The department of History forms an integral part of the social sciences stream of the College. As one of the earliest departments to start a full fledged under-graduate programme in History it followed this spirit in starting the Masters programme in 1962. Since then, the department has grown in terms of teachers and many young scholars joined the department. The highly qualified and dedicated staff on rolls has always been the greatest strength and identity of the department. The B.A History program continues to be very attractive and offers an additional three years' Advanced Diploma in Archaeology and Museology which broadens the knowledge horizons of the students and also enhances their placement opportunities.
BACKGROUND
Roger Hicks, a Missionary graduated from Oxford served as the lecturer in History from 1928 to 1931. Dr Marthandabvarma, Lecturer in History was perhaps the first person to be awarded a PhD degree in Kerala History in 1970s. The 1970s and 80s with Dr A.K Baby as the head of the department was a period of pioneering research as into Dutch period records by Dr M.I Poonnen, and Dr Baby to name a few. The department laid the foundation for interdisciplinary studies which still forms the essence of the college and this reflected in setting up the museum in 1975 and promoting young scholars as teachers in the department who went on to do research in different periods in Kerala history. There were luminaries among the students who studied during this period like Dr Michael Tharakan and others. The eminent historian Prof. Rajan Gurukkal joined the department during this period. These credentials were further enhanced when the department was declared a Research Centre in History under Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam in 2000, along with the School of Social Sciences, M.G Uty in-.
