Being a resident of Dadar Parsi Colony, I have been watching, almost daily, parents or grandparents dropping off their daughters or granddaughters at the gates of The J. B. Vachha High (JBV) School for Girls. But I hadn’t for one moment realized how many stories those gates hold within the confines of their leafy ambience until, on December 19, 2024, I was invited to the School’s 100th annual day function along with the launch of the centennial book, Brick by Brick… Thought by Thought… The J.B. Vachha High School. This valuable centennial memento takes one from June 24, 1924-2024, through a hundred years down memory lane. It is dedicated by the School to its founders Lady Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir and Mancherji Edulji Joshi and has been authored by lawyer Armin Wandrewala, an alumna. The cover design is by Vyoma Parikh (also an ex-Vachhaite) and printing by Vakil and Sons Private Limited.
The auditorium of the Shanmukhananda Hall in Sion was packed with ex-students, teachers and staff spanning several generations indulging in reunions, loving but tearful recollections of incidents that may have taken place decades ago. I could feel the vibes of strong camaraderie this School has been nurturing for over a century, and of the countless lives that it has been shaping.
Top: book cover; performance by students; above, from l: Banoo Makoojina, Armin Wandrewala,
Sir Cowasji Jehangir, Hoshang Sinor and Yazdi Malegam releasing the book
The function was competently compered by the current head girl, Merzina Irani. The program started after the customary lighting of the lamp, with lively foot-tapping songs and dances performed by the teeny tots of the primary school. After having thus set the mood of joviality, the chief guest, Sir Cowasji Jehangir (grandson of Lady Cowasji Jehangir), trustees Hoshang Sinor and Yazdi Malegam along with Wandrewala were invited to the dais.
Principal Banoo Makoojina made mention of the School’s oldest teacher who was seated in the audience, Shernaz Talati, who is lovingly remembered even to this day by all her pupils, and the oldest ex-student, 98-year-old Mithoo Panthakey.
In her address, Makoojina proudly mentioned that it was the School’s goal to empower young students with holistic development to ensure that they were exposed to mentally refreshing and transformative experiences. Academics, however, never suffered and students performed brilliantly in the board exams. The School has been ranked as the fourth best Vintage Legacy Girls School in Maharashtra. Makoojina concluded with words expressing the goal of shining on, from centennial to bicentennial, never forgetting the School’s motto Laborare est Orare (Work is worship).
Sinor marveled at author Wandrewala and her "conspirator in creativity,” artist Parikh, for having brought together the historic book in a short time, pro bono, from sheer love and respect for the School. He was amazed at the speed at which Wandrewala sent him a chapter a day for verification. The School has always endeavored to mold its students into competent, courageous and compassionate change-makers, Sinor stated. He ended with a quote by the Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai: "One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.” Indeed, JBV has been budding with change-makers and it still is!
Sir Cowasji elicited smiles and giggles from the audience when he related a humorous anecdote: The kind and gentle Perin Nagarwalla, the longest serving principal (1945-1976), was declared as having passed away. This news came as a shock and everyone connected with the School was filled with grief. A cloud of gloom hung over the household of Lady Jehangir, where Nagarwalla used to be a regular and much respected visitor. A few hours later, the phone rang once again and Nagarwalla herself spoke, proclaiming: "I am very much alive!” The next day Lady Jehangir had a thanksgiving jashan performed.
Wandrewala began by expressing how grateful she was to Sir Cowasji, Sinor, Malegam, Makoojina, Talati, the teachers and ex-students for readily offering their stories, photographs and anecdotes for compiling the momentous book, to which she added her own flavoring condiments — stories and poems, while Parikh put in quirky doodles, weaving it all into a book that is valued by many across the globe, wherever the Vachhaites are, and also by many a non-Vachhaite! Priced at Rs 950, it is presently available online with M&J Services: +91 9004029495, or on their website: www.mandjservice.com, or email: lawbooks@gmail.com, and for a special price of Rs 700 at the School and the Dadar Athornan Institute. The author joked that the special bonus was the several free lunches offered to her by those whom she had visited while gathering material for the book!
After the formal launching of the book Wandrewala and Parikh presented two paintings of the School buildings done by the latter. The front cover bearing the bust of Lady Jehangir, was presented by Wandrewala to Sir Cowasji, and the back cover, of the Baria Building was presented to the School.
Now when I walk down Mancherji Joshi Road, I look upon the School with a different pair of eyes and marvel at its history. KATIE BAGLI