Union Christian College, Aluva

Union Christian College, Aluva, known as UC College, was founded in 1921 by four young graduates and teachers of Madras Christian College: Prof. K. C. Chacko, Prof. C. P. Mathew, Prof. V. M. Ittiyerah, and Prof. A. M. Varki. It was one of the earliest colleges in India to be established and managed by Indian Christians, aiming to unite feuding Travancore churches and contribute to national reconstruction inspired by Gandhi and Tagore, both of whom visited the college. It began in an old court house on 18 acres of land donated by Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, Maharaja of Travancore, starting with 63 students affiliated to Madras University. In July 1923, it became the first non-government college in Kerala to achieve first grade status. The Church Missionary Society was the only missionary body to cooperate with the college, with notable faculty including Stephen Neill and Malcolm Muggeridge. Today, the college has about 2200 students across 14 graduate and 14 postgraduate courses, is affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, and has eight departments recognized as Research Centres. It received five-star NAAC accreditation in 1999 and an A grade in 2017. The campus includes the historic Kacheri Malika building and a chapel reflecting its ecumenical tradition.