The name Poompuhar in this Poompuhar College is a town in the Nagapattinam district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was once a flourishing ancient port city known as Kaveri poompattinam, which for a while served as the capital of the early Chola kings in Tamilakam. One of the Five Great Epics of Tamil Literature such as Silappathikaram describes elaborately about the religion, culture and civilization of this famous town, Poompuhar. Moreover, Poompuhar (Kaveri Poompattinam) was a famous sea port with very close commercial contact to western and eastern countries such as Rome and Greek in the ancient year.
In this historical old city, eminent and renowned tamil people of poompuhar, who were interested with past history and heritage of our country especially the Poompuhar, and the government of Tamil Nadu decided to start an Educational institution to educate the young people in history, culture and civilization of our motherland. Subsequently, the permission was granted by the Honourable Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. K. Bhakthavatsalam to establish an educational institution at this historical Poompuhar – Melaiyur Village. With the permission of Government of Tamil Nadu, H.R & C.E Administration Department established the college named as “Poompuhar College of Oriental Culture” with the course of B.A., Oriental Culture to provide the higher education to destitute people in the year 1964.
The college was affiliated to University of Madras in 1964 and later got affiliated to Bharathidasan University in 1982. Within a very short span of time, the college has earned goodwill, fame and reputation from all its stakeholders for its quality teaching and discipline. The college has gone for NAAC assessment and accreditation in the year 2007 and has been awarded “B+” grade and there by projected itself distinctly in the field of higher education. Subsequently, the college has got an autonomous status in the year 2009. Now the college has spread over with 5 acres and it has been successfully running as a banyan tree with 12 departments out of which 10 departments are offering research programmes. The future aim of this college of repute is to become a costal University in near future.
