Cottonian alumni get nostalgic

Memories of times spent decades ago at their alma mater came rushing back to the alumni as Bishop Cotton Girls’ School celebrated its 150th anniversary.

The four-day sesquicentennial programme that began on June 27 brought together old and current students. “Hey! This is where my kindergarten classes were held.” “This was the bench on which I sat years ago.”

Nostalgic former students recalled fond days as if it had all happened yesterday. Women clicked pictures with their batchmates. A handful were happy to see changes in the school, while some were sad.

From the class strength that has gone up over the decades to the reduced ceiling height, they noticed it all. A student from the 1972 batch said, “The numbers have gone up. When we studied here, they would calculate the class strength depending on the cubic feet area .” The alumni remembered distinguished guests who had visited the school, including the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Queen Elizabeth. “I studied here between 1960 and 1965. We had planted a sapling when Indira Gandhi visited our school. That must have been cut down now,” said Susan Jacob.

Hema Krishnayya, who came back to the school after 50 years, said she had presented a bouquet to Queen Elizabeth. Another batchmate was quick to add that Sir C V Raman had inaugurated the first science lab. Apart from talking about the changes the school had seen, they said they yearned for the old-world charm of Bengaluru. Sukanya sadly pointed out that the old Sridevi bookshop wasn’t there anymore. She could recall in detail the ‘bookshop man’s’ countenance. Mary Anne Tully said one could close their eyes and walk down St Mark’s Road without worrying about speeding vehicles. “We lived on Convent Road, which was two minutes from school. Now, I cannot even find that street. Just one or two houses have been spared, the rest are multistorey buildings,” she said.

Many who flew down from the US and London for the event proudly said they were now retired and spend time with their grandchildren at home. Some of them who were still in touch with their school friends said they had come a week in advance to stay with them.In a late evening event, many prominent alumni members gathered for an interactio. Sports events were also organised.