FOR THE RECORD -- 4::

A SCHOOL CALENDAR THAT EDUCATES ALL

BY P S SUNDAR

If one goes to a school even as a parent or a refugee for protection against floods, one should return wiser because school is a temple of learning. 

In that context, the 127 year-old prestigious institution of Nilgiris,  St Joseph’s Boy’s Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, has done a yeomen service of educating community through its colourful calendar for 2016 on the theme, “The Nilgiris – The Blue Mountains”. 

Printed on glazed sheets, each of 28 inches long and 19 inches wide, the calendar carries visual treat of 12 most loved picnic spots of Nilgiris with brief description for each.   These attractive visuals are on Avalanche, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Sim’s Park, Coonoor, Govt Botanical Garden, Ooty, Doddabetta, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Pykhara Lake, Kodanad Viewpoint, Ooty Lake, Lamb’s Rock, Coonoor, Dolphin’s Nose, Coonoor and Ooty Race Course.

There are references to other tourist attractions including Adams Fountain, Toda Tribal Huts, Kallar Bridge, Coonoor Railway station, Coonoor Bazaar, Emerald Lake, St Stephen’s Church and Nilgiri Tahr.

The initiative led by Principal Bro Ramesh Amalanathan gets value addition with Thirukkural in Tamil and English being juxtaposed in each date for all 365 days.

Librarian Andrew Joseph has enriched the calendar with snippets tracing the growth and contribution to overall education by the school since its birth in 1888.  An interesting snippet is remembering Gen K S Thimmayya, former Chief of Army Staff, as an alumnus, having studied in this school from 1912-17.

Among the recent illustrious visitors to the school are Governor Rosaiah and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

(response can also be sent to:: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)