Illegal Trenching and Transfer of Antiquities From Pattanam to U.C College Museum With Knowledge of P.J.Cherian in 1998 Before Licensed Excavations -Documents Speak

 http://uccollege.edu.in/history/about/

 Accession Date and Time-31-10-2011;10.25AM

 

Welcome

History has been always posing new questions about the past and answering old questions in newer ways. We at the department teach students to think critically about how the past is fundamentally similar to the present yet different from the present, and together shapes the present. Hence the past is recalled and remembered in the present.
History has long been a popular field of study, and with good reason. Thinking about how to act in the present and how people have acted in the past…. the forces that shape people’s lives in the present than to understand the forces that have shaped people’s lives in the past… critical thinking, careful reading, energetic researching, analytical writing, and effective communicating ….
The department of History forms an integral part of the Social Sciences stream of Union Christian College. As one of the earliest departments to start a full fledged under-graduate programme in History, this spirit followed in starting a Masters programme in 1965. Since then, the department has grown leaps and bounds and many young scholars joined the department. The highly qualified and dedicated staff on rolls has always been the greatest strength and identity of this department.

Background

• 1921: Union Christian College begins its historic journey
• 1923* – 1965: Clubbed with the department of Economics. Rev. Roger Hicks, a missionary and graduate from Oxford University, and Dr K.I Martandavarma, were among the pioneering teacher- researchers.
• 1965: A separate department was constituted with Dr A.K Baby as the first head of the department
• 1965: Post graduate programme in History began
• 1970s, 80s: The department undertook pioneering research in medieval and modern history led by Dr T.I Poonnen, and Dr A.K Baby. At the same time, the department laid the foundation for interdisciplinary studies which still forms the essence of the department. Young scholars were promoted as teachers who went on to do research in different periods in Indian history. There were luminaries among the students too like P.K Michael Tharakan and others. The eminent historian Prof. Rajan Gurukkal joined the department during this period.
• 1974: Birth of a modest archaeological museum
• 1998: reorganization of the museum, beginning of the Certificate Course in Archaeology, Centre for Cultural and Ecological Studies coordinated by Dr P.J Cherian and Dr K.V Kunhikrishan. The museum enhanced collections from various explorations of archaeological sites in Periyar basin like Kunnukara and Pattanam.
• 2000: Considering the consistent academic credentials, recognized as a Research Centre in History under Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam
• 2002: The UGC Sponsored Advanced Diploma in Archaeology and Museology, a three year programme affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University began.

Mission Statement and Objective of the Department

• Research
• Inter-Disciplinary Initiatives
• Discourses
• Holistic, qualitative student growth

Heads of the Department

• Dr A.K Baby: 1965-84
• Prof. A.K Abdul Kareem: 1984-96
• Dr N.Lakshmikutty    : 1996-2000
• Prof. B.T Joy: 2000-01
• Dr P.D Johny: 2001-03
• Prof. P.M Varkey: 2003-08
• Prof. Annie. M Thomas: 2008 onwards

Former Teaching Faculty

• Dr T.I Punnen
• Dr.K. I Marthanda Varma
• Fr T.K Alias
• T.M Mathew
• Dr Rajan Gurukkal
• Dr K.V Kunjikrishnan
• Dr C.J Varghese
• Prof Abraham Joseph
• Dr. M. P Marykutty
• Dr P.J Cherian