About the Award
Vakkom Moulavi Foundation Trust in its Silver Jubilee Year 2012 established Professor N. A. Karim Award for Outstanding Public Service’, consisting of Rupees One Lakh cash, a citation and a memento to recognize and honor individuals who have made significant contributions to public service. The award is named after Professor N. A. Karim, former President of the VMFT, a distinguished academician, educational administrator and social activist of impeccable class and integrity in recognition of his multi-faceted services to the Kerala society.
Prof. N A Karim’s Profile
Professor N. A. Karim was born on 15th February, 1926 at Edavanakad, a village on the Vypin island in the erstwhile princely state of Cochin (in the present Ernakulam district) of Kerala. He completed school education in his native village and the neighbouring village after which he went to Ernakulum for college education in the year 1942. Caught in the political unrest and agitation of the last years of colonial rule, he was expelled from the Ernakulum Maharaja’s College. The Maharaja’s College phase of his academic life and the incidents connected with it turned out to be a defining period of his later life and work. After a spell of full time political and journalistic work, he joined a newly started Degree College in Malabar and took his first degree while simultaneously working in the same college for three years. Later, he joined the Aligarh Muslim University and took a Masters degree in English language and literature. After that he taught at the Jamia Millia University of Delhi. Later,he joined the ‘Institute of English’ of the University of Kerala during which time he also obtained his Ph.D . While teaching at the ‘Institute of English’, he undertook a certificate course in the Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages, Hyderabad, and a course in American Literature from the American Studies Research Centre, also in Hyderabad. A Bachelor’s degree in Education of the Madras University had also been acquired earlier.
Politics before Profession
Nationalist sentiments were strong in him right from his school days. When he was given an essay-writing assignment on the ‘Benefits of British Rule in India’, a stock topic in those days, to the shock of the teacher and the Headmaster, he chose to write about the negative effects of foreign rule in highly forceful and critical terms. This writing was shown to the Inspector of Schools when he came for the annual inspection, and he chastised the bold student for what he perceived as lack of respect. This strong patriotic sentiment, however, has continued to guide Prof. Karim throughout his political career and later public life.
Professional Career, Public Life & Social Activities
After a long period of teaching in various colleges and universities, Prof. Karim began to work in educational administration, first as the Dean of Students of the University of Calicut, then as the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Kerala for two terms covering a span of eight years. Being nominated for a second term by the Chancellor is a rare distinction in the University.
During his professional career, Prof. Karim campaigned for eradication of illiteracy in the State, while after retirement, he joined the State Resource Centre of Kerala for Adult and Continuing education.Prof. Karim was also instrumental in starting a fully-fledged Department for Adult and Continuing Education in the University of Kerala during his tenure as Pro-Vice Chancellor.When the state government started the ‘Akshara Keralam Project’ for total eradication illiteracy in the state, he was appointed its Director. Professor Karim was also Chairman of several committees appointed by the State Government and a member of the Task Force for Higher Education of the State Planning Board. The Government appointed him as the Chairman of Kumaran Asan National Institute of Culture and continued in that position for 12 years in two terms. Professor Karim was a prolific writer on educational, social, political and cultural issues both in English and Malayalam.