Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore

OVERVIEW

Kristu Jayanti College, founded in 1999, is run by “BODHI NIKETAN TRUST”, formed by the members of St. Joseph’s Province of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), the first indigenous religious congregation in India. This congregation is the embodiment of the dream and vision of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara who was a nineteenth century educationist and social reformer in India. Kuriakose Chavara was born in 1805, in Kainakary, Kerala. In 1829 he was ordained as priest after his early schooling in the native village and priestly study. Kristu Jayanti College Founderies at Pallipuram seminary in Alapuzha.

Kuriakose Elias Chavara though he hailed from an upper caste Syrian Christian family, he played a major role in educating the people of the lower ranks of society. In 1846, Kuriakose Elias established St. Joseph’s Press at Mannanam- a remote hamlet near the town of Kottayam in Central Kerala. This was the third printing press in Kerala and the first press founded by a Keralite without the help of foreigners. From this printing press came the first Malayalam newspaper Nasrani Deepika which later became a daily in 1887 and is circulated even today as Deepika. He also started a school at Mannanam in 1846. He was responsible for introducing noon day meals in schools, a practice later adopted by the rulers of Travancore and then by the Indian government. In 1864, while he was serving as the Vicar General of Syrian Catholics, he ordered to start a school along with every church which was successful in making free education available for everyone. Thus, schools in Kerala came to be known as ‘pallikudam’.

In co-operation with Palackal Thoma Malpan and Thoma Porukara, Kuriakose Elias founded an Indian religious congregation for men, now known as the ‘Carmelites of Mary Immaculate’ (CMI). He believed that intellectual development and the education of women was the first step towards overall social welfare. Towards this end he founded, the ‘Congregation of the Mother of Carmel’ (CMC), the first religious congregation for women.
Kuriakose Elias attained eternal peace on 3 January 1871, aged 66, at Koonammavu- a northern suburb of Cochin City. Kuriakose Elias was beatified at Kottayam on 8 February 1986, and later on November 23, 2014 he was canonized at St. Peter’s Square by Pope Francis.

The service of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara has been acknowledged and lauded with gratitude by the Government of India and to honour him, the Government released a postal stamp with his portrait in 1986. The CMI congregation with a membership of 2300, serves humanity in educational, social, healthcare and other activities, aiming the prosperity and well-being of the society. Though Kristu Jayanti College is a minority institution, it strives to impart quality education without distinction of religion, caste or creed.

 Our History

Kristu Jayanti College, founded in 1999, is run by “BODHI NIKETAN TRUST”, formed by the members of St. Joseph Province of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). The college is affiliated to Bengaluru North University and is reaccredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC in 2015. The college is recognized by UGC under the category 2(f) & 12(B). The college functions as an autonomous institution since 2013, sanctioned by the University Grants Commission, Government of Karnataka & the Bangalore University.

The institution strives to fulfill its mission to provide educational opportunities to all aspiring youth to excel in life by developing academic excellence, fostering values, creating civic responsibility and building global competencies in a dynamic environment.

In late 1990’s majority of higher educational institutions were found in the southern and eastern parts of Bangalore. The northern part of Bangalore District was semi-urban and rural that lacked educational and industrial development. In order to build vibrant academic environment and to bring positive socio-economic changes in this geographical area, the college was started at K. Narayanapura, Kothanur region in 1999.

The college had a humble beginning with 1 course, 9 students and 3 faculty members has exponentially grown with 6500+ students and offers 25 UG programmes, 13 PG programmes and 3 PG Diplomas. The college has four recognized research centres in the field of Social Work, Bio-Technology, Commerce and Psychology.

Vision, Mission and Goals

Vision

‘Light and Prosperity’: To provide intellectual and moral leadership by igniting the minds of youth to realize their potential and make positive contributions leading to prosperity of the society and the nation at large.

Mission

‘Kristu Jayanti College strives to provide educational opportunities to all aspiring youth to excel in life by nurturing academic excellence, fostering values, creating civic responsibility and building global competencies in a dynamic environment.’

Goals

• To provide a nurturing and trusting environment to learn and grow.
• To ensure that the youth get adequate opportunities to identify and develop their skills.
• To prepare the individual for employment and advancement in their chosen career.
• To mould individuals into integrated personalities who are intellectually competent, spiritually mature, physically strong and socially sensitive.
• To develop a lifelong desire in individuals to learn and to create a positive change in the society and contribute to the economic development of the nation.