Lawrence School, Lovedale
The Lawrence School, Lovedale (near Ootacamund ), Tamilnadu, India, was established on 6th September 1858, and is named after Major General Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence of the Army of the colonial India’s British Raj. The school is run under the aegis of Ministry of H.R.D, Government of India. The Secretary, Ministry of HRD or anybody appointed by him is ex- officio Chairman of the School.This school is essentially a government school as land,building, Board all are under control of Ministry of HRD, Government of India.
Lawrence has mooted the idea about the established of 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 Asylum, were established in different parts of India: the first two during his lifetime in the year 1847 at Sanawar, the second at Mount Abu in 1856; the third at Ootacamund in 1858 and the fourth in Ghora Gali, (Murree, then a part of undivided India, and currently a part of Pakistan after partition) in 1860.
The Name, Emblem and Motto
In the year 1913, the name of the school was changed from Lawrence Asylum to Lawrence Memorial School. On being accorded the royal patronage in 1922, the name of the school was changed in 1925 to the Lawrence Memorial Royal Military School. Soon after India’s independence on 15th August 1947, the school was handed over to the civilian authorities of Government of India in 1949 and the name of the school was changed to the Lawrence School.
As the school was located in Lovedale, the school and Lovedale became synonymous, and the school became familiar as simple 'Lovedale', by which name it continues to be widely known.
The Campus
The Lawrence School, Lovedale, has a sprawling campus of 700 acres (2.8 km²). Lovedale, five kilometers from Ootacamund, is located at a height of 7300 feet over sea level, slightly lower than the Dodabetta peak (altitude: 8000 feet), the highest peak of the mountain ranges of the Niligiris.
The School Songs
Sabse Sundar
Sabse sundar jag se pyara
Vidya ka yeh dham hamara
Shobha iski ati hi nyari
Iski shan nirali hai
Neelagiri yahaan, Neelagagan yahaan
Neelavanshi Taba samiran
Shobha iski ati hi nyari
Iski shan nirali hai
Iska naam amar karenge
Iski shaan badhaenge
Bal-budhi mey sarvuttam ho
Veer Lawrence kahaaenge
Haar na maanenge, hum haar na maanenge
Haar na maane, Haar na maane, Haar na maanenge!
Never Give In
At the dawn of life's endeavour
With our hopes strung high we stand
In our childhood's home which ever
Spreads wide her bounteous hand.
Here a glorious inspiration
From our founder we'll surely win
And with strong determination
Play the game and Never Give In.
Chorus:
Lawrencians! Lawrencians!
Keep the dear old school in mind.
With strength in our hearts to play our parts
Thrust fear and wrong behind.
We'll live our lives 'mid stress and strife
With the power and the will to win
And we'll show the world, our flag unfurled
With our watchword Never Give In.
At the noon of life's endeavour
While we toil to win the prize
There'll be memories naught can sever
Thru heart and soul they'll rise.
To the Blue Hills they'll restore us
From the heat and toil and din
To the home whose haunting chorus
Still rings out its Never Give In.
(Chorus )
At the eve of life's endeavour
While the sands of our work run dry
All Lawrencians dull and clever
Will hear the loud "Well done."
And our rest will be the better
From convictions so deep within
That in spirit and in letter
We did strive and Never Give In.
Lawrencia
Words and Music by Bandmaster J.B.Hunt, M.M., IX Lancers.
Nilgiri Hills, the home of our Schooldays,
Where once we learnt that great Lawrence rule;
All our lives, through highways and by-ways,
Lingers the memory of dear old Lawrence School.
Distance may part and seas may divide us,
Fortunes may frown and ardours grow cool,
But, once again, these words will inspire us,
Never Give In the motto of our School.
Where'er you go keep this in mind,
The darkest cloud is silver lined.
What'er the future holds for you,
Lawrencians to your School be true.
The Affiliation
Currently, the school is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi. Member of IPSC Member of RSIS
See Also
External Links
- School's official website
- Pictures of the Lawrence School, Lovedale
- The website of the batch of 2003
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