Founded
in 1921, Union Christian College is the only centre of higher
education in Kerala, run on ecumenical basis. The college
is managed my an association of members drawn from the Malankara
Orthodox Syrian Church, Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church,
the Malankara Marthoma Church, the Church of South India
and the Inter Church Fellowship of the College.
The origin and growth of the
college was mainly on Indian initiative and resources, though
the college from the beginning entertained overseas scholars
as co-workers.
While
identifying with the hopes and aspirations of the
nation, the college vigorously promoted the scheme
of expanding international co-operation. It became
a congregating point for a host of scholars, theologians
and missionaries from the west. The list includes
Canon W. E. S. Holland, Rev. L. W. Hooper, Rev.
B. G. Crowley and Malcom Muggeridge. The ecumenical
identity of the college carried a strong secular
dimension as well. The faculty of the early years
was a balanced mix of Christian and non-christian
members. The college has diligently maintained this
secular structure to the present.
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FOUNDERS
The
Late K. C. Chacko
The
Late A. M. Varki
The
Late C. P. Mathew
The
Late. M. Ittyerah
DISTINCTIVE
FEATURES
The founder members of the College had as their ambition
the instituting of a Christian College whose distinctive
features were to be:
1. Inter-denominational basis of administration
2. Residential system of life
3. Fellowship method of life
4. Cosmopolitan team (Christians and non-Christian, Indians
and non-Indians) of staff
These still remain the chief features of the College even
though by force of circumstances the college which at first
was entirely residential has now on its rolls a larger number
of day scholars than residents. The principle of cooperation
in teaching, study and life is still a guiding factor in
our work here. There should be a conscious attempt on the
part of students and staff-teaching and non-teaching-to
realize this in our academic life.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The Union Christian College aims at the wholesome education
of the young to bring out the best in each individual. It
strives to produce intellectually competent, morally upright,
spiritually inspired and patriotic men and women in the
service of the country.
The college commits itself to the promotion of justice and
peace, respect and preservation for the integrity of creation,
fostering of wholesome and simple life styles, combating
the ill effects of corruption, powerlessness of the marginalized,
violence and criminalization. Empowering the powerless particularly
the tribals, dalits, women and other vulnerable sections
of society will be a significant part of this activity.
It seeks to nurture transparency and probity in private
and public life and to promote national integration.
"delighted
with the ideal situation"
Mahatma Gandhi
In 1925 Mahatma Gandhi visited the college and planted
a mango tree. He wrote in the visiters book "delighted
with the ideal situation"
The mango sapling is now flourishing in front of the
administrative block
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THE COLLEGE MOTTO & EMBLEM
College
Emblem
The present emblem was adopted in 1939. The symbolism
calls on the seekers after knowledge and truth to
hold the torch, read the book and reap the harvest.
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College
Motto
The college motto is “The
Truth shall make you free"
It
was only in 1939 that the College adopted its present emblem.
The symbolisation calls on the seekers after knowledge and
truth to hold the torch, read the book and reap the harvest.
The College motto is drawn from a statement made by Jesus
to the Jews: “You will know the truth and the truth
will make you free”. That the way to ultimate freedom
is through ultimate truth was known to the great thinkers
and sages of the world.
The Rigveda proclaims that ‘Truth is the support of
the earth’. Buddha exhorts : ‘Hold to the truth
within yourselves as to the only lamp’. The Quran declares
that ‘God is truth’. To Gandhiji, the father of
the nation, the whole of life was the pursuit of or experiments
with truth. His life demonstrated to the world, although in
a limited field, that the way of truth leads to freedom.
Francis Bacon starts his essay on ‘Truth’ with
the statement “What is truth?’ said Jesting Pilate
and would not stay for an answer”. Those who, like Pilate,
are cynical in their attitude to truth can never attain the
true freedom that is the reward of the earnest seekers after
truth.
Traditionally the True has been linked with the Good and the
beautiful as one of man’s supreme values. The pursuit
of truth is in practice indistinguishable from the pursuit
of knowledge. True knowledge sought in a spirit of enquiry
should mature into wisdom and reverence.
The College is a community of teachers and students bound
together in partnership in the pursuit of truth, and those
who assist them in this pursuit.
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