Holding her in high esteem as a mentor and surrogate mother, the alumni association of The Rajkumar College, The Old RkCians Association (ORA), in Rajkot unveiled an 84-kg metallic bust of their principal emeritus Rati Cooper on August 15, 2022. Inscribed on the pedestal are the milestones of her life, her qualifications and the prayer by St Francis of Assisi according to which she lived her life and impressed on her wards the need to sow love, peace, pardon, faith, light and joy in the world.
At the unveiling of Rati Cooper’s bust at the Rati F. Cooper Kala Bhavan (above, from l):
Kiran Patel, Anantrai Kakkad, Thakore of Lathi, Kirti Kumarsinh, Yuvraj of Muli,
Ranjitsinh Jitendrasinh, Thakore of Rajkot Mandhatasinh Jadeja
Prior to the unveiling of the bust at the imposing Rati F. Cooper Kala Bhavan, named in her honor during her lifetime (see "Ma’am and mother,” In Memoriam, Parsiana, April 7, 2019) over a dozen of her students who had studied under her during the years she served The Rajkumar College (as the school was known) from 1958 to 2000 as also her former colleagues paid tributes to the educator for more than an hour. After her retirement, although settled in Lahore, she continued to retain ties with her ex-students. Holding Cooper in awe and admiration, they recounted the many instances when she influenced their lives, imbuing in them "both a mast and an anchor.” Reputed for her punctuality, devotion, generosity, compassion and solicitousness, there were several references to her disciplining the students with detention activities like reading of Shakespeare!
"To whom much is given, much will be required,” was the message she sought to impress on her privileged wards, many of them from royal households, to remind them constantly that being blessed with wealth, talent, knowledge, time, they were expected to use their resources to benefit others. To those who frequently use "I” in their sentences, she would advise, "Keep yourself behind.” Known to speak impeccable English, her students recalled how every interaction with her was "a class in the English language.”
In addition to those physically present at the unveiling were many other students from different corners of the world who had joined virtually. Some of them had sent their messages which were read out on the occasion. As noted a message from alumnus Bharat Avalani who sent Parsiana details of the event, "Looking at us from above (she) may be saying ‘this is Much Ado About Nothing!’ I also know that she would be pleased and smiling looking at her family all gathered here…” Acknowledging the efforts of ORA to create "this memorial for my beloved sister,” Lahore based Perin Boga reiterated, "My sister loved The Rajkumar College and her work.”
ORA has also instituted the Ms Cooper Scholarship Prize that will annually honor four most meritorious students, one each from seventh to 10th grade, bearing 25% of the school’s academic tuition fees.