Keeping Campus Green! Glamorous 139th St Aloysius ‘College Day’ with Theme ‘Samrakshana’
Mangaluru: Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the World”- that’s right. And for that matter whoever got education from St Aloysius Institutions have reached greater heights and have also become great assets to the Nation and also the world. The purpose of having education at St Aloysius College is that every student who passes the portals of this College learns to attain the fullness of life not merely by amassing information, but also by transforming into persons with concern and commitment to the marginalized of our society. Before I go further on my report, I felt proud to grace the Annual College Day of St Aloysius College (Autonomous) for two reasons- one being an Alumnus of this great institution where I completed my B Sc graduation, and secondly, saluting SAC for making me what I am today.
St Aloysius College celebrated its 139th College Day on 8 March 2019 musing on the theme “Samrakshana’- Accompanying Youth in Preserving Our Common Home” at the open-air Altorium. College Day is one great occasion to share the Mission, the Dreams, celebrate the achievements , unravel the future vision and reaffirm the commitment to imparting quality education for all sections of the society. And at SAC every year brings with it so much freshness, new ideas and new horizons to be explored. In the College mission of serving humankind, the faith in the Almighty gets strengthened, and it was highlighted during the College Day, when the achievements were highlighted and when the students unleashed their hidden talents.
The glamorous, extravagant and glittering celebrations began with a invocation by college choir under the guidance of Dr Vidya Vinutha D’souza, a faculty at SAC and welcome dance, followed by welcome address by Prof. B Rajgopal Bhat-the convener. The College Annual Report was delivered by Rev Dr Praveen Martis SJ-Principal of SAC, where in his report also added saying, “The theme “Samrakshana” is very appropriate for this event, by accompanying the Youth in preserving our common home. In the initial stages of evolution of civilizations, humans lived in continuous harmony with the land. Today, we live in a Kingdom of consumerism where everything is converted into a commodity used in extravagance and everything has become a cultural liability by its abuse”.
“The orgy of exploitation has reached its abysmal low and we are looking desperately for alternatives for re-establishing that harmony between people and our shared home, the Earth. I believe that you, the youth of India and the world will facilitate that alternative. Let us inspire them for reflection and action. I am sure this theme which encapsulates the vision of Pope Francis inviting youth to join hands in preserving our common home will impel the students of this college to engage themselves continually in preserving our common home. In a special way, I would like you all to join in our passionate drive to keep this campus green, clean and plastic free. I wish this movement gains momentum and extends to the city, our neighbourhood and towns and villages of India, and beyond” added Fr Martis SJ.
The Annual Report continued with a Audio-Video presentation handled by SAC faculty Vishal Nayak, which gave a elaborate history of the college achievements and activities, which ended with college choir singing the College Anthem. Later all the dignitaries were escorted to the dais, comprising of Chief guest Dr Ullas Karanth-Director of Science-Asia, Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, USA and also the alumni of SAC; Rev Fr Dionysius Vaz SJ-Rector of St Aloysius Institutions who presided over the function; Prof Rajgopal Bhat- Convener; Dr Saraswathi – Co-convener; Fr Denzil Lobo SJ – Director AIMIT; Dr A M Narahari Registrar; Fr Melwyn Lobo SJ- Finance Officer; College Directors- Fr Pradeep Anthony SJ, Dr John E D’silva, Dr Alwyn D’sa, Dr Richard Gonsalves, Dr Loveena Lobo, Fr Melwyn Pinto SJ; and Relston Lobo- Students’Council president.
Following the theme song rendered by a group of students, the chief guest was introduced to the audience by Dr John E D’silva. In his address to the audience chief guest Dr Ullas Karanth said, “Happy to be here as alumni of this prestigious college, which has shaped me in a way, of becoming a responsible person with a better life. Earlier being a engineer I switched my profession in the field of wildlife studies, and I enjoy it very much. At the helm of Wildlife Conservation Society, we have conducted path-breaking research on the ecology and population dynamics of tigers, leopards, elephants and other Indian large mammals. Centre for Wildlife studies has been a leader in the fields of radio-telemetry, advanced field survey methods, animal population modelling and estimation”
“Our contributions to wildlife science include methodology for safe capture and immobilisation of wild tigers and leopards, occupancy sampling, development of innovated models and protocols for matching stripe/spot patterns, and genetic identification of individual tigers and bio-geographic taxonomy of tigers – many of which have been adopted as standard practice by scientists across the world. Our research has carved out a unique niche for itself globally, combining rigorous field based research with innovative methods. Wildlife conservation stresses on the message of allowing other creatures on this earth to live. The subject speaks on love for nature, knowledge about the scarcity of natural resources and protection of nature. Due to advanced development and infrastructure, they have affected the natural resources, and its the humans who have to bear the brunt and suffer. While development is needed, in the same time we should not entertain unwanted and bad developmental projects, which will destroy nature, kill wildlife and eventually humans too. So in a timely manner awareness programmes on such issues is the need of the hour”. It was a very informative speech which was very much liked by the audience.
Rector Fr Dionysius Vaz SJ in his presidential address said, “Quoting Abraham Joshua Heschel “I never asked God for success but I asked God for wonder”. And its true that every time I attend a event in this institution I see lots of wonders unleashed from the students with the help of their teachers and mentors. Our core educational mission is to prepare future leaders and citizens for lives of service. Our road map should be to develop this institution into a comprehensive ‘social project’ that approaches its teaching, research and outreach missions not as narrow educational enterprises, but as a way to live out our vision of creating men and women for and with others in practice. It is the deep desire of our Alma Mater to present to our society and to the world, men and women from our institution with minds bright with knowledge and creativity and hearts burning with genuine love and concern for others. Our Jesuit institution has given prime importance to value education for all our students, including spiritual formation through retreats”.
” Commending on the theme “Samrakshana” it is very appropriate to have it at present times. Human beings cannot survive without biodiversity. We need trees and greenery to produce oxygen we breathe. We need fish as food. We need birds to enjoy beauty. We need insects to pollinate. We need tigers for health and diversity of ecosystem. We need insects to produce crops. We need earthworms to make the soil fertile. Whether it hops, crawls, runs, wriggles, slithers, swims, flies, buzzes, chirrups, grows from ground or lives in water..human being needs nature. The measure of progress of civilization is the progress of young people. We should so live and labour in our time that what came to us as seed may go to the next generation as blossom and that what came to us as blossom may go to them as fruit. That is what we mean by progress. Our chief guest Dr Karanth has given us a elaborate information on wildlife and its importance, and we should respect it” added Fr Vaz SJ.
Meritorious students and sports achievers were honoured with mementos and certificates by the chief guest. After the vote of thanks proposed by Relston Lobo, it was a scintillating and mesmerizing cultural show staged by the students, which enthralled the crowd to the fullest and received loud applaud. The skit/dance performance on the theme “Samrakshana” was unique and well performed.
While concluding in my perspective- “No matter what corner of the world you are, you’ll always be proud to say ” I am an Aloysian”. This institution is the most preferred institution, and one who receives education here will be a great asset to the nation and also the world. St Aloysius College run by the Jesuit priests has been relentlessly serving the society for the last 139 years without deviating from the vision and mission envisaged by the Founders. Generations of students who have passed the portals of SAC have immensely contributed to all spheres of life and facilitated a social, economic, and spiritual transformation at the national as well as the global level.
But in the same time, We need to respect our mentors and teachers who led us to the right path and gave us good education. The truth is, times have changed. Long gone are the days when a teacher’s presence alone demanded respect — from students as well as their parents. Today, in a society where good morals are on the decline and self-centeredness is on the incline, teachers can’t afford to educate students the way our teachers did back in those days. Teachers have to get respect the hard way, and they have to earn it. So my humble request to the students-kindly respect your teachers and elders- you’ll feel good”.Long Live St Aloysius College!