Until we embedd the video in the alumni website, the telecast is available on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhW6WqyUzeA

Dear RKCians,

This is in very quick succession, but I just have to share some thoughts with you on what I experienced yesterday at the Investiture Ceremony. Apart from the departure from tradition by the badges not being given out by the Principal, what really impressed me were some observations only someone who had been part of the System like myself can be sensitive to. I gained an impression that the students were very much in charge of the entire function. The whole thing was theirs! I will enumerate why I say this:

1. The flag bearer stood throughout the entire function without a slight shake! I was observing him. Giving badges to Ninety and the speeches that followed takes time as is to be expected.

2. The compeer (is this the correct word?) was not a Member of the Staff, but one of the boys and he conducted the entire thing with immense smoothness.

3. The boys bearing the badges to be handed out made not a single mistake and I just did not have to wait even a couple of seconds. Each bearer knew exactly which badge pair was to be given!

4. In my distant memories of such ceremonies, there would have been plenty of rehearsals; this could not have taken place since the School has just opened. There was a measure of spontaneity which could not fail to impress.

5. The Head Master and the Head Mistress of the Primary School were given importance, the former by giving out badges to the Junior Monitors and the latter rounding off the whole function by expressing a word of thanks.

Another small matter needs mentioning. The Chauffeur of the car which conveyed the Principal from the Bungalow to the front porch of the College deliberately took a wrong turn to facilitate my getting off to be received by the Staff Members waiting. The error was mine in that I should have got in from the opposite side of the car when getting in at the Bungalow!

The years ahead will be challenging in maintaining the same sense of élan and discipline; my best wishes to the Principal and his largely young staff and the large number of Prefects and Monitors.

Lavkumar Khachar.

Dear RKCians,

I have before me a beautiful memento inscribed by the crest of the School, below which is “INVESTITURE CEREMONY” Wednesday, 13th July, 2011 and below it my name. It was given to me by the Principal today as a memory of a very unique function which expanded a tradition into a grand function. The School Prefects and Monitors were given their badges in a very special ceremony in the Bhavsinhji Hall. I had the privilege of being the Chief Guest and was asked to present the badges to the School Senior Prefects. The Principal gave badges to the Middle School Prefects and the Head Master to the Monitors. There were 90 awardees in all! What made the entire ceremony a departure from earlier presentations was the fact that the parents of those receiving the badges were seated on the right facing the staff on the left with boys across the Hall.

I was asked to address the gathering after the Principal who introduced me in glowing terms which were indeed most moving. In my speech, I pointed out the unique situation where it was the Day Scholars and their Prefects and Monitors who would be advertisements of the School in the Community at large and I urged them to ensure that they did not come across as second to the Boarders as then they would advertise the School as being a second class one. I also pointed out that while it was indeed gracious of the Principal to introduce me as the School’s most outstanding House Master; it was my Prefects who created the day to day discipline of which I got the credit.

Significantly, the Head Boy was the grand nephew of one of the very first Senior Boys I interacted with when I joined the Staff of the School. I also drew attention to the fact that on the marble scrolls were names of my Father, Uncles, Grand Father, Grand Uncles indicating my association with the School being part of the tradition which they were the heirs to. The Principal had given me fulsome praise as being one of India’s leading conservationists and environment educators and gave me opening to tell the youngsters that it was the School that had, had a long tradition in contributing to much of what I had achieved significantly the Marine National Park and the Youth Education Program. RKC had sent the very first groups to the education camps that are today replicated across India.

Fittingly, the concluding words of thanks were read out by my niece whose son was one among the Prefects appointed. Alaukika Raje helped establish the PRIYALOK KG section and heads the Primary School with very obvious efficiency. So, all in all, the afternoon function was extremely personal and I thank Thakkar Saheb.
Photographs and a report will undoubted appear from the Principal so do look out for it.

Lavkumar Khachar.

Tuesday, 5^th July, 2011.

An Open Letter to the Principal.

Dear Vinodbhai,

This is to express my admiration for what you are doing for the School. Asking former Staff Members to take the first two periods of the new Girls’ School was indeed a novel concept and I am glad I could attend. Normally, at this time of the year I would have been up North and it was my ill health that had evacuated me to spend my first summer in Rajkot in decades and this function was the first I attended after the operation! It is a pity more of the older staff especially of my time did not attend as then this indeed would have become a novel get together. The two full periods I spent with the girls of the 12^th Standard bought home to me how very important it is to isolate boys and girls regardless of what modern thinking may be. I spoke to them about the concerns of all parents for their growing daughters and what lay ahead of them. You will recollect receiving a letter of congratulations when you had informed me that the new school was to be a girls’ school and not as had been envisaged a school for Day Scholars.

Among the many things we talked about was how unique it would be if RKC Day girls and boys were to come to school on bicycles instead of on scooters. I would strongly recommend to your following up the suggestion which I understand has already been made that bicycles should be mandatory. As a former RKCian and a member of the Staff, it would make me hugely proud to see my Old School youngsters on bicycles as against all the others breaking the law blatantly. I pointed out to the senior girls that they would indeed be laying the foundations of a tradition. While in the other School, your name appears at the end of list of earlier Principals, in this School, on the board behind the Principal’s table yours is the first and will head all the rest that will follow.  If in the other section you are doing a great job carrying forward things, here you have a greater job laying the foundations. I am sure you will stand tall. God be with you.

After the function, you very kindly showed Ayaaz and me around to see some of the new things happening and I have come away with full admiration for you and your Board. First, let me compliment you on the way every part of the campus is being maintained. There was not a hint of shabbiness anywhere. Then, while you have not encroached an inch on the playing fields I was delighted to see how space has been optimally used: the riding field, the junior and senior cricket nets tucked away behind the Gymnasium on either sides of the upgraded basket ball courts, and the artificial turf tennis court which I hope will see producing a crop of fine tennis players. But what left me in full admiration was the excellent repair and upgrading of the North Wing…………the doing away of the wooden flooring of the dormitories, the attached baths to each dormitory, the improved facilities for the House Masters!!! I trust the same will be done to the South Wing.

I end with all the very best.

Yours,

Lavkumar

We are also availing this visit to re-establish the RKC GB Chapter with their blessings and guidance. What better opportunity than to have one’s Principal Emeritus present to launch such a group?!

We shall post photographs of the event, hopefully with names, so that you can recognise (or not!) your school/class mates now living away from the shores of our beloved school.  We look forward to welcoming all RKC old students to this event should you be visiting the UK and are able to join us on the day.

Manoj Shukla
Class of ‘72

http://picasaweb.google.com/rahulhp/RKCORAMeetJanuary262010?authkey=Gv1sRgCJuY-KeJo4uBaA&feat=directlink

Rahul Patel (USA)
1969-1980