Maintain an open mind to make learning a lifelong pursuit: Vice-President

Asserting that education is a continuous process that extends throughout one’s life, Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Saturday underscored the importance of maintaining an open mind to make learning a lifelong pursuit.

Addressing the valedictory session of the centenary celebrations of St. Berchmans College here, he lauded the institution for serving as a centre of intellectual awakening during the colonial period. “While we celebrate our past, we must also have a vision for the future. We should equip ourselves for development and for this to achieve, research is essential,” he said.

Citing the example of Kashmir University, where a large number of women students are pursuing higher education, he observed that no religion stands against the education of women. He also emphasised the responsibility of the student community to contribute back to society.

“The days of creating clerks to run the colonial administration are over. Likewise, the era of adopting old technologies from the West too has ended. Our focus should be on developing indigenous technologies in our country,” he added.

Mar Thomas Tharayil, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Archeparchy of Changanassery, delivered the welcome address. Union Minister Suresh Gopi, Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Minister for Cooperation and Ports V.N. Vasavan, and Mavelikkara MP Kodikunnil Suresh were also present.

The Vice-President also inaugurated the Dr. K.M. Abraham Centre for Energy and Environment, a state-of-the-art research facility being established at the college. The centre is being funded with ₹1.5 crore by Dr. K.M. Abraham, a lithium battery scientist and an alumnus of the college.

Although the college completed its 100th year in 2022, the official closing ceremony had to be postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.