The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Dignitaries come together to give back to their school

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Monday, Aug 18, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Dignitaries come together to give back to their school

R. Sujatha

— Photo: R.Ragu

Rewind: Hockey player V. Baskaran (right) with actor Chinni Jayanth and Aaron David, president of Wesely Alumni Association at the annual general body meet in Chennai on Friday.

CHENNAI: The 191-year-old Wesley Higher Secondary School in Royapettah played host to the first annual general body meeting of its alumni association on Friday. The meeting was held to discuss ways and means of improving the school’s facilities.

The oldest among the ‘boys’ at the school’s auditorium was association president Aaron David, who graduated in 1940. The school has produced well-known personalities such as film director P. Vasu, V. Baskaran, who led the hockey team that won the gold medal at Olympics, comedian Chinni Jayanth and Information Minister Parithi Ilamvazhuthi.

One who left indelible impression on the school is distinguished alumnus T.V.Kalyanasundara Mudaliar, whose statue adorns the school hall, said Principal J. Jeyamani. Thiru Vi.Ka also taught Tamil at the school. Mr. Jayamani was among the 15 teachers who were honoured by the alumni on Friday. The school currently has 45 teachers, comprising an equal number of men and women.

The meeting held at the government-aided school was the result of a chance meeting of a few old students two years ago. “Most of the students are from lower middle class families and cannot even pay the life membership fee of Rs. 1,000. But we have contacted a few students who are abroad and they have promised help,” said alumnus Sankaran Menon.

The alumni began collecting details of classmates and soon they had 200 members. A number of projects to improve the school’s infrastructure are on the anvil. They include a reverse osmosis plant for drinking water, improving the toilet facilities and installing computers. Founded by British Methodists the school is now run by Meston Education Development Association.

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