SFS School: 150 years of a tradition in education
| Date :26-May-2019 |
By Vikas Vaidya:
Prospective Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde, Naval Vice Admiral Rusi F Contractor, Khusro Faramurz Rustomji, First Chief of Border Security Force; Lt General M S Sodhi, celebrity lawyer and Former Solicitor General of India Adv Harish Salve, Air Vice Marshal Gordon Peter Douglas D’Souza, Cricket legend C K Nayudu, Jamshedji Jiji Irani, ex-Managing Director of Tata Steel; Rajkumar Hirani, Bollywood Writer and Leading Director; Akash Khurana, Indian Actor; Dr Shrikant Jichkar, an academician politician.
Read those names carefully. You may know some of them at least if not all. They all have earned international name and fame. They all are from different profession. So, what is common thing that binds them together? It is their school-- Saint Francis De Sales High School, popularly known as SFS School. It requires a lot of efforts of the people working with any institution to run it for so long. SFS School is on the verge of completion of not one, two, 25..., 50... but 150 years of its existence. It came into being in the year 1870 and never looked back, continued to move ahead by adding more feathers to its cap. The history of its birth is very interesting. In 1821, a British Garrison was established in Kamptee and Nagpur had a status of only being a substation. Lord Wellesley had adopted a policy of annexing the Kingdoms of native princes. The Princely States of Satara, Nagpur, Jhansi and Udaipur were liquidated on the grounds that there was no legitimate heir to the throne.
The Bhonsales, the rulers of Nagpur lost their Kingdom in toto to the British in 1853. The result was, that the relative importance of Nagpur started increasing. The Congregation of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales- MSFS was a community at Annecy in France. It was established on October 24, 1838, as a Diocesan Congregation. They offered their services to take charge of mission territory. Thus, at La Feuillette, the Mother House of the MSFS four priests were chosen to go to India in the care of the vicarage of Visakhapatnam.
The priests reached Visakhapatnam on February 19, 1846. Among them were Fr Lavorel and Fr Thevenet. Later, for mission work they were sent at Kamptee and Aurangabad respectively. Fr Lavorel reached Kamptee. In July 1849, the Bishop of Visakhapatnam arrived in Kamptee. He was welcomed by Fr Lavorel and the other Fathers of MSFS had joined him later at Kamptee. After consulting Fr Lavorel and the other priests, the Bishop was convinced of the need of opening a school. The British Government had just enacted a Law making schooling compulsory to all children of European Soldiers. A school for boys was set up, with Fr Larvie as Manager, Bro Charles Gaillard as Head Master and a Seminarian as an assistant teacher. There, later on, on the same spot St Joseph’s School for boys was erected. This was the simple beginning of SFS at Kamptee under the patronage of St Joseph in the year 1852. In March 1867, Fr Mabboux opened a school in a small low-roofed room and placed it under the patronage of St Francis de Sales. The first day closed with four boys on the register. The School developed to five standards very quickly and the need for more room was felt.
A big plot was acquired adjoining the mission compound. Fr John Thevenet was called from Aurangabad to build a school on the big plot adjoining the mission compound. He came to Nagpur and work started on the foundation on November 18, 1868. The building was almost completed within a period of one year, in December 1869. Fr Mabboux moved in the new building with 50 European boarders and orphans from Kamptee. This event took place on January 21, 1870, which also marks the date on which the school became fully independent from Kamptee. In 1995, the school completed 125 years. Under Fr Pelvat, the school acquired great reputation.
It was raised to a full-fledged High School with the addition of the first year of First Art (FA) course. The School became affiliated to the University of Calcutta. Five students passed the matriculation. Quite a remarkable achievement in those days! With the intention to improve the matriculation result Fr Coppel himself started teaching the 18 students of the Matric class. He taught them all the subjects six to seven hours a day. When the results came, out of 16 boys who appeared all passed and one of the students stood 1st in the honour list.
(The merit list) Fr Coppel used to take his students for long walks setting them the example of physical endurance in walking and cycling, thus laying seeds of all-round development of the student. The gymnasium was started, a printing press was opened, and scientific apparatus was bought for the laboratories and brass instruments for the school band. In 1905, a music class was opened teaching piano, violin, flute, mandolin, harmonium, banjo three hours a week. All round development becomes the motto during the times when the Salesian Magazine was founded, a library was opened in the school with new tables and excellent stock of reading books. In the science room, (Presently, where the KG II C and IA Classes are) experimental work became a regular part of curriculum. Out door life was encouraged. The annual sports were events known all over Nagpur and large crowds turned up to witness them.
The school was at its best when the 1st world war broke out and in 1915 removed Fr Dufresne who was Principal, from the scene of his labours. All French religious working in the school were recalled by their country for the war effort. More lay teachers (non-priest teachers) had to be employed and the expenses of the school were thus greatly increased. Still, with courage and determination the school progressed. The years that followed the war were years of financial stringency for the whole mission and for the school as well. Fr Dufresne found it very difficult providing for all his students many of who were orphans or came from poor families. In 1932, SFS had 400 students.
In 1937 Fr Deage took the Chair of the Principal. Under his direction, the school kept up and improved its excellence in studies, discipline and sports ranking it as one of the best schools in Nagpur. The school band was in top form and called upon to play for important functions in the town. Fr Francis D’Souza became the First Principal of SFS after the school was handed over to the diocesan clergy. With the House system in full bloom, it added colour to the annual sports, which were now required to be held on a large scale. The introduction of the Higher Secondary Exam of the Board saw the gradual closure of the Cambridge section.
The Constantly increasing numbers, called for more spacious laboratories with better equipment. In fact the need was felt for three full-fledged laboratories for Physics, Chemistry and Biology. SFS stood up to the challenges. During the tenure of Fr Matthew Fernandes, the East Wing was expanded on a large scale. The school could now boast of a large well-equipped auditorium with a seating capacity of 1000. The year, 1970 saw the completion of 100 years of the school. However, because of the Bangladesh war it was celebrated in 1971.
The last 50 years, too, saw SFS facing up to the problem of expansion of its facilities. Another new thing took place in the year 2006, when the school first witnessed the reigns of Principal being transferred to Sr Arpita Mathew who became first woman Principal. A need for co-education was felt hence the girls students were added in the year 2008. SFS School marched ahead with modern teaching aid with the introduction of ‘Smart’ board thereby making all classes digital, due to the constant efforts of Sr Manisha and Fr Prashant - the present Principal. These are one and all examples of how the School has kept on facing the challenges of the new times. Thus, the tradition of keeping alive the past and the courage to adapt and change with the times has seen the school through 150 years. The spirit lingers with a promise of another long innings.