Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

A problem of plenty for ‘celebrity school’

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For the staff and management of Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Thycaud, who are preparing to celebrate the school’s centenary year, it is a problem of plenty.

The school, which boasts a celebrity alumni base, now confronts the logistical challenge of inviting them all for the celebrations.

Even by conservative estimates, the school has well over a hundred celebrity students who have made their mark in different spheres, including films, music, politics, bureaucracy and athletics.

Starting from actor Mohanlal and filmmaker Priyadarsan, arguably the most popular duo among the lot, to swimming ace and Arjuna award winner Wilson Cherian, the school’s database of alumni is impressive and exhaustive.

“We are yet to have a clear idea on how to go about inviting them all without creating ill-will or displeasure. It is like inviting guests for your wedding,” said Marshel K. Jose, additional headmaster of the school.

Some of the other illustrious students of the school are S. Krishna Kumar, former Union Minister; Vinod Thomas, former Country Director, World Bank; M.G. Radhakrishnan, M.G. Sreekumar and G. Venugopal, musicians; Venu Nagavally, Maniyan Pillai Raju, Jagadeesh and Jagathi, actors; M.P. Appan and M.P. Ayyappan, poets; Sukumar, humorist; Bharat Bhushan, Govinda Menon, Jiji Thomson, Sajan Peter, Nalini Netto and Lissy Jacob, bureaucrats; and a host of national and State award winners like K. George, Sam Kristhudas, V. Harihara Iyyer, S.A. John, Ramachandran Nair, G. Ravindran Nair and K.P. Venugopalan Nair.

“It is important that the school rises to the expectations of our former students and receives them with due propriety,” said Mr. Jose.

Yet another challenge is in identifying a venue big enough to accommodate the guests. The school authorities are currently toying with the idea of conducting a light and sound show for the guests at the Chandrasekhran Nair Stadium.

This idea, if realised, could prove to be a unique event in itself by any city school.

However, a guideline for the year-long celebrations that will conclude in 2010 will be finalised only after a meeting of the Parent-Teacher Association and other school authorities later this month.

The school, an epitome of European architecture, was built in 1910 by Moolam Thirunal Ramavarma, the then ruler of the princely State of Travancore.

The institution flourished under the guidance of C.F. Clarke, a Britisher who served as its first Principal for three years. The mansion in which he stayed is still there on the school campus and is known as the ‘Clarkes bungalow.’

The city’s first school with classes in English, Malayalam and Tamil mediums also had a rigorous admission procedure that included a written test and an interview to select the students. “There was a time when the school had about 25 divisions for Class V alone, and still could not afford to provide admission to all those who applied,” recalled Mr. Jose, additional headmaster of the school.

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