National Congress of Jesuit Alumni Associations of India 2023

The history of Bihar can be traced back to the dawn of civilization when the enlightened intellectuals of the soil carried and spread the light of wisdom far and wide. The constellation of monasteries and shrines of Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs and architectural grandeur of the past are Bihar’s socio-cultural benevolences. The University of Nalanda was one of the world’s oldest seats of learning. The reign of the Guptas was heralded as the Golden Age of India when science, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy and religion received regal impetus and was pursued with fervor. Etymologically, Bihar derives its name from the Sanskrit word ‘VIHARA’ meaning ‘abode’ or ‘monastery’.

Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. Whereas one school believes it to be derived from the Sanskrit word “Pattan” meaning ‘port’ as the city was located as a thriving river port near the confluence of four rivers. Another belief is that the city derived its name from “Patan Devi”, the presiding deity of the city. One legend associates the origin to Putraka, a mythological king, who created the city by magic for his beloved queen Patali and in honour of queen’s first born named it as ‘Patliputra’. The city finds mention as ‘Palibothra’ or ‘Palimbotra’ in the writings of Greek historian Megasthenes and as ‘Pa-lin-fou’ in the records of Chinese traveler Fa-hien.

The history of the city, dates back to 684 B.C., when the Haryanka dynasty wielded power. Ever since Patna or Patliputra has figured as the capital for the mighty empires of the Nanda, the Maurya, the Gupta and the Vardhana dynasty who ruled over a vast region of the Indian Subcontinent. Megasthenes, the Greek Ambassador to the Court of Chandragupta Maurya and many Chinese travelers, including Fa-hien and Huen-Tsang, in their travelogues have spoken in glowing terms of the peace and prosperity that prevailed in the region.

Patliputra is the birth place of the great Maurayan Emperor, Ashoka, and Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. During the 17th century, Patna became a central of international trade with the British starting a factory in Patna in 1620 for trading in silk and calico.

In 1912, Patna became the capital of Orissa Province and Bihar when Bengal Presidency was partitioned.

Patna played a major role in the Indian Independence struggle. Mahatma Gandhi launched his first non-violent ‘Satyagrah’ movement in India against the Indigo Plantation in Champaran district of Bihar. The success of this movement was the beginning of his great and historic political journey. Bihar contributed in full measure to the successive movements launched by Mahatma Gandhi including the 1920 Non-Cooperation Movement, 1930 Civil Disobedience Movement and 1942 Quit India Movement. Bihar threw up great national leaders like Deshratna Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of the Republic of India, Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan among many others.

Patna, as most of Bihar, has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers from late March to early June, the monsoon season from late June to late September and a mild winter from November to February.

Many languages are spoken in Patna. Hindi and Urdu are the official languages. The native dialects are Magahi, Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Angika. Other languages widely spoken in Patna are Bengali and English.

Welcome to the tenth edition of the Jesuit Alumni Association of India (JAAI) Milan 2023! This triennial mega-event is going to be a conglomeration of people associated with various Jesuit institutions in India, including thoughtful thematic brainstorms carving out future educational pathways, cultural extravaganza, nostalgic camaraderie and fun & frolic for three pleasant days of 10, 11, & 12 February 2023 hosted by Jesuit Alumni Associations of Patna Province (JAAP) at St Xavier's School, Patna and St. Michael’s School, Patna. The theme of this mega-event is going to be “Shaping India’s TECHADE – Challenges & Opportunities”.

Technology today is the greatest equalizer built by humankind to solve some of the pressing world challenges– from Health crisis to Climate Change. TECHADE is a portmanteau of technology and decade i.e., a decade powered by the impact of technology. This word gained momentum when our Prime Minister had said that data and demographic dividend combined with India’s proven tech prowess presents massive opportunity for the country, and exuded confidence that this decade will be ‘India’s TECHADE’. Shaping India’s TECHADE will be defined by our collective ability to move from ‘technology potential’ to ‘technology impact’ and will be built on the design principals of Innovation for Impact, Inclusive & Secure Scale, Ethical Build and Use of Tech and Human Centricity. The challenges and impediments to fulfilling the idea of TECHADE also needs to be identified and addressed to find out key-elements to this revolution, our roles and responsibilities and key areas of focus.

Come and join us for this exotic, exuberant and exquisite event. Go for the early bird registration!

The Society of Jesus - also known as the Jesuits - is a religious order of men within the Roman Catholic Church. Saint Ignatius of Loyola and six of his companions founded the Society of Jesus in 1540. It was in that year that this group received formal approval from the pope, then Pope Paul III. One of his first companions was the then professor of the Paris University, Saint Francis Xavier, who came to India in 1542. He opened the first Jesuit school in Goa in 1543. It was named St. Paul's College. Nothing exists of this institution today except its memory, but it was the predecessor of hundreds of other schools and colleges that are spread all over the country.

The Jesuits are involved in multiple activities in their attempts at nation building in India through continuity with past traditions and new initiatives. Jesuits in India now run more than 400 primary, middle schools, and high schools, 50 university colleges, 22 technical institutes, and 17 business administration institutes, 4 Universities with more than 15,000 teachers, educating more than 4 lakh students belonging to different religious, linguistic, and socioeconomic groups. Many of their institutions are among the most reputable, and their share in the country’s educational undertaking is substantial.

Jesuit communities and apostolic works are organized by “provinces” and “regions” that belong to six Conferences around the world. The Jesuit Conference of South Asia covers Jesuit life and service in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The most important apostolate of the Jesuits was and is educational apostolate and is respected in the world for this. In South Asia, Jesuits are running hundreds of primary and secondary educational institutions. All these are linked together under Jesuit Educational Association of South Asia.

Jesuit institutions are committed to the cause of social justice and peace in a global milieu. The founder of the Society of Jesus, Saint Ignatius wrote in his treatise titled Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola that 'Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God our Lord and by this means to save his soul'. The resolve to work 'for the greater glory of god' has ensured their nurturing presence in the remotest and most deprived parts of the globe. In the field of education Jesuits are committed to the intellectual, spiritual and moral growth of students into a 'whole person'.

Fr. Pedro Arrupe was the Jesuit General from 1965 to 1983. He was a charismatic person who experienced the miseries of the poor people in Japan during 2nd World War and afterwards. When he became the General of the Jesuits, he carried with him a wealth of experience and these formed his future plans and actions. He felt that the Jesuit Alumni can be organized into a power that can change the poor people all over the world. With this idea in his mind, he asked all the Jesuit Provincials to start Alumni Association in their schools, colleges and other educational institutions. He wanted to change the Jesuit Alumni into “Men and Women for others” and thus the Jesuit Alumni Association started. On the top level, we have the World Union of Jesuit Alumni/ae (WUJA) with headquarters at Spain. On the country level, we have Federation of Jesuit Alumni Association of India (JAAI) in India with headquarters at Kolkata.

The Federation of Jesuit Alumni Associations of India (JAAI) is an association of all alumni associations of Jesuit academic institutions in India and is affiliated to World Union of Jesuit Alumni (WUJA). It hopes to bring together all Jesuit alumni in the country together and direct their energies for the betterment of the society. As beneficiaries and as inheritors of the Jesuit/lgnatian legacy of Education, the members of several Alumni/ae Associations have come together to form a Federation, bonded in love and fellowship, endeavour to become men and women for others.

The Society of Jesus founded by St. Ignatius Loyala in the 16thcentury is associated with education throughout the world and notably in India. The vision of Jesuit education got its inspiration from the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. St. Francis Xavier arrived in India in 1541 and organized the first Jesuit school in India, His name lives on today in many schools, colleges and institutes of advanced training throughout the subcontinent.

The First World War forced the German priests in India to return to their homeland. On September 10th 1919, Pope Benedict XV established the Diocese of Patna and made Bishop Van Hoeck, S.J., its first Bishop. Bishop Van Hoeck invited the Missouri Jesuits to come and work in Patna. Five Missouri Jesuits - Frs. William Eline, SJ, Henry Milet, SJ, Edward Anderson, SJ, Patrick Troy, SJ, and Thomas Kelly, SJ. - arrived in Patna on 16th March 1921. These first Jesuits of Patna, along with the work of looking after the Catholics, felt the need of starting good schools. They opened Khrist Raja High School in Bettiah in 1927. In 1940 Fr. Loesch, S.J., the then Superior of Patna Jesuits, asked Fr. Marshal to start St. Xavier’s School in Patna. In 1942 the Patna Jesuits started St. Xavier’s Jaipur, in 1950 St. Xavier’s Kathmandu, in 1960 St. Xavier’s Delhi and in 1969, took over St. Michael’s Patna from Irish Brothers. Frs. Loesch, Moran, Niesen, Wrobleswski, Cleary and Murphy were outstanding Jesuit teachers of St. Xavier’s, Patna. Through the years it has built up a reputation for excellence in the education and for preparing the students to distinguish themselves by selfless service to humanity and to lead lives in keeping with the school motto For God and Country. Last year, Patna Jesuit Mission celebrated 100 years of blessings and transforming lives.

It has also one of the oldest school alumni associations in India - St. Xaviers Alumni Association (SXAA), Patna - celebrating its Platinum Jubilee this year. St. Xavier's Alumni Associations, St. Michael's Alumni Association and St. Xavier's College of Education Alumni Association are registered members of the JAAI and recently Alumni Association of St. Xavier's Higher Secondary School Bettiah - Xavier's Alumni Association of Bettiah - has also been formed and registered with JAAI. Other Jesuit Institutions of Patna Province - St. Xavier's College of Management and Technology Patna, Khrist Raja High School Bettiah, Catholic High School Ara, St. Ignatius High School Aurangabad, St. Ann's High School Sasaram, Raj Rajeshwar High School Barbigha, St. Thomas High School Ratanpurwa, St. Xavier's High School Gaunaha are also having Alumni Association and reinforcing togetherness.