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June 25, 2025
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Department of History, one of the formidable research and teaching centres of University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram imparts intensive knowledge to the student fraternity, in the spectrum of history. The Department of History, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram is a full-fledged institution, imbued with salient characteristics of academically and research-oriented activities which came into being in 1968. Apart from the publication of Journal of Indian History & Journal of Kerala Studies and pursuance of Ph.D programme, Post Graduate course was started by the Department at Kariavattom Campus, in the academic year 1976-77. Furthermore, M.Phil course was commenced, in the year 1990-91. The cogent, the Department has been perusing Post Graduate, M.Phil, Ph.D, and Post-Doctoral Programmes.
While tracing out the historical antecedence of this Department, it can be stated that the respective Department was constituted by the University of Travancore, Trivandrum for the exquisite publication of Journal of Indian History which attains accolade from all over the world. The relevant journal was initially published by the University of Allahabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Professor Shafad Ahmed Khan, the founder president of the prestigious academic organization, Indian History Congress is the first editor. Later on, this journal was published by the University of Madras, State of Tamilnadu by virtue of the right of acquisition. To facilitate boom to the prestige of the University of Travancore, the then Vice Chancellor, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer obtained the exclusive right of ownership as well as possessive from the University of Madras, by means of monetary consideration, in 1946. From this period onwards, the relevant journal has been publishing by the Department of History, University of Kerala, uninterruptedly and its Centenary Volume is to be published in the year 2020-21.
Apart from this, the Department has been publishing another remarkable journal under the rubric of ‘Journal of Kerala Studies, commencing from 1973 onwards by giving emphasis on the reconstruction of the history of state of Kerala, in a correct historical prospective.
Department of History, University of Kerala intends to inculcate in practical and theoretical skills, employability and intellectual curiosity, along with elevating public understanding about the past and its heritage by virtue of teaching, research and academic deliberations in the broad spectrum of historical knowledge.
Department of History, University of Kerala intends to prepare students with an awareness of history as an indispensable one not only to accomplish education but to a life of wider awareness and responsible citizenship to encourage enthusiasm for scholarship about the past and correspondingly to facilitate them to acquire an enhanced understanding of contemporary society, institutions, culture so as to lead the future. Department aims to be an open and welcoming site for useful ideas and scholarly excellence. Apart from these, it envisages to promote formidably skills, especially critical scholarship, analytical aptitude, and effective writing among the student fraternity.
The Department of History is offering Four Year BA History Honors with Research, MA History, PhD and Post-Doctoral Research. The Department was enriched by the learnt Professors like Professor Dr. T.K. Ravindran, Dr. M.J. Koshy, Dr. K. K. Kusuman, Dr.B. Sobhanan, Dr. P. Vasumati Devi and Dr. Suresh Jnaneswaran. Besides Dr. J. Azariah (University of Georgia, USA), Prof. Tara Sankar Banerjee (Visva Bharati University, Calcutta), Dr. Rajayyan (Madurai Kamaraj University, Tamil Nadu), Dr. Ibrahim Kunju (University of Calicut, Kerala) and Dr. M.P. Sreekumaran Nair (University of Calicut, Kerala) served as visiting Professors.
Department of History hosted the 77th Session of the prestigious Indian History Congress in the University of Kerala. The event was inaugurated by His Excellency the then President of India. Besides, the Governor of Kerala, Chief Minister of Kerala and other dignitaries participated in the inaugural function. More than 2500 Historians and delegates participated in this historic event. Department also hosted the South Indian History Congress session in 2013. The Department of History, University of Kerala has started a YouTube channel with videos on different academic lectures. The purpose behind such initiative is to disseminate the knowledge produced in our university to the public including students, academic and non- academic groups suggested by the University Grants Commission.
One of the significant student-oriented activities of our department is the Women’s Tango, as the name indicates the department level organization constituted for the betterment of girl students and lady staff of the department. This committee has been organizing programmes since its inception to this date. Apart from academic concerns, it pays more attention to the physical and emotional empowerment of the girl students to enhance their happy index.
As the title shows it’s the internal organization within the department with view to give more ambiences to research activities in our department. It also conducts periodical programmes with full students’ participation including the post graduate students. It acts as a platform for preparing for final academic presentation like viva voce and PhD open-defences. Trial presentations are conducted seriously has given the scholars opportunities of incorporating the viewpoints got from the academic discussions.