eminent personalities.

File:Mohanlal Viswanathan Nair BNC.jpg|Indian film actor, [[Mohanlal]]

[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1937]]

[[Category:Public universities]]