The Department which was started as a chair for an honorary professorship of Tamil in the year 1944 in the Then Travancore University with the munificent donation of rupees one lakh and one by Dr. R.M. Azhakappa Chettiyar One of the great philanthropists of Tamil Nadu grew and became the Department of Tamil in the University of Kerala during the stewardship of Prof. V.I. Subramanian (1954- 1966) due to his vision and dynamic leadership. Late Prof. M. Raghava Iyengar (1945- 1951) and late Prof. S. Vaiyapuripillai (1951- 1954) the two great luminaries of Tamil Scholarship adorned the chair earlier Prof. S.V. Subramanian (1966- 1974) and late Prof. Elayaperumal (1974- 1984) continued the works of their predecessors vigorously.Subsequently during the stewardship of Prof.K.Subramoney (1984 - ), Dr.L.Gloria Sundramathy (1990 – 1994). Prof.K.Nachimuthu (1994 –  1995,1998 - 2007) Dr.C.Subramania Pillai (1995 – 1998,2007),Prof.Doctor P.Doctor Nazeemdeen (2007 – 2008) maintained the traditions set by its predecessors and registered various developments.