(A Unit of Chooravila Joseph Development Foundation, Bangalore) Kureepuzha P.O., Perinadu, Kollam - 691 604

Phone: 0474-3291127, 2700758E-mail : sacredheart.cjdf@gmail.com

Vol 1 : 2 - July 2015 For private circulation only

A Family Bulletin for the School Fraternity.

Glimpses SACRED HEART SCHOOL

Chairman’s Message

My dear Students, Teachers & StaffIndia is mourning the death of Bharat Ratna Shri. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

who has become history on 27th July, 2015. His love for children, especially students is exemplified by God granting his wish “one is blessed if one can die working, standing tall without any long drawn ailing. Goodbyes should be short, really short”. The world recognises this great and humble soul of a scientist teacher by declaring his birthday as “Students Day” to be celebrated on 15th October.

I recall my private meeting with him as President of India for a few minutes on one his many trips to Kerala in the Raj Bhavan at Thiruvanthapuram and what struck me the most was his humbleness and his interest to come one day and speak to the children at an event organised at our Sacred Heart School new campus which I was so eager to do as I shared his belief when he stated “I will not be presumptuous enough to say that my life can be a role model for anybody; but some poor child living in an obscure place in an underprivileged social setting may find a little solace in the way my destiny has been shaped. It could perhaps help such children liberate themselves from the bondage of their illusory backwardness and hopelessness”

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam gave away all his life - savings to a fund for Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA), a scheme he had conceived. He ignited Indian minds to help India transform into a knowledge society and made Indians proud. Inspired by this thought and remembering the many hardships that my parents had to undergo in educating me, in this remote and rural village Kureepuzha where I was born (in 1926) I have established the Sacred Heart School with international standards, having the best facilities. I ventured out to several places, at the tender age of 18, to fulfill my many dreams. Even today while seated at my office, reminiscing on my achievements, the one dream that gives me the biggest satisfaction is the commencement of this school.

Dr. Kalam’s message - “Become the Unique You” serves to ignite your minds and to help you emulate. I wish you all a bright future and together, we must always strive to ignite the minds of others we come across during our own lifetime; as a contribution to this great nation, our motherland.

I am reminded of the famous presidential address of John. F. Kennedy in USA, where he said – “And so, my fellow Americans; ask not what your country can do for you, but rather ask what you can do for your country”.

May God be with you always. With fond wishes and love to all of you. Yours truly,

G. J. Fernandez (Chooravila)

Founder Chairman, CJDF Trust

Life is a journey that must be travelled, no matter how bad the roads are. But there are some unique people who have learnt to navigate life in the best way possible.

There are four proven steps I’ve studied about unique people: the first step is to decide which road you want to take by having a great aim in life. The second step is to acquire knowledge through great books, great people and great teachers.

The third is hardwork. When everybody is sleeping, there are lights burning in some people’s places. The fourth step is that when you do any work, whether spiritual, technical or political work, there will always be some problems.

With perseverance, overcome all your problems. So, if you wish to become unique, you need to have four qualities: great aim, continuously acquiring knowledge, hard work and perseverance.

As a 10 – year old boy in Rameshwaram, every evening after school, I would deliver newspaper from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and then go home. Often, on Fridays, I would find my father, who was Imam of the local mosque, his friend Lakshmana Shastrigal, the head priest of Rameshwaram Shiva temple, and Rev. Fr. Bodal, who built the first church in Rameshwaram, in discussion. They dressed differently, followed different faiths and so on, yet they would discuss the famine on the island, the need to generate work and how to improve healthcare and education. From then, I learnt the important and beautiful lesson of how to work together for common good.

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Life and Achievements of Mr. G. J. FernandezPart - 1 : A Vision for a Better Tomorrow

steadily in stature and capabilities. It successfully executed several prestigious building contracts like the Vikas Bhavan (Mini Vidhan Soudha), Gulburga, the WALMI Residential Complex in Dharwad, Gulburga and Raichur, all in Karnataka. They have also executed a Water Supply Scheme of 40 Kms in UKP, a 2500 TCD Sugar Factory with Co-generation plant near Bidadi Bangalore and the Mini Note Press (RBI) near Mysore. All this, over a span of 5 decades. Guided by an unwavering commitment to quality, adhering to punishing time schedules, delivering value for money on time, winning laurels for the excellence of his

sea- deeper and faster and to return with heavier catch. All these helped to vastly improve the economic condition of the fishing community. As time passed, with the increase in the fishing co-operative movement in Kerala & other states, the company introduced higher capacity marine engines i.e. Outboard, Inboard and Sterndrive with Petrol and Diesel driven engines, besides introducing modern state-of-the-art navigation tools and aids. Today the company offers customized solutions to every need of the water transport industry, not only confined to the fishing sector but also to the Tourism and Recreation Industry and the Defence Establishments. The company provides

Project in Karnataka. He built the Donkrayi Masonry Dam, Kinnersani Dam in A.P, Karanja Dam at Bidar and Bhima Barrage at Afzalpur in Karnataka. Meanwhile the company also focused and gained expertise in executing Civil and Structural works in Thermal Power Plants and participated in building 6 units of the 7 units of 210MW each of Raichur Thermal Power Station in Karnataka, besides Kothagudem and Rayalaseema Thermal Power Project in Andhra Pradesh.

The Company he built grew up

peeling sheds along the back-waters of Kerala. It was set up with a view to provide gainful employment for the fishermen and women in the rural and economically backward fishing villages

It all began in 1947With humble beginnings in the

Indian Army, G. J. Fernandez stepped into the arena of entrepreneurship to pursue his strong desire to support his parents, to provide gainful employment opportunities and to create resources to fulfill his philanthropic dreams.

Starting with a proprietary Engineering & Construction firm in 1947, he took up the work of civil foundations for the Spillway of Tungabadra Dam (Munirabad), in the erstwhile Hyderabad state. Then onwards he took up further projects of larger dimensions and executed irrigation canal works for Tungabadra Project, Upper Krishna Project and Karanja

work, the respect and envy of his competitors, G. J. Fernandez has blazed a path that has been satisfying and socially promising.

Esmario Building Wealth from the Sea

Esmario Export Enterprises set up in 1968 has a modern Sea Food Processing Factory at Kollam, Kerala State, a E.U certified unit, with several collection and

along the coastline. In the very second year, it achieved the highest export in marine foods and received the National Award for Outstanding Export Performance for 1969 – 70. The company was the pioneer in deep sea fishing importing two Mexican Fishing Trawlers of the first four foreign vessels into India in the year 1974. To diversify their operations in marine foods, it established another Unit – Andhra Marine Exports Limited at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Mariner Outboards Synergising the effort

With a strong focus to improve the livelihood of the fishing community, the company took the distributorship for marine engines in the year 1986 of the world renowned manufacturer Mercury Marine, USA, (a Brunswick Company USA). The company introduced the highly economical kerosene operated range of Mariner Outboard motors which enabled the country crafts like catamarans, canoes, small fishing boats to venture into the

Tungabadra Dam

Rayalaseema Thermal Power Project

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made Kollam easily accessible for big trawlers, fishing boats and other vessels and shortened the 10 km distance to Kollam. This venture led to the establishment of several workshops, boat building yards, Marine Fuel Stations, Seafood processing factories on the banks of Ashtamudi lake towards Kollam town.

Widened the 1 km narrow lane from Kavanad Junction to Mukkad Pallikadavu and made the road suitable for vehicular transportation, with the help of the PWD, the road was converted into the PWD inner road standard.

Constructed 38 houses at Trikkadavoor Panchayat for shelterless people by participating in the Government of Kerala’s one lakh housing project.

Constructed and donated an Open Air Auditorium for the Government Upper Primary School in Trikkadavoor Panchayat.

For the last 37 years, he has been involved in providing “Sneha Virunnu” (meals) for the pilgrims numbering about 10,000-15,000 every year, visiting the annual village festival at Kureepuzha, Perinad, Kollam.

sophisticated marine engines for a variety of defence applications, including boats and other accessories.

In 1990, the company received an award from Marine Power International, USA for its Outstanding Service Performance for Mariner Outboards in Asia. In 2005, the company received the Outboard Marketing Excellence Award from Mercury Marine, USA for its outstanding marketing performance.

Jesmajo - meeting today’s growing needs for environment friendly fuel

Realising that the country faced an acute shortage for LPG cooking gas cylinders, G. J. Fernandez started Jesmajo Industrial Fabrications Karnataka Pvt. Ltd and Ajay Meetu Industrial Fabrications at Bangalore, Karnataka in the year 1981. It primarily catered to the requirements of LPG Cylinders of the public sector oil companies. Today the company manufactures and supplies LPG Cylinders to both, public and private sector oil companies. They also manufacture auto fuel gas tanks for the automobile sector.

He has always been generous From donations to temples,

auditoriums, children’s educational initiatives and even widening roads, his contributions have had far-reaching impact. Since 1989, old age pension till death is being provided through regular M. O. remittances in the first week of every month and presently there are 42 such beneficiaries. Also financial assistance to meet expenses for housing, marriage, funeral and education is being provided to the poor and needy. His initiatives have included the establishment of two Charitable Trusts in the year 1999 to give focused attention in assisting and providing facilities in the field of education, health, vocational training, promotion of art, music and culture, particularly in the rural backward areas. The Trust has focused its attention in providing quality education to the rural poor at par with the education provided in the cities and metros. It has established an English medium school at Secunderabad. The Health

Care Centre at Kureepuzha is now managed by the Holy Cross Sisiters, Kottiyam, as their outreach centre. Vocational Training Centre and the School of Music and Art are all in the final stages of implementation, in its first project at Trikkadavoor village, Kollam.

Blessed Alphonsa Church at Shakti Nagar, Racihur

His initiatives have been strategic

His initiative of dredging and deepening more than 3 kms of the shallow Ashtamudi lake from Neendakara to Kollam made it easily accessible for big trawlers and fishing boats; shortening the otherwise 10 km distance to Kollam.

Apart from the obvious benefits, this venture led to the establishment of several workshops, boat building yards, marine fuel stations, seafood processing factories on the banks of Ashtamudi lake towards Kollam town leading to overall improvement in the economic standards for people in the area, besides employment opportunities.

Always been result orientedWhatever initiatives G. J.

Fernandez takes, he does it with the same vigour that he brings in to business. Measurement of results is as important as its emotional involvement. He has been fully involved since the formative years of the industrial school set-up at Paloancha on six acres of land donated by him to be one of the best in the area.

His contributions to Kollam in the State of Kerala

Dredged and deepened more than 3 kms along the shallow Ashtamudi lake toward Neendakara to Kollam. This has

An English Medium School for the benefit of the children of the Trikkadavoor Panchayat has been established and about 500 students are getting the benefits of English Medium education at International standards, with fee concessions including freeship in tuition fees to help the poor and needy.

Apart from this, he is involved in financially assisting people in education, health, housing and employment.

Donated 20 cents land in Trikkadavoor Panchayat for constructing a Shishuvihar and provided water supply and electrical facilities in the building. The building is now used for the care and education of mentally challenged children.

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Editors’ CornerGlimpses has brought

much joy among students, teachers, parents and well wishers. We thank you all for the appreciation and congratulation that we received. In this issue we have also highlighted the life and achievements of our founder and chairman Mr. G J Fernandez in appreciation and gratitude for having provided us a unique school with excellent facilities for moulding children. We are grateful for his continued, inspiring and overwhelming support that has helped to enable even the poor children to enjoy the modern facilities provided by him in the school.

On the occasion of Founder’s Day celebrations on 8th August 2015, as a token of our gratitude to our Chairman “Glimpses” will present his life and achievements. This issue carries part -1 of the amazing story.

We officially launched GLIMPSES our school monthly newsletter on 25th August, 2015.The chief guest of the day, Rev. Fr. Romance Antony, gave an excellent and inspirational speech to the gathering of students and staffs. He appreciated our school for organizing a monthly newsletter. He added that GLIMPSES will provide students and teachers an opportunity to reflect on the values imbibed in the educational process. It will further help to communicate the successes and achievements of our students, not only within the school but to a wider circle as well. It highlights the excellent opportunities that the school has to offer

Bulletin release

and show cases the wide range of co-curricular activities available to our students. He released the bulletin and handed over the first copy to Mr. Innocent (Manager of SHS) and then to our Senior Principal and Principal.Later, Principal Rev. Sr. Gilgia Mary gave copies of the bulletin to section coordinators , teaching and non teaching staff and student representatives.

Homage to Dr. APJ Abdul KalamThe principal, staff and students paid

homage to Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India, by organizing a special school assembly. In her message, Principal expressed grief over the former President’s sudden demise. He was indeed the People’s President. She spoke on the life of this great personality and advised students to follow the path shown by him.

A two-minute silence was also observed. With huge out pouring of grief, Ms. Bindu Unni, teacher representative recited a poem she composed on our people’s president.

Editor Mrs. Anjana hands over Bulletin for release.

Presenting First copy of 'Glimpses' to Mr. Innocent Joseph (Manager) in the presence of Rev. Sr. Gilgia Mary (Principal)

Chief Guest Rev. Fr. Romance Antony releasing ‘Glimpses’

Staff & Student at the releasing ceremony

AnjanaVineetha

Shobhana Jincy