Sesquicentenary glory for Bishop Cotton Boys' School

The Bishop Cotton Boys’ School in the City has completed 150 years and as part of its sesquicentenary celebrations, it has lined up a number of events.

The year-long celebrations will be inaugurated on June 29 and will come to a close on June 29, 2015. Alumni such as Nandan Nilekani, former Infosys CEO, and G K Pillai, former union Home secretary, will join in the celebrations. The Archbishop of Dublin, Micheal Geoffry Jackson, has also been specially invited for the event, John K Zachariah, principal of the school, told a press conference here on Monday.

Representatives and descendents of past principals and wardens have also been invited to be a part of the celebrations. A postage stamp on the school will be released next year.

“This has been approved by a sub-committee on philately and I am waiting for a written approval,” said Zachariah.

As part of the celebrations, a museum and archive on the school and a two-floor, 19-bed medical centre will be unveiled. The foundation stone for a new block will also be laid.

“We have invited Dr Abdul Kalam for the unveiling of the foundation stone of the new block. On completion, it will have a conference hall, an exam hall and a music room,” said Zachariah. An honour called the Order of Cottonians will be instituted on the last day of the celebrations to a distinguished past student.

An All India Cricket Tournament involving Cottonians from across the country, a carnival, various concerts, seminars and workshops by officials of the International Red Cross Society (that has itself competed 150 years) will be some of events during the celebrations. A second part of the book, ‘Unfinished Symphony: A Tribute to the Alumni of Bishop Cotton Boys’ School, Bangalore,’ by former alumni Aditya Sondhi will also be released.

“There will also be an elaborate graduation ceremony in January for outgoing students and this will be graced by former union minister Shashi Tharoor,” said Zachariah.