The United Nations Day celebration on 27th October, every year was carried out with the same ferocity and spirit with which the founders Late Mrs. Vimala Appasamy and her daughter Late Miss. Paul Appasamy had conceived it. The schools Vidyodaya Higher Secondary School and Vidyodaya Matriculation School now completing a hundred mind-boggling years in the field of Girls’ education in T. Nagar, Chennai are set in about 14 acres amidst breathtaking greenery even now in the 21st century.
The event’s chief guest was Mr. T. S. Thirumurthy, Former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations. The Centenary Core committee members are Mrs Bhavani Raghunandan, Mrs Letika Saran IPS (Retired), Mrs Nandita Krishnan, the correspondent Mrs Niranjani, Head of the 2 schools Mrs Leena Wesley and Mrs.Shanthi. V, Headteacher of Vidyodaya Nursery School, Mrs Usha Ramesh along with the teachers in charge were present to encourage and admire the talents of the students. The chief guest was first led to the Assembly Hall where students from 8th standard to 12th standard had been picked, educated, and trained well to present their charts and models on various aspects and contributions of the United Nations to the many fold aspects of the world community. The 40-odd charts and models and explanations that went along with them were so meticulous that it made the chief guest exclaim “I wish I had such training before I went to New York as a permanent representative of our country!!”.
This undoubtedly was the result of the teachers who had spent weeks together imparting to the students the multifarious aspects and contributions of the UN to the world community. This year being announced as the “Year of Millets” even the board members, the teachers, and the students were keen on how these millets (which our forefathers consumed so well and led a very healthy and long life) could be successfully included in the modern-day menus and diets to ensure a healthy and long life.
The second part of the morning was the formal short and sweet welcome speech by the head of Vidyodaya Matriculation School Mrs. Leena Wesley.
The address by the chief guest Mr. T. S. Thirumurthy with clarity and humility made every audience feel so proud of this “Giant” of the UN from our own Tamil Nadu. The importance given to the part played by many successful women certainly made the students put up their collars in pride and joy.
The prize distribution ceremony by the chief guest to the girls and alayas in the quiz programmes and exhibition followed this.
The function wound up beautifully with the choir singing international songs which had been taught melodiously by the school music master
The second part of the morning was the formal short and sweet welcome speech by the head of Vidyodaya Matriculation School Mrs. Leena Wesley.
The address by the chief guest Mr. T. S. Thirumurthy with such clarity and humility made every audience feel so proud of this “Giant” of the UN from our own Tamil Nadu. The importance given to the part played by many successful women certainly made the students put up their collars in pride and joy.
The prize distribution ceremony by the chief guest to the girls and alayas in the quiz programmes and exhibition followed this.
The function wound up beautifully with the choir singing international songs which had been taught melodiously by the school music master.
Last but not least the variety of programmes by the students did fill up the air of this official programme with some light moments. One cannot but wonder how the students assembled in this huge auditorium displayed such discipline and decorum throughout the proceedings. We wondered how they could maintain that pin-drop silence throughout – believe me throughout. Kudos to the heads and teachers who are the architects of this well-groomed generation. After all that comes from the hundred-year-old soil on which thousands and thousands of girls have walked and thousands more will thread the next hundred years – thanks to our visionary founder Mrs Vimala Appasamy and Miss. Paul Appasamy.
The address by the chief guest Mr. T. S. Thirumurthy with such clarity and humility made every audience feel so proud of this “Giant” of the UN from our own Tamil Nadu. The importance given to the part played by many successful women certainly made the students put up their collars in pride and joy.
The prize distribution ceremony by the chief guest to the girls and alayas in the quiz programmes and exhibition followed this.
The function wound up beautifully with the choir singing international songs which had been taught melodiously by the school music master.
Last but not least the variety of programmes by the students did fill up the air of this official programme with some light moments. One cannot but wonder how the students assembled in this huge auditorium displayed such discipline and decorum throughout the proceedings. We wondered how they could maintain that pin-drop silence throughout – believe me throughout. Kudos to the heads and teachers who are the architects of this well-groomed generation. After all that comes from the hundred-year-old soil on which thousands and thousands of girls have walked and thousands more will thread the next hundred years – thanks to our visionary founder Mrs Vimala Appasamy and Miss. Paul Appasamy.
Former Student, Parent and Teacher
Vidyodaya School
