Math Alumni Reunion at St Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli

In commemoration of National Mathematical Year, Mathematics department of St Joseph’s College, Trichy celebrated “National Mathematical Year 2012” from 25^th November, 2012 to 30^th November, 2012. Mathematics Alumni Reunion was arranged on 25/11/2012 (Sunday) in Community Centre. Former Math students from different places even from Australia converged to their alma mater. 89 former students of Mathematics participated in this all era reunion. Retired Professors were also invited to this function. Seven Professors of yester years turned up for this meet and made this day memorable. This reunion was of the first kind in the history of Maths department, St Joseph’s College, Trichy, South India.

Function started with a prayer song followed by Tamil Thai Vazhththu. Dr S Ruban Raj, Head of the department welcomed the gatherings.

Rev Fr Albert Muthumalai, Principal, our professors, the alumni of maths department, a very good morning to one and all. I am so glad to see all of you here. This must be a very special and meaningful day for all of us. Reunion is of the first kind in the history of maths department, SJC, Trichy. I know, because many, who cannot make it today, have sent in their well wishes. Among us who are here, we have classmates, seniors, juniors and our beloved teachers. This shows that even in a time of busy life, our friendship comes before everything. There are big ships, there are small ships; but there is no ship like friendship. Welcome to Mathematics Alumni Reunion!

St Joseph’s is a great institution. He served this institution as Rector, Principal, and Secretary for 15 years. Now he is playing his second innings as Rector. He believes in action rather than in words. He is a renowned Scientist and a gentle priest. He is none other than our Fr Rector, S John Britto, SJ. We welcome you father.

He was the principal of Loyola College, Chennai for six years. He served our institution two years as the Secretary. He is now captaining the ship of St Joseph’s. He is a very good teacher of Mathematics. He is a majestic, courageous, gentle priest of magnanimity and immeasurable spirituality. He is our Fr Principal, Albert Muthumalai SJ. We are very happy to welcome you father.

It is rare to see all stars of Mathematics family together in the same dais. They are all my teachers, guides and models. I take this opportunity to welcome our Professors Prof S Genesis, Dr S Maria Arul Raj, Prof R Savarimuthu, Dr S Gnanabhragasam, Dr N Chandrasekaran and Dr R Lawrence Manohar. Welcome back to St Joseph’s and thank you very much to grace this occasion with your presence. Prof RVR, Prof VRS, Prof RAV and Prof R Antony Samy could not attend this function but they have sent in their greetings.

Time flies. So much have changed. Our looks, our addresses. Our department. At present Maths department is housed in Inigo Block. We are teaching MSc Mathematics in the Shift II also, that is in the evening college. In 80’s, we had part time MPhil course. Now we have full time MPhil class of 30 students. When I joined the department, there was one PhD holder. Now we have 8 doctors in our department, guiding more than 35 research scholars in a separate research room. Department of Science and Technology (DST) sanctioned Rs 19.5 lakhs to our department for infra structure development. Our department is now DST-FIST sponsored Research and Post Graduate department of Mathematics. We have established a computer lab in our department exclusively for Maths students. To cater the needs of our students, we are giving SET/NET coaching during holidays to prepare our students to write the said exams. This year we started an Astronomy Club.

In this time of recession in admission to Arts and Science Colleges, queen of science smiles and attracts more young minds to her fold. All our alumni are well placed and occupied higher positions. I can see the examples in front of me. Our teachers served to the college in different roles, occupying administrative positions like Vice Principals and Deans. Now our Math Professor, Rev Dr Albert Muthumalai SJ is the dynamic principal of this temple of learning, St Joseph’s College, Trichy. This year Maths department celebrates National Mathematical Year from today (25/11/2012) onwards. We are organizing a mega Mathematics Exhibition, MATEX 2012, in our campus. It will be inaugurated on 27^th Tuesday, November 2012. You are welcome to MATEX 2012!

It was a tough job trying to locate all our former students. In fact, you can see that not every one of our Alumni is here. Many of them missed this wonderful occasion just because the news did not reach them. We hope this reunion is the starting point to collect the addresses of our former students and to expand and maintain the list, for future correspondence, for future gatherings.

We have with us today, some very special guests. They are our teachers, present and past. You might not remember what lessons they taught us, but you remember those nice moments we cherished. We remember the teachers we met in the classrooms, the interesting things they did, and things we did together with our friends.

Would you kindly allow me to make a bold proposal? Since this is a rare occasion, shall we, as a tribute to our teachers, give all of them a round of applause? …….. Thank you. We are thankful to all of you that you graced the occasion in spite of your busy schedule.

Ten days before as winter time nears

An announcement arrives in the mail

“A reunion is planned; it’ll be really grand

Make plans to attend without fail”.

And we can’t wait; we’ve set the date;

Our alumnae are coming, I am told.

It should be a ball, we’ve rented a hall

At the Community Centre for the old.

We’ll never forget the first time we met;

We tried so hard to impress with interest

We drank canteen tea, ate in hostel mess

And wore our most elegant dress.

The farewell was an affair; the whole class was there

It was held near Lawley Hall

We wined and dined and we acted refined

And everyone thought it was great ball.

The boy we’d decreed ‘most apt to succeed’

Was serving two decades in the pen

While the one voted ‘least’now is the best;

Just shows you can be wrong now and then.

At our next get together, no one cared whether

They impressed their classmates or not.

The mood was informal, a whole lot more normal

By this time we’d all gone to chat.

We are feeling quite hearty, and we are ready to party

We are riding on cloud nine until dawn’s early near

It will be lots of fun; we just hope that there is one

Reunion on fourth Sunday every year.

And because of the reunion I think we have got more energy and enthusiasm than we have ever had. And it is genuine. It would be fun to do a reunion show we hope we will do it every year.

Five of the former students spoke their minds. Prof. Asokan, former HOD, Department of Mathematics, EVR College shared his magic moments at SJC. Dr Nagoor Gani, Associate Professor, Maths Department, Jamal Mohamed College, Trichy recalled excellent moments of class rooms those days. Dr Manju, Assistant Professor, National College, Trichy gave a pictorial MPhil classes she enjoyed in her days. Dr Thirunavukkarasu, Assistant Professor, EVR College revealed different styles of his teachers in taking Maths classes. Mr Manoj Britto recalled the benefits he acquired during his college days.