Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala University’s Kariavattom campus witnessed a symbolic moment of freedom on the 79th Independence Day as the refurbished foundation stone laid by former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan finally found its rightful place at the institution’s main entrance.

The main gate of the Kariavattom campus, which had been closed for months despite the completion of reconstruction, was officially opened on August 15. Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal, along with Registrar-in-charge Mini Dijo Kappen and other senior officials, inaugurated the reconstructed entrance and unveiled the memorial stone.

The stone, originally laid by Dr. Radhakrishnan during the inauguration of the Kariavattom campus in 1963, had been lying neglected behind the engineering department for decades. With the Vice-Chancellor’s intervention, it has now been restored and installed at the entrance tower, which has been named the “Radhakrishnan Tower.”

The prolonged closure of the main gate had caused inconvenience to students, staff, and visitors who were forced to take longer routes. Despite appeals, the gate remained shut, reportedly due to political interventions. The Vice-Chancellor’s decision to open it on Independence Day gave added significance to the occasion, symbolizing both the university’s renewal and a tribute to Dr. Radhakrishnan’s legacy.

The reopening of the main entrance and the installation of the refurbished stone have been widely welcomed as a long-overdue step in preserving the memory of Dr. Radhakrishnan, who was not only India’s second President but also a philosopher and educationist deeply connected to the values of learning and freedom.

Just as Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan found freedom on the 79th Independence Day, the Kerala University campus too celebrated its own moment of liberation by restoring its historic identity and opening its gates to the community.