History

The Department of History started the BA and MA Programme in History in 1970-71. The department was elevated as a PhD research department in 1987-88 with Full Time MPhil degree programmes. The curriculum includes European, Asian and American histories. It also dealt with the Indian history and history of Tamil Nadu. Dravidian Movement is a unique subject of our department. The objective of the department aims at to acquaint students with the world, India and Tamil Nadu history. The department proudly remembers the services of the then professors viz, Abdur Rahim, Govindapillai, V.T. Chellam, T.K. Venkatasubramanian, Prabhakaran, A.K. Kalimuthu, K. Mohanram, S. Marthandasekaran, M.A. Mustafa Kamal, V. Sathiyanesan, S. Suryamurthy and host of others. History Association is very active in organizing various meeting with innovative initiatives. ‘Periyar Museum’ of History Department houses good number of fossils, inscription, coins, currencies, archaeological artefacts and other rare materials.

The department is well equipped with infrastructure and teaching-learning devices. The Department Library is to be worthy-mentioned, about 3800 books comprised of rare volumes of ARE, EI, ASI and other primary documents besides text books. Over Head Projector, Tape Recorder, Multimedia LCD Projector and a big size television facility are available in the department. Most of the staff members are effectively utilizing ICT tools to prepare teaching and learning materials almost for the all the subjects of UG, PG and MPhil programmes. The availability of World, India and Tamil Nadu Maps, Books and Encyclopedias, Text Books and Magazines are worthy to be mentioned.

The department has 13 regular teaching faculties. They are appointed by Government of Tamil Nadu recruited through TRB.

Among them 8 are qualified with NET/SET and five are 9 are PhD holders. The faculty members act as mentors, guiding the students to develop the necessary subject knowledge and social skills required to become successful person in the society. They are also involved in research activities in various fields like political, socio, economic and cultural history of Tamil Nadu as well as India.

The department often organizes seminars, meetings and invited lectures. The research scholars of our department are funded by ICHR, ICSSR and other funding agencies. The Department faculty regularly involve themselves in research resulting in the completion of one Major Research Project, three Minor Research Projects and one Faculty Improvement Programme – all supported by both UGC and ICHR. The students of history are taken for all-India and state level tours. Our students very often perform All India Radio variety programmes on history and other social related themes.