Established in 2005 under patronage of the Catholic diocese of Thamarassery in Calicut district of Kerala State, the St. Thomas Academy for Research and Training, or START, incorporates a unique vision in education of the young. Our vision arises from the firm conviction that the currently popular fashion of orienting school education to the preparation of the young for entry into professional courses such as Medicine, Engineering or Nursing is driven more by utilitarian principles, than considerations of natural aptitude or inclination. We further believe that this obsession with success in 'entrance tests' is seriously distorting the aim of education which is cultivation of the mind and not cramming of information as is happening today.