Kottayam ‘the Land of literacy’ has rich and varied cultural heritage in its educational history. Kottayam claims many first places in the filed of education, mass communication, book publication etc. It is the first town in the state to achieve cent percent literacy and ranks first in the literacy rate.
Kottayam district is the printing capital of Kerala with leading Malayalam dailies – Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhoomi, Kerala Kaumudi, Mangalam, Deepilka & Desabhimani along with reputed journals – the Week, Vanitha, Bhashaposhini and the like.
The old seminary of Malankara Orthodox Church was the first institution to start English Education in southern India. CMS high school (Church Mission Society College, High school) was founded by the British Missionary, Benjamin Bailey of the Church Mission Society of London. CMS College, the first college in Kerala was started in Kottayam in 1817 by the Church Mission Society. Baker Memorial Girls High School in Kottayam, founded by Amalia Dorothea Baker in 1820, is one of the oldest high schools in India.
Many famous people adorned the soil of Kottayam district. Among the famous personality that crowded the columns of Indian history and world history, the representation from this district are numerous. A few of them are enlisted below.
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K.R Narayanan, Former President of India (1997-2002)
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K.G Balakrishanan, Chief Justice of India(since 2008)
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Akkama Cheriyan, Freedom fighter
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Bharath Mamootty, Malayalam Film star.
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Arundhathi Roy, Booker Prize Winner.
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Dr. George Sudarsan, Scientist and Nobel prize winner.
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Kottarathil Sankunny Menon, Artist
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Shatkala Govinda Marar, Karnatic and Hindustani Vocalist.
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Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, Jnanapeedom Award Winner.
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Perumpadavam Sreedharan, Sahitya Academy award winner.
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P. Bhaskaran- Play back music writer.
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N.N. Pillai, Dramatist.
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Pala Naryanan Nair, Famous Writer
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Lalithambika Antherjanam, Famous Writer
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Muttathu Varkey, Famous Writer
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Ponkunnam Varkey, Famous Writer
Enrollment and education became common and inclusive of all sections of the society by the 20m century. After independence, with the land reform movement and the new consciousness, a lot of new educational institutions were founded by government, individuals and corporate managements. The 1960s and 70s saw a phenomenal growth and increase in the number of elementary schools. They were generally government or aided initiatives. They provided socially responsible and responding education. In the last two decades of the last century an influence of the unaided English medium schools on the initiative of private individuals and firms and organizations became major rhenomena.
LITERACY
Kottayam is the most literate district in the state as per 2001 census. It is the first in India to achieve cent percent literacy in 1989. Kottayam stands in the mainstream in the field of publication of news papers, periodicals and books in the state.
Elementary education has been strong in the district so as to achieve literacy at 95.90%. Interventions of governmental and non-governmental agencies have been helpful for the district in advancing with quantitative and qualitative changes in elementary education.
|
Category |
Total |
Literates |
Rate of Literacy |
|
Male |
968289 |
948633 |
97.97 |
|
Female |
1006262 |
970842 |
96.48 |
|
Total |
1974551 |
1919475 |
97.21 |