Institute for Research in Social Science and Humanities (IRISH) as a researching wing of the Malabar Education Society for Human Resource Development and Research (MESHAR, Reg. No. 277/2000) was founded by reputed historian of Indian Maritime History Dr. K.S. Mathew. The Institute was formally inaugurated by Dr. P.K. Rajan, Vice-Chancellor of Kannur University in 2002. In 2004 the Institute was recognised by Kannur University as a research centre for undertaking doctoral and post-doctoral researches in Social Sciences and Humanities. Besides promoting researches, publication of books, journals, proceedings of seminars, working papers, and organising of seminars, workshops, symposia etc constitute the thrust areas of academic activities at IRISH.