Dallas, Texas: Loyola College, Chennai, one of India’s most prestigious institutions of higher education, marked its centenary with a two-day global alumni celebration, from September 26-27, 2025, at the Renaissance Richardson Hotel. 

The event brought together around 200 Loyola alumni and their families from across the world, highlighting the institution’s enduring impact on “education, leadership, and community service” over the last century.

The gathering, hosted by the Loyola Alumni Association USA, drew the presence of distinguished educators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and public figures, reflecting the breadth of Loyola’s influence across generations and continents.

Delivering the special address on September 26, Consul General of India in Houston, Manjunath Chenneerappa, described the centenary as a “powerful convergence” of education, innovation, and diaspora engagement.

“Your presence here as alumni, thought leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs highlights the impact of a global Loyola family,” Chenneerappa said, adding that “It exemplifies how the Indian American community continues to serve as a living bridge between India and the United States.”

He praised Loyola’s reputation for “academic excellence and global recognition,” and emphasized that the institution’s commitment to social responsibility and service has amplified its legacy. “You would agree with me that social responsibility, a legacy of service and outreach, which are at the core of Loyola’s mission, makes it much more special,” he said.

The Consul General, who studied at Guindy Engineering College in Chennai, noted Loyola’s century-long role as a “beacon” of values-based leadership. 

“As they say, it is a small world – many friends and leaders I know personally turned out to be Loyola alumni,” he remarked, and went on to recognize prominent alumni in attendance, including Emeritus NASA Scientist and Alumni Association USA Chairman Antony Jeevarajan, Indiaspora Founder MR Rangaswami, and T. Vishnudatta Jayaraman, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of South Asian Herald.

He described Jayaraman as a “well-known journalist,” and thanked President & CEO, SB International Inc Satish Gupta, a Loyola alumnus and a renowned business leader in Texas, for inviting him to the celebrations. 

In closing, he also extended greetings on behalf of India’s Ambassador to the U.S., Vinay Kwatra, expressing hope that the summit would “deepen bonds, spark new ideas, and inspire the next generation of changemakers.”

During his address, Chenneerappa commended tennis legend and Padma Shri awardee Vijay Amritraj, who was present at the celebrations. He further highlighted other globally recognized alumni, such as former Indian President R. Venkataraman, former RBI Governor C. Rangarajan, economist and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, and VIT Chancellor G. Viswanathan.

In his chairman’s address, Jeevarajan, described the occasion as a moment to “celebrate, connect and collaborate.” Expressing gratitude to Texas business leader Satish Gupta and Program Chair Christy Paul for spearheading the organizing efforts, he stressed the importance of strengthening alumni networks for greater impact.

SB International’s Gupta, called the centenary celebration “historic.” He reflected on Loyola’s beginnings in Chennai a century ago with “a simple but profound vision to educate, to inspire, and to transform life.” Loyola, he said, has “stood the test of time” and continues to shape generations of leaders and changemakers worldwide.

Rector and Vice Chairman of Loyola College, Rev. Antony Robinson, spoke about the institution’s remarkable journey since its founding by Father Francis Bertram. 

“Father Bertram began the college with just 75 students from three departments—math, history, and economics. Today, the number has grown to 15,000,” he said. Robinson emphasized two qualities that define Loyola’s century-long journey: “loyalty and legacy.”

He noted the college’s strong commitment to ethics and inclusivity, citing examples such as the financial support offered to underprivileged students and the daily noon meals provided to 300 students on campus.

Principal Rev. Louis Arockiaraj described the centenary as both a privilege and a reminder of Loyola’s enduring values. “The celebration reminds us of the legacy of Loyola, and it reminds us of our togetherness,” he said, emphasizing the Alumni Association’s role as a “beacon of network and collaboration.”

Rev. Arockiaraj detailed the institution’s academic expansion, noting that Loyola now offers 24 departments spanning sciences, arts, commerce, humanities, languages, and visual communication. Innovative programs in data analytics, counseling, and artificial intelligence have also been added. 

“Loyola has 9,000 students in the arts and science disciplines alone,” he shared, while pointing to affiliated institutions such as the Loyola-ICAM College of Engineering and Technology (LICET), Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), and Loyola College of Education.

Commending the alumni, he acknowledged their hard-earned achievements. “It’s not an easy affair,” Rev. Arockiaraj said, noting the perseverance and resilience behind their global success.

Director of the Loyola Alumni Association, Rev. Louis Albert, highlighted the expanding international footprint of the Loyola network. “Currently, the Association has 30 international chapters and 20 plus national chapters. The single goal is to take Loyola and connect it with every member who has gone through the portal of Loyola College,” he said.

Rev. Albert underscored the power of alumni stories, which continue to inspire students. He noted that every time he meets an alumni, he takes back success stories, which are more meaningful to those students who are on the margin. “You are all helping in so many ways… our purpose is to collect all these stories from you and share it with our present generation,” he said.

He emphasized that the alumni’s contributions, whether in India or abroad, reflect Loyola’s enduring mission of service and societal transformation.

The celebration also included reflections on the role of the Indian diaspora. Ajit Isaac, Chairman of Quess Group, spoke about the economic impact of Indian Americans in the U.S., highlighting their contributions to education, business, and philanthropy.

According to Isaac, around 35-40 million people of Indian origin reside outside India, with approximately 15 million classified as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Of these, 5.4 million live in the United States, representing roughly 1.5 per cent of the U.S. population. Remarkably, this small segment contributes about 5 per cent of the country’s total tax revenue, a disproportionately high figure relative to their population size.

Isaac noted that Indians in the U.S. also have a significant presence in business and entrepreneurship: they own nearly 60 per cent of all hotels and have founded 11 per cent  of U.S. unicorn companies. Beyond their economic impact, they are also highly philanthropic, donating nearly $2.3 billion annually to causes both in the United States and in India.

Dean James Whittington of the Gupta College of Business at the University of Dallas also addressed the gathering, offering an American perspective on the significance of Loyola’s global alumni network.

The famous, Thai Manne Tamil Song by Ravi Murugaiah was featured on the opening night and the following day.  

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