Hajee Karutha Rowther Howdia College

The Hajee Karutha Rowther Howdia College was established in the year 1956 by the Late Hajee Mohamed Meera Rowther, popularly known as hajee Karutha Rowther. Born of noble parents in 1888, the Hajiyar grew up a great philanthropist. He was also a stanch nationalist and took part in the freedom movement of our country. The Hajiyar was extremely generous and truly religious and also had the conviction that true religion consists in service to humanity. Hence, he founded a Residential Madharasa in 1910. it has been providing free education, boarding and lodging for about 20 students every year, besides imparting religious instruction, a noble service to Islam and Muslim Community. In the year 1914, the Hajiyar established a Primary School offering free education to the poor children of all communities which is certainly a first step towards the cause of education. Then in 1950, when the local Board High School was in financial crisis, the Hajiyar rescued the School by donating a building worth a lakh of rupees and established the Institution. He made liberal contributions to Jamal Mohamed College, Trichy, the New College, Chennai and S.I.E.T. College, Chennai. Moreover in 1955, the Hajiyar donated a building worth Rs.1,00,000/- to the Local Government Hospital. In 1951, the Hajiyar had gone on a pilgrimage to Mecca and retuned with renewed zeal, fervour and a vision to establish a College at Uthamapalayam. He immediately met Dr. A. Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar, the then Vice-Chancellor of Madras University for guidance. Dr. A. L. Mudaliar readily came to his help to start the College. The Hajiyar created an Endowment of Five Lakh rupees in the form of Bank Deposit and a property of 58 acres of fertile land on the banks of River Periyar. He also contributed several lakhs of rupees towards the construction of the buildings for the College and its hostel. Thus, the ideal dream of the Hajiyar become a reality in 1956, when the College was formally declared open by Karma Veerar Shri K. Kamaraj, the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Ever since, the College has started rendering a new life to the people of the Cumbum Valley and the noble soul has occupied a unique place in the hearts of the people. The great soul departed in the year 1958, leaving his sons to shoulder the responsibility of running the Institution. And the College is governed by now the late Hajiyar's sons and grandsons. The Institution, Hajee Karutha Rowther Howdia College, has fulfilled the dreams of its founder by being accredited with the most coveted 'A' Grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in the year 2005. Besides, the "BEST COLLEGE AWARD FOR COMMUNAL HARMONY" at the University level was conferred upon the College in 2005. Having celebrated the Golden Jubilee in March, 2006, the College strides into its 54th year of service to the people of this region. Ever since its inception, the College has been producing cultivated and talented young men to serve the society and the nation as well. We hope, the College will continue to grow to cater to the educational needs of the people of this Cumbum Valley and become a model Institution.