One of the first 16 Universities in India, the
University of Kerala was founded as the University of Travancore in the
erstwhile princely state of Travancore (now southern part of Kerala and
some neighbouring parts of state of Tamilnadu) in 1937. During the 7
decades since the University of Kerala grew and shrunk physically and
transformed itself in many ways. It is difficult to summarise what the
Kerala University is in a brief space.
The
earliest origins of the University may be traced back to two
institutions of modern learning in Kerala, the University College,
Thiruvananthapuram and the Trivandrum Observatory. The University
College was initially founded as the Maharaja’s Free School by Maharaja
Swathi Thirunal in 1834, with Mr John Roberts. A Christian Missonary as
Headmaster, and soon grew into a college in 1866, affiliated to the
Madras University. When the University of Travancore was founded, the
Departments of the college became the University Departments, only to
switch back again when the transformation to University of Kerala
happened in 1957. The University College still retains its connection
with the University as an affiliated college. The Trivandrum Observatory
was founded in 1838 and had an internationally reputed scientist, John
Caldecott FRS as its first Director. It became a part of the Travancore
University, but for some time was administered as a independent
government institution. It is now the oldest institution under the
Kerala University.