About the Department

Sanskrit is one of the few departments that came up at the advent of the College in 1919. Brahmasri K.R. Anantharama Sastrigal headed the Department. A stalwart in the field, he contributed in original to the language and literature. . His Suptiganta bodhini is one such work which deals with the word formation in Sanskrit language. His Suptiganta bodhini is one such work which deals with the word formation in Sanskrit language. He was in service of the College up to 1926.

Sri R. Vasudeva Sarma, M.A., B.L., though a lawer by profession, took to Sanskrit teaching. He was known for his erudition in Tamil, English and French, apart from Sanskrit. He rendered Sanskrit and Tamil classics in English. He also translated some French works into Tamil. He was in service between 1st of July 1929 and 14th of April 1937. His premature demise was a loss to the Sanskrit field. Till July 1939, the vacancy in the Sanskrit Department was not filled up. It is a matter of pride that Principal V. Saranathan handled Sanskrit classes along with Sri M.K. Venkataraman, of the Department of Philosophy, who later became the Principal of the College. In those days, people serving in one faculty were well-versed in the other faculties also. And they were adept in several languages.

The winner of Prince of Wales Gold Medal for his profound scholarship in Sanskrit, Sri T.K. Pancahapagesan, joined the Department on 5th July 1939, as the Tutor and Head of the Department. He became the Assistant Lecturer on 1st June 1943 and Lecturer on 1st June 1946. He was awarded gold medal by the management, in the Goldern Jubilee Celebrations of the College held in 1970.

Sri V.S.V. Patrachariar joined the faculty in 1940, to assist him. Since the number of Sanskrit students were nearly 140, Principal Saranathan divided the Junior intermediate into two sections. It continued till the introduction of Pre University Course (PUC) in 1956. Sanskrit was handled as the Part III Language from that year. Sanskrit was affiliated as Part III Language by the University of Madras, when PUC came into force. Sri V.S.V. Patrachariar retired on 1st June 1957.

Following him, Sri S. Parthasarathy, was appointed as the lecturer in July 1957, to assist Sri T.K. Panchapagesan. SP Sir, as he is popularly known, was a bhagavata. He conducted religious discourses in and around Srirangam. He was a philanthropist. Apart from monetary assistance to the needy, he used to support the students in paying fees and sustenance. His wife Mrs. Sulochana Parthasarathy, donated his entire collection of books to Srimad Andavan Ashramam, Neyveli. Sri SP retired in May 1987 and reached the lotus feet of the Lord in a couple of months after his retirement.

The retirement vacancy saw Sri V. M. Ananthanarayanan, as the Assistant Professor in Sanskrit at the Department. He was appointed on 21st January 1988. The student strength was not that convincing at the beginning. It dwindled from 23 to two and three in 2000. The department was to be closed in 2004, but for the benevolence of the present Secretary of the College Management. Several colleges and schools, remaining under a single banner, were trifurcated. National College and Sri Sesha Iyengar Memorial Higher Secondary School came under one roof. Shri K. Raghunathan, assumed his office as the Secretary of the College Management. The college which was waning to the new moon all these years, started waxing. It was rejuvenation. The Secretary enlivened the Department. The Department initiated Endowments for the award of prizes to the successful students.

Then after the retirement of Dr V.M Anantanarayanan, the management committee has appointed Dr V Balaji as Assistant Professor & Head of the Department from 09th of March 2024.