The Loyola Alumni UAE Chapter is scheduled to organize the Loyola International Alumni Day on August 16, 2024, in Dubai. This esteemed gathering is anticipated to draw alumni of Loyola College from various parts of the world, marking an early peak in the grand centenary festivities of Loyola College, Chennai, slated for 2025. Established in 1925 by the French Jesuit priest, Francis Bertram, alongside other distinguished European Jesuits, Loyola College commenced with a mere 75 students in three undergraduate programs. Currently, it stands as a paragon of academic prowess and innovation, affiliated with the University of Madras and awarded autonomy in 1978. With the liberty to craft its curriculum, the college has persistently advanced in educational methods, now offering 19 undergraduate and postgraduate courses and educating over 12,000 students.
Loyola College has nurtured numerous notable alumni, such as former President of India R. Venkataraman, tennis icon Vijay Amritraj, chess maestro Viswanathan Anand, and celebrated actors Vijay, Vikram, and Mahesh Babu. In 2016, Loyola College began efforts to re-engage with its alumni, setting up its inaugural international chapter in the UAE in 2017. This network has since grown to encompass 21 chapters in India and 35 worldwide, spanning countries like Australia, China, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Sweden, the UAE, and the US. The global Loyola alumni community now counts 64,000 registered members.
The Loyola Alumni UAE Chapter's initiative to host this event highlights the importance of the forthcoming centenary. The event will feature chief guest Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the UAE. Notable guests of honor include Rev. Dr L. Jebamalai Irudayaraj, S.J., provincial and chairman of the Loyola College Society; Rev. Dr Thomas A., S.J., Provincial of the Madurai Province; Rev. Dr J. Antony Robinson, S.J., Rector and vice chairman of the Loyola College Society; Rev. Dr B. Jeyaraj, S.J., secretary and correspondent of Loyola College; Rev. Dr A. Louis Arockiaraj, S.J., Principal of Loyola College; and Rev. Dr A. Louie Albert S.J., among other senior college officials.
A significant aspect of the event will be the unveiling of the centenary book, 'Loyola: 100 Years of Shaping Futures', penned by Dr. Surender Singh Kandhari, an alumnus from the 1964-67 batch and a mentor of the Loyola Alumni UAE Chapter. This book chronicles Loyola College's rich legacy, featuring insights from prominent alumni and commemorating the institution's profound influence on education, society, and its global alumni network. The launch of this book imparts a unique significance to Loyola International Alumni Day 2024, as stated by Rev. Dr A. Louis Arockiaraj, S.J., affirming the profound affection alumni worldwide hold for Loyola College.
In a shared statement, Balamurugan J., Secretary of the Loyola Alumni Association (LAA), and K. Md. Masiullah, Convener of Loyola Alumni International, expressed: "Loyola International Alumni Day 2024 offers a distinctive chance to remind the extensive Loyola diaspora that the college is approaching a historic landmark—its centenary year. This is a singular and momentous event that warrants a grand commemoration, mirroring the college’s steadfast values and principles." For further information on the Loyola International Alumni Day 2024, please visit www.loyolaalumnievents.com.
