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Our
esteemed guests, members of the managing committee of the BVS Parsi
High School, staff and students- Good Evening
150
years- What a momentous milestone. This institution is not just a
part of Karachi- It is the heart of Karachi- infact I would
say it is
Karachi.
A building which is more than 104 years, trees that are more than
100 years and knowledge imparted that cannot be measured in time.
I am
indeed honoured and yet humbled to be associated with this glorious
institution.
150-
Years- A lot has changed and then some things have not.
Principals have come and gone, students have come and gone, teachers
have come and gone, even governments have come and gone, AND BVS has
withstand all the tests of time. But then BVS has changed with time
also and today as we celebrate- we are proud that the physical
changes, you see are just the tip of the ice-berg. I will just
highlight a few.
The
school introduced Cambridge in 2006. Has registered with AKU-ED in
2008.
Two fully
furnished libraries were made in 2006, that house over 7000/- books,
magazines, periodically etc. Two computer labs with the latest
soft-ware, multi-media systems have been upgraded as latest as
March, 2009.
All
teachers have gone computer literate. All marking , tabulation,
result is done through a networking system.
New
Syllabi have been introduced for science, social studies, Urdu,
religious instruction, English Language and Literature and most
recently Maths, enabling the students to become thinkers rather than
rote learner.
Some
changes have been inevitable and have sadly closed some milestone
chapters in the school’s life Like the technical side and the Sukhia
Montessori. Here I thank all the past teachers and Montessori
Directress, especially Mrs. Mehroo Khambatta for lovingly nurturing
the boys and girls.
As I have
been assigned the duty to give the vote of thanks I have to start
with the Managing Committee of the school.
Chairman:
Major General Kaizad M. Soparivala
Vice-Chairman: Mr. Mehelli Dinshaw (Both illustrious sons of the
Soparivala family)
Hon.
Treasurer: Mr. Feroze Cawasji
Hon.
Secretary: Mr. Yazdyar Haveliwala
Members:
Mr. Minoo Bamjee, Mr. Naval Dastur, Mr. Darius Kandawala
Mrs. Yasmin Mehta, Mrs. Nina Sethna
Thank you
for your support, your trust in me, your sincere dedication towards
the cause of QUALITY education. Thank you for your encouragement and
assistance towards today’s function and the ones that will follow.
I thank
all the schools especially Mama Parsi and Karachi Grammar School for
constantly assisting, and sharing their expertise in all fields of
education. Special thank you to Ms. Zarine Mavalvala of Mama Parsi
and Mrs. Muncherji, Headmistress middle school of KGS. My
administrative staff for their hard work and dedication.
Thank you
to our Past Principal- Mrs. Deena Mistri for her sagacious and
experienced advice that I take from time to time.
My staff-
Thank you for believing in the MISSION of what BVS should be and
then working hard, changing yourselves and supporting me all the
way.
Thank you
to all the sponsors who have come forward and have become partners
with us in the cause of education especially our main sponsor
Standard Chartered Bank, UBL, The Cowasjee Foundation and Seatrade
Group for their support. Others like Shezan, KFC, Continental
Biscuits, Abbot laboratories, Coca Cola and Unilever for giving us
goodies to distribute to the students on their function on the 28th
May, 2009.
Special
thanks to Tenaz Minwalla the Creative Unit for the stupendous
Calendar. Synergy for designing the logo of 150 years and polishing
today’s film. Thanks to Aamir Hussain of our accounts department for
working on the film.
Dawn
Media Group for today’s supplement.
The
Philatelic Department for the stamp and 1st day cover.
I
will be
remiss if I do not thank from the bottom of my heart our
administrator Major Zaheer and my secretary Ms. Samina Mukaty for
working tirelessly, endlessly and bearing up with me and also my
office staff for their constant support.
I end by
quoting one of our illustrious Past Principals’ A Guru in true
sense- Dr. Pithawala who wrote and shared these thoughts with us:-
I Quote:
The true
ancient Persian spirit lives in the Parsee Community. Though the
outward forms- customs, manners, dresses etc. may have changed, the
parsees still carry with them the eternal Fire and Light which have
dispelled darkness, untruth, misery and sickness in the world in the
past. Who would not say Parsees have been loyal to the country of
their adoption? Who would not say they have repaid their
debts a hundred time?
Indeed-
we as Parsi Zoroastrians are proud to have served this country and
are in true sense- PAKISTANIS. Not only has BVS been instrumental in
guiding thousands TOWARDS THAT BEST LIGHT but will do so for
generations to come. May God give us men, a time like this demands
strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands.
Blessed
B.V.S.P.H.S.
Happy,
prosperous and true,
May the
light of God surround
Thee and
all that are around
May Thy
Name for e’er & e’er resound.
In the
end I thank you our honoured guests today for sharing this milestone
celebration with us. |
