All new 'Aloyseum' is here

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Suresh Vamanjoor)

March 23, 2013

Mangalore, Mar 23: The renovated museum of St Aloysius College, Mangalore, known as 'Aloyseum', was inaugurated on Saturday by Fr Joseph Rodrigues, Rector, St Aloysius Institutions.

Speaking after the inauguration, Fr Swebert D'Silva, Principal, St Aloysius College, Mangalore, said that about Rs.75-80 lakhs have been spent for the renovation of the museum. The College had applied for funds from the Central government for the renovation of building and restoration of articles in the museum. The government did not release money for the building but funds were granted for restoration of museum articles, Mr. D'Silva said.

The College intends to convert the museum into 'Mangalore Museum', Mr. D'Silva said, so that students who come to Mangalore from different parts of the world, get a glimpse of old Mangalorean culture, customs and practices.

Fr. Leo D'Souza, veteran scientist and former Principal of the College, said that the purpose of a museum must be to educate and not merely accumulate old articles. Articles of historic importance and old equipment help students learn, besides exposing them to the ways of the past, Mr. D'Souza said.

Fr. Joseph Rodrigues, Rector of St Aloysius Institutions led the prayers and carried out the blessing formalities.

The museum houses several items of historic significance including the first car of Mangalore, animal and fish bones, skulls, horns and skins, copies of paintings by old European masters, mineral specimen, old radios, telegraphic equipment, antique telephone sets, manuscripts on palm leaves, Portuguese statues, an old pulpit from Cordel Church, swords, daggers and other weapons, postal stamps, coins and medals, priestly vestments dating back to 1878, the Old Missal which has the size of a broad sheet newspaper and Mangalore's first electric generator dating back to 1930.

Fr. Denzil Lobo, Director, Aloysius Institute of Management and IT (AIMIT), Prof. A M Narahari, Registrar, St Aloysius College, Mangalore, Gopal Gowda, caretaker of the museum, were present among others.