KANNUR: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the valedictory function of the quasquicentennial anniversary celebrations of Government Brennen College, one of the premier educational institutions in Malabar, at 2.30 pm today. A former alumnus, this is the first major programme he attends in his constituency after assuming the office. Brennen College was born out of a free school established in 1862 by Edward Brennen, a master attendant of Thalassery port. It got the status of a second-grade college in 1890 and first grade in 1947.
The institution moved to the new building at Dharmadam from Thalassery town in 1958. In January 2011, it got A Grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, and UGC granted Rs 1.5 crore in 2015 under the Heritage College Scheme to preserve its assets. Education minister C. Raveendranath will preside over the ceremony while culture and law minister A.K. Balan will inaugurate its renovated auditorium.
Lawmakers P.K. Sreemathi, Mullappally Ramachandran, Prof Richard Hay, E. Ahamed and K.K. Ragesh will also take part. The one-year long 125-year celebrations were inaugurated by Governor P. Sathasivam last year. Brennen Expo 2016, an education fair in association with various government agencies like tourism, archaeological and archives departments, academic seminars, alumni meets, felicitation of former teachers, diverse cultural events and literary conclave were held.
Brennen’s own MLAs
Including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Government Brennen possesses a vast number of alumni who have excelled in their respective fields. In the recently held assembly elections, four MLAs elected to Kerala including Mr Vijayan are from Brennen. Culture minister A.K. Balan, Talipparamba MLA James Mathew and Thalaserry MLA A.N. Shamseer are the other MLAs in Kerala Assembly. Dr V. Ramachandran representing Mahe in Puducherry is also a former student of the college.
Brennen life between 1962-66 played a significant role in moulding the politician in Pinarayi Vijayan. Mr Vijayan completed his pre-degree and degree in Economics from Brennen College. He was an active worker of Kerala Students Federation (later known as SFI).
