Dr. Clement Felix
was Headmaster of the MCC School (it was indeed the “MCC School” – my alma
mater - at 78 Harrington Road, Chennai - as we all knew it – only of late it has
become the MCC Hr Sec School!
“I don’t think
there’s any school in Madras that could enjoy such a wonderful alumni!”. Surprised? Yes, watch
more of it HERE at our ‘MCC School Old Boys Association Meet 2006.’
Well, yes! students
from all parts of the world – a pretty good bulk of them from Nigeria,
Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, Kenya, Thailand etc and scores of them from the
North East found MCC School a haven till the blissful end of their teen-lives!
MCC School was my
first residential school in my entire life and yes!
After matriculating
in an although nondescript yet a memorable little town not very far from
Chennai, my parents wanted me to be enrolled in MCC School! God knew why!
But now I know
why! :-)
The school that taught
me community living and community bonding to the core!
Our cubicles were
always ‘ransacked’, our towels went into ‘hide-n-seek’, toothpastes and oil
tubes ‘vanished and vapourised into thin air,’ and and and… early morning as
you wake up you’ll have at least two fat lizards for company – gently caught
and quietly left under your quilt – by some ‘guardian elf’ies - eyebrows ripped
off quietly during your snoring time – again - by some mischievous imp of an
elf, resulting in scores of innocent hostelites ‘voluntarily’ getting admitted
to the ‘sick room’ where no prying eyes are there to vie with one another to
have their ‘glee’ful gala-time at your catastrophe [nay calamity!] of a
lifetime!
This was one way
of getting ourselves a self-imposed curfew until the eyebrows grow back to
their pristine charm – and the cops weren’t curious about you anymore!!!
It was indeed a
memorable living altogether! Words wouldn’t really suffice to wax nostalgic on
the good ol’ past at Harrington’s, Chetpet.
Well, Clement
Felix – to him owe we thanks - for all things MCC – and the many things we
enjoyed at MCC School - at a go!
We used to meet
up with him frequently - even after his retirement – and spoke to us a lot
about motivation. The way he mingled with the students was refined, gentle and
dignified by all means!
Thanks to him, we
had our new and grand auditorium that still stands magnificent – and the
wonderful swimming pool, the MRF pace foundation – which had the likes of Md
Azaruddin, Tendulkar, Aussie siblings Steve and Mark, among a host of S African
celebrities like Cronje, Jonty etc. Yes! Our hostel life was filled with such
eventful rendezvous of all hues and colours – and this apart – we had – yes we
HAD – the Brittannia Amritraj Tennis Club, which is no more today! (The place
now hosts the MCC Matriculation School!)
It was Clement
Felix who made it possible for us! It was his vision which steered the School
way ahead of her times!!!
Our Class
groupies, on receiving the message about the passing away of this great legend,
we were all shell-shocked to the core!
As a mark of
condolence to this great mind and noble soul, I wish to offer a humble tribute
from none other than Mahatria Ra [aka T. T. Rangarajan] – New Age Guru –
founder of Infinitheism – who has a
wonderful episode involving Dr. Clement Felix, which shaped his perspective on
life for the better! in our next post!
Rest in Peace,
Sir. You made an impact beyond measure!
Rufus
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