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170th Commemoration Service of
the Founder, Major General Claude Martin at La Martiniere, Kolkata |
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13th September, for Martinians worldwide, is a red letter day. This 13th September marked the 170th Commemoration Service of the Founder, Major General Claude Martin. I scrubbed myself whistle clean, had my suit pressed and off I was to the Founder's Day Service, picking up Surojit Ganguli (1963) en route. The day was muggy as usual, but providentially, the rains held unlike the last two times when it poured cats and dogs. This year the rains did not bother; at least when we were not under a roof. Rather good of God, I must say. I arrived just in the nick of time (about 20 minutes before Noon) thanks to a nail biting, nerve wracking ramshackle taxi ride with a garrulous driver bent on telling us his life history and how because of having broken his arm he had become a taxi driver when actually he was a private car driver! I failed to see the connection; I thought that driving a taxi would be more strenuous. But then I did not question him since I have never driven a taxi. No amount of remonstrating with him to concentrate on his driving and 'get us to the Church in time', failed to stop his rant! Little did he realise that our dose of Sermons, pontifications and homilies awaited us in due course of time and he needn't have troubled himself on this account. Having barged into the Atmodaya Hall (the building where the Woodwork and other shops were) and tucking myself into the seat so kindly given by the Vice Principal, I gazed around the Hall. It was packed like a tin of sardines. Pleasing to the eye was the fact that there was not one who was not properly dressed. All were prim and proper and duly scrubbed. Only the proverbial apple for the teacher was missing! One helpful girl, Sohini Arora, agreed to write the details for me since the audio system was crackling and trifle loud. It was another matter that the poor thing did a Houdini and vanished into thin air during the proceedings leaving me stranded high and dry. Still, she was a nice girl; she did write down her name! But then I am going too ahead with the story. A rewind is necessary. The Service started dot at Noon. Th School Orchestra struck up the Processional Music from Judas Maccaheus by GK Handel and Rondeau from Suite No 6 by Henry Purcell. They were professional to the core. The Schools' Colours leading and Houses Colours following trooped in along the aisle in all its grandeur. The teachers, the Principals, the Chief Guest (an ex student, Harshvardhan Neotia, the MD of Ambuja Cements Eastern Limited and Bengal Ambuja Housing Development Ltd) and President & Preacher (Rt Revd Samuel Raju, the Bishop of Kolkata and Ex Offico President, La Martiniere School, Kolkata) followed with measured steps to bring up the pageant. It was heartening to see an ex boy, tall and huge, as the Chief Guest dwarfing the remainder. The Rt Revd, unlike his previous appearance of this Day, looked his holy best with laundered cassock and his other paraphernalia. The Principals were their sombre best and teachers impishly smug. I swept my gaze around the hall. I got the first surprise! I did a double take! There were girls in the School Orchestra from the Girls school! It was a historic first we were told. Indeed it was a pleasant surprise. Did that make the difference in the School Orchestra being very professional in the rendition? That was the firm opinion aired by the Girls School stalwarts but then the boys opined otherwise; but then boys will be boys and girls, not sugar and spice, but real cats! The homage paid to the Founder by the marching entourage accompanied by a bit amateurish recording that occasionally missed the high notes of the Retreat and Rouse, the entourage ascended the dais. The Army buglers were sorely missed but their absence was duly compensated by the smart movements of the NCC (National Cadet Corps) boys of the School. Maybe the Republic Day 'Beating Retreat' recording could be used the next time in case there are no live buglers. The processional entourage settled, The Canticle (Let us now Praise Famous Men by R Vaughan Williams) was sung by the Boys and Girls. It had all the wizardry that the song demands and since I was sitting just ahead of the girls who sang, the words and tune were so clear that it brought back a dreamy nostalgia of the days of yore. These are the magic moments that words cannot express. It set the mood of the audience and the exuberance with which the Lord's Prayer was sung to conclude the Prayers that were rendered earlier, bears witness. The First Lesson read, the First Anthem "Cavalry" (written by Henry Vaughan and Music by Paul Rodney) was sung by the Girls' School Choir. The Girls, as usual, were wonderful and the Anthem sung most harmoniously. Of course that does not mean the Boys' School Choir was not good. In fact, they were super when it came to the Second Anthem "Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus" (Words and Music by Martin Nystrom). This was sung after the Second Lesson and the School Prayer. What surprised me was that I still remembered each word of the School Prayer and I did not require the help of the programme on which it was printed. I am sure many ex Martinians before my time (and that would make them real ancient!) would do a better job of it than me since the spirit of La Martiniere is something what the Red Indians would call "real powerful medicine" and which is strong and lasting the ages! The Second Anthem sung, the Rt Revd Raju gave The Sermon. It was short and the message was a take from the Lessons that had been read earlier. Hence, the theme was reinforced. Hopefully, the audience carried the same home. The Hymn, "All people on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice", followed. It brought back memories of the School Chapel with Mr Vyse presiding with Russell McBride and others irreverentially singing words just to the contrary and Mr Vyse trying desperately to spot the culprits in vain! Catch Mr Vyse ever catching any of these Artful Dodgers! Nasty little blokes we were! The Blessing by the Rt Revd done thereafter, the Presentation of the Founders and other Medals were made. The prestige and pride of place of the Gold Medal and the GCM seem to have vanished. The exclusiveness and aura that these Medals generated is no longer there. These days on Founder's Day a host of medals are given as if it is the Annual Prize Day of yore. Medals for thing like Environment awareness are also finding its place on this rather Hallowed Day, where tradition seems to have given way populist measures. It is not that one is against more medals being awarded. It is just that traditions should be carried on and at best tweaked and not thunderously cast asunder. After all, there is always, hopefully, the Prize Distribution Day too. The prestige and honour of the Gold and the Good Conduct Medals can never be matched by any other medal and to preserve their importance to a School boy winning them must be restored. In the Armed Forces there are many medals, but the Param Vir Chakra (the highest gallantry award) and equivalent are given by the President during the Republic Day Parade itself with the whole country watching! Thus, this award has its honoured place always and every time and even though other awards are important too, they are not awarded here, so as to maintain the sanctity, exclusiveness and honour the highest award deserves. This year Mr Suares, our PT teacher was awarded the Purse in recognition of his services to the School. He was also a National Boxer and an Army man! I regret that owing to the acoustics, I could not get the name of the Girls School ex teacher so honoured owing to the acoustics aberration. I could not get the details thereafter since after the Service there is the usual melee amongst the guests and the teachers are too busy at their various stations. The Girls School teacher, though advanced in age (though it did not show) was most graceful and very prim. I am sure in her time she was indeed an example for all. Mr Suares was his usual self with his unmistakeable cheeky grin. For the first time, there were prizes handed over to Teachers who have served a quarter century as was there such prizes for the non teaching staff and the chowkidars, bearers and others. This will be an annual affair one learns. The cheers and claps were well orchestrated since one girl, Neha Belia, who was a head girl or something, very much like an NKVD or Gestapo apparatchik, in a forced whisper, ordered the tone and length of cheers and clapping, especially for those who were being awarded prizes of the Girls School. I did tell her that I would mention her as a budding Hitler! Harshvardhan Neotia, the Chief Guest gave an excellent speech. There were no monotonous harangue and instead in a typical American type of speechmaking (he has been educated in the USA) he spoke of character qualities by posing questions and giving examples of historical figures, the names of such historical figures he kept a mystery till the end of each commentary. The suspense and the quizzing style kept the interest from flagging. Quite a novel way indeed and it brought loud cheers at the end from the audience. The Vote of Thanks was given by Dr JRB Alfred, Chairman, Board of Acting Governors, LMC. His Vote of Thanks was equally well received. In fact, it blended very well with the proceedings and with the style of the Speech of the Chief Guest. The Service concluded with the School Song and the National Anthem which were both gustily sung with all the pride and reverence that they demand. Then followed the Lunch in the Constantia Hall which was on the top floor of the building that was constructed when I think Mr Alney was the Principal and the Dhobi Ghat sold off to some private people. The lifts were not functioning and so clambering up the unending steps built up a hearty appetite. The Lunch was a mixture of Indian and English with bottled water and Thums Up followed by ice cream. Warren is yet to give me the menu that was written in the Founder's Will and which we used to get when we were in School. The menu was so appetising that one tall and good gentleman, breaking the line, nearly poured his Russian salad on my head and suit, as he groped desperately to reach the fish fries that had just arrived! He was in a rather cheap shirt and so he could afford to be licentious with his attire but not me! He seemed to be a well fed Charlie and so his hunger pangs appeared a trifle incongruous. I am sure he was but a gourmand, or in clear English, a glutton and not a gourmet! This Report will not be complete if I didn't mention that there was a Gold Medallist amongst those who attended. He was Abhijit Sen (1961). There is no doubt that this year the whole proceedings were very well organised and all kudos go to the Principals, the teachers and the students of both the Schools. One cannot thank them all enough for organising such a wonderful Founder's Day. It is believed that the Boys' School Principal, Mr Flynn, will be retiring this year after 41 years of educational service to the Nation! He has done marvellously well since there has been a distinct improvement from the few times I did visit the School when I came home on leave from the Army. We wish Mr Flynn all the best in his retired life. Hopefully, whoever takes over the baton from Mr Flynn, will be good enough to keep the traditions of the School before instituting changes and also keep the grounds and school acreage from dwindling any further. The School grounds as it is look like a postage stamp from my times and I wonder how they play games these days on such a small field. In my time, three cricket matches were played at the same time during Games with the main cricket pitch so lovingly under the care of Mr Fitzgerald (May his Soul rest in Peace) fenced off. A last word for those who collect School Memorabilia. Oxford Bookshop on Park Street is selling Pen sketches by Samir Biswas of the façade of La Martiniere Boys and Girls buildings. The set of six such sketches costs Rs 43. The envelope contains Article XXIV of Major General Claude Martin's Will and a commentary by Devi Kar which goes like this: 'I bequeath the sum of 200 sika Rupees to the town of Calcutta - that they may devise an institution the most necessary for the public good of the town of Calcutta or establishing a certain number of children of any sex to a certain age and to have them put prentice to some profession&ldots;&ldots;&ldots;&ldots;&ldots;' On 22nd October 1832 the Supreme Court of the Judicature passed the Decree that a school by the name of La Mariniere should be built on the land already purchased and situated in Shorts Bazaar. The building (present Boys' School) was designed by JH Rattray Esq., the architect was JP Parker while Captain Hutchinson, Engineer of the East Indian Company was chosen to supervise the construction. The school opened on March 1st 1836. On 21s December, 1840 it was decided to separate the girls from the boys and on Christmas Even, 1849 Mrs James Powell Parker's residence was purchased for Rs 75000 and the Girls School was born. |
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