Having left Xaviers to join medical school, I returned to help found Malhar.

In fact a lot of the first Malhar planning occurred in my hostel room at the G.S. Medical College!
How do you manage to juggle your various activities and tap your talents given since you are a very busy Neuro psychiatrist, poet, painter, photographer etc. First of all I do not see these as disparate activities. If one is curious and passionate about life, then many apparently separate activities become interlinked. Thus my work as a neuropsychiatrist which essentially covers the relationship between the brain and human thinking, behaviour and emotions facilitates writing which gets linked to painting and to poetry and to photography. A good photograph combines elements of emotion, painting and sometimes poetry. What is the one thing about Xaviers that you remember the most? The intellectual freedom and openness that have been the hallmark of our institution. We always took it for granted. However being out of college one appreciates it more than when one was right there. Besides when one studies the history of the Church and the dynamic and occasionally misunderstood role of the Jesuit order within it, one realises that this intellectual freedom is very integral to the Jesuits and is not an accident. Are there some things you specifically learnt at Xaviers which you think you couldnt have been taught elsewhere? An open all-rounded approach to education is specific to Xaviers as is the uninhibited pursuit of one's ideas and dreams. Do you think there are any changes in students and youth from your time to now? I find students more focused now than before which isn't always such a great thing. I may be wrong but I see students more interested in their own well-being then that of society. Perhaps we were far more idealistic then. Some of us continue to be idealists even today. What was your experience of the extra curricular activities at Xaviers? It was fabulous. I think Xaviers was the crucible in which all my varied interests got fired. I was actively involved in the SUC, edited the Xaverian and represented Xaviers in debating, quizzing and writing. Having left Xaviers to join medical school, I returned to help found Malhar. In fact a lot of the first Malhar planning occurred in my hostel room at the G.S. Medical College! Any funny or memorable incident at Xaviers tjhat is still vivid in your mind? Well Firuza, my wife who went to Jai Hind after having got admission at Xaviers tells me that when she came to look around at the college she saw some couples kissing passionately in the canteen and thought that we were a degenerate place! I tell her that thats what makes Xavier's so interesting. Of course she loves Xaviers now and funnily last year when I introduced her to Father Lancy, he asked her which college she had been to. Then he chided me and said 'Why couldn't you have married a Xavierite" She retorted to me, "you would have, if I hadn't been scandalised by the permissiveness!". What message would you like to impart to the students who are going to read this magazine? Wow! I hope I don't sound pompous and hackneyed. But anyway as a Xavierite who cares! Enjoy your college life to the fullest. Remember these are your good old days. I wish I could be there with you again as a student. And by the way try not to use your cell phones so much and try to get 7-8 hrs of sleep!

Rajesh Parikh, Alumnus of 1973 A poet, painter, photographer and India's first and leading neuropsychiatrist. Has distinguished himself in each of these fields winning over 200 awards. He is a senior Doctor with Jaslok Hospital.

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How stakeholders, be it the Consumer, Shareholders, Government, Society perceive you, can make or break the fortunes of a company or a product. So be it advertising and branding, corporate relations, social media management this is priority for any company or for that matter even a political party or Government.
Were you actively involved with any social causes while at St. Xavier's College Yes, in junior college I did participate in SSL activities but regret that I did not pursue the same. The monthly Sunday trips to Cheshire Home and The Home For The Aged were very enriching experiences How do you think the approach towards media as a vocation has changed? Media today is on par with other departments and is becoming more important to any organization across the globe. How stakeholders, be it the Consumer, Shareholders, Government, Society perceive you, can make or break the fortunes of a company or a product. So be it advertising and branding, corporate relations or social media management, this is priority for any company or for that matter even a political party or Government. Where does Xavier's stand in your memory lane? Five very enriching years of all round growth and tons of fun. What was your favourite spot to hang out while at college? Of course the canteen and now what is called the woods, the SUC room during the build-up to Malhar and during Malhar was also a great hangout. Dominic Fernandes was the Librarian in our times. Once in a while a group of us used to meet up in his office too. How was your relationship with your professors? Very good. We had some great faculty members. I am still in touch with Ms. Nandini Sardesai conversations with her are still explosive and challenging. Now I have to deal with her as she is a member of the Censor Board. She continues to have the same energy levels as before. I am also in touch with Ms. Vidya Hegde and Ms. Madhuri Thakore (Raijada). Do you have any message for students who will be reading this? Xaviers gives you an opportunity to expose yourself outside the curriculum. Forums like Malhar, The SUC, The Learning For Life Programme (it might be under a different name) and your own departmental activities are very enriching for a student. What would be your advice to anyone interested in the media? Keep yourself abreast of trends and happenings around the globe especially in areas of your interest. Keep an even closer watch on digital technologies and platforms as that is the future.

Blaise Fernandes, Country Manager & Managing Director of Warner Bros. Pictures (India) Pvt. Ltd is based in Mumbai and oversees all the division initiatives for India. He started his career with Warner Bros in 1990 in the Marketing department and then he took on the mantle of Managing Director in 1992. Prior to joining Warner Bros he worked for F&D Merchandizing where he looked after the licensing & merchandizing activities for Walt Disney Consumer Products India from 1986 to 1990. Blaise has also been an extremely active member of committees such as the Film Producer's Guild, Film Federation of India, American Chambers of Commerce and Indian Motion Pictures & Distributors Association. Dr. Aadil Chagla

We would like to felicitate our very own alumnus, Dr. Chagla, who has been nominated and honoured as Mumbais Top Doc in a recent survey conducted by Inter Novation Inc, a consulting company based in New Jersey, U.S.A. The results of this survey were published in the April 2011 issue of the magazine India Today.

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Well, the Leader in me was really discovered at Xaviers to begin with. I used to attend a number of Leadership Camps organised by the, All India Catholic Federation, Xaviers Unit.
How would you sum up your experience in Xaviers? An enriching and value adding experience the experience of a life time. It is indeed a way of life which taught us the virtues of strong Core Values, Self-Discipline, Humility and Sensitivity and a consideration for fellow human beings particularly the disadvantaged. At the end of the day, it was all about Diversity and Inclusion. Above all, the highest standards of Integrity. What lessons learned from Xaviers reflect in your work ethics in the industry? The lessons learnt are those of the highest standards of Integrity and NonCompromise on Core Values which include Empathy and Sensitivity. How were you occupied for most of the time during college? Needless to add, in class, the majestic library and of course, the bustling canteen! What is the most challenging aspect of being in such a high profile job? The most challenging aspect of being in such a high profile job is to make a difference and garner ownership by credible words and actions in terms of Strategic Policies and Processes. Also, to lead by example. Were you always a business enthusiast? When did you discover the 'leader' in you? Well, the leader in me was really discovered at Xaviers to begin with. I used to attend a number of Leadership Camps organised by the, All India Catholic Federation, Xaviers Unit and I was on several Regional Committees as well. That is when my Leadership Skills were honed in the areas of Group Dynamics, Public Speaking and sensitivity to diverse view points. Whom do you look up to, as a source of inspiration? I looked up to the Jesuits in general and to the selfless, pioneering work done by the Founders and all the Fathers and excellent faculty over the years. Do you often muse about college days in Xaviers? Yes, quite often for the fact that many relationships and friendships blossomed during these years which continue till this day. What do you have to say to those who are faced with multiple career options available to us today? Never ever forget the importance of core values and having a core purpose in life. These help you to stay afloat in difficult times. Also, always lead by example as the Jesuit Fathers and the Father of the Nation did.

Allen Sequeira, Alumus of 1972 Economics/Politics. Has had a versatile career with ACC, Castrol, Tata Sons. Since the last 9 years with Mahindra & Mahindra and designated as Executive Vice President Group HR & Leadership Development.

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nostalgia...
My Life at St. Xaviers College, Mumbai : 1933 1940
to take up Ancient Indian history as the subject of our choice. That was a time when nationalistic fervour was high and we were proud to be Indians. Our professors were Fr. Heras and Professor Sankalia. They both took keen interest in individual students. I remember going with Prof. Sankalia to an archaeological site near Pune which had then been recently discovered. That love for history has stayed with me and I still like to attend lectures on Indian history at the Prince of Wales Museum which has been renamed after Chhatrapati Shivaji. Today I am a 96 year old lady living at Marine Drive. When I think of my times at St. Xaviers College, I am going far back into a time when Bombay had trams and the suburbs were pristine, pretty and somewhat pastoral. We were four close friends at St.Xaviers Hansa Setalwad, Harvadan Shah, Kusum Thakore and myself. All of us had passed out of St. Columba High School at Gamdevi and all chose to study Arts at St. Xaviers College, as it was considered to be the best college for Arts at that time. We all decided I remember Prof. Jhala who taught us Sanskrit. Although I have to admit we sometimes bunked his lectures, it was thanks to him that I enjoyed reading Kalidasas Kumara Sambhava or Shakuntala. Later I would read translations of Sanskrit literature in English. Last year I visited the Bhandarkar Institute in Pune which has preserved some of the old manuscripts of Indian literature. When I think back on my student days, I wonder how different it was being a young student then and being a Xavierite today. Of course, it was the best time of my entire life - remember, I am an old woman now! After class, we friends would gather in the corridors to chit-chat or we would go to the college canteen. Sometimes, we went to Vitthal Bhelwala or to catch a film at Metro cinema not far away. But we were good students and fared well in class. The boys would tease us as the chatur chokdi since the four of us were inseparable. After my B.A., I decided to do my M.A. also in Ancient Indian History, but could not complete my M.A. examinations. Today at 96, all my three friends are gone, but the memory of our young days is still fresh in my mind. I could narrate many of the events though I am sure some of those memories may have faded. I was the first girl in my family to join St. Xaviers in 1933 but after me, all the rest of the girls, including my two younger sisters and all my four daughters became Xavierites. I am writing this to tell you that I am a proud Xaviers alumna and perhaps the oldest surviving one! Pushpa Bhansali

Remembering St. Xaviers

It is with happy nostalgia that I visit St.Xaviers College, my alma mater, whenever there is an event of the alumni association or any other held there. I relive the happy years I spent there, not only in the lecture halls (for the B.A. English Hons. and French Pass degree) but for the extra-curricular activities. As members of the Sodality (a Catholic religious organization) we frequented the Blue Room, the room next to the Principals office (so-called because the walls were painted blue!). This was the base of the Chesterbelloc Club (named after G.K.Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc), led by Fr.Edward DCruz, for writers and those interested in cultural activities. We had an interesting group from different years, from the first (that was mine) to the M.A., most of whom have made their mark in the educational and other professional fields. There were Fr.John Correia-Affonso, my friend, then my professor and then, after becoming a Jesuit, the Principal of the college, Fr.Willie Borges, who

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became the Principal of St.Xaviers Institute in Mahim, Charles Correa, our leading architect, Gerson and Sylvester da Cunha, leading figures in advertising (also theatre stalwarts) and Mary Braganza, Principal of Sophia College for 18 years (now Sr. Aruna, well-known in the field of social work and a Padma Shree awardee). There were also Joe DSouza and John P. DSouza, College Professors, Victor Ribeiro, journalist and many others. Our group continued to meet in one anothers homes after we left college. I remember when I hosted the gettogether, Mass was said by 5 Jesuit Fathers, John, Willie, Esteller, Nereus and Hillary Rodrigues. A professional musician (concert pianist, broadcaster, lecturer at the University and NCPA and teacher), I was happy to play for all the college celebrations (religious as well as secular) and once played with my brother, Ronald, a 15-minute programme of two-piano works, for which my principal and friend, Rev. Fr. A. M. Coyne, very kindly hired a second piano! When the piano arrived, it made quite a scene in the quadrangle, sliding down a ramp from the lorry that brought it there! Later, invited by Fr. John, I lectured for the college Summer School. Fr. Ramon de Rafael, also my good friend, a physicist and a fine musician

and head of the Western Music Club, often advised me on my playing and I particularly recall he very kindly listened to my programme for the Trinity College Fellowship exam, since I was doing it without a teacher. With all my musical activity (playing and teaching) I often had to bunk lectures because of sheer fatigue and I remember my English Professor, C. D. Pinto, once saying in front of the whole class as I entered: Your appearances are like the visitations of an angel! In fact, when I wanted to do postgraduate study, Fr. Coyne advised me against it since he said music was my very life. I have given many solo recitals in Mumbai, Delhi and other State capitals and also made a concert tour abroad, sponsored by our government. In New York I made two recordings for the Radio Station and have played with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra in Mumbai and Delhi. My English Honours degree stood me in good stead (my English professor, Freddie Mendonca, thought well of my writing) when I was invited by The Times of India to be their Western Music critic and as such, for nigh on 30 years, besides reviewing concerts presented in Mumbai, I have been invited to most countries of Europe, the States and Australia (by their governments or the Indian Council for Cultural Relations) to cover concerts and other musical events for the Times and the Examiner. Now (though for many years all papers have stopped reviews of any kind, I still write for the Examiner). Also Xavierites were my brothers, Kenneth (Inter-Science, before proceeding to Medical school and practice in my fathers clinic in Mahim) and (late) Ronald, a triple graduate (B.Sc. Chemistry and B.Sc.

Microbiology and L.L.B.), Kenneths son, Franz (B.Sc. Microbiology and Biochemistry), Ronalds daughter, Marianne Karmarkar (B.Sc. Zoology and Biochemistry; an international Bridge player, she has participated in the World Bridge Olympiads and has won the prestigious Shiv Chhatrapati Award for bridge), her twin daughters, Deepika and Aditi (who have just secured distinctions in Std. XII) and Ronalds son, Ivan (B.Sc. Maths and Stats.). I was happy to participate in a big way in the College Centenary celebrations by organizing, as requested by Fr. Parmananda Divarkar, three Western Music concerts: a choral concert by the Glee Hive, conducted by Melville Rebello, an instrumental concert (solo works by Myra Menzies, violin and solo piano works by myself) and an orchestral concert conducted by H. J. Koellreutter in the college quadrangle, where one of the items was Bachs Brandenburg Concerto No.5 (soloists were an American flautist, Fr. Herbert Farias, violin and myself, piano). I still recall Fr. Parmananda saying that another Xavierite, Moira Kaikini (who helped me organize the programmes) and I were the first women privileged to have lunch in the Jesuit dining-room! Later I was a regular visitor to the College as teacher (advanced theory) in the school run by the Bombay School of Music on Sunday mornings and now it is the alumni meetings and functions that bring me back to my college whose neo-Gothic structures, particularly its faade and quadrangle, never cease to give me a thrill of pride of having belonged to it! Norma Carneiro Alphonso

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Basic Tools for the Molecular Biologist: Creating a Recombinant DnA product is like making an omelet!
and page (gene) on which the recipe (DNA coded sequence) is found. The librarian refuses to let you check out the book as all reference material must stay in the library (DNA does not leave the nucleus). According to the rules of this library, "xeroxing" (replicating) is out of the question as the xeroxing process in this library is only used if they have to recreate a duplicate library (mitosis or meiosis.). You are free to transcribe the recipe (from DNA to mRNA) for the omelet (a particular protein) in your own handwriting on a piece of paper that is able to leave the library (mRNA leaving the nucleus, same information, different format.) Remember you only used one opened page (gene) in the book (unwound strand of DNA molecule) which was closed (DNA zips back together) after you wrote the recipe in your own handwriting (transcription). You take the transcribed recipe (mRNA) for this omelet (protein) to a kitchen (ribosome) where you also bring your ingredients (amino acids) to be assembled (translation) into an omelet (protein) according to the directions (DNA via mRNA). Not until your omelet is assembled in final form has your recipe (genotype) been expressed (phenotype). The different ingredients are to be assembled in a particular order to come out with the desired product. All omelets are always made in the kitchen and a mistake in the recipe can result in a lousy omelet (genetic problem). Likewise, you can have a great recipe and a lousy ingredient (environmental problem) and also come out with a defective omelet. You could have a great recipe, perfect ingredients and no heat energy source (environmental problem) and also have a defective omelet. Many factors account for successfully completed omelets and the synthesis of proteins within the human cell. Muctarr Sesay, Ph.D.: Is the V.P. of Process Development at Goodwin Biotechnology Inc., a Florida based fully integrated cGMP contract manufacturing organization (CMO) of monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins for preclinical and clinical trials. Goodwin Biotechnology Inc. is part of the Wallace Pharmaceutical Group, India. Vinay Pinto: Is an Executive Director at Wallace Pharmaceuticals, an India based pharmaceutical & biotechnology group. Muctarr Sesay, Ph.D. & Vinay Pinto

Introduction: This article describes is a good way to show the relationships among cell, nucleus, gene, chromosome, ribosome, replication, mitosis, transcription, translation, DNA, RNA, amino acids and proteins, genotype, phenotype, and genetic vs. environmental causes of cell defects. The article describes the synthesis of proteins starting with the gene within the cell by following a recipe for the preparation of Spanish omelet leaving out scientific terms which appear in parentheses. The Spanish omelet: Let's pretend that you have a yen for a homemade Spanish omelet. The only recipe you know for that omelet is found in the Library of Spanish Cookery. There are many volumes of books in this specialized library and that recipe occurs on one page of one of those books. You locate the library (nucleus), the volume (chromosome)

Kumuds Grand Achievement--Xaviers Batch of 1970 Kumud Merani is recognised for work in the promotion of cultural understanding, information exchange and artistic endeavours between the broader NSW community and the Indian Subcontinent Community. Kumud who holds a Master of Arts degree in Ancient Indian Art and Culture has contributed to the growth of Indian arts through theatre production, acting, writing and broadcasting. She has worked tirelessly for the arts. She is the recipient of the prestigious Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union Award and the International Asian Radio Award for her radio documentaries.\ Kumud also won the Teeyian Society of Women Award for her outstanding contribution to the Indian Community and the Mukkti Gupteshwar Mandir Society for her Outstanding Contribution to Culture and Art.

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