Shri Kodikkunnil Suresh, Member of Parliament,

Shri N.K. Premachandran, Member of Parliament,

Smt. Ambika Surendran, President, Ezhukone Grama Panchayat,

Shri Jayaram Nayar, Director, TKM Institute of Management,

Janab Shahal H. Musaliar, President, TKM College Trust,

Shri Sadiq S. Thaha, Member, TKM College Trust and

Admnistrator

Bahumanya Adhyapakare, Priyappetta Vidhyardhikale, Sahodaree Sahodaranmare

Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram.

It gives me great joy to inaugurate the Silver Jubilee Celebrationsof T.K.M. Institute of Management, which is managed by the T.K.M College Trust, Kollam.

On this happy occasion, let me partake in the joy and pride of the management, staff, students and alumni of this institution as it crosses a significant milestone in the march towards the future. 

I am informed that this Institute, which is affiliated to the University of Kerala, has been accredited the National Board of Accreditation. This achievement points to the commitment of the management and staff in striving to meet the national goal of excellence in education. 

Let me also pay my respects to the revered memory of  LateJanab A. Thangal Kunju Musaliar, whose vision of ensuring social uplift though education, gave rise to many institutions, which have positively altered the socio cultural profile of Kollam.

As an industrialist, LateJanab A. Thangal Kunju Musaliarwas guided by considerations loftier than profit. I have heard that Janab Musaliar, who hadpublished a newspaper called Prabhaatham,longed to establish a college in Kollam, to educate the children of the working class.

The story of how Prof. Joseph Mundassery, the Education Minister in the  Ministry of 1957 advised him to think of an Engineering College, is also well known. Janab Musaliar paid heed to that adviceand set up one of the best Engineering Colleges in the State. But in later years, he who realized his dream of establishing an Arts and Science College, which benefited thousands of students from the working classes. In short, the establishment of the TKM institutions appeals to me as a model in realizing the social role of business.

Since this Silver jubilee celebration pertains to the TKM Institute of Management, it would not be out of place to share a few thoughts on Management. We have progressed from the conventional concept of seeing profit-making as the only aim of business, to the realm of Social Responsibility, which creates measurable value by addressing social issues and problems. In today's Innovation economy, every emerging technology offers a new business opportunity and a chance to learn new skills.  In business, fortune favours good learners who would continue the learning process.  Therefore, the Institutes of Management which shape the managers of tomorrow must inculcate in students, the right values and an urge to become lifelong learners through continuous refinement of skills.

The principles of management had been engrained in our culture before modern management Gurus compiled them into modern textbooks. Many of our epics, including the Bhagavat Gita, speak of how one should manage one's mind and thoughts by developing the correct perspective about reality. And, perspective is much deeper than a mere sighting of facts and images from the surface of social reality. It is rightly said in Management that a perspective is ‘sight plus insight’.

Ideally, education in Management should enable students to view the application of that discipline as a philosophy of life. First of all, it should equip one to manage one’s mind and conduct oneself in a meaningful way. This ability comes from gaining knowledge as well as the insight to apply that knowledge in life situations.

Secondly, education should enable us to imagine a perspective outside ourselves so that we realize the gravity of the problems of others. This sensitivity to the problems of others makes us more conscious about the needs of society. Our education becomes meaningful only when we use our insights to the benefit of others.

Finally, education should guide us through the right values. In fact, our values influence everything we do: our behaviour, our investments, our partnerships and our decisions.In other words,our management ability dependson our character. It has been said that one who has understood what to do and what to avoid, becomes truly wise only when his or her mind has melded completely with what it recognizes as right or wrong. A person endowed with such wisdom can certainly initiate positive changes in society. Some call this awareness, ‘workship’, which is another form of worship. 

Students of management will be aware that doing the right thing is equally important as doing things right. As future managers, you should remember to ensure a human touch in every action, because each action has a certain purpose behind it.  Our education should give us a clear vision of the real purpose of each action. As Swami Vivekananda said : “Work is inevitable ; it must be so. But we must work for the right purpose”.

 A milestone like the Silver Jubilee should inspire an institution to evaluate the purpose of its actions and the quality of the service it renders to society.  Providing thebest services, including instructional facilities, good research opportunities and freedom of choice in academic matters are services offered not just to the students, but to society in general. A growing institution like TKM Institute of Managementcouldalso consider a value based intervention of management professionals to encourage industry linkage, active involvement of alumni and better social outreach in the campus.

I am happy that TKM Institute of Management proposes to celebrate its Silver Jubilee by conducting many academic discussion and seminars. This college could also undertake a study on the impact of the involvement of the business community in the development of Kollam, which has a significant position in the commercial and cultural history of the State.

I compliment the TKM College Trust and the college community for conducting this function in a befitting manner. Let me also wish the managements, students, staff and alumni of this institution all the best.

I would conclude with a message for the students of TKM Institute of Management, who would be the managers of the future :

സ്വയം അറിയണം, സമൂഹത്തെയും അറിയണം

അറിവ് ചിന്തയെ നയിക്കണം

കനിവ് പ്രവൃത്തിയില്‍ തെളിയണം

നിങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് നന്മ വരട്ടെ.

 [Know yourself, know society

Let your thoughts be guided by knowledge

Let compassion reflect in your actions]

लोका: समस्ता: सुखिनो भवन्तु ।

वलरे नन्नि

जय हिन्द