News: Seema Lewis

Pictures: Kiran Acharya

Udupi, Jan 13: SMS College on Monday January 11 morning witnessed enthusiastic students and a good number of teaching and non-teaching staff eagerly waiting for the second series of lectures in memory of legendary educationists Fr Zephrine Noronha and Fr Alfred Roche who lived and served in Brahmavar in the 19th and 20th century respectively.

The much-awaited programme organized under the aegis of the department of English at SMS College was given a prayerful start by invoking the Almighty Lord's blessings with a silent prayer at 10.30 am at the college auditorium.

Professor Jude Alfred Furtado, HOD of the department of English at SMS College cordially welcomed the distinguished and learned speakers and escorted them to the dais. In his short address, he also referred to the first series of successful lectures held on August 17, 2019 which was acclaimed by the students who made it a point to attend and listen to it.

The colourful portraits of Fr Noronha and Roche were garlanded by the guest speakers and a moment of silence rightly paid the deserved homage to these great departed souls.

Pioneer and a reformer to familiarize girl’s higher education in Brahmavar – Fr Alfred Roche:

Lecturer Jayashree briefly introduced Joyce Vandan DSa, the deputy headmistress, a teacher by profession, known for introducing modern techniques of teaching to make the learning process interesting at Maryknoll School Barkur.

In her impressive and resourceful talk, she spoke about the importance of educating girls in today’s world. She recalled the difficult days of pre-independence and early independence era and the conservative society restricting girls and women to go out. Coastal districts were fortunate to have pioneering and forward-thinking educationists and social workers in the likes of Fr Alfred Roche, OFM Cap who had the distinct credit of starting primary schools, especially Nirmala Girl’s High School in Brahmavar.

Father of primary and modern education in the then-rural Brahmavar who sowed the first seeds of general education:

The next speaker for the occasion, Fr Cyprian Henry DSouza was briefly introduced to the audience by Professor Jude Alfred Furtado, a renowned and well-educated priest in academic areas like English literature, social work, law and music and a trainer of youth in the diocese of Mangaluru, who earlier also served at St Aloysius College as a part-time counsellor.

He beautifully narrated the role of rural education, which transpired a socio-economic system. Knowledge is power and today the society remains grateful to those educationists who both took the initiative and risk of commencing primary schools in the region, as saintly Fr Zephrine Noronha who founded Cosmopolitan School in 1916, rightly the ‘Father of Modern Education in Brahmavar’.

Spreading of knowledge not only a social but also a divine responsibility: Professor Namita Tolpadi

Lecturer Seema Lewis, in her short and crispy presentation, highlighted the personality of Professor Namita Tolpadi, retired HOD in the department of English, who had the distinct credit of teaching in the same College, for almost four long decades, 37 long years, since the very inception of SMS. She shared her nostalgic feelings.

In her matured and best prepared concluding address, Professor Tolpadi, spoke in length about her life experiences, the value of proper education in the modern world. Education is key to a successful life, which empowers mental, physical, social. In a way, the holistic development of a person. She continued, “Though British introduced general education, women were denied in post-independent India too. Co-education is best and ideal for human growth. Exposure to extracurricular and co-curricular activities are important and a teacher must be a permanent learner." She regretted, “The present-day education system has been a failure, people who learnt less know more and vice versa. That is why Socrates is great because he knew that he knew nothing.”

Shaunusha Shetty, III BCom, aptly compered the whole proceedings, which rightly, took the audience to a different world.

All the guests on stage were presented with colourful mementos and copies of the recently published biography of Fr Alfred Roche on his way to sainthood, the renowned research scientist Dr Gabriel Fernandes and Richard Carvalho, a mechanical champion. The set of all these three books were authored by Archibald Furtado of Barkur.

While proposing the vote of thanks, Seema Lewis thanked all guest speakers, principal Bhat - for their valuable time and sharing insightful thoughts, James Fernandes, Chicago, USA for instituting the trust to present these series of talks every year in SMS and students and teachers for gracing the occasion in a fairly large number and adhering to safety, sanitising and wearing masks.