Thirumudhukundram(virudhachalam) is the most backward taluk in Cuddalore district. Hence, to provide higher education to the students hailing from this rural area, the Government of Tamilnadu established Thiru kolanjiappar Govt. Arts College in 1966 here for;

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can

Use to change the world.”- Nelson Mandela.”

Initially, the college functioned at the Boys Higher Secondary School. In 1969, B.A. History and Tamil degree courses were started with the aid of 2 lakhs rupees donation offered by the Arulmigu Kolanjiappar temple trust.

In June 1971, with an additional new UG course in commerce, the college was shifted to the permanent building constructed in the 43.5 acres of land offered by the Pazhamalainathar temple.

In the academic year of 1972-73, the under graduate courses in Science and Maths were started. Then in 1979-80, the under graduate course in zoology was started. In 1980-81 B.Sc. Physics and in 1981, the first Master degree course was started in Tamil Literature. In 1993-94, the Tamil department was upgraded to research department with part time programmes in M.Phil.and Ph.D. In the year 1997-98, B.Sc. Computer Science programme was started. In 2000-2001, full time research programme in Ph.D. in Tamil literature was started.

During March 2005, NAAC peers committee inspected the college and awarded B+ rank. In 2005-06, B.A. English, B.Sc. Chemistry, M.Sc. Maths and M.Com classes were started. Shift based classes were started from the academic year 2007-08. All the U.G and P.G courses were conducted in the morning shift whereas in the evening shift classes of B.A. Tamil and English, B.Sc. Maths, and Computer Science and B.Com were started.

In the academic year of 2012-2013, B.Sc. Botany, M.A. English, M.A. History, M.Sc. Zoology and M.Sc. Computer Science were started. In 2013-14, research programme of M.Phil. was started in the departments of Maths, History, Zoology and Commerce along with B.A. Economics (both English and Tamil medium) and M.Sc. Physics classes.

As per the Government Order No.71 dated 23-05-2014, from 23-05-2014, the college was upgraded to Grade I.  In the year 2015-16, B.B.A., M.Sc. Chemistry, M.Phil.in Computer science, English, Physics courses along with research programme of Ph.D. in Chemistry were started.

In February 2016, NAAC peers committee visited again and awarded B (2.88) grade. Golden jubilee of the College was celebrated during the year 2016-17.From 2018-19 PG in Botany department and part time Ph.D. in Zoology were started