If file-pushers had their way, they would snip a Van Gogh painting to make it fit in the ‘allocated’ frame. Those who briefly ruled over Agra once, used the Taj Mahal to store hay and foodgrain. There is a similar approach being adopted when the playfields of St Joseph’s Academy are being sought to be mutilated by the administration to build, of all things, a parking site!
Dehradun’s USP has been its educational institutions. Not just for the rich, but for all sections of society. St Joseph’s Academy has served the middle and lower middle classes ever since its inception by providing the highest possible standard of education. It has done so by matching the elite institutions in terms of the facilities made available to its students – not just the quality of teachers, the classrooms and labs, the auditoriums, but also the playfields. One must recall the saying, “The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton.” A school is not supposed to be a rathole for rote learners but an institution that imparts values required to live a dignified and productive life. This is exactly what the Modi Government is attempting to bring about through its numerous initiatives to provide schools with the necessary facilities.
Unfortunately, the opposite is reportedly being done in Doon by seeking to forever destroy the unique identity of a great institution. It will never be able to recover from the damage, as the existence of a fully-balanced establishment impacts on the students’ psyche, even if it is by viewing on a daily basis the ‘wholeness’ of its structure. Entire generations have been churned out to serve the nation and to be good citizens by SJA, which has specialised in turning the sons and daughters of the underprivileged into leaders in every field of endeavour. Just one example – at one time, all three Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces were from SJA!
This matter should have been resolved long ago. The legal requirements should be met to ensure nobody exploits the lacunae to attempt such land grab. The higher-ups in the state’s government and administration, who are probably unaware of the goings-on, should take note and protect the reputation of the city and its people. In fact, in a city where almost every second person has studied in the school or its affiliates, it is surprising that such an action is being contemplated just before the municipal elections. Just think of the bad publicity this is going to generate and its impact on the results. CM Dhami, take note!
