– M Rafi Ahmed
Perhaps in a first of its kind, a Muslim minority institution in Kayamkulam situated in Alappuzha district in God’s Own Country has been named ‘Milad-E-Sherief Memorial College’ (MSM) reminiscing the birthday of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ celebrated as Seerat-un-Nabi across the globe. The timely info was shared by journalist Colachet Azheem in his Facebook page which sheds light on the munificence of Alhaj P K Kunju Sahib, a former Finance Minister in Kerala between 1967-69, who established the institution.
Flipping through the pages of MSM College portal, it revealed that late Alhaj P.K. Kunju Sahib as a realisation of his long-cherished dream of cultural advancement of the uneducated people of central Travancore named the college as Milad-E-Sherief Memorial College.
Interestingly, it stands as a monument speaking volumes about Prophet Muhammad’s teachings and preachings and his way of life. A veritable champion of the masses, he envisioned that the progress of the poor and the downtrodden is possible only through education. Hence he undertook the great mission of imparting the radiance of knowledge to all, especially to the marginalised, to whom the college was established in 1964. The unseen but domineering presence of his social commitment, continues to enthuse the MSM fraternity for relentless pursuits to scale heights of excellence.
Notably, the MSM College is a symbol of empowerment and education located in the centre of Kayamkulam. It is a monument to his visionary leadership and commitment to helping the underprivileged and worthy minorities in society.
Managed by the MSM Trust, MSM College is more than just a college, it has served as a beacon of knowledge and hope for many generations. Not to be left behind, the institution grew from a modest beginning to become the region’s centre of academic achievement over time. The institution is proud of its highly effective faculty members who are committed to developing students’ potential and encouraging critical thinking. Over its history, MSM College has had a significant impact on establishing the cultural ethos of the community as well as the academic environment of Kayamkulam.
Noted alumni members included Mollywood’s Rasul Pookutty, Oscar award recipient, T P Srinivasan, former Ambassador of India, Permanent representative of India to UN, Justice K Harilal, former Kerala High Court, Brigadier Suresh G, Indian Army, Dr P Sujatha Devi, chief scientist, CSTD, NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram, C S Sujatha, former MP.
For well over six decades, MSM College played a key role in catering socially backwards through enlightenment. In consonance with the vision of the founder, this shrine of letters looks forward to the heydays of a classless society. The programmes launched by the institution as part of this mission focus on academic excellence of global dimension, value-based personality development and training for leadership, and soft skill development. The college has produced many professionals for the industry and is one of the leading colleges in the region.
[The author is former Indian Express and Deccan Chronicle chief]
