Message from the Principal (In-Charge)

Prof. Dr. Karuna Gokarn
Aug 31, 2025
1 min read

Dear Xavierites,

For 156 years, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, has stood for values, character formation, and service. Rooted in our Jesuit tradition yet forward‑looking, we form persons for and with others — committed to excellence, inclusion, innovation, and leadership. As the College’s first woman Principal (I/C since 1st June 2025), I carry forward our enduring commitment to women’s leadership and empowerment—on campus and beyond.

Our alumni are our greatest strength. Across professions worldwide, you carry Xavier’s with competence and conscience. Your achievements and service honour your alma mater, and we remain deeply grateful. As we consolidate recent milestones—NAAC accreditation, national recognition, and empowered autonomy—we look ahead with purpose. We are strengthening a vibrant alumni network that enhances professional education and opens pathways for internships, placements, mentorship, and industry–academia collaboration for students and recent graduates.

I invite you to partner with us: mentor, offer internships and projects, deliver guest lectures, support placements and career counselling, strengthen scholarships, and collaborate on community outreach. Your involvement will enrich our academic environment and inspire our students.

Through this newsletter we sustain our bond. I am delighted to announce the Alumni Meet on Saturday, 20th December 2025. Thank you in advance, for making time to join us — your presence will make the gathering special. We look forward to welcoming you back to campus.

Warm regards,

Prof. Dr. Karuna Gokarn

Principal (I/C)

St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Mumbai

A Christmas Message to the Alumni from our Rector

Message from the Rector

A Christmas Message from our Principal

Message from the Principal

The Sports Spirit Continues

The Annual Sports Day for the academic year 2025-26 was organised on 12th December 2025, at the University Grounds at Marine Lines. The event started at 9.00 am and culminated with the prize distribution ceremony. Split in two categories of senior girls and senior boys, the sports events included the shot put, discus throw, and 800 metre run. The winners of the shot put were Pearl D'Souza and Mathew Sudhir. Richila Fernandes and Aaron Bejoy were winners of the discus throw,

Academic and Student Life

Initiation of Alumni Chapters (UAE, US-Midwest, US-East Coast, Kerala)

Four alumni chapters were initiated this year, with meetings in Dubai, Chicago, New York and Kochi. Fr. Keith D'Souza, along with Dr. Bobby Mathew of the XDP visited Dubai and Kochi, and were very impressed with the bonhomie and enthusiasm demonstrated by our alumni. Networking WhatsApp groups have expanded rapidly in both of these places, and the younger Kochi alumni have already had their second meeting this year. Fr. Keith also visited Chicago and New York, facilitating t

Alumni Engagement

Xynergy 2025 - Unleashing Vision: Forging Connections

Xyner gy 2025, organised on 5th December 2025, stood as an educational endeavour aimed towards introducing young learners to diverse academic domains. Conducted as an interdisciplinary exhibition, the event welcomed students from Grades 9 and 10, offering them a firsthand glimpse into how informed choices today can help them shape meaningful futures tomorrow. Xynergy 2025 commenced with an inaugural ceremony, setting the tone for an exhibition designed to inspire and engage.

Academic and Student Life

Viksit Maharashtra 2047: A Two-Day National Conference

Viksit Maharashtra 2047 - Pathways to Inclusive & Sustainable Development, was a two-day national conference held on 28th and 29th November, 2025. It hosted many notable luminaries such as the Hon. Minister for IT and Cultural Affairs, Govt. of Maharashtra, Adv. Mr. Ashish Shelar, and Rajya Sabha MP, Former Union Minister for Communications, IT & Shipping, Mr. Milind Deora. The inaugural session was followed by research paper presentations in the college, moderated by the col

Institutional Updates

An Ode to the Teachers

Organised on 17th September 2025, by the Student Council in the College Hall, the Teachers' Day Celebration 2025 was an event full of wholesome and nostalgic moments. It celebrated the faculty that we adore so dearly at Xavier's. The celebratory event, which was an ode to the teachers of our college, was conducted over five entertaining segments — a student-led singing performance of classic old songs, western and classical dance performances, the teachers’ performance, a KB

Faculty and Staff

The Alumni Community Comes Together

St. Xavier's Co llege, Mumbai hosted its Annual Alumni Dinner on 20th December 2025, bringing together alumni and faculty from across all years and disciplines. It was an evening that gave an opportunity to relive the Xavierite spirit and strengthen bonds within the college’s vibrant alumni community. The celebrations were filled with music, featuring performances by alumni singers. Acclaimed alumna Ms. Manasi Parekh Gohil, an alumnus of the Department of Literature and an ac

Alumni Engagement

St. Francis Xavier’s Feast and Traditional Day

The College celebrated the Feast of St. Francis Xavier on 3rd December 2025 with a Holy Mass that commemorated the dedication and service of the Saint through his outreach of faith and missionary work throughout Asia. The celebration was followed by the annual Traditional Day, setting a vibrant mood across the campus. There was a festive atmosphere in the air, with our student community all dressed up in traditional attire. There were also a multitude of interactive activit

Academic and Student Life

The Jesuit Alumni Congress

The Congress of Je suit Alumni was held in Mumbai from 14th to 16th November 2025. The central theme was “Ecology and Sustainable Living”. It was attended by over 250 participants, hailing from the Alumni Associations of schools and colleges run by the four Western Jesuit Provinces: Bombay, Goa, Gujarat and Pune. These associations are a part of the JAAI (Jesuit Alumni Associations of India), which is a larger federation that has taken up ecology as a larger focus area. The o

Institutional Updates

The Kuube Smart Solar Bench

St. Xavier’s College, under its theme “Nurturing a Sustainable Future” , has welcomed the Kuube Smart Bench, a symbol of innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration. Kuube, a Hungarian pioneer in smart urban furniture, along with its Indian joint venture Routes Worldwide, has introduced India’s first solar powered smart bench on our campus. It was officially inaugurated on the campus on 15th September, 2025. Equipped with solar powered charging ports, WiFi access, an

Institutional Updates

Obituary: Prof. Speedy Alvarez (1932-2025)

Better known as ‘Speedy’ among students and colleagues, Prof. Francisco Rui Alvarez retired in 1990-91 and was given the maximum number of farewells in the college. He was an excellent teacher who used to prepare the teaching board before every lecture. An excellent teacher, an esteemed colleague, and a wonderful human being, Prof. Speedy Alvarez taught Physics (senior college) for three decades before retiring. May the departed soul rest in peace.

Faculty and Staff

Obituary: Prof. S. M. Gandhi (1932-2025)

Prof. S. M. Gandhi Former Head, Department of Mathematics 17 August 1932 – 3 October 2025 Prof. S. M. Gandhi was associated with the college for over 40 years, first as a student, then as a professor in the Department of Mathematics. He was the head of the department for the last six years until he retired in 1992. He had a very unique personality, very witty and sharp. His lectures were always very interesting, never a dull moment to be had. In the early days of his teaching

Faculty and Staff

THE ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

The Xavierite

St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
(Empowered Autonomous Institute)

Message from the Principal (In-Charge)

I invite you to partner with us: mentor, offer internships and projects, deliver guest lectures, support placements and career counselling, strengthen scholarships, and collaborate on community outreach. Your involvement will enrich our academic environment and inspire our students.

Through this newsletter we sustain our bond. I am delighted to announce the Alumni Meet on Saturday, 20th December 2025. Thank you in advance, for making time to join us — your presence will make the gathering special. We look forward to welcoming you back to campus.

Recent Posts

A Christmas Message to the Alumni from our Rector

A Christmas Message from our Principal

The Sports Spirit Continues

Initiation of Alumni Chapters (UAE, US-Midwest, US-East Coast, Kerala)

Xynergy 2025 - Unleashing Vision: Forging Connections

Viksit Maharashtra 2047: A Two-Day National Conference

An Ode to the Teachers

The Alumni Community Comes Together

St. Francis Xavier’s Feast and Traditional Day

The Jesuit Alumni Congress

The Kuube Smart Solar Bench

Obituary: Prof. Speedy Alvarez (1932-2025)

Obituary: Prof. S. M. Gandhi (1932-2025)

Connect worldwide.

Mentor students.

Stay updated on events.