Kottayam: President Droupadi Murmu praised Kerala as a model for the country in terms of literacy and education. She was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Platinum Jubilee of Pala St Thomas College.

“The 21st century has been described as the ‘Century of Knowledge’,” the President said. “Knowledge fuels innovation, drives society forward and fosters self-reliance. The strength of literacy, education and knowledge has enabled Kerala to rank among the leading states on numerous human development indices,” she observed.

In her speech, the President also highlighted Kottayam’s contributions to the nation. K R Narayanan, who rose from humble beginnings to become President, was born in a village near Pala. This town has witnessed great chapters of social and educational transformation, she noted. The famous ‘Vaikom Satyagraha’, a noted movement against untouchability, took place in Kottayam about a century ago. Known as the ‘City of Letters’ due to its roots in literacy and education, the people of this region played an active role in strengthening the ‘Literate Kerala’ movement through various initiatives. The President praised P N Panicker’s inspiring and powerful yet simple message ‘Read and Grow’, which motivated the library movement to promote learning.

Education, the President said, is the key to unlocking opportunities for development and growth. St Thomas College was founded with the aim of primarily educating students from rural areas. She expressed her happiness that this commendable goal has been fulfilled for 75 years.

Institutions like St Thomas College shape destinies, the President said. She appreciated their focus on holistic learning and social justice, and their promotion of sustainability and inclusive values. The College encourages intellectual inquiry guided by moral principles, she pointed out.

The President emphasised that education lights the path to both personal and social progress. She praised the efforts of St Thomas College in spreading the light of education. She expressed confidence that the college will continue to promote quality education, thereby contributing to the building of a more equitable society and making the vision of a developed India by 2047 a reality.