Media release
Puttur, Dec 29: The annual day of St Philomena aided high school in Puttur was held on Friday, December 18 with memorable and meaningful events both in the morning and evening at the school premises.
Fr Robert D’Souza, Principal, Lourdes Central School, Mangaluru and alumni of the school, was the main celebrant at the Eucharistic Celebration that marked the beginning of the day. Later Kalegowda, Industrialist and alumni hoisted the school flag and inspected the annual day parade. Cadets from all three wings of the armed forces the army, navy and air force, scouts and guides took part in the parade. The school band played different tunes during the event.Fr Alfred J. Pinto, Correspondent, presided over the inaugural which was attended by the present students, ex-students, Staff, Management Committee members and Heads of neighbouring institutions.
Addressing the gathering, the chief guest recalled the nostalgic moments of his life in the campus and called upon the students to make use of all the opportunities provided by the school and bring name and honour to the school and society. Prizes were distributed to the students who had excelled in sports events.
Fr Denzil Lobo, SJ Rector, St Aloysius College Mangaluru, also alumni of the school, presided over the second part of the annual day which commenced at 5 pm. The president of the function, along with the chief guests also alumni, Nithyananda Mundoddi from Sullia, H V Pramod Hiresave, from Hassan and other dignitaries were given the guard of honour by the cadets in accompaniment of the school band.
The dignitaries then offered floral tribute to the founder of the Institution, Msgr Antony Patrao and the former headmaster Late D D’Souza. The correspondent of the school, Fr Alfred J Pinto welcomed the gathering. Annual report was presented by the headmaster Oswald Rodrigues. Prizes were distributed by the guests to the students who had excelled in curricular and co-curricular activities during the academic year. The students who had won laurels in sports events at the national, state and district levels and those who had excelled in SSLC, 2015 received cash awards and certificates. The president and the guests including Jake Madava Gowda were honoured on behalf of the school.
Chief guest Nithyananda Mundoddi called on the students to pledge and work towards a corruption free country and for communal harmony. He also requested them to bear in mind that in spite of all their achievements, they have to look after their parents in their old age.
H V Pramod Hiresave talking of the days he spent in school, said that he does not remember being identified by religion or caste. He quoted the great poet Kuvempu who Said in his writings that whatever you choose to be, first and foremost be human. He said it time for us to prove right by working towards making ‘World into one family’. Hiresave also said that the principles and values we learn during our student life forms the backbone of our future life and called upon the students to spend their valuable time in imbibing all the good qualities and values for a better future.
While delivering the presidential address, Fr Denzil Lobo fondly remembered his Headmaster, teachers and classmates. What he is today is not just because of their teachings but because of the orientation and the way they touched the students. He said some of the students who have passed the portals of St Philomena Institutions, are now politicians, CEOs, entrepreneurs, Bishops and priests etc. Institutions should work towards character building, against corruption and violence and promote humanness. Education should mould young minds to be good citizens and this should begin at home. Quoting Albert Einstein he said education is not just learning facts but training minds to think creatively and called on the students to work hard and to reach greater heights not just within Puttur, but in the country and even abroad.
Dr Antony Prakash Monteiro, Campus Director, N K Jagannivas Rao, President, Old Student Association, Vijaya Saraswathi, Vice President, PTA, were also present on the dais. All those who addressed the students and parents during the events of the entire day and shared their thoughts had one common message. They stressed on the need to work for a corruption and violence free nation and to work towards unity, peace and religious harmony.
School pupil leader, Mohammad Arfid proposed vote of thanks. Swastik and Vandana compered the programme.
The formal stage program was followed by an informative, educative and entertaining cultural programme on 'Hathu Dari Vonde Guri' (meaning 10 ways but one Aim).
Around 600 students participated in the colorful events of song, dance and narration (nritya rupaka) that left the audience spell bound. Beginning with number ten, God handing over the Ten Commandments to Prophet Moses and Jesus teaching the commandment of love was enacted. The greatness of the nine or navaratnas was explained in nine dialects of Kannanda with nine types of music and dance. The audience were taken to eight directions when the students enthralled them with folk dances from Jammu Kashmir, Assam, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Goa, Gujarat and Punjab. The sound of music or the importance and the features of the (seven) Sapta swaras was shown in dance form. The next number six, brought to stage the weaknesses of man namely kama, kroda, lobha, moha, mada and matsara (desire, anger, greed, pride and jealousy). The five elements of the universe namely earth, water, fire, air and sky were explained with a skit on Greek Gods. The four stages of man i.e. four ashramas, brahmacharya or student stage, grihastha or household stage, vanaprastha or hermit stage, sanyasa or wandering ascetic stage were explained by enacting the characters of Prahalad, Satyavan Savitri, Agastya Maharshi and Adi Shankaracharya. The summer, rainy and winter seasons explained the importance of number three with harvest dances and skits. The struggle between the two sides, good and bad were shown in a skit where the evil Angulimala embraces goodness and becomes a follower of Buddha. Number one gave a befitting close by highlighting the sacrifices and work of freedom fighters, kings and others who worked for India and was a call to remain united inspite of all diversities. The different items were enacted in Kannada, Hindi, Sanskrith and English.
Rajashekar, staff member expressed gratitude to all the donors of the Diamond Jubilee building that is under construction. The school management also expressed gratitude to Shakuntala Shetty, MLA, Puttur, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Hon’ble Member of Loksabha and ex-student, D V Sadananda Gowda, former chief minister of Karnataka, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Minister for Urban Development, the Hon’ble Members of Rajyasabha - Justice Rama Joyisa, Dr B Jayashree, Oscar Fernandes and Rehman Khan, the MLC’s Captain Ganesh Karnik and Pratap Chandra Shetty for sanctioning amounts from their constituency area development and other funds.