On the top left is ship bearing a cross on its sail. This stands for “Mission” and suggests the coming of the Gospel to India. On the top right is a blazing torch.
Light signifies knowledge. Thus, it represents the College, which dispels the darkness of ignorance and blazes in the light of knowledge.
At the bottom left is a figure, which stands for Basel and is taken from the coat of arms of that city.
Lastly, at the bottom right is a coconut palm, which represents Malabar and its chief town Calicut.
Thus reading from the left side you get Basel Mission College Calicut, which later came to be known as Malabar Christian College Calicut.
At the top of the crest is a pelican feeding it’s young with its own blood and it stands for self-sacrifice.