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PREFACE

When Swami Vivekananda was once asked, ―Can there be anything worse than losing
eyesight?‖ he is said to have replied, ―Yes, losing your VISION.‖
As St. Joseph‘s College (Autonomous) completes its fourth cycle under accreditation, we
in the Josephite family are all too aware of the danger posed by the absence of a robust
and holistic vision. When this institution was founded in 1882, its founders visualized it
as a place that imparted a life-transforming education, one which emphasized both
intellectual excellence and commitment to a life governed by enduring values and
principles. This was further deepened when the Jesuits took up the management of SJC in
1936.
The purpose of our education at St. Joseph‘s is the ‗overall development of the human
personality,‘ so that every student who passes through the portals of this College attains
wholeness through metanoia, i.e. ―a transformative change of heart.‖The objective is to
make possible an educational experience that is not confined to the acquisition of
knowledge and skills, but one that equips the student with the capacity to attempt new
things, and with the will and resourcefulness to make a positive difference in the lives of
one‘s struggling fellow-citizens.
In our educational mission here at SJC, we strive to make possible in our students‘ lives
the flowering of the five C‘s: Competence, Conscience, Compassion, Creativity and
Commitment. The goal of our education is nothing less than the integral formation of our
students - helping them to become men and women for others and with others. By
striving for excellence in learning, creative and practical thinking, and co-operative
leadership, we stress both academic excellence and human excellence. In this journey to
wholeness, we seek inspiration from genuine religious and moral values. We emphasize
the need to develop a practical awareness of the prevailing social conditions, from which
should flow a commitment to the cause of justice. Thus, according to our vision, a
Josephite should be one who lives with a commitment for justice, acts from a strong sense
of self-respect and self-confidence, thinks critically and creatively, communicates
effectively, exercises power ethically and responsibly, cultivates a positive sense of
direction and evokes hope.
The honours that the institution has received at various stages of its journey through time
have all been deeply encouraging and have reinforced its sense of mission. The latest
such was the conferment of the title ‗College of Excellence‘ by the UGC, midway
through the present accreditation cycle. While such honours vindicate our commitment to
our ideals, they also compel us to introspect even more and strive for greater
improvement.
It is in this spirit that we at SJC welcome the valuable opportunity for introspection and
self-criticism that the NAAC self-study process makes possible. In the report that follows,
we offer the results of this introspection, honestly presenting to the best of our knowledge
and ability a picture of the strengths and limitations of this institution. Overall, we find it
to be a very encouraging picture. However, the process has undoubtedly made us aware
of the need for fresh initiatives in certain areas and for improvement in a few others. We
do not wish to fall into the trap of resting on our laurels and hence sincerely hope that the
discovery of shortcomings here and there will strengthen our resolve to overcome them.
I congratulate Dr. Subhashini Muthukrishnan, the Coordinator of IQAC and her dexterous
team. I also thank our alumni who sojourned with us in documenting this self-portrait of
the College.

Dr. Fr. Victor Lobo, S.J.
Principal