Alumni honours five on Reunion Day

In a colourful event that brought together the veterans and the youngsters alike for a reunion, the St Joseph’s College Alumni/ae Association honoured five distinguished associates – three eminent alumni and two retired teachers – here on October 25. Among those who were felicitated, was a 92 year old retired army person, Colonel B. M. Chengappa, probably the oldest living alumnus, and Captain M . W. Chinnappa (84).

The two retired teachers who were honoured were Dr B D Ananthanathan and Prof. B R A Rao. The President of the Association and presently the Personal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr Lakshminarayana too was felicitated for his phenomenal achievements as a civil servant.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal, Fr Ambrose Pinto said that those who were honoured by the Alumni Association had given life to scores of students. “These five men have lived a very inspiring life and have been a source of light for many. They continue to inspire us and hence we need to draw inspiration from them.”

Speaking about the College, the Principal said that the College had always been a College of concern. “There has not been a single student in the last few years who has been denied admission because he/she had no money to pay the fees,” he said and added that the College wished to continue in the same spirit.

He congratulated the Alumni for all their support for the institution. The 1969 batch of the Alumni, he said, had given a substantial amount to the mid-day meal corpus.

In his address, Mr Lakshminarayana, the President of the Alumni, said that in the whole country in different corners one or the other Josephite played a very constructive part. He further said that St Joseph’s had always been proactive in responding to crisis situations, especially the recent floods.

It was indeed a day of camaraderie for those present. Scenes of laughter, enthusiasm, huddling together were seen aplenty in the whole campus. There were also a number of party games organised, especially tambola, which brought out the youthful spirit of the Alumni. Many were seen sharing old memories with their teachers who reminded them of their mischief they played while they were students. The spirit of the whole day was put in perspective by one of those who attended the reunion: “Once a Josephite always a Josephite.”