The 10th National Congress of the JAAI commenced on the evening of 10th Feb. 2023, hosted by the Jesuits Alumni Associations of Patna, in the prestigious and iconic St Xavier’s High School, St Michael’s High School and St. Xavier’s College of Education, Patna. Around 250 delegates and more than 50 Jesuit Priests assembled from different parts of the globe. A beautiful welcome song was presented by the students. President, JAAI CA – S. Chenthil Kumar welcomed all the delegates.
A report on the JAAI activities was presented by the Secretary, JAAI, Mr Neel Mani Rangesh. PCA Fr Peter B. Arockiasamy SJ, Rector, Fr. Daniel Raj SJ, Principal, Fr. K P Dominic SJ, and Secretary, SXAA Patna, Shri Abhay Kanoria also welcomed the delegates. A commemorative Souvenir was released by the Chief Guest, Mr. Sunil Kumar, Minister for Prohibition, Excise and Registration, Govt. of Bihar. Guest of Honours – (1) the WUJA President Shri Francisco Guarner heartily congratulated organizers of the congress and asked all the Jesuit Alumni to collaborate and work together, (2) National Advisor, JAAI Rev. Fr. John Ravi SJ, highlighted the challenges of new risks, new inequalities and new ethical dilemmas, as technologies are rapidly transforming every aspect of our lives and society; and (3) the Provincial of Patna Rev. Fr. Donald Miranda SJ emphasized the importance of meditation/contemplation called the “contemplation to obtain divine love”. The Chief Guest requested delegates to provide concrete suggestions and assured that Government will surely study it and see to it how a movement like this can go forward. A glittering and scintillating cultural programme by the students was the major highlight of the event.
Day 2 began with a prayer service and the Keynote address by Shri Abhyanand, IPS (Retd.), former DGP, Bihar, and the co-founder of the famous “Super 30”. Shri Abhyanand spoke at length on the congress theme – “Shaping India’s TECHADE: challenges and opportunities”. Four other business sessions were presented by Shri Utpal Sinha, Global Head of Transformation at Barclays, New York; Prof. Sanjay Shrivastava, Director (2013-2023), NIFT, Patna; Prof Shankar Ashish Dutt, former Head, Dept of English, Patna University; and Fr Sebasti Raj, SJ, Indian Social Institute, Delhi. All the delegates were divided into four groups and presented their reports, after deliberations on various facets of the theme.
The WUJA Governing Meeting was also held alongside the congress. The final day began with the Holy Mass followed by accredited delegates’ meeting. The new Governing Council of JAAI for the term 2023-26 in its first meeting, elected office bearers for the term 2023-26 unanimously. Mr. Neel Mani Rangesh was elected as the President, Mr. Emanuel Furtado as the Secretary, and Mr. Amit Kumar Mishra as the Treasurer of JAAI. The final business session witnessed an illuminating talk by Shri Vivek Singh, IAS, Development Commissioner, Govt. of Bihar. The Valedictory session began with a welcome song by students and welcome address by Rector Fr Norbert Menezes, SJ and Principal Fr Christu Savarirajan SJ. The WUJA Council members, JAAI GC members of the last term’s PCAs were felicitated. Later, new office bearers for JAAI were installed and JAAI Awards for 2020-23 were presented. The Chief Guest, Shri Yashovardhan Sinha, Chief Information Commissioner of India highlighted the immense contributions of Jesuit Institutions, and congratulated the organizers for bringing together all Jesuit Alumni of the country under one umbrella.
Neel Mani Rangesh
Patna
