Jesuits and Education
The Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of Priests founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola, and the members of which are commonly known as Jesuits, has played a significant role in shaping education worldwide, including India. The Jesuits first arrived in India in the 16th century, with St. Francis Xavier being one of the earliest missionaries. The Jesuits established their initial educational institutions at Goa, which became a base for their educational and missionary activities. The Jesuits recognized the importance of education as a means for both evangelization and social upliftment. They founded schools, colleges, and seminaries that provided a comprehensive education, combining Western knowledge with local cultural and intellectual traditions. Jesuit education in India, characterized by its focus on intellectual rigor, moral development, and social justice, has made a profound impact on the country's educational landscape. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Jesuits expanded their educational efforts across India, establishing renowned institutions such as St. Xavier's College in Kolkata (1860), St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai (1869), St. Joseph's College in Bangalore (1882), , Loyola College in Chennai (1925), and St. Xavier’s College in Ranchi (1944). These institutions became the centers of academic excellence, attracting students from diverse backgrounds and contributing to the intellectual and cultural development of the nation.

Jesuits Contribution to Education at Biru (Simdega)
Fr. Augustus Stockman a Jesuit came to Chaibasa from Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1869. Later on, owing to some reason he moved to nearby BurudiChochang. It was a period when the indigenous people of the area were losing their ancestral land and were being severely oppressed by the economically well-off landlords and tax collectors. Such exploited and marginalized people revolted against such anoppressive system, but theirprotests were brutally suppressed by the landlords and tax collectors. It was a crisis like situation and the indigenous people of the area were in need of liberation from such helplessness, a sense of alienation and migration to other parts of India such as the tea gardens of Bengal, Assam, Bhutan, andthe Andaman & Nicobar Islands. For the indigenous people liberation was possible only through education. At this juncture, the Jesuits entered the Biru area. It was decided that liberation was possible in two ways ??freedom from within by removing superstitious beliefs through education, and protecting the indigenous land which is the only means of livelihood and culture for the indigenous people. In fact, education reached Biru ever since the arrival of Fr. Augustus Stockman. Fr. Stockman initiated education for children in the area. To protect the land of the indigenous people Fr. Constant Lievens and Fr. J.B. Hoffman began the process. Fr. Lievens took to legal means, whereas Fr. J. B. Hoffmann launched the mission of protecting the land and to make the indigenous people economically sound. To educate the indigenous people, he took the means of Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908 (CNT Act), Catholic Co-operating Credit Society, Temperance Society, Dhan Golla and Business Bank. In 1901 Fr. Cardon, the botanist, started a Primary English School in Rengarih, and in 1903 in Samtoli, Fr. Van Robays, the Professor of Louis University Brussel, Belgium, started English Primary Schools in many villages. In the same year in 1903, Fr. De Gyres started Hindi Primary School in Kurdeg. Fr. Henry Floor started Primary and Middle School in all mission stations of Biru, Barway, Gangpur, Jashpur, Udaipur and Surguja. He also started St. Mary’s High School for Boys and
St. Anne and Ursuline Schools for Girls. Fr. Grignard and Fr. Stats being an architect, they played a key role in designing and constructing educational institutions. Fr. Van Deer Linden and other Jesuits encouraged the children, young men and women to education. The plan to start St. Xavier’s College, Simdega was visualized under the leadership of the former Provincial Superior of Ranchi Province, Dr. Fr. Ranjit Pascal Toppo SJ, and Fr. Xavier Soreng SJ and it was actualized under the leadership of Dr. Fr. Joseph Marianus Kujur SJ and his team Fr. Sudhir Minj, the Socius to the Provincial Superior and Fr. George Kerketta SJ, the P.D.D. of the Province. The Superior General Fr. Kolvanback gave his permission to open St. Xavier’s College, Simdega.