Principal Message…

Explore the Unknown!

To understand life is to understand our self, and that is both the beginning and end of education - J. Krishnamoorthy

Everyone has the right to refute any opinion but no one has the right to prevent its expression - Thanthai Periyar

Here lies a soil of faith, bricks of confidence, walls of self-reliance, steps that served and scaled millions of students across boundaries, towers embedded with laurels of academic excellence and professional nuance, conglomerating to form the nucleus of Presidency College. Established way back in 1840 by the British as the first Government College in South India lies in close proximity to the Marina Beach and provides a sense of freshness at all times. A sense of awe emanates not from its looming physical presence, but from the power of its approach to appreciate life in the right perspective. Education at Presidency is just not an acquisition of a degree as every blade of grass and every bit of stone possess a legacy that has more to offer in terms of Silence and Peace to the keen observers and ardent learners of nature. Inculcating such strong traits among young minds is the unique contribution of our teachers to this society. Whenever you see the statues of Powell, the first Principal of this great institution, or the great Tamil teacher U.VE.SA, you are motivated instantly to feel something new and noteworthy to stand the test of time. Open your inner ears to hear the scientific voice of our erstwhile teachers of Presidency College, the Nobel laurates C.V.Raman or Subramanian Chandrasekar or the Abel Laureate Srinivasa Varadhan to get a source of inspiration.

Since its commencement, the secular ingredients of the plurality is very much active in our campus. Thousands of eminent personalities like Professor Rai Bahadur Pundi Ranganadha Mudhaliar, Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu and the founders of the Justice Party, T.M. Nair, Natesa Mudhaliar and Theagaraya Chettiar, were treasures of this glorious College. Statesmen like Raja Sir P. Ramarayaningar, P. Subbarayan and C. Rajagopalachari, all former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Honourable M.K. Stalin, the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu have all emerged through this prestigious Institution. Smt. R.S. Subbulakshmi, who was the first woman to graduate from the University of Madras, Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, The first female graduate in South India and also writer and editor of India’s first women’s magazine (Indian Ladies’ Magazine) Mrs. Kamala (Hannah), Padma Bhushan Joseph Pothan, a leading journalist, who made a name in the dailies like The Hindustan Times, Deccan Heralds and The New Indian Express, were the proud offshoots of this Banyan Presidency. Padma Vibhushan Dr. V. Shantha, Oncologist and Chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute, Chief Justice of Madras High Court, Mr. M.M. Ismail and India’s first women IFS officer (1949) and Ambassador to Netherlands, Mrs. C.B. Muthamma, originated from the evergreen gardens of Presidency. The indelible sprouts from the fountain of Presidency encompasses the likes of Malayalam writer, O.V. Vijayan and the Tamil writer, Gopikrishnan.

I firmly believe that the purpose of education is to enable, enhance and empower all students from diverse backgrounds with varied needs to realize their goals. Presidency has produced many Judges, IAS officers, Collectors, Academicians, Media personnel and Professionals of high caliber in all walks of life. Yes, embedded with historic accomplishments, as the Principal of this prestigious institution along with the due guidance of our teachers stimulate the curious brains to undergo a sea change in their learning curve to become individuals of self-reliance.

Rather than resting on the laurels of the past, the college has continued to impart quality education with intellectual inputs from 26 departments in both Humanities & Sciences with UG, PG and research programmes like M. Phil. and Ph. D. The college prides itself on facilitating the education of around 100 visually impaired students in an inclusive setup and 200 hearing-impaired students in an exclusive setup. Hearing Impaired courses were started after a special announcement by Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, the then Chief Minister of Tamilnadu in 2007 and till date Presidency is the only Government institution in the entire Asia to offer such exclusive courses.

It has all become possible due to the commitment and contribution of a team of teachers working in all disciplines. Their relentless work secured for Presidency the third position in the NIRF assessment for the year 2019. In this context it would be worthwhile to mention that the college houses a plethora of facilities to an accessible and inclusive teaching-learning environment to scale greater heights. Fine-furnished classrooms, well-equipped labs, modernized library with E-learning support opens immense scope and infinite opportunities for the complete development of the stakeholders.

I, Dr. R. Raman, along with the lineage of 51 Principals, right from Eyre Burton Powell, humbly appeal to all the free minds to be academically proficient and socially efficient, to carry forward the distinctive Aroma of this legendary campus.

"New life emerges repeatedly as new breath embraces us again and again!" Ponder over these immortal lines of our great poet Subramaniya Bharathi [He delivered two of his lectures in the historic Hall (M 28) of this college]. These lines kindle us to embrace a new perspective which upholds a lingering freshness. This institution is quite capable of delivering the newest to its students. Presidency is not just a College, but remains a Symbol of Pride and a representation of the culture of Tamilnadu. Facing deep at the Bay of Bengal and lies under the fervent sky, the atmosphere allures the students to enter into this world of Presidency with thousands of dreams in their eyes.

Come on my boys and girls

Explore the Unknown

A new world is open unto you

Seek and you shall find it here

Dr.R. Raman, M.A.,Ph.D.

Principal