Suresh Gopi on campus!

Yes, you read it right. We hosted Shri Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism, on campus for the formal inauguration of the Centre of Future Skills (CFS) established at our campus in association with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), which comes under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, and the implementing partner Ethnotech Academy.

The program was conducted on 27 Feb 2026 at our Green Field Open Air Stage. The program witnessed the presence of Mr. Roji M John, MLA; Shri Eqbal Manoj C, EVP & Head - Branch Banking, Federal Bank; Dr. Pratapsinh K Desai, President, Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE); Shri Shaik Mahmood, Regional Head-South, NSDC; Smt. Jaya Radhakrishnan, President, Mookkannoor Grama Panchayat; and Dr. Kiran Rajanna, MD & CEO, Ethnotech Academy.

After a long time, we were hosting such a high-profile event on our campus. We had to make some extra planning too. The time schedule of Shri Suresh Gopi was a bit tight and he wanted to reach the campus by 8:30 AM. So we did something unusual - we changed the college timing to 8:00 AM. It was something everyone was a bit concerned about. But to everyone’s surprise, all reached the campus by 8:00 AM and everyone was seated in the grand venue by 8:30 AM.

It was an interesting function altogether. The program was charted by the officials from Ethnotech Academy. According to their custom, there were felicitations for both the hosts and guests with shawls and special garlands, followed by the lighting of the lamp. Prizes were also distributed to the students who won the hackathon organised under the banner of CFS.

Post this, Shri Suresh Gopi addressed the gathering in his own style, speaking eloquently about the initiatives of the Central Government and how the CFS will contribute significantly to the skill development of students not just from FISAT but from the entire community around it. He did not forget to give special appreciation to our student, Mr. Parthasarathy, who delivered the prayer song. He also appreciated the students for turning up early for the event.

In his own classical style he said:

“ഞാൻ ആണ് കാരണം, ഞാൻ തന്നെയാണ് കാരണം, ഞാൻ മാത്രമാണ് കാരണം”

for making the students wake up and come early to the campus.

Just before leaving, he had a brief chat with the cleaning staff of our campus, who were gathered near the exit of the Green Field near the Civil Lab and wanted to take photos with him. He praised them for keeping the campus clean, especially the toilet in the Civil Lab which he used just after the program before leaving the campus.

Yes, it was fun to have a celebrity like Shri Suresh Gopi on our campus! It was a grand function, one that will remain in the memories of FISAT forever.