SHILLONG: Nostalgia lingered long during the meeting of the past pupils of St Edmund’s school on Saturday. The past pupils of St Edmund’s school, which is celebrating its centenary, met here to relish the time spent at the school.
The unique gathering at the alma mater was like a pilgrimage for the former pupils. It was in accordance with the theme “Unity in our diversity” that the members of the St Edmund’s Past Pupils’ Association (SEPPA) gathered on the occasion.
The ‘students’ of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1990s came together at the school playground.
They wore the colours of gold, maroon and green, symbolizing the colours of St. Edmund’s School, and marched, reminding the annual sports day of the school.
A few female members of their families too joined them during the march past, in the presence of Christian Brothers and the past teachers.
The past pupils also took part in athletic events as the memories of the past flooded their minds.
Irish Christian Brothers, Maurice Finn and Brendan MacCarthaigh, and school principal Br. Solomon Morris were also present.
To commemorate the centenary celebrations, a souvenir ‘Edmundian Impact’ was released. George Richmond Marbaniang, the president of SEPPA Centenary Celebration Committee highlighted the emotional aspect of the gathering cherishing his association with the school.
According to Marbaniang, who is from the 1954 batch, a century for any institution is a long journey in time and added that this period continues to be vibrant as ever.
Daryl War, while recollecting the past, pointed out that it was in 1969 that he took part in an athletic event at the school playground.
War said that after 47 years, he felt nostalgic when he entered the play ground and took part again in an athletic event after a long gap.
According to Manbor Warjri, from the 1992 batch, he is grateful to the Christian Brothers for setting up the school. Due to the dedication and commitment of the Christian Brothers and the teachers in providing quality education generation to generations, it stands strong in repute”, he said.
Warjri said that the best years of his life were spent at the school, “made the best of friends, the place where my dreams were nurtured and where lifelong paths are illuminated,” Members of the Christian Brothers congregation of Blessed Edmund Rice have been running the school since 1916.
