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Fr.
Simon
was
born
to
an
East
–
Indian
family
in
Bandra,
on
the
3rd
of
September,
1946.
He
studied
in
St.
Stanislaus.
He
joined
the
Jesuits
in
1964,
at
the
age
of
17,
when
he
was
in
the
11th
STD.
In
1967,
he
went
to
Spain
to
study
Philosophy.
He
returned
in
1969
to
teach
in
St.
Stanislaus.
After
that
he
came
to
Xavier’s
to
study
B.Sc.
(Physics).
He
also
served
as
the
Hostel’s
Asst.
Warden,
and
then
he
served
as
the
Hostel’s
Warden.
After
that
he
acquired
a
Masters
Degree
in
Physics
from
the
Mumbai
University’s Kalina
Campus.
He
has
also
done
his
M.Phil.
He
has
been
teaching
in
Xavier’s
since
1979.
What
according
to
you
is
the
contribution
of
Jesuits
in
framing
today’s
society?
Education
being
one
of
their
main
aims,
the
Jesuits
Society
has
also
highly
contributed
to
the
society
in
order
to
develop
the
entire
human
person.
Developing
the
sense
of
social
outreach,
ethics,
and
spirituality
have
been
the
fundamental
contributions
of
the
Jesuit
society.
The
uniqueness
of
the
Jesuits
lies
in
the
importance
that
they
give
to
the
growth
of
Emotional
Quotient
(EQ),
as
well
as
the
Spiritual
Quotient
(SQ).
What
and
how
has
been
your
involvement
in
the
Physics
Department?
It
has
been
an
absolute
pleasure
to
not
only
be a
student
but
also
a
staff
member
in
the
Physics
Department.
The
Physics
Department
has
grown
in
terms
of
its
resource
material,
attractive
and
easy
use
of
notice
boards,
teaching
aids.
We
have
always
tried
to
apply
Physics
in
real
life
by
contributing
to
exhibitions,
seminars,
etc.
by
collaborating
with
the
B.C.L.
in
the
past;
St.
Xavier’s
has
conducted
A
Level
practical
examinations
in
the
field
of
Physics.
Prof.
Mistry
and
I
initiated
this.
Overall,
I
can
say,
it
has
been
a
very
pleasurable
journey.
We’ve
learned
that
you
had
been
to
Spain
to
study
Philosophy.
Please
tell
us
about
the
difference
in
the
educational
systems
in
Spain
and
India.
I
studied
different
subjects
in
Spain
and
India.
But
my
overall
observation
is
that
the
education
system
here
is
more
standardized.
It
allows
less
flexibility,
creativity
and
innovation,
in
comparison
to
its
counterparts
abroad.
The
love
of
the
subject
in
India
is
more
or
less
missing.
The
problem
here
is
that
the
students
select
a
more
job
oriented
subjects.
What
do
you
think
about
the
current
scenario,
the
voice
of
protest
in
the
students?
I
would
say
that
the
present
generation
is
more
pragmatic
in
comparison
to
ours.
In
our
time,
there
were
more
group
protests
as
the
students
of
our
generation
had
a
sense
of
social
responsibility.
Even
as
regard
the
S.U.C.,
we
had
elections
right
up
till
1994.
But
now
even
that
is
done
by
selection.
30
years
ago
the
Bombay
student
was
more
outreaching.
You
were
one
of
those
who
coined
the
term
P.H.V.
How
do
you
think
that
it
has
developed
throughout
the
years?
About
40
years
ago,
the
college
had
programmes
of
Religion
and
Moral
Science,
for
Christians
and
non
–
Christians
respectively.
But
in
the
1970s
we
started
P.H.V.
with
the
following
aims
1.
Personality
Development
of
the
student
as a
human.
2.
Social
outreach,
Social
outreach,
and
being
responsible
citizen.
3.
Development
of
spiritual
sense
and
communal
harmony.
What
are
your
post
–
retirement
plans?
I
have
been
in
interested
in
the
area
of
dialogue
of
science
and
religion.
So,
I
would
like
to
do
some
further
research
in
this
area
or
perhaps
write
something.
I
have
also
been
giving
course
in
helping
skills
and
H.R.D.
I
have
also
conducted
a
lot
of
courses
in
this
field;
one
could
put
it
as
P.H.V.
at a
different
level.
But
because
of
being
immersed
in
teaching
activities,
I
haven’t
got
much
time
for
priestly
work
in
all
these
years.
That
is
one
area
I
would
like
to
take
up
vigorously,
mainly
as a
counselor
or a
spiritual
guide.
You
decided
to
take
up
priesthood
at a
tender
age
where
other
kids
were
making
plans
of
their
careers.
How
and
why
so?
I
always
wanted
to
do
something
relevant
and
effective
with
my
life.
At
that
time,
being
in a
Jesuit
school,
I
was
attracted
to
their
lifestyle.
I
was
not
at
all
thinking
of
personal
security
or
materialistic
gains.
I
joined
the
Jesuits
to
do
something
relevant
and
something
in
the
service
of
the
country.
What
are
some
of
your
fondest
memories
at
Xavier’s?
At
Xavier’s
I
have
always
found
happiness
and
joy
in
the
midst
of
all
college
activities.
I
have
always
tried
to
see
the
positive
side
of
events;
be
it
extra
curricular
activities
or
any
other
event
in
any
field.
I
have
been
M.C.
for
many
college
functions,
seminars
and
other
gatherings.
Being
blessed
with
a
touch
of
humour,
I
have
always
tried
to
give
a
touch
of
humour
to
everything.
What
would
be
your
message
to
the
students?
1.
Don’t
think
of
your
future
jobs.
Grow.
Be a
fully
human
person.
Make
use
of
these
college
years
to
develop
as a
human
being.
2.
Keep
up
your
enthusiasm.
Somehow
at
the
end
of
college
you
leave
with
an
enthusiasm
not
properly
used. |
