Students From Batch 1971 Create History, Return To The Alma Mater For A Golden Reunion

The golden bells chimed at St Aloysius College on Monday 10 January 2022 when at 9.00 in the morning members from Batch 1971 after breakfast at the Gelge Hall assembled before the Administrative block in the company of the Rector Fr Melwin Pinto, Principal Rev Dr Praveen Martis and Registrar Dr Alwyn D’sa. After a ceremonial march past by the N.C.C. Army, Navy and Air Wing cadets the Aloysian flag was hoisted and the Organizing Committee Chairman Walter D’Souza declared the Golden Reunion of batch 1971 open. Soon after thirty one Batch 1971 members marched in a procession escorted by a band and N.C.C. cadets, to LCRI Block. The Advanced Instrumentation Centre gifted by the Batch 1971 for research activity at a cost of Rs one crore and seventy five lakhs was inaugurated by the Rev. Fr Melwin Pinto, Rector. The formal inauguration ceremony commenced at 10.00 am at the LF Rasquinha Hall with a welcome dance by the college students followed by a prayer song. Mr Walter D’Souza in the welcome address summed the events leading to the Golden Reunion. Then followed the ceremonial Convocation ceremony directed by the Registrar Dr Alwin D’Sa. The Rector Rev. Fr. Melwin Pinto and the Principal Rev. Dr Praveen Martis solemnly handed over to the students who graduated in the year 1971 a Commendation Certificate as symbolic of the Convocation Degree Certificate, a Memento and a sash. The rank holders who were present were felicitated. This was a graduation ceremony that has no parrallals meaning thereby this was the first of its kind organized in the whole world. Thanks to Prof. Edmund Frank who conceived of the idea of the ceremonial march past and the Graduation ceremony which were the highlights of the celebration. Another important highlight was the presentation of a Cheque for Rs One Crore and Seventy one Lakhs by the office bearers of Batch 1971 on behalf of all the batch members. The third highlight in the programme was the release of the Batch 1971 Golden Souvenir by the Rector Rev Fr Melwin Pinto and handing over the first copy to the Editor Prof. Edmund Frank. The Principal Rev Dr Praveen Martis in his address briefly explained the heights of excellence attained by St Aloysius College (Autonomous) and the transition of the College into a Deemed to be University in the near future. He commended the role of the alumni as partners with their Alma mater. He especially expressed his gratitude to the students of batch 1971 for their loving and thoughtful gift to their Alma mater of the Advanced Instrumentation Center for research activity and for setting a precedent and a bench mark for succeeding golden batch students to follow. Mr M.V. Nair delivered the keynote address and citing the example of universities like Harvard where the alumni have raised billions of dollars for their Alma mater, reiterated that the alumni of St Aloysius College should take up the responsibility of raising a target amount of Rs 2700 crore from endowments by the year 2030, the Post centenary Golden Jubilee of the college. He also expressed his gratitude to his Alma mater saying whatever he had achieved in life as a person and as a banker was mainly because of the grooming he received at St Aloysius College as a Student and also recalled his N.C.C. days. The St Aloysius College Flag with Golden Batch 1971 name printed on it, which was hoisted at march past was folded and handed over to the Chairman of batch 1971 Walter D’Souza. This was handed over by him to James Mendonca in the absence Archibald Menezes, Chairman of the Golden Batch 1972. The Rector Rev Fr Melwin Pinto in his Presidential address commended the Batch 1971 students for their generous act of giving this wonderful gift of the Advanced Instrumentation Center to the college and expressed hopes of subsequent batches emulating this example. He complimented Mr M.V. Nair for his generous thoughts and expressions suggesting that the alumni should raise Rs 2700 crores by 2030 which is the 150 years Foundation Day of the college. In this context Fr Rector cited the name of Mr Michael D’Souza, who though not an alumnus of St Aloysius College has become a major donor in all the projects undertaken the college. Prof. Edmund Frank, the convener of the programme and Organizing Committee Secretary proposed the vote of thanks. He thanked everyone who was instrumental in helping to successfully organize the golden Reunion, especially the Rector, the Principal, the Finance Officer Rev Fr Vincent Pinto, the Registrar Dr Alwin D’Sa, Vaishali the SACAA Office Manager and Vincent Monis from the SACAA office teaching and non-teaching members of the staff . Seated on dais were the Rector, Principal, Registrar, Batch 197 Chairman Walter D’Souza, Convener Edmund Frank, M V Nair, Joseph D’Mello, Fr Xavier Gomes and Ronald Fernandes. He specially acknowledged the donors of the Advanced Instrumentation Center. Ms Alita D’Sa Anchored the programme which concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.