Kerala’s Southern district, Kollam, is known by its former name Quilon. Kollam is a city on the Malabar coast and an ancient seaport of India. It borders the Laccadive Sea, a part of the Arabian Sea. The Arabian sea is on the west, Tamil Nadu on the east, Thiruvananthapuram district on the south and Alapuzha and Pathanamthitta districts on the north. The city is on the banks of the Kallada river and Ashtamudi Lake.
Kollam is known for cashew processing and coir manufacturing, and it is the fourth-largest district of Kerala. This district has had a massive engagement in trade since ancient times. The Arabs, Ethiopians, Chinese, Phoenicians, Syrians, Chaldeans, Jews and Romans have traded at the ports of Kollam for million of years.
Kollam City mentions in ancient travellers’ accounts and is renowned for its long history of commercial, political and cultural importance. It also supports the marine industry and provides a variety of employment and livelihood to people through its Neendakara and Thangasseri fishing harbours. One of the seven Churches established by St Thomas and one of the ten oldest mosques believed to be found by Malik Deenar is situated in Kollam.
Kollam is India’s first constitution Literate district
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced Kollam as the first constitution-literate district in the country. He said that constitutional values should be merged with our governance and lives to achieve complete constitutional literacy. As per Mathrubhumi, the minister said, “Secularism is constitutional. No religion is above or below another. Efforts to deviate people from secular values should be seen seriously. Here there is the freedom to live even without faith in religion. The majority of the people are secular. Attempts should be made to promote scientific temper and rationality.”
The Chief Minister also stressed preserving the country’s federal system. He said, “Attempts are being made to destroy the nation’s unity in diversity. Constitutional values rooted in kindness and love for fellow beings will help challenge all this.” Kollam district has achieved Constitution literacy as the result of its seven-month-long constitution literacy campaign, which was jointly launched by the Kollam district panchayat, Kerala Institution of Local Administration and District Planning Committee, which aimed to create awareness about various aspects of the citizen’s rights. People were educated by the trainers called ‘senators’, who visited offices, schools, auto stands and tribal councils and created awareness among citizens.
The state has worked on imparting constitutional literacy and values among citizens. The government’s efforts have brought together the importance of the constitution, which was scattered earlier. It is a remarkable achievement for the district.
