La Martiniere College
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| Motto | Labore et Constantia (Labour and Constant Effort) |
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| Established | 1836 by Major General Claude Martin |
| Type | Private |
| Staff | Varies |
| Students | Varies |
| Location | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh; Kolkata, West Bengal and Lyon, Rhone-Alps, France and India |
| Campus | Urban city, varying acreage |
| Number of branches: | Three |
| Nickname | La Marts, LMC |
| Website | N/A |
La Martiniere College is one of the oldest, most prestigious, and most competitive Christian non-denominational Kindergarten-Class 12 schools in India and France. Branches are located in Calcutta and Lucknow in India, and Lyon in France. The school, however, admits students irrespective of religion and race.
La Martiniere College, Lucknow, is the first school in the world to have been awarded Battle Honours for the part the staff and pupils played in the Defence of the Residency at Lucknow during the first War of Independence also referred to by the British as the sepoy Mutiny of 1857.
La Martiniere College, or La Marts as it is more popularly known, was founded by Major General Claude Martin in the early 1800s. Martin had acquired a large fortune while serving the Nawab of Awadh Asaf-ud-Daula and bequeathed his entire estate to establish the schools. His wills outlined every minor detail of the schools, from their exact location to the manner of celebrating the annual Founder's Day.
The Colleges consists of separate girls and boys schools, which are generally located very close to each other. The only exception is the one in Lucknow where the boys and girls branches are located across the city from each other.
The Colleges are day schools, but Calcutta and Lucknow have boarding facilities.
The Colleges are widely recognized for their excellent athletic and academic programs, and for their architecture. Extra-curricular activities, including sports and community service organizations, are emphasized, and music and dance are included in the general curriculum.
The three branches function independently, but maintain close contacts and share most traditions.
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[edit] The Branches
[edit] Coat of arms
The coat of arms was designed by Claude Martin himself and is supported by seven flags. Each flag bears the design of a fish, the emblem of Awadh. The devices on the escutcheon appear to epitomize Martin's career.
The ship in the background represents his long sea voyage to India; the lion with the pennant in the centre of the shield represents Martin's superior status and success as an officer in the British East India Company and with the Nawab of Awadh Asaf-ud-Daula; the setting sun behind the castellated building (right of the shield) points to the end of his days and the important role the building Constantia played in his later years.
The seal is engraved on the school buildings.
The LMC flag consists of the coat of arms on a blue and gold background. The flag is generally flown above the buildings, and used for formal events and celebrations, such as the annual Founder's Day.
[edit] School Motto
As willed by Claude Martin, the School motto is "Labore et Constantia" which translates to "Labor and Constant Effort." Martin always extolled the virtues of hard work during his lifetime.
[edit] School Song: Vive La Martiniere
The La-Martiniere school song was written by F.J. Rowe in the mid-19th century.
Chorus: Hail! Hail! the name we own; Hail! to the giver; Blessing and bright renown; Be his forever! Body 1: All his martial deeds may die, Lasting still his charity; This his laurel blooms for aye, Dead he lives in us today. This then our song shall be, As we chant his eulogy - "May our Founder's name endure; Ever spotless, ever pure." (Chorus) Body 2: Faithful may we ever be Followers of his constancy; Firm of hand against the foe Soft of heart to succour woe. This then our song shall be, As we chant his eulogy - "May our Founder's name endure Ever spotless ever pure!" (Chorus)
[edit] College Traditions
La Martiniere has several traditions which may vary from branch to branch, but some of the more important common ones include:
- Founder's Day
- Prize Day
- Sports Day
- Houses
- Senior Social
[edit] Founder's Day
The Founder's Day is celebrated every year on September 13, the day Claude Martin died. Some of the important traditions on this day include an extended formal assembly in the morning involving a faculty march, a formal speech by a prominent guest or alumni, playing of the bagpipes, singing of the school song and other selected works by the College choir, laying of the wreath on Martin's bust, and so on.
Another important aspect of Founder's Day is the Founder's Day lunch. The entire senior school and staff are treated to an elaborate sit-down meal on the day. Claude Martin had apparently listed in his will that his death day should not be a day of mourning but one of celebration. He had also written out a menu for the meal to be served. Today, the menu does not remain the same, however the tradition of the Founder's Day lunch still carries on.
Founder's Day Social is held in the evening.
Academics are suspended on the day, and is generally followed by a school holiday.
[edit] Prize Day
At the end of each academic year, usually in April, the Prize Day is held to celebrate academic excellence and to honor high achieving students. Some of the traditions include a formal assembly in the aftrenoon involving a faculty march, a formal speech by a prominent guest or alumni, singing of the school song and other selected works by the College choir, and so on. Generally top three students of each class are awarded prizes, usually books, and upper classes receive subject proficiency awards.
In India, the topper of grades 10 and 12 are awarded the Founder's Gold Medal, and several other special prizes are also given out.
[edit] Sports Day
Each year, a special day is designated to showcase the athletic talents of La Martiniere students. Traditions include a school march (which involves a military-type march around the school grounds), performance by the school band, and competition between the various school houses. It is held on the last Sunday of November.
[edit] Houses
Each branch is divided into four houses, mainly for promoting athletic and academic competition among students. The four houses have different names in La Martiniere Lucknow and in La Martiniere Calcutta, as given below:
| Colour | La Martiniere Lucknow | La Martiniere Calcutta |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Lyons | Macaulay |
| Green | Cornwallis | Charnock |
| Blue | Martin | Martin |
| Red | Hodson | Hastings |
[edit] Senior Social
The Senior Social is reserved for members of the graduating class and takes place towards the end of the calendar year, after the official end of the final school year. Students from both the girls and boys sections are invited to the social, and traditions include dancing, extensive informal faculty participation, and so on.
