The year was 1915 when Lowry Adventist College and Church was established by Elder Sir G G Lowry in Coimbatore. After several years, in 1946, the school ‘Lowry Memorial High School’, opened in Doorvaninagar (the area where Indian Telephone Industries is located), Bengaluru, to honour the memory of Elder Sir G G Lowry, a noted educationist and social worker of Seventh Day Adventist Church in Southern Asia Division. The very sight of this picture (my class of 10 taken in 1984) takes me back to my school days filled with nostalgic memories.
We were an enthusiastic bunch greatly influenced by the much-learned, able and benevolent teachers. I remember my teacher in my kindergarten, Ms Helen, whose picture in my mind is still fresh. Her sweet kind voice still inspire me and I try to emulate her in my interactions as a Trainer, now.
Later I came across Mrs David, who was a strict disciplinarian, perfectionist and a scholar in English. She taught us Literature, grammar, and the power of good writing. Can we
ever forget our favourite teacher?
Mrs Violet Samson, the name of this teacher brings goosebumps on me. It was she who taught us to become self-propelled and self-controlled youngsters. In our high school, we had many teachers who were great influencers on our young minds. One among them was Ravindra Shankar, who is presently the President of the School. He was neither tough nor lenient, but we had a kind of fear mixed respect towards him.
We are proud to say that he was our class teacher in Class X. There was nothing that could spell a doubt among us that our teachers did not know his/her subject unlike now-a-days. Our teachers were the best and knew their stuff well.
We had a Kannada teacher whom we had nicknamed as ‘Mr Neat’ viz. Mr Nagaraj! The examples he gave us while teaching was awesome and I still use a few that I remember, at my work. Other teachers included Ms Chandy, Mrs Roberts, Mrs Martha, Ms Vasantha Ravi, Ms Preethi and Ms Starry.
The Lowry Memorial High School (Now Lowry Adventist College) is a sprawling 55 acre known for its flora and fauna, housing a variety of trees, plants and flowers and also was home to many species of birds.
The school had an exclusive rose garden near the entrance of the main gate. Every morning as I walked to my classroom, the sight of the rose garden gave me positive vibes, the green lawns, the neatly maintained shrubs which separated the playground and the walk-way, the huge trees always swaying, was like inviting us to explore and learn the values of life.
Yes! The atmosphere here was a perfect place for any student to be! It would not be complete, if I fail to mention about a Tamarind tree in the school to which my friends and I were frequent visitors and have been taken to the Principal several times for climbing this tree to steal the raw tamarind for a scrumptious treat! A warning by the Principal, said and done!
There was a boys’ and a girls’ hostel, one in each corner of the school and a common dining hall.
Though we were not allowed to eat there, the aroma of food drew us there and our friends who lived in hostels used to get food for us, and what a yummy taste it had! Thank God! We did not know about ‘Maggies’ and pizzas and burgers then!
Our school worked only from Monday to Friday unlike other schools and we enjoyed a long weekend. We, friends used to meet on Saturdays to play ‘gilli-danda’, ‘kunte-bille’, ‘marakothi aata’, hop and catch, and ‘goli aata’ (with marbles). Many a days, my dad used to come looking for me as I never went back for lunch too! Those days shall never ever come back again. Such were the days, unlike today’s kids who are stuck to computers, mobiles, X-Box, tablets, play-stations , etc.
We were active members of the Environmental Club and Cultural Club. The school also encouraged crafts, art and music. The entire school assembled on Thursdays with white uniform on the expansive playground that the school had, Mr Roberts our PT master, trained us on several drills which was a great physical exercise. Providing social service to the neighbourhood was also an integral part of our education. For eg, we were sent to assist traffic police, clean the surroundings etc.
A lot of emphasis on discipline, character and moral education, punctuality, respect to elders, honesty was given to, and instilled in our young minds, the result of which we have grown up to be responsible citizens.
I am still in touch with many of my school-mates who are all in a very good position today. I feel that what we have learnt in the early years of formation stays with us for the rest of our life.
The 12 years, constituting my school life, without any qualms, I say are the best memorable years of my life. The fond memories that I cherish, sweetens my mind and fills my life with vigour and zest, which I shall carry till my end.