Thousands of students across Jharkhand and beyond woke up with a shock when they came to know that their source of inspiration Father C De Brouwer (89) was no more. His students with tear in their eyes have only one wish on their lips that ‘May God Rest his Soul in Peace.’
Father C De Brouwer was suffering from lung infection took his last breath on Wednesday night. He was given a tearful farewell on Thursday by one and all in the city. His students call him their role model.
Senior IAS officer Mridula Sinha who had been one of his students sharing her memory with Father said, “I met Father De Brouwer in the year 1974 when I joined St Xavier’s College. He was my Physics teacher, under his guidance I did projects and realised that he used to treat his students as his friend. He had a strong will power and always had a positive approach for life. His attitude for life was the biggest reason behind his long life span.”
Echoing similar, former DGP RR Prasad said, “He was a popular teacher in college the best thing about him was that he had a wonderful memory for names. After 40 years when I met him he greeted me by calling out my name. I was teaching Human Rights he showed interest in it. When he came to know that I am going to show film on Mahatma Gandhi he dropped in Father Proost hall to watch the film and showed interest in whatever was doing and students in the field of human right. When he heard the students being sent to prison to meet the prisoners by sharing his experience he said he always use to visit there and pray for their inmates but because of growing age had stop going there. He was growing frail every day and will miss him”
He had served the institution for around 60 years and was a pillar. He had shaped many lives not only from St Xavier College but from other Colleges as well. He was not only a teacher but was a friend who would listen to their problem and make all possible effort from his end to solve it.
Principal of St Xavier College Father Nicholas Tete said, “The Belgium-born missionary had spent his entire life serving Ranchi people. He always used to say- he had to do many things more in his life and had miles to go. His death is like a shock for the institution and will always miss his presence. I pray to God that-’May his soul rest in peace’.
XISS Director Alex Ekka said, “It is a very huge loss and will always miss his presence. We all will follow his footstep.”