He was humble and yet self-efficacious; he just didn’t feel the impetus to boast about himself and instead, let his actions speak for his ideals.
Former Rector of Andhra Loyola College and Director of ALC Alumni Association (ALCAA) Rev. Fr. Antony Theckemury, who died a month ago, demonstrated all his life the rewards of putting others at the forefront of his thoughts.
“He was an embodiment of values and we need people like Fr. Theckemury today to inspire others,” said Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, at a condolence meeting.
An alumnus of ALC himself, the Minister recalled that in 1962 when he passed SSLC, a student’s only ambition was to secure a seat in Loyola College. “Service-minded people like him are rare to find,” he said.
The Minister responded favourably to ALCAA president Y. Harishchandra Prasad’s plea that since the late teacher had given 50 years of his life to serve this city through ALC, the government should consider organising a ‘public homage’ for Fr. Theckemury. “I take the responsibility to impress upon the government the need to pay a fitting tribute to this man, who contributed a great deal in shaping up the lives of many illustrious people in society through ALC,” said the Minister.
Former Minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao, also an alumnus of ALC and recipient of Loyola Ratna Award, said he did not have the opportunity to be Fr. Theckemury’s student “but I loved the warmth he exuded whenever I met him later on different occasions.”
The meeting was organised on the premises of ALCAA English Medium School, a partially-realised dream of Fr. Theckemury. The ALCAA School has strength of 120 children drawn from the surrounding slum habitations. This project was very close to his heart. He would often talk incessantly about how children in slum areas turn into anti-social elements if their energy and enthusiasm are not channelised in the right direction.
Alumni of the college, now settled in different professions and businesses, came in large numbers to pay homage to their much-loved teacher. They vowed to fulfil his dream by completing the school building very soon.
The school was designed for a two-storeyed building. Currently, it has only ground floor with a few classrooms and completion of the project would need funds to the tune of ₹49 lakh more.
