By Richa Kharshandi
Shullai Progressive Secondary School lies in the midst of greenery in a quiet locality of Mawlai Mawroh.
Founded by EN Shullai, who is fondly remembered as Kong Rani, in 1992, the school started with around 60 students. “She had been an educationist all her life and the idea of starting the school was conceived by her long before it crystallised,” said Darilang Shullai, the current headmistress and the founder’s grand-daughter.
Recollecting about the founder and her rock-solid determination, Darilang said Shullai ignored all the odds to make her dream a reality. She, along with her daughter JE Shullai, son-in-law MB Phanbuh and her two granddaughters transformed the odd-angled contours into nursery, KG I, KG II and Class I.
“Setting up a school is certainly not an easy task but the family had each other’s support. The entire family helped Shullai in giving shape to her idea and as they say, there is no great power or strength in the universe than the support and love of one’s family. It was in 1992 that Shullai Progressive School finally came into being,” says Darilang, who is also a doctor.
There had been scepticism among many who predicted failure but the Shullais remained undaunted in their mission.
“The school began, not with 10, as the sceptics had predicted, but with a respectable figure of 64. It was like the French say, fait accompli,” she adds.
The school now has 300 students and bustles with various activities, besides regular studies.
However, EN Shullai and her granddaughters had to face another hurdle which was selecting teaching staff. “After much humming and hawing, as trained teachers in the junior section were a scarce commodity, grandmother and my sisters settled for two lively and enthusiastic teachers for the nursery section, Quintina Nongspung and M. Phawa.
Fortunately, the school was blessed when they procured two more teachers for the other classes, J. Massar and L. Marbaning, after a few months another teacher joined the school, P. Blah. Their contribution, dedication and loyalty is gratefully remembered,” the headmistress added. At present the school has 22 teachers.
The three-storey building was planned and constructed by M.B. Phanbuh, who is the father of the headmistress.
“Looking back at the years, mixed feelings come to play. There were years of turmoil, years of tears, joy and sometimes despair. Presumably these emotions in the succeeding years will be repeated but the resolve that every challenge will be met with undaunted spirit is a burning desire that will not be quenched,” Darilang said.
As years go passing by, Shullai Progressive School sees addition to the number of students.
The school celebrated its silver jubilee last year. The celebrations were in phases and over six months.
“She was truly an exceptional person, in every sense of the word. My mother continued to work with Red Cross and the Bharat Scouts and Guides and she continued teaching in the school till three months before she passed away,” writes JE Shullai, president of the Managing Committee, in the school’s jubilee souvenir that was released on the closing ceremony of the celebration by M Marbaniang, Joint Director, MBOSE and MB Phanbuh, Managing Committee member.
Recalling her mother’s determination and strong will, the daughter, who always stood by the founder, says, “I remember the time when she was promoted to Inspector of the schools, some of the officers scoffingly labelled her as ‘petticoat government’. Little did they know that she was made of iron.”
