| La Martinière, Calcutta | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Labore et Constantia (By Labour and Constancy) |
| Established | 1836 by Major General Claude Martin |
| Type | Private |
| Principal |
Mr. Sunirmal Chakravarthi(Boys) |
| Location | Kolkata, India |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | www.lmbcal.ac.in |
La Martiniere Calcutta comprises two separate private (independent from the government) schools (one for boys and one for girls) in Kolkata, India. The schools were established in accordance with the will of the French mercenary Major General Claude Martin in 1836. They are classified as day schools although they both have a small number of boarders. The boy's school has always been a highly-rated institution and was declared "Primus in Indis" (i.e., best school in India, amongst British institutions, in the 1880s per the Englishman newspaper) and is consistently ranked at the top of various Indian school ratings (e.g., ranked #3 in the respected Education World survey of India's best day schools in 2009. <<http://myschool.in.com/pdf/EW-Day%20Schools%20Cover%20Story.pdf>>)
The schools offer an English-medium education from Nursery up to the Higher Secondary level. They are 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 and XII.
The school motto is Labore et Constantia, "By Labour and Constancy".
Contents |
Claude Martin was born on 4 January 1735 in Lyon, France. He came to India when he was seventeen and served in the French East India Company. 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 again switched allegiances and occupied an important position in the court of Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah and later his son, Asaf-ud-Daula.
During this period he accumulated a fortune of about 40 lakh rupees. He built the palace of 'Constantia' and his house of Farhat 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.
He died in Lucknow on September 13, 1800. According to his will, he was buried in the vault prepared for his remains in the basement of the college in Lucknow. The major portion of his monies and estate were left for founding three institutions, one each at Lucknow, Calcutta and his birthplace Lyon in France.
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 1 March 1836.
It took 30+ years for the school to be founded in accordance with the Founder's will. In contravention of the Founder's intentions, British colonial administrators ensured that La Martiniere catered to the education of European and Anglo-Indian students. The curriculum reflected the student composition with boys expected to master Latin and Greek, but not any Indian languages. Most students self-identified as British or European, and did not stay on in India after leaving school. Early Principals were generally from British public schools and tried to replicate the prevailing Rugby/ Arnold model of education with an emphasis on sports, espirit de corps and Christian morality.
Following a Calcutta High Court order (dated 18/2/1935) religious and racial restrictions on the admission of non-European, non-Christian, fee-paying students were removed and the school was allowed to admit such students up to a maximum of 25% of the strength of the school.
However, in the years after Independence, the school started attracting members of the social and business elite of Calcutta.
The student body has grown exponentially in size through the years, with approximately 3,000 students on the rolls in 2011 (compared with 750 in 1960 and 1,200 in 1980) with each class now comprising four sections (curiously named A, A1, Alpha and Alpha1) of approximately 50 boys each. The school also takes in new students at the "+2" level. Although parents and Old Boys question the quality of the LMB experience with the increased class sizes, the schools continue to be a popular choice for parents to admit their children to.
Under the terms of the Founder's will, a certain number of Foundation scholarships (covering the costs of school fees and full board) are awarded to Anglo-Indian boarders. Although admissions are competitive, preference is given to children of Old Martinians.
The girls' school has 3 sections per class (A, B and C). Each section comprises 40-46 girls. In 11 and 12 there are four sections each- 1 for humanities, 2 for commerce and 1 for science.
The schools are located in south Calcutta, and face each other across Rawdon Street.
The main boys school building was built in 1836 and is notable for its European Classical architecture, with the Round Chapel, ringed by imposing Corinthian pillars, at the heart of it. The Round Chapel has the Honours boards listing Founders Day medallists on its walls. Above the Round Chapel is the beautiful library. The boarders dormitories are on the top floor. Classrooms are spread through the main building. The building was ruined by a cyclonic storm in June 1897 which destroyed a "stately Gothic porch" on the south side of the building and a blue dome "that rivalled the dome of the Calcutta General Post Office". The school chapel was in the dome. Lack of funds made it impossible to rebuild both these features. The building was modified in 1915 with the addition of a western wing (which now houses the Principal's office on the first floor).
The main playing field is ringed by buildings, with the junior school building (and swimming pool) to the West, Atmodya Bhavan (built in 1979 and comprising the main auditorium and middle school classrooms) to the South and the Constantia building (not owned by the school, but controversially built on school property on the "dhobi ghat") to the East. The sale of the "dhobi ghat", in 1982, was the subject of a long-drawn lawsuit, which went all the way to the Supreme Court in New Delhi, with the Old Martinians Association sueing the Trustees of the school for illegally selling school property. While the school benefitted financially from this transaction, the sale of the property and construction of the ugly Constantia building defaced the campus, and lead to the complete loss of grass on the playground. The court case soured relations between the Old Boys and the school Governors for a number of years.
The boys school used to have a very strong campus feel, with the Principal, House Masters and senior teachers living on campus. This added to the ethos of the school as the masters in residence used supervise after-school, extra-curricular activity. However, in a controversial decision, the Governors of the school decided to no longer accomodate the senior teachers on campus, and now only the Principal has his quarters on campus.
There are five identical houses (known as "Panchkothi") along the north side of the campus. These were used as residences for the Principal, Vice Principal, House Masters and other teachers. Controversially, some of these old buildings have now been demolished in order to make way for new buildings. However, the Principal's residence still stands in its original incarnation.
A basketball court and a memorial of the founder, Major General Claude Martin, are also located in the north side.
The academic curriculum follows the Delhi (ISC) board, rather than the West Bengal State board. The medium of instruction is English, with Hindi/Bengali offered as second languages. There are two board exams — at Class X level (ICSE) and Class XII (ISC). In all other years, students take internal examinations only.
Extra-curricular activities include debating, elocution and quizzing, and sports like football, swimming, cricket, hockey, athletics, basketball, boxing, and table tennis. There is also a Western-music orchestra and a pipes-and-drums band. In the past, LMB was famous for its rugby team, which had a fierce rivalry with Armenian College. However, over time there was a loss of interest in the sport, primarily due to a lack of competitive fixtures and the controversial decision to discontinue the sport was taken in the early 1970s. Rugby was revived in 1990, but no longer enjoys the prestige that it used to. There is a La Martiniere Old Boys (LMOB) rugby team which participates in the Calcutta and Indian leagues, but there is no formal connection between the team and the school.
Teams representing the school compete with La Martiniere Lucknow in the annual Inter-Martiniere meet (held alternately in Calcutta and Lucknow) in football, swimming and debating. The football match is a highly anticipated event, and is well-attended by Old Boys, students and parents. The school cricket and hockey teams participate in the local Calcutta school leagues. Athletics and boxing are primarily inter-house activities. The inter-house athletics and boxing finals receive a lot of attention, with the athletics events preceded by a military-style marchpast and Olympic-style oath-taking ceremony. The debating and quizzing teams, in particular, have won national acclaim for the school over the years, competing and often winning nationally against the likes of Doon School, Mayo College, Delhi Public School and Cathedral and John Cannon School.
Clubs include the Hindi 'Jyotsna' Club, the Interact Club, the Quiz Club, the Expressions club, the Computer Club, the Nature Club, the Dramatics Club and the Heritage Club. Other organizations are the Library Squad, the School Beautification Squad, DEAS and the NCC (Air and Army Wing).
An annual yearbook, titled "The Chronicle", is produced every year.
Even though most of them are day scholars, all students are allocated to one of four houses when they join the school. The houses are named after British imperial heroes, reflecting the fact that, at its founding, the school was a British school for Britishers in India. Similarly, teachers are also allocated to houses, with senior teachers being designated as House Masters. Inter-house competitions, particularly in debating, athletics and boxing are fiercely contested, with the winning house in each year being designated the Cock House.
| Charnock | Hastings | Macaulay | Martin |
| Founder of Calcutta | Governor General | British Politician | School founder |
The school calendar contains certain key dates: Founders Day in September, Prize Day at the start of the academic year in June (prizes awarded for excellence in the previous academic year), and the Inter-Martiniere Meet in August. Founders Day is a significant event which many alumni attend. The Chief Guest is usually an Old Martinian. Originally, and in line with the Founder's will, two medals were awarded on Founder's Day — the Gold Medal for academic excellence and the Silver Medal for Good Conduct. There were only two double-medallists in the history of the school (H. A. Catchatoor and Richard Bowie).[1] In 1960, the decision was taken to add two more medals: Principal's Medals for Best Sportsman and Best All-Rounder in Studies, Games and Conduct. The Good Conduct Medal (GCM) is generally considered the most prestigious award in the school, with an unbroken history dating back to the school's founding in 1836. The medallists have their names recorded on the Honours Boards in the Round Chapel.
The Inter-Martiniere Meet is contested against the La Martiniere schools from Lucknow in football, swimming and debating for boys; debating, swimming and basketball for girls.
The La Martinière coat of arms was designed by the founder Claude Martin.[2] It is supported by seven flags, each bearing the design of a fish, the emblem of Oudh.[3] The devices on the escutcheon appear to epitomise Claude Martin's life. The ship recalls his voyage to India where he established his fortune. The lion with the pennant represents his career as an officer in the East India Company and with the Nawab of Oudh The setting sun behind the castellated building to the right of the shield has been said[2] to point to the sunset of his days and the large part which the building of "Constantia" played in his later years. The coat of arms and the accompanying motto Labore et Constantia are now shared by all the schools founded by Martin.
The La Martinere College 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. This was designed by Major General Claude Martin himself.
The school has a summer uniform (comprising a white shirt and trousers/shorts) and a winter uniform (comprising grey trousers/shorts, white shirt and black blazer). The school tie and belt are common in both summer and winter. The school tie is in the school colours, diagonal golden yellow stripes on a black background. There is an official school tailor on campus who supplies uniforms to all student. Students are inspected for compliance with the school uniform at morning assembly.
The school song, "Hail, hail, the name we own" was composed by Frederick James Rowe, who was an Assistant Master in LMC from 1868-1870. It is sung at special events such as Founder's Day, Prize Day and at inter-house events and the beginning and end of term.
Lyrics:
Chorus:
Hail! Hail! the name we own; Hail! to the giver; Blessing and bright renown; Be his forever!
Verse 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
Verse 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
Although La Martiniere is not an explicitly Christian school (unlike convent/missionary schools) and has not had a church or chapel on campus since the destruction of the chapel in the 19th Century, there is an official school prayer as well.
La Martiniere for Boys: The Principal and staff select five boys from each house in Class XII as school prefects, making 20 prefects in each year. One of these six boys is selected as the House Captain, making four House Captains. Prefects wear a "double bar" tie, with two stripes instead of the standard one.
"Colours" are awarded every year to students who have represented the school in school activities. Recipients of boys school colours wear a "triple bar" tie in Class XII and in girls school the blazer crest is silver. Colours are awarded at the discretion of the master-in-charge of a particular activity. The school has introduced the Major and Minor colour system, which recognizes different levels of contribution towards a sport. Colours are limited to 10 or 12 a batch.
La Martiniere for Girls: There are two sets of prefects in girls school, the junior prefects ( who are students of class 10 ) and senior prefects ( who are students of class 12 ). The prefects are elected by the students of their own batch. The captain for the four houses are decided mainly by the teacher in charge of the house and the the previous captains and vice captains. However to be captain the student must be an elected senior prefect for that year. The decision is based on other factors as well such as discipline, responsibility and contribution to the house. The four vice captains are selected by the same process however they may or may not be senior prefects.
The schools are governed by a six-member Board of Acting Governors, which is controlled by the Church of North India. Members of the board include Lt. Gen. (retd) John Mukherjee ('60 batch).
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