The centenary celebrations of Berchmans College’s St. Peter’s Basilica in Changanassery will conclude with a function attended by CP Radhakrishnan, Vice President of India, on February 28.
Mar Thomas Tharayil, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Changanassery, will deliver the welcome address at the function which will be held at the Archbishop Kavukattu Hall in the university campus. Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Minister for Cooperation and Ports VN Vasavan and Mavelikkar MP Kodikunnil Suresh will also deliver speeches. Although the college completed its 100th year in 2022, the official graduation ceremony had to be postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Vice President will also ceremonially launch the work of Dr. KM Abraham Center for Energy and Environment, which is a state-of-the-art research facility being set up in the college. The center is funded with ₹1.5 million from Dr. KM Abraham, lithium battery scientist and college graduate.
An official statement said the center will be equipped with advanced instruments, including an FT-infrared spectrometer, a fluorescence spectrometer, a UV/visible spectrometer and a tube furnace for high-temperature testing, among others. In addition to research, the center will offer certification courses, seminars and outreach programs. His primary research areas will include new energy materials, environmental protection, green chemistry and computational chemistry.
The activities of the center will be overseen by Tomlal Jose, who will act as its director.
Published – 22 Feb 2026 19:54 IST
