The
Department of Malayalam came into existence in
1969 with the starting of B.A. degree course in
Malayalam. It was later elevated to the status
of a Post Graduate and Research department in
1988 and 1989 respectively. Ever since its inception,
there has been a team of eminent teachers working
in the department. They include leading figures
in the world of Malayalam literature like Prof.
Kuttippuzha Krishnapilla, an atheist and philosopher
and Prof. D.P. Unni. These great Acharyas
made remarkable impressions in the realm of higher
education in Kerala and elsewhere. The late Dr.
K. Narayanan Nair, poet and a research guide,
served the department for a long period. Dr. (Fr).
Joseph Cheeran, an expert in Church History and
former teacher still serves as a research supervisor.
The
majority of the 152 students in the UG & PG
classes in the Department are girls. Majority
of these students are from socially and economically
backward sections of the society. In fact, the
department of Malayalam has the highest percentage
of economically and socially backward students
in the college. However, the initiatives taken
by members of the faculty and by the department
ensure that there is no discrimination because
of their social/economic backwardness. The Department
steadily maintains the percentage of pass above
90 at both the undergraduate and postgraduate
levels. The number of drop-outs from the classes
is much lower in comparison with that in several
other disciplines. A major share of the drop-
outs is a result of marriage of girl students.
Students of the department have secured several
ranks in University examinations in the last five
years.
Courses
offered
Under
graduate Courses:
BA Malayalam
Post
Graduate Courses:
MA Malayalam,
Ph.D
Programme |
Level
of study |
Cut-off
marks at entry level in % |
Student
strength |
| BA
|
UG
|
50% |
50
|
| MA
|
PG
|
55% |
16
|
| Research
|
Ph.D
|
|
|
Faculty
|
Name
of the Teaching
staff |
Highest
Qual. |
Experience in
years |
|
Dr. A.Gopinathan |
Ph.D |
27
|
|
Markose
V.P |
M.Phil
|
10
|
|
MuseMaryGeorge
|
M.Phil
|
10
|
|
Punnoose
M.I |
M.Phil
|
10
|
|
Mini
Alice |
M.Phil
|
8
|
|
Narayanan
K.S |
M.Phil
|
8
|
|
Santhosh
P.S |
M.A
|
5
|
|
Murali
M.S |
M.A
|
6
|
|
Meeena
M.R |
M.A
|
1
|
|
Deepa
C Chinnan |
M.Phil
|
1
|
|
Smitha
A.S |
M.A
|
2
|
International
Linkages
The
department maintains close contacts and arranges
collaborative programmes with agencies like the
All India Radio, Kerala Folklore Academy, Sahitya
Academy and ‘Nattarivu Patana Kendram’.
Several cultural events presented by students
have been broadcast by the All India Radio in
the ‘Yuvavaani’ programme. Several teachers
give radio talks. The lecture series on Kathakalli
by one member broadcast by the All India Radio
was widely acknowledged.
Library
The
Library has considerably improved its facilities
in the last five years by acquiring more books,
current periodicals, computer and Internet facilities.
All members of the Department have acquired computer
and Internet skills, and this helps them enhance
their familiarity with world literature. The department
library has a collection of over 11500. Nearly
20 current periodicals and several newspapers
are available in the Department. There are constant
efforts to improve student involvement in classes
and to enhance the liveliness of the teaching/
learning process through seminar presentations
and discussions by students. Lectures and interactive
sessions involving literary figures and experts
in various fields are arranged by the Malayalam
Association that functions in the department.
Scholarship
A
large number of students receive scholarships
from the college. Prof. D.P. Unni scholarship
is awarded to five meritorious students every
year. Each of the awardees receives Rs. 10,000.00
annually.
The
department has also taken efforts to modernize
the teaching / learning process with the help
of computers and internet and audio visual-aids
like slide projector and overhead projectors
acquired by the department. Training in the
use of computer and Internet is provided to
the students.
The
teachers in the department maintain close personal
relationships with each student. The Open house
programme conducted twice every year provides
opportunities for assessment along with counseling
for each student in the presence of his/her
parent. Besides, the tutorial system in which
each teacher is assigned charge of a small group
of students helps teachers to interact personally
with students. Teachers give them guidance in
intellectual, psychological and social matters.
All the teachers in the Department other than
guest lecturers have attended two or more refresher
courses in the last five years.
Department
Activities
Efforts
are made to prepare students for common
entrance examinations like those conducted
by the UGC. Preparation of question banks
and literary quiz programmes are arranged
to improve academic standards of students.
The manuscript magazine competition conducted
annually by the Department provides students
training in the fundamentals of journalism. |
|
Folklore
Centre
The
department conducts folk art festivals in
association with the Folklore Academy. Students
and researchers from several colleges participate
in these. Dr. C.R Rajagopalan, Director
of the ‘Nattarivu’ Patana Kendram,
is the Chief consultant for the regional
Folklore Center functioning under the Department.
The Department also collaborates with the
different media organizations with different
faculty members participating in discussions,
interviews and such other programmes. One
member interviewed eminent eye specialist
Dr. Tony Fernandez for the Trichur Radio
Station.
|
|
Research
highlights
Research
activities in the Department have their focus
on women empowerment, tribal studies, Folk art
studies and media studies. A UGC sponsored seminar
on issues relating to women empowerment was conducted
during November 4-6, 2004 in association with
the Department of English. Students of the Department
have carried out several project works on tribal
studies.
Alumni
Most
of the students who pass out from the Department
find employment without much difficulty, mostly
in teaching and also in journalism. Several former
students of the Department have gone on to become
eminent writers. Among them are Malayattoor Ramakrishanan,
Chemanam Chacko, Venu V Desam and Valsalan Vathussery.
Research
Fellowship
The
Vidwan P.G. Nair Fellowship instituted in the
Department by a former student contributes to
research in considerable measure. The awardees
receive Rs. 6000.00 per month and a contingency
grant of Rs. 10,000.00 per year. Under this scheme,
Prof. S.K.Vasandan has compiled a Cultural Dictionary
of Kerala. Another awardee Ms. K.V. Sreeja has
done significant work in the study of Modern Malayalam
Theatre. Prof. Thomas Mathew, who is a well-known
critic in Malayalam is doing research on ‘Western
Criticism’.
Future
Plans
The
department has taken the initiative to launch
a quarterly research journal. Another project
is to make available to students course components
like copy editing, journalism and advertising
along with the study of Malayalam language and
literature.
Roll
of Honour
1.
Priya P. Nair - third place in short story
Writing
competition - 2004 organized by kerala
madya varjana samithy.
*
first prize in state level essay
Competition
-2004 Organized by the department of archives,kerala.
2. Vandana B.& Divya S.-
Third
place in the inter collegiate quiz Competition
-2004 held at st. Thomas collage, palai.
3.
Sanitha G.- third prize in state level competition
on essaywriting and Seminar presantation held
at
fathima
matha college, kollam.
Student
progression
Student
evaluation forms
Grievance
redressal file
Divya
S.
Changampuzha
smaraka samithi award -2003 (inter university
cultural competitions) Dr. Samuel chandanapilly
smaraka award selected as ‘Kalathilakam’ in the
cultural festival organized by ‘the yogakshema
sabha’ -2003; 2004. First prize in the quiz competition
|
