Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Upa Rashtrapati-ji,
Hon’ble Minister,
Prof. K.V. Thomas, Member of Parliament,
Smt. Soumini Jain, Mayor, Cochin Corporation,
Prof. Sabu Thomas, Vice-Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam,
Reverent Dr. Augustine Thottakkara CMI, Manager,
Shri P.S. Moni, Chief General Manager, Indian Oil Corporation,
Reverent Dr. Jose Kuriedath CMI, Provincial,
Reverent Dr. Johnson Palakkappillil CMI, Principal,
Prof. Sibi K.I., Staff Secretary,
Dear Teachers, Students, Researchers,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmare
Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram.
I am very happy to preside over the inauguration of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration of Sacred Heart College, Thevara, which was one among the earliest to be granted autonomous status in Kerala.
It adds to our joy that the Platinum Jubilee of this greatly respected institution is being inaugurated by our Hon’ble
Upa Rashtrapati-ji. On behalf of the people of Kerala,
I extend a very warm and cordial welcome to our Upa Rashtrapati-ji.
The completion of 75 years is a milestone in the history of any institution. It is the right moment to reflect on the achievements of the past and to plan for the future. Ever since the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate congregation of the Catholic Church in Kerala established this college in 1944, it has been maintaining very high standards in academic and co-academic activities, for which the management, staff and students of the College deserve our wholehearted appreciation.
It is a matter of pride that this college had initially won a Five Star status and later, ‘A’ Grade in the third cycle of evaluation by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The autonomy granted by the Government is a true recognition of the commitment of the academic community of the college to the generation and dissemination of higher knowledge.
As we all know, the conferment of Autonomy is both a recognition and a reminder about an institution’s responsibility to set new goals for the future. Autonomy has to lead a college to the status of a deemed university and then to a full-fledged varsity. Such a rise in stature would be possbile only if the College makes conscious efforts to improve the quality of research and teaching. As a college which has been ranked at the 41st position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework, and as an institution that offers three M Phil and six PhD programmes, it would not be very difficult to scale up the academic levels.
As Chancellor of the State universities, I have been requesting every institution to aim to improve its research potential, for which research journals and other publications are essential. I sincerely hope that Sacred Heart College would endeavour to develop more teaching departments into research centres. As a Platinum Jubilee project, I also hope to see this college publishing at least one major research journal with the desired Impact Factor.
The future of every nation depends on the quality of the education imparted by its institutions. Thus, when we celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of a college which has contributed hundreds of capable men and women to various fields, we are also celebrating the energy and enthusiasm that this college has passed on to society. As a society, we also have an obligation to support such institutions so that they continue to contribute to the process of nation building, with renewed vigour. The Government as well as corporate houses could devise innovative plans to support such institutions.
At this happy moment of celebration, let us also recall the services of hundreds of teachers and staff who, at various times, worked hard to enrich the academic brilliance of Sacred Heart College. I also hope that the Alumni of this college would become more active in helping to build the future of this temple of learning and thereby, the future of our society.
I wish the Platinum Jubilee celebrations all success and compliment the organizers for conducting this function in a befitting manner.
With these words, I invite our Hon’ble Upa Rashtrapati-ji to inaugurate the celebrations.
Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Thank You
Jai Hind
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