Xavier’s celebrates 150 years, unveils new logo, theme

The college is close to gaining university status: vice-principal

(From the right) St. Xaviers alumni Farukh Khodaji, Amrita Raichand, Josy Paul, Ashish Bhasin, Anu Aga, Dr. Swati Piramal, Aditya Thackeray and Shaina N.C address the press conference on its campus on Thursday.

Celebrating the completion of 150 years in 2019, St. Xavier’s College, on Thursday unveiled its new logo and theme, while hinting that the college was closer than ever to gain a university status under the Rashtriya Uchchtar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).

At press conference here, Father Roy Pereira, vice-principal (academics) unveiled a timeline of events for the upcoming year that included festivals like Malhar 150, Janfest 150 and social outreach.

A fundraiser alumni dinner has also been planned for January 3, 2019 for which the President Ramnath Kovind has been invited.

Mr. Pereira said that St. Xavier’s has already been short-listed for university status under the RUSA and it stood fourth in a list of five. “[Rajendra Shinde] (the principal of the college) is in Delhi meeting officials of RUSA for the release of a ₹5 crore grant for St. Xavier’s University,” he said

Alumni Dr. Swati Piramal, vice-chairperson and director of Piramal Enterprises and scientist, Shaina N.C., spokesperson for Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra and a prominent fashion designer, Aditya Thackeray, president of Yuva Sena, and Rector Father Keith D’Souza were on the panel.

Further, as part of the 150th year celebrations a Teacher’s Endowment Fund at the management level would be introduced to allow the college to strengthen their base on faculty line.

A research fund is also proposed to financially help students pursue their ideas and create more opportunities.

On funding Mr. Pereira said, “We have upgraded our donation system and included a website and swipe machines. We are also actively working on our social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook too to reach our alumni.”

Speaking on the entrepreneurship cell at St Xavier’s, Mr. Thackeray said that the BMC was working on a similar citywide incubation cell.

The choice of panelists was put into question when an open letter was criticised the inclusion of Mr. Thackeray. The letter signed by past and present students said that they believed that his presence was antithetical to the principles and values espoused by St. Xavier’s College.

However, Mr. Thackeray said that he had not read the letter and hence would not be commenting.

Mr. Pereira said that St. Xavier’s believes in representing a broad spectrum and the alumni were present as ‘Xavierites.’