Vice president Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the platinum jubilee celebrations of the top-ranked all-women Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru. Naidu congratulated the management and staff for empowering women through education and producing “women who are catalysts of change”. Promoted in 1948 by the Carmelite Sisters of St Teresa, MCC is ranked among India’s Top 4 private arts, science and commerce autonomous colleges in the EducationWorld India Higher Education Rankings 2022-23. 

Addressing MCC staff, students and alumni, the vice president welcomed the new National Education Policy 2020 as a step in the right direction and exhorted all to “implement it in letter and spirit”. He credited NEP 2020 for giving importance to the mother tongue. “Primary basic education should be in the mother tongue. Learn as many languages possible, but first learn the mother tongue. There is a wrong perception in the minds of the people that unless you have English education, you cannot go up, it is not true, learning English is an additional strength,” he said, highlighting that the President, Vice President and the PM of India studied in village schools and did not get convent education.

During his platinum jubilee address, the VP also asserted that India is the most tolerant country in the world, and that secularism is safe in this country, not because of any government or party, but because it is in the blood and veins of every individual living here. “….India is the most tolerant country in the world, one can take it for granted. People discuss secularism, secularism is safe, not because of this government or that government, this party or that party, secularism is in the blood and veins of every individual, this has to be understood by one and all,” he said while criticising the western media for featuring negative stories about India.

Naidu also emphasized that there is no place for violence, adding that peace is the prerequisite for progress.

Other dignitaries and special invitees at the platinum jubilee celebrations included Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, former Governor of Rajasthan Margaret Alva, who is also an alumna of the institution and Metropolitan Archbishop of Bengaluru Peter Machado, Dr. Lingaraj Gandhi, vice chancellor of Bengaluru City University, Dr. Sr. Chris, superior general, Carmelite Sisters of St Teresa and Sr. Arpana, principal of Mount Carmel College. On the occasion, a Commemorative Envelope of the Postal Department was also released.

The year-long platinum jubilee celebrations will be marked by academic events, conferences and cultural and sports events. 

Also read: Eduleader Speaks: Dr Sr Arpana, Principal, Mount Carmel College