Guruvandana and cultural programme usher in the Centenary Celebration of Belle Primary School

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Pics by Anil Alva and Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 29 Dec 2013: It was a day to remember as the  Guruvandana and grand cultural programme jointly organized by the Old Students Association under the presidentship of Rajendra Shetty marked the evening programme of two days long Centenary Celebration of Belle Church Aided Higher Primary School, Moodubelle on Sunday, 29 December 2013 from 5 pm onward in the school premises. The stage programme was conducted on the huge stage appropriately named ’Rev. Fr. Casmir Fernandes Stage’ in memory of the Founder Correspondent of the Belle Church Aided Higher Primary School in 1913.

 

The stage programme was presided over by Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, present Correspondent of St. Lawrence Group of Educational Institutions. Rev. Fr. Paul Fernandes S.J.-Director of St. Xavier Institute of Management, Bhuvaneshwar, Orissa was the Chief Guest. The guests of honour included Dr. Eugene D’Souza-former Principal of Asmita College, Mumbai and Founder Principal of St. Lawrence College, Moodubelle; Radhakrishna Upadhyaya-Art Teacher, Government High School, Volakadu, Udupi; Muddu Moodubelle-Senior Announcer, All India Radio, Mangalore; Mrs. Violet Gaga-Advocate and Registrar of Christian Marraiges; Dr. Jayaprakash B.-Associate Professor, Medicine Department, KMC, Manipal. Mrs. Jacintha D’Souza-Vice President of Belle Grama Panchayat; and Alphonse K. Alva-Vice President of Parish Pastoral Council. All these guests had been the old students of the school. Besides these guests, Rajendra Shetty-President of the Old Students Association and Gerald Fernandes-President of Parents-Teachers Association were also on the dais.

 

Chende from Shri Durga Mahila Vranda Chende Balaga from Bantakal and trumpet blowers were in attendance to usher the dignitaries to the dais as well as to enthuse the retired teachers as they were  honoured on the stage during the Guruvandana Programme.

 

 

The stage programme started with prayer sung by Mrs. Anita Alva and group. Sylvester  Mathias-Headmaster of the school welcomed the guests. The Chief Guest, Rev. Fr. Paul Fernandes S.J. formally inaugurated the Centenary Programme by  opening the coconut flower planted in the traditional measure known as ‘kalasi’.  Thereafter, Maxim D’Sa-Joint Secretary of the Old Students Association read the report of the Old Students Association.

 

The chief programme of the function was honouring the past and present teachers of the school. Nearly 50 teacehrs, most of whom were the Bethany Sisters were honoured by the dignitaries on the dais by presenting them with shawls, fruit plates, bouquets, memento with silver coin and certificates. The prominent among the past teacehrs who were honoured during the Guruvandana programme were: B. Saddananda Rao, Boniface Barboza, Mrs. Eugene Barboza, Victor Rebello, Ms. Stella Fernandes, Srinivas Tantri, Srinivas Nayak, William D’Sa, Maurice Noronha.

 

On behalf of the honoured teachers, B. Sadnanada Rao, Ms. Stella Fernandes, Srinivas Tantri and William D’Sa expressed their feelings and thanked the Old Students for the honour that they had bestowed on them on the occasion of the Centenary of the school.

 

Prizes for the winners of the games conducted in the morning and also the volleyball, throwball and cricket tournaments conducted earlier were distributed by the dignitaries on the dais.

 

In his address, the chief guest, Rev. Fr. Paul Fernandes S.J. said that it was the special day for the school which has completed 100 years of its existence.  He said that having started the journey of learning in the school in childhood, many have achieved success in many fields as they pursued higher educcation and chose the careers of their liking. Centenary of the school is the occasion to pay not only the respect to the institution but also to remember the service of those teachers who are no more and honour those teachers who are alive. 

 

Rajendra Shetty-President of the Old Students Association called upon the donors and those who had toiled in making the Old Students Day a success by their generous contributions and hard work  to come on the stage who were honoured by Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes.

 

Muddu Moodubelle, Radhakrishna Upadhyaya  and Dr. Jayaprakash B. spoke about their experience as students of the Belle Church Aided Higher Primary School and pointed out how the school was responsible in shaping their lives. They also remembered some of their teachers who were instrumental in instilling in them a sense of discipline, love of knowledge and showed them the way to proceed further in their quest for higher education and successful career.

 

Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes in his presidential message traced the history of the school and remembered the service rendered by successive Correspondents, headmaster and teachers.

 

Mementos were presented by Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes to the dignitaries on the dais. Gerald Fernandes proposed the vote of  thanks. Devdas Hebbar compeered the stage programme.

 

As the programme was in progress, especially during the Guruvandana, the pictures of the teacehrs were displayed on the screen through Power Point presentation effectively done by Alwyn Mathias.

 

 

Following the end of the stage programme, cultural programme began with classical dance and Yakshagana by the school children who enacted the episode titled “Veer Abhmanyu”. The students were trained by Satish Upadhyaya of Ambalpady and the Yakshagana presentation was sponsored by Vithal Nayak of Naalku Beedi and Pundalik Nayak of Moodubelle who were honoured by Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes for their contribution.  The students enacted the entire episode with efficiency and conviction which was appreciated by the audience. Ashwin Lawrence narrated the background of the Yakshagana episode.

 

 

The other entertainment programmes included “Bale Thelipale”-Comedy series in three episodes directed by Sandip Shetty, Manibettu, one of the old students of the school. There were also folk and filmy dances.

 

The cultural programme was compeered by Maxim D’Sa and Anita Alva.

 

On the whole, the entire function was well organized with efficient stage and time  management. A number of old students had worked really hard under the leadership of Rajendra Shetty to make the function a great success.

 

 

The entire school complex has got a new look with improved ground, raised compound wall, new sign board and better gate. The outer walls of the school building have informative pictures on diferent subjects such as science, astronomy, personalities who have achieved success in diferent fields, etc. 

 

 

Earlier, following the inaugural function in the morning and fun games for the old students, lunch was served at around 12.30 pm. The lunch was served through buffet system as well as on tables on plantain leaves. A large number of people participated in the community lunch which was sponsored by Mr. Isaac and Mrs. Leena D’Almeida.