Shrimathi Devkunvar Nanalal Bhatt Vaishnav College for Women was started in 1968 with the generous donation of 10 acres of land by our Late Founder Chairman Shri Nanalal Bhatt and 6 lakhs donated by Cork Industries Charities Trust. The College is named after the Late Founder Chairman’s wife Smt. Devkunvar. This college is the first women’s college in Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu. The present Chairman Smt. Mamta D. Bhatt is a dynamic and energetic leader with innovative ideas and with the potential of executing them precisely. The College Secretary, Shri. C. M. Tolia, is a meticulous planner with a panoramic vista for the development of education especially for underprivileged women students. The College has rendered five decades of immaculate service for the betterment of women and society.
The initial strength of students was 240 in three P.U.C sections with staff strength of 20. In the academic year 1969-70 the college was upgraded with the introduction of B.A. Economics. Self-supporting courses under Evening structure was started in the year 1984-85 at the Under Graduate level, in 2001 at the Post Graduate level and M.Phil. Programme in 2011. The College has carved a niche in women’s education by upgrading its status as a Research Institute in 2012 with 6 Departments viz. History and Tourism, Statistics, Physics, Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Computer Science, and Commerce, offering Ph.D. programme. Six Research Departments offer Full-time and Part-time Ph.D. Programme and 3 departments offer Part-time Ph.D. programme. At present there are 10 Under Graduate courses in the aided structure and 15 Under Graduate courses, 14 Post Graduate courses, 5 M.Phil. Courses in the self-supporting structure and there are 52 research scholars. The College caters to the needs of 6000+ students with high standard of education and discipline through committed staff that makes women students wiser and stronger.
The College was accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC in 2003. The Autonomous Status was conferred by UGC and confirmed by University of Madras in June 2006. The College was re-accredited with ‘A+’ grade by NAAC in January 2017 and extension of autonomy granted in 2013. The college has been established as an NPTEL local chapter.
The College has witnessed a multi-directional impressive growth in diversified areas that provide opportunities to the women students to explore and deepen their academic interest and extension activities effectively.