INDIA : Mamata Banerjee lays the Foundation Stone to St. Xavier's New campus (The Telegraph via CNUA) The Chief Minister of West Bengal along with the Archbishop of Calcutta, Thomas D'Souza, Jesuit Provincial and the Principal of the College, Father Felix Raj, laid the foundation for the second campus of St. Xavier's College and the proposed Unversity of St. Xavier's Kolkata.

The gift of a blue Alumni blazer on the occasion turned Mamata Banerjee into someone she "never got the opportunity" to become as a student of Xavier's: a Xaverian. "We never got the opportunity to study in a good school or college. So what? We have worked hard and come up to where we are. I still managed to work my way through Calcutta University, law college and BEd. But I feel for it (the need for quality education)," the chief minister said with characteristic candour at the second campus at Rajarhat, New Town.

Mamata, who had first revealed her desire to become "a member of the family" at the Mother Teresa Sarani institution’s fifth convocation in January 2012, said the plot where the second campus would come up was an investment in the promise of quality education.

"The land we haven given to Xavier's is an intention with a vision for tomorrow. St. Xavier’s College is a name and it will be a university tomorrow and gain fame not only in Bengal but the world. Even today many of our students leave for Hyderabad or Bangalore for training. But there will come a day when everyone will come to Calcutta and West Bengal for education. And St. Xavier’s should show the path," she said, wrapping herself tighter in the blue blazer.

The 16.64-acre site in Rajarhat’s Action Area III is a short distance from the first turn on the expressway leading to the airport from the Bypass.

"I am very emotional. St. Xavier’s College has come very far, carrying its heritage and tradition. I believe this St. Xavier’s College will go even further ahead. This day is an important milestone in its path. Many new subjects will be taught on this new campus and because of that many more students, especially rural and marginalised students, will receive higher education. We hope our development plan for this campus will materialise soon," the principal, Father Felix Raj, said.

The archbishop of Calcutta, Thomas D’Souza, blessed the campus site and the Provincial blessed the corner stone. The whole ceremony was deeply spiritual and very impressive. The St. Xavier's College Alumni Association carried out a marvellous job.

Mamata had played Santa Claus to St. Xavier’s last Christmas, pulling out of her bag the documents for the plot of land where the institution will raise a full-fledged campus. In her speech on Friday, again timed with Christmas, the chief minister underlined her commitment to "excellence" in education, citing her own example as someone who had to work doubly hard to make up for the lack of opportunity to study in a reputable institution.

Mamata said one of her handicaps was that she could not speak a word of English when she first became a Lok Sabha MP in 1984. Each of these personal anecdotes drew cheers from the gathering that included, among others, Father provincial Jeyaraj Velusamy, Father Rector Dominic Savio, education minister Bratya Basu, urban development minister Firhad Hakim, MPs, Derek Obrien and Sultan Ahmed and host of Ministers and High Court judges.

The chief minister set a new challenge for St. Xavier’s — to establish a medical college — as part of her government’s vision for education. "I would request St. Xavier’s to start a medical college as well. Yes, you can. Your asset is your alumni association. They (the alumni) are spread out across the world. If you tell them you are starting a medical college, they will come forward with funds," she said. The prod to St. Xavier’s to expand further is in line with Mamata’s plans for excellence in higher education and autonomy of educational institutions.

Mamata iterated those goals on the occasion, urging everyone to stand by St. Xavier’s. "I would request the local people, especially those from the neighbouring areas, to cooperate with them and help them, even in laying a brick or two, because your children who have to travel very far for studies will get the opportunity to become a Xaverian," she minister said.

The loudest cheers were reserved for the chief minister’s offer — she described herself as "your family member now and forever, even as a commoner" — to help St. Xavier’s College through her paintings. "You carry on growing. If need be, I will help you through my painting exhibition," Mamata announced.

The new campus, according to Father Felix Raj, the Principal, coming up on 17 acres of land at an estimated cost of Rs.250 crore will house a business school offering both BBA and MBA courses along with integrated five-year courses on microbiology, biotechnology and computer sciences.

The institute will also house a research facility for these departments offering PhD programmes. The proposal of upgrading the College to a University is under consideration, discussions are going on between thenState Government and the college authorities, Father Raj added.

The 150-year-old institution was accorded the status of an autonomous college and College with Potential for Excellence under the University of Calcutta in 2006. (Courtesy: The Telegraph, Calcutta)

"I am 'a member of the Xaverian family'. My government's allotment of 16.65 acres of land to St. Xavier's is an investment in the promise of quality education. It is our intention with a vision for tomorrow. St. Xavier’s College is a name and it will be a university tomorrow and gain fame not only in Bengal but the world. Even today many of our students leave for Hyderabad or Bangalore for training. But there will come a day when everyone will come to Calcutta and West Bengal for education. And St. Xavier’s should show the way. I would contribute to the college from the proceeds of my paintings. I request the college authorities to set up a medical college too. This is the age of expansion, equity and excellence. Let me know about anything that I can do for you, I will always be by your side". -- Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, India while Addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of the St. Xavier's College 's new campus in Rajarhat, Kolkata.