Thalassery: Brennen life between 1962-66 played a significant role in moulding Pinarayi Vijayan, the politician. So was A.K Balan, the culture and law minister. When they and other lawmakers and Brennen alumni joined for the valedictory ceremony of its quasquicentennial anniversary, it was a trip down memory lane.
The chief minister skipped his memories for want of time, but Mr Balan recollected demonstrations on the campus, and an incident of students releasing a snake into its auditorium to create chaos at a function. Mr Vijayan quickly intervened to add a similar incident happened during his time. Mr Vijayan, who did his pre-degree and joined for BA Economics, led his first protest against a ferry fare hike. He was active in Kerala Students Federation.
Mr Balan was its first union chairperson belonged to the SFI. Among other attendees, James Mathew studied here during 1977-82, A.N. Shamseer was elected from here to become Kannur Univrsity Union chairperson in 2002. Mahe MLA Dr V Ramachandran studied economics here. Mr Vijayan, after consultation with education minister, announced a few new courses, MSc Zoology, M Phil in History and BSc in Statistics, to cheers from students.
