50 Years of Educational Excellence His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Amir of the State of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh Nawaf His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Crown Prince Prime Minister 1 50 years of educational excellence... INDIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL FOUNDERS contents Felicitation Messages .................... 02 – 11 Endowment Fund List .......................... 13 ICSK – a beacon of excellence .....14 – 27 U.C. KOHLI V.M. SHARMA V.V. VARGHESE Students’ Gems ........................... 28 – 34 Alumni Memories .......................... 35 – 41 Chairman’s Vision ........................ 42 – 43 H.S. BAWA S.S. SHARMA K.S. SETHI Principals’ Persuasions ................. 44 – 57 Teachers’ Toots ............................ 58 – 71 Blazing Results ............................. 72 – 79 K.T.B. MENON C.D. MEHTA T.B. MEHTA Kaleidoscope ............................... 80 – 85 What they had to say .................... 86 – 94 The Indian Community School 50 Years of Educational Excellence 4 5 50 Years of Educational Excellence Ajay Malhotra 7 The Indian Community School 50 Years of Educational Excellence Message from Honorary Chairman Board of Trustees Sponsor’s Message……. Ashok Kalra am immensely pleased to address the staff, parents and the children of Indian n the occasion of publishing this Golden Jubilee Memoir, as we look back with I Community School, Kuwait on the grand occasion of the Golden Jubilee Celebration. pride on our glorious past and with hope to our future, it is quite gratifying to note Five decades of dedicated service to the community has enabled the institution to earn Othat the school, which began operations over 50 years ago as the first school for the respect of the community. I am extremely proud to have been associated with this the Indian community in Kuwait, remains today the only school in the country dedicated unique centre of knowledge and excellence. Quality education is our watch word. wholly to the Indian community. It is matter of inspiration for all of us that despite the presence of dozens of Indian schools in the country, this school, which opened its The rapidly changing times demand an equally paced education and the multidimensional doors when Indians in Kuwait were just beginning to evolve as a community and Kuwait facets of our society requires healthy, social, cultural and academic development. I am itself was just transitioning into a modern state, is still the main focal point for the Indian happy to note that keeping with the times Indian Community School emphasizes on the community. enhancement of these qualities and ensures that education is the transmission of our civilization. Commitment to the community also brings with it a responsibility to ensure that students who pass out of our portals receive the quality education that prepares them for the “Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten” says future and trains them to be conscientious citizens and community leaders of tomorrow. B.F.Skinner, an educational psychologist. It emphasizes the fact that education is not To achieve this lofty goal we need to incorporate innovative learning approaches and “bookish knowledge” anymore. It is with a jubilant note that I add, at our school we strive latest teaching methodologies that give principals and teachers the resources they for a man-making education and not just merely professionals. I take this opportunity to need, to help unlock the creative and critical thinking capabilities of our students so wish each and everyone associated with this institution on this historic moment. Praise that they become productive members of the community and society. be to God. I believe that an important aspect of developing productive citizens for a peaceful and prosperous society of tomorrow is to emphasize the importance of independent critical thinking and integrate it into the current curriculum of our schools. While there may Essa Abdul Rahman Al Essa, not be much popular support for another addition to the syllabus, I assure you that Sponsor, The Indian Community School, Kuwait introducing critical thinking into the curriculum is a need that must be met, if we are to fulfill our obligation as a purveyor of quality education to the community. By imbuing in our children the skills needed to learn, how to learn, how to express, how to co-operate and adjust, we train them on how to think for themselves. If we develop in children this ability for critical thinking, and create in them the confidence needed to think for themselves, I can assure you that in the hands of these conscientious and creative young minds the future of our community and country will continue to be bright. As we strive to develop this legacy of learning for our children it would be amiss on my part if I did not offer my profound thanks to all who have exerted their utmost to the welfare of this school. From our wide spread alumni community to the behind- the-scenes support of non-teaching staff, from our dedicated teachers and diligent principals, to concerned parents, management and community members, our goal has always been one – to ensure the success of our children and that of the school. 8 9 The Indian Community School 50 Years of Educational Excellence Message from Honorary Secretary of ICSK Board of Trustees The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. Robert Frost Rajan Daniel t is my privilege and prestige to inform all ICSK our activities. Before, we had 14 Members on the Ifraternity about the development and transparency Board of Trustees, where 4 members were nominated we have established over the past 50 years. from the parent community. Now the total strength of the Board of Trustees is 19, and when the current It was a collective effort from the community, Board took over, we introduced democratic elections embassy, parents and students to build up this among parents to select their representatives to school to its new heights. We have the lowest fee the BOT with a minimum quorum of 25 percent. rate among Indian Schools in Kuwait, but we always The Board has different sub-committees, such as stood on the top in academics and extracurricular Administration, Finance, Academic, Co-curricular, activities including sports. Every year, when the CBSE Transport, Public Relations, Staff & Student results are announced, our students have marked Development, Book, Legal and others. outstanding records among other Indian educational institution in Kuwait. Year by year and from decade Every year the Finance Committee presents the to decade our success graph has always pointed to budget for the year, and audited financial accounts for the top. During the past 50 years, the school’s foot- previous year, to the Board of Trustees for approval. prints have been stamped around the world by our After its approval we publicize the above on our alumnus with incredible service records. school website as well as on the notice boards of all our school branches. Being a community school Regarding sports, over the past 9 years we are we are keeping the maximum transparency in our holding the CBSE cluster Championship in Kuwait activities related to the school. Also, we changed the by lifting the trophy continuously. Our PE Teachers name of the school from Indian School to The Indian are taking pains to ensure our youngsters climb the Community School to better reflect the ownership winning rostrum. which is vested with the community only. We also give financial support to our students Being the first Indian educational Institution in Kuwait by awarding scholarships: 1. Irrespective of their we always took the lead among other Indian schools economic background we give merit scholarship in Kuwait, to show the best of our ability and to make to deserving students, which cover the tuition fees it a perfect ‘Saraswathi Mandir’ to the entire world. for a period of one year. 2. After we took over as To our happiness and that of the community I would the Board of Trustees, we established scholarships like to mention that many of our alumni are holding mainly for the economically backward students. 3. respectable positions in their professional fields For sports we are encouraging our students by giving around the world. In addition to the above, we are them, sports scholarships which also covers the training our children to become perfect Indian citizens tuition fees for that particular year. The total number highlighting the country’s rich cultural diversity and of scholarships we award to students are above 100 unity, among the foreign community where they live. every year. So, we are sure that our children will not lose their identity, truthfulness and integrity wherever they go. Regarding the Management, we have revamped the We believe that we have a lot more to do for the school constitution by instituting transparency in all community through this school in the years to come. Jai Hind 10 11 The Indian Community School 50 Years of Educational Excellence Message from Honorary Ex Chairman of ICSK Board of Trustees Message from Parent Advisory Council of ICSK Board of Trustees Chacko George Kutty Sridhar Dharmapadam PAC Rep to the BOT Amman Br. PAC Rep to the BOT Senior Br. Razak M. Payyoli Sherin Thomas Mani PAC Rep to the BOT Khaitan Br. PAC Rep to the BOT Junior Br. arent Advisory Council (PAC) is a constitutionally elected body and is part Pof the Board of Trustees, functioning in the best interests of all development Dr. K.V. Johny affairs of Indian Community School Kuwait (ICSK). PAC is a 40 member body representing four schools of ICSK, with each PAC consisting of ten elected members whose tenure is 2 years.