52nd Rank in NIRF 2025
History
The Department of Mathematics strives for academic excellence through quality teaching and research by setting a conducive atmosphere for students, pooling resources and expertise through unity, ardent commitment, and the hard work of teachers to inspire Holy Crossians of excellence.
In 1933, the Department of Mathematics at Holy Cross College was started at the intermediate level. The first chair of the department was Miss Bagheeradi Ammal and later Prof. P.S. Sundaresan. From 1937, Mathematics was introduced as one of the main subjects in B.A. degree courses, headed by Prof. R. Natesan. The Department of Mathematics has been a key instrument for the multifaceted empowerment of women with knowledge since the introduction of the PUC in 1956 and the three-year degree course in 1957.
From 1949 to 1979, the department was headed by Rev. Sr. Electa, who instilled moral and ethical values through dedicated service. Her remarkable contribution included the installation of an advanced Telescope for the department to train students in Astrophysics observation. The department has offered inter-disciplinary subjects and extended services since 1964 to the departments of Economics (PG), Zoology (PG), and Commerce with Economical Statistics, Bio-statistics, and Business Mathematics/Statistics.
Mrs. Melucina Vasanthan contributed remarkably by introducing the UG (1991) and PG (1994) programmes during her tenure as Head of Department (1979–1998). The Autonomous status enabled the department to re-structure the syllabus to meet society's needs. Under her direction, the department organized Programme Centres for School Teachers Orientation and conducted the UGC-sponsored "First Phase of the Question Bank Workshop" in 1996.
Mrs. Hannah Vijayakumar, the first doctoral graduate in Numerical Analysis, led the department from 1998 to 2007, significantly enhancing quality. She was succeeded by Mrs. Manju Purusothaman (2007–2010), during whose tenure staff members successfully completed UGC Major and Minor projects in Fuzzy Queues and Fuzzy Inventory Models.
From 2010 to 2013, Ms. Imelda Samathanam Evangeline led the department. Under the coordination of Dr. W. Ritha, the department achieved Research Department status in 2012 and established a Computer Laboratory equipped with 30 systems. Dr. Maheswari (2013–2016) initiated the M.Phil. Programme in 2016, and Dr. Lilly Robert (2016–2019) guided the introduction of the PG Additional Section.
From 2019 to 2022, Dr. W. Ritha served as Head, producing 22 Ph.D. research scholars, publishing over 311 papers, and filing 5 patents. Under the current Head, Dr. M. Mary Mejrullo Merlin, the department is leading in Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and innovative teaching methodologies (Math 7TM, 8TM), establishing international and national academic collaborations.
In March 2024, the Sr. Electa Math Academy was launched to offer coaching for competitive examinations. In 2024–2025, the department expanded its activities through four Domain Clubs and four Non-Curriculum Clubs. Currently, the department features 16 dedicated staff members (11 Doctorates, 7 Research Guides) and 320 enthusiastic students.
Our Journey
Key milestones in the development of the Department of Mathematics:
Inaugurated at the Intermediate level under Miss Bagheeradi Ammal.
Introduced as a main subject in B.A. (1937), PUC (1956), and 3-Year Degree Course (1957).
B.Sc. Mathematics introduced in 1991 followed by M.Sc. Mathematics in 1994.
Recognized as a Research Department in 2012 and launched the M.Phil. programme in 2016.
Launched Sr. Electa Math Academy for competitive exam coaching alongside 8 specialized student clubs.
Vision & Mission
Vision
The Department of Mathematics strives to be internationally recognized for academic excellence through the depth of its teaching and research, and to be locally relevant through its role in the development of the community it serves.
Mission
The mission of the Mathematics department is to provide an environment where students can learn and become competent users of mathematics and mathematical applications. Moreover, the department will contribute to the development of students as mathematical thinkers, enabling them to become lifelong learners, to continue to grow in their chosen professions, and to function as productive citizens.