St Thomas College, Pala

About St Thomas College, Pala

The genesis of the St. Thomas College, Palai can be traced back towards the end of the first quarter of the previous century, when a small group of dedicated public men of the place took a daring initiative to found a college. But the social situation prevailing then as also the technical formalities and practical hurdles confronting such a venture forced them to postpone their attempt.

The second attempt came towards the end of the 1930s, also didn’t materialise as the University of Madras informed its reluctance to affiliate the college as the Travancore Government under the Maharaja and the Diwan had already taken steps to establish an University in the state. Hence the move for the college had to be dropped again for the time being, waiting for the coming up of the Travancore University.

It was after India’s independence in 1947 when a democratic and responsible government was established in the state that efforts were affoot again for the establishment of an Arts & Science College at Palai. This time the attempt received a boost when a committee for the purpose was formally formed, under the blessings of Bishop James Kalasserry, with Fr. Sebastian Vayalil as president. Fr. Sebastian Vayalil consecrated as the first Bishop of Palai Dioceses in 1950, the very year of the founding of the college

The College Coat of Arms

The College Coat of Arms symbolically suggests the intellectual and moral task the College assigns to itself. The motto on the crest, ‘Vita, Lux, Amor’, (Life, Light, Love) shows how light and love, which stand for knowledge and fellow-feeling respectively, can enrich a person’s life. The bearings on the shield represent a river in the lower portion and a pepper-vine, a book and a lamp and a setsquare in the upper portion. The river is River Meenachil on whose bank the College is seated. The pepper-vine denotes the trade and agrarian associations of Palai and the charges to its right are symbols of learning and skill. Further, the setsquare evokes memories of St. Thomas, our Heavenly Patron, who is traditionally represented as holding a setsquare.

Our Vision

To create a center of excellence through the formation of young people empowered to create a bright future for themselves and others, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or language through dissemination of knowledge, skills and noble values.

Our Mission

To inculcate the students with faith in God, love for their fellow men and devotion to the Motherland by imparting moral, religious, intellectual and physical discipline.
To empower the students with deep knowledge and awareness of current development in their chosen subjects.
To equip the students with skills necessary to succeed at very highest levels in a competitive world.
To assist the students in developing a sense of personal worth, social consciousness, emotional maturity, loyal citizenship, respect of labour and proactive leadership.
To encourage scholarship and research, especially those that are locally relevant yet globally acceptable.
This will be achieved through teamwork and innovative methodologies employing opportunities both inside and outside the class room.