The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Stars descend on St. Joseph’s campus

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 07, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Stars descend on St. Joseph’s campus

Staff Reporter

Dravid, Uthappa and Sabeer Bhatia attend the celebrations

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

A PROUD ALUMNUS: Cricketer Rahul Dravid at St. Joseph’s Boys’ High School during the inauguration of 150th anniversary celebrations in Bangalore on Thursday.

BANGALORE: For the students of St. Joseph’s Boys’ High School, it was a day to remember for more than one reason.

The school is celebrating 150th year of its existence and for the inaugural function, which was held here on Thursday, a galaxy of “stars” who were old students, were all present to speak about how much the school had contributed to their success. Governor Rameshwar Thakur inaugurated the function.

So, while invitees and parents sat solemnly and listened to the speeches of the dignitaries braving the intermittent drizzle, little boys were seen waiting expectantly and scrambling towards the dais to try to get autographs of the cricketers and old boys of the school, Rahul Dravid and Robin Uthappa.

“I remember I was in the IV standard when the 125th anniversary of the school was celebrated and there was a sound and light show presenting the history of the school. Even now when I hear the school anthem I get goose pimples,” said Mr. Dravid reminiscing about his school days.

He added that the care and individual attention that every student received from the staff in St. Joseph’s made them feel that they matter and gave students confidence.

Jimmy Anklesaria, founder of the Anklesaria Group, a global consulting firm and former student of the school, said the school inculcated in its students a value system that emphasised on hard work, building confidence and a balance between fame and humility.

Creator of Hotmail Sabeer Bhatia said knowledge was not power anymore because information was easily available from the internet these days. “But it is what you do with the knowledge and how you build on it that matters. The teachers in the school should inculcate the spirit of enquiry in their students and focus on their all round development,” said Mr. Bhatia, an alumnus of the school. He added that education, the culture of innovation and great infrastructure, were essential for driving the country ahead.

Mr. Thakur said that at a time when commercialisation of education was rampant and “students are churned out like industrial products, St. Joseph’s Boys High School has upheld ethical and social values and marched ahead.”

Mohandas Pai, member of the Board and Director, Human Resources, Infosys, who is a parent, hockey player and old student, Sandeep Somesh, Rector of the school, Fr. Terence Farrias and the Principal, Fr. Godwin Serrao, were present.

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