President Murmu hails centenary of St. Teresa’s College

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, on Friday graced the centenary celebrations of St. Teresa’s College , established in 1925 by the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa . Over the past 100 years, the college has been a pioneering institution for women’s education in Kerala, combining academic excellence with spiritual values.

Addressing the gathering, President Murmu lauded the college for its steadfast contribution to social transformation and nation-building. “St. Teresa’s College has made a remarkable contribution to shaping India’s progress. We must acknowledge the vision and legacy of those who founded and nurtured this institution through a century of sustained accomplishments,” she said.

Highlighting Kerala’s historical contributions, the President recalled the role of women from the state in nation-building. “Fifteen exceptional women members of the Constituent Assembly enriched the Constitution with their perspectives on fundamental rights, social justice, and gender equality. Three of them, Ammu Swaminathan, Annie Mascarene, and Dakshayani Velayudan, were from Kerala. Justice Anna Chandy was the first woman High Court Judge in India in 1956, while Justice M. Fathima Beevi became the first female Supreme Court Judge in 1989,” she noted.

President Murmu emphasized that the bright students of St. Teresa’s College represent the young, thriving, and vibrant India of today. She underlined that women’s active participation is crucial for India to leverage its demographic dividend. She highlighted recent achievements: Gender Budget allocations have increased four and a half times, women-led MSMEs nearly doubled between 2011 and 2024, and raising women workforce participation to 70 percent is a key goal for achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The President also appreciated the college’s SLATE project- Sustainability, Leadership, and Agency through Education. Launched to align with the National Education Policy 2020, SLATE connects students with India’s Sustainable Development Goals, fosters leadership skills, and prepares them for future careers. “By implementing this project, St. Teresa’s College is demonstrating its commitment to nurturing empowered, socially responsible, and skilled young women, helping India emerge as a knowledge super-power,” she said.