Kottayam: The year-long Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Baselius College, Kottayam, will be inaugurated by West Bengal Governor Dr C V Ananda Bose at 11 am on Saturday.

His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the Supreme Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, will preside over, while Dr Zacharias Mar Aprem, Manager of Orthodox Church colleges, will deliver the benedictory address.

Thomas Chazhikadan MP, former students Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, MLA, and Mons Joseph, MLA, College Principal Prof Dr Biju Thomas, and General Convener Dr Jyotimol P will speak. Baselius College was established in Kottayam on July 4, 1964, in memory of the late His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II , the Third Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church.

Elaborate plans

The college has planned various events in connection with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

An extensive committee to coordinate the diamond jubilee celebrations of the college has been constituted, informed College Principal Prof Dr Biju Thomas, Vice Principal Prof Dr Jyotimol P, and Barsar Dr Joy Marcos.

The 'Basel Home' project will be implemented to build houses for homeless students in the college.

The digital theatre, constructed under the aegis of ‘We-Baseliun’, an alumni organization, will be inaugurated. A meeting of the Baselius College family – ‘Hridhyam’, to be attended by the retired teachers and non-teaching staff and the present staff too will be conducted.

A Diamond Jubilee Excellence Award 'Shreshtha', which honours talents who have made a mark in various fields of society, and various national and international level seminars, workshops, national-level sports competitions, art and cultural gatherings, etc will also be organized. Several eminent personalities, including ministers, will be attending the events.

Over the past six decades, the Baselius College has excelled in various aspects of education, including academics, arts, sports, and culture. The National Service Scheme and National Cadet Corps too have put up a good show throughout.

The college currently has 12 undergraduate departments, seven post-graduate departments, and three research departments. Baselius College has achieved the highest grade in accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).