Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Jun 17: It was a joyous occasion for the students of the 1973 SSLC batch at St Aloysius High School as they were meeting their classmates after 50 years at ‘2 Acres’ here on Saturday, June 17.
All students of the 1973 batch visited St Aloysius High School and interacted with students and teachers in the presence of rector Melwyn Pinto and headmaster Gerald Furtado.
Several people from the 1973 batch across the globe attended the event and spent a lot of time together at the event. Many of them who were part of the event were pilots, doctors, chartered accountants or businessmen.
The event was organised on the concept of 'camaraderie' which means "mutual trust and friendship among people”.
All the students who gathered there attributed their success to their teachers and to the St Aloysius Institution who moulded their careers and made them good citizens of the country.
Ramdas Mallya compered the entire event and stated that his group of friends was gathering after a long time. “It is really a memorable event. Irrespective of caste, religion, and race we have all joined together,” he said.
He also said his batchmate had become a spiritual head in Polali.
Speaking to daijiworld.com, former dean of NITK, Dr Aloysius H Sequeira said, "Really it is a grateful occasion. All my classmates are meeting after a long time. We are recalling our school days. After 50 years we are meeting. The moral values that we imbibed have led us on the right path. The education and discipline that have been taught to us helped us a lot."
Dr B Seetharama Rao, Ortho, MS (ortho) Mch (L'Pool), professor and unit chief, department of orthopaedics at Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru said, "The teachers of our institution have shaped us. Aloysius is the top institution in the world. We are really proud to be the students of Aloysius".
Capt Edward Lobo said, "While we entered our school premises we could recall our past days spent in school and our old memories. When entering the school premises, we really felt that we are now in our school days. After getting education from this institution, it is my pride to say that I am the first pilot from this batch."
Dr Anthony Pais, clinical director at Cytecare Cancer Hospital, Bengaluru, and senior consultant of oncoplastic breast Surgeon said, "Really, it is a great experience of meeting our childhood friends. We are here because of our teachers. Our teachers taught us principles in life. They have forgiven us for our mischievousness during childhood and taught us discipline in our lives. Our teachers never hated us, but they corrected all our mistakes."
Dr Akhter Husain, director of Yenepoya Dental College and one of the founding members of Yenepoya University said, "I am really excited about all my friends. I was eagerly waiting for this day. It is really an amazing experience. It is an opportunity to recall our past and old experiences and memories. Visiting our school was a great experience. Interacting with students was a memorable event."
Dr Sushil Jathanna, director of Lombard Memorial (Mission) Hospital and member of the managing council and executive committee of CMC, Vellore said, "It is really a moment of pleasure especially meeting up with our old friends. This has given us an opportunity to recall our old childhood memories. Our institution provided us with knowledge, qualification and education and has made us totally good human beings. In our lives we could achieve because of the foundation laid by the Aloysius institution. We all thank all our teachers and our institution for what we are today."
Capt Jonh Prasad Menezes, Rathan Kumar, and then SPL of the school Godwin D'Souza spoke on the occasion and remembered their childhood memories.
Michael Rego, Gerard Towers, and others were also present.