Local history, cinema in Maharaja's college curriculum

Kochi: Maharaja's College is set to revamp its history syllabus under the four-year undergraduate programme ( FYUGP ) by integrating local history with global developments. The history department's board of studies has submitted recommendations to the academic council, including electives that focus on the local history of Kochi and the achievements of the college's distinguished alumni.

As part of the first-semester minor subject in the history department, the life and achievements of Dakshayani Velayudhan , the only dalit woman in the Indian Constituent Assembly, are now included. Her story will be part of a unit titled "Influential social reformers and thinkers of Kochi." The syllabus will also feature figures such as Pandit Karuppan, KP Vallon, Arnos Pathiri, PK Padmanabha Menon, PK Balakrishnan, and PS Velayudhan.

In addition, the department has proposed a new elective on the history of Malayalam cinema. This course will examine the chronological evolution of the industry and include a sub-theme on stardom, focusing on the life and work of celebrated actors who were once students at Maharajas College.

"MG University has put forth a syllabus, but as an autonomous institution, we adapt or amend it. During our discussions, we found there is a need to study the larger issues concerning Kochi's local history," said Dr Sakhariya Thangal, head of the history department.

Other departments at Maharajas College are also leveraging the institution's academic autonomy to include socially relevant and region-specific topics in their curricula. The proposals submitted by the history department's Board of Studies are pending approval from the academic council, which is scheduled to meet on July 10.

Other departments at Maharajas College are also leveraging the institution's academic autonomy to include socially relevant and region-specific topics in their curricula. The proposals submitted by the board of studies are pending approval from the academic council, which is scheduled to meet on July 10.