Fr. Felix Raj, former Principal of St. Xavier's College, Kolkata and the current Vice-Chancellor of the St. Xavier's University was honoured with the prestigious the Nihil Ultra Award of Excellence 2018 on January 16 at the eleventh Convocation of the College.
Fr. Felix Raj was given the award not only for his
"long and dedicated service to the College" but also for his contribution to the field of education in Bengal, said Fr. Raphael Hyde, the Provincial of the Calcutta Jesuit Province.
"Today I stand here with a sense of humility and a feeling of gratitude... I accept this Nihil Ultra Award of Excellence 2018, conferred on me for my humble service in this institution. By serving this institution for 33 years, I have learnt many lessons. I thank the Principal and the whole Xaverian
family for this token of appreciation. St.
Xavier's College has expanded in infrastructure
and achieved high academic standards... I am confident that this high standard will be sustained in the years to come," said Father Felix Raj in his acceptance speech.
He steered the College as Principal from 2009 till he was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the St. Xavier's University in 2017. A doctor in economics from Rabindrabharati University, Fr. Felix Raj was rector of the College for six years from 2006. He was also the Vice Principal of the Commerce department of the College for 12 years from 2007.
"This gesture of appreciation and support is a message for me to go ahead in my mission particularly in building up of the new St. Xavier's University," Fr. Felix Raj told the Telegraph.
Fr. Felix Raj also told the media that St. Xavier's University would start more courses from July 2018, namy BA and MA in economics, BA in Mass Communication, BA in English and MBA.
Education Minister calls St. Xavier's University A 'model' ONE
New Town, Kolkata: St Xavier's University is
"the model to follow" after showing in its
inaugural year that an institute backed by a
legacy of excellence will attract students
irrespective of its location, education minister Partha Chatterjee said on January 15, Monday.
The university, whose campus is in New Town, had
received more than 3,000 applications for
admission to four postgraduate and two
undergraduate courses. Only 400 made it to the
historical first batch.
"St Xavier's University had its inauguration in
July 2017. I came to know from Father Felix Raj
(the vice-chancellor) that in its very first
year of existence, the university received over
3,000 applications.... This shows the location
of an institute does not matter. Location can't
be an issue for students while choosing where to
study. What matters is the quality of education
an institute imparts," the education minister
said at an event marking the first anniversary
of the 17-acre New Town campus. He urged other
institutes to stand up to be counted.
Vice-Chancellor Father Felix Raj described St
Xavier's University as "a dream come true" that
was made possible by the state government's
support, particularly chief minister Mamata
Banerjee. He thanked the benefactors and the
alumni for their close association with the
Jesuit institute and generous contribution
towards Vision 2020.
Prof. Suranjan Das, the Vice Chancellor of
Jadvapur University delivered the Foundation Day
lecture on "The Challenges of Higher Education
in India today".
Father Raphael J. Hyde, the Chancellor of the
University, said the larger objective was to
create a centre of excellence and strive to
promote a society based on "love, freedom,
justice, equality and fraternity".
All the dignitaries joined together and cut the
Foundation cake which was shared among staff and
students.
Inauguration of the first academic session of St. Xavier's University,
Kolkata
on 7th July, 2017 at New Town
Xavier's varsity gets vice-chancellor
By Chandreyee Chatterjee
Feb. 15:Father
Felix Raj, the principal of St. Xavier’s College, will be the first
vice-chancellor of St. Xavier’s University.
“As vice-chancellor, my first task will be to form the governing board
of the university, which will consist of 36 members,” Felix Raj said,
adding that he would take over the reins of the Rajarhat university with
“immediate effect”.
Father Jeyaraj Veluswamy, the chancellor of the university who appointed
Felix Raj as VC, also appointed professor Ashis Mitra as registrar.
The bill for setting up the university, which will be operational by the
first week of July, was unanimously passed by the Assembly on December
15. Governor K.N. Tripathi gave his consent to the bill on January 16,
which was followed by a notification of the legislation by the
government on February 8.
The governing board, which will include a state government nominee and a
UGC representative, will meet for the first time on the university
campus on April 28.
“St. Xavier’s College, which gave birth to the university, kept its
quality for 157 years and has become the number one college in India.
The university will emulate that. It will in no way compromise on
quality,” Felix Raj told Metro.
Teachers, to be drawn from both India and abroad, will be paid on a par
with that of state universities.
According to the St. Xavier’s University Kolkata Act, all St. Xavier’s
colleges in the state can become constituents of the new institution.
“We will initiate the process (of adding colleges as constituents) only
after we are properly established, which will take three to five years,”
said Felix Raj, who joined the Jesuit Order in Calcutta in 1973 and has
been associated with St. Xavier’s College Calcutta since 1984 in various
capacities — lecturer, vice-principal, rector and principal.
The university will start its journey by offering the BCom, BBA, MCom,
MA in English, master’s in social work and MA in journalism courses.
The academic block, a six-storeyed building with provisions to add
another six floors, can accommodate 5,000 students in the first phase
and is ready. It will house the offices of the VC, registrar, finance
officer and the controller till the administrative building is ready.
Sources said the administrative building could open doors in three
years.
In the first phase, the campus will also have the Jesuit residence,
which will include the VC’s quarters, a library-cum-research block, the
first phase of the hostels for both girls and boys and a utility
building which will house a bank, an ATM, indoor games facilities, a
cafeteria, a gym and staff quarters.
Also in the first phase, the campus will have an auditorium with 3,000
seats and a central assembly hall for students to meet for various
activities, prayer and workshops.
By 2020 the campus will have a Hall of Fame, which will highlight the
500-year history of the Jesuits with a special focus on their work in
the field of education across the world, history of St. Xavier’s which
has shaped luminaries such as Rabindranath Tagore and Jagadis Chandra
Bose and an artistic museum showcasing Bengal’s culture.
A management development programme block is also on the cards, which
will house the alumni office and also include conference rooms and
residential facilities.
“In the second phase we would like to start a law college and a sports
academy,” said Felix Raj.
Firdausul Hasan, honorary secretary, St. Xavier’s College Calcutta
Alumni Association, said: “The university is the materialisation of
Father Felix Raj’s visionary dreams. We are thankful to him for giving
us the chance to play our part in Vision 2020 and do something for our
alma mater.”
St. Xavier's
College scores 3.77 CGPA out of 4 (A++) in its 3rd cycle accreditation.
The Principal said: "It is the fruit of a collective effort. I want to
thank our staff, students, their parents, alumni/ae, benefactors and
friends for their wholehearted cooperation, interest and involvement in
the College matters. This is yet another milestone in our march towards
Nihil Ultra (Nothing Beyond).
The NAAC Peer Team handed over the final report to the Principal, Fr.
Felix Raj on January 10th evening at the Exit meeting.
Chief Minister at Xavier's Christmas Meet
Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee was at St. Xavier's on December 23rd evening
for the College's annual Christmas Meet. She played Santa Claus to
Xavier's promising an annual funding of Rs 7 crores to the new St.
Xavier's University. She also announced the allotment of four and a half
acres of land to St. Xavier's College in Asansol.
"Our
congratulations to St. Xavier's and to Fr. Felix Raj for the new
university. The foundation stone has already been laid and a lot of
money has been spent to get it going. It is a very big project. I was
asking Father how much would be spent on salaries of staff," Mamata
said.
She then
announced with a magician - like flourish: "I can give you a little
something. On behalf of our Government, we will give Rs 7 crore annually
for the pay package."
A regular
guest at the Christmas meet hosted by the Alumni Association of the
College, Mamata had played Santa's role in 2012 when she handed over a
formal letter to Fr. Felix Raj allocating 16.4 acres of land at Rajarhat
for St. Xavier's University.
Fr. Felix Raj,
Principal of the College, thanked the Chief Minister and the State
Government for passing the St. Xavier's University Bill 2016 unanimously
in the Assembly. " This sanction is a test, a challenge to all of us. It
is a journey of commitment, concern and credibility towards reaching
excellence in higher education. We pledge to honour it and raise it to
the greater glory of God and to the welfare of the State of Bengal," he
said.
Earler Rector
Fr. Dominic Savio said an opening prayer invoking God's blessings on all
gathered at the meet. Provincial Fr. Jeyaraj Veluswamy thanked the Chief
Minister and her Government for the Christmas gift in the form of the
St. Xavier's University.
On behalf of
the Alumni Association, Firdausul Hasan, the Honorary Secretary
presented a statue of Mother Mary with Child Jesus, made in Ausgram,
Burdwan. " The vision 2020 of Fr. Felix Raj is becoming a reality. We
shall continue to assist our St. Xavier" s University to emerge as one
of the centres of excellence in the country," said Hasan.
The College
choir consisting of students from the department of education and XADAM
sang melodious carols and hymns as the Chief Minister and others cut a
Christmas cake. The Chief Minister offered cake to all on the dais.
Courtesy: The
Telegraph, Calcutta
The Saint Xavier's University Kolkata Bill Passed in the Assembly
The St. Xavier’s
University, Kolkata Bill 2016 was passed unanimously on December 15
in the West Bengal Assembly, paving the way for a new university at
New Town, Rajarhat, to meet the growing need for quality facilities
and to encourage private investment in the state’s Higher Education.
The SXUK will be a private, minority and constituent university. The
bill provides that the SXUK may have as many constituent colleges
situated within Bengal that are established and administered by the
Jesuits.
St Xavier’s College
Kolkata Educational Trust is the sponsoring agency of the
university. It will have the power to manage all higher education
institutions run by the Jesuit Trust across the State. The trust
will provide instruction, teaching, training and research in various
disciplines and specialised field of science, technology, law,
management, social sciences, medicine, education, humanities,
performing arts and several other areas.
the Jesuit Provincial
of the Calcutta Province of the Society of Jesus will be the
Chancellor ex-officio as the President of the Trust. He will appoint
the Vice-Chancellor from among the Jesuits in consultation with the
Governing Board. The university will start operating from the
2017-'18 academic session, according to Father Felix Raj, with
courses like MSW, M.Com,
MA in English, M.A in Mass Communication, BBA and B. Com.
The government had
some difficulties with the proposal from the St Xavier's
authorities to set up the university on a
Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model on the ground that there
is no such precedence.
"St Xavier's college has been recognised as one of the most
prestigious educational institutions in the country, and
allowing them to open a university will encourage research in
various branches of learning and course of study, promote
advancement and dissemination of knowledge and learning and
extend higher education to meet the growing needs of society,"
education minister Partha Chatterjee said, moving the bill.
"This is a historic moment for all Jesuits in Bengal and St.
Xavier's College in particular," said Father Felix Raj,
principal of St Xavier's College Kolkata, who has been at the
forefront of the initiative to set up the university.
"I thank the chief minister, the Bengal Government and all the
legislators for being supportive to our cause. Now, we will be
able to serve more students and set up another centre of
excellence," added the principal.
The alumni of St.
Xavier's College welcomed the move. "It is a big day for us and
a good start. We shall stand by the Jesuits to make it a world
class university, " said Firdausul Hasan, the honorary secretary
of St. Xavier's College Calcutta Alumni Association.
The Chief Minister,
Mamata Banerjee is visiting the St. Xavier's College onDecember
23 to announce the news and to share the joy with
the Jesuits. She has been very supportive of the Jesuit projects in
Bengal. She will join the alumni in a Christmas celebration that
evening.
Courtesy: The ToI and
the Telegraph
International Exchange Programme
Seven students accompanied by Ms Cheryl Francis, Director of Social Work
& NSS, have successfully completed the one month exchange programme at
the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University, Minnesota, USA.
While the students attended a variety of classes ranging from academics
to working in the farm, Ms. Cheryl worked on the collaboration with
Service Learning. She made a presentation on the Outreach works
organized by St. Xavier's, which helped the host University to
concretize their plans of collaborating their Service Learning as well,
along with academic exchange.
Ms. Francis further met the Global Outreach Head and his team at Fordham
University, New York. It was decided that a group of 12 students from
Fordham would be doing a two-week experiential learning with the Social
Work Department of St. Xavier's College from 4th to 14th January 2017.
She met the guest students and gave them an orientation about the
College, the people of West Bengal and the partner Communities.
Ms. Francis also met the Associate Dean of the Fordham School of Social
Work and discussed possibilities of collaboration with MSW at St.
Xavier's University, once it begins. The response was quite positive.
SXC team had a lot to learn. The students got a taste of the education
system in US and the creative ways of conducting classes. They also got
to learn about the America Culture, which stressed a lot on
professionalism, punctuality, discipline and respect for one another.
They too got an opportunity to share the Indian culture through dress,
dance and cuisine. The Indian team hosted an Indian dinner on the
occasion of Diwali.
Thanks to Joe Rogers and Jessica of SBSJ and Paul Francis of Fordham
Universities respectively for their cooperation and support.
Pope Francis Visits the GC 36
There is a
well-established tradition that on the occasion of a Jesuit General
Congregation, the Holy Father meets with the delegates. So this Monday,
24 October, Pope Francis came discreetly to the curia at 7.30 morning
and was greeted by Father General Arturo Sosa and the Superior of the
Curia community, Father Joaquín Barrero..
These two
accompanied him into the aula (GC hall), and the Pope participated in
Morning Prayer with the delegates. The theme of the prayer, the good
shepherd, had been chosen for the occasion. The members of the
Congregation prayed for Pope Francis, as he often requests of all those
he meets.
Pope Francis
came to the General Congregation with a message. He gave an encouraging
speech that set a direction. The speech gave a good idea of the manner
in which he is coming to see the service of the Church and of the world
that the Society of Jesus can offer, a relevant way connected to his own
ministry. His whole intervention was characterized by an openness to
what lies ahead, a call to go further, the way of journeying that allows
Jesuits to go toward others and to walk with them on their own journey.
Quoting Saint
Ignatius, the Pope recalled that a Jesuit is called to converse and
thereby to bring life to birth "in every part of the world where a
greater service of God and help for souls is expected." Precisely for
this reason, the Jesuits must go forward, taking advantage of the
situations in which they find themselves, always to serve more and
better. This implies a way of doing things that aims for harmony in the
contexts of tension that are normal in a world with diverse persons and
missions. The Pope mentioned explicitly the tensions between
contemplation and action, between faith and justice, between charism and
institution, between community and mission.
The 36th GC of the Society of Jesus convened in Rome
Jesuits elect a new
General
Rome -
Friday, October 14, 2016
Father Arturo
Sosa, 67, is the first Latin-American leader to head the Society of
Jesus, the largest religious Order, that was started in 1540. He has
become the 31st General or the 30th successor of St Ignatius of Loyola,
who founded the Order.
Around 212
delegates from across the world, representing nearly 17,000 Jesuits
worldwide, elected Father Sosa. T hey were attending the 36th general
congregation of the Order, its highest legislative body.
The
Venezuelan General's past curiously parallels that of the first Jesuit
Pope Francis. Like Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who steered his divided
Jesuit province through the 1970s Argentine dictatorship, the new Jesuit
chief was Venezuelan provincial between 1996 and 2004, when his province
had differed with the dictatorship of Hugo Chávez.Read
More...
London Xaverian Meet:
Father Felix
Raj, Principal, St. Xavier's College met Mr. LN Mittal on September 30th
evening in latter's residence at Kensington Palace Gardens and briefed
him about the progress of work at Rajarhat campus of St. Xavier's. It is
to be noted that Mr. MIttal, an alumnus of the College is participating
in the SXC Vision 2020.
Mr. Mittal
enquired about the Jesuit Fathers, College faculty and the courses
conducted at SXC. Father Felix Raj has invited him for the inauguration
of the the Rajarhat campus and the academic session in July 2017.
Fr. Felix Raj
and Mr. Firdausul Hasan, Honorary Secretary of the College Alumni
Association, had a dinner meeting on the same day at an alumnus, Mr.
Sudhir Maheshwari's house with the committee members of the London
Chapter( Sudhir, Rajan Tandon, Kuntal Roychowdhury, RC Saraf, Manik Dey
and Chiradip) and discussed with them about the activities of the
Chapter, and the ways and means of taking it forward productively.
Father met
the London alumni/ae on October 1 afternoon and presented the SXUK
Vision 2020. It was a fruitful meeting with meaningful interactions with
all present. The London alumni will have a follow up meeting to plan for
a fellowship gathering for all Xaverians in London by December and a
fund-raising program sometime in March - April 2017.
Xavier's Alumni Hold National Meet :
The Saint
Xavier's College Calcutta Alumni Association is holding its second
National Meet, Looking Beyond II at the Le Meridien hotel, in the pink
city of Jaipur October 14 - 17, 2016. Around 150 Xaverians are attending
the event. Father Felix Raj, Principal is very much with them. He
addressed the delegates on SXC Vision 2020 followed by an interesting
interactive session.
The main
highlights of the meet include: felicitation of outstanding alumni,
Conference on Bengal and Rajasthan Cultural heritage and Business,
Cultural programme, fellowship and network, sight seeing and an
Exhibition cricket match between the alumni of SXS Jaipur and SXC
Kolkata.
The education
minister, Mr. Kalycharan Saraf was the chief guest for the inaugural
function on October 15. He applauded the Jesuits for their enormous
service to education in India particularly in Rajasthan. The Rector, Fr.
Glenn Menezes and the Principal, Fr. John Ravi of St. Xavier's School,
Jaipur were present at the inaugural ceremony.Read
More...
NSS Puja Work Camp in Jhantipahari
The NSS unit
of SXC is holding its Puja Work Camp at Mangaldeep Ashram in
Jhantipahari near Bankura, October 14 to 20, 2016. Fr. Eric Tigga SJ,
the Supeior of the Jesuit communities in Bankura district along with Fr.
Xavier Jeyaraj SJ, the Camp coordinator inaugurated the camp.
Appreciating
the initative of St. Xavier's College 'to reach the unreached' through
NSS, Fr. Eric thanked the students for their contribution to the Ashram
and encouraged the students to make the best use of the opportunity to
learn more about the lives of millions of daily labourers particularly
the adivasis.
Around 42
students from all three campuses of SXC along with Prof. Kiran Singh and
Fr. Xavier Jeyaraj are participating in this camp. The students work for
almost 5-8 hours a day making a road for the School children of the
Ashram, preparing the field for vegitable cultivation for the Ashramites,
making the drainage and helping in the construction of part of the
compound wall in the Ashram.Read
more...
Father Felix Raj Honoured with Sikha Ratna award
On Monday, September 5, the first Feast Day of Saint Teresa of Kolkata
cum Teachers’ Day, Father Felix Raj, our Principal was honoured
with the prestigious SIKHA RATNA Award by the State Government of
West Bengal at a State-level function organised at Nazrul Manch.
In
the absence of the Honourable Chief Minister who is in Rome, the State
Higher Education Minister, Shri Partha Chatterjee handed over the
award. Earlier the State Government had conferred on him the State’s
highest award, BANGA BIBHUSHAN in 2014.
Fr. Raj has been at St. Xavier's for the lat 33 years as professor of
economics, Vice Principal, Rector and now Principal. St. Xavier's is one
of the 10 colleges of Excellence in India.
Campus tribute to Teresa (An exhibition of paintings of Mother
Teresa )
A Staff Reporter
St. Xavier's College is
organising an exhibition of paintings of Mother Teresa as a
follow-up to the symposium held recently, from September 29 to
October 5, to celebrate the Sainthood of Mother.
The exhibition will be inaugurated
by Keshari Nath Tripathi, Governor of Bengal, at 10am on
September 29. "It is our humble tribute to this great lady who
lived and worked in Calcutta. She is acclaimed globally for her
humanitarian work particularly for the poorest of the poor. She
made Calcutta a City of Joy," said Father Felix Raj, the
principal of the college.
This exhibition is an attempt to
keep alive the spirituality and philosophy of Mother Teresa.
Many artists have tried to depict her ideology in their
paintings. One of them is Nimai Sengupta, a retired art teacher
of St. Xavier's. He has around 26 oil paintings of Mother, a few
of them autographed by Mother. He also has a bronze sculpture of
Mother, which was blessed by her.
"St. Xavier's College has
taken this ambitious project of restoring the paintings of Nimai
Sengupta. St. Xavier's will also take the responsibility to
preserve these priceless paintings. When I was the
vice-principal of the college, Nimai Sengupta had gifted me a
painting of Mother rescuing people washed away in the flood.
That still hangs on the wall of the vice principal's office,"
said Felix Raj.
The exhibition is an opportunity to
reflect on her life and mission for the poorest of the poor.
"Mother has long been a saint. For us in Calcutta, she is the
song of celebration, hymn of compassion. The city of Calcutta
shall shine in her holiness," said Felix Raj.
Her healing touch
The canonisation of Mother Teresa is a moment to remember and
celebrate her unbounded compassion.
Written byJ.
Felix Raj|Updated:
September 2, 2016 12:24 am
Mother did not convert a single person to a
particular religious faith. She converted many
to the communion of humanity, beyond
considerations of parochial religious culture.
(Illustration: C R Sasikumar)
His Holiness Pope Francis will declare Mother
Teresa of Kolkata a saint on September 4 at St.
Peter’s Square, Vatican City, in Rome. The
canonisation of Mother Teresa gives us an
opportunity to reflect on her life and mission
for the poorest of the poor. Mother has long
been a saint. For us in Kolkata, she is the song
of celebration and hymn of compassion.
Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born to a well-off
middle-class family in Macedonia in 1910. At the
age of 18, she joined the Institute of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, known as Loreto Sisters in
Ireland, in September 1928. She moved to India
in 1929. Upon taking her vows of poverty,
chastity and obedience, she received the name
Mary Teresa, by which she has been popularly
known.
Mother Teresa received her “inspiration,” a
“call within a call”, during the train ride from
Calcutta to Darjeeling on September 10, 1946. On
August 17, 1948, she dressed in a white,
blue-bordered sari for the first time and passed
through the gates of her beloved Loreto Convent
to enter the world of the poor. On October 7,
1950, Mother founded the new congregation of the
Missionaries of Charity Calcutta. Within a
decade, she began to send her sisters to other
parts of India. Pope Paul VI granted the Decree
of Praise to the congregation in February 1965
and encouraged Mother to open a house in
Venezuela. She opened houses in Rome and
Tanzania in 1965 and, eventually, in every
continent. Mother also opened houses in almost
all the Communist countries, including the
former Soviet Union, Albania and Cuba, where
religion was seen as the opium of the people.
Her religious order, which began as a small
community with 12 members, has grown to over
4,500 sisters. It runs orphanages, AIDS hospices
and charity centres worldwide. It cares for
refugees, the blind, disabled, aged, alcoholics,
the poor and homeless and victims of floods,
epidemics, famine and other natural calamities.
She was honoured with numerous awards, including
the Padma Shri in 1962 and the Nobel Peace Prize
in 1979. She received both prizes — as well as
media attention — for “the glory of God and in
the name of the poor.”
On October 19, 2003, she was beatified as
“Blessed Teresa of Calcutta”. Pope Francis
credited a second miracle to her intercession in
December 2015, paving the way for her to be
canonised as a saint.
Mother believed that God is specially revealed
in the mystery of the human person who is
“created in the image and likeness of God”. She
probed the meaning of human life, touched the
goodness that resides in every individual and
connected herself with everyone with a sense of
affability. She has inspired thousands of
followers in several nations as well as
individuals around the globe. World leaders have
recognised her as an inspiration. She identified
with the poor, the dying and the destitute.
Her message is universal. Her mantra was, “We
are all God’s children — we have been created
for greater things, to love and be loved. God
loves each one of us — we are precious to Him.
Therefore nothing should separate us. Religion
is a gift of God and is meant to help us to be
one heart full of love. God is our father and we
are all his children — we are all brothers and
sisters. Let there be no distinction of race or
colour or creed.”
Mother Teresa was misunderstood — critics blamed
her for working for conversion. Didn’t Judas,
one of the apostles, betray Jesus Christ? In her
epic years as a missionary, Mother did not
convert a single person to a particular
religious faith. She converted many to the
communion of humanity, beyond considerations of
parochial religious culture. She had an
inclusive attitude towards all faiths. She used
to say, “Some call Him Ishwar, some call Him
Allah, some simply God, but we have to
acknowledge that it is He who made us for
greater things, to love and to be loved. What
matters is that we love. We cannot love without
prayer, and so whatever religion we are, we must
pray together.”
I had a close association with Mother. Whenever
I invited her to St. Xavier’s College to address
the staff and students, she was there with her
characteristic smile, humility and a presence
that created an atmosphere of prayer and
inspired veneration.
She never declined any of my invitations to
address the youth.
I met her for the first time 30 years ago. I had
just been ordained a priest. She stretched out
her hand and touched my feet. When I withdrew
hastily, she said, “You are a new priest and I
want your blessing”. I said, “Who am I in front
of you?” She responded in her humble way, “as a
priest you are the image of Christ to me. So it
is you who must bless me”. When I asked for her
blessings she gave me a rosary and said, “Pray
for me and for my work for the destitute and
dying”.
We would have preferred our Holy Father to
canonise Mother in the city she lived in and
served. It would have been a momentous gift from
the Pope to the people of this country. We
express our gratitude to Pope Francis for his
extraordinary gesture of approving the
canonisation of Mother Teresa. The following
words of Mother have always inspired me and
millions of his admirers: “The fruit of silence
is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The
fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is
service. The fruit of service is peace”.
Mother Teresa was aware that she was called to
devote her entire energy and the energy of her
followers to serve the rejects of society. This
is apparent in her answer to a journalist who
asked her why she did not give a fishing line to
the people to enable them to fish for themselves
instead of giving them fish all the time. Her
answer was that she was called to serve those
who cannot stand; they would not be able to use
a fishing line. Once they could stand, the
journalist should help them to fend for
themselves — that was not her work.
The image I have of her is that of the universal
mother like the goddess Durga. She performed the
mission of destroying the evil of poverty and
inhumanity that does away with life and
propagated peace of thought and purity of act.
Indeed, she healed our race.
The writer is principal of St. Xavier’s
College, Kolkata
In the name of mother
Fr. Felix Raj paying floral tribute to Mother Teresa.
The Contribution of Mother Teresa to Humanity, a symposium on Mother
Teresa, was held at the Fr. Depelchin Auditorium of St. Xavier's College
on Sunday, August 7, 2016. The evening began with prayer songs like Make
Me A Channel Of Your Peace by Voicestra, led by Nikhil D'Souza and the
launch of Aamar Gaaner Majhe, a CD of Christian hymns sung by Father
Shyamal Makhal and published by The Goethals Indian Library And Research
Society. Father Provincial Jeyaraj Velusamy released the CD.
"The canonization of Mother Teresa gives all of us an opportunity to
sufficiently and deeply reflect on her life and mission for the poorest
of the poor. For us, she is the song of celebration, hymn of
compassion," said Father Felix Raj (top), principal, St. Xavier's
College.
Tennis veteran Naresh Kumar and daughter Gita caught up with Sister
Prema (above), Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, on the
sidelines of the symposium. Sunita Kumar, Naresh's wife, couldn't be
there as one of the speakers for the evening, but daughter Gita read out
her thoughts on 'Mother, a role model to be humane': "In the 30 years
that I spent with her, I learnt all about life, especially to give love,
dignity and service to the poor, irrespective of race and religion. She
was a true saint."
Father Julian S. Das, James McGinniss and Father D. John Romus were the
other speakers for the evening.
Pope John Paul II (now St. John Paul II) beatified Mother Teresa on
October 19, 2003. Her beatification, the first step on the path to
sainthood, was the fastest ever in the history of canonization.
His Holiness Pope Francis will declare Mother Teresa of Kolkata a saint
on September 4, 2016 at St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, in Rome. He
will declare her a saint of the universal Church, on the day he has set
aside for the celebration of the Jubilee for volunteers and workers of
Mercy, since Mother is a symbol of God's mercy for the poor and the
marginalized of this world.
The canonization of Mother Teresa gives us an opportunity to reflect
deeply on her life and mission for the poorest of the poor. Mother has
long been a saint. For us in Kolkata, she is the song of celebration,
hymn of compassion. The city of Kolkata shall shine in her holiness. I
wish and pray that her Sainthood washes away our sinfulness.
Mother believed that God is specially revealed in the mystery of the
human person who is 'created in the image and likeness of God' - she
probed the meaning of human life and arrived at the radical goodness
that resides in every individual.
She has inspired thousands of followers in several nations as well as
individuals around the globe. World leaders have recognized her as an
inspiration. She was one among us, one among the poor, dying and
destitute. She identified herself with them. She demonstrated that a
person could live a faith-filled life even when in agony and doubt.
Her message is universal. No matter what religion a person belongs to,
or even if they don't believe at all, Mother Teresa's message is to
serve with love. "Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small
things with great love".
Mother Teresa was misunderstood - critics blamed her for working for
conversion. Didn't Judas, one of the Apostles betray Jesus Christ? In
her epic years as a missionary, Mother has not converted a single person
to a particular religious faith. She converted many, to the communion of
Humanity, beyond considerations of parochial religious culture.
I have had a close association with Mother. On many occasions, I had
brought Mother Teresa in touch with Calcutta youth. Whenever I invited
her to St. Xavier's College to address the staff and students, she was
there with her characteristic smile, humility and a presence that
created an atmosphere of prayer and veneration. She was always inspiring
and every time she met the youth, she had a message for them. Whenever I
invited her for youth programmes, she never said No'.
About thirty years ago I had met Mother Teresa in Mother House. I had
just been ordained as a priest. As soon as she came to greet me she
stretched out her hand and touched my feet - I hastily withdrew; she
said, you are a new priest and I want your blessing.' I said who am I
in front of you?' She responded in her humble way as a priest you are
the image of Christ to me. So it is you who must bless me.' When I asked
for her blessings she gave me a Rosary and said Pray for me and for my
work for the destitute and dying'. I discovered in this lady the divine
dispensation that reached the core of my heart. Every word she spoke,
every touch and every look exuded a transformative tint.
We are eagerly awaiting the canonization of Mother as Saint. We would
have preferred our Holy Father to canonize Mother in the very city where
she lived and served. It would have been a momentous gift from the Pope
to the people of this country.
Now that the canonization will be officially held in Rome, in St.
Peter's Square on September 4, 2016, we express our gratitude to Pope
Francis for his extraordinary gesture of approving the canonization of
Mother Teresa. The following words of Mother have always inspired me.
ART EXHIBITION
An Art Exhibition of the ‘Oriental Scenery’ by the famous British
Painters, Thomas and William Daniell as well as the Old
Calcutta paintings of William Wood and James B. Fraser will be
hosted by the Goethals Indian Library & Research Society at The
Goethals Library, (2nd Floor above the Main Chapel), St.
Xavier’s College, 30 Mother Teresa Sarani, Kolkata, from 18-23
July, 2016.
The curios and antiques of the library will also be put on display
during the exhibition.
Time:
9.00am to 4.00 pm
All are Welcome.
Public Lectures
As a preparation for Easter, St. Xavier's College and Morning Star
College jointly organised two public lectures on Christ's Death and
Resurrection in the St. Xavier's College campus on 12th & 13th March,
2016.
The lectures were delivered by Fr. Dr. John Romus, Dean of Theology,
Morning Star College and Fr. Dr. Selva Rathinam S.J., President,
Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune.
The public lectures were attended by a large number of Fathers, Sisters
and the Laity. The Talks were inspiring and enriching.
The Bengali Literary Society in association with the SXC Alumni
Association organized SANYOG & XAVULLASH 2016 from February 5th to 22nd.
Fr. Principal declared the event open on February 4 evening in the midst
of cheering students. "Puronor Sathe Notun er Pothe egiye jaak sobai.
Nihil Ultra".
The Legendary playback Singer Asha Bhosle mesmerised the lively audience
at St. Xavier's on the Republic Day evening. Fr. Felix Raj, Principal
blessed her while felicitating her with a College Uteria. The Beyond
Barriers show was grand and overwhelmingly successful.
Participants of the Leadership Programme(St. Joseph's College
Darjeeling, Loyola College Namchi, St. Xavier's College Rajganj and St.
Xavier' College Kolkata) organised by the Sikkim West Bengal Jesuit
College Principals Association (SWBJCPA) at Dhyan Ashram Kolkata January
22 - 25 with Fr. Felix Raj, Principal, SXC and Prof. Swati Sarkar,
Secretary SWBJCPA and Vice Principal SXC Education Department. Thanks to
Profs. Samrat Roy and Ritendra Roy for their efficient coordination.
University of Namur, Belgium
Fr. Principal, Fr. Xavier and Prof.
Panchali Sen are at the University of Namur, Belgium September 27 to
October 2, 2015 to concretise the proposals for faculty cum student
exchange programs between SXC and UN.
Cardinal Filoni’s Visit
His
Eminence CardinalFernando
Filoni from Vatican is scheduled to visit Kolkata on Sunday during hisSept.
9-19trip that
also include travels to Bangladesh and Nepal. The Vatican official
overseeing the Catholic Church’s missionary activities worldwide begins
his Kolkata visit on September 14.
On Sept.
14, Cardinal Filoni will meet priests, religious and layleaders
of Bengal region in St.Xavier’s
College, Kolkata at9.00
amand will
travel to the Morning StarRegional
Seminary in Barrackpore,where
he will address professors, seminarians and men and womennovices.
In the
afternoon he will bedriven
to the shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Bandel, some 50 kilometers
kms north of Kolkata, where he willcelebrate
Mass. OnSept
15, he will pay homage to Blessed Mother Teresa with aMass
at her tomb at the Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity, andlater
will fly to Kathmandu.
Calcutta University vice-chancellor Sugata Marjit
and St. Xavier's College principal Father Felix Raj (extreme
left) at the
release of Indian Economy - A Visionary Perspective in
the college auditorium on Tuesday evening.The book has been
edited by Felix Raj, along with Samrat Roy and Koushik Kumar
Hati, professors of economics in the college. 'We sat together a
year back and decided to bring out something in honour of the
sesquicentenary celebrations of St. Xavier's College. We asked
other professors and 20 of them contributed. This book has two
sections - development and international trade and finance,'
said Felix Raj, who dedicated the book to former President APJ
Abdul Kalam, who passed away on Monday. 'This book is a
testimony to serious work by scholars,' Marjit said.
Picture by Mayukh Sengu
St. Xavier's College Opens a New Campus at St. Lawrence High
School, Ballygunge
Mother Teresa Hostel
for Girls is inaugurated on July
4, 2015
The Goethals Indian Library and Research Centre of St. Xavier's
Collegehas published
a book on the lives of the Jesuits who lived and worked in India,
especially in Bengal, since the early 19th century.
The anthology was released by Father P. Franck Janin, Jesuit
Provincial, South Belgian Province and Luxembourg, at Dhyan Ashram
in Joka on Sunday.
Edited by Father Albert Huart and Father J. Felix Raj, Discovery
of Bengal: The Jesuit Designmarks
the 200th year of the Restoration of the Society of Jesus. The book
records the academic, social, cultural and spiritual contributions
of the Jesuit fathers in shaping the moral growth of the race and
the country.
Among the Jesuits who feature in the book are Fathers Henry
Depelchin, Achille Verstraeten, Paul Joris, Cardinal Lawrence
Picachy, Camille Bouche and Andre Bruylants.
"They attracted heartsby the qualities they displayed and posterity
retains them as lessons of life learnt forever. Even after 200
years, their words and works reach those for whom they were intended
- the inhabitants of The Kingdom of God. These men of moral might
were armed with supreme sense of sacrifice and were gifted with
grace and the zeal to establish 'Good News of God' and the promise
of justice for humanity," said Felix Raj, the principal of St.
Xavier's College.
"Humility, fortitude, power of prayer and passion for performing
God's will on earth endowed these Samaritans with the benediction
that brought the light of the Lord to the masses of Bengal. This
collection scripts the eternal immortal lives of the Jesuits who are
today and forever in fellowship with us and with God."
Copies of the anthology are available from the Goethals library at
the college.
www.telegraphindia.com/metro
Sunday December 29, 2014
Price: Rs. 300/- + Rs.40/- (Postage). Total: Rs.
340/-
(20% reduction on purchase of more than one book)
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee unveils the crib of baby Jesus at St.
Xavier's College on Christmas Eve.Mamata,
who attended Christmas programmes at the Park Street institution for the
fourth year on the trot, also watched a cultural programme put up by the
Xaverian Academy of Dance and Music. Principal Father Felix Raj talked
about the chief minister's Santa Claus act two years ago when she
allotted 16.44 acres in Rajarhat to the college for its second campus.
Mamata, an associate member of the Xavier's alumni association, said:" I
want to have an education hub in the state and I want St. Xavier's to
lead the way...
Whatever help you need we will give you." Father Felix
Raj presented Mamata with a small statue of the Holy Family, which she
promised to keep on her desk.
Archbishop Thomas D'Souza and St. Xavier's rector Father Dominic Savio
attended the programme.
Source :The Telegraph,
Kolkata Metro (Pg. 22) : 25 Dec 201
BANGA-BIBHUSAN AWARD TO JESUIT FATHER FELIX RAJ OF
CALCUTTA PROVINCE
The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee
called up Jesuit Father Felix Raj of Calcutta Province
on Thursday, May 15, who is in New York to address the
Alumni of St. Xavier's College and requested him to
return by May 20 to receive the State's highest award,
BANGA BIBHUSAN. The WB Government decided on
Thursday, May 15 in a Cabinet meeting to confer the
prestigious award on Father Felix Raj in recognition of
his enormous contribution to education. The award will
be conferred on May 20th at a public State function in
the Science City auditorium, Kolkata.
Father Raj thanked the Chief Minister over the phone for
her Government's recognition and appreciation of
Jesuits' work in West Bengal and expressed to her that
he was unworthy of such an award and unable to attend
the function.
Father Felix Raj is the Principal of St. Xavier's
College, Kolkata. He
is currently in the USA to meet the SXC alumni/ae at NY,
San Francisco and California. On May 3, he inaugurated
the Europe chapter of the Alumni Association in
Luxembourg.
“ Fr. Felix Raj is a true icon not only for those who have
gone through or will go through the portals of St. Xavier’s
College, but also for those who study in other competent
institutions as well.” He has demonstrated that classrooms
are not solely intended to impart knowledge but in equal
measure to inspire the students to search for truth and
arrive at their own conclusions. I am sure that St. Xavier’s
College, Kolkata, would be richer with the presence of
someone like Fr Felix Raj.”
UGC (University Grants Commission) has conferred four
Jesuit Colleges the status of 'College of Excellence'.
St. Xavier's-Kolkata, St. Xavier's-Mumbai, Loyola Chennai
and St Joseph's-Bangalore have been selected for the award. These four
Colleges will be given a grant of Rs 2 crore to be spent over 5 years
for specific purposes.
Foundation stone laying ceremony of the St. Xavier's College 's
new campus in Rajarhat
(new) Details...
The West
Bengal Board of Madrasah Education has nominated Fr. Felix Raj, SJ, the
Principal of St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, for the
“Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Award 2013” on the occasion of the 125th
Birth anniversary of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad on November 11, 2013,
which is also the “Education Day” and felicitated him for his excellent
work towards the Minority community and the Society as a whole.
INDIA: Theological meet at
Barasat:
The
Indian Theological Association (ITA) held its 36th annual research
seminar and national conference from October 2 to 6 at the Diocesan
Pastoral Centre on Jessore Road, Barasat. The Morning Star College,
Barrackpore hosted the event while the theme was "Inclusive Development,
a Theological Response". Around 110 theologians participated in the
conference.
The theme is significant in the
current political and economic context. Eminent scholars and professors
presented research papers and addressed the conference from a
multi-dimensional perspective — economic, socio-political, educational,
religious, and subaltern (concerns of the tribals and Dalits) for
creative reflection and committed action so that the benefits of
inclusive development become affirmative of the concerns of all sections
of society.
Christian scholars, in
collaboration with men and women of several faiths reflected on the
significance of Christianity and ethics to the principles of inclusive
development embarked by the government. Father Felix Raj, the principal
of St. Xavier’s College gave the opening address at
on Thursday.
(The Telegraph News (October 3)
and via CNUA)
Jesuit Appointed Member of West Bengal Education Commission
KOLKATA: In keeping with her
promise on Teachers’ Day, the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee formed a
six-member State level Commission on Friday, September 27, which
includes Father Felix Raj, SJ, the Principal of 153-year-old St.
Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata.
The Commission is to find out the
loopholes in the State education system and suggest ways to improve it.
It is also empowered to amend acts and statutes and recommend measures
for better functioning of the West Bengal State Council of Higher
Education, College Service Commission and School Service Commission.
The Commission will also recommend
measures to improve the functioning of universities and colleges,
including any amendments needed in the acts or statutes.
This is the first time a Jesuit is
appointed a member of a high level Commission in the State and it is
indeed a Government’s gesture of appreciation of the Jesuit contribution
to education in West Bengal.
Source: Times Of India, September
28, Kolkata and CNUA
St. Xavier’s starts IAS Training
St. Xavier’s College Kolkata has started an IAS coaching
centre from August, with specialized coaching in eight subjects –
Commerce, Economics, Political Science, International Relations,
Sociology, Statistics, History, Management and Physics.
It is a full-time course for nine months and candidates attend classes
on the campus for five days a week for four hours daily. There are some
private coaching centres where module-based training is imparted and so,
candidates do not have to attend full-time classes. “But I believe in
full-time teaching-learning and mock exams, just like it happens in
undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the College. Excellence comes
through contact with the guide and this will be our uniqueness,” said
Principal Father Felix Raj SJ
As The first batch, 35 candidates have been accepted on merit. Faculty
members from the College and those known to be experts in the subjects
beyond the campus have been roped in as guides. Prof. SK Basu is the
course Coordinator.
SXCCAA celebrates Philanthropy day in true Jesuit
spirit
Fr. Felix Raj, SJ, Principal and
President of the St. Xavier's College Alumni Association presenting the
Global Xaverian Award to Xaverian L.N Mittal
on Saturday evening at British Museum,
London in recognition of his global achievement in the presence of
Jesuit Fathers, High Commissioner of India, 300 Alumni/ae and many
distinguished guests.
Uma Siddhanta's (Prof. Ashish Siddhanta's Mother) retrospective
Exhibition
"Fr. Felix Raj will inaugurate Uma Siddhanta's
(Prof. Ashish Siddhanta's Mother) retrospective Exhibition to
celebrate her 80th birthday, on Friday, 11 January 2013 at 5.30 pm
at Galerie 88, 28B Shakspeare Sarani. The Exhibition will be on view
till Thursday January 31. All are welcome."
Click on these Youtube
videos and share with friends:
1) Prayas:
College to Village and Village to College-SXC Novel Project, Fr Felix
Raj
Xaverians will congregate at London
on May 17th - 19th 2013 for the fourth global convention. Fr. Felix Raj,
SJ, Principal and President of the SXCCAA will be present at the
convention. He invites Xaverians from around the world to attend this
convention.
Book on ‘Disinvestment in India Trends,
Problems and Prospects’
by Dr. J Felix Raj
The book, Disinvestment in India: Trends,
Problems and Prospects focuses on economic reforms and resulting
disinvestment of public sector enterprises (PSE) in India. The book
quite lucidly analyses the pre and post disinvestment performance of the
PSEs in terms of efficiency analysis and many other indicators. Starting
from the conceptual framework of Development through the Public Sector
enterprises from a historical point of view the book enlightens on to
the LPG model implemented in nineties.The most important aspect of the
book is to take into consideration the effects of disinvestment of
public sector enterprises in the various spheres of the economy, viz.
employment, income, poverty, etc.
Fr. J. Felix Raj, S.J.
is the Principal and Former Rector of St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous),
Kolkata. He is currently the Vice-President, Bengal Economic Association
(Bangiya Arthaniti Parishad). Dr. Felix Raj is an well known writer and
has presented papers in many national and international conferences.
Copies are available: At Goethals Library, St.
Xavier’s College (Discount Price of Rs 1240/-)
Copies are also available from the Publishers: Regal Publishers, F-159,
Rajouri Gardens, New Delhi.
SXCCAA AUSTRALIA CHAPTER LAUNCHED
Australia Chapter of the St. Xavier’s College Kolkata Alumni Association
was launched on Saturday, 3rd November 2012 at the central auditorium of
the university of New South Wales, Sydney, by Fr. J. Felix Raj, SJ,
Principal of St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata in the presence
of about 100 Alumni/ae and two MPs, Mr. Kunal Ghosh and Mr. Nadimul
Haque.
Fr. Felix Raj, who is also the president of (SXCCAA) spoke at length and
presented the future vision and mission of the Alma Mater. He thanked
the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms. Mamata Banerjee for the
allocation of 17 acres of land at Rajarhat and her offer to upgrade St.
Xavier’s College to St. Xavier’s University.
A small organizing committee has been formed to take forward the
Australian Chapter. The Australian Xaverians discussed with Fr. Raj
about the possibility of exchange between St. Xavier’s College and
Australian universities.
Fr. Raj and the Secretary of the Association, Mr. F. Hasan also met a
group of Xaverians in Melbourne on Sunday, 4th November. He exhorted
them first to build the network and strengthen the data base of
Xaverians working and studying in Australia. The Australia Chapter is
the 7th international chapter of the SXCCAA.
The next chapter to be launched by SXCCAA is the Canadian Chapter in
July 2013. Fr. Raj will lead a team of Alumni members to Canada. He will
also meet the Xaverians in New York.
Jesuit Higher Education Meeting:
The Annual Jesuit Higher Education Meeting was held on October
12-14 at Dhyan Ashram, Konchowki, Dimond Harbour Road. Sixty Jesuit
College Principals and Higher Education Coordinators attended the
meeting. St. Xavier's College, Kolkata organized the Meeting this year.
The inaugural address was given by Prof. Suranjan Das, Vice
Chancellor, University of Calcutta on “Higher Education in the XII
Plan”.
Fr. Xavier Savarimuthu made a beautiful presentation on international
ecological project. Fr. Principal thanks the SXC Alumni Association
particularly Mr. F. Hasan, Mr. Ravi Kasat and Ajay Mimani for the
wonderful hospitality and service extended to the members The next year
meeting JHESA will be held in Trivandrum, Kerala.
St. Xavier’s University:
Fr. Felix Raj, SJ along with Prof. Ashis Mitra, Member Secretary,
Academic Council and Mr. F. Hasan, Hon. Secretary, St. Xavier’s College
Alumni Association submitted a proposal for St. Xavier’s upgradation to
a university to Mr. Bratya Basu, the Higher Education Minister on
October 18.
During St. Xavier’s convocation ceremony on January 20, Chief Guest
Mamata Banerjee had urged the institution to submit an upgrade proposal.
The proposal submitted on Thursday justifies the need for a St. Xavier's
university and elaborates on academic and administrative plans.
The ball was set rolling on the proposal with the appointment of a
think tank with principal Felix Raj as convener. Calcutta University
vice-chancellor Suranjan Das, industrialist and Xaverian Sanjiv Goenka,
Fr. George Ponodath, the Rector, Xaverian Snehasis Sur and two senior
teachers were part of the think tank. The governing body of the college
recently approved the proposal.
Apart from expanding undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, the
university will start PhD programmes. It also has plans for starting an
engineering institute and a business school.
If upgraded, St. Xavier's will be the first Jesuit University in India.
The Jesuits run 46 university colleges in the country.
St. Xavier’s Alumni Chapter in Bangladesh
The Alumni Association of St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata has
opened yet another international chapter closer home in Dhaka. This is
the fifth international chapter of the Association after Singapore,
Dubai, Bangkok and London.
The Principal of the College and President of the Alumni Association,
Father Felix Raj, SJ, inaugurated the new chapter at Gulshan Club in
Dhaka last Friday, February 26. Fr. Raj has appointed a local team
headed by Manzur Elahi who had graduated from Xavier’s in 1962.
“It was great to see over 60 Xavierians gather together at the inaugural
programme”, said Firdausal Hasan, the honorary secretary of the Alumni
Association. The function started with readings from the Bible, Bhagavad
Gita and Koran. Xaverian Elahi in his speech remembered his old days and
called for a strong chapter in Bangladesh.
Fr. Raj, in his address, thanked the Xaverians in Bangladesh and invited
them to involve themselves in building their alma mater. He asked for
their active participation in Jesuit mission in Bangladesh.
There was a musical performance and the evening ended with a fellowship
dinner attended by around 100 guests including spouses of the Xaverians.
Around 8 Jesuit priests of Bangladesh including Bishop emeritus of
Baruipur, Linus Gomes had joined the programme.
“ The inauguration was well organised. It was very cordial and the
spirit of ‘Nihil Ultra’ was thriving. We look forward to active
participation from the Bangladesh chapter and hope that it will further
the cause of education”, said Father Felix Raj.
The Principal took time off during his visit to explore the
possibilities of academic exchange with Notre Dame College, Dhaka run by
Holy Cross Fathers and of Setting up a St. Xavier’s College in
Bangladesh. “Further study and planning is required before drawing up a
proposal of a college for approval”, said Father Raj.
St Xavier's College Kolkata applies for
university status
KOLKATA: St Xavier's College
on Thursday submitted an application to chief minister Mamata Banerjee
for upgrading the institution to a university. A copy of the application
was also forwarded to state education minister Bratya Basu. If things go
according to plan, the college will become a unitary university before
the end of this year.
A three-part dossier,
submitted with the application, has just been readied by the "think
tank" of the college. The college, in its application, has said that it
does not want just a private status. Instead, the new university would
be a minority-run private university, fully aided by the state
government.
At the convocation of the
autonomous college in January this year, the CM had advised the college
to apply for an upgrade. She was also given a honorary membership of the
college alumni association. Since then, she had taken an interest in the
college and allotted a 16-acre plot at Rajarhat for its expansion.
At the moment, the
autonomous college affiliated to Calcutta University receives a grant
for one-third of its expenses. The document appeals to the state to
increase that grant when the college is upgraded to a university. A
financial statement, giving details of the present expenses of the
institution and the projected expenses post expansion, forms an integral
part of the document. "We have submitted our application and the CM has
assured us that she would speed up the process," Father Felix Raj,
principal of the college said.
The dossier sums up how the
Rajarhat campus will have a management school, an engineering college
and a research hub for both pure and social sciences. "While the BBA
course will still be run by us, for MBA we will tie up with both XLRI
and XIMB. Similarly, for our engineering school, we will tie up with
Loyola College Chennai, St Joseph's Bangalore and St Xavier's Mumbai,"
Father Raj added. The three part dossier has been divided into context,
college profile and university proposal.
-Courtesy Times of India
Fr. Felix Raj, SJ, visited the University of Namur, acultes
Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix (FUNDP), Belgium with 7000
students. He visited all faculties of the University. He addressed the
faculty members and students of the university on Oct. 7 on “India and
its Growing Economy- prospects and problems”.
The program was organized by FUCID, an NGO in Namur. Fr. Raj met the
President of the university, Yves Poullet and signed a MoU to
collaborate with University of Namur on academic advancement. The MoU is
for exchange of faculty and students for five year period for study and
research.
Rev. Fr. P. Felix Raj, SJ, Principal, of St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata
was on a week long visit October 4 to 9 to the university of Namur,
Facultes Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix (FUNDP), Belgium, a 400
hundred year old Jesuit university in Europe with 7000 students and 500
faculty. He visited all faculties of the University. He addressed the
faculty members and students of the university on Oct. 7 on "India and
its Growing Economy- prospects and problems". After 45 minutes talk,
there was an interactive session with students. The talk created a lot
of awareness and interest about India. The program was organised by
FUCID, an NGO in Namur. Father Raj also met the three Indian students
doing research in chemistry funded by Namur university. After the well
appreciated presentation, Fr. Raj met the President of the university,
Yves Poullet and signed a MoU to collaborate with University of Namur on
academic advancement. The MoU is for exchange of faculty and students
for five year period for study and research. It is a collaborative move
between two Belgian founded institutions. St. Xavier's, Kolkata was
founded by Belgian Jesuits in 1860. The Belgian History is one of the
reasons why Fr. Raj visited Namur. He said Namur University is very
positive and welcoming collaboration. Father Raj will meet Jesuit
Fathers Raymond pilette , Louis Hinq and Paul Dettienne in Brussels who
returned to Belgium after working at St. Xavier's for many years. Fr.
Raj moves on to London from Namur to inaugurate the St. Xavier's College
(Calcutta) Alumni Chapter in London and to meet Arcellor LN Mittal, an
alumnus on Oct. 22nd.
Fr. Felix Raj visited London and inaugurated the St. Xavier's
Alumni Chapter in London on 23rd October and he also met Mr.
L.N. Mittal, an alumnus on Oct.22nd. International Congress on Catholics and Economics (CNUA)
: The school of Social and Media Culture, Torun, Poland and the Catholic
University of Lublin jointly organized an international Congress on
“Catholics and Economics' in Torun, Poland, on November 18-19. Fr. Felix
raj, SJ presented a paper on “Indian Economy A Catholic Perspective” on
November 19.
After the congress, Fr. Raj had visited the Jesuits and Jesuit
Institutions in Poland. The Congress was an attempt to initiate a global
intellectual reflection on the contribution of Catholics to economic
development in different countries. Fr. Felix Raj delivered the Pedro Arrupe Endowment lecture on
December 2 at Satya Nilayam Research Institute, Chennai on “Gurudev
Rabindranath Tagore The Visva Kavi.”
Third specialization to its physics postgraduate course in collaboration
with Bose Institute
St. Xavier’s College has added a third specialization to its physics
postgraduate course in collaboration with Bose Institute, widening the
ambit of higher education in a state short of options for meritorious
students. The MoU was signed by Fr. Felix Raj and Dr. Shibaji Raha on
The new MSc course in solid-state electronics is an extension of the
Mother Teresa Sarani institution’s four-year collaboration with the
renowned Bose Institute, a beehive of research for nine decades.
“Our partnership with Bose Institute (since 2007) has been very
fruitful. So we wanted to expand the collaboration,” Father Felix Raj,
the principal of the college, said.
Students pursuing an MSc in physics at St. Xavier’s have so far had a
choice of astro-particle physics and space sciences for specialization.
Solid state electronics, which makes its debut this academic year, is a
stream in applied physics that deals with circuits or devices built
entirely from solid materials. Common solid-state devices include
transistors and microprocessor chips.
“Students with specialization in solid state physics get a head start
both in frontline research and in technology-driven fields. They are
groomed for academics as well as industry,” said Shibaji Raha, the
director of Bose Institute.
The new physics course will have a batch of 22, of which 18 will be
picked by the St. Xavier’s management and four by a selection panel from
Bose Institute. The course starts in July with a monthly fee of Rs
1,400.
Bengal’s unflattering record in research is blamed mostly on lack of
adequate options at home for students wanting to pursue higher education
in the applied sciences.
“Our aim is to improve higher education in Calcutta and efforts like
this are needed to fulfil that objective,” Father Felix Raj said.
St. Xavier’s will be responsible for drawing up the course structure
and providing the faculty. Bose Institute will bring to the
collaboration its professors, provide the use of its library to students
and offer some special classes and research opportunities.
“We have decided to offer two full scholarships to needy students
along with concessions based on needs and performance,” the principal
said.
The college, the first private educational institution in the state
to be granted autonomy, intends renovating its observatory and open it
to the public, especially students.
“We are going to collaborate with the Inter-University Centre for
Astronomy and Astrophysics in Pune for the renovation,” Father Felix Raj
said.
Calcutta University also has a tie-up with Bose Institute, but St
Xavier’s is the only college in Bengal to collaborate with it.
“Our aim is to prepare and encourage students for further research.
It is always better to catch them young,” director Raha said.
The Minister for North Bengal met Fr. Felix Raj on June 14 on the
advice of the CM. The discussion between the two centered on
starting a center of excellence like Kolkata St. Xavier’s. Fr. Felix Raj
assured the Minister all possible help. He spoke to Mr. Deb about the
two Jesuit Colleges in NB and suggested making both of them as centers
of excellence. Fr. Felix Raj took this matter further in his meeting on
June 15 with Prof. Bratya Basu, the Higher Edication Minister. There
will be a meeting of the two Ministers and the two Principals, Fr. Felix
Raj and Fr. Cherian Padiyera of North Bengal St. Xavier’s College soon.
Copyright : The
Goethals Indian Library And Research Society