St. Berchmans College

St. Berchmans College, Changanassery (Autonomous), also known as SB College, is one of the first Autonomous Colleges in Kerala, India. Established in 1922, the college is considered to be one of the oldest and prestigious institutions in India. The University Grants Commission (UGC) identified the College under its “College with Potential for Excellence” scheme. UGC and the Government of Kerala granted autonomy to the college on June 13, 2014. The college celebrated its centenary in the academic year of 2022.

Saint John Berchmans is the patron saint of the college and is venerated in the Church as the Patron of Students. It is situated in the town of Changanassery 18 kilometers south of Kottayam. Established in 1922, It has 19 postgraduate and 8 research departments and it offers 17 UG, 21 PG, 3 MPhil, and 9 doctoral programmes. Students and alumni of the college are referred to as ‘Berchmanites’. It is run by the Catholic Archdiocese of Changanassery, is affiliated to the Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam and is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

History
St Berchmans College is a higher education institution under the Archeparchy of Changanacherry. The College was founded in 1922 by Venerable Mar Thomas Kurialacherry, Bishop of Changanassery diocese.The college campus was first built on the premises of St Marys Church, Parel under the University of Madras. Later, in 1925, it was transferred to its present site as a three storied building, today named Kurialacherry Block. In 1937, it is assumed that the famous tower block of the college was completed.

In 1925, the College authorities decided to install the statue of Christ the King, brought from Spain, on the top of the tower. The college chapel, built in 1940, was named Christ King's Chapel, after the installation of the statue.

The College was first accredited with ‘Five Star’ in 1999 and reaccredited with ‘A+’ in 2006. In the third cycle of accreditation in 2012, the college was again graded at A. In 2017, the college was again reaccredited with ‘A’ grade. The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Government of Kerala granted autonomy to this college in the year 2014. In 1996 and 1997, it won the “R Shankar Award” for the Best College in the State, instituted by the Government of Kerala. In 2004, the UGC identified the College under its “College with Potential for Excellence” scheme. The National Commission for Minority Educational Institution, New Delhi has granted minority status to the college in 2010. All the Science Departments are supported by the FIST of DST, Government of India. It has been ranked among the top 100 Indian colleges by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), MHRD, Government of India since 2018

College crest
The college crest features a Greek Cross dividing four quarters. The Dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit, the Fleurdelis represents purity, and the coconut trees signify Kerala. Waves depict the College's location, and the open book on the Greek Cross symbolizes wisdom. The Latin motto "Caritas Vera Nobilitas" and its Sanskrit equivalent "सैभ्रात्रं हि कूलीनता (saibhrātram hi kūlīnatā)" is inscribed below the shield.

Rankings
The college was ranked 54 in All India ranking by NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) in 2023.' 

Programmes
The college provides 17 UG, 21 PG, and 9 doctoral programmes.

Undergraduate
Aided Programs

English Model 1, English Model 2 Vocational Journalism, Malayalam, Economics, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Psychology, Commerce FT+ ACCA/CMA

Self-Financing Programs

BSc Biotechnology and Botany, BSc Zoology and Industrial Microbiology, BCA, Commerce FT+ACCA/CMA, BCOM CA+ACCA/CMA, Bvoc Renewable Energy Management.

Postgraduate
Aided Programs

English, Malayalam, Economics, Botany, Zoology, Mathematics, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Physics, Physics NRE(New and Renewable Energy Management), MCom Finance, MSW, MBA

Self-Financing Programs

MSc Computer Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Library and Information Science, Mcom Finance, MBA

Facilities

 * SB Central Library
 * Hostel
 * Career Orientation Centre
 * Mar Charles Lavigne Indoor Stadium
 * Berchnet
 * Common Instrumentation Facility
 * Auditorium and Conference Halls
 * Herbarium
 * Botanical Garden
 * Ulahannan Mapilla Centre for Oriental Studies
 * Mary Anne John Stuttgen Library
 * Play Grounds
 * Language Lab
 * Staff Co-operative Society
 * SB Book House
 * Berchmans TV
 * Canteen and Cafeteria
 * Research Block
 * Berchmans IT Division
 * Computer Lab
 * Christ the King’s Chapel
 * Zoological Museum

Hostels

 * St. Joseph’s Hostel (UG)
 * St. Thomas Hostel (UG)
 * St Berchmans Hostel (UG)
 * Sahrudaya Hostel (PG)
 * St Thomas Moore Hostel (MBA)
 * Pope John Paul II Hostel (Sports Hostel)
 * St Mary’s Hostel (Women's Hostel)

Over 800 hostellers were residing inside the campus. In the early stages of this college, this college was an important institution in Kerala which has boarding facilities for students. Hence hostels play an important part in the phase of this college.

Academics and extra-curricular activities
Research areas in science include Material science, Nanotechnology, Polymer Chemistry, Plant Taxonomy and Environmental Sciences. The college conducted an international conference on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development participated in by delegates from 26 countries in 2005. Apart from academics, the college has two units of National Service Scheme(NSS) in which 200 volunteers can be enrolled. NSS gives various avenues for its volunteers to engage in various campus and community activities.

The popular extra-curricular societies and clubs engage in activities concerned with debating, drama, film club, social service, photography, Jesus Youth, National Cadet Corps, Mock United Nations (MUN), etc.

It is the only college in India, apart from St. Stephen's College, New Delhi, to have a full-fledged Shakespearean Theatre. Shakespearean plays have been regularly staged since 1938. The hall was named Archbishop Kavukatt Hall. This hall underwent major renovations which works started in 2020 and completed in 2023. The hall re-opened after the complete renovation on March 8, 2023.

BELS (Berchmans Erudite Lecture Series)

The college brings Nobel Laureates and other scholars such as Ei-ichi Negishi (Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2010) in 2016, Ada E Yonath (Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, 2009) in 2019, Sir Anthony James Leggett (Nobel Laureate in Physics 2003) in 2020 and Martin Chalfie (Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2008) in 2021.

Berchmans Institute of Management Studies (BIMS)
Berchmans Institute of Management Studies (BIMS) established in 1995, is under the management of St. Berchmans College affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. It is a full-time Master of Business Administration programme. Berchmans Institute of Management Studies is recognized by All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi.

Notable alumni

 * Kuzhikalail M. Abraham - Scientist, Professor, and expert on lithium-ion batteries
 * George Alencherry - Major Arch Bishop of Syro Malabar Catholic Church
 * Justice A. M. Babu, Former judge of Kerala High Court
 * Kunchacko Boban - film actor
 * C. V. Ananda Bose - IAS
 * Dr. Jitheshji - World's Fastest Cartoonist
 * P. T. Chacko - former Home Minister of Kerala
 * Bipin Chandran - scriptwriter
 * K.M. Chandy - former Governor(MP, Gujarat & pondicherry)
 * Oommen Chandy - former Chief Minister of Kerala
 * Dr. B. Ekbal - Planning Board member, former Kerala University V.C
 * V. J. James - writer
 * Cyriac Joseph - retired Supreme Court Justice
 * George Joseph - Scientist
 * Jeethu Joseph - film director
 * P. J. Joseph - former Education Minister, MLA
 * Mathew Kavukattu - Servant of God Mar
 * Manoj Kuroor - writer
 * Sibi Malayil - film director
 * Tony Mathew -, orator, writer
 * N. Sreekantan Nair - former MP for Kollam Constituency
 * Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri, poet, writer
 * Raju Narayanaswamy IAS - Addl. Secretary, Govt. of Kerala
 * Prem Nazir - film actor
 * George Onakkoor
 * P. K. Narayana Panicker - former NSS General Secretary
 * P. Parameswaran (AKA Parameshwarji ) - Director of Bharatiya Vichara Kendra, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue, Padmavibhooshan Awardee
 * Martin Prakkat - film director
 * Dr. M. V. Pylee - Indian Scholar, Padmabhushan Awardee, Former Vice Chancellor - Cochin University of Science and Technology
 * A. A. Rahim - Indian Politician, Freedom Fighter and Union Minister
 * Justice C. T. Ravikumar Judge Supreme Court of India
 * John Sankaramangalam - filmmaker and former director of the FTII, Pune
 * M. G. Soman - film actor
 * P. C. Thomas - former Central Minister
 * Santosh Thundiyil - cinematographer