The visit of Prof. K. J. George Kattampally (93) to the college on 14 July 2026 set me reflecting—not merely on what he was to St Berchmans College, but on what the college had always meant to him.

Prof. George joined the Department of Chemistry in 1956 and became its Head in 1969 following the retirement of Prof. T. T. Chacko. Later, he was appointed Vice Principal, becoming only the second lay teacher to hold that office after Prof. A. E. Augustine. He retired in 1992 after thirty-six years of dedicated service, including twenty-three years of inspiring leadership of the Department of Chemistry, which became known for its academic excellence and the remarkable camaraderie among its teaching and support staff.

Although his native place, Champakulam, was only 19 kilometres away, he chose to live in the staff hostel within the Botanical Garden campus even after improved road connectivity through the Kidangara and Nedumudy bridges. Available on campus virtually round the clock during the working week, he returned home only on weekends. To younger teachers, especially those who shared the hostel, he was far more than a colleague. He became a father figure, mentor, counsellor, trusted friend, and, on more than one occasion, even a matchmaker.

Sitting : Fr Mathew Pulickaparampil (Vice Principal), Fr Joseph Powathil (lecturer in Economics), Fr Antony Kurialacherry (Principal), Gregory Karickampally (Bursar) Standing: Fr Gegory Paruvaparampil (Physics Dept) , Mr Scaria Zacharia (Malayalam Dept), Mr K J George (HoD Chemistry), Mr A E Augustine (English Dept)

The photo taken between 1969-72 shows his association with college hierarchy.

Prof. George cultivated warm friendships across departments. Though he served as Vice Principal for only a year, he worked in perfect harmony with the Principal, Rev. Dr. George Madathilparambil, and left a lasting impression through his quiet efficiency and affable nature.

His interests extended well beyond chemistry. He played a significant role in the staging of Shakespearean plays on the campus by designing and arranging the stage props, demonstrating that education flourishes where science and the arts meet.

His first love was always S.B. College. During the celebration of his golden wedding anniversary, I remarked that he had, in fact, married S.B. College long before he married his wife. He once shared with me the simple philosophy that guided his life: “Take care of the students in our classrooms, and God will take care of our children at home.” It was a conviction he lived by.

Retirement never diminished his commitment to the institution. During the first NAAC accreditation in 1999, when the concept of a Self-Study Report was new and unfamiliar, Prof. George and Prof. A. J. Francis, Head of the Department of English, painstakingly prepared the voluminous report that earned the college the coveted Five-Star accreditation.

Again, in 2004, when St Berchmans College was shortlisted by the UGC under the College with Potential for Excellence scheme, he assisted in preparing the proposal and accompanied the Principal and Vice Principal to New Delhi for discussions with UGC officials.

In 2005, Rev. Fr. Tom Kunnumpuram entrusted Prof. George and Prof. A. J. Francis with documenting the history of the college. Together they spent nearly two years poring over archives, dusty files, annual reports, and forgotten records to produce the comprehensive 100-plus-page Profile of St Berchmans College in 2007. That remarkable labour of love remains an invaluable source for anyone seeking to understand the institution’s rich heritage.

St Berchmans College owes an enduring debt of gratitude to Prof. K. J. George for his extraordinary service within the Department of Chemistry and far beyond it. Equally, Prof. George never ceased to belong to the college to which he had dedicated his life since 1956.

George sir’s visit on 14 July 2026

Nonagenarian’s (90+) quiet, unannounced visit to the campus in June 2026, accompanied by the two sons whom, ‘God had taken care of,’ was more than a nostalgic homecoming. It was a reminder that some people retire from service, but never from belonging. Buildings age, generations change, and memories fade, but the deepest relationships between a teacher and an institution endure.

Prof. George did not merely serve St Berchmans College— it was an evergreen love affair.