Vivekananda College of Education, Kanyakumari

About Vivekananda College of Education, Kanyakumari

This institution was established in July 1965 by the Vivekananda Educational Society, Agasteeswaram as a living memorial to Swami Vivekananda to commemorate the Birth Centenary of the great sage of the east. Nestling amidst sylvan surroundings, the campus lies in close proximity to the imposing Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari.

The principal objective of this Society is to hold the students belonging to different faiths to grasp the significance of our indigenous culture and ancient heritage through a study of the teaching of Vivekananda there by promoting the cause of national integration by focusing attention on the University of appeal develop the College into a residential unitary University bearing the great Swamiji's name which will in course of time, turn out countless Vivekanandas who will work ceaselessly for international understanding and universal peace.

The history of the beginning of the College is a saga of daring pluck and self confidence displayed by the sponsors, notably its chief architect and promoter, Thiru.S.D.PANDIANADAR, B.A., a retired senior officer of the erstwhile Travancore-Cochin Government. It was to Thiru.S.D. Pandianadar that the idea of starting a college in the name of the great patriotic saint of India first occurred and when he mooted it among his friends and relations, they hailed it enthusiastically. He then issued appeals to his friends for donation of lands and he himself offered 1.5 acres of his valuable land, for the purpose. Thiru.G.A.Marthandan, honoured as a patron member of the society came forward to help in a grand way by donating 5.5 acres in that area. Others followed suit and the sponsors were finally able to get a compact area of 30 acres of land for starting the College. The area has now increased to 60 acres.

Encouraged by this healthy response, the chief promoter pushed ahead and convened a meeting on 18-1-1964 in the Govt. High School, Agasteeswaram to organise a governing body for the College. They resolved to constitute an organisation known as the Vivekananda College of Education Association and to name the proposed College as Vivekananda College of Education, Agasteeswaram. Steps were immediately taken to apply to the University of Madras for permission to start the College in June 1965. The application was submitted on 27-10-1964 and it was followed by a deputation consisting of Thiru.S.D.Pandianadar B.A., Dr.M. Natarajan B.A., M.B.B.S., M.Ch., (Ortho) F.R.C.S., (Eng) of Madras and Dr.C. Kumaraswamy M.B.B.S., D.A., which met the Vice-Chancellor and discussed the matter on 30-11-1964. The Vice-Chancellor was pleased to grant informal permission to proceed with the arrangements for starting the College. Written permission was received on 18-2-1965. The name of the Society till then known as the Vivekananda College of Education Association, Agasteeswaram was altered into Vivekananda Educational Society, Agasteeswaram and it was registered on 29-12-1965 under the Travancore Cochin Literary Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act XII of 1955. The Foundation for the College building was laid by Thiru. S.D. Pandianadar B.A, on the morning of Wednesday, the 17th March 1965.