Mumbai, July 25: One of the most prominent colleges of Mumbai St Xavier's has got itself a non-Christian principal for the first time in a span of 150 years. Rajendra Shinde, who is currently heading the botany department at the college, has been now appointed as the principal. According to a news report in the Times of India, the news of his appointment by the college management has come as a pleasant surprise for Shinde and his family.

Shinde hails from Nashik holds an MSc degree. He joined Xaviers as a herbarium curator after completing his BSc in the year 1983. During which, he pursued higher education and completed his masters.

The report further mentions that since the inception of the college, it has had 22 Jesuit priest as principals. In 2015, Agnelo Menezes, a non-Jesuit became its first principal. Shinde has been associated with the college for the past 35 years and he was appointed as the vice president in the year 2011. His appointment has come at the time when the college is aiming to attain a university status in its landmark 150th year.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 25, 2018 01:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).