Over the weekend, Mussoorie, the queen of hills, was the perfect hostess to the 1993 Manorite Batch who together to celebrate their Silver Jubilee.

Close to 50 classmates, some with their families, travelled across the globe to come back to their Alma Mater. Celebrating 25 years of when the batch walked out of the iconic iron gates of St. Georges College’s, Mussoorie, an institution which prepared the young lads for the unfolding future.

With back-to-back programmes spread across three days, the former students left behind families and busy schedules to take time off and bond with childhood friends over music, bonfire and laughter, catching up on lost times. Recollecting their well-spent childhood in the hill station and a School that remains unchanged despite the onslaught of time, meant volumes to the former students.

Once again, donning their school uniforms, the well turned out men in black and grey, took part in the march past at the School’s Sports Day. A moment of pride not only for those who took part in the march but for those who witnessed the impressive line-up. Brother Carrol, the former Principal of the 1993 Batch made sure he was amongst his former students who were presented mementos  by Chief Guest, Major General Ashok Sheoran (VSM), himself a Manorite of the 1968 batch.

For the 1993 batch, rest assured, these past few days, spent together recollecting, reconnecting and bonding will surely see them through, until they all descend, once again in full-attendance, on the hill-station and their Alma Mater, for their Golden Jubilee.

On the eve of International Girl Child Day, Shri Bhuvneshwari Mahila Ashram with the support of Plan India and USAID celebrated the day with students from their Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya Government Schools i.e. GGIC Rajpur Road and Samaya Sakshaya.

Three students from GGIC Rajpur Road Anjali Rana, Anjali and Shanti Rawat formerly took charge of the roles of Ms. Premlata Baudai (Principal), Smt. Anita Negi (Maths and Nodal WASH) and Smt. Vijaylakshmi Yadav (Psychology and NSS) respectively. Taking their duties seriously, Anjali Rana checked the Mid day meal, Class attendance, and inspected the premises. She also signed a proposal to get the KYC for a daily-labour employed for school construction. The other two teachers taught their respective classes and spoke about Gender Discrimination.

Km. Mani Singh of class 10^th from GGIC Lakhi Bagh took charge as CEO Samaya Sakshaya. As well as two girls from SBMA-Plan India, Uttarkashi and Haridwar took over the reigns of the Spanish and Nigerian embassy for a day.

Back in Dehradun, the Chief Guest at the GGIC Rajpur Road, SMC President, Shri Sonu Bidla spoke about how, “girls should not feel weak and should pledge to overcome fear and start sharing pain and distress.”

Smt. Bhagwati Devi PTA President encouraged the girl to speak up against violence. The Principal of GGIC Rajpur Road, Smt. Premlata Baudai applauded the efforts of IDG and extended her support for the recommendations put forward by the Student Principal. She emphasised, “girl’s students who fail in examinations should not drop out. Girls should become smarter in judging people.”

Key recommendations forwarded by the student/principal included compulsory Gender and Legal Sensitisation efforts at school level, inclusion of boys in Gender Sensitisation Initiatives, Self Defence Training, making our streets safe and secure with proper lightning facilities and positioning of Gender Sensitive Police Patrol Units, issues that the adults promise to take up.t

Dehradun, Rarely do school students get a chance to meet a legend in person and interact with them can be sheer heaven. Classes 8^th-12^th grade of Col Brown School, Dehradun were amongst the lucky few.

Col Brown School played the perfect host for Group Captain AG Bewoor – commissioned into the Indian Air Force in October 1965 – and was awarded the prestigious Sena Medal Gallantry in 1990, for his illustrious career in the Indian Air Force.

The association of his family to Dehradun dates back to the early 20’s when his Uncle joined RIMC and his his father was an alumnus of Col Brown from 1925 to 1927.

Today GP Capt Bewoor visited his father’s Alma mater, interacting with young minds taking them gently down memory lane recollecting Operation Cactus via an hour-long video presentation. “This is a rare privilege to be invited and tell my story of Op Cactus to young boys and girls absolute rare privilege,” he said.

Capt Bewoor spoke at length to his audience in rapt attention about how, “44 Squadron With 1L-76s; 12,43 and 49 Sqns with AN -32’s, 7 SQN with Mirage -2000 and 50 Parachute Brigade, including INS Betwa and INS Godawari of the Indian Navy were stationed to intercept merchant ships escaping from Maldives and going to Sri Lanka.”

To recap, Operation Cactus was launched on 3 November 1988 to scuttle a coup in Maldives and rescue the then President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Talking to Newspost Dr. Indubala Singh, Proctor, Col Brown School said, “It is pertinent in today’s time that we have the likes of GP Capt Bewoor come and talk to students to instill them qualities that make them better human-beings. This way they also learn more about our rich history, not just from history books, but from real heroes.”

Present at the event were a host of other luminaries such as Col L.N. Khanna and Col A. Mamgain.

Last week, the 1968 batch of Wynberg Allen, came back to school for their Golden Reunion. Around thirty batch-mates, from across the globe, along with their teacher Mr. Colin Carr from London, now in his late seventies, took time off from their busy schedule to return to their Alma Mater, Wynberg Allen School, Mussoorie.

Exactly fifty years hence, on their first visit as a group, the classmates came together and donated a Clock to an institution that that laid the foundation of who they are today: “A landmark to the school which will stand tall bearing the placard that the clock is a gift from the “Class of 1968”. This tribute in our memory will be a reminder to future generations what the school meant to us many years after graduation.“

In a small ceremony that took place on the 5th of October, School Captain from 1968, Mr. Naresh Pawa inaugurated the Clock. Installed by Medieval India, the brand-new clock tower features a stunning classical look replicating the Master Ash pattern in order to create and add character to the school’s unique building. Philip Dayal, from the batch of 1968 said, “the School has been supportive and cooperative. It is for the  first time in the history of the school that a 50 year reunion took place. This tower clock is dedicated to the students spread across the globe in US, UK, Canada and Thailand.“

Traditional and distinguished in style yet equipped with modern reliable clock mechanism, the clock works with the Global Positioning System. It ensures accurate time from the satellite, via a receiver that automatically updates the RTC (Real Time Clock) installed within the master controller.

Completely in sync with the school building that date backs to 1888, the clock adds character and underlines the significance of Allen Memorial School, which celebrates 130 years of its existence this year. The clock is a perfect reminder to the old and new students: Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going!