Finally Lovedale

It was the summers of 2004. We decided to go to Udagamandalam in Tamilnadu. I had few offers from Mumbai, Dalhousie (Himachal Pradesh), Dehradun and Lovedale. It happens rarely that you get many offers and you have to decline many. There were many factors to consider; Climatic condition, children's education, local facility, etc. When I came for an interview, it was summer hot and humid elsewhere. However, Ooty was pleasant. We should call it a Township, not a school. This is 150 years old school. We decided to go to Lovedale. On joining, I find this place entirely different. It has old traditions. In the name of traditions, there were many wrong traditions that make this place a place of a bully. Junior students were tortured by seniors, they were beaten by hockey sticks, In the name of the founder's day practice students were given long practice. The head of the institution was aware and also all faculty members know this.

There were love couples all around. What a free world! It was run on the styles of Universities in Delhi, where students do whatever they want. Wine, Smoking, outside food everything was available in which junior students were used. At times, staff children were assigned this duty. There were separate boys and girls hostel, but senior students could enter into the girl's hostel or Senior girls could spend the night in boys hostel. Nobody could challenge or stop this. Then, we heard that one of the IIM professors who is an old student is joining as Headmaster. There was a change in management too. One of the retired IAS officers took over as Chairman. Both were too good that it has a positive impact on the overall functioning of the school. This man brought many changes in the day to day functioning of the school. A lot of things improved. However, he resigned soon due to a lack of coordination between the chairman and him. Later, a year Chairman also resigned as he had some problems with old students association. It was a good decision people use to come and go, Lovedale remains the same.