Moodubelle: Second day of the Golden Jubilee - Guruvandana

Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 30 December 2009: As St. Lawrence High School, Moodubelle has completed 50 years of its existence and is celebrating its Golden Jubilee, the second day of the three days celebrations is being devoted to remember and honour all those Correspondents, Head Masters, Principals and members of the Teaching and Non-teaching staff, both past and present for serving and nurturing St. Lawrence Educational Institutions with dedication and commitment. By honouring those who have been closely associated with these institutions either as administrators or heads of the institutions or teachers or office staff, the institution has not only recognised their service but also manifested the unbroken bond between the institution and these persons as a family.

The Guruvandana programme was presided over by Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes, Episcopal Vicar of Udupi District. The guests of honour included Dr. H.B. Shetty, Local Doctor, Moodubelle, Dr. B.M. Hegde, Professor and Head of the Department of Economics, Shri Poornaprajna College, Udupi and Mr. Alban Rodrigues, Principal of Dandathirtha PU College, Kaup. Other dignitaries on the dais were Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Parish Priest of Moodubelle, Fr. Paul Sequeira, Principal, Mr. Henry Fernandes, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council, Mr. Devdas Hebbar, President of the Old Students Association, Mrs. Meera Lobo, President of the Parents-Teachers Association and student leaders from the High School and PU College.

In his welcome address, Fr. Joswey Fernandes gave a brief introduction of Dr. Baptist Menezes, Dr. H.B. Shetty, Dr. B.M. Hegde and Mr. Alban Rodrigues and gave them floral welcome.

As part of the Guruvandana Programme, first of all the past Correspondents of St. Lawrence Educational Institutions were honoured. While few of them are no more, some could not make it to the programme due to health or other reasons. However, the previous Correspondent, Rev. Dr. Valerian D’Souza, popularly known as the ‘Builder of Modern Belle’ received the honour on behalf of all the Correspondents. Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes offered him shawl, garland, fruits and a memento.

The retired teachers and members of the non-teaching staff as well as all those teachers who had left the High School or PU College and have been serving elsewhere and all the present members of the teaching and non-teaching staff were also honoured by Dr. H.B. Shetty. Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes felicitated the present Correspondent, Fr. Joswey Fernandes.

In his response on behalf of the past Correspondents, Rev. Fr. Valerian D’Souza said that it was a coincidence that the year St. Lawrence High School was started (1959) he was ordained a priest and hence it is double Golden Jubilee for him, that of the High School and of his own priesthood. He recalled the two years as Assistant Parish Priest in Moodubelle in 1960s when he had to work with the people providing voluntary labour (sharmadhan). He appreciated the people of Moodubelle who sacrificed in every sense of the word for the sake of this High School. He also recalled his five years as the Correspondent from 2003 to 2008 and thanked the teaching and non-teaching staff for their unstinted cooperation and support in running these institutions. He also expressed his thanks to the parents of the students for their understanding and cooperation.

Mr. P. Dayananda Kamat, the retired teacher, spoke in Tulu on behalf of the felicitated teachers and explained the circumstances that led to the establishment of St. Lawrence High School. He expressed happiness to see all the past teachers and members of non-teaching staff as well as the present staff along with the Principal and Correspondent assembled as a family. He called this as ‘St. Lawrence Family’. Mr. Kamat also recalled the difficult days that the High School had and even mentioned about the efforts of the teachers to raise funds for the electricity connection to the High School by staging a play named ‘Raktha Kanniru’.

Dr. H.B. Shetty in his address mentioned that while he was the president of the Belle Grama Panchayat, Fr. Alexander Lobo approached him with a request to put an application on behalf of the villagers to have a Pre University College and explained how the permission from the government was obtained. Dr. B. M.Hegde in his lecture emphasised the fact that the teachers are still recognised and honoured in the society. He said that after the parents it is the teachers who would like to see their students in better and higher positions in whatever field they choose. He further said that the teachers should earn the respect of the students by their knowledge, love for the subject and dedication to their profession.

Mr. Alban Rodrigues recalled the fact that 25 years ago he was one of the guests for the Silver Jubilee Celebration of St. Lawrence High School. He expressed his happiness at the ‘Guruvandana Programme’ and said that “Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” He made an appeal to the present teachers to serve the institution with dedication so that they would be felicitated in similar way as retired teachers in next land-mark celebrations in the future.

Dr. Baptist Menezes in his presidential message complimented St. Lawrence High school and PU College for their excellent performance in all fields of student activity and congratulated Fr. Joswey Fernandes and Fr. Paul Sequeira on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of St. Lawrence High School. He pointed out that the Christian educational institutions have one goal, that is, irrespective of which religion the students belongs,  these institutions strive to impart the values of humanism to the students so that they could become fine human beings and responsible citizens of India.

The entire programme was excellently compered by Mrs. Shamala, lecturer of PU College.

Following the stage programme, the Pre University students presented verity entertainment programme with group singing, folk and group dances and skits. A special mention may be made of the tableau titled “Our School-Yesterday-today and tomorrow” depicting the story of the foundation of the High School, its progress and present developments in the year of the Golden Jubilee. This tableau was directed by Mr. Larsen Edward D’Souza. Another tableau showed   the glory of Emperor Ashoka the Great, the Kalinga War and his conversion to Buddhism. Another musical skit named “Kerege Ahara” had a social message.

The entire programme went off very well though many had an apprehension of the unpredictable rains. However, the day was bright and the night sky was clear with the near full moon smiling from above as if enjoying the programmes presented by the Pre University students in a wonderful way and wishing the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of St. Lawrence High School success on its third day.