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The Founder's
Day Newsletter from La Martiniere, Calcutta |
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The Calcutta sky was overcast, the stillness of the air was stifling. Not a ray of light pierced the clouds. Yet, the weather could not dampen the enthusiasm of those organising or participating in the Founder's Day celebrations. It was for us the Day of Days. Last year I could not attend the Founder's Day, but this year I made it a point to be there all suited and booted and join the 168th Commemoration of our Founder, Major General Claude Martin. I also owed it to Vinoth Kumar and Warren to report the proceedings of this year's Founder's Day. We were to be seated by 1145 AM and the Ceremony would commence as usual at Noon. The Chief Guest was Sanjiv Goenka, Vice Chairman RPG Enterprise [ex St Xaviers] and the President and Preacher was His Grace, the Rt Revd Samuel Raju, the Bishop of Calcutta and the Ex Officio President La Martiniere Schools, Calcutta. The venue was the new [at least to me] building next to the Tech Block in the Boys School. The last Founder's Day Service I attended was in 1962, the year I passed out of School. Therefore, some of the proceedings were new to me as it would be to those who passed out of school around my time. The Divine Service commenced with what was termed in the programme as Processional Music which was 'This Great World' and was superbly executed by the Boys School Orchestra. Indeed a procession did accompany the music. Along the aisle came the Girls School Banner on the right and alongside on the left was Boys School Banner marching in smartly in slow march. Behind them came boys carrying the house flags Charnock, Hastings, Macaulay and Martin. They trooped past the audience and then climbed the stage and went behind the seated guests of honour and there they remained fluttering if you will till the end of the service. They made a pretty picture indeed. In the days of yore this was not there. Then, unlike in our times, an army bugler from the 11th Regiment of the Gorkha Rifle, who was standing as still in front of the dais as was the bust of our Founder placed at the entrance of the Hall, blew the Retreat and followed it with the Rouse. I think this was organised by the Principal through the good office of Lt Gen John Mukherjee who is the Chief of Staff of HQ, Eastern Command. He too was supposed to attend but has been called to Delhi on a last minute assignment. The Canticle, 'Let Us Now Praise Famous Men' was sung by the Boys and Girls and it brought back memories of our schooldays. Did we sing better in our days or was the acoustics to be blamed or maybe I am just biased like any old man suffering from the 'the good old days' syndrome. Notwithstanding, it did give a warm glow to the heart and being swamped by memories of my days a warm feel good glow enveloped me. I wonder if someone could enlighten me as to what we used to sing apart from this hymn, where the girls sang the same line in between and raced through it in a most cute way to end the line as we finished. Obviously, for those who are reading this and wondering what my gender would be, it was and still is male; though it was young and merry then but slightly jaded though still young now. The Lords Prayer was followed by the First Lesson, the First Anthem {I Will Give You Glory O God My King} and the Second Lesson. It was a salute to India's secularist strength to observe that Old Boys of non Christian denominations not only sang the Lord's Prayer with gusto but they had not forgotten in spite of years of having past out of school, the musical intonations that powered the Prayer. This was followed by the School Prayer. The Bishop gave his sermon thereafter and providentially it was short since the environment had become stuffy with the overflow of humanity that was attending and were still coming in. In fact, till 1PM folks were still coming in. In fact, some wondered if they were inordinately late or were they too early for the next years Founder's Day! This never ending late comers coming in in driblets and being ushered in my teachers who were prowling around looking for vacant seats was indeed distracting and discomfiting. The Blessing, by the Bishop of Calcutta, was preceded by the Hymn 'All people that on earth do dwell' and then commenced Part 2 of the Programme. The Founder's Medals were presented by the Chief Guest. Another unique feature this year was the institution of the Award to Past Teachers for their Contribution. Ms Simeon and Ms Guinness were awarded these inaugural awards, which carried amongst other things, a Citation and a purse. However, these ladies could not in person accept the award owing to their failing health and age. Thereafter was the Address by the Chief Guest. The main theme was 'I came, I saw and I got conquered'. He praised the school for all its contribution to the Nation, the World and society in general. There was a hint that though he was a Xavierian, the LMC boys and girls always has the air of exclusivity. I couldn't have agreed more. I looked around the audience and observed that though the older lot of old boys were suited and booted, the younger lot of Old Boys and girls were in jeans and even T shirts. And what really jolted me was that there was a boy who had some fancy slippers that resembled a 'mule' [the fur slipper worn in the bedroom in cold weather!]. Surely, it proves that the old boys were the last of the exclusive Mohicans. I wondered if the younger lot realise that even in the US which is the pacesetter for informal dressing, graduation at US schools required ALL to be suited and booted and they take pride in dressing so given the solemnity of the occasion, inspite of their chewing gum liberal image. Dr JRB Alfred, the Chairman, Acting Board of Governors, LMC School gave the Vote of Thanks. The fact that he was applauded repeatedly by the younger lot from the rear of the audience, at the intervals that was incongruous to what he was stating, possibly indicated that the length of the Vote of Thanks was straining the impatience of the restive generation. Notwithstanding, with the end of the Vote of Thanks another memorable phase of the Schools' history drew to a close. The Founder's Dinner was held at the Constantia Hall. For the uninitiated as I was, it is a hall that is on the top floor of the multi storied building that was bartered (?) for the dhobighat. The menu, a departure from the traditional menu, included biriyani, a chicken gravy, Russian salad, fish fry, and ice cream. The participants surely had a whale of a time given the proportions observed on their plates. The Dinner was buffet style. Thunderous rain followed the Dinner and we were drenched as we exited. That La Martiniere is not a 'one of the many' school is proved by the fact that we are the only School that has a Founder's Day and a Dinner for all as also by the fact that ex LMC boys and girls still jet in from far corners to Calcutta for just one day to saviour the honour and pride of attending the Founder's Day. We are a proud school and we should take pride in our heritage. The old has to give way to the new, but Traditions should go on if indeed we are to maintain our 'exclusivity' - the 'exclusivity' so ironically mentioned by the Chief Guest, be in Dress, punctuality, discipline or proceedings as laid down by traditions handed over by our predecessors. Vive La Martiniere! |