Have you travelled to some of the great cities such as London, New York, Dublin, Melbourne, Jakarta, Milan, Kozhikode, Edinburgh, Iowa, Beirut, Raif in Saudi Arabia, or Lviv in Ukraine which has since transformed itself into a hub for refugees and those affected by war are one of the UNESCO’s 53 cities of Literature across six continents dedicated to promoting cultural diversity and literary richness. In India Kerala is most literate state with literacy rate of one 96 per cent. Kozhikode had 550 libraries, over 70 publishers, and about 100 bookshops amid coconut palms.

London tops the list of the most educated cities in the world with nearly 59 per cent of residents holding at least a bachelor’s degree adding to the UK’s literacy rate of 99 per cent.

Akshara Nagari in Kottayam Kerala, India, flanked by Western Ghats in the East and Vembanad lake in the west, is the first town in India to have achieved 100 per cent literacy back in 1989. In 2023, bengaluru, ranks as the most educated city in India.

UNESCO considers applicants on factors such as quality and quantity of publishing, number of bookshops, Literary festivals and events and an active translation scene.