A NOBLE THOUGHT THAT SPANS CENTURIES – SERVING THE CAUSE OF EDUCATION
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” goes a common saying.
A great beginning to a noble endeavor was made in 1847 by a few philanthropic gentlemen of the Muthialpet locality. This initiative was born out of a righteous perspective in the minds of the founders to give back to the society that enabled their success in their chosen fields. The founders started this school, which was pre-destined to develop and spread its wings spanning the 19th, 20th and well into 21st century, educating a huge score of students.
Here is an institution that constantly grew in strength and size and is witness to not only the transformation from the British rule to independent India, but also was a part of every change that occurred in the educational scenario in this part of India. The amazing endurance and growth of this school for 175 years to this day is testimony to the noble initiative, support of philanthropic gentlemen who prioritized the cause of education and individuals who volunteered to take the torch of service ever forward, helming as The Board of Directors.
A great number of students of this school rose to occupy highest and powerful positions in the society in many fields and take pride for having studied in this institution of rich legacy.
Education is crucial to success as it is the key that unlocks the doors of opportunity. True to this empowering facet of a society, the flag of this institution flies high and flutters with pride, literally and figuratively.
This school is a proud edifice that proclaims what selfless service and philanthropy can do for a society.
A GLIMPSE OF HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF THE SCHOOL Or A CHRONOLOGY OF THE MILESTONES
This school has crossed many milestones and achievements from very humble beginnings. This school has strived to upgrade and provide state of the art educational service to students hailing from various strata of society thus playing a role in inclusive growth of a society and empowerment of less privileged through education.
The transformation of the school to the present state is interesting in several perspectives and phenomenon indeed and is briefly presented thus:
In 1847, at the onset, the school was known by the name “SAMASKRITA ANDHRA DRAVIDA PATASALA”. The objective was to impart instruction in Sanskrit, Telugu and Tamil to the children of the neighborhood.
By 1857, English teaching was introduced and the school came to be known as THE MUTHIALPET ANGLO-VERNACULAR SCHOOL. In 1881, the institution was upgraded to the status of a Middle School.
It was in 1896 that the school was elevated to the status of a HIGH SCHOOL under the name “THE MUTHIALPET HIGH SCHOOL”. The first batch of students for the Matriculation Examination was presented in 1898.
Permanent Recognition was obtained from the Government in 1938 and in the same year the Midday Meals Scheme was started with the cooperation of Chennapuri Annadhana Samajam.
In 1947, the institution completed 100 years of noble service and the milestone was celebrated in March 1949 in a fitting grandeur. An attractive souvenir was released on the occasion.
An endeavour to start a school for girls culminated in the year 1961 with the active aid of philanthropists in the name of “ DR. RATHNAVELU SUBRAMANIAM MUTHIALPET GIRL’S HIGH SCHOOL” in Linghi Chetty Street.
A Nursery School was started in the year 1995 in the premises of Dr.R.S.M.Muthialpet Girl’s H.S.School.
The 150 years of quality and dedicated educational service the school renders, was commemorated in the year 1997 with due pomp and glory and the celebration. Glitter was added by eminent personalities and Ministers of the Government of Tamilnadu.
The school and its continuing legacy have completed yet another milestone of 175 years in the year 2022. A commendable idea that originated in the minds of founders long long ago, has attained significant proportions today and is carried forward by a dedicated Board of Directors who leaves no stone unturned in maintaining the pace of development of this school with a unique and commendable history.
COMMENSURATE GROWTH OF INFRASTUCTURE THROUGH CENTURIES
An educational venture of this nature and scale foreseen and initiated by the founders, can be sustained and developed only with resources donated by socially conscious graceful persons. This cycle of benevolence is in full play as this school continues to be patronized by successive generation of noble people who came forward to donate for this cause.
As the years rolled by, the popularity of this school grew to such an extent that there was always a pressing need to increase the facilities to meet the demands placed on the institution.
The existing building in Thambu Chetty Street was raised with the donations from philanthropic gentlemen of the locality in the year 1895. In this year, the school functioning in rented premises for 40 years was shifted to a new annex building.
Due to the popularity of school, an acute need to increase the infrastructural facilities was felt. A separate building was erected in Linghi Chetty Street, a few yards away from the main building in Thambu Chetty Street.
The growth story continued with emerging need to augment facilities. House sites to the south and east of the main building in Thambu Chetty Street was acquired and a new three-storied structure was built in symmetry with the existing one. This was inaugurated in the year 1932 on 27th January.
An inadequacy of facilities was again felt in 1939-40. Meeting this requirement, an imposing annex was put up in Linghi Chetty Street. This solved the acute need for more accommodation that plagued the minds of Board of Directors for more than three decades.
A new annex was built to accommodate 13 sections of Middle School classes after demolition of four houses abutting Linghi Chetty Street. Two halls were constructed in 1964 in the first floor of the annex and declared open in the year 1965.
A SCIENCE BLOCK consisting of a LABORATORY, a store-room and a classroom was constructed in 1970 In 1978, the school was upgraded as a HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL offering both ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL COURSES.
A new hall named “DR. RATHNAVELU SUBRAMANIAM SILVER JUBILEE HALL” was declared open in 1980, in recognition of the services rendered by the then President Dr.Rathnavelu Subramaniam for a span of 25 years.
A new computer centre was opened in the year 1988 to keep pace with the advent and progress of computerization in every field of society.
A well-equipped and well-stocked library that is aesthetically furnished was opened in the year 1998.
A GALAXY OF STALWARTS WHO AIDED, DEVELOPED AND MANAGED THE SCHOOL THROUGH DECADES
The generous and noble men who sowed the seeds and established this school in the year 1847 :
1. Thiru. V.Vijayaragavalu Chetti Garu
2. Thiru. P.Somasundaram Chettiar
3.Thiru.A.Subbarayulu Chettiar and
4. Thiru.S.Appaswami Chetti Garu.
The first Honorary Secretary and President of the Board of Directors : M.K. Ramalinga Chettiar, B.A.
Dr.Ratnavelu Subramaniam the then President was instrumental in starting the Girl’s School. He rendered yeoman service to the school and presided over a lot of development for four decades.
Thiru. J.R.Alwar Naidu B.A., B.L contributed towards raising a Computer Centre.
Thiru. M.K.Sambandan, “ Defender of the Poor” served as Hony.Secretary, Tmt. G.Rajamanickam and Thiru. V.S. Shanmugam rendered significant services mobilizing donations and developing the various facets of the school.
Thiru. P. Meenakshisundaram, B.Com., who succeeded Thiru.M.K. Sambandan, is the great grandson of Thiru. P. Somasundaram Chettiar, one of the founders of the school in 1847.
THE GREAT PERSONALITIES WHO GRACED VARIOUS CELEBRATIONS AND INAUGURATIONS AT THE SCHOOL
THE ALUMNI OVER THE DECADES WHO DID THE SCHOOL PROUD
THE DONORS AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS WHO SUSTAIN THIS JOURNEY OF EDUCATING THE NEEDY
Thiru. T.Shanmugam, Chartered Engineer, volunteered to donate for the construction of a well-furnished dining hall to benefit students hailing from less privileged homes and are beneficiaries of the Nutritious Noon-Meal Scheme of the Government of Tamilnadu.
Thiru. Kalidoss has donated a significant sum to renovate the Noon-Meal Hall.