Mangalore: St Aloysius poised to become university: Fr Denzil Lobo at reunion

Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Report: John Monteiro

Mangalore, Jan 13: The 133-year-old St Aloysius College is poised to become a university soon, said Fr Denzil Lobo, rector, St Aloysius College Institutions. He was making a powerpoint presentation on the origin, growth and prospects of the college at the annual reunion of old students organised by St Aloysius College Alumni/ae Association (SACAA) at the college campus on Sunday January 12, with a few hundred former students and their families soaking in nostalgia of their days as Aloysian students.

Fr Denzil noted that the college had already enjoyed autonomous status and, more recently, has been designated community college. He stressed the role of the college in empowering women by throwing its portals open to them since the college celebrated its centenary in 1980 and noted that presently girl students comprised 50 per cent of the total intake.

Fr Denzil traced the Jesuit tradition of imparting education and more than information, transforming men and women into leaders of tomorrow and living for others. He said that the students are encouraged to shine and reach out to people with compassion. In this context he recalled the Boys Home set by the college post-centenary to take care of juvenile and destitute children who have greatly benefited by this uplifting mission as reflected in some of them attaining post-graduate degrees like MCom and MSW. He recalled how this activity has evoked wide appreciation by visitors to the Home and gave the example of writer Aravind Adiga, an alumnus of the college, gave a substantial part of an international award he received some years ago. Fr Denzil said the college has developed vast infrastructure to be eligible to be a university and its two campuses compared with the best even globally. The college, he said, was collaborating with international universities like Boston, North Dakota and Fairfield.

The evening function started with introduction by Felix D’Silva, convenor of the 2014 Reunion and welcome by SACAA president, Michael D’Souza. Jesuit scholastics rendered the commencement prayer song. To emphasise the interactive part of the programme, the VIPs and SACAA officials did not sit on the dais and went to the podium to play their part.

During the function, Fr Francis D’Almeida, vice-principal of the college and deputy director of SACAA and Arthur D’Souza, an ex-president of SACAA, were felicitated by Fr Denzil and Fr Swebert D’Silva, principal of the College and director of SACAA, in recognition of their month-long visit to United Arab Emirates to garner substantial funds for the Rs 5-crore Olympic class swimming pool project under execution on the college campus. The duo also honoured Alwyn Pinto of Dubai who had untiringly helped the visiting fund collectors by facilitating their local logistics

Dr Richard Gonsalves, vice-president, SACAA, proposed the vote of thanks. Sumit Rao and Janice Goveas progressed the function and conducted the games with elan.