La Martiniere Calcutta
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La Martiniere Calcutta is the La Martiniere College branch in Calcutta, India.
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[edit] History
In 1752, a 17-year old Frenchman named Claude Martin came to India as a humble private in the armies of the East India Company. Claude Martin, however, was no ordinary soldier of fortune. He rose rapidly to the rank of Major-General and served, as well, many years in the service of Shuja-ud-Daulah, the then Nawab of Oudh. At the time of his death in September 1800, Claude Martin had amassed property worth over half a million pounds sterling.
So far, Claude Martin's career reads like that of so many other Europeans who found fame and fortune under the powerful patronage of the East India Company. And indeed, if that was all there was to the man, he would have soon been forgotten in the musty pages of history.
However, Claude Martin was a man of vision and he left generous endowments to start schools in Lucknow and Calcutta in India, and in Lyon, in his native land of France. La Martiniere Schools, Calcutta, were the result of his desire to start an educational institution for the "public good of the town of Calcutta".
It took 30 years to dispose of the litigation arising out of Claude Martin's will. Finally, as the result of a supreme court decision, La Martiniere Schools opened in Calcutta, on March 1, 1836.
La Martiniere offers an all-round education up to the Higher Secondary level. It is affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi, which conducts the ICSE and ISC Examinations at the close of Classes X & XII.
La Martiniere, Calcutta, has a wide spectrum of co-curricular activities which receives as much importance as the academic disciplines. Through this extensive range of activities, the students are exposed to varying situations and issues. They regularly participate in Inter-School Competitions at the local, State, National and occasionally at the International levels.
The scholastic, the intra- and the extra-mural programmes of La Martiniere are geared to nurturing academic excellence, independent and creative thought, the tapping of diverse talents, leadership training and a deep commitment to community service.
[edit] Coat of arms
The Martinian Coat of Arms was designed by Major General Claude Martin himself. It is supported by seven flags each bearing the design of a fish, the emblem of Oudh. These flags represent his journey over "the seven seas" to India. The devices on the escutcheon (shield) epitomize Claude Martin's career: The ship recalls his voyage to India where, center of the shield, he firmly established his fortunes in Oudh, as an officer of the East India Company. This is represented by the lion with the pennant. The setting sun behind the castellated building on the right, indicates the sunset of his days and the important part which the building of "Constantia" played in his twilight years. The current principal is Mr. S .Chakravarty
[edit] Famous alumni
- Nafisa Ali - Swimming champion, actress, former Miss India and politician
- C K Birla - Industrialist
- Sir Catchick Paul Chater - Father of modern Hong Kong, benefactor to the College
- Justice Jiten Chaudhary - Honourable Judge of Calcutta High Court
- Rahil Gangjee - Professional golfer
- Dr Ron Ghosh - former Chairman CSFB worldwide
- Dr. Nurul Hassan - Late former Governor of the State of West Bengal, India
- Alfred P. Hennessey - Olympian and former 110m hurdles record holder
- Dr. Vijay Mallya - Chairman of the United Breweries (UB) Group and Rajya Sabha member
- John Mason (Schoolmaster) - Educationist
- Chandan Mitra - Member of Parliament and eminent journalist
- Jaidip Mukerjea - Davis Cup team member
- Rishi Narayan - Member of the Indian Golf squad in the IX Asiad
- Pritish Nandy - Mediaperson, film producer
- Merle Oberon also known as Queenie Thompson - Actor
- Leander Paes - Tennis Player, India's only Medallist at the Atlanta Games, Captain of the Indian Davis Cup team
- Enrico Piperno - Member of Indian Tennis team to the IX Asiad; Davis Cup team member
- Ronnie Roy - Head of Merril Lynch, Asia-Pacific
- Oscar Ward - Olympian
- Sunanda K. Datta-Ray - Former Editor of The Statesman
- Jug Suraiya - Humourist and Journalist
- Paranjoy Guha Thakurta - Journalist
- Suhel Seth - CEO, Equus Advertising
- Barry O'Brien
[edit] School Houses
- Macaulay, named after Thomas Macaulay - Yellow
- Martin, named after Claude Martin - Blue
- Charnock, named after Job Charnock - Green
- Hastings, named after Warren Hastings - Red
[edit] School Song
The School Song was composed by Frederick James Rowe, who was an Assistant master in LMC from 1868-1870. After his death on 5th Jan, 1909, the school alumni placed a bronze tablet in his memory in what is now the Memorial corner inside the Visitors Lounge.
Chorus Hail! Hail! the name we own, Hail! to the giver; Blessing and bright renown, Be his for ever!
All his martial deeds may die, Lasting still his charity, This his laurel blooms for aye Dead-he lives in us to-day, This then our song shall be, As we chant his eulogy- "May our Founder's name endure, Ever spotless, ever pure!?
Chorus
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] School Prayer
O Almighty God, and most merciful Father who hath taught us to praise Thee as well for the dead as the living.
We thank Thee for Claude Martin, our founder, for Paul Chater, our benefactor, and for the lives and examples of all who have served Thee in this school.
Pour down Thy blessings, we pray Thee, upon those who are now here. Prosper our labours, as Thou in Thy wisdom see'st to best for us.
Protect us, we beseech Thee, from all things hurtful both to soul and body.
Preserve us by Thy Holy Spirit from sin and selfishness.
Make us generous and brave, pure and true, in all our work and in all our play, so that our task may be sanctified by Thy love, our days here may be attended by Thy blessing; and that when our days work on earth is over, Thou mayest send us rest from our labours under the shadow of thy wing; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN.
[edit] The Founder
Claude Martin [1] was born on January 5, 1735 in Lyons, France. After the French influence declined in India, he served in the British East India Company and rose to the rank of Major-General. After taking up residence in Lucknow, he occupied an important position in the court of Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula.
During this period he succeeded in accumulating a fortune of about 40,00,000 rupees. He built the palace of 'Constantia' and his fine house of Farud Baksh, both of which he equipped with luxuries that included a library of some 4,000 volumes written in many languages and a picture gallery containing a fine collection of works of art.
He breathed his last as Major-General Claude Martin in Lucknow on September 13, 1800. According to his wish, he was buried in the vault prepared for his remains in the basement of the college.
The major portion of his monies and estate were left for founding three institutions, one each at Lucknow, Calcutta and his birthplace Lyon, France.
The new official site of La Martiniere Calcutta is www.lmbcal.com.[2]
[edit] La Martiniere - Coat of Arms
Image:Http://www.geocities.com/la martiniere college/Graphics/oudh.jpg
This was designed by Major general Claude Martin himself. It is supported by seven flags each bearing the design of a fish, the emblem of Oudh. These flags represent his journey over "the seven seas" to India. The devices on the escutcheon (shield) epitomize Claude Martin's career: The ship recalls his voyage to India where, centre of the shield, he firmly established his fortunes in Oudh, as an officer of the East India Company. This is represented by the lion with the pennant. The setting sun behind the castellated building on the right of the shield indicates the sunset of his days and the important part which the building of 'Constantia' played in his twilight years.
LABORE ET CONSTANTIA [BY LABOUR AND CONSTANCY]
By hard work and consistent effort, you can reach great heights in life.
