Member Secretary, Academic Council, Nihil Ultra Awardee, Prof. Albert Cardinal Gomes, members of the staff, teaching and support, alumni/ae, benefactors, parents, well-wishers, friends, and my dear students, I wish you all a happy and joyous New Year 2016. May the Almighty bless you abundantly! It is my pleasant duty this morning to place before you the Annual Report of St. Xavier s College for the year 2015. Convocation 2015 The 8th Convocation and Valedictory of St. Xavier s College was held on Saturday, 17th January, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the College grounds. The Hon ble Governor of West Bengal, His Excellency Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi was the Chief Guest and delivered the Valedictory address. The Hon ble Minister in Charge of Higher Education, Government of West Bengal, Shri Partha Chatterjee was the Guest of Honour. The Hon ble Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta, Prof. Suranjan Das conferred the degrees on the 2182 passing out students and delivered the Convocation address. The Nihil Ultra Awardee for 2014 was Prof. Samir Kumar Brahmachari, the Chairman of the Education Commission of West Bengal. St. Xavier s College in Asansol Keeping to its motto "Nihil Ultra, Nothing Beyond", St. Xavier's college, kolkata took off with a new shoot at The Principal s Report 2015 Respected Chief Guest, Dr. Partho Chatterjee, Hon'ble Minister Incharge, Education, Government of West Bengal, Hon ble Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sugata M a r j i t, R e v. F r. Provincial, Rev. Fr. Rector, Vice Principals, Asansol in West Bengal, with the motto "reach the Unreached". This new chapter in the history of higher education in West Bengal took place on the 25th July 2015, in the august presence of the Honourable E d u c a t i o n M i n i s t e r o f W e s t B e n g a l, Mr. Partha Chatterjee and Minister of Labour, Mr. Moloy Ghatak, Bishop Cyprian Monis of Asansol. Academic Excellence: I congratulate all the 2123 under-graduates, post-graduates and B.Ed. students who receive their degrees today. May you be men and women for others. My congratulations to all the students who have performed well academically and have acquired ranks. These students will be rewarded with gold medals today. Congratulations to the following Ph.D. Awardees in 2015, Dr. Neelanjan Sen Dr. Mohsin Islam Dr. Kaushik Kumar Hati Congratulations to the following staff members who have completed their 25 years of service in the College as on 31/12/2015: Sl Name of Faculty Date of Length of appointment service 1 Prof. Bertram Da Silva 01-03-1990 25 years 10 months 2 Prof. Shalabh Agarwal 23-03-1990 25 years 9 months 3 Dr. Tapati Dutta 02-07-1990 25 years 6 months 06
Research Projects: From January to December 2015, forty-four research projects were undertaken by faculty members of different departments. Congratulations to all the teachers who are involved in the following projects. UGC Major SXC 1 Physics 1 Biotech 1 Commerce 2 UGC Minor Chemistry 1 Biotechnology 2 Microbiology 2 Bengali 1 Commerce (M) 1 Commerce (E) 2 Computer Sc. 3 Chemistry 1 B.Ed. 1 English 1 Sociology 1 Economics 2 DBT GOI Biotech 1 DBT WB Biotech 1 DST /SERB Biotech 4 Chemistry 1 DST/WB ICSSR Economics 1 IFCPAR Physics 1 DAE / BRNS ICAR CSIR Biotechnology 2 Microbiology 1 Statistics 1 CSIR Fellowship Biotechnology 2 ICMR Fellowship UGC Fellowship Economics 1 TOTAL PROJECTS 44 Research Scholars We have a total of twenty-five (25) research scholars who have been working under the guidance of our Professors in different departments during 2015. Publication: Books / Articles / Journals: In 2015, 17 books and 6 international and 102 national articles by our Professors have been published in national and international journals. Congratulations to all involved! [BOOKS PUBLISHED BY FACULTY] Sl. Name of the Name/Title of the Book Author & Department 1. John Felix Raj, Dominic Savio, S.L. Chakravarty and Samrat Roy Emerging Issues on Inclusive Growth, Business and Environment. 2. John Felix Raj S.J., Samrat Roy Indian Economy A Visionary Perspective and Koushik Kumar Hati Regal Publications, New Delhi, 2015 3. John Felix Raj S.J. and Discovery of Bengal The Jesuit Design Albert Huart S.J. Published by GILRS, Kolkata, 2014 4. S. Xavier and Mahua Basu Fundamentals of Environmental Studies, Cambridge University Press 5. Shivaji Banerjee Empirical Study of Personality Types and (Commerce Dept.) Stress Propensities of College Teachers in Kolkata District of West Bengal, Lambert Publishers, Germany 6. Saheli Ghose Mutual Funds in India A look into the Past, (Commerce Dept.) Present and Future Regal Publications, ISBN: 978-81-8484-564-8 7. Saheli Ghose Mutual Funds in India A popular Investment (Commerce Department) Avenue, Notion Press, ISBN:9789352063284 8. Sreemoyee Guha Roy Micro Insurance Including the Excluded (Commerce Dept.) Publisher, Notion Press, Chennai, 2015 9. Sreemoyee Guha Roy Role of Micro Insurance in Protecting (Commerce Dept.) the Poor: A Study in West Bengal, Scholars Press, 2015 10. Jhumpa Mukherjee The World of Human Rights (Political Science Dept.) 11. Jhumpa Mukherjee Conflict Resolution in Multicultural Societies: (Political Science Dept.) The Indian Experience 12. Jhumpa Mukherjee Identity, Autonomy and Development through (Political Science Dept.) Decentralization: Journey from Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council to Gorkha Territorial Administration in Anil Kumar Jana (ed.) Decentralizing Rural Governance and Development: Perspective, Ideas & Experiences 13. Argha Kumar Banerjee Women's Poetry and (English Dept.) the First World War(1914-1918) 14. Dutta, S.C; Rath, N.R and Mitra, Jib Bigyan Parichay, Volume I Book A.K. (Microbiology Dept.) Syndicate Pvt. Ltd. Kolkata, Pp.1438. 15. Mitra, A.K and Chattopadhyay, Life Science and Environment for D (Microbiology Dept.) Class IX. New Book Syndicate Private Limited, Pg.144. 16. Mitra, A.K. (Microbiology Dept.) Applied Plant Physiology. Book Syndicate Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata. Pp.358. 17. Mitra, A.K. (Microbiology Dept.) Better Orientation for Undergraduate Students. In Science Education Beyond High School, CARE publication, SINP, Kolkata.Pp.56. 07
Fifteen departments of the College have published their departmental annual magazines. Aviskaar Magis Eduvision Chiasma DNA Elixir Horizon Beacon Prokarsho Eco Echoes A Multi-disciplinary Xaverian Journal of Research which has received ISSN Number (both e-version and print version) Xaverian Journal of Education which has received ISSN Number. Magazine of the Education Magazine of the Biotechnology Magazine of the Microbiology Magazine of the Chemistry Magazine of the Physics Magazine of the Mathematics Magazine of the Statistics Magazine of the Economics Young Sociologist Journal of the Sociology X-ecutive You Think Magazine of the BBA Magazine of the Commerce Department which has received ISSN Number. Ode to Expression Magazine of the English Academy. Kadam Magazine of the NSS Congratulations to the staff and students who were involved in these publications. Achievements/Awards to Teachers/Students Fr. Principal visited the Universities of San Francisco and Berkely respectively and delivered a lecture at Berkely on the Frontiers of Jesuit Higher Education in India on13th March, 2015. On the evening of the same day, he was honoured with two Certificates of Recognition one from the California State Assembly and the other from the Mayor of the City of Fremont, Mr. Bill Harrison, for his service to humanity and harmony in a gathering attended by a large number of dignitaries, guests and Xaverians. Father spoke at length about SXC Vision 2020. NCC: A 2nd year English Honours student, Bodhi D Rai represented the country through NCC for a youth exchange programme held in Sri Lanka in November 2015. NSS: Thanks to the NSS unit of the College who laid a220 meters long and 6 feet wide brick road from St. Xavier s Raghabpur building to the village cemetery during their camp in November 2015. This was done for the convenience of students who come by bicycles and foot. The annual Blood Donation Camp was organized on 4th August 2015 by the NSS Department of the College. It was a huge success and we had 834 donors the number is increasing. Kudos to the NSS Department of the College! A 10th village named Hugalkuria has been added under the Prayas Project of the NSS. Sports Department: In the past year the Sports Department has added many feathers in our cap. They have had thirty eight students representing Calcutta University in various games and sports winning medals at the East Zone and All India Inter University level. Our Men and Women Basketball teams performed exceptionally well in the Indian Colleges Basketball League winning the City Leg and qualifying for the Nationals. Our College teams won the Inter College Table Tennis, Badminton and also won medals at the Inter College Athletics and Aquatics. A number of our students have played at the State and National level with outstanding performances. The Xaverians Hockey team has consolidated its position in the Bengal Hockey Association First Division Group B League with our students giving sterling performances this season. Throughout the year a number of in house events are organised for our students who find this a wonderful platform for competition and recreation. Placement Cell: This year the highest annual salary offered to our students was Rs. 14 lakh by UBER. The following new companies visited and conducted campus drives: 08
D.E. Shaw Consultancy, MGH Group, Adidas, Everest, Ruia Group, South Indian Bank, Mondelez India, Sony India Ltd., Uber, Grofers, NDTV, Emami. Congratulations to the Placement Cell team of the College! Special Heritage Status to St. Xavier s College, Kolkata St Xavier's College Kolkata has been granted the UGC Special Heritage Status. St Xavier's is set to get Rs 3.05 crore. It is part of 19 Colleges nationwide for this UGC grant. St Xavier's is slated to get the third highest after Cotton College, Guwahati and CMS College, Kottayam. St Xavier's College gets the grant to preserve its rare books, plates and manuscripts in its libraries. St. Xavier s College granted approval to award Ph.D. Degree The University of Calcutta has approved the Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D. under St. Xavier s College (Autonomous). These Regulations may be called the St. Xavier s College (Autonomous), affiliated to the University of Calcutta (Regulation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D.) Regulations 2015. The provisions of these Regulations shall apply to every candidate applying for admission, registration, conduct leading to the conferment of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) of this Institute. St. Xavier s College will award the Ph.D. Degrees in: I) Ph.D. (Science) Physics, Biotechnology and Microbiology II) Ph.D. (Commerce) The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) shall be awarded to a candidate on the basis of original research work of merit incorporated in a thesis, recommended by a Board of Examiners and successfully defended by the candidate during a Viva-Voce. The thesis is to be written in English. Academic Audit: The Academic Audit team appointed by Fr. Principal consisting of the following members visited St. Xavier s College for four days, i.e., on 7th & 9th October, 2015 and on 24th & 27th November 2015 to carry out the academic audit of the College: (1) Dr. Dhruba Ranjan Dandapat, Professor, Department of Commerce, University of Calcutta; (2) Dr. Konica Chatterjee, Professor of Commerce, University of Calcutta, IQAC Co-ordinator, University of Calcutta; (3) Dr. Madhumala Sengupta, Department of Education, University of Calcutta; (4) Dr. Anjan Ghosh, Vice President, TQM (Retired), Exide Industries Ltd., The Academic Audit was carried out very smoothly. Thanks to the members for their kind acceptance to carry out the academic audit of the College. Admissions 2015-16: Admissions 2015-16 went off smoothly. The total number of applications received for both UG and PG courses was 32900 and the total admitted was 3336. I thank the Vice Principals, Deans, Heads of Departments, staff members, both, teaching and support, as well as students for their whole-hearted participation in the admission process. B.Ed. Admission & New Curriculum according to the new NCTE Regulations 2014: In tune with the new NCTE regulations 2014 and the new curriculum with regard to the two-year B.Ed. Course, the College opted for one unit and admitted 50 students for this academic year 2015. The admission procedure went off smoothly and the total number of applications received was 621. For the 2nd unit we have applied for substantive posts and the College will subsequently add another unit of 50 students in the coming year. St. Xavier s College, St. Lawrence Campus: The St. Lawrence Campus of St. Xavier s College was inaugurated on 3rd July, 2015 by His Grace, Archbishop Thomas D' Souza with three sections of B.Com. Honours. A total number of 1441 applications were received during admission time. Right now there are a total of 306 students studying in the campus. Fr. Anil Gomes has been appointed as the Academic Co-ordinator of the campus. There are right now 4 full-time professors and 5 part-time professors teaching in the campus. Thanks to Fr. Joseph D Souza SJ, Rector, Fr. Sebastian James SJ and other Jesuit Fathers of St. Lawrence Community for their kind co-operation which enabled us to start the St. Xavier s College courses in St. Lawrence campus. 09
St. Xavier s College, Raghabpur Campus: We have introduced History Honours in the campus from the academic session 2015-16. Fr. Johnson Padiyara SJ, took over as the Academic Coordinator from Fr. Joseph Raj S.J., with effect from June 2015. There are a total number of 22 teachers teaching there and a total number of 207 students studying in the campus. Our Strength: St. Xavier s College now has a total strength of 274 teaching staff and 230 support staff and 7853 students(ug: 6628, PG: 571; B.Ed.:50, Other courses: 604). Courses at St. Xavier s College: St. Xavier s College runs: 17 UG, 6 PG and 1 B.Ed. courses; 3 Certificate and 6 Diploma Courses under the Career Oriented Programmes (COP); 1 Diploma and 3 Certificate courses under Computer Centre. IAS Guidance Classes. I take this opportunity to congratulate and thank Prof. Ashis Mitra, Professor in Charge of COP,Prof. Asoke Nath and Prof. Shalabh Agarwal of Computer Centre, Prof. S.K. Basu, Dean of M.Com. & Co-ordinator of IAS Guidance Centre for their dedication and efficient co-ordination of these courses. New Appointments Fr. Johnson S.J. as the Academic Co-ordinator of the Raghabpur campus of St. Xavier s College w.e.f. 1st June, 2015. Fr. Anil Gomes S.J. as the Academic Co-ordinator of the St. Lawrence Campus of St. Xavier s College w.e.f. 2nd June 2015. Prof. Amit Kumar Ghosh as the Joint Controller of Examinations w.e.f. 20th August, 2015. Dr. Mallinath Mukherjee, Associate Professor of the Economics Department as the new Governing Body member (Teacher Representative from Arts & Science Department) w.e.f. 1st April 2015. Prof. Rina Ghosh as the Director of the Central Research Facility of St. Xavier s College with effect from 1st December, 2015 New Heads of Departments: Prof. Sharmistha Jha as the HOD of the MCV Department w.e.f. 1st July, 2015. Prof. Surupa Chakraborty as the HOD of the Statistics Department w.e.f. 1st July, 2015. Faculty Development / Orientation Programme: A Faculty Development Programme was held for the junior faculty members of different departments: 1) 19th June 2015 (B.Com. Morning, Evening, BBA & M.Com.) 2) 20th June 2015 (Arts, Science & B.Ed.) An Orientation Programme was held for all the faculty of the College: 1) 10th July 2015 (B.Com. Morning, Evening, BBA & M.Com.) 2) 11th July 2015 (Arts, Science & B.Ed.) Foundation Course Orientation: An Orientation Program for the faculty teaching Foundation Course was held on 11th June 2015. An Orientation Programme on Personality Development which included an interactive session with Mr. Dipankar Banerjee was organised on 15th December, 2015 for the faculty and students of Foundation Course. 10
Physical Expansion / New Campuses: Inauguration of Mother Teresa Hostel for Girls The Girls Hostel was inaugurated on 4th July, 2015 and christened as Mother Teresa Hostel for Girls. The Mother Teresa Hostel for Girls is functioning very smoothly. The hostelites are very happy and comfortable with the facilities provided. Presently there are 130 girls residing in the Hostel. The two Sisters from the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod appointed as Assistant and Deputy Superintendents are doing their job well under the able guidance of Fr. Peter Arockiam S.J., the Superintendent of the Hostel. Park Street Campus Expansion The Central Library and the Department of Education have been shifted to the new location in June 2015. The building was blessed and inaugurated on2nd July, 2015 by Fr. Rector and Fr. Principal. The ATM services of the Syndicate Bank Rajarhat installed Builders on the ground floor of the Jubilee Building was inaugurated on Tuesday, 25th August, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. by Fr. Principal and Mr. Nirmal Krishna Bhattacharjee, the Field General Manager of Syndicate Bank, Kolkata. Rajarhat Campus The four-storied Jesuit Residence is near completion. The work of the Academic Building is progressing. Twelve students from St. Xavier s College spent one month (October November 2015) in the College of St. Benedict & St. John s University, Minnesota. Fr. Principal had during his visit to the US visited the students. These twelve students had a very fruitful stay there. Fr. Principal during his visit to the US explored the possibilities of exchange programmes with various Universities like the University of St. Francisco, Loyola University of Merrimount, Los Angeles, Minnesota University and Namur University, Belgium. Prof. Ashis Mitra also visited the University of St. Benedict and St. John s University. He also visited Fordham University to explore the possibility of exchange. Fr. S. Xavier S.J. and Prof. Panchali Sen visited the University of Namur. Presently the College is in collaboration with the following foreign Colleges/Universities: Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland State University of New York, Oswego, USA Santa Clara University, California, USA College of Social and Media Culture, Torun, Poland College of St. Benedict / St. Johns University, Minnesota, USA University of Namur, Belgium. Various major events held in the College : Xavotsav 2015,organised by St. Xavier s College Students Union (SXCSU) was held from 22nd to 24th January 2015. Thanks to the Students Council for organising the event. Beyond Barriers 2015, a musical extravaganza and fund-raising programme of the St. Xavier's College (Calcutta) Alumni Association was held on 25th January, 2015. The star performer was Sunidhi Chauhan, Bollywood playback singer. The Alumni Association donated Rs. 11 lakhs from the surplus towards the College development and its Vision 2020. Thanks to the Alumni Association for all its support. Exchange Programmes & MoUs / Collaborations: A student from Trinity College, Dublin, namely Marcus West is in St. Xavier s College from July 2015. He is studying a combined course of Sociology and Business Administration and would be in St. Xavier s College for a year, i.e., till June 2016. Shishu Mela was organised by the NSS Department of the College on 1st February, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. on the College Grounds. The Chief Guest was Dr. Shashi Panja, Minister of State for Women & Child Welfare & Social Welfare. Thanks to Ms. Cheryl Francis and her NSS team for organising the Shishu Mela. Sports Day was held on 7th February, 2015, at 12:00 noon in the College Grounds. Shri Soumen Mitra, Special Commissioner of Police, Kolkata Police was the Chief Guest for the occasion. Thanks to Mrs. 11
Feroza Mogrelia and her team for organising the Sports Day. The Bengali Literary Society of St. Xavier s College, Kolkata organised the international inter-college Bengali Fest, Xavullash based on the theme Kolkatar Ekal Sekal on the occasion of International Vernacular Day on 21st& 22nd February, 2015. The occasion was special as the BLS and St. Xavier s College (Calcutta) Alumni Association organised a Torch Light Rally for integrity and peace from Bangladesh. Representatives from the College and alumni were in Dhaka and the Torch Light Rally started from Bhasha Shahid Bedi of Dhaka and Dhaka University Campus on 17th February, 2015. The Torch was brought to Fr. Leeming Boys Hostel premises on 21st February, 2015 after which the same was brought to the College. The St. Xavier s Global Earth Summit IV, a three-day International Conference on Global Climate Change and Water Disasters, was organised by the Department of Environmental Science, St. Xavier s College in association with the Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat (SJES), Rome; Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), Kolkata and the Collectorate, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. ITC India was the title sponsor of the event. The Conference, the first of its kind where Jesuits from around the world participated and discussed the threats posed by the twin threats facing mankind Global Warming and Climate Change and the ways and means of creating a response system with a view towards their mitigation. The special emphasis of the conference was on water whose boon and bane has risen to sharper focus as a direct and perhaps most threateningly potent fallout of the changing climatic patterns. As part of the conference a field trip to the Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, the Tsunami and Aila affected sites and areas that have been affected by water salination was also organised so that participants could rise above the academic discourse and experience the impending (or is it quietly corroding?) threat posed by water. Congratulations and thanks to Fr. Xavier Savarimuthu S.J., the HOD of the Environmental Science Department for his efficient organisation of the Conference. I wish to thank and place on record the sincere effort put in to organize the various activities of the College by the different Units/Cells of the College, i.e., NCC, NSS, Sports, LTS, AICUF, ST/SC Cells, Counselling Cell, Placement Cell and Performing Arts. My congratulations to all of them! Do keep up the good spirit! Alumni Chapters / Conventions / Assistance: On 14th March 2015, Fr. Principal inaugurated the SXC Foundation and attended its first meeting at Los Angeles with Mr. Firdausul Hasan, the Honourary Secretary of the Alumni Association. A team of Xaverians promised to take this project forward and organized a big event on October 10, 2015 at Los Angeles. Students Council: The AGM of the Students Body was held on 23rd July, 2015. There were around 110 CRs (Class Representatives) and 10 Society Secretaries. 120 students were present for the AGM. The members voted and elected the new Committee for 2015-16. Khuswant Sonthalia of B.Com. Morning Department was elected as the General Secretary and Richa Srivastava of the Biotechnology Department was elected the Assistant General Secretary. Other working committee members were nominated by the different departments. 12
R I P St. Xavier's College salutes Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Mr. Arun Acharya, the former Manager of the College Canteen who expired on 17th January, 2015; Yash Singhi, a student of 2nd Year B.Com. (Honours) who passed away on 26th January, 2015. Soubhik Sinha (1st year statistics Honours) student who passed away on 15/5/2015. Fr. D Campo S.J., a Jesuit Priest in St. Xavier s Community, who passed away on 29/5/2015. Mr. Fidelis Singh, Support Staff in the Chemistry Department who passed away on 11/7/15. Dr. Utpal Kumar Dasgupta, Retired Professor of the Statistics Department of St. Xavier s College, who passed away on 25/8/2015. St. Xavier's College salutes Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, a Jesuit alumnus from St. Joseph's College, Trichy, a renowned scientist, a visionary and a man for other. He has visited St. Xavier's a couple of times to address the staff, students and alumni. May God grant him eternal rest. We mourn the deaths of: Prof. Rohinton Kapadia, former Professor and Head of the Department of English who passed away on 11th January, 2015; May their souls rest in peace. We express our deep condolences to all their family members. Let me conclude with my sincere gratitude to all GB Members, Vice Principals, Deans, teaching faculty, support staff, alumni/ae, parents, well-wishers, friends and benefactors for their whole-hearted co-operation and support. Let our service continue to bring joy to many many people in the spirit of Jesuit Magis. NIHIL ULTRA. SOLAR PLANT INAUGURATED AT XAVIER S A Solar Power Plant with 46 KW installed capacity was inaugurated at St. Xavier s College, 30 Mother Teresa Sarani (Park Street), Kolkata on 23 December 2015, Wednesday at 11.30 am at the Rooftop of the New B.Ed. and Library (old Hostel) Building. T h i s e n d e a v o u r h a s b e e n envisaged as a part of deep concern of the Jesuits on Environmental Issues and also as a follow up action of the recently concluded Climate Change Conference in Paris (COP-15). This Green Energy producing Solar Power Plant is the largest among all the colleges in the Eastern part of the country. Fr. Rector of St. Xavier s blessed the plant. Shri Manish Gupta, Hon ble Power M i n i s t e r o f W e s t B e n g a l inaugurated the new Plant and Shri Santanu Basu, IAS, Chairman & Managing Director, West Bengal Power Development Corporation, unveiled the site plant of the project. I thank Shri Manish Gupta, Shri Santanu Basu, Fr. Xavier Savarimuthu and Vikram Solar Company for the successful implementation of the project. 13