N. S. S. College, Pandalam

N. S. S. College, Pandalam is one among the most reputed higher education institutions in Kerala, affiliated to the University of Kerala.[1] It is one of the three oldest colleges established and managed by the Nair Service Society. The college was founded by Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai in 1950,[2] with intermediate course offerings from the University of Travancore. The college is situated at the heart of Pandalam town adjacent to several other educational institutions under the same management.

Main building of NSS College Pandalam

N. S. S. College, Pandalam

Motto	Sreyohi Njanam Abhyasath (Sanskrit)
Motto in English	"Knowledge indeed is superior to constant practice"
Type	Government Aided College
Established	1950 (1950)
Founder	Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai
Academic affiliations	University of Kerala, UGC
Location	Pandalam , Kerala , India 9.2215°N 76.6814°E / 9.2215; 76.6814
Website	www.nsscollegepandalam.ac.in

The college has 15 departments in science, arts, commerce, and physical education. It offers 14 under-graduate courses, seven post-graduate courses, and one doctoral programme. The college motto (inscribed on the college emblem) is derived from the Bhagavad Gita smriti Sreyohi Njanam Abhyasath (Knowledge indeed is superior to constant practice).[3] The college is accredited as a special grade college by the University Grants Commission.[1] It was accredited as B++ in 2007 and later re-accredited to A grade in 2014 by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

The college campus covers 50 acres (20 ha) of land,[1] and houses a study centre of the University of Kerala and the University District Information Office.[1] The Zoology department receives financial assistance from the Sir Ratan Tata Trust.[1] The English department has a theatre called the Pandaleeyan English Theatre,[1] which was formed by N. G. Kurup who was college principal in the 1960s.[1] The theatre has staged William Shakespeare's Hamlet in Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam.[1] In 2013, the department staged a Kathakali adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello at its literary fest "Lumina Literati".[4]

The college library has approximately 50,000 books and 1800 reference books.[1] It also has active units of the National Cadet Corps,[5] the National Service Scheme,[6] the Women's Studies Unit,[1] the forestry club,[1] Entrepreneurship Development Club and the Film Club.[7] The college has hosted several national seminars and workshops on various topics such as cinema,[8] Malayalam literature,[9] and water resources management.[7]

Notable alumni of the college include P. S. Sreedharan Pillai , Pandalam Sudhakaran, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Narendra Prasad, and Dr Biju.[10] Notable lecturers who worked here include Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai and Manoj Kuroor.[11]