St. Xavier's College, Bombay
Encyclopedia
St. Xavier's College in Mumbai
(formerly Bombay), India
is a Roman Catholic college in the Jesuit tradition. The college is named after Francis Xavier
, the 16th century Spanish Jesuit saint. It has been awarded the highest rating A+ (5-Star) in the re-accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council
(NAAC) in 2007. It is built in the Indo-Gothic style of architecture, and recognized as a heritage structure.
The college was founded by German Jesuits in 1869. It began to develop rapidly from 1884 to 1910. The imprisonment of German Jesuit priests during the First World War (1914–1918) led to a dislocation of the administration, which was prevented by other European Jesuits. Though it began as an Arts College, by the 1920s science departments were established. The college experienced massive architectural expansions in the 1930s.
The college is presently run by Indian Jesuits, with special consideration to Roman Catholic students. It offers undergraduate and post-graduate courses in Arts, Science and Commerce. It has spawned several research institutions within its campus such as Blatter Herbarium
, and is known for its famous inter-collegiate youth festival Malhar. In the June 2006 issue of the country's national India Today
magazine, it was rated as the best college in India for Arts, and second best for Commerce and Science.
was established in 1906 by the Swiss Jesuit priest Ethelbert Blatter
and his associates. The hostel was completed in 1909, while the East-West science wing, costing Rs
. 200,000, was completed in 1912. The Government provided grants of Rs. 70,000 and Rs. 37,000 for the two additional buildings of the college. The college first admitted women in 1912.
Being a German institute in British India, the college suffered wide repercussions during the First World War (1914–1918). Following the outbreak of the war, the German Jesuit priests, mainly the older ones, were interned and detained in 1914 at the college villa in Khandala
, where many died. However, the younger German Jesuits were repatriated in 1916. The departure of German Jesuits led to a dislocation in the administration of the college, but was prevented by a few Swiss, Luxemburger and English
Jesuits. The number of lay professors increased following the withdrawal of the German Jesuits. In 1920, enrollment of students from outside Bombay, especially Calcutta, Yangon
, Mangalore
, and Sindh
, started climbing. Subsequently, a third floor was added to the hostel to provide accommodation facilities to them. The college started offering six more languages: Marathi
, Gujarati
, Urdu
, Arabic, Hebrew, and Portuguese
. The Spanish Jesuits arrived in 1922. By the 1920s, the colleges had expanded its offerings to more than just liberal arts
. Science departments such as Chemistry and Biology came to be established. The Spanish Jesuit Henry Heras
founded the "Indian Historical Research Institute" in 1925. The extension of the East-West science wing was completed in 1925, and opened by Leslie Orme Wilson
, Governor of Bombay (1923–1926), on 26 January 1926, at an outlay of Rs. 2 lakh
s.
The following decade, the priest Gonzalo Palacios propelled massive architectural expansions, with the addition of a third floor to the East-West science wing, and the demolition of the Chemistry shed in April 1935. The General Library was shifted to the new central building providing space for over 100,000 books and 6,000 volumes of periodicals. The college took charge of the Abdulla Fazalbhoy Technical Institute for Radio and Cinema (now known as the St. Xavier's Technical Institute) near Mahim Causeway
. More rooms were added to the hostel together with a tower. The construction of the college chapel, which had begun in 1937, was completed under the reign of Principal Aloysius Coyne (1940–1949). The college hall was inaugurated in January 1937 by Lord Brabourne
, Governor of Bombay (1933–1937). In August 1939, non-degree course for the Teacher's Diploma was started, while Microbiology was revolutionized. After India's independence in 1947, Hindi began to be taught in the College from June 1949, and several new departments were instituted, such as the Department of Sociology and Anthropology (1951) and the Department of Psychology (1957).
Towards the later 20th century, St. Xavier's has continued to expand in student body and faculty size, and has seen the establishment of several research centers and programs. In the recent years, the college has been run by Indian Jesuits of the Bombay Province, in close collaboration with the Society of Jesus in Germany and Spain.
exercises responsibility over the college through a Governing Body whose Chairman is the Provincial of the Bombay Province of the Society. St. Xavier's College, is named after Francis Xavier
, a Spanish Jesuit saint of the 16th century who travelled to India. The College was founded by the Society of Jesus, a Christian Religious Group, started by Ignatius of Loyola
, a Spanish saint, in 1540. The College strives to form men and women, especially Christians and the marginalised, to build a more just and humane world. The intellectual endeavour it strives for, focuses on critical and creative thinking, with the aim of social transformation. This endeavor is inspired by the values of the Gospel
- from the New Testament
of the Christian scriptures - while it appreciates and promotes all the other religions, especially the rich religious heritage of India. The College seeks to give an all-round formation for the marginalised, inculcating both human and spiritual values. The College gives special consideration to Roman Catholics under the minority rights enshrined in the Constitution of India
, for whose education the college was founded. 50% of the seats are reserved for Catholics.
Since 30 January 1869, St. Xavier's College has been affiliated with the University of Bombay. It is accredited by the University with the task of preparing students for degrees in Arts, Science and Commerce. It was made a constituent college of the university in 1953 following the Bombay University Act 1953, and received recognition by the University Grants Commission
(UGC) since 1956. In 2007, the college was awarded the highest rating A+ (5-Star) in the re-accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council
(NAAC), an autonomous body linked to the University Grants Commission of India. The country's national India Today
magazine report on colleges has consistently rated it in the top 10 colleges in India for the past few years. In the June 2000 and June 2006 issue, St. Xavier's has been rated the best Arts College in India and the second best Science and Commerce College in the country. The UGC has awarded St. Xavier's, the "College with a Potential for Excellence" award in 2006. On 31 May, 2010, the college was granted autonomy by the University Grants Commission
, thereby becoming only the second college in Mumbai to be granted such a status.
The College has 90 permanent teachers (of whom 53 are women), 3 full time teachers, 11 part-time teachers, and 2 teachers working as full-time on temporary assignment, raising the number of full time teachers to 95. The teacher-student ratio stands at 1:33. Three teachers have also been accorded special awards and recognition for their distinguished service.
and Science
; three-year undergraduate degree courses, such as Bachelor of Arts
(B.A.), Bachelor of Science
(B. Sc.), Bachelor of Commerce
(B. Com.), Bachelor of Management Studies (B.M.S.), Bachelor of Mass Media (B.M.M.), and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
(B.Sc. I.T.); and postgraduate courses such as Master of Arts
(M.A.), Master of Science
(M.Sc.), and Doctor of Philosophy
(Ph.D.) in Arts and Science. Additionally, Diplomas in Clinical Research, Forensic Science, Gemmology, Industrial Biotechnology and Enterprise; and Certification courses in Diamond Grading, Jewellery Designing, are also offered by the college. The syllabi for the undergraduate and postgraduate courses are prepared by the University of Mumbai
, and comprises mid-term tests and final examinations. As of 2007, the college remained basically an undergraduate college, with 2648 students enrolled at the undergraduate level, and 99 students enrolled at the postgraduate level. The college operates programmes such as, The Learning for Life Programme, Honours Programme, Evening Commerce Section for the economically disadvantaged, Social Involvement Programme, and Personality and Human Values. St. Xavier's applied for autonomous status in 2007, which is pending university clearance.
Applicants to undergraduate courses are evaluated based on the academic performance in the Higher School Certificate
(HSC) examination of the Mumbai Divisional Board, while applicants to junior college are evaluated on the performance in the Secondary School Certificate
(SSC) examination of the board. Special considerations are given to Catholics, economically and socially disadvantaged, and students from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribe
s (ST). The success rate of students varies between 90–100 percent across all departments, and between 95–100 percent in the university examinations. St. Xavier's is home to several institutions within its campus, some of which have moved out, such as Xavier's Institute at Churchgate
, and Xavier Institute of Engineering at Mahim
. The research institutions include Blatter Herbarium
for taxonomic studies, Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, Caius Laboratory for Inter-Disciplinary Research for medicinal research, and Nadkarni - Sacasa Research Laboratory for chemistry. The non-research institutions include Xavier Institute of Communications for media, Xavier Institute of Counselling, Xavier Institute of Social Research, Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged, Xavier Institute of Management & Research, and Xavier Knowledge Center for computers.
locality of South Mumbai
. It is located near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
(CST) railway station, which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways, and Churchgate
station, which serves as the headquarters of the Western Railways
. The college is built in the Indo-Gothic style of architecture, and has been recognized as a heritage structure by the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee. The main college library is central and common to all the academic activities of the College. It has a collection of 133,489 books, of which more than 50% are reference books, with some dating back to the 16th century. It also has 76 journals, of which 14 are foreign journals. The library has a carved cabinet, card index of books, and a computerized database of books. Students have access to a lending library
, reference library
, paperback library, non-print media library and a vast collection of journals, current and back volumes. Books are lent out at the lending library, which also houses the online public access catalog (OPAC) for information search. The reference library
includes reserve counters, overnight loans, Xeroxing services, reference services, Inter-library loans, journals, reference books, and a special Multi-media facility for accessing compact disks (CDs) on computers. Students also have access to a paperback library, and a non-print media library, where audio cassettes, television
. and video cassette recorder (VCR) facilities are available for group and individual use.
The campus also has a leisure space known as the "Woods", which comprises a couple of large trees. The college runs a small hostel on campus for male students of the senior college. The hostel has a capacity of 60 students, with each room being meant for two occupants. The college also has a chapel cum prayer hall with green stained glass exteriors, arching vaults, and intricate marble work, behind the façade facing the college's quadrangle. It has two fully equipped audio-visual centres, the Smith Centre for Audio-Visual Instruction (SCAVI), with a seating capacity of 100, and the Multi-Media Room (MMR), with a seating capacity of 110. Class-rooms have partially Information technology
(IT) enabled accessories, fiberglass
boards, and pull down screens. A full-fledged language laboratory has also been set up to cater to students from non-English medium schools and to promote multi-language skills. The college is also equipped with an auditorium, a spacious canteen
, and full size basketball
and volleyball
courts. The Fell Gymkhana, built in 1954, provides bodybuilding, badminton
, table-tennis, carom
, chess
, and other recreational facilities for staff and students. The St. Xavier's Villa in Khandala
is a property of the college nestled in the hills of the Western Ghat
mountain ranges, about two hours from Mumbai. It provides facilities for retreats, seminars, and educational conferences. The college also has a cricket
pitch leased by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on the Azad Maidan
sports ground, near the college.
The College Counselling Centre, founded in 1954, provides personal counselling, personality
evaluation tests, testing programmes for vocational purposes, information on careers, professions and specialized studies in India and abroad, information on scholarships and financial assistance schemes, admission guidance to students, and also organizes orientation programmes. The College Placement Centre exposes students to reputed employers, trains them in writing resumes, and acquaints them with the selection process of Corporates. There are separate Common Rooms for male and female students and for Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff. The Xavier’s Women’s Development Cell, was formed in 2006 to coordinate programmes for awareness and action on women’s issues, since girls constitute more than 60% of the student strength. It also serves as a grievance redressal cell for complaints of sexual harassment. First Aid Centres are also available in the college general office and the Counselling Centre. The College undertakes a number of welfare measures for the students and the staff including provision of insurance coverage. The College has also set up a Grievance Redressal Cell with a representative from a Non-governmental organization
(NGO).
in the city, especially among its young people. It organises concerts, lecture-demonstrations
and music appreciation courses. Its annual Indian classical music festival, Janfest, is well known.
is one of the most popular college festivals in the city hosted by the students of St. Xavier's College. It is an inter-collegiate youth festival, and has been in existence since 1979. It is usually held in August during the rains and involves teams from about 60 other colleges in Mumbai and elsewhere, with around 30 cultural contests in the Literary, Performing Arts and Fine Arts categories, along with a number of Workshops on different themes. It draws about 20,000 student participants and audience to the College Campus. Janfest is a well known Indian classical music
festival in India, held in January, and hosted by the Indian Music Group (IMG). Inaugurated in 1974, it promotes classical music among the youth, and offers a platform for young people to showcase their talent. It has played host to maestros of Indian classical music like Hariprasad Chaurasia
, Zakir Hussain
, and Ravi Shankar
. Additionally, the college also hosts Ithaka, the annual English literature and theatre festival organised by the English Literature department which began in 1990. It is a platform for students to demonstrate their theatrical talents. Theatre personalities such as Qasar Padamsee started their careers in Ithaka.
Also significant is the college's newspaper: The Xavier's Press, published monthly. Begun in December 2008, it is an initiative of the Student Council and is run independently by students with the support of the Council. It covers events and issues that are important to the general student body.
The buildings of St. Xavier's College were used for the song "Kabhi Kabhi Aditi" in the movie Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008). The library of the college was used in the movie Main Hoon Na
(2004). The college has also appeared in the movie Kucch To Hai
(2003). The college hall has been the location of many film scenes, most popularly Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.
(2003). One of the first performances in the hall was William Shakespeare
's historic play Richard III
by the Dramatic Society. On 18 July 2009, United States Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton
visited the college on her Mumbai trip as part of the college's 140th anniversary. She conducted an interactive session with its students regarding academics and education.
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
(formerly Bombay), India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
is a Roman Catholic college in the Jesuit tradition. The college is named after Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta was a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary born in the Kingdom of Navarre and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. He was a student of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits, dedicated at Montmartre in 1534...
, the 16th century Spanish Jesuit saint. It has been awarded the highest rating A+ (5-Star) in the re-accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council
National Assessment and Accreditation Council
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council is an organization that assesses and accredits institutions of higher education in India. It is an autonomous body funded by University Grants Commission of Government of India headquartered in Bangalore.-History:NAAC was established in 1994 in...
(NAAC) in 2007. It is built in the Indo-Gothic style of architecture, and recognized as a heritage structure.
The college was founded by German Jesuits in 1869. It began to develop rapidly from 1884 to 1910. The imprisonment of German Jesuit priests during the First World War (1914–1918) led to a dislocation of the administration, which was prevented by other European Jesuits. Though it began as an Arts College, by the 1920s science departments were established. The college experienced massive architectural expansions in the 1930s.
The college is presently run by Indian Jesuits, with special consideration to Roman Catholic students. It offers undergraduate and post-graduate courses in Arts, Science and Commerce. It has spawned several research institutions within its campus such as Blatter Herbarium
Blatter Herbarium
The Blatter Herbarium, in St. Xavier's College, Bombay, is a major Herbarium in India. It is listed in the Index Herbariorum, published by the International Association for Plant Taxonomy and New York Botanical Garden...
, and is known for its famous inter-collegiate youth festival Malhar. In the June 2006 issue of the country's national India Today
India Today
India Today is an Indian weekly news magazine published by Living Media India Limited, in publication since 1975 based in Mumbai. India Today is also the name of its sister-publication in Hindi...
magazine, it was rated as the best college in India for Arts, and second best for Commerce and Science.
History
St. Xavier's College was founded on 2 January 1869 in Bombay by German Jesuits with just two students. These two students came from a group of six, who appeared for the University matriculation examination in 1868 from St. Mary's Institution. Joseph Antony Willy, the first principal of the College from 1869 to 1873, and three other Jesuits began to lecture them on 7 January 1869. The college was granted formal recognition of Bombay University on 30 January 1869. One student joined later in 1870. The first three students graduated in 1871. From 1884 to 1910, under the patronage of Principal Frederick Dreckmann, the college began to develop rapidly. The Blatter HerbariumBlatter Herbarium
The Blatter Herbarium, in St. Xavier's College, Bombay, is a major Herbarium in India. It is listed in the Index Herbariorum, published by the International Association for Plant Taxonomy and New York Botanical Garden...
was established in 1906 by the Swiss Jesuit priest Ethelbert Blatter
Ethelbert Blatter
Ethelbert Blatter SJ was a Swiss Jesuit priest and pioneering botanist in British India. Author of five books and over sixty papers on the flora of the Indian subcontinent, he was Principal and Professor of Botany at St Xavier College, Bombay and Vice-President of the Bombay Natural History Society...
and his associates. The hostel was completed in 1909, while the East-West science wing, costing Rs
Indian rupee
The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India....
. 200,000, was completed in 1912. The Government provided grants of Rs. 70,000 and Rs. 37,000 for the two additional buildings of the college. The college first admitted women in 1912.
Being a German institute in British India, the college suffered wide repercussions during the First World War (1914–1918). Following the outbreak of the war, the German Jesuit priests, mainly the older ones, were interned and detained in 1914 at the college villa in Khandala
Khandala
Khandala is a hill station in the Western Ghats in the state of Maharashtra, India, about three kilometres from Lonavala and seven kilometers from Karjat....
, where many died. However, the younger German Jesuits were repatriated in 1916. The departure of German Jesuits led to a dislocation in the administration of the college, but was prevented by a few Swiss, Luxemburger and English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
Jesuits. The number of lay professors increased following the withdrawal of the German Jesuits. In 1920, enrollment of students from outside Bombay, especially Calcutta, Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
, Mangalore
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
, and Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, started climbing. Subsequently, a third floor was added to the hostel to provide accommodation facilities to them. The college started offering six more languages: Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
, Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
, Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, Arabic, Hebrew, and Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
. The Spanish Jesuits arrived in 1922. By the 1920s, the colleges had expanded its offerings to more than just liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
. Science departments such as Chemistry and Biology came to be established. The Spanish Jesuit Henry Heras
Henry Heras
Henry Heras was a Spanish Jesuit priest, archeologist and historian in India.-Education:...
founded the "Indian Historical Research Institute" in 1925. The extension of the East-West science wing was completed in 1925, and opened by Leslie Orme Wilson
Leslie Orme Wilson
Sir Leslie Orme Wilson, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, DSO, PC was a British soldier, Conservative politician and Governor of Queensland.-Personal life:...
, Governor of Bombay (1923–1926), on 26 January 1926, at an outlay of Rs. 2 lakh
Lakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...
s.
The following decade, the priest Gonzalo Palacios propelled massive architectural expansions, with the addition of a third floor to the East-West science wing, and the demolition of the Chemistry shed in April 1935. The General Library was shifted to the new central building providing space for over 100,000 books and 6,000 volumes of periodicals. The college took charge of the Abdulla Fazalbhoy Technical Institute for Radio and Cinema (now known as the St. Xavier's Technical Institute) near Mahim Causeway
Mahim Causeway
The Mahim Causeway is a vital link road connecting the city of Mumbai with its northern suburbs. The causeway links the neighbourhoods of Mahim to the south with Bandra to the north....
. More rooms were added to the hostel together with a tower. The construction of the college chapel, which had begun in 1937, was completed under the reign of Principal Aloysius Coyne (1940–1949). The college hall was inaugurated in January 1937 by Lord Brabourne
Michael Knatchbull, 5th Baron Brabourne
Michael Herbert Rudolf Knatchbull, 5th Baron Brabourne, GCSI, GCIE, MC was a British peer and soldier, the son of the 4th Baron Brabourne....
, Governor of Bombay (1933–1937). In August 1939, non-degree course for the Teacher's Diploma was started, while Microbiology was revolutionized. After India's independence in 1947, Hindi began to be taught in the College from June 1949, and several new departments were instituted, such as the Department of Sociology and Anthropology (1951) and the Department of Psychology (1957).
Towards the later 20th century, St. Xavier's has continued to expand in student body and faculty size, and has seen the establishment of several research centers and programs. In the recent years, the college has been run by Indian Jesuits of the Bombay Province, in close collaboration with the Society of Jesus in Germany and Spain.
Religious affiliation and ethos
The College is Roman Catholic and the Society of JesusSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
exercises responsibility over the college through a Governing Body whose Chairman is the Provincial of the Bombay Province of the Society. St. Xavier's College, is named after Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier
Francis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta was a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary born in the Kingdom of Navarre and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. He was a student of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits, dedicated at Montmartre in 1534...
, a Spanish Jesuit saint of the 16th century who travelled to India. The College was founded by the Society of Jesus, a Christian Religious Group, started by Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...
, a Spanish saint, in 1540. The College strives to form men and women, especially Christians and the marginalised, to build a more just and humane world. The intellectual endeavour it strives for, focuses on critical and creative thinking, with the aim of social transformation. This endeavor is inspired by the values of the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
- from the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
of the Christian scriptures - while it appreciates and promotes all the other religions, especially the rich religious heritage of India. The College seeks to give an all-round formation for the marginalised, inculcating both human and spiritual values. The College gives special consideration to Roman Catholics under the minority rights enshrined in the Constitution of India
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
, for whose education the college was founded. 50% of the seats are reserved for Catholics.
Invocation
Crest and motto
The crest was designed by Fr. T. Molina in 1929, a student of heraldry and a member of the college's staff. It shows an eagle teaching its young ones to fly. Above it, on the left side, is the emblem of the Society of Jesus, which consists of the Greek initials of the name of Jesus set in a sun; on the right is a chequered moon, taken from the arms of the house of Xavier. The Latin motto, PROVOCANS AD VOLANDUM — Encourage to fly, is central to the ethos of the college The motto is taken from the Bible and refers to the eagle who encourages its young ones to fly. The entire crest symbolizes an educational institution that bears the name of Xavier and is run by the Society of Jesus, and having an ideal, to inspire the young men and women entrusted to its care and to train them to aim high in life.Accreditation and assessment
University Grants Commission (India)
The University Grants Commission of India is a statutory organisation set up by Union government in 1956, for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education. It provides recognition for universities in India, and provides funds for government-recognised...
(UGC) since 1956. In 2007, the college was awarded the highest rating A+ (5-Star) in the re-accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council
National Assessment and Accreditation Council
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council is an organization that assesses and accredits institutions of higher education in India. It is an autonomous body funded by University Grants Commission of Government of India headquartered in Bangalore.-History:NAAC was established in 1994 in...
(NAAC), an autonomous body linked to the University Grants Commission of India. The country's national India Today
India Today
India Today is an Indian weekly news magazine published by Living Media India Limited, in publication since 1975 based in Mumbai. India Today is also the name of its sister-publication in Hindi...
magazine report on colleges has consistently rated it in the top 10 colleges in India for the past few years. In the June 2000 and June 2006 issue, St. Xavier's has been rated the best Arts College in India and the second best Science and Commerce College in the country. The UGC has awarded St. Xavier's, the "College with a Potential for Excellence" award in 2006. On 31 May, 2010, the college was granted autonomy by the University Grants Commission
University Grants Commission
University Grants Commission may refer to:* University Grants Commission * University Grants Commission * University Grants Commission * University Grants Commission...
, thereby becoming only the second college in Mumbai to be granted such a status.
Administration
The Governing Body consists of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Ex-Officio Trustees, Members, the Local Managing Committee, and an Advisory Council. The Principal functions through the Academic Council of the three Vice Principals and other important officials, aided by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), which is responsible for planning and evaluation of the College. Various committees of staff and students take responsibility for the different activities of the College. The Local Managing Committee (LMC) comprises nine members, including the Principal as the secretary, and Rector as the chairperson, and meets twice every year. It prepares the budget and financial statements, recommends creation of new posts, recommends measures for academic and administrative improvement and undertake many other vital decision making activities. The perspective plan for the institutional development is done after consecutive meetings with the Academic Council, IQAC and the Heads of the Departments. The College also takes measures to upgrade the skills of non-teaching staff by conducting workshops and training programmes during vacations, and conducting sessions on personality enhancement and financial management. An Advisory Council of eminent alumni has also been constituted.The College has 90 permanent teachers (of whom 53 are women), 3 full time teachers, 11 part-time teachers, and 2 teachers working as full-time on temporary assignment, raising the number of full time teachers to 95. The teacher-student ratio stands at 1:33. Three teachers have also been accorded special awards and recognition for their distinguished service.
Academics
St. Xavier's offers two-year junior college courses in ArtsARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
and Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
; three-year undergraduate degree courses, such as Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(B.A.), Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
(B. Sc.), Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
(B. Com.), Bachelor of Management Studies (B.M.S.), Bachelor of Mass Media (B.M.M.), and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
A Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, , is a bachelor's degree awarded for the completion of an undergraduate course or program in information technology....
(B.Sc. I.T.); and postgraduate courses such as Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(M.A.), Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
(M.Sc.), and Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
(Ph.D.) in Arts and Science. Additionally, Diplomas in Clinical Research, Forensic Science, Gemmology, Industrial Biotechnology and Enterprise; and Certification courses in Diamond Grading, Jewellery Designing, are also offered by the college. The syllabi for the undergraduate and postgraduate courses are prepared by the University of Mumbai
University of Mumbai
The University of Mumbai , is a state university located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was known as the University of Bombay until 1996 when the city of Bombay was renamed as Mumbai. The affiliated colleges of the university are spread throughout the city of Mumbai and four coastal districts in...
, and comprises mid-term tests and final examinations. As of 2007, the college remained basically an undergraduate college, with 2648 students enrolled at the undergraduate level, and 99 students enrolled at the postgraduate level. The college operates programmes such as, The Learning for Life Programme, Honours Programme, Evening Commerce Section for the economically disadvantaged, Social Involvement Programme, and Personality and Human Values. St. Xavier's applied for autonomous status in 2007, which is pending university clearance.
Applicants to undergraduate courses are evaluated based on the academic performance in the Higher School Certificate
Higher School Certificate
The Higher School Certificate, or HSC, is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete senior high school level studies in New South Wales, Australia. It was first introduced in 1967, with the last major revision coming into effect in 2001. It is currently...
(HSC) examination of the Mumbai Divisional Board, while applicants to junior college are evaluated on the performance in the Secondary School Certificate
Secondary School Certificate
The Secondary School Certificate, also known as SSC, is a public examination taken by students in Bangladesh, Pakistan and in the states of Tamilnadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Goa in India after successfully completing at least ten years of schooling. It is followed...
(SSC) examination of the board. Special considerations are given to Catholics, economically and socially disadvantaged, and students from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribe
Adivasi
Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...
s (ST). The success rate of students varies between 90–100 percent across all departments, and between 95–100 percent in the university examinations. St. Xavier's is home to several institutions within its campus, some of which have moved out, such as Xavier's Institute at Churchgate
Churchgate
Churchgate is an area in downtown South Mumbai. During the eighteenth and up to the mid 19th century, Bombay was a walled city. The city walls had three gates, and Church Gate, named after St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai was one of the gates. The gate was situated near the present day location of...
, and Xavier Institute of Engineering at Mahim
Mahim
Mahim is a neighbourhood in Mumbai. It is also the name of a railway station in Mahim area, on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway railway line. In ancient times, the area was known as Maijim, Mejambu, Mahikawati....
. The research institutions include Blatter Herbarium
Blatter Herbarium
The Blatter Herbarium, in St. Xavier's College, Bombay, is a major Herbarium in India. It is listed in the Index Herbariorum, published by the International Association for Plant Taxonomy and New York Botanical Garden...
for taxonomic studies, Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, Caius Laboratory for Inter-Disciplinary Research for medicinal research, and Nadkarni - Sacasa Research Laboratory for chemistry. The non-research institutions include Xavier Institute of Communications for media, Xavier Institute of Counselling, Xavier Institute of Social Research, Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged, Xavier Institute of Management & Research, and Xavier Knowledge Center for computers.
Campus and facilities
St. Xavier's stands on a 2.94 acres (11,897.8 m²) campus in the FortFort (Mumbai precinct)
Fort is a business district in Mumbai, India. The area was the heart of the city during the 18th century. The area gets its name from the defensive fort, Fort St. George, built by the British East India Company around Bombay Castle...
locality of South Mumbai
South Mumbai
South Mumbai , sometimes incorrectly referred to by English Media as "SoBo" , the southern-most precinct of the city of Mumbai, India, comprises the city's main business localities and its adjoining areas...
. It is located near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic railway station in Mumbai which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways. Situated in the Bori Bunder area of Mumbai, it was built as a new railway station on the location of the Bori Bunder Station in 1887...
(CST) railway station, which serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways, and Churchgate
Churchgate
Churchgate is an area in downtown South Mumbai. During the eighteenth and up to the mid 19th century, Bombay was a walled city. The city walls had three gates, and Church Gate, named after St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai was one of the gates. The gate was situated near the present day location of...
station, which serves as the headquarters of the Western Railways
Western Railway (India)
The Western Railway is one of the 16 zones of Indian Railways, and is among the busiest railway networks in India. The major railway routes of Indian Railways which come under Western Railways are: Ratlam - Mumbai Central, Surat - Mumbai, Surat - Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad - Vadodara and Palanpur -...
. The college is built in the Indo-Gothic style of architecture, and has been recognized as a heritage structure by the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee. The main college library is central and common to all the academic activities of the College. It has a collection of 133,489 books, of which more than 50% are reference books, with some dating back to the 16th century. It also has 76 journals, of which 14 are foreign journals. The library has a carved cabinet, card index of books, and a computerized database of books. Students have access to a lending library
Lending library
A lending library is a library from which books are lent out. The earliest reference to or use of the term "lending library" yet located in English correspondence dates from ca. 1586; C'Tess Pembroke Ps. CXII. v, "He is .....
, reference library
Reference library
A reference library does not lend books and other items; instead, they must be read at the library itself. Typically such libraries are used for research purposes, for example at a university. See List of closed stack libraries...
, paperback library, non-print media library and a vast collection of journals, current and back volumes. Books are lent out at the lending library, which also houses the online public access catalog (OPAC) for information search. The reference library
Reference library
A reference library does not lend books and other items; instead, they must be read at the library itself. Typically such libraries are used for research purposes, for example at a university. See List of closed stack libraries...
includes reserve counters, overnight loans, Xeroxing services, reference services, Inter-library loans, journals, reference books, and a special Multi-media facility for accessing compact disks (CDs) on computers. Students also have access to a paperback library, and a non-print media library, where audio cassettes, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. and video cassette recorder (VCR) facilities are available for group and individual use.
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
(IT) enabled accessories, fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
boards, and pull down screens. A full-fledged language laboratory has also been set up to cater to students from non-English medium schools and to promote multi-language skills. The college is also equipped with an auditorium, a spacious canteen
Canteen
Canteen has several different meanings:*Canteen , a water container*Canteen , a cafe, restaurant, or cafeteria provided for the use of students, workers, or soldiers at a particular school, office, or military base...
, and full size basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
courts. The Fell Gymkhana, built in 1954, provides bodybuilding, badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, table-tennis, carom
Carom
Carom may refer to:* Ricochet* Carom billiards* Carom seeds or Ajwain, a spice-See also:* Carrom, a family of tabletop games* Caromb, a commune in Vaucluse, France...
, chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
, and other recreational facilities for staff and students. The St. Xavier's Villa in Khandala
Khandala
Khandala is a hill station in the Western Ghats in the state of Maharashtra, India, about three kilometres from Lonavala and seven kilometers from Karjat....
is a property of the college nestled in the hills of the Western Ghat
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
mountain ranges, about two hours from Mumbai. It provides facilities for retreats, seminars, and educational conferences. The college also has a cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
pitch leased by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on the Azad Maidan
Azad Maidan
Azad Maidan is a triangular-shaped maidan in South Mumbai, India. The name Azad means "free" in Hindi. The ground is known for its cricket pitches, for protest meetings, and for political rallies...
sports ground, near the college.
The College Counselling Centre, founded in 1954, provides personal counselling, personality
evaluation tests, testing programmes for vocational purposes, information on careers, professions and specialized studies in India and abroad, information on scholarships and financial assistance schemes, admission guidance to students, and also organizes orientation programmes. The College Placement Centre exposes students to reputed employers, trains them in writing resumes, and acquaints them with the selection process of Corporates. There are separate Common Rooms for male and female students and for Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff. The Xavier’s Women’s Development Cell, was formed in 2006 to coordinate programmes for awareness and action on women’s issues, since girls constitute more than 60% of the student strength. It also serves as a grievance redressal cell for complaints of sexual harassment. First Aid Centres are also available in the college general office and the Counselling Centre. The College undertakes a number of welfare measures for the students and the staff including provision of insurance coverage. The College has also set up a Grievance Redressal Cell with a representative from a Non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO).
Extra co-curricular activities
Xavier's students known as "Xavierites", maintain good interactive relationship with peers from other colleges by participating in many inter-college competitions, and by organizing the college festivals. A platform known as Mosaic, which is an inter-disciplinary, interdepartmental activity of exhibitions and poster presentation, has also been set up. Students also organize hobby clubs like the "Philately Club" and the "Star Gazers Club" to pursue their individual interests.Student associations
The Alumni Association established in 1902, is actively involved in fund raising for the college, provisioning of scholarships, career counseling, and felicitation of the retiring staff. The Indian Music Group (IMG) was founded in 1973 to promote Indian Classical Musicin the city, especially among its young people. It organises concerts, lecture-demonstrations
and music appreciation courses. Its annual Indian classical music festival, Janfest, is well known.
Festivals
MalharMalhar (festival)
Malhar is one of the most popular college festivals in Mumbai, India, hosted annually by the students of St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. It is an Inter-collegiate Youth Festival, and has been in existence since 1979. It is usually held in August, during the monsoon season, and involves teams from 90...
is one of the most popular college festivals in the city hosted by the students of St. Xavier's College. It is an inter-collegiate youth festival, and has been in existence since 1979. It is usually held in August during the rains and involves teams from about 60 other colleges in Mumbai and elsewhere, with around 30 cultural contests in the Literary, Performing Arts and Fine Arts categories, along with a number of Workshops on different themes. It draws about 20,000 student participants and audience to the College Campus. Janfest is a well known Indian classical music
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
festival in India, held in January, and hosted by the Indian Music Group (IMG). Inaugurated in 1974, it promotes classical music among the youth, and offers a platform for young people to showcase their talent. It has played host to maestros of Indian classical music like Hariprasad Chaurasia
Hariprasad Chaurasia
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is an Indian classical instrumentalist. He is a player of the bansuri, the North Indian bamboo flute. Chaurasia is a classicist who has made a conscious effort to reach out and expand the audience for classical music.-Early life:Hariprasad Chaurasia was born in...
, Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain (musician)
Zakir Hussain , , is an Indian tabla player, musical producer, film actor and composer.-Early life:Hussain was born in Mumbai, India to the legendary tabla player Alla Rakha. He attended St...
, and Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar , often referred to by the title Pandit, is an Indian musician and composer who plays the plucked string instrument sitar. He has been described as the best known contemporary Indian musician by Hans Neuhoff in Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.Shankar was born in Varanasi and spent...
. Additionally, the college also hosts Ithaka, the annual English literature and theatre festival organised by the English Literature department which began in 1990. It is a platform for students to demonstrate their theatrical talents. Theatre personalities such as Qasar Padamsee started their careers in Ithaka.
Magazines and publications
The college has recently launched its commemorative Coffee Table Book named "St. Xavier's College - Celebrating Diversity since 1869" as a part of its 140 years celebration. It covers all aspects of the college's mighty tradition and present. The Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, within the college campus, publishes the research journal Indica twice a year, in March and September. It has been published since 1964 and specializes in the subjects in which the staff and students of the Heras Institute have done most of their research work. The college publishes its own magazine known as St. Xavier's College magazine. The college also has an online newsletter, known as Xaverian, covering stories, events, and reports related to the college and its alumni. The college also publishes several student magazines like Ithaka (about techniques involved in research), Aithihasik (History), Eidos (Sociology), Trends (about experiences on campus by the students), and Arthniti (Economics).Also significant is the college's newspaper: The Xavier's Press, published monthly. Begun in December 2008, it is an initiative of the Student Council and is run independently by students with the support of the Council. It covers events and issues that are important to the general student body.
Alumni and popular culture
The buildings of St. Xavier's College were used for the song "Kabhi Kabhi Aditi" in the movie Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008). The library of the college was used in the movie Main Hoon Na
Main Hoon Na
Main Hoon Na is a Bollywood masala film written and directed by Farah Khan. It was the first film of Khan production company Red Chillies Entertainment. It was released on 30 April 2004 and went on to become a box-office success...
(2004). The college has also appeared in the movie Kucch To Hai
Kucch To Hai
Kucch To Hai is a Bollywood horror film directed by Anurag Basu and Anil V. Kumar, while it's written by Rajeev Javehri. The film stars Tusshar Kapoor, Esha Deol, Natassha, Yash Tonk, Rishi Kapoor, Jeetendra and Moonmoon Sen. The film is produced under the banner of Balaji Telefilms...
(2003). The college hall has been the location of many film scenes, most popularly Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.
Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. is a 2003 Indian comedy directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The story involves protagonist Munna Bhai , a goon, going to medical school. He is helped by his sidekick, Circuit . It is the first film in the popular Munna Bhai series...
(2003). One of the first performances in the hall was William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's historic play Richard III
Richard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
by the Dramatic Society. On 18 July 2009, United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
visited the college on her Mumbai trip as part of the college's 140th anniversary. She conducted an interactive session with its students regarding academics and education.