|
 Hundred
and fifty years old and still going strong - not too many establishments and
institutions can claim such an achievement given the uncertainties in the
modern-day world, competition and rising costs.
And a school that caters
exclusively to girls deserves much higher praise for the steadfastness,
consistency and credibility that it has shown and enjoyed. That is the Good
Shepherd Convent in Chennai, a renowned institution, on the verge of a record of
sorts as it concludes its Sesquicentenary Celebrations.
The school in Nungambakkam is
bustling with activity, swamped by vehicles of all kinds as students and faculty
are working at a frenetic pace to get the celebrations going, come August 21.
Established in 1925 in India,
the roots of the convent grew as early as in 1835 in France when Sister Mary
Euphrasia, sowed the seeds for the growth of the institution which has now
become one of the premier group of educational institutions in Chennai and other
parts of the country.
Good Shepherd started with a
meagre size of just 10 students, with the majority share comprising of them,
ironically enough, boys!
 However, with the commencement
of the Don Bosco School later, the boys were moved to that campus. Thus, the
Good Shepherd Convent became an exclusive school for girls and has remained so
to its credit.
From humble beginnings, at the
invitation of the British Raj, the sapling in Chennai has blossomed into a free
tree with 2,300 'flowers' today receiving high-quality education from a
committed and dedicated bunch of faculty who not only teach physics but ethics
too.
Chemistry is not just confined
to labs but prevails among the students too who boast of a heady camaraderie.
The principal of the school,
Sister Preethi, mentions that the primordial aim of the foundress and the other
followers was to keep the girls firmly entrenched on the pedestal of truth and
committed to all-round development - physical, mental and social.
The girls here benefit not
merely from a high standard of education but are trained in social work too.
Programmes which normally one would not expect from convent children. All these
programmes are managed by the 'GIRLS' themselves, and that is why they are so
special. The initiatives are taken by the students, guided by the teachers and
accomplished with the help of the Almighty.
For example, the class-11 girls
make a mandatory visit to the coporation schools in the city to offer assistance
to the needy, whatever they could do as per their capacity.
For instance, in the aftermath
of the Kumbakonam tragedy, the girls have been visiting schools with thatched
roofs and the those that are roofless too, to contribute from their small
purses. The message is simple: It's not how big you do: it's what you do!
As the biggest show of empathy,
camaraderie and compassion towards their fellow beings, the girls travelled all
the way to Kumbakonam to console the parents of those 90-odd children who died
in the fire accident. They offered a prayer service for the members of the
bereaved family.
 The
girls run 'Mottukkal', a small organisation for school drop-outs. The needy are
sent to school and the ones who do not wish to go in for education are trained
in skills like tailoring and embroidery.
As for the list of illustrious
names this compound has produced, it is an enviable one. Vyjayantimala Bali, the
effervescent danseuse and the 'Kanavu Kanni' of many a cinema viewer in the
black and white era and who later attained stardom in Bollywood and even entered
politics; Sudha Shah, one of the first women cricketers in India, vocalist Sudha
Ragunathan, Madras Corporation Councillor M C Shyamala, Bharatanatyam exponent
Srinidhi Karthik, are some of the names that come to mind.
To celebrate the 150th year in
education, the school is organising a big event on August 21 that will witness
the participation of some bigwigs like Union Minister of State for Railways R
Velu and senior advocate Nalini Chidambaram, among others.
The institution has truly been
a good shepherd to the student community.
Greet
Good Shepherd school
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Good Shepherd is 150
