Platinum Jubilee Year of St. Albert’s College (Autonomous) is coming to an end. Jubilee – a yearlong celebration, a time of retrospection, a time of gratitude and a time to look forward – is about to conclude. I would like to congratulate the entire Albertian Family headed by Chairman Rev. Dr. Antony Thoppil for the extra effort you put up for making this Jubilee year, an year to be remembered.
Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead. These are the words of Nelson Mandela, first President of South Africa. Yes! College has reached a milestone – it’s Platinum Jubilee. And as the quote reminds us every milestone is to be celebrated. And the College did celebrate the milestone with vigour and enthusiasm. Celebration was indeed unique. Since it was the time of pandemic and there were restrictions in gathering people, organising offline activities was difficult. St. Albert’s College was able to use the web technologies in bridging the gap which the pandemic had created. Using the online medium programmes were organised in segments like curricular and co-curricular activities. I am sure that these celebrations have enriched the students, staff, parents, alumni and the collaborators. As it marches towards its centenary, this would indeed give an impetus to the institution’s dreams of going to the next level.
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” says Roman philosopher Cicero. During the 75 years of its journey there have been many people who have contributed to taking the college to this level. From Founder Patron Servant of God Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Attipetty, other patrons, Managers, Principals, Teachers, Non-teaching Staff, Alumni, Students and collaborators are people who cannot be forgotten in this journey of success and excellence. It was highly appreciable that through webinars their contributions were recognised and documented.
“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful”, says founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud. As the quote says, the retrospection done during the time of Jubilee has shown us that there were struggles during these 75 years of existence. It has also made the College convinced of the bold steps it has taken in making the higher education a possible one from an impossible one for those in the margins during the yesteryears.
And as we come to the conclusion of Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of St. Albert’s College (Autonomous) a souvenir is being released today to make a record of this special year. I wish all my good wishes to the souvenir committee for their excellent effort. I would encourage you all to look forward to taking this institution to the next level – a deemed university. I would like to conclude using the words of Russian Playwright Anton Chekov. He says “Let us learn to appreciate there will be times when the trees will be bare, and look forward to the time when we may pick the fruit.”
God bless the College and you all on your path to Centenary!