BERHAMPUR: Maharaja Boys' High School at Paralakhemundi that was established in 1857 when the country was witnessing the first war independence celebrated its 150th annual function on Monday.

Attending the function as the chief guest, the Gajapati district collector, D.V.Swami urged the students and teachers of the institute to keep up the name and fame of the school as it is part of Orissa's educational heritage. According to the president of the parents-teachers committee of the school, Pradeep Nayak, it has been decided to form an alumni society of the institution after summer vacation to hold different programs throughout the year to celebrate 150th anniversary of the school.

This school was also famous at Parlakhemundi since last 150 years for its large clock tower.

This clock tower is as old as the school. But since last two decades its clock is not working. The vintage clock is not in state to be repaired. It was a manually operated clock. Around five years back the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during a visit to Parlakhemundi had got interested in this defunct clock tower. He had promised to replace it with a new clock.

According to Mr Nayak, the school authorities had also made arrangements to procure a battery-operated clock of the size of the vintage clock from the HMT. But the clock has not been replaced as the file is pending at the state secretariat.

The members of the school management have urged the state government to replace the large clock at its clock tower as homage to the 150 years history of the school.

Vacancies

The headmaster of the school, Ramchandra Nahak during his presentation of annual report during the annual function also pointed at the degrading condition of some portions of its buildings that are more than a century old. He also stressed on the filling up of vacancies of teachers at the school to alleviate its performance.

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