In June this year (2012) my umbilical
chord with Sishya as the longest surviving Sishya Parent/ Grandparent was cut
when my eldest daughter Kavita decided to take my grand children out of the
school for some practical reasons. It was a 34 year old association with the
school. My eldest daughter Kavita was admitted to the LKG class in Sishya in
1978, followed by her sister Sowmya in 1980 and my son Balaji in 1986. Before
all of them passed out of the school, my brother Seshadri’s son and daughter
had joined the school and before they passed out my grandson Arul joined the
school in 2001 and his sister Nila in 2007!
During those long years, it was
inevitable that I got roped into helping the Sishya PTA, an active body which
was supporting the school in adding many
new facilities. It was Sangeeth Chopra, one of the earliest Past Presidents of
the PTA who roped me into PTA to help in conceptualizing and executing a fund raising
programme called EXPOSISH 88 – an ambitious exhibition cum fun activity to
raise funds for an auditorium which the school badly needed. With Mrs. Sunita Shahani
as Chairman of the organizing committee, and Shiela Sriparakash as the
designer, the team consisting of the stalwarts of the PTA got into action and
pulled off a great show held on the play grounds of the School. The event
recieved total support from Mr.K (Kit) Thomas, the Founder of Sishya..
Apart from helping the PTA nett
Rs.5 lakhs, a princely sum those days, EXPOSISH 88 also brought me close to Mr.
Thomas– a great educationist and a wonderful leader who commanded high respect
from both parents and students.
After the event he persuaded me
to join the Sishya PTA Executive Committee. Even then Sishya PTA was dominated
only by ladies. Mr. S.Subramanian of RGN Price & Co. and I were the only
male members in the committee. I took
over as Treasurer of the PTA, a post then jointly held by Mr. N Murali of the
Hindu Group and Mr. N Venkatramani of India Pistons.
Mr. Thomas persuaded me to become
the first `male gender’ President (as Thomas called me then) of Sishya PTA
for the year 1992-93. I still have the unique distinction of being the only
`male gender` Past President of Sishya PTA, as no other male parent became
President of Sishya PTA since then.
The enterprising mothers of
Sishya kids, have been doing a great job of running the Association with aplomb.
Unlike many other schools, Sishya PTA has always been and continues to work
closely with the School management in providing facilities. With funds raised
from the annual Sishya Fete which has become popular not only with Sishya
families but even with other schools as it is now a glittering event with sponsorships galore! At
the last FETE held in June this year (2012) the PTA raised an impressive amount of Rs
15,80,000. When the PTA raised Rs.1 lakh
during my year as President in 92-93, I thought we had created a record.
Obviously, Sishya PTA has come a long way since then
What was my contribution to
Sishya PTA? It was an informal body, where I tried to introduce some
professionalism. When I became the Treasurer, for the first time since
inception of PTA we presented audited accounts at the AGM. I introduced the
concept of a `Fete Convenor` during my year as the President, a job done by a
team of parents, ably lead by Past Presidents like Leela Sasidharan and Sangeeth Chopra. I remember Mrs Antia was the first
designated FETE Convenor of Sishya PTA. As an advertising man, I also helped
Sishya bring out its first professionally designed school brochure. In 2002 I
produced the first video film on the school- with my son wielding the megaphone
as the Director and my daughter Kavita writing the script.
In fact, in the last known video
interview I had with Mr. Thomas, a few weeks before he passed away he shared
with me his dreams for the School. In his slow inimitable style he spoke about letting the classrooms of Sishya be used
for teaching underprivileged children in the neighbourhood, in the evenings! A
concept which has been integrated into the new Right To Education Act (RTE) by
the Govt. of India, making it compulsory for every school to reserve some seats for the
underprivileged children in its neighbourhood. I have fond memories of many
conversations with Mr.Thomas when he used to expound on his ideas on school
education and how students should be trained to become confident individuals
who can face any situations and succeed in life.
I now have the privilege of enjoying
the friendship and respect of Dr Salim Thomas, the present Correspondent of the
school, who ensures that all Past Presidents of Sishya PTA ,without fail, receive invitations to all important events of
the school. This gives me an opportunity to meet many old friends made during
my active Sishya PTA days
The activities of the PTA not only provide an
opportunity for the parents to make new friends but also cement old
relationship, apart from the feeling that you are contributing your mite to the
growth of the school. I thoroughly enjoyed my association with the Sishya PTA
and even today carry happy memories of the association! I wish the PTA all the
very best and convey my Greetings to the school on completing 40 years, and
hope the young mothers running the PTA continue to work closely with the
Management so that the students, their own
children, reap the benefits!
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