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Beginning
of School |
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Growth of the School:
The Managing Committee spared no pains to acquire buildings
as and when possible. In 1920, it reconstructed No.76, Big Street.
In 1927 it purchased No.40, Big Street, and in 1938 it acquired
No 41, Big Street. In 1941, twelve rooms were added to the main
building The plan the rebuild No. 40/41, Big Street into 20
rooms could not be implemented in 1942 because of the rest4iction
by the Corporation and the Government. The Managing Committee
did not let go any chance of acquiring any land adjacent to
the main buildings or in the vicinity as the accommodation problem
had become chronic with the4 increasing strength of the school.
In 1950, with Governmental interference, the rented building
west of the northern quadrangle and two houses west of the southern
quadrangle were acquired.
In 1948, the committee adopted the shift system to tide over
the accommodation crisis and the centenary celebrations Committee
made it a point to celebrate the Centenary by raising the three
storeyed building comprising 24 rooms. The School had the good
fortune to have Mr. K. Srinivasan of "The Hindu" as
the President of the Managing Committee which enabled the Centenary
celebrations Committee to raise funds easily and profusely to
carry out its programme and it is in no mean measure due to
the tireless efforts of the tall personalities who were closely
associated with the managing committee and we are fortunate
that Mr. V.T. Rangaswami Iyengar who is associated with the
school for nearly 75 years is now at the helm of affairs to
carry on the dedicated work with zeal and joy. Mr.V.T. Rangaswamy
Iyengar has endeared himself to the school by his undiluted
love for his almamater and has won the hearts of not only his
colleagues but also all the employees by his maganimit6y, erudition
and godly nature.
Rt. Hon'ble V.S. Srinivasa Sastriar who was the Headmaster of
the School for nearly seven years, left behind a definite stamp.
That was in the beginning of this century. Then came a gigantic
Headmaster Mr P.A Subramania Iyer, who was the head of institution
for 22 years (1916 to 1938) who moulded the routine and efficiency
of the school being a postmaster in the art of teaching. Thus
a succession of able Headmasters enabled the school to maintain
the high traditions of the school. Next, mention must be made
of the popular and dynamic Headmaster during the grand celebrations
of the centenary of the school and who was instrumental in the
monumental work of raising the Centenary block. As Headmaster
he widened the activities of the School in various spheres.
During his leadership the school opened the Engineering Section
of the Diversified course, undertook long tours to North India
to widen the vision and experience of the teachers, enlarged
the participation in exhibition, arts and crafts, encouraged
the fine arts section of the teachers and boys, introduced the
N.C.C., induced different associations like the Parents Association,
Old Boys Association, Teachers Association etc. to extend their
co-operation to build up the tone and name of the school, and
last but not the least made the teachers take active part in
professional associations like the SITU and made the teachers
attend in large number the annual conferences convened at different
places, he himself setting up a good example by being an office
bearer and by becoming a member of the legislative council to
work for the welfare of the teachers Even when he become an
M.L.C., he always declared that he was more proud to be the
Headmaster of the Hindu Higher School than being an M L.C. For
he always felt that it was the school that gave him all honour
and he never failed to bring honour to the school which brought
him honour.
Mention must be made here that Sri T.P. Srinivasa Varadhan was
responsible under the able and benign guidance of Sri K. Srinivasan
of "The Hindu," for negotiating and acquiring for
the management nearly 100 grounds of land at a nominal price
at Raja Annamalai Puram and that deal later enabled the committee
to encash the land at a much higher price to enable the management
to build a fine magnificent building for the Hostel in Big Street
itself is now called the Hindu Educational Organisation Hostel.
Thanks to the foresight of that mighty Headmaster who enabled
posterity to acquire a good hostel which now houses boys of
the Hindu Higher School and also the Hindu Higher Secondary
School affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education
under the same management.
The rebuilding of 40-41, Big Street into pucca building enabled
the library, laboratory, and the Engineering section to move
to that building relieving congestion in the main building.
The introduction of free education in 1964 brought in new problems
as the source of fee income had been cut and the management
met the traditional expenses of special incentives to certain
categories of teachers till their retirement The school adjusted
itself to the various structural changes introduced in the pattern
of instruction and the English medium had always
taken the place of pride in the School.
As it had always been the policy, the Management lost5 no chance
to acquire the adjacent sites. So it purchased 21/2 grounds
of land behind the Centenary block at a cost of Rs.75,000/-
to provide a little more playground for the boys.
With the introduction of the Tamilnadu Aided management Regulating
Act, a new era has been introduced. A school committee has been
formed on 1-6-.976 with Sri S. Parthasarathy Iyengar, as Retd
commissioner of Police, as President and Sri K.S. Venkataraman
I.P.S. (Retd.) as Secretary while the managing Committee with
Sri V.T. Rangaswamy Iyengar as President and Sri L.V. Krishnaswamy
Iyer as Secretary continues to function as the Hindu Educational
Organisation.
Sri G. Narasimhan of the Hindu was a tower of strength to the
School. In his sudden demise on 3-7-77 we lost a patron, friend
and guide. The vacancy caused by him was filled in by co-opting
Sri K.S. Ramanujan of the Hindustan Times as member of the Educational
organisation.
The ten year pattern has been introduced and the first set for
the X Standard Public Examination will be presented in 1978
March. The introduction of plus 2 is still in the melting pot.
While in 1951-52 there were 60 sections with a strength 2525
the strength in 76-77 is 3306 & in 77-78 is 3209 with 70
sections.
With a view to celebrate the 125th Year in a fitting manner
as in the case of the Centenary Celebration in 1952 which was
celebrated for 3 days with a fitting memorial of a Centenary
block, a special committee has been formed with Sri K. Santhanam,
Justice P.R. Gokulakrishnan, Sri. T.S. Santhanam and Sri M.Ct.
Muthiah as patron and Sri V.T. Rangaswami Iyengar as President.
The celebration Committee at its several meetings has taken
several measures to raise funds to build a 125th Year Block
and to renovate the Singarachariar Hall. The Committee has drawn
up plans to celebrate the 125th year of the School 24th, 25th
and 26th February 1978 with Shri. Prabhudas B. Patwari, His
Excellency the Governor of Tamilnadu inaugurating the function
on 24th February 1978 and the Education Minister of Tamilnadu
Thiru C. Aranganayakam presiding over the Celebration on 25th
February 78.
The School had the unique honour of winning the prize in the
state level Science Exhibition in 1979. Inspite of lack of playground
facilities our boys do participate and win several sports events
at District and State level.
The usual midday meal scheme for poor boys started long before
the Government introduced that idea is functioning with the
encouragement given by the management and philanthropic minded
people. The curricular and extra-curricular activities of the
School have earned for the School a good name. The Tamil Nadu
Government satisfied with the activities of the school was pleased
to grant the state award for the 'Best Teacher' to the Headmaster
of the School and it has been conferred during this academic
year (1977-78) and it luckily synchronises with the celebration
of the 125th year.
With the blessings of Sri Rama, the presiding deity of the School,
the School resolves on this august occasion to rededicate itself
to serve the community and thereby the country in the task of
producing good, cultured and efficient citizens. |
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