The Nair Service Society established VTMNSS College in 1964 in commemoration of the great freedom fighter, Thalakulathu Velu Thampi Dalava, on the occasion of his 200th birth anniversary. The late Padmabhushan Mannathu Padmanabhan, the founder-visionary of the NSS, is renowned for his remarkable foresight and philanthropy. Imbued with the spirit of imparting education to everyone, regardless of class, community or creed, he established a chain of colleges all over Kerala. VTMNSS College is situated on a hillock at Dhanuvachapuram, en route to Kanayakumari, which is on the southern most tip of Kerala. The idyllic environs of the college provide a congenial ambience for academic pursuits.

The college started off modestly as a junior college on July 15, 1964 in a temporary building and has now developed into a full- fledged first grade college. It was upgraded in 1967 with the commencement of Degree Courses in English, History, Politics Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Commerce. Degree Courses in Economics and Botany were started in 1981. Degree courses in Zoology and Malayalam were introduced in 1984 and 1995 respectively. The college attained the status of a first grade college  when the Post Graduate course in Commerce was begun in 1981 followed by the  Post Graduate course in English 1n 1998 and History in 1999.

        The college scaled great heights despite the impediments that generally come in the way of a college in a rural backdrop. More than 80 per cent of the students come from financially challenged families of peasants, fishermen, coolies and people engaged in the unorganized traditional sectors like handloom weaving, masonry and pottery making. Their only means of sustenance in education is the fee concession allowed by the State Government and a few scholarships. Nevertheless it is a matter of justifiable pride that the students of this college have carved an enviable niche for themselves in society. They fare well in the University Examinations bagging ranks and distinctions; and some of them have even cleared the civil service examination thereby proving that they are in no way inferior to their more fortunate counterparts in the city colleges.