HONOUR - 1 ::

DEFENCE HONOUR FOR GSIS

BY P S SUNDAR

                     The Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, prestigious institution training select officers of Army, Navy and Air force besides some civilian officers from India and friendly countries, has honoured Good Shepherd International School (GSIS), Ooty, with the celebrated ‘Commandant’s Banner’.

DSSC Commandant Lt Gen S K Gadeock (right) presented the banner to GSIS Principal Dr P C Thomas on Feb 21, 2015.

“In India, GSIS is, perhaps, the only school to be bestowed with this rare honour.  In some countries, such affiliation between Defence and civilian institutions prevail to foster greater synergy in jointmanship, harmony and understanding”, Dr Thomas said.

“DSSC-GSIS affiliation is the first of its kind which will lead to DSSC’s successive commandants, Indian and foreign officers addressing GSIS on diverse subjects, DSSC inviting GSIS students to attend lectures by heads of states and important industrialists and collaboration during natural calamities”, he noted.

Dr Thomas made the occasion memorable for Lt Gen Gadeock by presenting him a special memento:: 

  

AWARD - 1 ::

‘TAJ SCHOLARS’ GET FREE EDUCATION

BY P S SUNDAR

             This is exam time...While students are preparing for final exams, ‘Taj Scholar’ prestigious awards have been announced motivating them score high marks.

              Prakash Nair, General Manager (Learning and Development), Taj Group, Kochi, presented ‘Taj Scholar 2014-15’ awards at Taj Gateway Hotel, Coonoor.

             “K Nivetha, daughter of N Kumar of Gateway Materials department, bagged special award for securing Third Rank in Nilgiris district in Tenth standard Public exam last year.  Student of St Mary’s  Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, she scored 491 marks out of 500.  She was crowned, ‘Taj Senior Scholar’ ”, Gateway General Manager R Muralidharan told me.

“R Dharshan and R Harini ,both from Stanes Anglo-Indian HS School, Coonoor, and children of Chef Ramalingam, became ‘Taj Middle’ and ‘Taj Junior’ Merit Scholars”, he said.

“Taj will pay for their school fee, uniforms and books”, Antony Gerald, Human Resource Manager of Taj group of Hotels, Nilgiris, announced. 

HAPPENING -- 1 ::

INCINERATOR TO BURN USED NAPKINS IN GIRLS’ SCHOOLS

BY P S SUNDAR

A very useful facility that respects the personal hygiene of girl students and the environmental hygiene in the schools comes in the use of incinerators to burn used sanitary napkins in applicable schools.

It was, therefore, encouraging to see Lions Club of Nilgiris coming forward to install incinerators at possible schools.

The Governor of Lions District 324 B1 P Arumugam Mani dedicated incinerator and sanitary napkin supplying machines of Lions Club of Nilgiris to students of St Mary’s Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, on Feb 20, 2015.

                    

“Incinerators are in use only in a couple of schools in the Nilgiris. We will provide incinerators to all needy schools. We will install one more incinerator at St Mary’s as the requirement here is large”, he told me.

    “We will soon be installing napkin supplying machine and incinerator in two more schools -- Shanthi Vijaya and St Ann’s.  These three packages entail a total outlay of Rs 1.80 lakh.  Another incinerator at St Mary’s is extra”, Sunil Goyal, President of Lions Club of Nilgiris, said.  

“We will bear entire cost of setting up the machines and maintenance”, Club secretary Jatin Vakharia said.

“We are grateful to Lions Club of Nilgiris for installing this facility. It is a very useful project that will benefit 1,300 students in our school.  We are teaching girls on personal hygiene and responsible way of disposing off used sanitary napkins”, St Mary’s Headmistress Sister Amalorpavamary said.

Lions International is observing the theme ‘Strengthen the Pride’. Lions District 324 B1 is strengthening the Nilgiri pride with its theme ‘Aspire to Achieve’.   Strengthening the pride of girl children will help them to aspire to achieve and celebrate womanhood – a healthy way to create a healthy society.

FOR THE RECORD -- 3 ::

INTERACTION WITH THE FIRST INDIAN SUPERIOR GENERAL

BY P S SUNDAR

It was not only enchanting but enlightening to interact with the Superior General of Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel Society, Bro John Kallarackal from Rome, during his official visit to the Society’s only institution in the Nilgiris, St Antony’s Higher Secondary School in Coonoor, on February 10, 2015.   

“I am required to visit all the 360 institutions in 33 countries at least once in my tenure of six years.  Unmindful of the stress associated with travel and varying time-zone, I enjoy the visit because that helps me connect with the people and understand their real needs.   Anytime, this is better than remote management from Rome!”, he said.

Bro John Kallarackal, who will complete 66 years of age coming March 3, is a symbol of Indian excellence in the global congregation of Montfort Brothers.   A Keralite by birth, he is the first Indian Superior General of this congregation of 1,243 brothers.  “In the initial stages, the Brothers were active only in France.  Later, they spread to many countries and continents.  In 1903, they came to India, established, inter alia, a technical school in Tindivanam and so have completed 111 years of glorious service to the cause of education in India.  Today, Indian brothers are active in many countries including Fiji, Tonga, Tanzania, PNG, Brazil, Peru and Kenya”, he fondly recalled.

“In India, we manage 130 institutions.  From our initial objective of providing primary and secondary education, we have diversified, over the years to educating the physically challenged children.  We have a major role in educating through Braille for the visually impaired.  Saint Louis School for The Deaf and The Blind in Chennai has dome yeomen service to the physically challenged students. We have announced to establish a university for the hearing impaired there.  We are working on the details to press the university into operation soon.  We are also taking into consideration the new trend in India requiring ‘inclusive’ education to integrate the physically and mentally challenged children into the mainstream schooling”, Bro Kallarackal disclosed with a rightful sense of satisfaction.

“Our brothers in India are also diversifying into other fields of service like emancipation of poor and empowering women.   Some are focussing on educating exclusive children from slums, rural and tribal areas.  Just now, at Ranchi, an initiative to support the children of AIDS patients has been launched.  We, from the Rome headquarters encourage social service of such kinds”, the Superior General said.

As it happens, Bro Kallarackal is a former student of St Antony’s Coonoor.   “I had played in these grounds”, he told me as the Headmaster and Correspondent Bro S Soosairaj took us both, crossing the lower ground, to the new Library facility.  “Today, the Superior General gave new uniform and shoes to 250 poor students.   We also support 100 poor students with scholarships.  Today, we credited Rs 25,000 as Fixed Deposit in the name of Sudhir, our student who, despite hailing from poor family, excelled in national sports.  He also dedicated to the school a modern computer lab and audio-visual auditorium”, Bro Soosairaj said.  

These are highly relevant because St Antony’s is not a poor school but it caters to the educational needs of the poor.  Majority of the 1,716 students who study here hail from poor, lower and marginal income families.  Education is imparted free of cost to all.  The improvements to infrastructural facilities enhance the learning ambiance to these children to place them on par with schools where fees are collected.   

St Antony’s has the record of sending the highest number of students for public exams in the district.  Last year, for instance, it sent 275 students for Tenth class public exams – the highest among all the 177 schools in the Nilgiris district.   Interestingly, 95 per cent of the 275 students who took Tenth standard and 98 per cent of 219 who took Plus Two public exam last year passed.   The school has been consistently posting over 90 per cent pass results.   Bro Soosairaj is working hard to make each of the 236 students who will take up this year’s Tenth standard exam and 185 taking Plus Two exam pass.  

For this, Bro John Kallarackal’s prayers are with Bro Soosairaj (left).

FOR THE RECORD - 2 ::

MODERN COMPUTER LAB AT ST ANTONY'S 

BY P S SUNDAR

                     A noble gesture has happened with the Rome-based Superior General of Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel Society, Bro John Kallarackal dedicating a modern computer lab to impart free education to poor students of St Antony’s Higher Secondary School, Coonoor.

Bro John Kallarackal (foreground) dedicating the computer lab to poor students in the presence of Bro Soosairaj (next to him).

“Majority of our 1,716 students come from poor families who cannot afford to own desktop with internet connections.  We impart free education to all.  To upgrade the facilities, we have dedicated this global-standard computer lab and audio-visual auditorium where free training on computer applications will be imparted to all”, Bro Kallarackal told me. 

audio-visual auditorium

                        “In this, there is a support of ` 12 lakh from Government of India through Tea Board in appreciation of our offering free-education to wards of plantation workers.  St Gabriel Society has funded the balance including the computers”, Headmaster Bro Soosairaj said.   

audio-visual auditorium

The ambiance at the computer lab is so attractive to match the one in any paid-school thereby leaving an outcome that the students belonging to poor families who study at St Antony's get the same quality education as those who study in paid-school campus. 

FOR THE RECORD -- 1:

ST ANTONY'S TEACHERS HONOURED

BY P S SUNDAR

The official visit of the Superior General of Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel, Br John Kallarackal from Rome, meant a lot to the teachers of St Antony’s Higher Secondary School in Coonoor as he shared with them the values of teaching in contemporary and future global environment.  Heading 360 institutions in 33 countries, including 130 in India, his words are powerful enough to propel motivation, dedication and skill enhancement among the faculty to reach global standards of excellence in teaching resulting in preparing the students to face international challenge.

Headmaster and Correspondent Bro S Soosairaj did well to capitalise on the visit by enlisting the Superior General to honour on Feb 10, 2015 five well-deserved teachers – one retiring and the rest having completed their Silver Jubilee service to St Antony’s.

Assistant Headmaster (Higher Secondary) JOSEPH SENGOLNATHAN who teaches Chemistry for higher secondary students is retiring at the end of this academic year after serving St Antony’s for 31 years.   While thanking him for his dedicated long service, the management, co-teachers, students – present and past – wished him a very happy long healthy retired life.

Assistant Headmaster (High School)  S JAMES MARTIN has a long association with St Antony’s because he studied in this school during 1972-78.  Having been appointed on Aug 1, 1988, he has completed 27 years of service in this school.   He has been doing yeomen service as NCC officer training the students into a military disciplined lifestyle.

Assistant Headmaster S PACKIASAMY is special grade Art Master.  He studied in St Antony’s during 1972-76.  Appointed on June 1, 1989, he has crossed 26 years of preparing students to excel in art.

Special Grade Physical Education Teacher M THADDEUS is another ‘Silver Jubileean’ having been appointed on June 4, 1990.

Post Graduate Teacher G RAJENDRAN is well-known to many in Coonoor as he has been serving as a live-wire conduit between the society and the school.  He has a long association with Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel as he studied in their institution, Nirmala HS School in Kolathur, Salem, and worked in St James HS School, Palakurichy and St Mary’s HS School, in Mangalam of Salem district before joining St Antony’s Coonoor on June 1, 1989.   He had also served as Assistant Headmaster at St Antony’s.  Now, he is teaching Political Science and Geography for Higher Secondary students.  In all, he has nearly 33 years of service with Montfort brothers’ institutions.  

This one is for the album :: (l-r): Bro Amalraj (BT Assistant), Thaddeus, Sengolnathan, Packiasamy, Bro John Kallarackal, Br Soosairaj, Rajendran, Martin and Bro Britto (BT Assistant). 

ANNUAL DAY - 1 :

"PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY"

BY P S SUNDAR

                      Former Chairman and present member of Atomic Energy Commission Dr M R Srinivasan, who has been conferred with Padma Vibhushan on this year’s Republic Day, has urged students to pursue higher education in science and technology.

“There is bright future for students to engage in application of solar, wind and nuclear sources to produce power for a stronger India.  Many problems remain unresolved like making viable the recycling of garbage which is possible in principle.  Students should acquire such ‘new knowledge’ for the good of the country”, he said delivering the chief guest address at 126^th Annual Day of St Joseph’s Boys’ Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School here on Friday night.

"Your students highlighted the evils of consuming alcohol through their skit.   We are saddened to see drunkards on the road.  The Government should not open liquor shops near schools", he opined. 

Appreciating 'sustainability' theme of the school as depicted in the students' presentation, he said, "Sustainability means causing the least damage to environment.   We need to produce large amount of food without much side-effects.   Most chemicals used as pesticides or fertilisers affect the life-cycle of birds.  What is food for one is poison for another". 

"I envy the children who study in the Nilgiris because of the good weather and excellent infrastructure.  We need to capitalise on these and produce good sports persons as well", he added. 

                “Our theme for the year is ‘sustainability’.  We have sensitised our students to contribute significantly to protect nature against pollution of all kinds.  Our students’ presentations on this Annual day motivate elders to commit to sustainability”, school Principal Bro Dominic Jacob told me. 

                  The KG section staged a pleasing 'Fashion Parade'. The ICSE juniors laid thrust on 'sustainability' linking with the five elements that constinute the universe.  Anglo India Juniors presented a graceful 'Western Baila'.  Eleventh standard students thrilled with a Fusion Dance while Ninth standard excelled in Hip Hop dance.   The two skits were packed with humour and sense -- "A Dream" was a Tamil highlight asking elders to vote and that too sensibly.  The English skit "The Sheriff's kitchen" highlighted the evils of drinking with an open message to elders not to get drunk.   The concluding  numbers of North India folk dance by ICSE MIddle School and South Indian Fold Dance by Anglo-Indian Middle School were captivating. The school choir and The Beat Group gave mesmerising numbers. 

While distributing prizes to hundreds of students as Guest of Honour, I shared with Principal Bro Dominic Jacob some telling behaviour of children :: many said 'Thank you Sir" .. one said, "I am privileged to get this from you Sir" .. one said, "It is a great honour Sir" .. one said, "I am very happy Sir" .. some little children by-passed me and Principal to go to the staff who was holding the trophies to grab them !! a couple of them dropped the trophies in over enthusiasm .. very many wanted to shake hands with me .. the elder students were keen to have the photos taken .. one boy had injury in leg and was literally carried on to the stage..some were in their drama dress and behaved like the actors in role!! But, I said 'congratulations' to every student individually and personally because every winner needs to be appreciated...

                     

OVERSEAS EDUCATION:

WITH ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, SCOPE IS BRIGHT

BY P S SUNDAR

               Bright scope exists for students from India for employment and permanent residency in countries like Australia and New Zealand but only those with efficiency in English communication can benefit, an immigration expert has said.

P K VENKATESWARAN

“Annually, permanent residency is offered to about two lakh persons in USA and Australia, one lakh in Canada and about 50,000 in New Zealand.  The UK offers such facility only to select few these days although migrants can take up employment legally”, Australia-based Immigration Advisor to Australia and New Zealand P K Venkateswaran said.

“Majority of such migrants are Indians and there is bright scope, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, for Indian professionals including Accountants, engineers, lawyers, doctors, nurses and scientists.  A qualified fresher can earn Rs 30 lakh annually at the starting level and those with five year experience Rs 50 lakh.  There is scope to set up private business as well”, he said.

“The biggest challenge, however, to Indian professionals is their limitation to communicate effectively in English.  For permanent residency, tests are conducted in reading, writing, speaking and listening proficiency in English.  This is in addition to skill assessments. So, there is need to strengthen English language skills”, he noted. 

Creating careers for candidates intending to pursue specialisation courses is another portfolio.   

“We have tie-ups with Australian institutes and universities.   Consequently, we provide useful career guidance which helps candidates get visa”, said Venkateswaran, Director, Education Overseas Academy, who claims to have helped over 250 Indian students to pursue hospitality courses in Australia.  This Academy is also registered in Australia.  

              Its Chennai office can be reached on phone: 044 28203111 (to 3) but all decisions have to be taken based on candidates’ individual judgement and not based on the claims made in this article because this has to be used as guidance information for which no responsibility can be fixed. 

                     “As an immigrant citizen of Australia and lawyer there, I understand the challenges faced by Indian aspirants and for guidance, they can reach me in: pk_venkateswaran@yahoo.com”, he said 

HOCKEY -- 2 ::

ST ANTONY'S STUDENT IN STATE HOCKEY TEAM

BY P S SUNDAR

C Paruthi Ilam Vazhuthi (14), student of St Antony’s Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, has done his school and Nilgiris proud by getting selected for Tamil Nadu team vying for the 35th All India K D Singh Babu championship in Lucknow.

“The boy has been showing much promise for his age and was an automatic choice to the state team”, S Ananthakrishnan, President, ‘Hockey Nilgiris’ said.

“He hails from Indira Nagar in Coonoor and his father Chandrasekar is a building worker. He has undergone professional coaching”, school Headmaster Bro Soosairaj said after complimenting him and Physical Education Teacher Premkumar.

HOCKEY - 1 ::

COONOOR YOUTH IN STATE TEAM

BY P S SUNDAR

MELVIN JOSEPH, 19, a mid-fielder hailing from Vannarpet in Coonoor has done Nilgiris district proud by getting selected for Tamil Nadu State team to play in All-India Gold Cup Hockey Tournament being held in Jhansi.

“He had been a promising player all through and got selected among the 75 players short-listed at the state-level open selection in Madurai. He was earlier a player of Bharathiar University Hockey Team. He had also been in Tamil Nadu team for under 14”, S Ananthakrishnan, President, ‘Hockey Nilgiris’ said.

BILLIARDS AND SNOOKER -- 1:

MARIAM TO REPRESENT INDIA 

BY P S SUNDAR

                    J MARIAM AGNISH (13), eighth standard student of St Joseph’s Girls’ Anglo-Indian HS School, Coonoor, has done Nilgiris and Tamil Nadu proud by securing National No: 2 position in Billiards junior and No: 3 position in sub-junior at ‘National Championship 2015’ recently held in Kolkata. 

“By virtue of this, Mariam has been chosen to represent India in international junior and sub-junior competitions.  This is the first time a girl from Nilgiris has risen to this covetable position.  Nilgiris District Billiards and Snooker Association (NDBSA) will extend all possible assistance for her to scale global heights”, NDBSA Secretary-in-charge R Muralidharan said.

NDBSA honoured her, her father-cum-coach AJS Kumar of Coonoor Club and mother-cum-sports mentor Catherene Anitha.

“Nilgiris Collector Dr P Sankar honoured me when I won at Tamil Nadu level and now, world champions Pankaj Advani, Uma Devi, Chithra Devi and National champions Vidhya Pillai and Alok Kumar besides international referee R B Ganesh have complimented me.  I feel motivated to represent India at international contests”, Mariam said.  

photo:R Muralidharan honouring Mariam, her father-cum-coach Kumar and mother Catherene Anitha in Coonoor  ::

 other photos taken at the felicitation function ::