In 1961 when the College was established, the Department of Modern Indian languages also opened to teach Tamil and Telugu languages. Since then this prestigious college is also recognized as the centre for Dravidian Languages, Literature and Culture of Tamil Nadu in Delhi.

Dr. Kanaga Soundari Mahalingam (popularly known as ''Saalini'', writer of innumerable books and research articles and social activist, was the first person to be appointed in the Department.

Dr. V. Subramanian worked as a Lecturer in the Department for more than two decades and expired while in service in the year 1992. His research specialization is Tamil 'Theater and Film Studies'.

Dr. A. Mariappan was appointed in this College in a permanent position in 1982 and went on promotion as Reader in Department of Modern Indian language and Literary Studies, to the University of Delhi in 1989. His research specialization is Tamil Grammar, Modern Tamil Literature, Tamil Folklore and Comparative Indian Literature.

Dr. T. Sethupandian worked as a Lecturer in this Department for a short while in 1982. Later; he served the Alma Mater and became the Head of the Department of Tamil Grammar. His area of research interest is Tamil Grammar, Language and Linguistics. Dr. Chithiraivelu, Ms. Kalaiselvi, Dr. Senthamarai, Mrs. Meera Ashok, Mrs. Padma Thanappan and Dr. Roselet Danny Bai also worked for a short while during 1980-1992.

Dr. S. Vivekananthan was appointed as a lecturer in the Department in October, 1991. He obtained his M.Phil and Doctorate degrees from Kerala University. His research interests are Tamil Manuscriptology, Tamil Folklore and Achaeology. He has published more than 25 books on his research fields and among them thirteen are critical editions on rare manuscript of Ballads. His critical edition on ‘Ayothi Ramayanam’ (2011) has been awarded as the best book in the category of Tamil Folklore for the year 2011 by the council for the Development of Tamil, Govt. of Tamil Nadu in the year 2013.