Founder
An Educationist
Par Excellence
Archbishop Mar Ivanios, a luminous figure of the 20th
century, was a tireless apostle for unity. A man endowed with rare
and sterling qualities, both of mind and heart, the Archbishop was
at home in the halls of learning as well as in the courts of
princes. Above all he was a lover of truth. This is perhaps the
reason why he chose Veritas vos liberabit ‘Truth shall
liberate you’ as the motto of Mar Ivanios College, the prestigious
educational institution in Kerala, which he founded in 1949.
He was an educationist who made a significant
contribution to our nation. He considered education as the best
means for uplifting the social condition of the people. He brought
the blessings of “higher education to all within the reach of it,
without distinction of caste or creed” (Margaret Gibbons).
His life as an educationist started with his
appointment as the principal of M. D. Seminary High School, Kottayam
(1908 - 1913). It was his dream to upgrade this school into a
junior college. But unfortunately he could not realise this dream
because in 1913 he had to leave for Serampore, Calcutta. Serampore
College is considered as the first Christian University in India
which was run by the Danish Missionaries. The principal of Serampore
College, Dr. Howells, who was impressed by the personality of Mar
Ivanios especially by his proficiency in English language, invited
him to join Serampore College as a member of the staff. Thus in 1913
he left M. D. Seminary High School.
Later
that became a blessing in disguise. In 1913 the Serampore college
paid him approximately Rs. 1500 as salary. Those days this was an
enormous amount and he thought of doing something good with this
money. He spent all this money for the education of the young people
of his church. He thought that if there were enough well educated
people, especially a group of well-educated clergy in the church,
they could change the fate of the church. In order to achieve this
goal, he brought many young people to Calcutta, He spent his salary
from the university for their education. Gradually the number of
these young people increased and some of them were sent to Allahabad
and Madras Universities. He also sent some girls to Barisole for
higher education and the first members of Bethany Convent were from
this group. When he came back to
Kerala and later became the Arch Bishop of Trivandrum, educational
field was one of his priorities. Mar Ivanios College itself is the
best testimony for it.
Born in 1892, in the ancient
‘Mallitti Paniker’ family of Mavelikara, Alappuzha, Mar Ivanios
created a sensation by his reunion with the Catholic Church in 1930.
Since he was the first among the Kerala clergy who took an M. A.
degree, he was called by the people "M. A. Achan”. He is the
founder of Re-union Movement, he is the first Metropolitan
Archbishop of Trivandrum, he is the founder of two religious
congregations and the list can be prolonged. Mar Ivanios passed away
on 15th July 1953 after consecrating Benedict Mar
Gregorios as his successor in January of the same year. Mar Ivanios
College and the schools he started and the thousands of people who
reaped the benefit of these educational institutions will remain as
living witness to the achievements of this great visionary forever.
