CARMEL HILL CONVENT, KOZHIKODE – 1955

The history of Carmel Hill Convent begins with the establishment of Providence Women’s College, Calicut. Women’s higher education in Malabar was the dream and long-cherished hope of many, and on 1st July 1952, the Providence Women’s College was born in the premises of Providence Convent on Gandhi Road, Calicut, at the time of His Lordship Aldo Maria Patroni S.J. and the Mother General, Mother Sylivia. The opening of this college with Mother Gabrielle as Principal marked the beginning of a new era, not only in the history of the institution but in Malabar itself, because it was the first women’s college in North Malabar.

In 1953, the college was shifted to its own building atop the picturesque Florican Hill. Providence Women’s College was opened on 21st March 1955 in the new building. Florican Hill was re-named Carmel Hill. On 20th June 1955, Srs. Eugenie, Amelle, Clare Mary, Stefana, and Mother Clarissa were forced to move out of Providence Convent into the arms of the Queen of Carmel. On 25th June, Srs. Fidelis, Edburga, Jane Mary, and Bernard joined the little community. The convent was just the Chemistry lab, with no rooms and no conveniences of any sort. The formal opening of Carmel Hill Convent and the preservation of the Blessed Sacrament were on 29th June. The Bishop celebrated Mass, and Christ came to reside at Carmel Hill.

We cannot but marvel at the wonderful growth of Providence College. It is the pride and joy of Carmel Hill. The tiny sapling that began with 32 students has grown to 1800 students, offering 6 postgraduate courses and 13 undergraduate courses, 6 UGC approved, and more than 120 staff, with two hostels that accommodate 400 students. In 2011, the college received the second cycle of accreditation by NAAC with an A grade and a 3.11 CGPA. A new Diamond Jubilee block was inaugurated in 2014. In 2015, a diploma course in jewellery designing under the community college scheme of the UGC was begun. The college received the status with the potential for excellence (CPE) by the UGC.

In 2017, the college was granted an A+ grade with a 3.52 CGPA in the reaccreditation by NAAC. The Departments of Physics, English, and Botany are approved research centres affiliated to the University of Calicut. Carmel Hill Convent, a tiny acorn, has grown and blossomed. The superiors at the local, provincial, and general levels, ecclesiastical and civil authorities, principals, staff and students, friends and benefactors, and the numerous labourers who toiled on the campus have contributed towards making the institution what it is today.