MAYO COLLEGE
SPEECH GIVEN AT 128TH PRIZE GIVING ON 03 DEC 11
BY THE PRINCIPAL
MAJ GEN KVS LALOTRA, AVSM, YSM, SM (RETD)
Gen VK Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC, Chief of the Army Staff, Mrs Bharti Singh, His Highness Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodhpur, President Mayo College General Council, Your Highnesses, Members of the Mayo College General Council, Parents, Old Boys, Ladies and Gentlemen, Mayo College Staff, and my Boys. At the outset I wish to extend a very warm and cordial welcome to Gen VK Singh and Mrs Bharti Singh at Mayo College. Known for being a General of sterling qualities, he requires no further introduction by me as the honours have just been done by His Highness.
It is our proud privilege to have the Chief of the Army Staff with us and we thank you for continuing with the rich tradition, of Services Chiefs visiting Mayo College at the Prize Giving; a tradition started way back by the Commanders – in – Chief. Your presence today will script yet another chapter in the glorious history of our warm and close relationship with the Defence Forces of the country.
This long association started with Col Sir Swinton Jacob being commissioned as the architect and Lt Col WW Baker as the supervising engineer of the Main Building which is a marvel in Indo – Saracenic architecture. The second Principal of the School was Col William Loch, CIE, ADC, who served Mayo College for 25 long years.
The legendary Mr JTM Gibson, OBE, Padamshree, an officer of the Territorial Navy, came after a successful innings as Principal Joint Services Wing to head the School for 15 years. He replaced Mr Vyas at Mayo. It was a one to one exchange with Mr Vyas going as Principal to NDA from Mayo College. Another Army man, Lt Col Twiss, taught English language for 27 years and was the Vice Principal also.
Gen KS Thimayya, Chief of the Army Staff, sent his ADC, Capt Wal, as Secretary to the Principal.
On one occasion all the three Services Chiefs came together to Mayo College to pay their respects to Mr Gibson and on another occasion to pay homage at his passing away.
Last year the Territorial Army instituted a Medal at the Indian Military Academy in memory of Late Brig Pratap Singh of Nimaj, an alumni of Mayo College.
Therefore, we are most grateful to you for continuing with the rich legacy of Services Chiefs nurturing the deep rooted Mayo – Defence Forces connection.
I also take this opportunity to welcome the Batch of 1986 and their lady wives who have come to celebrate their Silver Jubilee with us. Thank you for making the journey home. You look splendid in your Jodhpuris, safas and sarees and have added charm to this very formal occasion. May I also welcome my last year’s batch i.e. the Batch of 2010, which will always have a special place in my heart. Welcome home sons!
I have been sharing the School’s progress with parents from time to time through e-mails, letters and at my interaction with them during Old Boys’ meetings and get-togethers.
The highlights of the last academic year have been compiled in the Principal’s Report which has been handed over to you for reading at leisure. Therefore, I shall briefly touch upon a few aspects of the School’s growth, development and achievements. The boys have participated at all stages of School’s affairs from planning to implementing and execution.
Last year I presented my vision at the PG. As the year rolled, my vision moved from the drawing board to implementation, execution, bricks and mortar.
Mayo is becoming the preferred School for increasing number in India and abroad. This year, we have a 41 % increase in numbers seeking admission to Class IV. We have the largest number of exchange students from renowned, old schools all over the world who come on a reciprocal exchange to us. We have two young boys Edwin Agnew and Charles Hickman from England who have come to spend a term with us in Class VII. They are registered for Eton College, UK for the year 2014 and are here presumably for their foundation. We, as a School, had the highest number of students participating in International Service Projects sponsored by the Round Square.
In a boarding school it is important for the boys to understand the importance of discipline as also to help provide an environment where the mind is without fear. We have achieved a fair deal in this direction. I wish you to observe a new class of cheerful, happy, confident and self–reliant Mayoites. The leadership training for appointments and Class XII boys, which has been in place at School for the last two years enabled the Appointments perform better. I am sure their successors will take Mayo to newer heights.
Thanks to the efforts of the School Management, Old Boys’ Batches, Old Boys and their family members in their individual capacities in just over a year you would have observed the rapid transformation of the Mayo landscape. We have added five state of art synthetic courts and two tennis clay courts. A 122 feet long tennis practice wall and skating rink in the Junior School has been constructed for the beginners. The athletic field has been upgraded, Vyas Ground has been turfed and the squash courts renovated and four new cricket nets added. The Polo Ground has been extended to meet the minimum international specifications. A state of art polo pavilion is under construction at the Sawai Man Singh Polo Ground. A much desired barber saloon and a costume store have been added at the Central Store and two sports stores constructed near the swimming pool. Washroom facilities have been added at the Sherring ground. Other infrastructure development projects include commissioning of the state of art laundry, construction of House Master’s residence and adding of 5 rooms for boys in Jaipur House, installation of RO and water softening plants at all the Messes. The Campus is better maintained due to the large amount of maintenance and garbage collection equipment procured.
There has been a drop in the daily sick report over the last one year. It has helped improve the boys’ classroom attendance. This major achievement has been on account of scientific menu planning, better and more nutritious diet, boys getting fitter and tougher due to the structured physical training programme and better hygiene and healthcare by the RMO and the Resident Dames. Next year we need to look at measures to reduce hospital admissions.
It is the School’s proud privilege to report that during the academic year 2010-11 CBSE Class XII Board Exams the batch average was 83.3% with over 21% of the boys scoring an aggregate of 90% and above. 90% of them scored above 75%. Utkarsh Kumar, our School Captain, scored 95% in Physics, 95% in Maths, 95% in Economics, 96% in Chemistry and 96% in Physical Education.
On request from boys and parents, the School has started IIT & NTSE coaching. These initiatives will further raise the bar of academic excellence at Mayo College in future.
The School has completed the first phase of class room upgrading with each class now having a projection system connected to servers to access teaching software. A Maths Lab and an English Lab have also been added.
On the co-curricular front, Mayo College was the winner in the interschool Gibson Debates 2012. We ranked second in the IT Fest held at Scindia School, Gwalior. In the IPSC IT Festival Mayo College was declared runners-up in e-College Competition. The Mayo team was adjudged runners-up in the Inter School Declamation Contest at the Lawrence School, Sanawar. The School team was also the runners-up at the Yogi Durlabhji Foundation All India Public Speaking Contest. At the Inter School Quiz held at the Lawrence School, Sanawar, our team was declared the second runners-up.
We have had an excellent year in sports. The new initiative of compulsory seasonal games with boys also required to play an individual game for four days a week, rapid upgrading of sports infrastructure, well qualified coaches in place, larger participation in inter school tournaments, hosting of IPSC hockey tournament have taken Mayo sports a few notches higher.
While the Inter House competitions saw lots of ‘josh’ displayed by the boys on the field, it was in the Inter School, IPSC, Districts, States and Nationals tournaments where they excelled. A few highlights are:-
(a) Our U-12,U-14 and U-17 teams were hard line winners while U-19 team were runners-up in IPSC Hockey tournaments.
(b) Mayo College Football Team was runners-up in the MFT and quarter finalist in the U-19 IPSC Tournament. Seven boys were part of the IPSC Football Team which played the quarter finals in SGFI Nationals. The IPSC Team was captained by Tshegyal Tashi.
(c) Mayo College U-19 team was winner in the District Cricket Tournament and quarterfinalist in the IPSC tournament.
(d) Mudit Rajawat won a Gold medal in the National 40 km Endurance Race. The Mayo colts were also the runners-up in the Directorate General Remount and Veterinary Services Polo Cup. At the Delhi Horse Show where we could field our full contingent of riders and horses. Our riders won 59 medals. At the Bangalore Horse Show, we won 4 medals.
(e) The School has established itself as a leader in Yoga training. The U-19 team won the IPSC Championship while the U-17 team was declared runners-up and U-14 hard line winners. Seven boys were selected for Nationals.
(f) Mayoites continue to hit the bulls eye in various tournaments. Our School team was the runners-up in the IPSC Air Rifle Shooting Championship winning 21 medals. Udai Narain won a Gold medal in the Open National Air Rifle Shooting Tournament and Adhiraj Singh Rathore bagged a Silver in the 2nd Union Commonwealth Championship, Grand Prix at Kazakhstan.
(g) The U-17 and U-19 Tennis teams were winners in the District Tournament while the U-17 team was runners-up and the U-19 team was the hard line winners in State Tournament. In the IPSC Tournament Samin Bhargava was the winner in the U-19 category. Five boys were selected for Nationals.
(h) In Boxing the boys did remarkably well in the IPSC Tournament by winning 7 medals. Shobhit Pratap won a gold medal and was selected for the SGFI Nationals.
(j) The Squash team did exceedingly well by winning the IPSC Tournament. Vatsal Chandak was declared the best player of the tournament and five boys were selected for Nationals. Vatsal Chandak also captained the Rajasthan Team.
(k) During the Inter- House Swimming Madhvendra Singh, Class V, broke four records including a 25 year old record in 100 meter individual medley. The School swimming team was declared as Champions in all the three categories in the District Tournament winning 11 medals in the State Championship. Three boys have been selected for the SGFI Nationals in swimming and diving.
(l) The Athletics team won 16 medals in the District Tournament.
So much about the Mayoites on Campus. These success stories begin at School and Mayoites continue weaving them for life.
Not only do the present Mayoites, but our Alumni too continue to do us proud. Some of them have been appointed at coveted posts and bagged prestigious awards. To name a few, about whom we have information, include:-
(a) Mr Kamaljeet Singh Garewal appointed as a Sitting Judge in the UN.
(b) Mr Amar Pratap Singh (1967-68 Batch) appointed as Director, Central Bureau of Investigation.
(c) Mr Arup Patnaik (1971 Batch) appointed as Police Commissioner, Mumbai.
(d) Mr Manu Anand (1975 Batch) promoted as the Country Head – Pepsico India.
(e) Mr Vikram Singh Mehta, Member, Mayo College General Council (1969 Batch) awarded the Inaugural Asian Business Leader Award.
(f) The Public Relations Council of India has awarded Anand (Bunty) Peerbhoy (1966-67 Batch) the ‘Chankaya Lifetime Achievement Award’ for making the most significant contribution to the Marketing Services Industry.
I congratulate each one of them on behalf of the Mayo fraternity.
I take this opportunity to place on record our gratitude for the contributions received from individuals and batches of different passing out years.. These have come at some cost to those who have donated and we deeply appreciate their gesture. I assure you that each contribution has made a significant difference to the School’s development :-
(a) Rs 30 lakhs has been contributed by the Batch of 1984 to help raise the Endowment Fund Organization.
(b) Rs 2.25 lakhs has been received from Mr Bharat Tandon for the balance work at the Chemistry Lab. Thus he has personally contributed a sum of Rs 21 lakhs for its renovation over two years.
(c) A rock climbing wall has been donated in memory of Rohan Kanhai Datta by Mrs Datta and the Batch of 1976.
(d) A Polo Pavilion at the Sawai Man Singh Polo Ground is being constructed by the Jaipur family at an approximate cost of Rs 24 Lakhs.
(e) A rolling Silver trophy instituted by the Batch of 2010 in memory of their batchmate, Adhivraj Singh for excellence in Cross-country has been received and was presented on the Sports Day. The same is displayed here.
(f) A rolling Silver trophy instituted by Mr Hameer Singh (OB 1986) and Mr Sameer Singh (OB 1992) in memory of their father Late Thakur Randheer Singh Ji of Baghera to be awarded to the Best All Round Sportsman Seniors has been received. The same is displayed here.
We once again thank each one of them for their magnanimity and thoughtfulness..
I am pleased to inform you that the Board of Governors in a historic decision approved the setting up of an Endowment Fund Organization to raise funds for the future development of the College, Scholarships, Bursaries and Chairs of Excellence. We wish to see Mayo as a leader in this venture. A formal launch would take place next year. The School would welcome help from all - both in kind and money. The donor opportunities will be posted on the website.
On behalf of the School Committee, Staff, Students and on my own behalf I wish to thank the Karamcharis of the School. They have toiled round the year, day and night, to look after the boys and in particular make arrangements for the Prize Giving. May I request you to kindly join your hands and give them the loudest applause as they truly deserve it.
The College bid farewell on retirement to a large number of Staff and Karamcharis. This includes Mrs Pratima Jha and Mrs Suman Khanna who had put in over 21 and 28 years of service respectively. The College also bid farewell to Shri Kalu Singh, PM Hospital who served for 45 yrs, Shri Amar Singh, Principal’s Driver who served for 25 yrs, Shri Alauudin, Chowkidar who served for 35 yrs, Shri Jeevan, Gardner, who served for 35 yrs, Shri Nanda, Helper Cook who served for 47 yrs, Shri Devi Singh, Farrash who served for 45 yrs, Shri Ramavatar Farrash who served for 35 yrs, Shri Padam Gupta, Library Clerk who served for 27 yrs, Shri Ramlal, Safai Karamchari who served for 39 yrs. We thank them for their services and wish them a long and happy retired life.
With a heavy heart I share with you the sad passing away of Brig HH Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh MVC, of Jaipur and HH Raja Narendra Singh of Sarila, IFS, (Retd) both Members of the General Council. We also lost Mr OP Pathak, Ex Headmaster Jr School, Mr Bharat Malhotra OB 1961 Batch, Raja Gopal Singhji Bhadrajun OB 1947, Dr Avinash Sharma OB 1972, Mr Rakhiraj Singh OB 1985 and Master Adhivraj Singh OB 2010. Master Nadish Bharti a student of Class VII lost his life in a tragic road accident. Our condolences and sympathies to the family members and friends.
Before I conclude I would like to share a few of my thoughts with you. During the last year and a half my major focus has been on enthusing a ‘Spirit of Change’ wherein every Mayoite on campus becomes an agent of positive change. I have made a conscious effort to live the life of a student participating in every activity of theirs. I have worn many hats and played a varied range of roles; that of a friend, a guide, a teacher, counselor, mentor, coach, cheer leader, magician, a gymnastic and riding instructor and as a parent. The list is endless and the role playing is endless too.
Principalship has its challenges too. One day you may deal with a shattered window pane and a shattered spirit and the next day it may be a sensitive issue and a sensitive ego. The challenges are numerous but the experiences-rewarding and fulfilling.
Principalship is also both, lowly and lofty. Reactions and emotions come in different packages. This year Diwali brought fireworks in plenty from different quarters but it also brought with it lots of cheer and joy for me. Spending Diwali with 150 odd boys on campus was an experience most memorable. If 150 boys brought the campus alive with festivities, I am sure with 800 boys the joy would be manifolds next year! The School’s special thanks goes to the Old Boys of the Nimaj Family for hosting the boys for a day during Diwali. The picnic and lunch organized by them at the lakeside was a treat fit for an Emperor.
Our commitment for the welfare and well being of each child remains topmost priority. Any kind of bullying, physical punishment and mental trauma is potentially unsafe and injurious to health and violate a child’s rights and therefore, prohibited at Mayo College. Fear stunts growth and talent is suppressed. Therefore, you will be happy to note that the management has adopted a zero tolerance policy on this aspect.
Due respect and understanding for the values that the School tries to inculcate through its rules and regulations vastly helps a child in the long run. I firmly believe that both, a School and parents, have an incredible role to play in a child’s education.
I am certain that teachers remain the primary factor in a classroom. Technology can only assist them. Thus, good faculty recruitment and teachers’ training and development figures highest on my agenda.
Before I conclude, I wish to place on record Mayo College’s gratitude to Mrs Jamila Singh, Director cum Principal, Mayo College Girls’ School. Mrs Singh, her Staff and the Girls have been extremely supportive in all our endevours. We are grateful for their willing participation and assistance in many of our activities. The boys always look forward to the numerous invitations from the Girls’ School to the events hosted by them.
I also wish to thank Mr Neeraj Bedhotiya, Principal, Mayoor School for the support provided by Mayoor School whenever requested.
For a School as old and as large and as varied as ours there are many who deserve credit and acknowledgment for their contribution to the institution.
(a) I start by thanking Mr Navin Kumar Dixit, Director Academics who officiated as the Vice Principal till such time the School appointed a new Vice Principal.
(b) Mr S Kumar, the Vice Principal and the teaching staff and Mr Dinesh Bhatnagar, the Bursar and the administrative staff, for their respective roles and contribution in academic growth and administrative improvements. We have upgraded classrooms, motivated teaching staff, happier children at the dining table, a greener and cleaner campus and better sports and equestrian facilities.
(c) I also need to thank Mr Pramod Chaturvedi, Headmaster, Junior School and his staff for their sustained efforts which has resulted in cheerful boys and parents in the Junior School resulting in a quantum increase in applicants for admission at junior level.
(d) But, if there is one single reason for our march forward, it is the understanding and maturity of the boys. The help I got from Samin Bhargava, the School Captain and the School Appointments who helped us emerge as winners out of many a situations.
At the end I would say it has been my privilege to welcome Gen VK Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC, Chief of the Army Staff and the distinguished guests to the 128th Prize Giving. Your very presence is a source of encouragement to me and my boys.
I am most grateful to you for your patient hearing.
Thank you.
It is our proud privilege to have the Chief of the Army Staff with us and we thank you for continuing with the rich tradition, of Services Chiefs visiting Mayo College at the Prize Giving; a tradition started way back by the Commanders – in – Chief. Your presence today will script yet another chapter in the glorious history of our warm and close relationship with the Defence Forces of the country.
This long association started with Col Sir Swinton Jacob being commissioned as the architect and Lt Col WW Baker as the supervising engineer of the Main Building which is a marvel in Indo – Saracenic architecture. The second Principal of the School was Col William Loch, CIE, ADC, who served Mayo College for 25 long years.
The legendary Mr JTM Gibson, OBE, Padamshree, an officer of the Territorial Navy, came after a successful innings as Principal Joint Services Wing to head the School for 15 years. He replaced Mr Vyas at Mayo. It was a one to one exchange with Mr Vyas going as Principal to NDA from Mayo College. Another Army man, Lt Col Twiss, taught English language for 27 years and was the Vice Principal also.
Gen KS Thimayya, Chief of the Army Staff, sent his ADC, Capt Wal, as Secretary to the Principal.
On one occasion all the three Services Chiefs came together to Mayo College to pay their respects to Mr Gibson and on another occasion to pay homage at his passing away.
Last year the Territorial Army instituted a Medal at the Indian Military Academy in memory of Late Brig Pratap Singh of Nimaj, an alumni of Mayo College.
Therefore, we are most grateful to you for continuing with the rich legacy of Services Chiefs nurturing the deep rooted Mayo – Defence Forces connection.
I also take this opportunity to welcome the Batch of 1986 and their lady wives who have come to celebrate their Silver Jubilee with us. Thank you for making the journey home. You look splendid in your Jodhpuris, safas and sarees and have added charm to this very formal occasion. May I also welcome my last year’s batch i.e. the Batch of 2010, which will always have a special place in my heart. Welcome home sons!
I have been sharing the School’s progress with parents from time to time through e-mails, letters and at my interaction with them during Old Boys’ meetings and get-togethers.
The highlights of the last academic year have been compiled in the Principal’s Report which has been handed over to you for reading at leisure. Therefore, I shall briefly touch upon a few aspects of the School’s growth, development and achievements. The boys have participated at all stages of School’s affairs from planning to implementing and execution.
Last year I presented my vision at the PG. As the year rolled, my vision moved from the drawing board to implementation, execution, bricks and mortar.
Mayo is becoming the preferred School for increasing number in India and abroad. This year, we have a 41 % increase in numbers seeking admission to Class IV. We have the largest number of exchange students from renowned, old schools all over the world who come on a reciprocal exchange to us. We have two young boys Edwin Agnew and Charles Hickman from England who have come to spend a term with us in Class VII. They are registered for Eton College, UK for the year 2014 and are here presumably for their foundation. We, as a School, had the highest number of students participating in International Service Projects sponsored by the Round Square.
In a boarding school it is important for the boys to understand the importance of discipline as also to help provide an environment where the mind is without fear. We have achieved a fair deal in this direction. I wish you to observe a new class of cheerful, happy, confident and self–reliant Mayoites. The leadership training for appointments and Class XII boys, which has been in place at School for the last two years enabled the Appointments perform better. I am sure their successors will take Mayo to newer heights.
Thanks to the efforts of the School Management, Old Boys’ Batches, Old Boys and their family members in their individual capacities in just over a year you would have observed the rapid transformation of the Mayo landscape. We have added five state of art synthetic courts and two tennis clay courts. A 122 feet long tennis practice wall and skating rink in the Junior School has been constructed for the beginners. The athletic field has been upgraded, Vyas Ground has been turfed and the squash courts renovated and four new cricket nets added. The Polo Ground has been extended to meet the minimum international specifications. A state of art polo pavilion is under construction at the Sawai Man Singh Polo Ground. A much desired barber saloon and a costume store have been added at the Central Store and two sports stores constructed near the swimming pool. Washroom facilities have been added at the Sherring ground. Other infrastructure development projects include commissioning of the state of art laundry, construction of House Master’s residence and adding of 5 rooms for boys in Jaipur House, installation of RO and water softening plants at all the Messes. The Campus is better maintained due to the large amount of maintenance and garbage collection equipment procured.
There has been a drop in the daily sick report over the last one year. It has helped improve the boys’ classroom attendance. This major achievement has been on account of scientific menu planning, better and more nutritious diet, boys getting fitter and tougher due to the structured physical training programme and better hygiene and healthcare by the RMO and the Resident Dames. Next year we need to look at measures to reduce hospital admissions.
It is the School’s proud privilege to report that during the academic year 2010-11 CBSE Class XII Board Exams the batch average was 83.3% with over 21% of the boys scoring an aggregate of 90% and above. 90% of them scored above 75%. Utkarsh Kumar, our School Captain, scored 95% in Physics, 95% in Maths, 95% in Economics, 96% in Chemistry and 96% in Physical Education.
On request from boys and parents, the School has started IIT & NTSE coaching. These initiatives will further raise the bar of academic excellence at Mayo College in future.
The School has completed the first phase of class room upgrading with each class now having a projection system connected to servers to access teaching software. A Maths Lab and an English Lab have also been added.
On the co-curricular front, Mayo College was the winner in the interschool Gibson Debates 2012. We ranked second in the IT Fest held at Scindia School, Gwalior. In the IPSC IT Festival Mayo College was declared runners-up in e-College Competition. The Mayo team was adjudged runners-up in the Inter School Declamation Contest at the Lawrence School, Sanawar. The School team was also the runners-up at the Yogi Durlabhji Foundation All India Public Speaking Contest. At the Inter School Quiz held at the Lawrence School, Sanawar, our team was declared the second runners-up.
We have had an excellent year in sports. The new initiative of compulsory seasonal games with boys also required to play an individual game for four days a week, rapid upgrading of sports infrastructure, well qualified coaches in place, larger participation in inter school tournaments, hosting of IPSC hockey tournament have taken Mayo sports a few notches higher.
While the Inter House competitions saw lots of ‘josh’ displayed by the boys on the field, it was in the Inter School, IPSC, Districts, States and Nationals tournaments where they excelled. A few highlights are:-
(a) Our U-12,U-14 and U-17 teams were hard line winners while U-19 team were runners-up in IPSC Hockey tournaments.
(b) Mayo College Football Team was runners-up in the MFT and quarter finalist in the U-19 IPSC Tournament. Seven boys were part of the IPSC Football Team which played the quarter finals in SGFI Nationals. The IPSC Team was captained by Tshegyal Tashi.
(c) Mayo College U-19 team was winner in the District Cricket Tournament and quarterfinalist in the IPSC tournament.
(d) Mudit Rajawat won a Gold medal in the National 40 km Endurance Race. The Mayo colts were also the runners-up in the Directorate General Remount and Veterinary Services Polo Cup. At the Delhi Horse Show where we could field our full contingent of riders and horses. Our riders won 59 medals. At the Bangalore Horse Show, we won 4 medals.
(e) The School has established itself as a leader in Yoga training. The U-19 team won the IPSC Championship while the U-17 team was declared runners-up and U-14 hard line winners. Seven boys were selected for Nationals.
(f) Mayoites continue to hit the bulls eye in various tournaments. Our School team was the runners-up in the IPSC Air Rifle Shooting Championship winning 21 medals. Udai Narain won a Gold medal in the Open National Air Rifle Shooting Tournament and Adhiraj Singh Rathore bagged a Silver in the 2nd Union Commonwealth Championship, Grand Prix at Kazakhstan.
(g) The U-17 and U-19 Tennis teams were winners in the District Tournament while the U-17 team was runners-up and the U-19 team was the hard line winners in State Tournament. In the IPSC Tournament Samin Bhargava was the winner in the U-19 category. Five boys were selected for Nationals.
(h) In Boxing the boys did remarkably well in the IPSC Tournament by winning 7 medals. Shobhit Pratap won a gold medal and was selected for the SGFI Nationals.
(j) The Squash team did exceedingly well by winning the IPSC Tournament. Vatsal Chandak was declared the best player of the tournament and five boys were selected for Nationals. Vatsal Chandak also captained the Rajasthan Team.
(k) During the Inter- House Swimming Madhvendra Singh, Class V, broke four records including a 25 year old record in 100 meter individual medley. The School swimming team was declared as Champions in all the three categories in the District Tournament winning 11 medals in the State Championship. Three boys have been selected for the SGFI Nationals in swimming and diving.
(l) The Athletics team won 16 medals in the District Tournament.
So much about the Mayoites on Campus. These success stories begin at School and Mayoites continue weaving them for life.
Not only do the present Mayoites, but our Alumni too continue to do us proud. Some of them have been appointed at coveted posts and bagged prestigious awards. To name a few, about whom we have information, include:-
(a) Mr Kamaljeet Singh Garewal appointed as a Sitting Judge in the UN.
(b) Mr Amar Pratap Singh (1967-68 Batch) appointed as Director, Central Bureau of Investigation.
(c) Mr Arup Patnaik (1971 Batch) appointed as Police Commissioner, Mumbai.
(d) Mr Manu Anand (1975 Batch) promoted as the Country Head – Pepsico India.
(e) Mr Vikram Singh Mehta, Member, Mayo College General Council (1969 Batch) awarded the Inaugural Asian Business Leader Award.
(f) The Public Relations Council of India has awarded Anand (Bunty) Peerbhoy (1966-67 Batch) the ‘Chankaya Lifetime Achievement Award’ for making the most significant contribution to the Marketing Services Industry.
I congratulate each one of them on behalf of the Mayo fraternity.
I take this opportunity to place on record our gratitude for the contributions received from individuals and batches of different passing out years.. These have come at some cost to those who have donated and we deeply appreciate their gesture. I assure you that each contribution has made a significant difference to the School’s development :-
(a) Rs 30 lakhs has been contributed by the Batch of 1984 to help raise the Endowment Fund Organization.
(b) Rs 2.25 lakhs has been received from Mr Bharat Tandon for the balance work at the Chemistry Lab. Thus he has personally contributed a sum of Rs 21 lakhs for its renovation over two years.
(c) A rock climbing wall has been donated in memory of Rohan Kanhai Datta by Mrs Datta and the Batch of 1976.
(d) A Polo Pavilion at the Sawai Man Singh Polo Ground is being constructed by the Jaipur family at an approximate cost of Rs 24 Lakhs.
(e) A rolling Silver trophy instituted by the Batch of 2010 in memory of their batchmate, Adhivraj Singh for excellence in Cross-country has been received and was presented on the Sports Day. The same is displayed here.
(f) A rolling Silver trophy instituted by Mr Hameer Singh (OB 1986) and Mr Sameer Singh (OB 1992) in memory of their father Late Thakur Randheer Singh Ji of Baghera to be awarded to the Best All Round Sportsman Seniors has been received. The same is displayed here.
We once again thank each one of them for their magnanimity and thoughtfulness..
I am pleased to inform you that the Board of Governors in a historic decision approved the setting up of an Endowment Fund Organization to raise funds for the future development of the College, Scholarships, Bursaries and Chairs of Excellence. We wish to see Mayo as a leader in this venture. A formal launch would take place next year. The School would welcome help from all - both in kind and money. The donor opportunities will be posted on the website.
On behalf of the School Committee, Staff, Students and on my own behalf I wish to thank the Karamcharis of the School. They have toiled round the year, day and night, to look after the boys and in particular make arrangements for the Prize Giving. May I request you to kindly join your hands and give them the loudest applause as they truly deserve it.
The College bid farewell on retirement to a large number of Staff and Karamcharis. This includes Mrs Pratima Jha and Mrs Suman Khanna who had put in over 21 and 28 years of service respectively. The College also bid farewell to Shri Kalu Singh, PM Hospital who served for 45 yrs, Shri Amar Singh, Principal’s Driver who served for 25 yrs, Shri Alauudin, Chowkidar who served for 35 yrs, Shri Jeevan, Gardner, who served for 35 yrs, Shri Nanda, Helper Cook who served for 47 yrs, Shri Devi Singh, Farrash who served for 45 yrs, Shri Ramavatar Farrash who served for 35 yrs, Shri Padam Gupta, Library Clerk who served for 27 yrs, Shri Ramlal, Safai Karamchari who served for 39 yrs. We thank them for their services and wish them a long and happy retired life.
With a heavy heart I share with you the sad passing away of Brig HH Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh MVC, of Jaipur and HH Raja Narendra Singh of Sarila, IFS, (Retd) both Members of the General Council. We also lost Mr OP Pathak, Ex Headmaster Jr School, Mr Bharat Malhotra OB 1961 Batch, Raja Gopal Singhji Bhadrajun OB 1947, Dr Avinash Sharma OB 1972, Mr Rakhiraj Singh OB 1985 and Master Adhivraj Singh OB 2010. Master Nadish Bharti a student of Class VII lost his life in a tragic road accident. Our condolences and sympathies to the family members and friends.
Before I conclude I would like to share a few of my thoughts with you. During the last year and a half my major focus has been on enthusing a ‘Spirit of Change’ wherein every Mayoite on campus becomes an agent of positive change. I have made a conscious effort to live the life of a student participating in every activity of theirs. I have worn many hats and played a varied range of roles; that of a friend, a guide, a teacher, counselor, mentor, coach, cheer leader, magician, a gymnastic and riding instructor and as a parent. The list is endless and the role playing is endless too.
Principalship has its challenges too. One day you may deal with a shattered window pane and a shattered spirit and the next day it may be a sensitive issue and a sensitive ego. The challenges are numerous but the experiences-rewarding and fulfilling.
Principalship is also both, lowly and lofty. Reactions and emotions come in different packages. This year Diwali brought fireworks in plenty from different quarters but it also brought with it lots of cheer and joy for me. Spending Diwali with 150 odd boys on campus was an experience most memorable. If 150 boys brought the campus alive with festivities, I am sure with 800 boys the joy would be manifolds next year! The School’s special thanks goes to the Old Boys of the Nimaj Family for hosting the boys for a day during Diwali. The picnic and lunch organized by them at the lakeside was a treat fit for an Emperor.
Our commitment for the welfare and well being of each child remains topmost priority. Any kind of bullying, physical punishment and mental trauma is potentially unsafe and injurious to health and violate a child’s rights and therefore, prohibited at Mayo College. Fear stunts growth and talent is suppressed. Therefore, you will be happy to note that the management has adopted a zero tolerance policy on this aspect.
Due respect and understanding for the values that the School tries to inculcate through its rules and regulations vastly helps a child in the long run. I firmly believe that both, a School and parents, have an incredible role to play in a child’s education.
I am certain that teachers remain the primary factor in a classroom. Technology can only assist them. Thus, good faculty recruitment and teachers’ training and development figures highest on my agenda.
Before I conclude, I wish to place on record Mayo College’s gratitude to Mrs Jamila Singh, Director cum Principal, Mayo College Girls’ School. Mrs Singh, her Staff and the Girls have been extremely supportive in all our endevours. We are grateful for their willing participation and assistance in many of our activities. The boys always look forward to the numerous invitations from the Girls’ School to the events hosted by them.
I also wish to thank Mr Neeraj Bedhotiya, Principal, Mayoor School for the support provided by Mayoor School whenever requested.
For a School as old and as large and as varied as ours there are many who deserve credit and acknowledgment for their contribution to the institution.
(a) I start by thanking Mr Navin Kumar Dixit, Director Academics who officiated as the Vice Principal till such time the School appointed a new Vice Principal.
(b) Mr S Kumar, the Vice Principal and the teaching staff and Mr Dinesh Bhatnagar, the Bursar and the administrative staff, for their respective roles and contribution in academic growth and administrative improvements. We have upgraded classrooms, motivated teaching staff, happier children at the dining table, a greener and cleaner campus and better sports and equestrian facilities.
(c) I also need to thank Mr Pramod Chaturvedi, Headmaster, Junior School and his staff for their sustained efforts which has resulted in cheerful boys and parents in the Junior School resulting in a quantum increase in applicants for admission at junior level.
(d) But, if there is one single reason for our march forward, it is the understanding and maturity of the boys. The help I got from Samin Bhargava, the School Captain and the School Appointments who helped us emerge as winners out of many a situations.
At the end I would say it has been my privilege to welcome Gen VK Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC, Chief of the Army Staff and the distinguished guests to the 128th Prize Giving. Your very presence is a source of encouragement to me and my boys.
I am most grateful to you for your patient hearing.
Thank you.