Time fly fast. This is the 30th year of the declaration of Kerala as a fully literary state, that too first in India. The declaration was made on 18th April 1991.

For more than two years, the government was implementing aggressive programmes to find out the illiterate people and educate them.The books were supplied free by state government. Teachers, students, employees and all those who could teach, took up the challenge and put their best efforts. Thousands of illiterate people, mainly old aged, were very happy that they can read books, count with out difficulty etc. The programme was fully successful. Afterwards Tripura also became a fully literate state. Com. E.K.Nayanar was the Chief Minister of Kerala at that time. Both states achieved the distinction under Left rule.

When, along with Com. Basudeb Acharya, senior M.P. and Com. R.S.Yadav, BSNLEU leader, I had the opportunity to meet Shri Akhilesh Yadav, then Chief Minister of U.P., a few years back on another issue, he enquired how Kerala achieved full literacy. In a few words, I explained the matter. He was impressed and stated that U.P. will also make efforts towards achieving the same.