Teachers, staff get ’Guruvandana’ from 1989 Aloysians

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 22, 2018: Most likely the centenary school leaving veterans (1889 -1989) consisting of teachers of the 1989 batch of St Aloysius High School seen with the vintage students at a felicitation on Jan 21, Sunday.

The then headmasters Rev Fr Denis Rasquinha, Rev Fr Lawrence Pinto, present High School headmaster Rev Fr Jerald Furtado and Primary School correspondent Rev Fr Eric Mathias were present too. A  grand ‘Guruvandana’ programme of Kannada medium students of 1989-batch of SSLC students, organised at St Aloysius School. Some students had come all the way from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Dubai, United Kingdom, Mumbai, Belgaum and Bengaluru among other places.

Yes, jubiliation was a free for all at this emotional gathering, hugs,  guessing names... which were way off the mark and in vain, many touched their favourite teachers’ feet, a few became emotional while many were in disbelief that they were meeting after a gap of 29 years

A total of 26 teachers and five attenders, who were staff of the school in 1989, were felicitated by the 60-plus alumni, much to the delight of teachers.

Sarvajna Achar said he had been selected for the post of a police sub-inspector in 1974, but could not join the service due to his inability to pay a bribe of Rs 50,000. “Had I joined the police service, I would have retired as DIG or officer with some big rank with 4-5 flats and 5 to 6 kg of gold, but I would not have received such an honour from so many students,” he said.

Former physical education teacher Dayanand Rai said he still sees a football team, a volleyball team and a cricket team among the audience (former students).

Former science teacher and Scouts in-charge G K Bhat called upon students to be a TEAM (T-Together, E-Everyone, A-Achieve, M-More) and continue to help the needy.

Former headmaster Fr Lawrence Pinto, present headmaster Fr Jerald Furtado, retired teachers - Joyce D’Souza, Valerian Colaco, G K Bhat (Sr & Jr), H L R Bhat, Ramachandra Bhat, Srinivas Rao, Francis Mascarenhas, Donald Saldanha, Celina Rego, Rita Mascarenhas, Mary D’Souza, Ruby Lobo and Gretta Patrao spoke.

St Aloysius Primary School correspondent Rev Fr Eric Mathias called upon the alumni to help poor students, especially Dalits and Koragas in continuing their education. “Civic workers of Koraga and Dalit communities strive to make the city clean by sweeping and collecting garbage, but their children struggle to reach school. Help them get an education,” he appealed.

A condolence one-minute silence was observed for the departed teachers – Rev Fr Ronnie Prabhu, Rev Fr J B Frank, Benedict Vas, Sathurin D’Silva, A X Patrao, G Lobo, Bonaventure Menezes, Rev Fr Lawrence D’Souza, Rev Fr A S Rodrigues, Rev Fr Victor, T A Rao, J R D’Leema, Manjappayya, Leo Fernandes, L D’Cunha, Mark Menezes and Ethel Prabhu; and also students – Nilus, Maxim, Kiran Shetty, Shrinivas, Udaychandra, Lokesh, Raghuveer, Malet, Dakshath, Subashchandra, Ratan Pinto, Melwin and Santhosh Rao Pejavar.

All said and done all present wanted to continue sitting in class and reminicensing the good old days even after the celebration eneded and many decided to continue contact with the new era communication. A bright future indeed.