H.H The Rajah’s College(Autonomous Accredited B+)Pudukkottai
H.H. The Rajah’s College, which was first established in the year 1857, as Maharajah’s Free English Medium School, has now attained the state of an esteemed institution with real potential for excellence. This school, under the first Headmastership of one B.T., Assistant nomination was started by the Thondaiman Kings in the erstwhile Princely State of Pudukkottai in 1879. The Free English Medium School started functioning in 1879 in a spare building at Vadakku Raja (North Main) Street in Pudukkottai. The first batch of the final year students of this school were sent for the terminal exam to the Madras University in 1880. Hence, 1880 is considered as the starting year of this College. The College celebrated its centenary year in 1982 and its 125th year in 2006.
In 1891, the high school classes and the college classes were transferred to the present building. The Head Master of the Maharajah Free English Medium School Mr. S. Narayanaswamy Ayyar B.A., was appointed as the first Principal of this College.
During the tenure of Mr. S. T. Ramachandra Sastri, as Principal (1912 – 1920), Courses like History, Chemistry, Mathematics, Accountancy, Tamil and Sanskrit were taught to the students. In 1920, after the introduction of the science subjects in the Madras University at PUC Level, the college attained the state of self sufficiency to some extent.
In 1921, a Boy’s Hostel was built at the southern side of the College playground. In order to provide Vocational Training (Technical Skills) to the students, Motor Rewinding course was offered in 1928. Later, this course was changed into Two Years Technical Course for producing Engineering Graduates.
In 1946, the Welfare Committee of the Madras University granted permission to this college to start UG Courses. Then, subjects like Economics, History, and Mathematics were taught at UG Level. The College started functioning as the first UG Degree College, affiliated to Madras University from June, 1946.
Pudukkottai Samasthanam (The Princely State of Pudukkottai) was merged with Trichy District in Madras Presidency in 1948. Since then, the college, now under the control of the Director of People’s Education, Madras Presidency was declared as a Government College.
Later, quite a few courses were started at regular intervals. B.Com. Degree Course was started in 1949. In 1959, Chemistry was introduced as an elective subject in the UG Science Degree Courses. In addition to it, separate buildings with Rupees One Lakh, were built for Physics and Chemistry Laboratories. B.Sc. Physics and B.Sc. Botany Degree Courses were started in 1961 and 1968 respectively. In 1968, M.Com Degree Course was started in the college. Thus, the college was promoted as the First-Grade PG College of Pudukkottai.
B.A. English was started in 1980. Subsequently M.A. History and M.Sc. Mathematics were introduced in 1981 and 1982, respectively. The college got affiliated to the Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli in 1982. Then, in 1984, B.Com degree course was offered in the Evening College Stream.
Now, 5000 plus students (most are with rural background) are studying in our college, compared to the meager strength of 16 students who had enrolled in the Institution for their PUC, way back in 1881.
A sum of Rupees Two Lakhs was spent for building the compound wall around the college playground. From the academic year 1989-1990, M.Phil Course was offered in both Commerce and History. Thus, the college reached yet another glorious milestone in its pursuit of growth and development. Later, M.A. Economics and B.Sc. Physical Education courses were started during 1990 - 1991. Ph.D. Full Time course was introduced in the Department of History during 1992-1993. B.Sc. Computer Science was started in 1996. The College was declared as an Autonomous College by the University Grants Commission in its letter dated 05.10.1998, during the Academic year 1998-99. The College was awarded with the 3 Star Status by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) during 1999-2000. Later, B+ status was granted by NAAC to the college on 06/02/2006.
Now, the college offers Master Degree in Commerce, History, Economics, Tamil, English, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology and Computer Science. The college offered M.Phil., in History, Commerce, Mathematics, Tamil, Botany, English, Economics, Chemistry and Computer Science. It offers Ph.D., Studies in History, Economics, Tamil, English, Commerce, Business Administration, Chemistry, Computer Science, Botany, Physics, Mathematics and Physical Education.
Our H.H.The Rajah’s College (Autonomous), after being ratified and ranked by the UGC, New Delhi, in the year 2011, was given the extension offer of Autonomy. The Institution continues its quest and commitment for further excellence in Higher Education and Nation-building.