St. Thomas College, Pala is a government aided college of higher education located in Pala town,

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

, India. It was founded on 7 August 1950 by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai. The college is affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam and was re-accredited with A++ grade by NAAC in February 2021. The college is recognized under the sections 2(f) and 12B of the UGC Act 1956. The Government of Kerala has recognized the college as a Special Grade College.

History

Founded in 1950. The main block, "Tisserant Hall", called A-block, stoutly built with an enormous roof span and massive columns was ready to house the administration, classrooms, laboratories and libraries in 1953. The first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru visited the college in 1954. In 1981 Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Pallickaparambil took over as the Bishop of Palai and the patron of St. Thomas College. In 2005 H.E. Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangattu became the Bishop of Palai and the Patron of the college. The college celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1976 with Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi as the chief guest. The preceding decade had been one of hectic academic activity during which more Post graduate courses- English, Physics, Economics and Mathematics were started, new hostels inaugurated, more blocks added to the cluster of buildings in the campus etc. Rev. Dr. N.M. Thomas, who succeeded Fr. Joseph Kureethadam as principal in 1968, retired from service in the jubilee year passing the baton to Prof. P.M. Chacko. Fr. James Vellankal followed Prof. Chacko in 1984. The successors of Fr. Vellankal included an illustrious line of academic administrators combining erudition with sharp acumen - Fr. O.P. Eanas (1986-1991), Fr. Philip Njaralakkattu (1991-1995), Rev. Dr. Kurian Mattam (1995-2001) and Rev. Dr. M.M. Mathew Maleparambil (2001–06). During 2006-09 Rev. Dr. Mathew John K was officiated as the drawing and disbursement officer.

Accreditation

The

National Assessment and Accreditation Council The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is a government organisation in India that assesses and accredits Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It is an autonomous body funded by the University Grants Commission and headquarte ...

(NAAC) has awarded A++ Grade to St.Thomas' College with CGPA score 3.56. Furthermore, UGC has recognised St. Thomas College as one among the six colleges in Kerala accorded with the status of 'College with Potential for Excellence'(CPE).

Notable alumni

* Reji Joseph Pulluthuruthiyil - Famous Indian journalist *

V. Joseph Thomas Vattavayalil Joseph Thomas (30 November 1941 – 10 February 2018), known simply as Joseph Thomas in police and political circles, was an officer of Indian Police Service, who served as the Director General of Kerala Police. Personal life V. Jo ...

- IPS, ex-DGP of Kerala *

Anto Antony Anto Antony Punnathaniyil (born 1 May 1957) is a member of the 15th, 16th Lok Sabha from the Pathanamthitta electoral district in Kerala. He is a member of the Indian National Congress and on 16 May 2009, in the first election held in this ...

- member of parliament *T K Jose IAS * Don Max - Indian film director and editor *

Jimmy George Jimmy George (8 March 1955 – 30 November 1987) is often considered one of the greatest volleyball players of all time and was a member of India men's national volleyball team. He was the first Indian volleyball player to become a prof ...

- Volleyball Player *

Roshy Augustine Roshy Augustine (born 20 January 1969) is an Indian politician serving as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (M.L.A.) of the Kerala Legislative Assembly from Idukki since 2001. He is part of the Kerala Congress (M) party and is the curren ...

- Minister for Water Resources,

Government of Kerala Government of Kerala is the Subnational administrative division, subnational government of the Indian state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who selects all the other ministers. The chief minister and their most senior mini ...

Sibi George Sibi George is an Indian civil servant of the Indian Foreign Service cadre who is Ambassador of India to Japan. He has previously served as Ambassador of India to Kuwait, Switzerland, the Holy See (Vatican City) as well as the Principality of L ...

- Indian civil servant, ambassador of India to

Kuwait Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...

Paul Zacharia Paul Zacharia, popularly known mononymously as Zacharia, is an Indian writer of Malayalam literature. Known for his body of literary works composed of short stories, novellas, travelogues, screenplays, essays, columns and children's books, Zacha ...

- Indian Writer * Miya George - Indian Actress * T J Jacob - Police officer *

Jose Chacko Periappuram Jose Chacko Periappuram (born 28 April 1958) is an Indian cardiac surgeon and medical writer who performed the first successful heart transplant in the state of Kerala, India, as well as the first successful heart retransplant in the countr ...

- Indian Cardiac Surgeon

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Thomas College, Palai Catholic universities and colleges in India Universities and colleges in Kottayam district Education in Pala, Kerala Educational institutions established in 1950 1950 establishments in India Arts and Science colleges in Kerala Colleges affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala