History of the College
Envisaged by Swami Agamananda, a social reformer and a foresighted scholar of Sri Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram, Sree Sankara College, Kalady was established with a view to perpetuate the memory and doctrines of the great saint and philosopher, Adi Sankaracharya and to nurture his birth place as a cultural citadel. The foundation stone was laid on 28 August, 1953 by His Highness The Maharaja of Travancore in the presence of The Maharaja of Cochin and several other distinguished personalities. Since then, the college has been committed to impart an overall quality education to generate fruitful and responsible citizens. Situated in Kalady, the birthplace of Jagadguru Sankaracharya,this abode of learning embodies a spiritual aura. The lush greenery of the college bestows the campus with a serene and tranquil ambience.The institution was raised to the status of a First Grade College in 1956.
Maharaja Arriving for laying the Foundation Stone. Sri Agamanada Swamikal is seen on the left.
Maharaja Laying the foundation stone of the college
The college is affiliated to the Mahatma Gandhi University and is included under sec.2 (f) and 12 (B) of the UGC act, 1956. In June 1960, the patronage of the college became vested in His Holiness The Jagadguru Sri Sri Sankaracharya Swamigal of Dakshinamnaya.The Maṭhādhipatis of Sringeri Mutt, Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamigal and Sri Sri Vidhusekhara Bharati Mahaswamigal are the patrons.
Currently, Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamigal steers the administration through a Board of Directors with Sri. K. Anand as the Managing Director. Since its inception, the college has been fortunate enough to welcome a number of honourable guests to its campus, including His Highness The Maharaja of Travancore, The Maharaja of Cochin, Kaka Kalekar, Indian independence activist and former Rajya Sabha member, Sri. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, the first Governor of Kerala, Sri. N. Raghavan,Indian Ambassador to France, Sri. Jayaprakash Narayan, Sri. P N Haksar, Sri. V R krishna Iyer, to name a few.
The college has done consistently well in Curricular and Cocurricular activities. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council ( NAAC ), a statutory body of the UGC has accredited the college A Grade with 3.02 CGPA in the fourth cycle of accreditation.
Sister Concerns
- The Adi Sankara Trust under the patronage of Sringeri Jgadguru expanded the educational activities by starting
- Sree Sarada Vidyalaya (CBSE Higher Secondary School) in the year 1993,
- Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering and Technology in the year 2000,
- Adi Shankara Training College in 2005,
- and PNNM Ayurveda College, Shoranur in 2007
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| Sreesarada Vidyalaya | Adi Sankara Training College | Adi Sankara College of Science & Technology | PNNM Ayurveda College, Shoranur |
The Founder
Kalady occupies a prominent place in the world map owing to the Sree Rama Krishna Advaita Ashram, the educational institutions, and
the orphanages that were established by Sree Agamanada Swamikal. His untiring oratory skills, his emphatic articles and social commitment paved the way for a platform of selfless duties, where one could sow the seeds for a cultural and moral environment, and thus was born Sree Sankara College.
More than a saint who founded the Sree Rama Krishna Advaita Ashram, a scholar, and a true follower of Sree Narayana Guru, he was a yogi, who tried hard to realize the developmental dreams of Kalady by inviting the attention of the civic authorities and the community at large. Most of the modern symbols of pride of Kalady – be it the Sree Sankara group of educational institutions, Sree Sankara Bridge across the river Purna [Periyar], or the spiritual renaissance promoted by the ashram in the State – are deeply indebted to the promoter Agamananda Swamigal, the great seer of recent times.
His prominent works include Brahmanandeeyam, Sree Sankaracharyar, Narayana Guru, Keralathinte Bhavi, Bharatheeya Vidya Bhashyam etc. His lectures, delivered all across the State during his travels to motivate the communities to attain education, have been anthologized as Veeravani. Another vital contribution of Swamikal was the relentless struggles that he initiated for the upliftment of the Harijans and the other socially and economically backward communities.
Sree Sankara College Association
Sree Sankara College Association was formed under section 26 of the Indian Companies Act for promoting art, science, religion, charity, education and culture. In particular, the objectives for the establishment of the association are:
(i) Establishing a College for University education by the name Sree Sankara College.
(ii) Establishing Colleges and other institutions for imparting courses of higher studies including Agricultural, Industrial, Engineering, Medical, other technical courses and providing basic and social education.
(iii) Introducing special educational institutions and hostels of Gurukula and other types thereby imparting secular education, moral and religious training in accordance with the culture of Bharat.
(iv) To institute scholarships and fellowships for the encouragement of learning and research.
(v) To impart Sanskrit education and make it compulsory as far as possible.
(vi) Establishing institutions for specializing Vedanta with special reference to the Sankara School of Thought.
Keeping in mind the aims and objectives of the Association, Sree Sankara College was started in 1954 and over the years, has grown into a centre of great potential in the area of University education, affiliated to M. G. University, Kottayam.