Hyderabad: On Friday, at the Little Flower Junior College (LFJC), students who had left its gates years ago were drawn back by the memories they left behind. Despite their ranks, or location, numerous alumni gathered together in the college basement, hugging old friends, reliving moments, and laughing over broken promises of staying in touch.
Nonetheless, when they embraced, it was as though no time had passed at all.
Teachers, some with tears in their eyes, watched their former students with pride. “This is the reward of this job, isn’t it? They come back, they remember you, and they speak of the impact we might have had on their life,” said Sudeshna Chatterjee, a French teacher who many alumni fondly recalled.
IAS officer K. Shashanka credited the college for instilling a sense of responsibility. “Unlike other institutions, LFJC treated us with respect, and it has shaped us into individuals who could take charge of our lives.”
Lokanathan, a 1983-85 student, was one of them. “Sudeshna ma’am taught me French, and seeing her again after all these years brought back so much,” he shared.
The event celebrated Little Flower Junior College’s 50 years legacy, but it was the first-ever alumni meet that was at the spotlight.
Lokanathan, who now works in Pune, spoke about the college as it was in its early days. “Back then, this place was really far from the city, with just this one building standing out. Now it’s unrecognisable, with the metro and all the development around.”
He recounted a rainy day when students travelled all the way to college by bus, only to discover classes were cancelled. “There was no WhatsApp, no phones, just laughter all the way back home.”
Actor Tarun Kumar, a student from the 1999-2001 batch, Little Flower was where his career began. “I was in my first year when I got the chance to act ‘in Nuvve Kavali’,” he said. “The support from my lecturers and principals, Brother George and Brother James is what made it all possible. Without them, I don’t think my career would have taken off.”
The celebrations also brought virtual messages from alumni who couldn’t attend in person. Actor Nagarjuna Akkineni, from the college’s first batch, sent a video recalling the Chirag Ali Lane campus. “Those two years were some of the best of my life. I owe so much to the faculty who laid such a strong foundation,” he said.
Teachers like Sudeshna Chatterjee, who started teaching in 1981 while still a student, spoke on the bonds they had built. “I was very attached to my students. Even now, their love and respect mean everything to me,” she said, as she recalled her personal hardships and how her students supported her through it.
The evening culminated in cultural performances and speeches from dignitaries. Bro. Arun Prakash, Principal, announced that the celebrations would continue until 2026 to mark the 50th anniversary of the first batch’s graduation.
Alumni left with promises to return again, this time, they hoped, not so far into the future.
“This place is more than just a college,” said Lokanathan, adding, “It’s where we grew up, learned, laughed, and built a foundation for everything we are today. No matter how far we go, we’ll always find our way back.”
