Following the footsteps of its founding father St Chavara, the CMI Congregation has been spearheading educational initiatives with the aim of aiding in social empowerment and nation building for several decades now.It has under its aegis over a hundred educational institutions across the country. Having understood the importance of cultural dialogues for social transformation andin keepingthe secular fabrics of the nation intact,the Congregation further started cultural centres. There are 23 such centres functioning across India, among which Kerala has 3 centres. The first Chavara Cultural Centre in Kerala was started at Kochi in the year 1971.
Chavara Cultural Centre was started with the aim ofspreading love, compassion, kindness and motivation among all sections of the society.Despitebeing the cultural capital of Malabar, Kozhikode didn't have a cultural centre until the late 90s. An initiative was thus taken by the Kozhikode CMI Congregation's St Thomas province to start a cultural centre that is non-sectarian and non-political. The decision to establish Chavara Cultural Centre was taken on October 7, 1996 at a meeting held in the presence a number of well-wishers. The centre envisaged fostering unity among all sections of the societyby initiating cultural dialogues. It aimed to promote meaningful interference in the socio-political and cultural spheres of the country besidescountering the rising tide of communalism and religious polarization.
Under the guidance of Reverent Fr Justine Koyippuram, who was the Provincial then, Fr Job Mailadiyil was entrusted with the task of piloting the initiative. Fr Job Mailadiyil was the Vice Provincial and a prominent figure in the socio-cultural space of the city then.He had played a huge role inrealizingseveral initiatives designed for the benefit of the society. On January 3, 1997, Chavara Cultural Centre was inaugurated by Alphonse Kannanthaanam, IAS. The Chavara Public Library and Reading Room was inaugurated by Justice V R Krishnaiyar on April 6, 1999.
Since its inception, the centre has had an active presence in the cultural and social circles of Kozhikode. Besides encouraging cultural dialogues, the centre has endeavored to promote art, music, theatre, nature-friendly life, value education for children, women empowerment and national integration through various initiatives. It aimed to become a catalyst in social change through various activities involving people from different strata of the society.
