President Droupadi Murmu has issued a powerful call to women, encouraging them to approach their life decisions with both clarity of thought and courageous action.
Addressing the centenary celebrations of St. Teresa’s College in Kochi, Kerala, on Friday, October 24, 2025, President Murmu advised women to boldly pursue paths that truly reflect their passions and maximize their inherent capabilities.
She passionately articulated her vision for a society guided by female leaders, stating, “A society led by women leaders is likely to be more humane while being more efficient.”
President Murmu acknowledged St. Teresa’s College for its century-long dedication to women’s education, infused with strong spiritual values. She lauded its significant contributions to social change and nation-building, highlighting the visionary leaders who nurtured the institution to achieve sustained excellence over a hundred years.
Highlighting Kerala’s pivotal role in national leadership, President Murmu recalled that three of the fifteen remarkable women who enriched the Indian Constituent Assembly with their perspectives hailed from the state: Ammu Swaminathan, Annie Mascarene, and Dakshayani Velayudan. These trailblazers profoundly influenced critical discussions on fundamental rights, social justice, and gender equality, among other vital matters.
The President celebrated the remarkable achievements of Kerala’s women, citing Justice Anna Chandy, India’s first female High Court judge (appointed in Kerala in 1956), and Justice M. Fathima Beevi, who broke barriers as the first woman judge in the Supreme Court of India in 1989. Their legacies serve as inspiring examples of excellence.
Furthermore, President Murmu pointed out Kerala’s commendable gender ratio, suggesting it as a model for other states. She underscored that robust female participation is essential for India to fully capitalize on its demographic dividend, noting a four-and-a-half-fold increase in Gender Budget allocation over the past decade and a near doubling of women-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) between 2011 and 2024.
The event also featured addresses from distinguished guests, including Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, State Ministers P. Rajeeve and V. N. Vasavan, MP Hibi Eden, MLA T.J. Vinod, Auxiliary Bishop of Verapoly Antony Valumkal, and college principal Anu Joseph.
Concluding the ceremony, President Murmu proudly unveiled the official logo for the college’s centenary celebrations.