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From the pages of history
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The Besant Theosophical High School nurtured by Nature and educationists completes 70 years
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Where the Besant School once was... Pic. by N. Sridharan
CHILDREN CLUSTER around the frail man under the mango tree repeating after him, "Devi Vasante, jaya, jaya..." The strains of raga Vasanta gleam through the spring breezes. The teacher explains that `Vasante' is his name for Annie Besant, a leading figure in India's freedom struggle. "She served India not just for political goals, but spiritual welfare." This was Papanasam Sivan, Carnatic music composer, a teacher at The Besant Theosophical High School in the 1930s. The school celebrated its 70th anniversary this year on June 28.
The school was founded (in 1934) by George Arundale, who succeeded Besant as president of the Theosophical Society (T.S), to fulfil his leader's last wish for a school in Adyar where "the young will learn of me and of my love for them." A noted educationist, Arundale had been principal of the Benares Hindu College. He had encouraged wife Rukmini to pursue the then despised art of Bharatanatyam, and establish Kalakshetra.
With groves of mango, tamarind, cashew, banyan and casuarina weaving tapestries overhead, winds and waves making music with the birds, the T.S. made an idyllic spot for free, joyous "education without fear." Viceroy Willingdon sent a donation. Rukmini Devi raised funds with a dance recital. Rabindranath Tagore was ready to become the school's patron.
A hut became the classroom for 25 students, and two teachers — Sanskrit scholar Venkatachala Sastri and P. S. Krishnaswami. "There comes the headmaster," announced Arundale, when he saw a young man walking down the avenue. Sankara Menon had just finished his Honours course in zoology. A joke? "No. I can train you," Arundale assured him.
Soon the school was shifted to a heritage bungalow in Damodar Gardens (once home to Arcot royalty), part of the T.S. acres. It spilled into thatched cottages around. The trees had blackboards under them for outdoor classes, visited by centipedes and ladybirds, and an occasional snake. "Can't kill it," teachers explained. "Every creature has its right to life. Don't pull off leaves from the plants."
The students nodded. But their greenest memories were to be of stealing mango and tamarind, jamun and wood apple, from the school orchards.
Maria Montessori taking a lcass at the Besant School
The initial decades saw students from many parts of the world — Iceland, Holland, Switzerland, France... Later Tibetan refugees were welcomed. No class divides - the American consul's son was inducted into Indian culture by his impish neighbour, the washerman's son. The staff too was international. American headmaster Felix Layton stunned everyone by appearing in dhoti and kurta, Englishwoman Pinchin could be distracted from the lesson by student volleys about the inequities of the British Raj, renowned educationist Duncan Greenleese used a student's story in his text book.
Krishnaratnam provided inspiring leadership for 38 years. Hero-worshipped by his students, the headmaster could be jovial and commanding, and angry only when disturbed at tennis, often with the legendary Ramanathan Krishnan, for partner.
Student-turned-teacher P. K. Rajeswari recalls how every teacher came with ideologies to serve a cause, not with thoughts of money or gain. Says G. Sundari, "Academic excellence was not the only goal. With Kalakshetra next door, dance and music flourished in the school. The sports field was training ground for life." Radha Burnier of the first batch remembers how students had a Court of Honour to solve problems, settle disputes. "Win, lose and live with honour, our teachers told us."
The school made history when Maria Montessori came to teach children and train teachers through the War years. Her pupil Bhuvaneshwari set professional standards with her children's plays, regularly broadcast on AIR.Shifted to Thiruvanmiyur in 1976, the now State-aided Besant School has changed to accommodate itself to the new times. But to those who walked the groves in Damodar Gardens, the school spells the magic of carefree childhood, where work was play, and play built character, just as Annie Besant envisaged it, and as George Arundale dreamed, 70 years ago.
GOWRI RAMNARAYAN
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