JAAT GET TO RENEW THE SPIRIT OF JESUIT ALUMNI/AE

 

Loyola College Chennai hosted on Jan. 26, 2008 a get together of members of the JAAT to renew the spirit of Jesuit Alumni/ae namely: RECALL, REMEMBER, RELIVE and REDEDICATE.

It was also an occasion to pay tributes to late Very Rev. Fr. Pedro Arrupe SJ who was the architect of the Jesuit Alumni/ae movement. Fittingly, the meeting started with a short film on late Rev. Fr. Pedro Arrupe SJ followed by a welcome address by Rev. Dr. Dennis Ponniah, SJ the coordinator – JAAT. The Chief Host, Rev. Dr. Peter Xavier, SJ explained the dynamics of the meet followed by felicitation addresses by Rev.Fr. K. Amal, SJ (Rector), Rev.Fr. A. Abert Muthumalai, SJ (Principal) and Rev. Dr. John Pragasam, SJ (Deputy Principal) all from Loyola College .

The keynote address was delivered by Rev.Dr. N. Casimir Raj SJ. He dwelt at length the practicing Social Responsibility by the corporate sector. He emphasized that social responsibility of business does not mean charity and that any business cannot have sustained growth if it has no social responsibility. Society associated with a business has an internal component namely its employees and an external component which consists of its immediate neighbourhoods and the public at large. Profit from a business should benefit its employees and shareholders and beneficial to the environment. Good governance calls for providing tax incentives to business for taking care of the society. He reminded that there are 4 partners in any business namely: the government, the company, other institutes in the locality and the township. Reservation quota in business will be counter productive; what is needed is the uplifting of the downtrodden by providing support for their educational and societal upbringing.

The second session was devoted to the second “R” namely, REMEMBER. There were five speakers who remembered the Alumni/ae from different angles. Prof. Dr. Victor Louis Anthvan traced back Indian History and lamented that the India which was the “first” in everything around 10th and 11th centuries and degraded to one of the backward countries by the time of its independence in 1947. It was Mahatma who brought out “men” out of “dust”. He boasted that with the rate of all round progress that is being realized these days, India can become one of the most advanced countries by 2050. At the same time he warned that later leaders did not possess the virtue of being “selfless” and this is the root cause for most of the maladies in the country today. The educational institutions are increasingly producing “academic robots” and Xerox copies of these again and again! These institutes have to produce “men and women for others” the motto dished out by Late Rev.Fr.Pedro Arrupe SJ. He concluded by defining Progress as leading to Development which in turn should lead to Civilization.

Rev. Dr. Xavier Alphonse SJ in his talk asserted that CHARITY is not GIVING but should mean EMPOWERMENT for SOCIAL CHANGE. He opined that Education cannot be for the sake of Knowledge or Information or Skill; it has to be aimed at Livelihood, Empowerment and Compassionate living. Every one is talented and what is needed is to provide ample opportunities. He concluded by saying that we need to create miracles for HOPE and COMMITMENT and understand that HUMANISM means RESPONSIBILITY!

Rev. Dr. V. Joseph Xavier SJ gave a clarion call not to use others as instruments of profit and pleaded for empathy with the poor. Mr. Kothari thought that advanced technologies have changed the ways of thinking of the corporate world. Profit making should be for the benefit of the stakeholders, environment, community and society. Nationally popular figures from the fields of sports, cinema etc should become “Mentors” in this cause and help develop public attitude to accept social changes and adapt them easily. Mr. Kothari also called for empowerment of women. The last speaker of the second session, Rev. Dr. Francis M Peter SJ was categorical in his assessment that the existing system of education in Jesuit institutions is out of date and gave the Jesuits a new definition of RIP: Rise If Possible and not Rest In Peace! He warned that we may be taking too much pride and satisfaction from past glory too often and this might actually lead to our extinction! He suggested that such Alumni meetings should aim at intervening positively and rattle the “system” to rise up. He was sure that education cannot be left to the “Management” alone.

The post lunch technical session on “Let us Relive” was indeed lively and absorbing driving away the usual ‘sleepy' atmosphere expected after sumptuous food. Mr.S.P.Muthuraman the famous Director of the Tamil Cinema gave a touching portrayal of his early days with ample lessons to be learned by others. He made the plea not to neglect English in the curriculum and fervently appealed to the gathering not to forget one's duty towards his own family in the demanding race of a professional career. Dr. Chellappa, IAS, in his talk gave accounts of his service to society in Andhra Pradesh at times of Natural Calamities and was sure that the feeling of responsibility came from his educational background routed in Jesuit Institutions. He lamented that the Jesuits have not done enough for Professional Education in Engineering, Medicine etc and it has its own undesirable repercussions in the social scene to-day. Dr. Prabhakaran impressed one and all with his witty remarks in chaste Tamil quite unlike a medical doctor! He was also of the view that English cannot be neglected in academic pursuits.

Mr.Kandasami a Chartered Accountant, explained how his educational background from Loyola College helped him to widen the scope of his professional pursuits to organizations of social relevance including UN, WHO etc. Dr.Bernard D'Sami reiterated his ‘wedding' to Loyola College and how he feels proud and satisfied to be a teacher in such a Jesuit Institution. He was sure of the useful role played by the teachers of Jesuit Institutions in moulding the character of the future leaders of the country. Mr. George Cherian a young Alumnus of Loyola College and a young Entrepreneur attracted the attention of all by his soft, sweet and meaningful talk. He recalled his involvement (as a senior) in a ragging incidence during the second year of college study and how the counseling sessions held by Rev. Fr. Principal totally reformed him for his entire successful life later on. He proudly took voluntary responsibility in bringing about social justice to the workers in his company which dealt with business in an unorganized sector and not governed by any governmental regulations. He lastly regretted that in such an important meeting of the Alumni/ae he could not find any youngster excepting himself who was invited as a speaker. He urged the Association to involve youngsters as members and office bearers and achieve credible progress beneficial to the society at large.

In the last session, alumni of long standing and service to JAAT were honored with a shawl and a memento. It is a matter of pride to all of us in the Alumni Association of St.Xavier's College (autonomous), Palayamkottai that two of our esteemed Life Members, Mr. M.P.Alagianambi and Mr.T.Chidambaram were the recipients of this honour.

The Valedictory message was given by Rev. Dr. Ignacimuthu, SJ who underscored the importance of the Alumni Associations and their useful role to Society. He called for suggestions from the floor and almost there was unanimous wish for a JAAT Office to function at Loyola College with an attached Guest House.

The meeting was the first of its kind in the annals of JAAT and full credit goes to Rev. Dr. Peter Xavier, SJ and Rev. Dr. Dennis Ponniah, SJ. All arrangements whether the technical sessions or the stay/transport/food facilities, were painfully and efficiently organised. In all, the deliberations were fruitful and the stay memorable. Let us rededicate ourselves to the motto, “MEN and WOMEN for OTHERS”.

Tel: 91 44 28178200
Fax: 91 44 28175566
Email: helpdesk@loyolacollege.edu