KOCHI: On 1st June 1917, in the remote hill station of Yercaud, amidst the verdant surroundings of the Shevaroy Hills in Salem district, began an institution, with 7 boys on its rolls, with a view to instilling values and beliefs in young boys, in a haven of peace and quietude.
Over the years, the school progressed from strength to strength, increasing its number of boarders and acquiring new land and buildings. Bro Eugene Mary, its first Principal, however, could rightly be called the true founder of Montfort, having spent close to three decades nurturing it.
Montfort School became a co-educational school in 2002 and girl boarders are accommodated in a separate complex, with modern dormitories having every convenience and facility.
Sports is a compulsory daily activity for every student in Montfort. With unparalleled indoor and outdoor sports facilities, apart from common games, even Boxing, Archery, Jiu Jitsu, Fencing and Horse Riding are popular sports activities at the school. Literary and science activities, music and the fine arts are a weekly affair and there are established clubs and societies for each of them.
The first recorded student from Kerala was Gopal Menon who passed out in 1934. It was not until the late 1940s that students from Kerala began to join Montfort on a regular basis. Amongst the early Kerala boys was Jose Abraham Pallivathukal who had a total of 8 siblings passing out from this hallowed institution.
Progressively the number of Kerala alumni grew, a large number of them from very illustrious and industrious
families. The Montfort Old Boys Association Kerala (MOBAK) is the Kerala chapter of a very active and closely knit Alumni Association of the school. The Alumni meet twice every year - once in school and once outside. MOBAK has hosted 8 Alumni get-togethers, the last one in January 2016.
The ‘Montfort Alumni Association’ enduring links of one long chain, is one of the most active in the country and the annual meets attract alumni from all over the world. The words of the current Principal, Rev Bro K J Varghese sum up the school thus: “Montfort is a school with tremendous potential. We strongly believe that dialogue, understanding and appreciation will have a positive bearing on learning and living.”
Montfort, celebrated its centenary on July 22nd this year. Over a thousand alumni are expected to participate in the celebrations.