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V. O. Chidambaram College (commonly known as VOC College) is a college of arts and sciences in Tuticorin, (Thoothukudi), a southern city of Tamil Nadu, India. The college offers undergraduate courses, postgraduate courses, and research courses. The college is affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli.
Contents
Origin
V. O. Chidambaram College was started by Kulapathi A. P. C. Veerabahu with a missionary zeal of throwing open the portals of Higher Education to all, irrespective of their caste, creed and gender. He firmly believed that education alone can ensure the development of an individual, a society and a nation. He advocated the kind of education which contributes to the holistic development of an individual who in turn will contribute to the material and moral development of the society and the well being of the entire humanity. He wanted that the college should aspire for creating a just and humane society where dignity of human beings is respected, unjust social structures are challenged, the national legacy of diversity, secularism, non-violence and national integration are upheld and where the poor and the marginalized are taken care of.
Conception
Six decades have gone by and the moment calls for celebration and necessitates an acknowledgement of the visionary ideals of the founders of this institution. It was in the year 1945, a committee was constituted to commemorate the sacrifice of the first Swadeshi navigator and freedom fighter V. O. Chidambaram Pillai and to build a great monument to the great martyr. The following philanthropists were on the committee:
Shri. M. V. Sundaravel (President)
Shri. A. P. C. Veerabahu (Secretary)
Shri. M. Venkatakrishnan (Member)
Shri. M. C. Veerabahu (Member)
Shri. P. Kandasamy (Member)
Of the committee members, M.Venkatakrishnan, M.C.Veerabahu and P.Kandasamy were staunch freedom fighters and their presence in the committee provided a nationalistic perspective to the other members.
The committee first thought of building a monument to the late freedom fighter "Chekkilutha Chemmal", V. O. Chidambaram Pillai and so planned a Town Hall or a big Library. At that moment Dr. A. L. Mudaliar, the then Vice Chancellor of Madras University had appealed to Philanthropists all over Tamil Nadu to start colleges in unrepresented areas. Spurred by this news, himself a graduate Shri. A. P. C. Veerabahu realizing the importance of education in empowering people of "Nava Bharath" mooted the idea of establishing an educational institution for men.
At first, the proposal received a cautious response from the majority of the members of the committee. But it was the veteran freedom fighter and member of the constituent assembly Shri. M. C. Veerabahu who readily appreciated the suggestion of Shri. A. P. C. Veerabahu and offered his full support to establish the educational institution. The other members saw wisdom in his unconditional support and wholeheartedly endorsed and thus came into being V. O. Chidambaram Educational Society constituted by the above-mentioned five luminaries.
In 1946, V. O. Chidambaram Memorial fund raising was begun. This laudable move was blessed by the renowned statesman Chakaravarthi Rajaji. Later V. O. C. Educational society was constituted in 1947 to provide higher education for the benefit of the young especially the poor in and around Thoothukudi.
Inception
After clearing several hurdles, our founder secretary, Shri. A. P. C. Veerabahu was able to arrange for the inception of our college. Shri. P. Kumarasamy Raja, the then Chief Minister of Madras State, laid the foundation stone of the college in 1947.
V. O. Chidambaram College, as shaped by Kulapathy Shri. A. P. C. Veerabahu, is not just a college but a temple of learning in Tuticorin, steeped in elegance and majestically raising to the skies in a sprawling hundred acres of land. In 1951 at a domestic function with A. Srininvasa Raghavan as the first Principal and with an ensign displaying the motto, Love, Knowledge and Righteousness, V. O. Chidambaram College began its academic routine.
This enduring institution is not built of stone, mortar, iron and woods but of blood, vision, dedication, compassion and the altruism of the Honourable Founder Secretary Kulapathy A. P. C. Veerabahu. Even when sustained growth and development were stalled by cumbersome fiscal demands of the government and university our Kulapathy had borne the brunt on himself and his family has so far parted with several lakh to maintain the tempo of development. He synergically continues to enliven in the higher educational institutions that he had started, namely V. O. Chidambaram College in 1951, V. O. Chidambaram College of Education in 1955, A.P.C.Mahalaxmi College for women in 1973.
Affiliated to the then Madras University, a number of under graduate courses were started in various disciplines. Five hostels, including the three that were built within the campus provided stay to the outstation students of the college.
In 1966, the College was affiliated to the newly born Madurai University. In the post 1966 period, this college emerged as a post-graduate centre with the introduction of P.G courses in several disciplines like English and Chemistry. At that time, this college was the largest college in Madurai University area for many years in terms of student strength. A Central Hall with gallery and an architecturally elegant Auditorium were later built in the college to organise seminars and cultural performances, .
Silver Jubilee
The present secretary of the college, Shri A. P. C. V. Chockalingam on assuming office proved that he does not lack in vision and commitment to the cause that was so dear to his father. He sensed rightly the emerging trends in higher education and took strenuous efforts in getting affiliation for further Postgraduate courses. During this period post graduate courses in Mathematics, Economics, Commerce, History, Zoology and Botany were started. This had helped many poor students complete their master's degree programme with out great expense and has also provided teaching job for many of our students.
Recognizing the research activities going on in this college, the SPIC has put up a Research Centre namely SPIC Research Centre within the college campus to house all the research activities under one roof in commemoration of the Silver Jubilee Celebration of Southern Petrol Chemical Industries Corporation. A big separate library building was constructed recently and its holdings run to 54,367 volumes and it subscribes to 76 journals and periodicals. At present 1300 students are studying in this college. The college is offering 11 under graduate courses 9 post graduate courses and 3 M. Phil courses. 116 Teachers and 42 Non-teaching staff are working in the college. The college is now affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli.
In consonance with the wish of its Founder that the infrastructure of the college should be utilized to its optimum level the V. O. Chidambaram Evening College was started. Graduate and Post graduate courses are conducted in subjects like Commerce, Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Banking Management and Computer Science. Three modern Computer Laboratories with centralized air conditioning have been the latest additions to the infrastructure of this college.
The establishment of a study centre of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is yet another attempt made by the Secretary Shri A. P. C. V. Chockalingam to reach the hither to unreached and take education to the doorsteps of the needy.
Our Founder Secretary started this college to open up the portals of higher education to the economically and gender wise discriminated sections hailing from the backward areas of southern districts and this commendable move is being realized over the years. The institution has diversified its interests and has forayed into areas of research and extension activities. The postgraduate departments of Chemistry, Zoology and Geology of V.O.C. College have been recognized by Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tamil Nadu as identified Research Centres where scholars pursue their research programmes leading to the award of Ph.D. Degree.
Motto
Love, Knowledge and Virtue
Vision
Education for All