THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF JYOTI
We salute the visionaries who founded JYOTI and whose farsighted idea finds lot of appreciation today. Thanks to their vision and dedication we have the most enduring and vibrant youth platform in the City of Jamshedpur that surges ahead with tree-fold aims of leadership training, students’ fellowship and service of mankind.Â
Scho. Freddie K. Rodrigues, SJ
Schol. Freddie Kamath Rodrigues, SJ hailed from Mangalore, Karnataka. He was a Regent in Loyola School in 1970. Many great movements had a small beginning. Likewise, the origin of JYOTI links to the spark of inspiration he conceived in his mind during teaching moral science in one of the classrooms of Loyola School. Schol. Freddie shared that idea of organizing a youth camp with Fr.Frank McGualey, the then Rector and Principal of Loyola School. Supported by Fr.McGualey and Schol. Emile Coelho, his co-Regent, this idea was executed. After much preparation, finally the Youth Camp was held in Loyola Hall for the school and college students of Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Chaibasa.Â
Scho. Emile Coelho, SJ
Scho.Emile Coelho, SJ was the co-Regent of Schol. Fredie Rodrigues in Loyola School. Having appreciated the idea of holding a Youth Camp, Scho.Emile collaborated with the former and both of them mobilized the High School students from Bengalee, Hindi and English Medium Schools in Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Chaibasa. The Camp was held in Mid December of 1970. Schol.Emile then became one of the leading figures to walk with the youths for many outreach services. He led the youths to the East-Bangladesh border during the Indo-Pak war in 1971 to carry out the refugee service that lasted for more than a month. His bond with the youth grew stronger due to his talents in singing and playing guitar. A wonderful and friendly person whose personality attracted youth like a flower that attracts bees.
Fr. Joseph Currie, SJ
Father Joseph Currie, S.J came to work in India from Maryland Province, USA. He came to be known as Jamshedpur Jesuit. At that time, he was the Director of St.Joseph’s Welfare Centre, Golmuri. He was asked to take over the reins of the proposed Youth Camp, scheduled to take place from 14 to 19 December, 1970. Under his able leadership, the First Youth Camp was held successfully. Then because of the public demand the Youth Platform was formed inadvertently after the Camp. Eventually, he was elected as the First Director of this nascent unnamed Platform and nurtured this feeble idea to blossom and grow into a movement to reckon with during his six years of tenure from 1970 to 1976. What a great beginning that he made!
Fr. Frank McGauley, SJ
Father Frank McGauley S.J, too hailed from America and came to work in India. He was the then Rector of Loyola School, who was also the Principal. Having heard from Schol.Freddie Rodrigues, he appreciated the idea of the proposed Youth Camp. He communicated the matter to Fr.Joseph Currie who, at that time, was the Director of St.Joseph’s Welfare Centre, Golmuri. Fr.Joseph took over the reins of the proposed Youth Camp, scheduled to take place from 14 to 19 December, 1970. Fr.McGauley not only communicated about this proposed Youth Camp but whole-heartedly supported the Youth Camp and its subsequent role in shaping the destiny of the youths.Â
"A noble idea is conceived and the destiny is made".
JYOTI Since 1971
