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Vidya Niketan, Mysore |
THE IDEA :
On March 1972 the All India SVD formation council was held in Divine Word Seminary, Pune. The three provincials and two visitators, Fr. Karl Muller and Anton Verchur who were the members of the council decided to reconstitute and coordinate the recruiting and formation programmes of the Society in India.
Fr. Joseph Puthumana, Secretary of the council prepared a detailed report and sent to all formation houses of the Society in India. In December 1972, plenary session of formation was held in Mumbai. After studying centers like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Madras, Madurai, Mangalore, Mysore, etc., Mysore was found best suitable and the Bishop of Mysore, Most Rev. Mathias Fernandes and the Principal of St. Philomena’s college, Fr. Frank D’Souza, welcomed the SVD Society warmly to Mysore.
THE BEGINNING:
On June, 1974 the new proposals and recommendations were approved by the Generalate and Vidya Niketan saw its first day light.
THE HISTORY….
On March, 1974 the Regional Fr. George Muthanatt, Fr. J. Puthumana and Frater Carlo arrived in Mysore to take possession of the two houses. Fr. Anthony Furtado, the first Rector arrived on June 11th, 1974. In July, 1974 the First batch of juniors from Palda were welcomed by the rector for their graduation studies in Mysore. Ambunathan, N.P. Anto, J. Antony Joseph, T. Bausally, K.M.Chako, P.T.Christuraj, Dominic Roche, Edward Sequira, Edwin Vas, Emmanuel, P. Gaspar, Raja A, Joseph Pereira, Lazar G, Ligoury Mendonca, Lourdusamy S., Mathew K.M., Michael C.J., Philip. P.P., Sandanam K, Sunny George, Varkey V.V., etc., were the first batch students.
The next three years saw the rapid growth of Vidyaniketan under the leadership of Fr. Anthony Furtado. On the feast of Pentecost June, 1976 the newly built house was blessed and occupied. Visitator General Br. Max formally inaugrated the New premises on 28 June, 1977.
The rectors of Vidya Niketan were Fr. George Muthanat, Fr. Noronha, Fr. Gregory Pinto, Fr. Joseph Madathany, Fr. Cyprian Lewis and Fr. Caetano D’Costa. Fr. Scaria Pannakal is the present rector.
PHILOSOPHY AND GRADUATION:
The college education in Vidyaniketan took a radical change when philosophical studies were combined with graduation. Bishop Mathias Fernandes inaugurated the new system in a concelebrated mass on June 6th, 1983. This system continued till the end of 1996. The formation system was revised and a separate Philosophate was opened in Bhopal, Central Province after which Vidyaniketan returned to its original glory for college studies.
PRESENT.......
Vidya Niketan has 67 students led by Fr. Richard Mathias (Rector), Fr. Paul Vattathara (Asst. Rector), Fr. Angelus Ekka (Moderator) and Fr. Michael Vettumanickal (Procurator).
