From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 13: The services of the Jesuit priests running the string of St Joseph’s Indian Educational Institutions in Bengaluru over the last 110 years, which helped in moulding and turning out over 50,000 students as responsible and caring citizens including a large number who excelled themselves in diverse fields, were lauded by Archbishop of Bengaluru Dr Bernard Moras at the post-centenary decennial celebrations held in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Education should help in learning the language of heart, mind and hands to listen and do well for society and fellow human beings without any discrimination of caste, creed, colour or status, the Archbishop said warmly appreciating the contribution of Jesuits in the fields of education and social service in different parts of Karnataka and elsewhere in the country.
Former minister and alumnus of St Joseph’s Indian Educational Institutions Kumar Bangarappa, who spoke on behalf of the thousands of students who passed out from the portals, as well as the Shanthinagar Congress MLA N A Harris paid glowing tributes to the management and staff of the educational institutions, especially the policy of the Jesuits in inculcating the spirit of service and equality while giving priority to the upliftment of the poorer and downtrodden sections of society.
The two Congress leaders advised the students to shun all bad habits and respect their parents, teachers and the country. "We will prosper when we are secular in our outlook and want to serve the poor with genuine human concern and be good human beings,’’ said Bangarappa and said he was ready to do anything for his alma mater.
Dr Jerome Stanislaus D’Souza, Provincial of Karnataka Jesuits, listed out the luminaries who had passed out of the educational institutions run by the Jesuits in different parts of the country, including poet laureate Dr Rabindranath Tagore, and said four of the top 10 educational institutions in the country, including St Joseph’s Bengaluru, were run by Jesuits.
"Excellence in all walks of life and creating leaders of tomorrow,’’ was the motto and essence of Jesuit Educational Institutions without following any discrimination based on caste, creed, colour or status but with a special emphasis on inter-religious harmony and secular ideals.
As many as seven jubilarians and super-annuated staff of the institutions – Irene D’Souza, Nagappa Reddy, Manohar Katke, Geneview Noronha, Wilfred D’Silva, Rachel Mohan and Joseph A – were specially honoured with shawl and presentation of mementoes by Fr Melwyn Lobo, Director of Community College, and Fr Sunith Prabhu, Director of the Celebrations Committee and the moving spirit behind the entire function.
Fr Anil D’Mello, Rector, released a souvenir. Fr Sunith Prabhu welcomed and Fr Gerald Furtado, Principal of Pre-University College, proposed a vote of thanks.
Sundar Raj, Kannada cine actor and an alumnus, who had choreographed and directed an hour-long cultural programme, Payana, depicting the journey from "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,’’ was also felicitated.