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youngster did well, was the final Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination in
1950. In spite of studies, Joseph immersed himself in fun-filled activities with his friends.
The cold of the Nilgiris, the poor nourishment during the post-war years, and the
inconveniences of the system, were submerged in his genuine happiness among his
friends. Soon after High School, Joseph was admitted to the Religious Training Novitiate
of the Brothers. Abraham came to visit him to see if his son was genuinely interested in
staying on with the Brothers. Abraham offered to compensate the Brothers for three years
of invaluable education, if Joseph wanted to leave. But the youngster was full of
enthusiasm and would not hear of any such offer. The father returned satisfied that his
son was happy where he was.

Two years of Novitiate later, the young Religious, who in 1951 assumed the name of
Brother Eugenius, was sent to Loyola College, Madras. The four years he spent in Loyola
and a further year in St. Xavier’s Teachers Training College, Playamkottah, were stellar
years for the young man. He did extremely well in his studies with very little effort. Bro.
Eugenius won several awards through the five years in College, and obtained the degrees
of B.A. and B.Ed. His father was very pleased. Abraham’s cup of joy ran over when, in
1957, his son, hardly 23 years old, was appointed Headmaster of St. Antony’s High
School, Coonoor, from where he had graduated only seven years earlier. His Superiors
placed tremendous trust in the young man. Bro. Eugenius acquitted himself well. His lack
of inhibition, his daring to try new things (partly due to lack of experience and ignorance
of consequences), and his successes, greatly because of sincere help from colleagues and
teachers, earned him a reputation as a resourceful Principal, a disciplinarian, an avid
sports enthusiast, as well as a hero to many youngsters. He was also involved in the
formation of the young recruits wishing to join the Brothers. In all his endeavors he had
much help from his confreres and from Providence. By 1962 he was asked to be the
Principal and Director of St. Gabriel’s Higher Secondary School, Kazipet, which had a
student population of more than a thousand, more than half being boarders. A team of
Brothers and teachers supported Bro.Eugenius. A major reason in his success was his
ability to inspire and lead the team, and to give them responsibility to do what was best.
The trust was reciprocated a hundred fold by his fellow workers. His Superiors
contemplated sending him to various places of greater responsibility. In 1965 he was
asked to assume charge of All Saints High School, Hyderabad, the biggest and the most
trouble filled school of the Brothers. By this time, Bro. Eugenius had serious doubts
about his calling, and was wondering whether to continue as a Brother. Therefore he
requested his superiors to spare him the enmeshment of All Saints, while he was sorting
out his future. They allowed him to go to Nalgonda in 1965, where he started St.
Alphonso’s High School. In May 1966 he was invited to Europe to spend a period of time
in studies and recollection. He embraced the opportunity and spent several months in
France, toured Europe, and ended in Rome for a few months of intensive personal
evaluation and studies. In January 1967, after great internal struggles, he decided, with
the consent of his superiors, to leave the society. It was a heart-wrenching decision for
several reasons. The fear of scandalizing a lot of Brothers who looked to him as a hero
and a model was one. At least as important was the knowledge that his own people,
especially his father, who had enjoyed the reflection of his son’s glory, and who had been
genuinely proud of the son, would be deeply disappointed. However that be, the die was

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