Ode to G20 : SJC celebrates Post Centenary 139th Annual Athletic Meet & P.T. Display

“One man practising sportsmanship is far better than a hundred teaching it.”

• -Knute Rockne

Sports Day is a vibrant celebration of athleticism, teamwork, and unbridled enthusiasm. The air is charged with the spirit of competition as athletes showcase their prowess in a kaleidoscope of events. Beyond the competitive edge, Sports Day fosters a sense of camaraderie, where participants forge bonds that extend beyond the track. The colours of jerseys, the palpable energy, and the collective pride make Sports Day a spectacle that transcends mere athleticism – it's a celebration of human potential, unity, and the sheer joy of pushing one's limits.

Which day can be more enthralling in an academic calendar than the one dedicated to sports and games? Promoting athleticism and teamwork, St. Joseph's College, Prayagraj organised the Post Centenary 139th Annual Athletic Meet on the 18th of November, 2023, fostering in its students a sense of companionship and unity. The proceedings of this auspicious day commenced with the arrival of the esteemed Chief Guest, Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Louis Mascarenhas, and the Guests of Honour, the Golden Jubilee batch of 1973 and the Silver Jubilee batch of 1998, at the gates of the prestigious institution, St. Joseph‟s College, Prayagraj. They were warmly welcomed by the College Principal, Rev. Fr. Thomas Kumar, the College Headmaster, Rev. Fr. Melvin Pias, the Additional Administrator, Mr. A. McGowan, and the Staff Coordinator, Mr. Jyoti Dube.

To ensure the success of this grand fest, the esteemed Chief Guest, Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Louis Mascarenhas, was escorted to the serene College Prayer Room for invoking God's blessings with an Opening Prayer and the symbolic act of lighting the torch. Thereafter, Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Louis Mascarenhas was escorted to the College Gymnasium for inaugurating the new addition to the College infrastructure, the Badminton Court. It is worth noting that this Badminton Court was generously gifted by the Silver Jubilee Batch of 1998, adding to the pride and joy of the occasion and to the overall glory of St. Joseph‟s College, Prayagraj.

Subsequently, the Chief Guest, Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Louis Mascarenhas, was escorted to the dais with great honour and reverence by the College Band, College Cabinet, and Captains of the various Houses. Then, he was formally introduced by the Mistresses and the Master of Ceremony, Mrs. L. Gaffney, Mrs. Ancy Thomas and Mr. Ankur Arora respectively. Thereafter, the College Principal, Rev. Fr. Thomas Kumar, presented a floral tribute to the distinguished Chief Guest, Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Louis Mascarenhas.

The enthralling performance by the talented students of class 8 marked the opening of this Sports Day extravaganza wherein they showcased a captivating dance and tableau centered around the theme „India‟s Giant Leap Enroute Luna‟. This mesmerising presentation shed light on the momentous launch of Chandrayaan 3 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the 23rd of August, 2023, under the visionary guidance of the revered Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi and Mr. P. Veeramuthuvel, Project Director of Chandrayaan-3, which propelled Indian space research to new heights.

Following this, the March Past commenced with the Chief Guest, Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Louis Mascarenhas, saluting the students. Subsequently, the College flag was hoisted by the esteemed Chief Guest, accompanied by the resounding rendition of the College Anthem by the entire school. The responsibility of representing all the students of the College fell on the shoulders of the Athletics Captain, Ayush Singh, who took the Oath on their behalf. The Athletic Torch, symbolising the spirit of sportsmanship, was then passed from the Vice Captain, Mayank Singh, to the Athletics Captain, Ayush Singh, who in turn handed it over to the National Level Athletes. With the declaration of the Chief Guest, the Athletic Meet was officially inaugurated, as the Athletics Captain, Ayush Singh ignited the cauldron, marking the commencement of the event.

The first race of this auspicious day was the 100 Metre Race of all the divisions wherein the athletes competed with great stamina and vigour trying to one up each other.

A carnival is akin to a vibrant extravaganza brimming with merriment. It serves as a unifying force, building connections between individuals and fostering the creation of cherished memories. Families congregate, friends exchange radiant smiles, and an atmosphere of pure bliss envelops all. The students of class 3 orchestrated a resplendent P.T. Display centered around the theme of 'SJC Carnival'. The sight of their attires stirred immense delight within the hearts of everyone present, including their parents seated in the audience.

Succeeding the energetic P.T. Display by the students of class 3, the winners of the 100 metre race were presented with their medals and the Sumit Chaddha Memorial Slow Cycle Race Award (O Div.) was presented to Lakshya Aggarwal (Gold House) by Honourable Justice Samit Gopal. Thereafter, the Debi Prasad De Memorial Scholarship was presented to Kavyam Srivastava and Priyanshu Mukherjee for their outstanding performance in the ICSE Board examination by Mrs. Sutapa Raha De, along with her daughter Ms. Disha De.

The "Samurai Warriors" themed P.T. display by the students of class 4 offered a captivating glimpse into the world of these legendary warriors who epitomized strength, honor, and discipline.

The 200-meter race, a thrilling sprint in track and field, epitomizes the fusion of speed and endurance. The athletes exploded from the starting point, accelerating through the curve of the track with powerful strides and precision in this race conducted for O, A B, & C Division.

Who hasn‟t heard of the legendary Father A.G. Rego, Former Principal, St. Joseph‟s College, Prayagraj? The 1974 batch continued with its tradition of awarding students securing the highest marks in ICSE examinations by felicitating Kavyam Srivastava and Priyanshu Mukherjee for topping the ICSE examinations this year with 99.2% marks.

The winners of 200 metre race were next awarded their medals as was the Nishit Dixit Award for swimming awarded to Stavya Agrawal for his excellence in the sublime dance of rhythmic serenity, i.e., swimming.

There are hurdles to overcome in life and its various aspects, especially in sports. Subsequently, the next race conducted on the College grounds was the 100 metre hurdle race for the O & A Division.

The P.T. Display of the students of class 5 centred around the theme "PER AMORE DELLO SPORT FARE"(an Italian phrase meaning „For the love of sports-teamwork) emphasized a passion for sports and fostered team spirit. The students articulated the significance of sports in life, citing examples such as basketball, and pyramid activities. They elucidated how engagement in sports instils diligence and cultivates collaborative skills for coordinated efforts in various aspects of life.

A clear example of how team spirit leads to the entire team performing beautifully, the next event, i.e., the Inter-House relay (400 metres for the O division) had the audience watching with bated breath, the heroic efforts of all the athletes.

Thereafter, the Achyut-Ashok Award was presented to Mayank Singh for his all-round performance in studies and extracurricular activities by Group Captain, Achyut and the winners of the 100 metre hurdles were also presented with their respective medals.

Superheroes are iconic figures that embody the triumph of good over evil, using their powers to protect the innocent and uphold moral values. In times of peril, superheroes rise to the occasion, showcasing resilience, bravery, and a sense of duty that inspires hope among the masses. Symbolising the same, the students of class 6th showcased the role and strength of a superhero in their P.T. Display themed „DC AND MARVEL CROSS OVER‟.

Fast cycle race is all about stamina and willpower, as was shown by the athletes, thus giving testimony to their fighting spirit as the O division of the fast cycle race unfolded before the audience.

Surely, none would have anticipated the Old Boys‟ Race to have its fun quotient upped by the old boys participating in a race conducted for sheer joy with their minds full of thought of their schooling days.

Succeeding the Old Boys‟ Race, the winners of the 4*100 relay race were presented with their medals and the Sumit Chaddha Memorial Fast Cycle Race Award was presented to Lakshya Aggarwal. Thereafter, the Award by Batch of 1972 for academic excellence in ICSE Board Examinations was presented to Kavyam Srivastava and Priyanshu Mukherjee by the parents of the College Captain, Suryansh Pandey and Mr. Samar Chatterjee representing the batch of 1972.

Subsequently, the Leslie Gordon Carver Memorial Award was presented to the best athletes of various divisions: Mayank Singh(Gold house) of „O‟ division, Arsh Jaiswal(Red house) of „A‟ division, Ishan Gupta(Red house) of „B‟ division, Mukul Jaiswal(Green house) of „C‟ division, Aarav Maurya(Blue house) of „D‟ division, Bhishm Yadav(Red house) of „E‟ division and Aarshey Kesarwani(Blue house) of „F‟ division by Sr. Martha CJ, former Headmistress of St. Mary‟s Convent, Prayagraj.

Academics forms the bedrock of knowledge, providing a structured path for intellectual growth. The pursuit of academic excellence is a journey that hones critical thinking, cultivates curiosity, and fosters a deep understanding of various subjects. Thus, the Lutfi Ali-Rushdi Ali Award was presented by their father, Brig. Syed Ahmad Ali and Mr. P. Wilson to the topper of ISC-2023, Kanha Pandey for scoring 97.25% in the stream of Humanities.

Following the prize distribution ceremony, the "Global Family - Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam " themed P.T. display of students of class 7 invited the audience on a journey of cultural exploration and unity. The theme, rooted in the ancient Indian philosophy of "Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam" (the world is one family), showcases the rich tapestry of global diversity and interconnectedness.

Next up, was the most highly anticipated, nail-biting and passionately contested inter-house event, the Tug-O-War. Green house proved their prowess by defeating Red House in a closely contested match, scoring 2-0. The Divyang Pushp Memorial Award for fast cycle race was presented to Akshar Devansh of the B Division for his exhilarating performance in the fast cycle race.

Thereafter, the prize distribution ceremony wherein the Best sportsperson award in the Junior category was presented to Devansh Prakash and the Best sportsperson award in the senior category was awarded to Ayush Singh. The Best All-rounder award in the Junior category was presented to Pranjal Singh and the Best All-rounder award in the senior category was awarded to Suryansh Pandey. The Marching Shield was bagged by Green House, the joint winners of the Discipline Shield was given to the Blue and the Gold House. The Athletic Shield was won by the Red house. Last but not the least, the Cock House Shield was scooped by the Red House for the 9th consecutive year, headed by the House Master, Er. Mr. Prateek Hemrajani.

The event came to its end when the office bearers of St. Joseph‟s College, Prayagraj guided the students in a dignified Final March Past, where they stood with eager anticipation for the forthcoming Closing Ceremony. The congregation was then graced with an address from the revered Chief Guest, Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Louis Mascarenhas, wherein he congratulated all the teachers for their stellar job of educating the students. He also highlighted the fact that SJC is a “sangam” of peace and humanity. He concluded his speech by stating that discipline is the most important virtue a person can possess.

This was followed by a presentation of a memento to the esteemed Chief Guest, Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Louis Mascarenhas, by the College Principal, Rev. Fr. Thomas Kumar. As the programme drew to a close, the College Captain, Suryansh Pandey, proposed the Vote of Thanks, expressing gratitude to all those who worked tirelessly to make the mega event possible. The proceedings concluded with a harmonious rendition of the National Anthem, accompanied by the resounding Beating of the Retreat by the College Band, adding a majestic touch to the grandeur of the occasion.

138th ANNUAL ATHLETIC MEET & P.T. DISPLAY 2022

“Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence.”

• Jessica Guidobono

If there is one field of life which teaches us the most valuable lessons about perseverance, patience in fact what constitutes a perfect character, it is sports.

Thus, on the 12^th of November, 2022, St. Joseph’s College, Prayagraj organized the 138^th Annual Athletic Meet& P.T.Display 2022, for the year 2022-23. After a hiatus of two years due to the lingering fear of the COVID-19 pandemic, the college organized one of its most signature events. The Annual Athletic Meet embodies the zeal, talents and spirit of sportsmanship of the students of St. Joseph’s College, Prayagraj,encouraging them to be persistent and to refine their talents, achieving the greatest of the heights.

The most anticipated event of the year commenced with the arrival of the highly distinguished chief guest, Lt. Gen. Yogendra Dimri, AVSM, VSM, GOC-in-C Central Command. He is a person who redefines excellence with every fresh accolade coming his way. A huge credit to his Alma Mater, Lt. Gen. Yogendra Dimri belongs to the 1980 batch of the St. Joseph’s College, Prayagraj. 37 years of military excellence, an alumnus of National Defence Academy, President’s Gold Medal Awardee at Indian Military Academy for being ‘first in order of merit’, Silver Grenade of his Young Officer’s Course and Gold Medal Awardee in the Engineer’s Degree Course, Lt. Gen. Yogendra Dimri was first commissioned into the Corps of Engineers on 17 ^th December, 1983. Possessing a rich operational experience, having commanded, for example, the Assault Engineer’s Regiment during ‘Operation Parakram’, he was a Military Observer in UNTAC and a Directing Staff at DSSC. Distinguished with many prestigious awards for his exemplary dedication, some of whom are GOC-in-C (twice) Western Command Commendation Award and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. Since April 1, 2021, he has resumed the office of GOC-in-C Central Command.

No programme worth its salt can ever take place without seeking the blessings of God. Hence, a special opening prayer was offered by the Guest of Honour and the Diocesan Administrator, Rev. Fr. Louis Mascarenhas, followed by the lighting of the torch in the College Prayer Room. Post the ceremonial escorting of the Chief Guest to the dais by the Principal Rev. Fr. Thomas Kumar welcomed the Chief Guest with a lovely bouquet. The first major highlight pf the day was the inauguration of the LED screen by the Guest of Honour,Rev. Fr. Louis Mascarenhas. Rare is the institution which inspires such abiding love, loyalty and pride for it, that eighty students after having left it’s hallowed portals twenty five years ago, choose to show their gratitude in an unprecedented and grandiloquent manner. The batch of 1997 of St. Joseph’s College, Prayagraj, decided to gift a massive LED screen, 16 feet by 10 feet, to their Alma Mater. In cognizance of the wishes of late Rev. Fr. Rolfie D’Souza, this Silver Jubilee batch saw five of their own, spearheading the noble campaign to get the LED screen installed. After months of coordination, Dr. Vishnu Deb, Mr. Varun Agarwal, Dr. Anoop Dwivedi, Dr. Swarn Mehrotra, Dr. Ajay Sharma and Mr. Saurabh Basu, worked tirelessly to ensure that St. Joseph’s College, is the only school in the entire Uttar Pradesh to have a screen of such humongous proportions. Needless to say, live streaming of any event, will be a seamless experience for more than six and a half thousand students, anywhere in the campus. The first major upgradation on the sprawling campus, ever since the world reeled from the pandemic, the installation of the giant LED screen has been made feasible through the continuous support, moral and infrastructure wise of the present College Principal, Rev. Fr. Thomas Kumar.Grateful beyond words towards their Alma Mater, the Batch of ’97 decided to contribute generously through the installation of the LED Screen as they firmly believe whatever have been able to achieve in their life is due to the dedication and values inculcated in them by their teachers and

As a rich tribute to 75 years of independence, the Opening Ceremony,focusing on the Tricolour was a brilliant composite cultural programme, titled ‘Aazadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, by the students of class Vlll, dressed in saffron, white and green, dancing away to a carefully chosen mix of patriotic and peppy tunes. In the words of our honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, ‘Aazadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ is a festival of awakening of the nation. The programme was followed by the College March Past. After the hoisting of the College Flag by the College Captain, Antariksh Johri and the singing of the College Anthem by the staff and the students alike, the Oath Taking Ceremony took place with the Athletic Captain, Praveen Soni, pledging to uphold the honour and the spirit of true sportsmanship. The audience were in for a visual treat as the juniormost students of the campus, that is, the LKG & UKG students danced to rhythmic beats in a programme titled ‘Garden Treasures’ after the Chief Guest had declared the meet open.

A heartwarming medley of folk songs and dancesby classes I and II, entitled ‘Cultural Legacy’, interspersed the 100 Meter Race and the 200 Meter Race for all divisions O, A, B and C. The first set of prizes for the day was then given out to the winners of the 100 Meter Race for all divisions, besides the Sumit Chaddha Memorial Slow Cycle Race Award for O division.

Students of class III next appealed to the patriotic feelings of one and all with their eye-catching performance titled, ‘Har Dil Tiranga’. This was followed by the 400 Meter Relay Race for the O division. The distribution of the second set of prizes for the day followed shortly thereafter, for the winners of the 200 Meter Race (O, A, B and C division), 100 Meter (F division), besides the coveted Nishit Dixit Award for Swimming Champion, which went to Shikhar Chaudhary of Class 12-B.

The next event, titled, ‘Wings of Independence’ by class lV,was yet another compelling display of talent which stressed upon to need to assert oneself, to break free from shackles and say no to bullying. Subsequently, the 100 Meter Hurdles for the O division took place, alongside the prize distribution for the Relay Race. Bellissime Farfalle – a smorgasbord of coordinated rhythmic performances by students of class V gave way to the adrenalinecharged atmosphere of the Fast Cycle Race, succeeded by the Prize Distribution for the Hurdle Race.

The Sumit Chaddha Memorial Award for Fast Cycle Race (O, A and B divisions) was followed by the awarding of the Fr. Rego Award for the ICSE English topper for class X. One of the most legendary Head Masters of the St. Joseph’s College, Prayagraj, Rev. Fr. Rego has always been a guiding light for generations of students, who have fondly dedicated the Fr. Rego Award for the ICSE English Topper of Class X which was initiated by the Batch of 1974 was duly awarded by the Chief Guest to Shubhrang Basu currently in Class 11^th.

A robust mind and a lively body is the fundamental requirement to live a long and happy life with message in mind, the PT display of Classes VI ^th and VII^thaimed to enlighten to the audience the merits of living a fit and healthy life, promoting the initiative of ‘Fit India’. Not everyone can achieve excellence in studies and extra-curricular activities. The Achchyut & Ashok Awardfor studies and extracurricular activities was rightfully bagged by Suryansh Pandey while Debi Prasad De Memorial Scholarship for the highest marks in Maths at the ICSE level went to Manan Madnani. In a heartwarming display of love and pride for their Alma Mater, the Old Boys participated in races in two categories – one above forty and the other below forty.

The Tug O’ War is an event which demands brute strength, sheer endurance and an excellent team coordination, was definitely the most anticipated event of the day. The event held between the Red House and the Green House enraptured the audience as the level of excitement drastically went up pull after pull. Ultimately, the Red House bagged the prestigious shield. A Copy of the Preamble was fondly handed over to the Principal Rev. Fr. Thomas Kumar by the old boys of the 1985 Batch.

A strong concluding message of camaraderie and unity was delivered by the final march past for the closing ceremony which recharged the audience.

The Chief Guest, Lt. Gen. Yogendra Dimri, addressed the college, laying emphasis on the need to imbibe qualities of discipline, sportsmanship spirit and to never be disappointed by failure in life, while thanking all the teacher who had ever taught him.

A token of gratitude was presented to the respected Chief Guest, Lt. Gen. Dimri by the Principal, Rev. Fr. Thomas Kumar in the form of a memento. Upnext, the Chief Guest was invited to give away the prizes and felicitate the rightful winners with medals and certificates of excellence. The Cock House Shield, the Marching Shield, the Discipline Shield and the Athletic Shield were won by Red House, Blue House, Gold House and Red House respectively. The best All-Rounder for Senior was Praveen Soni and the best All-Rounder for Junior was Stavya Agarwal.

The Vote of Thanks was proposed by the College Captain, Antariksh Johri. The whole gathering with immense pride sung the National Anthem. Beating of the Retreat marked the splendorous end of the day.

RESULT SHEET- ANNUAL ATHLETIC MEET 2022

100 Meters Race

(O Division)

(A Division)

(B Division)

(C Division)

(D Division)

(E Division)

200 Meters Race

(O Division)

(A Division)

(B Division)

(C Division)

Old Boys Race

(Above Forty)

(Below Forty)

400 Meter Relay Race

100 Meter Hurdle Race

(O Division)

Fast Cycle Race

(O Division)

(A Division)

(B Division)

A magnificent sports extravaganza was organized at St Joseph’s College, Prayagraj on November 16, 2019, in which all the students from L.K.G. to class XII participated with great fervour and manifested their athletic skills with an unimpeachable finesse.

The mega event commenced with the Mistress of Ceremonies Mrs. L. Gaffeny and Ms. F. D’Souza announcing the arrival of the respected dignitaries: the College Principal, Rev. Fr. Thomas Kumar, the Vice-Principal, Rev. Fr. Joseph Sagayanathan, the Additional Administrator Mr., Aubrey McGowan the Staff Co-ordinator, Mr Jyoti Dube and the Chief Guest for the day, Mr. Aniruddhe Mukerjee, IAS, Principal Secretary, Cottage & Village Industries & Aviation, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh and Guest of Honor, Most Rev. Fr. Dr. Raphy Manjaly, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allahabad who has juggled various ministerial roles with panache in the past. Taking God’s blessings is of paramount significance; hence a special prayer was recited in the Prayer Room, creating a reverential atmosphere. This was followed by the Lighting of the Torch and the Floral Welcome of the Guest of Honor Rev. Fr. Dr. Raphy Manjaly, and the Chief Guest Mr. Aniruddhe Mukerjee, IAS by the Principal Rev. Fr. Thomas Kumar. Other dignitaries present on the occasion were Sister Jyoti, Principal, St. Mary’s Convent, Prayagraj Mrs. Ewangeline Wilson, Principal, Mary Lucas School and College, Dr.Omar Hassan, Heart specialist, Nazareth Hospital, Justice Siddhant Verma, Judge, Allahabad High Court and Dr. Vishal Singh, Principal, Bishop Johnson School and College, also an ex-Josephite.

This being the sesquicentennial year of celebration of the apostle of non-violence, St Joseph’s College Prayagraj, decided to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi through a well-orchestrated Opening Ceremony. Class VIII mesmerized everyone in their grateful recognition and remembrance of all the virtues that the Father of the Nation stood for, besides appreciating the valour of the Indian Army and the achievements of the Indian Scientists who were successful in sending an orbiter to Mars in their very first attempt.

The event proceeded further with the March Past led by the College Cabinet, Athletics Squad, Presidents of various Associations , N.C.C. squad, and the squads of all four Houses and Hoisting of the College Flag which was followed by the singing of the College Anthem and the Oath taking Ceremony by the Athletic Captain, Mohit Ahuja.

Most Rev. Fr. Dr. Raphy Manjaly, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allahabad, who has always been an inspiration with his motto “To bring together people of God”, next enlightened the gathering on the importance of physical fitness, hoping that students of St. Joseph’s College will make a mark for themselves in the sports arena at all the levels. Reminding students that Mahatma Gandhi spoke like a prophet and worked like a general, he urged the students to work so that India continues to remain a country without differences between caste, race, creed and religion.

Subsequently, the Chief Guest Mr. Aniruddhe Mukerjee, IAS, Principal Secretary, Cottage & Village Industries & Aviation, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh declared the Post Centenary XXXV Annual Athletic Meet & P.T. Display 2019 open.Vivified by the bursting of crackers, courtesy the lighting of the torch by the athletics captain Mohit Ahuja and Vice-captain Jeet Sinha, it was time to look forward to the release of the Annual College Magazine by the Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Raphy Manjaly and the Chief Guest Mr. Aniruddhe Mukerjee. A compilation of class photographs, reports of various events, photos of office bearers, teachers, support staff and articles submitted by the students. It makes for both informative reading and a treasure trove of memories long after one has left the hallowed portals of one’s Alma Mater.

Thereafter, the Principal Rev. Fr. Thomas Kumar presented a memento to the Guest of Honour, Most Rev. Fr. Dr. Raphy Manjaly, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allahabad.

It was time for the little fellows of classes of L.K.G. and U.K.G. dressed as chicks, to enchant the audience with their performance entitled “Euphoric World”. The captive gathering was all eyes for the tiny tots and afterwards for the 100 metres race for all divisions.

“Many will start fast, few will finish strong”.
-Gary Ryan Blair

The next visual treat was presented by students of classes 1 and 2 with their spectrum coloured drill “Over the Rainbow”, an inspiring, enthusiastic and beautifully coordinated P.T. Display.

The well contested 200 meter race which saw the participants giving their all to their event, set the tone for the firemen drill by classes 3 and 4. Aptly titled “The SJC Firestars”, the mass P.T. display paid a tribute to the brave firemen, risking their lives to save those in mortal distress. A clear example of how team spirit leads to the entire team performing beautifully,the next event, i.e, the Inter-House relay (400mtrs for all the divisions ) had the audience watching with bated breath, the heroic efforts of all the athletes. The gathering had a further glimpse of the amazing results team work can bring with the following class 5 drill, Danza Del Pavone (Italian for dance of peacocks).

“There are hurdles to overcome in life and in sports. Sports is a very valuable learning ground for how to live your life in the best possible way”.
-Lynn Davies

If competing and winning in Hurdles proves the mettle of those participating in it, classes 6 and 7 emphasised on the need to stay physically fit in their composite drill “Fitness Freaks”. Next up, was the most highly anticipated, nail-biting and passionately contested inter-house event, the Tug-O-War. Red house proved their prowess by defeating Blue House in a closely contested match, scoring 2-1.
Surely none would have anticipated the Old Boys’ Race to have its fun quotient upped by none other than the Chief Guest Mr. Aniruddhe Mukherjee participating in a race conducted for sheer joy. What made things even more interesting, is that prizes were awarded to the top three runners.

Who hasn’t heard of the legendary Father A.G. Rego, Former Principal, St.Joseph’s College, Prayagraj? The 1974 batch continued with its tradition of awarding students securing the highest marks in ICSE examinations by felicitating Tejas Srivastava and Vinayak Saxena for topping the ICSE examinations this year with 97.6% marks.

“The most interesting thing about a postage stamp is the persistence with which it sticks to its job”.
-Anonymous

A Silver Jubilee is an occasion worth celebrating, isn’t it? Naturally the release of a Special Postal Cover by Mr. Saurabh Puri of the Silver Jubilee Batch of 1994, St Joseph’s College Prayagraj, was a proud moment for each and every Josephite. After all, how many people get to witness this unprecedented thing live?

The College Cabinet, the four Houses, Athletic Squad, Association Presidents and the squads of all four Houses finally gathered for the March Past, for the closing ceremony of this multi-hued pageant. The Chief Guest, Mr. Aniruddhe Mukerjee, IAS, Principal Secretary, Cottage & Village Industries & Aviation, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, then addressed the gathering. In his speech, he praised the efforts of all his batchmates who have assembled from all corners of the globe just to witness the spectacular fiesta, besides confiding how he has enjoyed the sports day twice. He congratulated the Red House in advance for winning the Cock House Shield thereby revealing the winner there and then. Finally he ended his speech with the message that everyone must attempt a sport or any sports related activity.
The Principal, Rev. Fr. Thomas Kumar presented a memento to the Chief Guest, Mr. Aniruddhe Mukerjee, IAS, Principal Secretary, Cottage & Village Industries & Aviation, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh following which the prize distribution ceremony took place. Prizes were won by various houses for separate categories and Red House created history by winning the Cock House for the sixth time, under the able guidance of its House Master, Mr.Prateek Hemrajani.
The programme concluded with the Vote of Thanks given by the College Captain Utkarsh Singh who thanked each and everyone who worked day and night tirelessly in order to conduct a successful Athletics Meet.The event ended with singing of the National Anthem by the audience and beating of the retreat by the College Band.

Glorifying the cutting edge of victory, St. Joseph’s College, Prayagraj organised it’s most highly awaited annual programme, The Annual Athletic Meet and P.T. Display on 17th November, 2018, showcasing the talents of the athletes. The grandeur of this event is truly unmatched in the city, which becomes a spectacle to behold for all those witnessing it. For the success of any grand undertaking, God’s grace is of utmost importance. To that end, God’s blessings were invoked with the Opening Prayer in the College Prayer Room, followed by the Lighting of the Torch. The programme commenced with the arrival of the Chief Guest, Maj. Gen. Anil Duvedi GOC, Poorv U.P. & M.P. Sub Area, along with Most Rev. Dr. Raphy Manjaly, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prayagraj, our Principal, Rev. Fr. Rolfie D’Souza, our Vice Principal, Rev. Fr. Joseph Sagayanathan, Administrator Mr.A.McGowan, Chief Coordinator Mr.Jyoti Dube, Sr.Roshni ,Provincial Superior Congregation of Jesus, Rev.Fr. K.K. Anthony, Chancellor of the Diocese of Allahabad and the Director of DDWS, Rev.Fr. Lawrence Fernandes, Diocesan Education Officer , Rev.Fr. Reginald D’Souza, Director Nazareth Hospital and Sr. Jyothi CJ, Principal of St.Mary’s Convent.

It is said that flowers make all things beautiful. So to mark a beautiful beginning, our Principal greeted the Chief Guest with a Floral Welcome. The programme began on a high note with a well orchestrated Opening Ceremony, in which the boys of Class 9 mesmerized the audience compelling them to reflect on the theme of victory of good over evil. The introductory speech was given by Chiransh Singh, who, in light of the Opening Ceremony in progress, stressed on the importance of doing away with the social evils prevalent in our society today, so that we suit the action to the theme, and ensure that good triumphs.

Next on schedule, the College March Past began. Leading the College was the College Captain, Kanha Mishra, followed by the College Vice Captain, Utkarsh Singh, the College Head Prefect Ayaan Aziz, the College Head Marshal, Prabudh Vyas, the College Vice Head Prefect, Rajveer Gupta, and the College Vice Head Marshal, Mohd. Tabish Ansari. This was followed immediately by the Hoisting of the College Flag, and the College Anthem being proudly sung by the whole school. Then the Athletics Captain, Raiyyan Qamar, took the Oath on behalf of all the students of the College. Subsequently, the Athletics Vice Captain, Mohit Ahuja, carried the Athletic Torch and handed it over to the Athletics Captain, Raiyyan Qamar, who handed it over to the Green House Vice Captain, Ishan Agarwal, before passing it on to the Blue House Head Marshal, Aavaigh Chaurasia. The Athletic Meet was declared open by the Chief Guest, following which, the Athletics Captain lit the Cauldron.

The gathering was then addressed by the Most Rev. Dr. Raphy Manjaly, who dwelt on the ever-inspiring Swami Vivekananda and his emphasis on strength. People can understand God better through football than through a study of the Gita. He thus reiterated the patriot saint’s message of developing physical strength in order to rise to any challenges life throws one’s way.

Then the children of Class LKG and UKG dazzled the audience with their Mass P.T. themed “Aqua World”. It was a treat for the eyes as this colourful performance gave a glimpse of the wonderful world beneath the surface, so beautifully displayed by the zestful innocence of the kids. The Chief Guest, Maj. Gen. Anil Duvedi, addressed the College, laying emphasis on the need for character-building to develop through perseverance and competition. This was followed by the presentation of a memento to the Chief Guest by our Principal.

Showing their love for fantasy, the boys of Class 1 and 2 performed the Mass P.T. called “Aladin”, which featured them displaying their magical lamps, thereby recreating the magic of the Disney classic. Following this was the Mass P.T. titled “Estado Fisico”, which is Spanish for Physical Fitness. Performing to groovy melodies, the boys of Classes 3 and 4 helped to clear our misconceptions about physical fitness, thereby making it seem fun.

Subsequently, the boys of Class 5 left the audience awe-struck with their dazzling Mass P.T., the theme of which was “Be-dazzled”. With their shining dresses and young energy, they captivated the audience leaving them smiling and waiting with enthusiasm for the next event.

Then the boys of Classes 6, 7 and 8 then dominated the show with their Mass P.T., “Rugby Mania”. This brought the experience of real-life International Rugby matches, with the energy on the field being amplified by Queen’s soundtrack, “We Will Rock You”. No doubt the electrifying performance left the audience spellbound.

Following immediately thereafter, the Fast Cycle Race ensued. It is all about stamina and willpower, which takes their strength and courage, as was shown by the athletes, thus giving testimony to their fighting spirit.

The Tug-O-War is an event which revolves around sheer strength and the co-ordination of the teams. It had the entire audience enthralled as the Red House and the Blue House pulled away to victory, engaging their muscular strength to the fullest. In the end, despite all odds, the Red House pulled a win, thus ending a tense fight, with Dr. Vishnu Deb, the constant source of strength and support, guiding them all the way.

Subsequently, the Batch of 1974 gave away the Fr. Rego award for Excellence in the ICSE Boards. This award goes to the topper of the ICSE, and this time, the award was bagged by Mohd. Rehan Siddiqui, who scored 98.2% marks in ICSE-2018. The Batch of 1972, on a similar note, awarded the highest scorers in English in the ICSE. The recipients of this prestigious award were Mohd. Rehan Siddiqui and Suyash Tripathi, who scored 95% marks in English in ICSE-2018.

At the end of the programme, the Vote of Thanks was proposed by the College Captain, Kanha Mishra. This was followed by the singing of the National Anthem. To conclude one of the most spectacular events of the year, Capt. A.B. Singh sounded the Beating of the Retreat, and the gathering dispersed after witnessing a closing ceremony that would give people reasons to return for the Annual Sports Day the next year as well, with an electrifying laser show.

Bright clear and sunny skies ushered in the most awaited event of Prayagraj - the St. Joseph’s College, Prayagraj Post Centenary XXXIII Annual Athletic Meet and P.T. Display 2017. The Meet began with the arrival of the Chief Guest, His Excellency, Shri KesariNathTripathi, the Governor of West Bengal, the Guest of Honour, Rev.Fr. Louis Mascarenhas, the Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prayagraj, Rev.Fr. K.K. Anthony, Director of DDWS, Sister Mariott CJ, Principal of St. Mary’s Convent Prayagraj, Sister Roshini, Provincial Superior, Rev.Fr.Reginald D’Souza, Director of Nazareth Hospital,Mr. Badal Chatterjee, ex – commissioner and an alumnus of SJC, Mr. HarshvardhanBajpayee, a sitting MLA in the State Government and other distinguished guests along with the Principal, Rev.Fr.Rolfie D’Souza, the Vice Principal, Rev.Fr. Joseph Sagayanathan, the Headmaster, Rev.Fr. Titus Lobo. The Torch and the College Flag were blessed in the Prayer Room as the Opening Prayer was offered to the Almighty to shower His blessings on the afternoon’s celebrations and on the College Management, Staff and students. The Chief Guest hoisted the College Flag accompanied by the singing of the College Anthem. The Opening Ceremony performed by the students of Class IX was acolourful portrayal of the vibrant unity in diversity amongst the various States of our great Nation. A very important message was also given to the audience to be part of the solution to stop pollution to sustain a clean environment for the future generations.

The College March Past led by Yashasvi Raj the college captain, was a magnificent display of discipline, coordination and the impeccable synchronization of all the different squads of the various Houses- St. Patrick (Green), St. Andrew (Blue), St. Francis (Gold) and St. George (Red) which was followed by the Oath taking Ceremony led by the College Athletic Captain,SaptarshiLahiri. The Chief Guest, His Excellency, Shri KesariNathTripathi addressed the gathering, congratulating them on the 133 ^rd Annual Athletic Meet and P.T. Display 2017 and encouraging them to continue in the development of their mental and physical strengths inculcating discipline and moral values in the students. He said that the Institution gives ample opportunities to the students who will have to face and overcome a lot of difficulties and challenges on the road to success. He then declared the Post Centenary XXXIII Annual Athletic Meet and P.T. Display, 2017 Open as the College Sports Cauldron was collectively lit by the Vice Athletic Captain, RaiyyainQamar, the Athletic Captain, SaptarshiLahiri and the College Captain,Yashasvi Raj with a spectacular display of fireworks.

The students of the LKG and Prep Sections presented the magic of Disneyland and the Cartoon Network in their event, Toon Fiesta,dressed up as their favourite cartoon characters- Mickey Mouse, Winnie The Pooh and the highlight being Barbie and Ken.

The next exciting event for the day was the 100 Metre Race in which the boys competed with great stamina and vigour trying to gain more points for their respective Houses.

The Results were as follows :

‘D’ Divison:

1st Abhay Samuel Das – Blue House– 14.22s

2^ndMayank Singh – Gold House – 14.53s

3^rdYuvraj Singh – Green House – 15.66s

‘C’ Division:

1^stShashankBharadwaj – Green House - 14.19s

2^ndAyush Singh – Green House – 15.38s

3^rdRameez Khan – Red House – 16.25s

‘B’ Division:

1^stPavitr Agarwal – Gold house – 12.34s

2^ndKumar Utkarsh – Red house – 12.59s

3^rdAakash Srivastava – Red House – 12.70s

‘A’ Division:

1^st Ishan Agarwal – Green House – 12.12s

2^ndJeet Sinha – Red House – 12.32s

3^rdAavaigh Chaurasia – Blue House – 12.40s

‘O’ Division:

1^stHarsh Jaiswal – Green House – 11.47s

2^ndAbdul Shakir Ansari – Blue House – 11.69s

3^rdMohd. Yasir Khan – Green House – 11.78s

The students of the Classes III and IV portrayed their mathematical genius in their Drill,the Power of Seven.

This was followed by the 200 Metre Race of the ‘A’ and ‘O’ Divisions.

The Results of which were as follows:

‘A’ Division:

1^stJeet Sinha – Red House – 26.03s

2^ndRudraakshPratap Singh – Red House – 26.10s

3^rd Ishan Agarwal – Green House – 26.35s

‘O’ Division:

1^stHarsh Jaiswal – Green House – 24.53s

2^ndAbdul Shakir Ansari – Blue House –25.00s

3^rdMohd. Yasir Khan – Green House – 25.09s

Harsh Jaiswal broke the existing record, setting a new one of 24.53 seconds. He was also declared the Fastest Boy of S.J.C.

The Students of Classes I and II were up next with a colourful depiction of the beauty of Nature with the Drill, Nature’s Kaleidoscope dressed up as gorgeous flowers, caterpillars and butterflies.

The Inter House Relay (4x100 Metres) ‘A’ and ‘O’ Divisions was next in which the students showcased their stamina and coordination with each other.

The Results of which were as follows:

‘O &A’ Division:

1^stGreen House – Harsh Jaiswal, Mohd. Yasir Khan, Mohit Ahuja, Ishan Agarwal – 50.84s

2^ndRed House – Tushar, Raiyyan, Jeet Sinha, AtirYunus Khan – 51.13s

3^rdBlue House – AavaighChaurasira, Harsh Vikram Singh, Abdul Shakir Ansari, Altamash Hussain – 52.12s

The Green House Relay Team set a new record of 50.84 seconds.

The students of Class V spread awareness about the importance of the various traffic rules and restrictions in their P.T. Drill, Life is Precious, dressed up as traffic lights and riding bicycles.

The 100 Metre Hurdles of the ‘A’ and ‘O’ Divisons was next, in which not only their speed but also their persistent focus and determination were tested.

The results of which were as follows:

‘A’ Division:

1^stAavaighChaurasia – Blue House – 17.13s

2^ndAtirYunus Khan – Red House – 17.19s

3^rdShashwatDwivedi – Green House – 20.58s

‘O’ Division:

1^st Syed Sufiyan Zia – Red House - 15.05s

2^nd Rajveer Gupta – Gold House – 18.81s

3^rd Altamash Hussain – Blue House – 19.46s

Syed Sufiyan Zia set a new record of 15.05 seconds

The Students of the classes VI, VII and VIII were up next with their Drill, Fox on the Run, in which they were dressed up as Red Indians, dancing around their superbly made Teepees.

The Inter House Fast Cycle Race ‘O’ Division was up next.

The results of which were as follows:

1^st JeewanNeupane – Red House - 4:39.40

2^nd Udain Srivastava – Green House -4:49.50

3^rd AtharvaJaiswal – Gold House – 4:54.56

The Inter House Tug-O-War Finals between the Blue and the Red Houses was held, in which the Red House defeated the Blue House.

The 1974 Batch of St. Joseph’s College, Prayagraj honouredKanha Mishra, the ICSE Board Examination 2017 topper the Fr.Rego Award with a coveted signature coat and a memento.

The Old Boys above 40(100MetreRace) was next.

The results of which were as follows:

1^st Andrew Haqq

2^nd AtulMaheshwari

3^rd Brijesh Pandey

The Old Boys below 40(100 Metre Race) was up next.

The results of which were as follows:

1^st YasharthSonkar

2^nd Yusuf Khan

3^rd Vishesh Pandey

The batch of 1967 presented 33 bedsheets to the Support Staff.

This was followed by the Final March Past. The Guest of Honour, Rev. Fr. Louis Mascarenhas addressed the gathering, in which he said that he was extremely happy and proud to be witness to the Sports. He felt that the legacy of St. Joseph’s College, Prayagraj is being carried beyond all expectations. He said he was happy to see all his friends especially the old boys. He observed that the entire city gets involved in the Sports, praising the Principal, Rev. Fr. Rolfie D’Souza on the success of the Meet and on the splendid discipline maintained throughout the Programme. Then he blessed all who were present.This was followed by the Prize Distribution in which the following awards were won by:

BEST SPORTSPERSON (JUNIOR) – KUMAR UTKARSH

BEST SPORTSPERSON (SENIOR) – SYED SUFIYAN ZIA

BEST ALL ROUNDER (JUNIOR) – DEVESH TRIPATHI

BEST ALL ROUNDER (SENIOR) – YASHASVI RAJ

MARCHING SHIELD - GREEN HOUSE

ATHLETIC SHIELD – GREEN HOUSE

DISCIPLINE SHIED – RED HOUSE

COCK HOUSE SHIELD – RED HOUSE

COCK HOUSE SHIELD (RUNNER’S UP) – GOLD HOUSE

The Vote of Thanks was given by the College Captain, Yashasvi Raj, followed by the National Anthem.

The Beating of the Retreat marked the end to the Sports, 2017 where all the hard work, athletic discipline and sportsmanship spirit of the students had finally paid off.

The splendid Laser Display was a spectacular conclusion to thePost Centenary XXXIII Annual Athletic Meet and P.T. Display, 2017 at St. Joseph’s College, Prayagraj.