The First Student in the College Register
To be the first link in the golden chain of the illustrious and numerous alumni array of a reputed institution like St.Alberts College on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee is indeed a rare privilege: an opportunity that any one will welcome with great pride. On July 11th 1946 when the first indigenous Archbishop of Verapoly Dr.Joseph Attippetty wrote my name ‘P.A. Paul’ (Pathichery Augustine Paul) in the register as the first student of the newly formed college, that event signified the opening of the golden gate of a noble temple of education to thousands of young students.
I recollect, it was the third week after my admission to St. Thomas College, Trichur, as an intermediate student and I was getting acquainted with my hostel companions. One evening during the usual games time I was called by the hostel warden. He told me that I had to go to Ernakulam and meet the Archbishop. Not knowing the reason of this message, I was a bit perplexed. Reaching Ernakulam on the following day, I came to know that I was to discontinue my studies at St.Thomas College to join the new college and continue my studies. I was much delighted at the news, though with a bit dislike at the thought of leaving behind the friends in the hostel. The following day I went to meet the Archbishop. The newly appointed principal Mr.L.M. Pylee and Msgr. Joseph Vaippicherry joined me at the entrance of Archbishop’s room. Inside Archbishop was waiting for us and with the usual smile he admonished me “Paul, you are going to be the first student in the new college.” Then in the presence of the principal and Msgr.Vaippicherry the Archbishop entered my name in the college register. Ever since he used to encourage me in my studies whenever he met me or wrote to me. I remember that years later when I was a student in a Canadian University in Halifax the Archbishop Attippetty inquired through a letter which branch of Engineering I was studying, and when he came to know that I was mastering in Electronic Engineering, he replied that he was pleased with it, but then he wanted me to graduate also in Civil Engineering, perhaps not aware of the hard toil that goes with it. Later on I came to know that he was planning to institute an engineering college in Kalamassery area where he hoped that I could be on the teaching staff.
Being the first student of a college has its special effects as well. I was given the first seat in the first bench; this was the seating order of students in the class of our English Professor Rev. Fr. Baneventure D’souza S. J. Through this mode of seating arrangement, for Fr. D’souza attendance taking was a matter of a few seconds. Whenever answer papers after evaluation were returned to the students, I was the first to receive the papers and very often my answer papers used to be upheld as models for the students in the class.
When you enter the extensive campus of a long established college with massive building structure, you tend to be over whelmed and feel too much of an inferiority complex. But when the college is newly started, housed in make-shift buildings and temporary arrangements, you are inclined to fell a certain amount of importance and self confidence. This was the feeling I shared with my classmates. The students number was small and the Lecturers and Professors, though some of them very well experienced, were all new to the place as were the students. Thus there was a homely and close atmosphere that helped pleasant student-lecture relationship and well motivated studies. But of the management and heads of departments it was as though a pioneering work. The convenience of the class rooms and laboratories were scanty. Some of the class rooms of the existing high school were allotted for the use of the college. The students of the first intermediate classes assembled in the main hall for common subjects. The laboratories for Physics, Chemistry and Natural Sciences functioned in room temporarily set up with limited convenience. But the Professors that handled these subjects, besides their high qualification and experience, had special excellence and charm of their own. Sri Krishna Moorthy who taught Physics subjects with his energetic yet businesslike approach. Sri. Joseph Kalapurackal, the chemistry Professor was outstanding in handling his subject with a pleasing and in an attractive manner. Sri. Rao taught Natural Sciences . he seemed to throw away topics in front of the students as a challenge. Prof. Sharma who taught Malayalam was really a Pandit. In his gentle and pleasing style he rendered the study of Malayalam literature wholesome for the students. The two memorable English Professors were Fr. Baneventure D’souza and Mr. Velayudhan Pillai. Fr. Baneventure taught English poetry in a very profound style that can be expected of poems like Milton’s Paradise Lost. Prof. Velayudhan was a Shakespear specialist. His commenting lectures on Shakespear’s Dramas were non stop out pouring of ideas, quotations, and annotations. So much so he was better known among students as “Shakespeare Velayudhan”.
In the beginning of the second year two new members joined the staff: two Franciscan fathers from Ireland. Rev. Dr. Luke Burke who assumed the charge of new principal and Fr. Graham who taught us Mathematics. While Fr. Graham was a mild and gentle type, the principal Fr. Burke was tough and harsh as a military commander. The latter was strict on the question of punctuality. Once it was time for Students Union inauguration. Still half an hour to the meeting. Invited guests and VIPs were arriving. The principal was found restless walking up and down the side aisle of the hall. The reason was evident: the Students Union President had not yet arrived and the time for the meeting was closing in. one of the staff members approached him and gave him a plain explanation: as per Indian time, there can be a delay of about half an hour! The principal then breathed a sigh of relief and beamed a smile of understanding. On another occasion there occurred a student strike, not on any issue connected with the college, but due to some political issue. The students were picketing the college gate. Some of them lying down at the gate. When the Principal and Fr. Graham arrived at the college gate, to their great surprise, they found the students picketing. They both walked over the picketing row of the students without any hesitation! If that were to occur in these days, that would have triggered a big commotion leading to violence and rebellion. But on that occasion the rest of the students stood simply watching in dismay and in admiration of Principal’s courage and understanding.
Now on the occasion of Golden Jubilee, through various stages of developments the college has grown to a full-fledged institution with various departments branching into different specialized fields, even to some job-oriented courses like aquaculture and biotechnology and with specially qualified staff. The students who have passed through the venerable portals of the college are now among the walks, status and positions of life in India and abroad. In the array of these eminent personalities I join with pride and joy to salute the 50 year old Alma Mater.
By: Fr. Paul Figaredo, B.A., B.Ed., M.Engg., P.Engg
0 comments:
Post a Comment