COLLEGE HISTORY

This prestigious institution was founded by H.H.Maharajah Sir Vijayarama Gajapathi Raj in1860. Ever since he held the charge of Samsthanam, he determined to establish a Sanskrit College in Vizianagaram as he was influenced by Sanskrit learning at Banaras when he was a child. During the reign of his son sir.Ananda Gajapathi Raj,G.C.I.E, known as a poet encouraged Pandits to develop the literature rather attending college.In 1900, Mr H.F.W.Gilman,ICS has appointed Mr.K.Ramanujachari,M.A.,B.L, Principal of the college and directed him to look after the college administration in a proper way. Mr.Ramanujachari adopted the work culture from Banaras Sanskrit College. Being affiliated to the Benaras University, this college has emerged as the centre for examinations.The first inspecting officer, appointed by the Government has proposed, "This College, being the only institution in the northern circars in which provision exists for advance courses in several branches of Sanskrit learning should be made the central college and the Sanskrit schools at Simhachalam, Padmanabham,Ramathirtham, and other places in Samsthanam should be made feeders to it.

          This institution was one of the first to be recognised by the University  as an Oriental College. The college was recognised for the Nyaya and Vyakarana branches of the Shiromani title and for the Sanskrit and the Telugu languages for the Vidwan title.The first Oriental titles examination was held in 1915 and the college has been sending up students for the examination from that year. In the year 1919, the regulations for the Oriental titles examination were revised so as to provide for two examinations for each title called the preliminary and the final at the end of every two years, in the place of one examination at the end of the fourth year. According to the revised regulations, a new examination in English for proficiency in Oriental learning; according to modern methods of study was instituted. In addition to that, for the titles, in consequence of the college obtained further recognition for the 'Meemamsa' and the branches of the Shiromani title. Subsequently recognised for the subjects of Indian philosophy and its relation to western philosophy and Indo European philology with special reference to Sanskrit for the proficiency examination.With the incorporation of the Andhra University in the year 1926, the college came under its purview and was recognised by it for the same branches and languages for its Vidya praveena and Bhasha praveena titles and for the same subjects for its Proficiency examination.

          The college has a secondary department attached to to it consisting of the advanced and the elementary sections each in its turn consisting of four classes. There is a public examination at the end of advanced course of studies and the college has been sending up  students for the examinations. students were trained in the subjects of vyakaran sahitya in Sanskrit and Telugu. Instruction in English is also given to students in the college classes as a knowledge of it is absolutely necessary for the examination for certificates of proficiency in Oriental learning which can be taken two years after preliminary examination for titles.The college has also Vedic department attached to it in which provision is made for the teaching of 'Rig-Veda' and the 'Yajur -Veda'.

         When the college was founded, it was located in a building near the clock tower; it was then shifted to a somsthan building on the bank of Ayyakoneru. Then it was again shifted into the Venu Gopala Swamy Matt but it was subsequently transferred to the old town hall, now occupied by the Vijaya Rama gaana pathasala or 'The Music college'. When the town hall was required for the engineering office, the college was given the thatched rooms in the first floor of the vijayanagaram Thana office. The thatched roof of the building was destroyed by fire about two years after the college came to occupy it. As the accident took place when the college was not working it lost only a small portion of the records, kept in the building at the time. The rest of the records and the library were however not destroyed as they were kept in the maharajas English college for want of sufficient accommodation in the Thana office. The college was then removed to the building now occupied by the Maharaja Branch School. When the latter was required for the English college, this college was again shifted to the first floor of thana office which was by the time repaired with the pakka roof. In this manner, as the college had to be frequently shifted from place to place for want of proper accommodation. Maharajah Sri Vijaya Rama Gajapathi Raj was resolved to erect a separate building for the college. The site on which the building stands was selected by site on which the building stands was selected by Her Highness Maharajah Kumarika Appalakondayamba, who however did not survive to see the building completed. The Government contributed half the cost of a building and the college was formally moved into the present building on  2 August 1914. The building however has approved in sufficient for the growing needs of the institution. There are only 10 rooms in it besides the library hall. The principal's room and the office room portions of the verandah have been enclosed by Bamboo thattles and converted into classrooms.

         The college library hosts thousands of books on various subjects in  Sanskrit and ins Telugu language besides a number of works written in Literary English on Sanskrit subjects. The library was twice enlarged by the addition of considerable number of books. Once in 1915, when the library of the late Mr G V. Apparao purchased by the sansthanam and given to the college and again in 1920 when the Sanskrit books in the library of the late Lingam Lakshmaji Pandit was also purchased by the Sansthan, were given to the college. The Government sanctioned special grants for the improvement of the library on more than one occasion. The library is being added to every year including the volume of some Oriental Journals of outstanding merit like the Indian Antiquary, the total number of volumes in the library at present is 4832 of which 2382 are in Sanskrit. 1184 in Telugu and 1266 in English. The library contains a few Sanskrit and Telugu manuscripts. There is a reading room attached to the college. It is furnished with some Sanskrit and Telugu magazines and with a few English ones relating to Oriental subjects in addition to one Telugu daily and two weeklies.