Established in 1961, Mar Athanasius College of Engineering (MACE) is proud to be one of the five pioneering institutions in Kerala offering undergraduate engineering education. This Government-Aided institution is established, owned, and managed by the Mar Athanasius College Association – a charitable society registered under the Cochin Registration of Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act.
MACE is the second major venture of the Association, following the establishment of Mar Athanasius College (Arts & Science) in 1955. The Association has since expanded its educational footprint with institutions like Mar Athanasius International School. The founding legacy of MACE was shaped by the visionary leadership of the late Prof. M. P. Varghese, a pioneer in education, who led the institution from its inception.
The college is governed by a dedicated Governing Body consisting of representatives from the Mar Athanasius College Association, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the Government of Kerala, and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University.
Dr. Winny Varghese, son of the late Prof. M. P. Varghese, currently serves as the Secretary of the Association and the Chairman of the Governing Body.
Son of Prof. M. P. Varghese, one of the Founding fathers of Mar Athanasius College Association, Dr. Winny Varghese has inherited some great traits of his illustrious father. He had been associated with the sister institute, Mar Athanasius Arts and Science College as a Professor and later as the Principal before donning the garb of Association Secretary.
He majored in Chemistry and completed his Ph.D. from the University of Calicut with specialization in Chemical Dynamics, Natural Products, Environmental Chemistry, and the thesis titled Kinetic Studies on the Hydrolysis of some Acid Phthalic Esters of Benzhydrol.
Prof. M. P. Varghese, the Founder Secretary of Mar Athanasius College Association, was an eminent scholar and a great organizer. He was born in an aristocratic Christian family – Manjummekudiyil – in Central Kerala (India) at Keerampara in Kothamangalam Taluk, on 29 June 1922. He graduated in Economics from Union Christian College, Aluva with a Gold medal from the Travancore University in 1945. He took his Master’s Degree from Madras Christian College in 1947 and M. Litt. from Madras University in 1951. During 1957-58 he spent one year in Oxford doing research work on Keynes’ General Theory under the renowned Economist Sir Roy Harrod.
His public life started in 1952 when he became a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the State. From the very beginning his main interest was the establishment of educational institutions in the field of higher education. In 1953 he became the Founder Secretary of the Mar Athanasius College Association, which established the Mar Athanasius College in 1955, Mar Athanasius College of Engineering in 1961 and Athanasius College High School in 1966 and the Mar Baselios College at Adimali in the Idukki District in 2003. He was the main source of strength behind all these institutions and lead them as the Secretary of the Association and Manager of the Institutions.
Prof. Varghese joined the faculty of Economics at Mar Athanasius College in 1955, a college which was established largely by the untiring efforts of Prof. Varghese and his associates. He held the dual posts of Principal and Professor in Economics from 1963 to 1982 with a break of three years between 1969 and 1972. Prof. Varghese brought his research work, started in Oxford, to a fruitful culmination by publishing his two books in Economics, namely; A Criticism of Keynes’ General Theory and Theory of Economic Potential and Growth.
The most important contribution of Prof. Varghese to Economic thought is his book Theory of Economic Potential and Growth . It explains the economic necessity of growth, forewarns the world about the inevitability of crisis leading to economic breakdown inherent in the capitalist economic system imposed by limited population growth, and advocates the need for Government intervention and support to meet the crisis and maintain economic activity with full employment. The book has won International recognition and appreciation.
He has been an ardent fighter for social causes. When there was a proposal to locate a Nuclear Power Plant in Central Kerala at Bhoothathankettu in Kothamangalam Taluk, where the density of population is very high, he took up the fight to beat the proposal. It was in pursuit of this endeavor that he formed a society called OPNR (Organisation for Protection from Nuclear Radiation). He won the battle when Smt. Indira Gandhi the then Prime Minister unequivocally declared that the establishment of a Nuclear Plant in Kerala is not under consideration. Prof. Varghese has also written an authoritative book on the subject titled A Critique of the Nuclear Programme.
When he realised that Kerala was sliding back in the field of technical education he formed OPTEK (Organisation for Promotion of Technical Education in Kerala) and organised seminars through out the length and breadth of Kerala bringing out the need for more Engineering and Medical Colleges in the private sector. It was this campaign which persuaded the government to take a helpful policy towards permitting private, self financing colleges in the State.
His unique contributions were not limited to the academic and social realms. The agricultural field is also one which has been greatly enriched by his master mind. He has formed OFFER (Organisation of Farmers for Establishment of Rights) to fight for the just causes of farmers. His work The Law of Land Acquisition and Compensation – A Criticism is intended to remedy the injustice now meted out to the small farmers in India whose properties are compulsorily acquired by the State.
Prof. M. P. Varghese has honoured with the ‘Acharya Award’ for his eminence as a scholar and an untiring organizer, ‘ Akshaya Award’ for his outstanding services in the field of Higher Education, ‘Sevana Retna’ by Y’s men International, ‘Desa Retna’ by Kothamangalam Municipality, ‘Suvarna Rekha’ by Suvarna Rekha Registered Cultural Society, ‘Vikas Award’ for his yeoman services rendered in various realms of life, and ‘Prakruthi Mithra’ puraskaram in recognition of his outstanding services for the protection of environment.
