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a brief history of the college
The origin of the college is traced back to the LAST WILL and
testament of the
born-to-serve man, Calavala Cunnan Chetty Garu. He had the divine
grace of being the doyen among the Arya Vysya community. The seer
was so service minded that his WILL says, “.... the bulk of my
properties should be utilised for charities and that my name should
be perpetuated not by descendants but by schemes of public
benefactions which I am anxious to organise and provide for”. To
fructify his vision he established a Hindu Public Charitable
Institution ‘Dharmamurthi Rao Bahadur Calavala Cunnan Chetty’s
Charities’ and nominated prominent citizens from Arya Vysya
community its members.
The great man was of the view that education alone could uplift
the downtrodden. He himself had established a Sanskrit College at
Triplicane and an Elementary School at Mambalam (T. Nagar). He
financially supported a Primary School for girls at Chintadripet, a
Girls’ School at Narayana Mudali Street, George Town and another
School at Thambu Chetty Street, near Parrys’ Corner. He was also
maintaining a Library for the use of the poor students.
Not content with the educational services he was also running
Ayurvedic Dispensaries and Free Choultries. He was also a prominent
member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (SPCA)
The
Members of the Trust Board are as dedicated as the founder himself
and have strongly resolved to continue the founder’s academic
services. The result is the three famous schools viz. Dharmamurthi
Rao Bahadur Calavala Cunnan Chetty’s
Higher Secondary School at Perambur, Dharmamurthi Rao Bahaddur
Calavala Cunnan Chetty’s Hindu Higher Secondary School at Trivellore
and Seetha Kingston Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Kilpauk
and a College - Dharmamurthi Rao Bahadur Calavala Cunnan Chetty’s
Hindu College at Pattabiram. The last two institutions were started
to commemorate the Birth Centenary of our donor. None of the
educational institutions under the Trust Board collects capitation
fees.
The Trust, in continuation of the founder’s social services,
makes regular monthly contributions to many needy institutions and
individuals. Abhaya Nilayam at Mylapore and the Society for the
Protection of Children - the Destitute Home at Washermenpet are
among the numerous institutions that enjoy the financial assistance
of our Trust. A free choultry is being run at Egmore for those who
come to Madras for medical treatment. The Trust also voluntarily
donated a substantial sum towards the cost of five class rooms to
Sri Kanyaka Parameswari Devasthanam and Charities for their Women’s
College at Kothwal Market.
Sri Swami Venkatachalam Chetty was the President and
Correspondent of all the educational institutions under the
Charities between 1921 and 1951. He thought of upgrading the High
School into a College. In 1963 the idea was vigorously pursued by
Sri. C. Ethiraj, the then Honorary Correspondent of all the
educational institutions under the Charities. He successfully
realised this vision in 1969. Thiru. D. Rajarathnam, the then M.L.A.
of Poonamallee Constituency, helped the Charities acquire suitable
land for the college. The Government of Tamil Nadu permitted the
Management to enter upon 21.52 acres of land within the Avadi
Township Area on the Madras - Tiruvellore State Highway at
Pattabiram. Lecture Halls were built within a month at the cost of
Rs. 1.5 lakhs. A master plan was prepared for permanent buildings
at an estimated cost of Rs. 25 lakhs.
The College started functioning from 3rd July, 1969 with PUC
classes in Humanities. In 1970 B.A. History, B.A. Economics and
B.Sc., Mathematics courses were introduced. During 1971 - 1974
strenuous efforts were made to acquire more land and to obtain
alienation orders from the Government for the entire extent of 39.52
acres. A building grant of Rs. 75,000 was received from the
Government of Tamil Nadu due to the initiative of Sri.G.Govindarajan,
the then Principal.
Indian Bank
helped the Management with financial assistance. Thanks to these
financial aids the foundation stone for the new block was laid in
September 1973. Sri C. Ethiraj had been a great asset as well as
source of strength to the College as the First Honorary
Correspondent. He rendered proverbial services to this Institution
during his tenure. In fact, his untiring efforts and commitment are
the real foundations on which the college is built up. He laid down
his office as the Honorary Correspondent of the College in March
1973.
The Management Committee was then re-constituted and
re-designed as Educational Sub-Committee. Sri M. Nammalwar Chetty
was the Chairman of the Committee. Sri C. Ethiraj, Sri C.Emberumanar
Gupta, Dr. T. M. Srinivasan, Sri. P. Venkataswamy, Sri. C.
Venkatachalam were the members and the Principal became the
ex-officio member of the Committee.
Dr. T.M. Srinivasan was elected the Honorary Correspondent of the
College. In the academic year 1975 - 1976 the Sub-Committee
secured affiliation to B.Com. Course.
At the World Telugu Conference held in Madras, Sri. J. Vengal Rao,
the then Chief-Minister of Andhra Pradesh and Sri M.V. Krishna Rao,
the then Minister for Education of Andhra Pradesh, expressed their
desire to establish an Institute of Higher Education in Madras to
encourage the Telugu Minority group to pursue higher education. Sri
C. Emberumanar Gupta, one of our
Trustees suggested to Sri J.V. Somayajulu that opening a new
Institution would require land and more funds. Instead the
Government of Andhra Pradesh might extend their assistance to
‘Dharmamurthi Rao Bahadur Calavala Cunnan Chetty’s Charities’ which
was already running a College efficiently. Sri J. Vengal Rao
promised that the Government of Andhra Pradesh would offer matching
grants for the construction of buildings. The Indian bank offered a
loan of Rs. 3,75,000 towards construction of lecture halls. Smt.
Narasamma, a local resident, donated 1.17 acres of land to the
College.
The construction of building began in 1975. In March the same
year the Chief Minister and the Education Minister of Andhra Pradesh
visited the college. To the delight of all concerned they announced
a grant of 4 lakhs - 2 lakhs from the Government of Andhra Pradesh
and 2 lakhs from Tirumala-Thirupathi Devasthanams, Hon’ble Sri J.
Vengal Rao laid the foundations stone for the Seethamma Science
Block. The stone laying function was presided over by Sri Justice
Ram Prasad Rao. The humane grant of the Government of Andhra
Pradesh and the T.T. Devasthanams gave us Twelve Lecture Halls.
The academic year 1976 - 1977 marks the introduction co-education
in the college. In the year, 1978 - 1979 the University of
Madras granted affiliation to B.A. English Literature. Affiliation
to certificate course in
Telugu and Hindi under part I for B.A., B.Sc., and B.Com., was also
obtained in the same year. In the following academic year 1979 -
1980 affiliation to B.A., Telugu Literature was obtained. Dr. T.M.
Srinivasan laid down his office as Honorary Correspondent on 31st
March 1981. His tenure gave the college a steady and rapid growth.
Sri C.N. Alwar Chetty became the next Honorary Correspondent of the
college on 1st April 1981. He secured affiliation to B.A. Corporate
Secretaryship. After a satisfactory service to the cause of
education, he chose to retire on health grounds in 1990.
Sri M.V. Cunniah Chetty B.Sc., B.Com., became the Secretary of
the College on 6th June 1990. He incepted the Evening College in
the same campus in the academic year 1995 - 1996 to bring in new
courses. The Evening College is under self-financing scheme.
However, as per the WILL of our founder it is absolutely service
oriented. In the evening college B.Sc., Computer Science was
introduced in 1995 - 1996. B.Com., and B.B.A., were introduced in
1996 - 1997. The University of Madras granted affiliation to B.Sc.
Mathematics in 1997 - 1998 and to B.C.A. in 1999 - 2000. B.A.
Corporate Secretaryship and B.Sc. Electronics Science courses were
introduced in the academic year 2000 - 2001. M.Sc. Computer
Science, the first Post-Graduate course of the College, was also
introduced in the same year. Having served the cause of education
for more than
a decade he preferred retirement on 31st March 2001.
The Seethamma
Block was constructed at a cost of Rs. 60,00,000/-. It was
declared open by Hon’ble Chief Justice Sri K.G. Balakrishnan,
Chennai High Court on
25th March 2000 during Tri-Decennial Celebrations of the
college. It houses Computer Lab, Electronics Lab and Evening
College classes. Having served the cause of education for more than
a decade he preferred retirement on
31st March 2001.
Sri M. Venkatesaperumal, B.A., F.C.A., took charge as the
Secretary of the College with effect from 01-04-2001. His immediate
achievement was to secure affiliation to B.Sc. Information Systems
Management course in the academic year 2001 - 2002. Introduction of
M.Sc. Mathematics from the academic year 2003 - 2004 and M.Com. in
the academic year 2004 - 2005 are also his achievements. B.Com. 3rd
section and Diploma in Computerised Accounting have been introduced
during the academic year 2005-2006. Apart from this, the
construction of compound wall to the College Campus was a marvelous
achievement in his stewardship. He strongly believes in team work
that steers the College further towards the realisation of the
vision of our noble minded Donor. Under his stewardship, the College
hopes to introduce many more courses to mould more number of young
minds.
The ‘Dharmamurthi Calavala Cunnan Chetty Block’ was constructed
at a cost of Rs. 78.30 Lakhs. It was declared open by Sri V.R.
Bakthavatsalam, the then president of the Board of Trustees on 8th
September 2003. It houses Library, Computer lab and Evening College
classes. The 82.5 KVA Generator was installed at a cost of Rs. 6.50
lakhs. It was switched on by Sri. M.V. Cunniah Chetty, office
trustee, on the same day.
The Dharmamurthi Cunnan Chetty Block was constructed at a cost of Rs.
78,30,000/-. It was declared open by Sri V.R. Baktavatsalam, the
then President of the Board of Trustees on 8th Sep.
2003. It houses Library, Computer Lab, Evening College classes and
Staff rooms.
The Cunnan Auditorium was constructed at a cost of
Rs.19,32,000/-. It was declared open by Sri Vummudi Sreehari
Trustee on 10th April 2005, which accommodates about 1000
persons.
The Cunnan Block Reception Hall additional class rooms and staff
rooms were constructed at a cost of Rs.30,83,000/-. It was declared
open by Sri M.V. Cunnaiah Chetty, Office Trustee on 10th
April 2005.
The Dharmamurthi Cunnan Chetty Decennial Block was constructed
at a cost of Rs.24,11,000/-. It was declared open by Sri C.
Venkatachalam, Trustee on 10th April 2005. It houses
Evening College classes.
The tenure of Sri M.Venjatesaperumal, our respected Secretary, ended
on 31st March 2006. Sri M.V. Cunniah Chetty, B.Sc.,B.Com. took over
as the secretary of our college for the second term with effect from
01.04.2006. He has been the guiding spirit for the present all
round development of our college.
The NAAC Peer Team visited our college on 7th & 8th
April 2006 and has accredited our college with B+ Grade. The
college aspires to bring in more courses to widen the opportunity of
learning for more Young learners. M.Sc. Information Technology was
introduced in the Evening College during the academic year 2006-07.
B.Sc. Visual Communication, B.Com. Accounting & Finance
and Master of Social Work (MSW) were introduced during the academic
year 2007-08.
Sri M.Venkatesaperumal became the Secretary of the College with effect from
01.04.2009.
I
B.Com Acc.Fin. & I B.C.A. additional Sections were introduced
during the academic year 2009-2010.
The Cunnan Ruby Jubilee Block was constructed at a cost of Rs.3.50 Crores.
It was declared open by Dr.G.Thiruvasagam, Vice-chancellor, University of Madras on 17th April 2010 which houses various class rooms,
seminar hall, staff rooms, ladies waiting hall, drawing hall, multimedia lab, studios, acoustics, edit room, pre-view theare and extension
activities(NCC, NSS & YRC).
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