History

The History of the St. Paul’s Alumni Association

  1. The Beginnings (Mid 1940s to Early 2000s)

The journey of the Old Boys Association (OBA) began on 15th September 1940. It was started to mark two special occasions: the Golden Jubilee of the Portuguese Jesuits in Belgaum and the 400th Anniversary of the Society of Jesus.

Key Highlights of the Early Years:

The Founders: The association was driven by Fr. Claude Saldanha SJ, Mr. P.G. Lobo, and enthusiastic Old Boys and students.

The Goal: Their motto was to give back to society, not just in Belgaum, but all over India and abroad.

Activities: In the early days, there was great energy. Cricket and hockey matches were played between the Old Boys and senior students. They also held annual get-togethers and took part in the school’s Annual Sports.

Challenges and Global Chapters: Over time, the association in Belgaum slowed down because many students left the city for work after finishing school. However, Paulites in other parts of the world kept the spirit alive:

Goa: Many students came from Goa, so they formed active groups there after returning home.

East Africa: A very strong chapter existed in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zanzibar. They remained very loyal until the African Independence movement, after which many moved to the UK, Australia, Canada, or back to India.

Contributions: The Tanzania chapter donated the ‘Silver Rolling Shield,’ which is still presented to the "Boy of the Year" at the Passing-out Parade. The East Africa Old Boys also donated generously to the "School Building Fund" in 1956.
  1. The Rebirth of the OBA (Early 2000s to 2011)

Around 2000-2001, a small group of 8 to 10 ex-students decided to restart the association. They wanted to do something good for their Alma Mater and society.

Building Momentum:

Fundraiser: Guided by the school motto, “Let us put on the armour of light,” they organized a Ghazal Night featuring the famous singer Pankaj Udhas. The money raised was used for community service.

Reunions: They started holding batch reunions. While some were small and mostly limited to local residents, they successfully built a strong bond (esprit de corps) among the alumni.

The 2006 Jubilee: This bond led to the grand success of the 150th Year Jubilee Celebrations in 2006. Although the school organized the event, many Ex-Paulites worked day and night to assist the Principal, Fr. Agnelo Pinto SJ, and the teachers.

This period planted the seeds for a larger, more organized global community.

  1. The Birth of Paulites of Belgaum Worldwide (2011 Onwards)

In December 2010, a massive reunion was organized for all batches from 1947 to 2010.

Major Achievements:

The Mega Reunion: On December 4th and 5th, 2010, around 1,350 alumni and staff gathered. Including families, the crowd crossed 1,800 people.

National Record: This event was so massive that the Limca Book of Records recognized it as a "National Record for the largest reunion conducted."

Official Formation: Following this success, a meeting was held on 17th September 2011 in the School Hall. Senior alumni like Anthony Dennis, George Coelho, and Medioma Bhada attended. A call was made for volunteers to form a proper committee. Around 60 Paulites became the first members by paying a fee of ₹500.

Finally, on 27th June 2012, the association was officially registered with the Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Belgaum. It was named “Paulites of Belgaum Worldwide” (PBW).