CHENNAI: CSI St Paul’s Higher Secondary School is celebrating its 300th anniversary today. On the grounds on which the School now stands in Vepery, the place was used to store gunpowder and housed horse stables for lords. Ahead of celebrating the institution’s 300th anniversary, Joseph Mohan, the 35th headmaster of the school talked of its hoary history.
“A certain Rev Twinkle, a teacher, taught 12 poor students in this place. Then it was established as Malabar Charity School by a German Missionary, Grundler, in 1716.”
He went on to add that Tipu Sultan’s cavalry attacked this compound. This was during the tenure of Rev. Fabricius, its third principal, and as a result the School’s buildings were damaged beyond repair. To rebuild the School, Fabricius borrowed money and being unable to repay the borrowed amount was imprisoned. After his release, though, he rebuilt the School.
“The School also has undergone many transformations - from a Charity School to an English Grammar school, later it became a Junior College and then a Middle School. Today, it is a higher secondary school. The evolution hasn’t just been academic, but the name has also been changed several times. In 1912, the present name and logo were designed,” he adds.
Initially, the School was under the Society for the Propagation of Christian knowledge in London and after India’s independence, the School has been under the CSI Diocese of Madras.
The First Indian Bishop of the Diocese,Singer Durairaj Bagavathar Vedanayagam Sastriyar, who studied under David Chellappa, says, “I studied from the fourth standard to SSLC and passed out in the year 1953. David Chellappa was our Father. Discipline was the main focus during that time. Even though the school has lost its old flavour, I am still proud that I was a St.Paul’s student. The heritage buildings were demolished during the course of years but I hope the foundation for discipline and education is still maintained.”
Madras High Court Advocates Association president, Paul Kanagaraj, an alumni of St. Paul’s says, “I am happy to be part of the 300-year-old legacy of the school. The school is known for admitting poor students. I was in the 1975-79 batch when sports was given importance. The playground still brings back memories of the days when I played football with my friends.”
Today, the school boasts over 1,500 students and 52 teachers, and discipline is still considered the highest objective.