Golden Jubilee Souvenir
Golden Jubilee Souvenir
Golden Jubilee Alumni Reunion 2022: The Story of NGM College, Pollachi – History, Growth, and Memories
Overview and Key Highlights
The Foreword opens by celebrating the enduring bond between students and their Alma Mater, echoing the collective pride and affection for the college. Nallamuthu Gounder Mahalingam College began as a pre‑university unit under the Pollachi Kalvi Kazhagam, welcoming 160 students on 12 July 1957, marking the start of its journey. (Page 3)
Initially christened Nallamuthu Gounder Municipal College in honor of its principal donor, the institution received a generous endowment from Arutchelvar Dr. N. Mahalingam that facilitated its upgrade to a degree‑granting college by 1959, with programs in Economics, Mathematics, and Physics. (Page 3)
Following this foundational upgrade, bachelor’s degree courses in Chemistry, Commerce, and English Literature were added in the mid‑ to late‑1960s and into 1970, expanding the academic offerings and opportunities for students. (Page 3)
The Golden Jubilee Reunion Event of 2022 was organized by the alumni who entered NGM in July 1970, a cohort that spent three formative years on campus filled with learning, camaraderie, and shared memories. (Page 3)
That batch comprised 245 students across several streams: BA Economics, BA English Literature, BSc Mathematics, BSc Physics, BSc Chemistry, and BCom, reflecting a diverse academic spectrum even in those early years. (Page 3)
Many of those classmates have since passed away, while others cannot be traced, yet a remaining 125 members have reconvened after more than five decades to honor those three years of college life together. (Page 3)
From 1970 to 1973, the college benefited from the leadership of Prof. M. Alkondan as Principal, who guided the institution toward academic excellence, with Prof. N. Namasivayam assisting as Vice‑Principal and a dedicated team of about 75 faculty and staff supporting the mission. (Page 3)
Today, the college stands much larger, with more than 250 faculty members and around 5,500 students enrolled across 60 courses, including postgraduate and research programs, signaling substantial growth since those early years. (Page 3)
In its early campus days, classes were housed in a two‑storey building, complemented by an adjoining temporary structure of two lecture halls. The main building accommodated the Principal’s chambers, a library, laboratories, a cooperative book store, a canteen, the NCC office, and faculty rooms, with a gallery space serving as the auditorium after hours. (Page 3)
Within the same campus there was room for a vibrant set of facilities, including two expansive playgrounds—one opposite Ambi’s canteen and another beside the railway tracks near the RSM hostel—and a well‑kept tennis court close to the front gate on Palakkad Road. (Page 3)
The Principal’s residence formed part of the other end of the road within the then 26‑acre campus, illustrating the scale and layout of the early college environment. (Page 3)
Three hostellers from the batch were accommodated in the campus hostel, with others staying at the Nachimuthu Polytechnic Hostel located a few kilometers away on Udumalpet Road, reflecting the living arrangements of the time. (Page 3)
Looking back, those years are remembered as a period of both contentment and contention—content because of the exceptional teachers who honed student skills, and contention due to ideological groupings and annual Students’ Union elections that occasionally shaped campus life. (Page 3)
Years later, the alumni have reunited to revisit and celebrate those unforgettable days and to express gratitude for the chance to reconnect after so long. (Page 3)
In extending their appreciation, the alumni thank Dr. B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar (President), Shri M. Balasubramaniam (Secretary), and Dr. R. Muthukumaran (Principal) for warmly welcoming them back and for hosting the reunion with generous hospitality. (Page 3)
The College Alumni Association, under the leadership of President G.D. Gopalakrishnan, along with the college management and faculty, is acknowledged for its sincere cooperation in organizing the celebration in a memorable manner. (Page 3)
They also acknowledge the elder mentors from the 1970–73 era who, despite long travel distances, accepted invitations to attend and share in the occasion. (Page 3)
Gratitude is extended for the thoughtful design and layout work by N. Krishna Kumar and Sudar Publishing and Publishing House in Vadapalani, Chennai, as well as for the sponsors and volunteers whose contributions were essential to realizing this milestone event. (Page 3)
In closing, the Organizing Committee for the GJ Batch Reunion – 2022 signs off with appreciation and a sense of achievement for bringing the community together after so many years. (Page 3)
NGM College, Pollachi – Founders: Padma Bhushan Dr. N. Mahalingam and Shri S.P. Nallamuthu Gounder are cited as the visionary figures who laid the foundation for the institution’s growth. (Page 4)
Golden Jubilee Alumni Reunion – 2022 5 marks the leadership of Dr. B. K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar as President and M. Balasubramaniam as Secretary, highlighting the continued engagement of the college leadership with the alumni network. (Page 5)
NGM College, Pollachi lists Dr. R. Muthukumaran as Principal and G. D. Gopalakrishnan as President of the NGM College Alumni Association, underscoring ongoing governance and alumni collaboration. (Page 6)
The edition concludes with references to digital resources, including a Flipbook Gallery and various online collections such as magazines, catalogs, reports, and art galleries, offering readers access to preserved materials and additional documentary content. (Page 7)
