Punjab: The alumni of this 150-year-old school are amazing

Punjab: The detailed history written on the board in the reception area at the entrance of the 150-year-old School of Eminence on Ladowali Road dates back to the 1870s. The school has acquired many names since its inception. When it came into existence, it was called M Shah Mohammed Vernacular Middle School, probably because of the large Muslim population living around it. Five years later, it was renamed Government Established Vernacular High School and J Baston became its headmaster. In 1886, it was changed to Municipal Anglo Vernacular High School. In those days, the school used to have British headmasters. Apart from J Baston, who was the head of the school for 21 years, JW Wouters and TR Brooks are also named as headmasters in the early 1990s.

In the pre-independence days, when there were only four or five government schools in the city, it was a boarding school. Post-matric commerce classes started on the campus as early as 1926. Agriculture subject was also introduced in the same year. About 200 boys from the school participated in a demonstration organised by the North Western Railway in Lahore. The school topped the province in the pre-medical competition for three consecutive years from 1937-39. The school has many distinguished alumni, including film director Yash Chopra, comedian Chacha Raunki Ram, former MP Mahinder S KP, cricketer Harbhajan Singh, former mayor Jagdish Raja, Ajit Group managing editor Barjinder S Hamdard, retired Justice Jasbir Singh from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, retired Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Vaneet Chaudhary, leading city physicians Dr SPS Grover and Dr MS Bhutani, freedom fighter Ajit Saini and his son and social worker Surinder Saini.

Recalling his school days, Saini says, “I passed out of school in 1972. For three consecutive years I was the editor of the Punjab section of the school magazine Orchid. It will be a trip down memory lane as I am writing the editorial for the souvenir to be released as part of the 150th year celebrations.” The school has seen many principals, but Bhagwant Singh’s contribution is considered the most significant. He arranged huge amounts of funds and got the entire campus renovated in the late 1990s. The current structure of the school dates back to 1997. Bhagwant Singh was fondly known as Sant Ji. His photograph is fondly placed on the school wall. Principal Yogesh Kumar said, “Our school has 650 students. We have 45 teaching and non-teaching staff. We are going to celebrate the 150th year next month, with many alumni of the school expected to attend.”