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Inscrutable may be the ways of God but it is an undeniable fact that more things are wrought by prayer than skeptic may dream of. But what is prayer but an ardent desire, the thirst and the quest. The will of the people then becomes the will of God and where there is a strong will, a way naturally opens out. The right leadership is provided at the right time and the Divine Grace works out the ‘miracle’. For what we see here in Tuticorin is but a miracle in the form of a ‘Cluster of Centers of Learning’ where there was only inhospitable sandy wasters before!.
Tuticorin had earned for itself a name in history not only for its lustrous pearls but also for the illustrious patriots it had provided for the freedom struggle, in the person of Thiru V.O.Chidambaram, Thiru M.C.Veerabahu and a host of others.
Since independence, Tuticorin has been growing into an important industrial and commercial center. But six decades back, it woefully lacked facilities for higher education which is a backbone of national development. There was wide spread frustration and despair among the intelligent student community at the lack of opportunities for higher education. Certainly, the intensity of this quest for higher education brought about its own fulfillment. Without singleness of purpose, dedication and selflessness, nothing worthwile can be achieved. This amply evidenced by the providential choice of the instrument of fulfillment of his educational complex, our late Honourable Secretary, Shri A.P.C.Veerabahu who had been working tirelessly for about 40 years for establishing this vast V.O.C. Educational complex. Any nation building activity of this type will not be lacking in Pricipals and supporters.
It was in the year 1945, to commemorate with the sacrifice of the first Sudeshi Navigator and freedom fighter “Chekkilutha Chemmal” V.O.Chidambaram Pillai and to build a great martyr, a committee was constituted with Shri.A.P.C.Veerabahu as its secretary. At first the committee thought of building a monument to the late freedom fighter and so planned a town hall or a big library. At that moment Dr.A.L.Mudaliyar, the then the Chancellor of Madras University had appealed to Philanthropists all over Tamilnadu to start colleges in unrepresented areas. Spurred by this news, himself a graduate Shri A.P.C.Veerabahu realizing the importance of education in empowering people of Navbharat mooted the idea of establishing an educational institution for man. Thus came V.O.Chidambaram College into existence. In 1947, Thiru P.S.Kumarasamy Raja, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu laid the foundation for the college.
Our Sister Institutions
V.O.Chidambaram College
V.O.Chidambaram College as shaped by Kulapathy, A.P.C.Veerabahu is not a college but a temple of learning in Tuticorin steeped into elegance and majestically rising to the skies in a sprawling 100 acres of land. In 1951, at a domestic function with Prof.A.Srinivasa Raghavan as the first Principal and with an ensign displaying the motto Love, Knowledge and Virtue V.O.C.College began its academic routine. This enduring institution is not built of stone, mortar, iron and woods but of blood, vision, dedication, compassion and the altruism of the hon’ble founder Secretary Kulapathy A.P.C.Veerabahu. Even when sustained growth and development were stalled by cumbersome fiscal demands of the government and University, our Kulapathy had borne the brunt on himself and his family has so far parted with several lakhs to maintain the tempo of development.
B.Ed. M.Ed. and M.Phil programmes are being offered in V.O.C College of Education. IGNOU Study Centre for B.Ed. (2557) has been established in 2001. All the three colleges have been mainly catering to the needs of the poor and forbidden of Tuticorin area. The other institutions run by V.O.C.Educational Society are Bharathiar Vidyalayam Higher Secondary School, and A.P.C.Veerabahu High school, Pudhupatti, Tuticorin. Our founder Secretary started this college to open up the portals of higher education to the economically and gender wise discriminated sections hailing from the backward areas of southern districts and this commendable move is being realized over the years.
The V.O.C.Educational Society founded on 20th August, 1947, has been blessed with the good wishes and support of national leaders like Thiru C.Rajagopalachari, Thiru K.Kamaraj, Thiru P.S. Kumarasamy Raja, Thiru A. Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar and many others. As a result of the activities of this educational society, dynamic leadership of its founder-Secretary Shri A.P.C. Veerabahu we have today in this city, centers of higher learning in various fields. Of these the V.O.C.Teachers’ Training College which was formally inaugurated on 5th July 1955. At the passing years of our famed founder Kulapathy A.P.C. Veerabahu, his beloved son Shri A.P.C.V. Chockalingam was called upon to shoulder the heavy responsibilities revering this college and he ably rose to the occasion. He has not all these years in his determination to maintain the noble traditions which his father had established.
‘Work is worship’ says Carle and so for our President & Secretary too. They have been extending their services to the maximum, thus making service as his motto. We have the rare privilege of being a staff under his guidance.
Began under the head of Prof.K.R.Applachari, a well known figure in the Field of Teacher Education, the institution has been ceaselessly trying to maintain the old tradition and ideals of the founder. Today the college can feel proud of having produced more than 7000 trained teachers who are now engaged in the responsible task of helping the future citizens of our country.
