Celebration of Golden Jubilee of St, Xavier School, Durgapur.

Golden Jubilee Cultural Celebration of St. Xavier’s School, Durgapur.

St. Xavier’s School, Durgapur celebrated its Golden Jubilee in a gala way for two days on 1^st And 2^nd December, 2012. In the closing day crowds of people assembled to witness the cultural programme arranged by the Students, Teachers and the Parents.  From the evening till 11 at night all the audiences were enthralled by the excel performance of the participants.  Everybody enjoyed the conglomeration of programmes in unwinking eyes which was started at 6 Pm and continued up to 11 PM and all were remained bemused ignoring the chilled weather outside.

            It was the third lap of celebration prior to the inaugural programme, Earth Summit and this time it was a cultural bonanza keeping the epitome high.  The function on 1^stDecember 2012 evening was graced by Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Felix Raj S. J. (Principal, St. Xavier’s College Kolkata) and Fr. K. K. Devassy, the former Principal of St. Xavier’s School, Durgapur.

The programme started with Golden Jubilee musical soiree presented by the students, teachers and the staff members. It was sung in English and Bengali written by the most senior-most teacher, Mr. U.B. Ray and the music was composed by Mr. Ronald D’Costa. ‘Dream run, carries on’ followed by the Bengali version of the song ’Moder St.Xaviers Mora Tomar Koley Thaki.’ It was presented by the primary section of the school showing the grace in their song, dance and drama enlightening their culture which included Boatmen’s dance-on ‘Nao Charaya Dao.’Action song by K.G. boys, theme was ‘Harmony with Nature’. English Drama-‘Hansel& Gretel’ enthralled the audience and Bengali Dance and Drama-Balmiki Protibha. Boys were equally good in dancing.

The most amazing part of the programme was presentation of the group song and dance by the parents and which throws the harmonious relationship of the school, 1^st day programme ending with formation drill and vote of thanks by Thamacin Arullapan S.J.

The dream run of the school carried on the second day of the cultural fiesta. The programme was graced by Rev. Fr. Borris D’ Santos S.J. Vice  Principal, St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Kolkata. The programme was presented by the secondary section of the school. The welcome was delivered by the Headmaster, Fr. M.S. Arockiasamy S.J. Floral felicitation was given to Fr. Thamacin, Fr. Arul, Fr. K.K. Devasy and  to the chief guest.

On 2^nd December 2012 , boys with full enthusiasm presented the Shakespearean play and the best part was their appropriate Gabardine and make-up. Followed by the ‘Colours of India’ and ‘Ganer Dhara’ highlighting the richness of cultural which our legacy carries on with the upcoming of Western effect dedication the maestro of English ‘Pop’- Michael Jackson. “Alumni and the Parents of the school cannot be restricted from expressing their emotions and so with their song and dance highlighted their feeling towards the school.” – said Sumita Dutta Mazumdar, Teacher and Co-ordinator of this School.  Boys are good in all sphere can be grudged by their ‘Yoga performance’ at the end by showing various formation including the motto, ’Like Gold in a Furnace’

            The Chief Guest Rev Fr Boris D’Santos, SJ, Vice-Principal of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Kolkata was honoured with Uttariya and Memento for his gracious presence in this Golden Jubilee Celebration which speaks volume for the aura of glory in which the school lies submerged through decades. In his short and valuable speech he recollected his earlier days back in 1969 when he paid a short visit to this School. He became astonished to see the sea change of the School, it’s infrastructure and the entire development of this City in particular. “I am pleased to see the development in all the field here and wherever I am looking I see the touch of development of this School but one thing is still remain constant rather unchanged that is – “it’s Spirit.” He expressed his best wishes to the Teachers, Students and all those associated with this great and historic institution. “I am honoured to be in these august environs that have produced many great sons of our country.”

            Teachers recollected the earlier days when in 1960 Mr. Bell, the then General Manager of Durgapur Steel Plant requested the Jesuit Provincial Fr. R. Antoine SJ to establish a school in Durgapur. Her offered a small plot of land also for this purpose. But  due to inadequacy of land, St. Xavier’s School was established in Durgapur  in 1963 in MAMC Township and in January 1967  the school was transferred to the new and permanent building at ABL Township. It has classes up to st. X with an upcoming std. XI and XII to begin from the next year. The school of ICSE Syllabus covers over 16000 square meters of land with more than one third of it occupied by e se greenery, consisting of deciduous and evergreen tropical trees. It has a large football ground, an auditorium, a badminton, volley ball and basket ball court, a multigym, a meditation room as well as a table tennis court and ample inbuilt space.

The school was draped with golden lamps and everywhere it seemed that it was a festive time for the School.

Kanchan Kumar Chatterjee. 

Published in TOI's School Edition.