GENESIS OF BOTANY

“Make this world a better paradise through green education and clean character formation.”

Pursuant to the inception as a Junior college on hillock of Mannanam, Kuriakose Elias College could do wonders after being bestowed with the halo of first Grade College. The Department of Botany is one of the oldest departments in the College, offering undergraduate course with ‘food microbiology’ as the elective paper. Kuriakose Elias College came into existence in 1964, with four batches of 292 pre-degree students, 15 members on the faculty and 8 members on the staff. In 1967, it was raised to a Senior College with the introduction of undergraduate courses in Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Economics and English. The introduction of the three year degree course in Botany in 1967 marks the birth of the Department of Botany with Prof. O J Kuruvilla of S B College, Changanacherry at the helm till 1970. The department was fortunate to have well accomplished members in the faculty.  Prof. V.T Mathew joined the college on 1.7.64, after one year of service at Fathima Matha National College, Quilon. Prof. Mathew was promoted as the head of Department when the Department was officially established. Having been a student of Professor Emeritus Dr. C. V. Krishna Iyengar DSc., Mr. V. T. Mathew could easily provide the infrastructure of the laboratories, equip with the Library and modernize the museum. The association with Mr. K. S. Alexander, one of his bench mates, proved to be of much help in his inimitable style. Both are well known for the dedication and dexterity. Their relentless efforts have added crown of glory to the department. Thus secured the First rank when the college was affiliated to Kerala University. The goals and objectives of the Department are in conjunction with re-defined goals and objectives of the college.  Apart from these, achievements of academic excellence, imparting of current scientific knowledge, promoting scientific research, exposing the students to the latest developments in the field of service have also been aimed at by the Department.

Prof. Varghese Thomas, Rev. Fr. Thomas Achandy and Prof. T.G Joseph joined the Department on 15.7.67, 1.7.69 and 16.9.69 respectively. Rev. Thomas Achandy and Prof. T. G. Joseph left the college after one year of service. Rev. Fr. Jose  Puthenkaduppil and Prof. K. S Alexander joined the Department on 1.6.70 and 2.6.70 respectively. Rev. Fr. Jose Puthenkaduppil left college after two years of service and joined St. Dominic’s College Kanjirapally as its Principal.

Rev. Fr. Sebastian Palathara and Rev. Fr. P. J. Jacob joined the Department on 5.11.73 and 1.8.78 respectively. Rev. Fr. P.J Jacob left the college after one year of service and joined St. Joseph’s College Moolamattom and then as the Principal of St. Aloysius College Edathua. In 1980 additional batches of pre-degree were sanctioned in the college. In 1981 undergraduate course in Zoology with Botany as one of its subsidiary subjects was also introduced. The increase in workload brought more teachers and staff to the college as well as to the Departments.

As Dr. Mathews T. Thelly took charge as steer man of the department, his attempt for introducing post graduate course in Botany, added another golden feather to the institution. Dr. V T Antony, retired Professor and Head of the Department of Botany, S B College, Changanacherry, continues his service and leading a team of faculty, Ms. Alpha M George, Mr. Xavier Kuncheria, Ms. Anitha and Ms. Tinu. May our Patron Saint be grateful to fulfill our vision to upgrade the department as a research centre at the earliest.