A host of seven Belgian Jesuits arrived at Calcutta in November 1859, under the leadership of Fr. H. Depelchin (Rector: 1860-1871), in the Founding Father of the second St. Xavier's, They shifted St. Xavier's from Chowringhee to the Sans Souci Theatre in January 1860, which is now the honest home of learned professors and zealous students. With one hundred and fifty one years of service to the nation, St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, has grown today into a leading educational institution in India. Both St. Xavier's School and College are proud of their contribution to the cause of education and culture in Bengal for 151 years. These twin institutions have produced many great educationists and students who earned regard and respect for their Alma Mater. Fr. E. Lafont was appointed Rector in October 1871, He was a gifted teacher of physics. The terrible cyclone of November 1864 proved the begging of his fame. The catastrophe might have been much greater, had not Fr. Lafont signaled the timely warning. It was Fr. O'Neill (Rector: 1904-1913) who gave the College its crest and the motto: Nihil Ultra, a motto, significant and suggestive of a noble ideal, of an unconquerable hope, that urges the Xaverian to a consistent quest for the higher. The motto of the young Xaverian is the old maxim : " Perfectum nihil est, aliqiriddum restat agentiim" (Nothing is Perfect as long as anything remains to be done). The tiny seed has grown into a mighty tree. In the year of its centenary (1960), St. Xavier's had on its rolls 3503 students. It has, now 50 years later, 7, 106 students of whom 2, 162 are in the school and 4,944 in the college. A total teaching stuff of 213 is educating them. The school section, starting from the Primary, leads up to the ISC Final Examination. The College offers UG and PG Courses under five faculties : Arts, Science, Commerce, Business Administration and Education. The society of Jesus, a Christian Religious Order founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1540, runs St. Xavier's College. It is one of the 24 University Colleges run by the Jesuits in India. The Jesuit College aims at forming young men and women of competence, commitment, compassion and conscience. St. Xavier's College thus aims at making its own contribution towards a transformation of the present-day social condition so that principals of social justice, equality of opportunity, genuine freedom and respect for religious and moral values, enshrined in the Constitution of India, may prevail, and the possibility of living a fully human existence may be open before all. St. Francis Xavier is the Patron of St. Xavier's College. There is not an educated Indian who has not heard the name of Francis Xavier. It is to India that Ignatius of Loyola, the Founder of the Society of Jesus, sent his greatest son, Francis Xavier in 1542. Xavier was a zealous "missionary on the move". He sailed to Malacca and Japan in 1549 where he spent two and a half years. In April 1552 he set sail to China via Malacca from Goa, never to return alive. He died at Sancian, a small island facing china, on 2 December 1552. Wherever he went, he plunged himself into charitable and pastoral work preaching the message of God's love to people. He worked in India for 10 years from 1542 to 1552, called the Xaverian decade. The list of the old students of St. Xavier's includes many scientists, actors, film makers, poets and industrialists in Bengal. It can boast of some of its pupils who became international figures of repute: Rabindranath Tagore and Jagadish Chandra Bose. While Tagore was impressed by the relationship between teachers and students at St. Xavier's, Bose found encouragement for his introduction to science in the person of Fr. Lafont, who was called "the father of science" in India. Three chief ministers of Bengal - H. S. Suhrawarby, Siddhartha Shankar Ray and Jyoti Basu passed through the portals of St. Xavier's. You will invariable come, across, in any important office in Kolkata, a Xaverian who has excelled in his field. St. Xavier's has always been known for his cosmopolitan and national character. Much before the expression "national integration" gained currency, St. Xavier's had tried to foster among its students the spirit and practice of it. Coming as they do from all over India and from various communities, they live in complete harmony, understanding and mutual respect. Thus they are encouraged to develop beyond local and group affinities, loyalties to the country and the society at large. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) recognized St. Xavier College as an "A" grade institution in 2003. In May 2006, it was declared a Centre with Potential for Excellence by the UGC. From July 2006, it became an autonomous college (the first in West Bengal). St. Xavier's has over these 151 years remained steadfast and persevered in the midst of troubles and anxieties. Now with all the richness of the past, it embraces the future with the same spirit- "Nihil Ultra" (Nothing beyond). THE BUILDERS: The founding Jesuits: Frs Depelchin, Lafont, Penaranda, Br. Koppes The builders of Modern SXC: Frs Roelland, Lallemand, Johanns, Dandoy, Cardinal Piccachy, Schepers, Joris, Goreaux, Joseph D’Souza, Beckers (gone for their reward), and Huart (still alive). ACADEMIC HISTORY: 1860 to 2010 Started as a pure arts college 1860, soon science teaching was introduced 1862: affiliated to Calcutta University in 1862 1869: Acharya J.C. Bose joined St. Xavier's 1931: Rabindranath Tagore presided over a fund raising programme 1946: B.Com was introduced 1948: AICUF was started 1949: NCC was established 1952: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited the college on 1st January 1955:B.Ed (BT) was introduced 1960: St. Xavier's Centenary celebrated 1966: NSS was started In 1976 the college opens to girls in all departments except B.Com. Values added: Computer Centre in 1985, EMRC in 1988, Accredited to DOEACC to conduct its courses, accredited to IGNOU. From 1977: HS courses offered, later phased out from 2001. 1985: 125th Year of St. Xavier's service celebrated. The then President Hon'ble Giani Zail Singh had graced the occasion. 1985: Founding of St. Xavier's Computer Centre and St. Xavier's College, Calcutta Alumni Association. 1986: His Holiness Pope John Paul visited the city and the college. Responding to the new challenges (Nihil Ultra): 1995 : B.Com. Golden Jubilee. Fr. P.C. Mathew appointed Principal. 1996 : Fr. Felix Raj took over as Rector of college 1996 : The need was felt for responding to the challenges emerging from globalization. To make higher education more relevant and meaningful, many departments were opened - MCV Major, Statistics (Hon), and Film Studies (general). 1997 : Fr. Felix Raj took charge as Vice-principal of B.Com Department 1998 : Computer Science (Hon) introduced 2000 : Auditorium renovated, new extension for Bio-Botany lab and classes. 2002 : BBA and Sociology Hon introduced. Fr. Maliyekal took over as Rector. 2003 : International Jesuit Alumni meet held at St. Xavier's. The President of India, Hon'ble Dr. Abul Kalam graced the occasion. 2003 : Journalism (Gen), also NAAC accreditation (A Grade), and EDC granted by DST, a first for a UG non-technical college, MOU with Cal-Ad Club 2004 : Microbiology (General), MOU with Technable-Ites. 2005 : Microbiology Hon., Observatory renovated. 2005 : SXC is raised to PG teaching center, by Calcutta University granting affiliation for teaching M.Sc. Comp. Sc., extension wing for MCV. 2006 : UGC and CU grants AUTONOMY TO SXC, MOU with Bose Inst, B.Com. (Evening) introduced for Girls as well. 2007 : Fr. George Ponodath took over as Rector. M.Com. and M.Sc. Physics were introduced. 2008 : Shri Hamid Ansari, the Vice-President of India and an Alumnus was the Chief Guest at the valedictory and 1st convocation. 2009 : January 16 Inauguration of the Jubilee Building and the Central Library January 17 Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon'ble Minister, External Affairs presided over the 2nd Convocation January 21 150th Year (Sesquecentenary) inauguration presided over by Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Chief Minister of West Bengal February 2 Fr. Felix Raj appointed the Principal of the college; Frs Dominic Savio and Jimmy Keepuram appointed Vice-principals of B.Com (Morning) and Arts/Science departments respectively; Prof. Swati Sarkar appointed Dean of B.Ed. department and Prof. Albert Gomes appointed the Controller of Examinations. 2010 : January 16 150th Year concluding functions. Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh was the Chief Guest. January 17 3rd Convocation, Shri P. Chidambaram, Hon'ble Home Minister graced the occasion. Nihil Ultra award given to Fr. P.C. Mathew. BMM (4 years course) and M.Sc. Microbiology were introduced. 2011 : January 22 4th Convocation held. His Excellency, M.K. Narayanan, Governor of West Bengal was the Chief Guest. A total of 1415 students graduated. Nihil Ultra award given to Prof. M.M. Rahman. Jesuits and Education in India The Society of Jesus, a Christian Religious Order founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1540, has been active in the field of education throughout the world since its origin. In the world, the Jesuits are responsible for 3,897 Educational Institutions in 90 countries. These Jesuit Educational Institutions engage the efforts of approximately 1,34,303 teachers, educating approximately 29,28,806 students. In India The Society of Jesus has founded 118 Primary & Middle Schools, 149 High Schools, 41 University Colleges, 22 Technical Institutes and 11 Business Administrations Institutes with 11,225 teachers, educating 3,24,538 students, belonging to every social class, community and linguistic group. This Institutions are part of the Catholic Church's effort to share in the country's educational undertaking. The Jesuit College aims at the integral, personal formation of youth, to accomplish this, special efforts are made: To help the students to become mature, spiritually-oriented men and women of character; To encourage them continuously to strive after excellence in every fields; To value and judiciously use their freedom; To be clear and firm on principals and courageous in action; To be unselfish in the service of their fellowmen; and To become agents of needed social change in their country. The Jesuit College thus aims at making its own contribution towards a transformation of the present-day social condition so that principles of social justice, equality of opportunity, genuine freedom, and respect for religious and moral values, enshrined in the constitution of India, may prevail, and the possibility of living a fully human existence may be available to all. - Jesuit Education Association of India Since we are all children of God, we must help each other to grow in holiness.

Placement

The Placement Cell, launched in 2004-05, is a one point contact for all companies interested in inducting Xaverians in their organization either as employees or interns. Comprising of student representatives, teacher coordinator – Dr. M. Hanif and headed by Mr. Niladri Sinha, the Placement Cell has been constituted with the following objectives: To act as an interface between the corporate world and the students in order to bridge the gap between them. To act as a contact point for all companies who wish to recruit students from St Xavier’s (Autonomous) College, Kolkata. The Placement Cell will facilitate the placement procedure from the pre-placement talks (PPT) to the induction process. To assist students in becoming ready for the corporate world by organising workshops for the outgoing students of the college. Last Year (2010-2011) many students were recruited through the Placement Cell and we are expecting to place many more students in the current year (2011-2012). For more information on the Placement Cell you can visit our office at: Placement Cell St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous) 30, Mother Teresa Sarani Kolkata – 700016 Room - 103 New Building Ph: 033 2255 1217 Email: sxcplacementcell@gmail.com Mr. Niladri Sinha The Placement Officer Mob: +91 9433498730