Fr. Frazer, who turned 62 yesterday, has put in 30 years as a dedicated Jesuit priest. He has not only been a principal, but in his 25 years of teaching, he has brought about landmark changes in the quality of education in the college, taking it to new heights.
Twelve long years of servitude to the Jesuit-run St. Xavier's college have come to an end for principal Fr. Frazer Mascarenhas. In a private felicitation ceremony held on Saturday at the college, about 50 well-wishers, including renowned alumni, gathered to bid farewell to the former principal.
Fr. Frazer, who turned 62 yesterday, has put in 30 years as a dedicated Jesuit priest. He has not only been a principal, but in his 25 years of teaching, he has brought about landmark changes in the quality of education in the college, taking it to new heights.
Along with Fr. Frazer's farewell ceremony was the re-opening of the Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, which had been under renovation since 2011. The chief guest of the event, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, the director-general of The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay (formerly Prince of Wales Museum of Western India), graced the occasion and announced the Heras Institute open. "Being a member of different institutes and committees, I can safely say that this is one of the finest institutes in the country," said Mukherjee.
Named after Fr. Henry Heras, a former teacher of history and an ardent archaeology enthusiast, this museum is home to Hindu, Buddhist and Jain artefacts. The Heras Institute also has a library, which has about 15,000 books and journals and an e-library, among other facilities.
The institute aims to educate people interested in Indian history, especially scholars and professors, by providing activities like workshops, research programs and methodology, art appreciation courses, as well as out-reach programs.
Fr Frazer, who took over as principal in 2003, was instrumental in getting the college an autonomous status. During his tenure as principal, he played host to dignitaries such as US president Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the Dalai Lama.
He believed in exposing his students to the outside world. "A visionary leader, known for his humility, Fr Frazer has been a tireless crusader for the cause of education," said board member and alumnus Roger Pereira.
Fr Frazer also expanded the college's tie-ups with foreign educational institutions, signing MOUs with some of the world's top universities such as Yale, Berkley, and Harvard.
With a renowned group of alumni, some of whom are Adi Godrej, Roger Pereira, Gerson da Cunha, Alyque Padamsee, Shobhaa De, Shirin Bharucha, and Luis Miranda, the college has expanded its roots into the social hemisphere through brand building, entrepreneurship, funding, publicity and mentoring to strengthen the support for autonomy, along with funds from TATA trust.
Alyque Padamsee, the Indian theatre personality, ad film maker and an alumnus of the college, said, "He's been a wonderful educationist, and has pioneered ways of approaching education, but the thing I admire most about him is that he always stood up for the underdog. He has put his head on the line in times when people have been attacked for their views; the way he stood up for minorities and above being a principal, he has been a premier citizen of his city.'
Fr Frazer will now serve as an assistant at R.E.A.P.,Kalwa, a non-formal education venture amongst slum dwellers. "It is like going back to the grassroots," said Fr Frazer, "It's where immense help is most needed."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}