Schools must instil acceptance of diversity in students, says Prez

Encouraging schools to instil in students rationality of mind and acceptance of diversities, President Pranab Mukherjee said education was not just injecting information into the minds of children but its true aim was to build character.

The President was at the Bishop Cotton Boys’ School here on Wednesday as part of the institution’s sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) celebrations. Addressing the gathering, he said, “This is one of the three best Indian schools. Many eminent people have emerged from this institution. The alumni will carry forward the legacy.”

“Once students are imbibed with core civilization values such as peaceful co-existence, rationality of mind, scientific temperament and acceptance of diversities, we would be shaping first-rate civilians,” he added. Governor Vajubhai Vala lauded the work of missionaries in imparting education. “I too studied at a missionary school in Gujarat. Institutions like Bishop Cotton do not provide just subject knowledge but also prepare students to make history,” he observed.

Good Ol’ Times
The event was an occasion for alumni of the school to pay visit to their Alma Mater. Govind Thadani, 68, was one of them. He studied at Bishop Cotton from 1956 to 59.
“I have been working in Canada and retired recently. It is beautiful to be back in school again. My visit here during this celebration was a co-incidence. I decided to travel to India after retirement and happened to visit the school during this time.” Ricky Kej song
The event also saw a rendition of Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej’s album ‘Shanti Samsara’.

Students of the school, trained personally by Kej and his team, presented the song. The song was re-created for the occasion. Kej is an alumnus of Bishop Cotton Boys’ School.
DH News Service