I was in Delhi for a few days in 2019 and couldn’t resist paying a visit to St. Columbas. Well maintained, surprisingly so much has remained the same since the 1960’s and 70’s. Walking through the grounds I entered a time capsule, reflecting on the 10 years I’d spent here, from Class II to Class XI. Here were the same desks we used to sit on, carrying the scars of decades of brutal schoolboy use. The rooms looked familiar. Next door still lies CJM, resisting all advances to merge into one joint co-ed school.
Security is now taken very seriously and we were promptly rounded up and sent to the Principal’s Office for screening. Br. Miranda was more than gracious and made time for a chat, allowing us free access to the entire school area.
The Main EntranceEntrance to the Junior SchoolThis was my first classroom at Columbas, Class IID with Ms. Smith, 1966Morning Exercises (PT) at the Junior BuildingThe Junior Building, where I took Class IIID with Ms. Christopher in 1967 before moving to the “New Building” as the first batch in IVD with Ms. Kumar in 1968The Senior Building remained exactly as I remembered itEntrance to the Senior BuildingReception, Senior Building. The Principal’s Office is upstairs, which never used to be a good place to beThe school is plastered with a liberal dose of philosophical imagesLooking down from the 1st floorSenior Building 1st floor outside the Chem LabChemistry Lab in the Senior Building. This was the only wholly renovated room I encountered. In my time it had a whole bunch of more “interesting” chemicals in brown glass bottles in beautifully antiquated high wooden racksThe “New Building”. I wonder if access to the roof is still openNew Building LobbyA class in the New Building. I can’t help thinking these desks must be at least 50 years old, perhaps even dating from 1940, when the school opened!Down to the New Building BasementNew Building Basement, have fond memories of Art Class down here, either the first or second door to the right. Basements were a novelty at that timeLibrary in the New Building“Live as you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”The Senior Building entranceThe Senior Building entrance, the buses started outside. “Sapere aude sincere et constanter” – Dare to be wise, sincere and constant. This is the motto of St. Columba’s School that enshrines its spirit and ethos.Not sure what this new addition isClass 9C, my first class in the Senior Building with Mr Xavier 1973 was at this cornerThis was the IXC classroom in 1973With Br. Miranda. He lost a bet for a beer that there was no Columban published in 1975. I’ll have to claim it someday, haha
