Report: Edgar Cardoza
Pics: Kevin Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Oct 3: In a heart-warming gesture, the alumni association of St Mary’s College, Shirva, on Saturday October 3 for the first time organized special 'Guruvandana' programme to honour their esteemed lecturers and staff for their services in moulding the students and the institution in the past 34 years.

Vishwanatha Kaup in his introductory address explained the reason for organizing the event and welcomed the retired staff who were to be felicitated. "Our college started in the year 1980. Many of our lecturers who were there then have retired or are on the verge of retirement. This programme is to honour those lecturers who have contributed more than just their services to the college. All of us, the old students, have gathered here to show our love and respect for them," he said.

The president of the ceremony Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop of Udupi diocese lighted the ceremonial lamp and inaugurated the event along with chief guest as Dr H S Ballal, pro chancellor, Manipal University, in the presence of guests of honour Fr Stany Tauro, correspondent, St Mary’s and Don Bosco Institutions, Shirva, Alban Rodrigues, , St Mary’s Junior College, Shirva, Dr Anil Castelino, campus director, Dr Lawrence D'Souza, secretary, Catholic Board of Education, diocese of Udupi, Prof Rajan V N, principal, St Mary’s College, Shirva, and Irene Mendonca, convenor, organising committee.

In his presidential address, bishop Dr Gerald Lobo congratulated and blessed the lecturers who were felicitated and also congratulated the alma mater on organizing a meaningful programme in their honour. "I had also served in Shirva as an assistant priest. Our dream has now grown into a gigantic tree. This is not the end. There are many more dreams that are to yet to be fulfilled. Hence I urge the alumni members to serve their Alma mater, so that one day this Institute will be more accessible to the students of rural areas," he said.

Fr Anil quoted what his teacher had once told him when he was a student - 'If you want the precious pearls, dive deep into the ocean. If you stand ashore all you get is only sand'. "This is what we have gathered here for, to felicitate our teachers. All those who have gained knowledge and wisdom from these teachers have done well in life and are spread far across the globe," he said.

Alban Rodrigues, popularly known as Alban Master put forth three questions for all the teachers - 'Do I love the subject I teach?', 'Do I love the institution I serve for?' and 'Do I love my students?' and said, "If the answer for these questions is 'yes', then that teacher is the greatest. The answer for the three questions has always been 'yes' for all the teachers who are being felicitated today." He also recalled his memories with them.

Fr Stany blessed the gathering and said, "When primary education started in Shirva, the people of the surrounding areas asked for more and more education. Hence high school, junior college and degree college were set up and post graduation courses started five years ago. The Institution that started as a bud has today grown into a beautiful, immortal flower. In those times, the lecturers who are on the dais today had even contributed their salary, which was a mere Rs 200, for the new building infrastructure. They also helped Fr Henry Castelino in his role as a principal and assisted him in facing all hardships."

He also termed the lecturers and the late principals as immortal examples of the high quality of the educational institution, and thanked the organizing committee and the alumni association on organizing the first-ever programme of its kind in the entire district.

Fr Lawrence said, "A person receives only when he gives. The lecturers here have given a lot to their students years ago without expecting anything in return. Now they are receiving the honour they truly deserve. This is a very emotional and most cherished moment for them. Today this institute provides education from KG to PG. I have got the opportunity of being the secretary of Catholic Board of Education twice to this institution, once from Mangaluru diocese and now from Udupi diocese."

Dr H S Ballal expressed his happiness when he was approached to be the chief guest and said that he had agreed instantly. "For the better future of our nation, three people play an important role in molding a child. They are father, mother and the teacher. If the parents are the reason for the birth of the child, then teachers are the ones who put a life in them. Teachers must not only teach but should understand every student. Today these honoured lecturers have done their part, thus are being rightfully felicitated."

The former lecturers who were felicitated were Fr Wilson D’souza, retired principal , Fr John A Barboza, retired principal, Prakash Petankar, retired associate professor, department of Hindi, Pascal D’sa, retired associate professor, department of commerce, Subrahmanya B, retired associate professor, department of English, Gilbert Fernandes, retired office superintendent, Bhavanishanker Rao, retired associate professor, department of Kannada, Celine Tauro, retired office staff and yet to retire Ronald Moras, associate professor, department of economics.

Prof Subrahmanya and Prof Ronald spoke on behalf of the felicitated lecturers. They thanked all those who were associated with them right from the beginning till the end.

Santhosh Shetty, who planned and executed the event, could not attend due to other committments. In his absence, his mother was honoured on the occasion.

Prof Rajan V N, principal, St Mary’s College, welcomed the gathering while Irene Mendonca, convener, organizing committee and the principal, St Mary’s Junior College, Shirva proposed the vote of thanks. Alwyn Pernal, compered the entire programme.