Kozhikode, situated in the north of Kerala, is renowned for its abundant cultural legacy and has officially been designated as India's first UNESCO 'City of Literature' on Sunday.
In October 2023, Kozhikode secured a position in the 'Literature' category of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
MB Rajesh, the Minister of the State Local Self Government Department (LSGD), publicly announced Kozhikode's accomplishment at an official gathering on Sunday.
Rajesh depicted Kozhikode as a city with a spirit characterised by compassion, unity, a firm belief in justice, and the freedom of speech.
"These core values have given birth to the vibrant art of Kozhikode," Rajesh said.
The minister emphasised the important role played by the efficient functioning of the Kozhikode city corporation in securing the 'City of Literature' title from UNESCO, surpassing cities with rich cultural histories such as Kolkata.
The state government further declared that June 23 will be commemorated as Kozhikode's 'City of Literature' Day starting in the coming year. Kozhikode is renowned for its literary luminaries, including the late SK Pottakkad and Vaikom Muhammed Basheer.
According to a statement released by the LSGD, special awards will be presented in six categories on this occasion.
To mark the event, Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riyas revealed the logo of the 'City of Literature', which is recognised by UNESCO.
Rajesh visited the residence of Jnanpith awardee MT Vasudevan Nair and presented the Diamond Jubilee award established by the Kozhikode city corporation.
Once known as the city of Zamorins, Kozhikode, also known as Calicut during British rule, served as the gateway to the coast for many foreigners, such as Persians, Arabs, Chinese, and eventually Europeans, centuries ago.
Kozhikode, the cradle of the freedom movement in Kerala, has been an important destination for book festivals for many decades.
Kozhikode has over 500 functioning libraries and has been the base of literary activities of legendary Malayalam writer M T Vasudevan Nair for several decades.
Gwalior and Kozhikode, both from India, are among the 55 new cities to join the UCCN. The new list was published on its website on World Cities Day, which falls on October 31.
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