Casimir Raj

Ministry

After my theology I was assigned to St. Xavier’s College, palayamkottai (1972-73). Fr. Douglas Gordon, the Provincial, while sending me to palayamkottai told me, “I pity you, but be there for a year”. I was supposed to be the warden of Xavier’s hostel. Those were the turbulent years at St. Xavier’s . I entered the place with trepidation. After a week, I was asked to be the acting minister. After a month, the community wanted me to be the minister, along with my teaching in the college. Those years it is not easy to teach at St. Xavier’s. In my first week I was woken up at mid-night because students set fire to the haystack. While putting out the fire, I got real courage. Though we faced crisis every day,we stood together and faced it. It was a painful period but gained valuable experience.

I was the minister of the house. I was junior most Jesuit priest there. I was touched by the love and respect shown by the senior Jesuits. The only person I liked was Fr. M.D. Varkey. He became the Principal. He was firm but gentle. But he brought St. Xavier’s to its past glory trough utter dedication and sagacity. I learned the first elements of administration from him.

I should have done a good job as the Minister. When I was to leave to the USA for my studies after one year in Palayamkottai, the Rector begged me to stay for one more year. But the Provincial did not agree.

I went to Santa Clara University, USA for my MBA (1973-75). I was the chaplain of the Carmelite Monastery and a student. I did my studies well. In 1974, when Santa Clara started MBA in agribusiness, I was invited to join that course with full scholarship. I completed all the courses. But I could not get 2 MBAs because I needed another 7 courses if I wanted 2 MBAs. But the Provincial wanted to me to return to India. I am grateful to Santa Clara University, the Carmelite nuns and my friends for their love and affection. My association with Carmelite(cloistered)nuns taught me simplicity, simple but intimate relation with Jesus and various devotions. I visited the nuns later, whenever I went to the USA.

I did my tertianship(1976-77) in Sittagarah. Fr. Maurice Dullard was the Instructor. A simple and holy man who could put in so much work. He is one of my models for servant leadership. My ministry was to preach one month retreat to Holy Cross nuns. After my tertianship, I visited Ranchi Mission. I went to more than 10 mission stations in Ranchi Province.

Loyola College, Chennai(1976-1986)

At the end of my tertianship, I got a letter from the Rector of Loyola College, asking me to be the Director of the Loyola Hostel. I explained to him why I should not be. But he forced me to be the director. I was also a fresher in teaching. Doing both well is an impossible task, along with the job of Vice-Principal. I tried to juggle all the three some way or the other. Slowly, I loved the job of the Director of the hostel because I felt my life will be an open book to the students. I live with them for 24 hours. I should not be so much a disciplinarian, but a father. So I wanted to care for their welfare and study. I will go through their exam marks, every term and call and discuss with them the problems. If one was sick, I will visit them everyday. I improved the meals and reduced the cost, introduced a transparent accounting system which was adopted even by the successors. Introduced Provident Fund for the permanent workers and labor.

Welfare Fund for the non-permanent workers. I will say Mass for the workers, once a month, special Mass for the students, once a week. For me it was an unforgettable experience. I repaired the hostel after so many years, painted the doors and windows after its first painting.

Fr. Kuriakose, who will not easily praise anybody, praised my work in public. As Fr. K. P. Joseph said, that was the first time, Fr. Kuriakose had praised somebody in public.

I should thank Fr. Leo Correya, the Rector and Fr. Kuriakose, the Principal, for the complete trust they had in me. They felt as if there is no hostel. Earlier, there will be some problem or other from the hostel. Now they heard no problem. Later when I became Rector, hostel was the biggest problem I had to tackle everyday. I considered hostel work as an important apostolate, because I lived with them, cared for their development and loved them.

MY COLONY

In 1977, some people requested me to say Mass in a slum in Aminjakarai, Chennai. They have built a small chapel – 20’ * 20’. It was a very poor slum area, full of Dalits. I agreed and started serving Mass for 10 years, never missing a single Sunday Mass. At the beginning, scarcely 20 people participated in the liturgy, gradually the number increased. I requested scholastics to teach Catechism. We had feast and Christmas celebrations, home visits etc. Annanagar parish encouraged me to continue my work. After 6 years, the number increased substantially. We looked for a bigger place. I managed to muster money to buy 12 grounds in low lying area and filled the area. But I had no money to go further.

At that time, Vincentian Fathers of Orissa were looking for a place to start their parish work in Chennai. I gave them the place freely provided they build the church. Today, Ascension Parish in MH Colony is a thriving parish in Chennai with a very good High School serving the educational needs of the slum children. I am grateful to God for showing me the way and to the people forgiving me the opportunity to serve them for 10 years.

In 1980, I was appointed Rector, I wrote 6 page letters to Fr, General why I should not be appointed. But my plea was ignored. I was the youngest member of the community among the veterans. I took it up with trepidations. I did not like the job. In 1980, Fr. Peter Arrupe visited Loyola. In 1983, Fr. Joseph Pitau visited Loyola. Those two visits were memorable to me.

In 1983, I was asked to be the principal, My spontaneous reaction was no. But Fr. Kurialose my predecessor explained why I should accept it. Without further ado I agreed.

It was a crucial time for the autonomy of the College. Teacher’s Unions were pressurizing the Government to withdraw the autonomy. I played a crucial role, as the president of the Principal’s Association and Vice President of Private Management Association to quell the agitation. My approach of listening to the agitators and redressing their grievances was appreciated by the Government. So I could influence the Government at the policy level. I also organized a conference where the Education Minister categorically and in strongest terms said that autonomy will continue. It silenced the Unions. As the Principal, I could serve many poor students. I visited every parish, met the Catholic students and their grievances. I also started non – teaching staff association which is doing good work even today.

The Central Government and the State Governments invited me for conferences and committees on autonomy. I gained good exposure in that. I also started preparing the document for the deemed university status. But I was transferred before I proceeded further.

I focused on Academic Excellence and social concerns. I visited many villages with the students. I was also very careful to be fair, just and humane. I used to say that I need not be the best administrator, but I should be fair and just. I continue to hold this view for the next 20 years, when I had a prolonged love affair with the administration, always against my will.

In 1984, one year, after I became the Principal of Loyola College, the government of Tamilnadu brought in a new policy in education. It invited the private managements to start Engineering Colleges, which was hither to the sole preserve of the government. Soon after the announcement of the new policy, I approached the Provincials with the three proposals:

1. To start an Engineering College in Chennai
   The Archbishop will provide the land and I will raise funds
2. To start a Law College in the Loyola College Campus
3. To start a college of education (not just B.Ed College) which besides training teachers will also undertake Research and Consultancy.

All the three proposals were summarily dismissed, with no reason given. Even today, I feel that we had missed a very precious opportunity. The hindsight tells me that it was a mistake. We should have started all the three colleges. If I was not to do that other Jesuits might have been entrusted with the task. Even today, having witnessed the proliferation of the Engineering colleges and having provided consultancy to a few, I rue over the missed opportunity and the chance to serve the Catholic community.

Loyola Institute of Business Administration

In 1979, I was allowed to start the Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA) in Loyola College Campus. After two years of discussions, suddenly, they asked me to start it. I started it, borrowing two rooms and Rs.40,000 from the college. It was not a recognized course. But I recruited very good faculty, who had knowledge and industrial experience. I had two thousand applications in the first year itself.

My main objective was, since there is no good management school in the whole of South India, we should start one and make it as good as, if not better than XLRI, Jamshedpur. That dream still remains a dream. Today, LIBA has given opportunity to so many poor, rural Catholics to make a mark in the industry. They could not dream of such an achievement but for LIBA. Though LIBA was serving well and gaining popularity, I faced severe problems from the provincial after 3 years of LIBA’s existence.

The first accusation was that I am running LIBA as my fiefdom and I am not involving the community. The Provincial appointed Fr. V. Joseph Xavier to examine this complaint. He met every community member individually and in groups. His conclusion was that there was no basis for this complaint. He also pointed out, that since LIBA is a specialized course everybody could not get involved in its daily operations.

In 1986, in a two minute meeting, the Provincial told me that since a school of management is not in consonance with the society’s thrust for the option for the poor, he is suspending LIBA for one year. I said suspension will not be helpful for the present and past students. But he decided to go ahead with it. He sent a circular to the whole province and went on a long journey abroad. So, I then wrote to the General explaining why LIBA should not be closed. Later on, I was told that there was an avalanche of letter to Fr General protesting against the decision of the Provincial.

After meeting the General in Rome, after two or three weeks, the Provincial sent me a telegram station that LIBA will continue but I have to leave, but he did not inform me of my posting.

After a month, I was asked to go to St. Joseph’s College, Trichy to teach. I went there immediately. I was told that there is no vacancy and I could teach one class of Catechism per week. For a young man of 47, it was a very frustrating period-it was the most trying period of my life.

As if God understood my frustration, in a month, I received a letter from the Provincial of Jamshedpur, inviting me to teach at XLRI. I readily accepted the posting and went to XLRI.

I did not enjoy my tenure nor life there, I felt out of place. Again, god heard my prayer. Like a bolt from the blue, I received a letter from Fr Tom Acker, President of Wheeling College, West Virginia inviting me to teach there. I asked the Madurai Provincial’s permission, and he allowed me to go there in May 1987.

It was the most pleasant stay for me. I liked the teaching experience. Since it was a small college I knew every student and I could be of assistance to them. The community was excellent. Again I stepped into a crisis and taught all kinds of courses. It was a wonderful learning experience. We also introduced some innovative courses to help the executives. My LIBA experience stood in good stead for this venture.

With regret, but looking to the future, I left St. Louis University, Missouri for my Ph D in 1988. I arranged to send Jesuits from India to teach at Wheeling College every year for the next four years. Wheeling College was eagerly awaiting my return after my Ph D. but sadly, I was unable to fulfil their request. From 1988 – 93, I did my Ph D, and taught many courses at St. Louis University. I was made Chaplain for North Andover Parish to serve in the parish with Fr Joseph Svirskas. It was a pleasant experience. All these milestones gave me tremendous experience and self-confidence to work anywhere.

Since I was on leave at Loyola College, Chennai from 1986, the government wanted me to join immediately. I completed my Ph D and returned to Loyola in January 1994 with a great longing to serve for a long duration. I had a Ph D in Marketing, very few had this degree, and I thought I could contribute a lot in the teaching and research area both in the college and at LIBA as well. My dreams were shattered on my very first day at Loyola, when I went to meet the Rector to pay my obeisance. Without a greeting, I was curtly asked to sit down, settle my leave and leave the place. Later in the day, I met the Principal submitted my certificates and went to meet the Head of the Department of Commerce. Inspite of the fact that I had a Ph D degree in Marketing and intimating may arrival 2 months in advance, I was made to teach all other subjects except Marketing. Without a murmur I accepted it and taught and decided to settle my leave problem with the government.

After a month, I met the provincial and he said that I was overqualified to be at Loyola, instead go to Xavier’s Institute of Management, Bhubanewar (XIMB). I was not eager to go there. Respecting my desire, he asked me to teach at the newly started mar Gregorias college, Chennai. It was started by the Malankara diocese of Trivandrum. I readily accepted. A month later, the provincial asked me to teach at the Karunya Institute of Technology, Coimbatore. It is run by (Late) Dr D G S Dinakaran, an evangelist. I agreed to do so. On hearing this the provincial at Jamshedpur rushed to Madurai and asked the provincial to send me to XIM, Bhubaneswar. The provincial telephoned men and I agreed to go to XIMB, I resigned later on. The government refused to accept my resignation until my leave was settled. My leave took a few month to be settled and then I left for XIMB on January 9, 1995.

Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB)

I reached Bhubaneswar on January 11, 1995, taught for 3 months and on April 23, I was made the Director of XIMB. I tried to learn Oriya but not only found it difficult but also could find no time. Lack of knowledge of the local language was a major handicap, due to which my efficiency with dealing with dealing with the maintenance staff was hampered. I was unable to understand and vibe with the attitude of the Jesuits. I worked hard and served Orissa well but I was neither satisfied nor happy. The government, faculty, staff and students liked me but somewhere down the line I had the feeling that the Jesuits had not grasped this Sprit of Service, though I felt that our power lies in service – they though otherwise. To the great disappointment of the Board and the faculty, I resigned in 1997, they did try their best to retain me, but my eyes were fixed on teaching and not on administration. So from here I proceeded to Goa Institute of Management on May 1, 1997.

Goa Institute of management, Goa (GIM)

I was glad at last I was teaching the subjects, I had specialized in and had no administrative responsibilities. I was glad I could assist the student academically and spiritually. 1997 – 2000, I enjoyed every moment of the three years at Goa. For me it was thee most enjoyable and fruitful years.

In 1998, the Bishop of Zambia requested my service to start a university there, but the provincial did not permit me to go – though I felt the need was great.

Dr Ambedkar Cultutal Academy, Madurai (DACA)

In January 2000, I received a letter from Fr Antony Raj DACA. It seemed strange that he consult me and not the provincial. Without hesitation I agreed to go to Madurai, I was appointed as Executive Director of DACA while Fr Antony Raj was Chairman.

We have 4 categories to serve at DACA

1. The Elementary & High School Girls
   They board and lodge at DACA and studied in the neighbouring school
2. Girls – After School Education
   For Vocational Training. The training was given at DACA
3. Boys – After School Eduction
   They were sent to Madurai Community College for Vocation Training
4. A Hospital
   We also had coaching centres in 13 villages, 2 self Help groups and 3 farms to manage, with skeleton staff . I carefully monitored the education of the children and provided necessary assistance to educate them well. I felt that good education will make them break caste discrimination. I took them to other places to know how others are living and learn what they were doing. I liked the job. I conducted a international seminar on the “Multiple Faces of Poverty”. I arranged for Loyola Institute of Vocational Education (LIVE), Loyola College, Chennai to give their Diplomas to the girls to enable them get good jobs. It was an enriching experience and my love for the students and their love for me was reciprocated.

In 2001, I was asked to go to LIBA, to be its Director for the second time, with the freedom to make changes to make it a good one. But from day one my freedom was curtailed.

LIBA – My Second Attempt

I took charge of LIBA on May 3, 2001 and found they were following an outdated syllabus, students were treated as college students, the faculty had no freedom – it was rigor without content.

I was on the job to make a 360 degrees change and FAST. I appealed to the Rector and Provincial to make it a residential programme. They agreed, but not a finger was raised to realize it. So, I concentrated on academics, teaching, faculty and placement-my efforts bore fruit-LIBA was nationally acclaimed, which enabled in recruiting excellent faculty and provide good placement. LIBA ranked 32nd before I took over and it reach the 9th place in a span of 2 years. In my Farewell speech I told the audience that its good for me to leave LIBA as it has proved its worth. Soon after I felt LIBA has a hostel and a new canteen.

Before I took over LIBA in 2001, I requested the provincial to give me a certain amount of autonomy, if he wants to build it up. He blessed me with his approval, but unfortunately, from day one the local superior became an antagonist and started blocking all my efforts. I could not recruit faculty and staff in a professional way. There was unbearable interference in admission. It is a pity; it has to be like that. That is the reason I said, it is good I leave LIBA. My words became true.

I had to do certain things on the sly not for myself but to build the institution. I hated it but I did it.

In the third year, it was announced that I will leave LIBA. I contacted XIM, Bhubaneswar for a teaching post. But they offered me the position of Director at XLRI, Jamshedpur.

XLRI, Jamshedpur

I took charge as the Director of XLRI on May 1, 2004, with a trepidation and diffidence, but the faculty and staff accepted me.

I concentrated on faculty recruitment, faculty and staff welfare and student progress. We had an elaborate exercise to took at Vision Statement and made one. We have started another centre at Singapore. I think, staff and students are happy. But again, it is my third year. I suppose, I have to look for greener pastures. Another phenomena I experienced was I would start preparing for the jubilee of the institution. Before it takes places, I will be transferred. I forestall it at XLRI. I want to give ample time and experience for my successor to plan for its jubilee.

Reflections

My prayer life was simple. For a long time, vocal prayer dominated. When I started Jesus Prayer in theology, it changed my life a lot. It became a part of my life, part of my breathe. Still I practice it with love and to a certain extent automatically.

Secondly, Revisio de vie which I started in my theology helped me to integrate my prayer life with my activities. My prayer, my spirituality should lead me to practice it daily. I tried to practice it, though, I have failed many times. But I am trying. As a result I have learnt a few things.

For a long time my prayer life was mostly vocal prayer and meditation. But Jesus Prayer taught me two things:

1. to live in the presence of God always and
2. to make decisions in the presence of God, with great indifference and looking at the Problem not from my personal perspective but from God’s perspective and from the other person perspective.

These practices led me to affective prayer – a prayer where words may not be there, but emotion and affection played a major role. I enjoyed this prayer.

Secondly, I wanted to be human, fair and just in ally my decision and way of life. This has landed me in trouble but I try to hold onto that.

We are here as priests to serve people, serve them till it hurts us. We should not look for our own comforts, but ensure that other are comfortable. This attitude has prevented me to be aggressive, but kind and considerate to others.

My specialization in Marketing, strangely strengthened my spirituality. It changed my attitude. Marketing is essentially, to empathize with people to find out how they felt and their latent needs and meet those needs, as far as possible, even at the cost of personal inconvenience. For me, that is the role of a priest. So I tried to be kind, helpful and listened to their woes and if reasonable and not against morals, meet those needs.

A marketing person works for the welfare of a person with a profit motive. A priest work with love – love for God and his children. This love results in deep commitment to the task given, sincere love for the group which the priest serves and ultimately identifies with them, as the incarnational love showed. I tried to do that. I loved all the people whom I was called to serve, without any personal gain or comfort, but even at personal inconvenience. Perhaps, that is the reason, they too loved me in return and felt my loss.

Whenever I had worked and whatever work was given tome, people loved me an wanted me to continue. It started from my regency upto XLRI. But I am also aware, hat in many places, Superiors, did not like me. They did not life my way of functioning. Earlier, I thought, I was on the right path, but again and again atleast in 4 cases, Superiors did not like me. I thought there should be something wrong with me. Strangely, in all thesse 4 cases the Superiors were Tamils. As far as I know, all the non – Tamils like me and my work.

I know a priest should play the role of a prophet as well, but I am weak in that as I am very reserved and shy. Besides, I am not an eloquent speaker and am sensitive to the point that I should practice whatever I preach. Otherwise, I consider myself a false prophet. Hence, I felt I was unable to play the role of a prophet with ease. I was content and happy with the role of the Lord’s servant. As a result, I was uncomfortable with activists.

When I was at Loyola College, Chennai, the staff, non-teaching and students liked me. They also appreciated my work. I was given a lot of responsibilities. Then suddenly, after 10 years in 1986 I came to know that both the Rector and the Provincial did not like my work. They also associated me with the rich. So suddenly they decided to remove me from Loyola. Provincial was very eager that I move out of Tamilnadu. I was hurt very much. I felt highly insecure. This sense of insecurity was compounded when I was kept idle at St Joseph’s college, Trichy.

But when I went to Wheeling College and did a good job and introduced some innovative programmes, I gained my self-confidence. I was not hurt by any transfers. I was confident, I can work anywhere and deliver the the service. As I look back, I was never in any post for more than 3 years. This has helped me to work in various places. We say, rolling stone gathers no moss, but this rolling stone, gathered very rich experience. I am grateful to God and to my superiors for giving me this precious opportunity to gather experience. I also thank so many people who gave me the opportunity to serve them and who taught me self-confidence and experience.

Reflecting over two incidents in my life, I felt my superiors blocked my initiatives for personal vendetta. These two are not isolated cases. In my 50 years of service in the society, I have come across a few hundred cases similar in nature. Such instances are not confined to or peculiar in nature to one province. I have witnessed it in all the provinces in India.

1. Refusal to give me permission to start the engineering and professional colleges.
2. Not giving permission to take some initiatives in LIBA.

In both cases it it personal vendetta, just because Casimir Raj proposed it, it was denied. But who is the loser? society at large, Catholics in particular. It was an opportune moment. Once the opportunity slips, it may not come by.

Today many Catholic lay persons have started engineering colleges, but they acknowledge again and again that their colleges lack quality and commitment.

LIBA was at the threshold of take off, it needed a few infrastructural facilities. Everybody agreed that they were needed and should be allowed and they were in fact allowed, just one month after I left LIBA. But when the opportune moment was lost, when everything was converging for a basic necessity was denied. Result? It will be difficult for LIBA to get national recognition. It will be very difficult to be reckoned among the best in the nation.

I hated administration. Whenever an administrative job was offered, I refused. But administration was thrust on me from the beginning. I did not seek it, rather I tried to avoid it. In fact my happiest days were my stay at Goa. I had no administrative power, but I did all that I could to improve the Institute. Even now, people speak about my work there.

My work enabled me to interact with the rich and the powerful. In the early days, I felt ill at ease with them. Now I am at home with them. But I am also at home with the poor. My family still remains poor that makes me comfortable with the poor. My studies and my work make me move with the rich, to think of rich projects. As a result some think, I love only the rich people and not the poor. But people, who know me understand my stand. Wherever I have been, I cared for the maintenance staff and tried to do my best to uplift them. My inclination to servant leader has helped me to have proper perspective. I do enjoy a comfortable life, when it was offered, but I am uncomfortable with a simple life. I do believe that education is very crucial for one’s development-economic, social, moral and spiritual.

I am grateful to God and to Society for giving me the opportunity to serve the people in the education field. I might not have done extraordinary job, but tried.