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The Lawrence School, Sanawar

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The Lawrence School, Sanawar
Location
Map
Kasauli Hills, Himachal Pradesh
Information
TypePublic school
Motto'Never Give In
Established15 April 1847
Head of schoolMr. Praveen Vashisht
Staff70
Number of students700
FounderHenry Montgomery Lawrence
HousesHimalaya, Nilagiri, Siwalik, Vindhya
Websitehttp://www.sanawar.edu.in

The Lawrence School, Sanawar (near Kasauli), Himachal Pradesh, India was founded by Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence of the Army of the colonial India’s British Raj. It was established on 15 April 1847, and is the oldest co-educational boarding school in the world.

The school has graduated many dignitaries and is a reputed co-educational, residential public school of India. Sanawarians by large have a tradition of being leaders yet many Sanawarians maintain a low-profile by tradition. Sanawar is Affiliated to C.B.S.E. In appreciation of the contribution of Sanawar, the Govt. of India issued a special stamp and first day cover on 3 october 1997.

Henry Lawrence wanted to establish a chain of schools with a view to provide education to the children of the deceased and serving soldiers and officers of the British army. Lawrence was himself killed in the Indian rebellion of 1857, also called India’s First War of Independence. His dream took shape and four such schools, initially known as Lawrence Military Asylum, were established in different parts of India: the first two during his lifetime in the year 1847 at Sanawar and the second at Mount Abu in 1856; the third at Lovedale, near Ootacamund on 6 September 1858, and the fourth in Ghora Gali (near Murree, now in Pakistan) in 1860.

History

Founded by Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence and Lady Honoria Lawrence, Sanawar is believed to be the first co-educational boarding school in the world. On 15 April 1847, a group of 14 boys and girls camped at the top of the foothills of the Himalayas. They lived under canvas for some weeks anxiously waiting for the first buildings to be completed before the arrival of the monsoon. Thus did Sanawar come into existence. By 1853, the school had grown to 195 pupils when it was presented with the King's Colour. One of only six schools and colleges ever to be so honoured in the entire British Empire, the others being Eton, Shrewsbury, Cheltenham, the Duke of York's Royal Military School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Sanawar has held its Colour for the longest unbroken period.

From its Foundation, the financial burden of the School was borne by Sir Henry until his death in 1857, when the government assumed responsibility for the finances as a mark of esteem to his memory. Under these arrangements, control of the School passed from the 'Honourable Board of Directors' to the Crown. This was a most unusual arrangement, not repeated in any English Public School.

The tradition of military training at Sanawar has always been strong and was of such a high standard that several contingents of boys were enlisted from the School and sent straight to the battlefields of the Great War. In appreciation of this, the School was redesignated in 1920 as the "Lawrence Royal Military School", and, in 1922, the Prince of Wales personally presented the School with new Colours. The School Colour continues to this day to be trooped at the Founders Celebration in early October and Sanawar pupils continue to make a major contribution to the defence of the country to this day, most notably in the form of Arun Khetarpal, a Param Vir Chakra awardee.

Sanawar's Centenary year (1947) was crucial to the development of the School. With Independence, the bulk of the staff and children at Sanawar returned to the UK. However, the then Governor General, Lord Louis Mountbatten, presided at the School's Centenary celebrations and read out a special message from George VI. Thereafter, control of the School passed from the Crown to the Government of India, Ministry of Defence. A further transfer in 1949 brought the School under the control of the Ministry of Education and subsequently, in 1953, to the autonomous Lawrence School (Sanawar) Society. However, Sanawar retains strong links with its past. The Chairman of the Society is the Secretary for Education, Government of India and, at the recent sesquicentenary celebrations in 1997, a message of congratulations was received from the current Prince of Wales, Prince Charles.

The first Principal of the School was the Rev. W. J. Parker, (1848 - 1863). Notable events during his period include the first Founder's Day in 1849, and the opening of the Chapel in 1851. Parker was followed by the Rev. J. Cole (1864 - 1886), the Rev. A. Hilldersley (1886 - 1912) and by the fourth Principal, the Rev. G. D. Barne (1912 - 1932) who developed Sanawar into a major public school along English lines with House and Prefectorial systems, games on an organised basis and a curriculum working towards Cambridge University Examinations.

The School continued to evolve and modernise throughout the middle and later years of the last century. In 1956, Mr. E. G. Carter, retired as Principal and was succeeded by Major R. Som Dutt (1956 - 1970), the School's first Indian Headmaster. He laid the foundations for the school, as it is today, India's foremost residential coeducational public school. Developments have continued since that time, most notably under the leadership of Mr. S. R. Das (1974 - 1988).


Campus

Sanawar is situated on an independent hill and covers an area of 1 acre with boys and girls devided in .5 each.

Academics

There are 75 members on the teaching faculty and at the +2 level the subjects offered include Hindi, English Literature, Computers, Mathematics, Business Studies , Accountancy, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology, Political Science, History, Geography, Economics, Art, Physical Education and Sculpture.

The ratio of 75 faculty members to about 670 students is far above the average [1] in India.

The normal student strength per classroom varies from 10 to 25.

The school is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi.

There is a growing emphasis on the audio-visual aids in education at Sanawar.

A monthly assessment, in which each student is discussed individually, forms a unique feature of the assessment system at Sanawar. Very bright students are encouraged with monthly awards of Distinction and Commendation and the privilege of signing the Honours Book once a year. Weak students are placed on the House Masters/Headmasters List and are helped to do remedial work in their weak subjects. A copy of the Assessment Card is sent to the parents. At the end of each term a statement of marks and comments by the subject teachers are also sent to the parents.

The school has an up-to-date library with a substantial collection of books and periodicals on a wide variety, accumulated over the years.

The school museum is not just a collection of articles but an educational experience in much wider sense.

Extra Curricular Activities

From site: Hobbies

Children at Sanawar select a number of 'hobby' activities, which they pursue at different times of the year.

These activities include, for instance:

Also, in line are:

At certain times of the year, children are involved in a wide variety of social activities ranging from fire fighting to working in the School's Rural Centre. Tree planting has been an annual activity over the decades. Other major projects are Adult & Child Education, a Crafts Centre, and annual international village development camps (organized for the Round Square International Service).

Membership of the Round Square International Service gives X1th Class children an opportunity to take part in a student exchange programme with other member schools throughout the world. During a visit of 2 months duration, they study at the host school, staying either with families or in the school's dormitory facilities, playing a full part in the life of the school and community which they are visiting.

Dramatics, Debating, Elocution and Quiz contests are a regular feature. Each House produces a House Show each year, giving children of all ages a chance to perform live on the stage, or learn the arts of stage management and production.

Membership of SPICMACAY ensures that artistes of repute visit the School on a regular basis for a lecture demonstration on classical Dance and Music. The North Zone Cultural Centre organizes folk and classical performances to give an exposure to the students.

Visiting the School Museum is an educational experience in itself. It includes Sanawar's Colours, photographic and printed records, awards, mementos, teaching instruments, musical instruments and one of the world's oldest operational printing presses.

Sports

Physical activity is an essential ingredient of life in Sanawar. The daily routine itself requires movement between dormitories, classes, dining hall, hobby and game locations spread over the 139-acre (0.56 km2) site at differing levels: in Sanawar, all paths either go up or down!

All children take a half an hour physical exercise every morning (except Sundays). During the early Spring term, this takes the form of a 'Hodson's Run', 3-5 km around the school site, culminating in the fiercely fought Hudsons' Finals in April. During the rest of the year the children practice their mass PT movements, preparing for perfection in the Parade at the annual Founders Celebration in October.

NCC is compulsory in the senior classes and the School maintains a high standard in military training.

In addition to these compulsory activities, each child also has the option to pursue a wide range of sporting activities, both as team games and as individual pursuits, within the school timetable.

Activities include:

A high percentage of the school's income is allocated to the employment of staff with specialist skills to coach each activity in the provision of the best quality equipment for safety and performance.

Interactions with other schools through sporting and cultural activities are a regular feature of the weekend programme, and where the level of achievement is appropriate, international sports tours are arranged.

Camping and trekking are an integral part of the life of the School. Easy access to the remote Himalayan regions is a real asset for its trekkers, and additional activities such as white water rafting, mountain cycling and rock climbing are also in this programme[2].

Life on Campus

Students have a very busy schedule through the day and are involved in a lot of extra curricular activities apart from studies.

The day begins at 6 a.m. with chhota haazri and PT - either a cross-country run or mass exercises followed by a quick change, House inspection and up to the school for the first of two classes before breakfast at 9 o'clock.

After breakfast the School congregates in Chapel on Monday and Thursday and then the classes begin. The morning break at 11.30 provides a drink and a snack, otherwise it's working through to lunch at 1.10 p.m at the Central Dining Hall.

From morning break onwards, the timetable includes games and hobbies alongside academic classes. This allows a varied day and makes best use of the time and other resources available.

At 6.00 p.m., students 'fall in' for evening prep in the Birdwood School buildings, an hour and 20 minutes of concentrated, self disciplined study. At 7.40 p.m., the bell sounds 'time for supper'. After supper, returning to the dorms, after some free time, there is a further study hour in the dorms before the 'final bugle calls' all to rest.

On Sundays, students are free to plan their own time, having enjoyed the luxury of an extra hour in bed and a relaxed breakfast. Students may practice for sports, visit Kasauli or just relax.

Founder's celebrations are an intrinsic part of life in Sanawar. Three days of celebrations beginning October 2nd each year are marked with many events and shows. Parents and Old Sanawarians (old students)[3] swarm to the school estate and relive their days at Sanawar.

Terminology

- G.D. - Girls Department

- B.D. - Boys Department

- P.D. - Prep Department

- C.D.H. - Central Dining Hall

- Parker Hall - the library

- SSC - Som Dutt Sports Centre

- Birdwood- the main school building

- Form II - Class 4 ( ceased to exist 1997 )

- Lower III- class 5

- Upper III- class 6

- Lower IV - class 7

- Upper IV - class 8

- Lower V - class 9

- Upper V - class 10

- Lower VI - class 11

- Upper VI - class 12

- Super Six - students sitting their class 12th board exams

School Song

"Never Give In" is our motto,
Strive till the set of sun,
and we learn its truth,
In the days of Youth,
On the long Hodson Run.

For though your heart seems bursting,
Up Sergeant Tilley's hill,
Though you may not win,
You'll yet come in,
If you "stick it" still.

It's a way we have in Sanawar,
The best school of all.
And we'll live in that motto's power,
Till the last bugle call.

Never Give In, Sanawar
Though the wickets swiftly fall.
And the light is bad and our hearts are sad
And it’s hard to see the ball.
Never Give In, Sanawar
It’s a cricket motto, too.
Somebody's got to “stop the rot”
And why not you.

It’s a way we have in Sanawar,
The best school of all.
And we’ll live in that motto's power,
Till the last bugle call.

Never Give In, Sanawar
With schooldays far away
When you're all alone and on your own
With life's stern game to play.
For still the old school motto
Till life's long journey close
Will guide us true, till the game is through
And for “time” the whistle blows.

It’s a way we have in Sanawar,
The best school of all.
And we’ll live in that motto's power,
Till the last bugle call.

Old Sanawarians

Main page: Category:Old Sanawarians

In the course of its 160 year old existence, many alumni that passed out of Sanawar, earned name for themselves as well as for Sanawar. Few of the notable alumni are:

References

  1. ^ Student Teacher ratio in India
  2. ^ Adventure Sports in Sanawar
  3. ^ Sanawarians on a nostalgic trip
  4. ^ Arun Khetarpal on Indian army's site
  5. ^ Iqbal Khan The King Khan of Indian Television Industry studied in Lawrence School Sanwar
  6. ^ Ajeet Bajaj says the school motto kept him going
  7. ^ Shiva Keshavan
  8. ^ Illoosh Ahluwalia
  9. ^ Sanawarians in the film industry
  10. ^ Sanawarians in the film industry
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