Mahatma Gandhi College owes its origin to Sri. Mannathu Padmanabhan, the illustrious founder of Nair Service Society.

The College started functioning at Vadassery Amma Veedu at Perumthanni in 1948 and was later shifted to the present site at Kattachakkonam, now known as Kesavadasapuram. Late Sri. C. Rajagopalachari, the last Governor General of India, laid the foundation stone for the new building on August 22, 1948. The Arts section was shifted to this building in 1949, and the Science section the in 1950. The main building was completed in 1958 and was inaugurated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, on April 24, 1958. The college celebrated its Silver Jubilee during 1974-75. The foundation stone of the three-storeyed Mannam Memorial Block was laid by Sri. P.K. Narayana Panikker, General Secretary of the NSS on April 23, 1989. The Block was inaugurated by Dr. Saroop Singh, the then Governor of Kerala, on October 2, the Gandhi Jayanthi Day 1990.

With about 4,000 students, 12 Degree and eight PG courses, Mahatma Gandhi College is at present the prime collegiate institution of the NSS. Besides providing research facilites in various disciplines and internet connection in the library, the college has recently started the Instrumentation Course attached to its Department of Physics.

With several of its former students winning laurels in different spheres, and a dedicated crew of teaching and managerial staff to spur it on, the college is a centre of excellence in the capital.