Filmindia (1941)

T/i^ CHy^uila 'fazalilicxj ^ecltnical Cnsiliuia R lUorthy memorial To H lllorthy Pioneer Can Ule Forget Father Palacios Hnd The Fazalbhoys ? Since the Bombay University decided to allow affiliated colleges to hold Diploma Courses in various technical subjects, the mind of Fr. Palacios was busy planning out ways and means of starting courses of instructions in the subjects he had chosen for St. Xavier's College, namely. Radio and Cinema. However, independently of him the sons of the late Mr. Abdulla Fazalbhoy were preparing to found a memorial to their father, whose genius, initiative and industry had contributed in a large measure to establish the radio and cinema industries in India. To perpetuate the memory of the illustrious pioneer his sons and the firm of Fazalbhoy Limited founded the Abdulla Fazalbhoy Technical Institute as a benevolent and educational institution in May 1937. Dame Fortune was apparently smiling on Fr. Palacios for, a few days later he received an invitation from Mr. Fazalbhoy to the opening ceremony of the Institute in Film City by the Mayor of Bombay. One of the secrets of success is the ability to grasp boldly a favourable opportunity when it presents itself. That Fr. Palacios does not lack in snap decision, he amply proved on this occasion. At the party following the opening ceremony, he proposed to Mr. Fazalbhoy that since he himself had wanted to start the type of training in the College and that as the Fazalbhoys were anxious to found a memorial to their father, it would suit both parties admirably well if the Institute were donated to St. Xavier's College and were run by them in the name of Mr. Abdulla Fazalbhoy, thereby giving permanence to the memorial. The merits of the proposal were too obvious to call for long negotiations and the transfer was decided upon the very next day. It must be recorded here, in passing, that ever since the day of the transfer, the Fazalbhoys have been watching the progress of the institution with benevolent interest and have been helping whenever they could. The late Mr. Abdulla Fazalbhoy, B.A., LL.B., J.P., in whose memory the Abdulla Fazalbhoy Institute was donated by his sons. And exactly a week after the opening ceremony, the classes commenced in the new premises of the Institute in St. Xavier's College. AN EDUCATIONAL SHOW SERVICE The first session started with 100 students and it can be confessed now that the task of completing the course of instructions for them according to schedule proAdded the staff members with a first class nightmare of work. But Fr. Palacios was always there in the background, helping where he could, giving courage and inspiration to the staff when the situation looked particularly depressing, and generous praise to ease out tenmon, when tempers began to pray and nerves got on edge, in these and a thousand other ways providing that faith and bovmdless enthusiasm which were so sorely needed to carry through the first term. It is alpo pleasant to record that it was a complete success. But Father Palacios was already looking ahead and planning the opening of the Cinema Department with a conr.<ie of in.'Jtruction.'s in Cinema Projection. As usual, he would not be stopped by objections or difficulties, and the course was opened in January 1938. As soon as the new installation was tried out and found satisfactory, an "Educational Films" Scheme was launched, by which regular shows of selected feature films of outstanding merit were shown to the High Schools of Bombay; these shows are run and managed by student operators under the supervision of the instructor. Since last year this department has also been running a weekly Educational Film Show for the High School at Bandra and one for College Students here. Under these schemes over 130 full-length feature films have been shown upto-date and they can now be said 47