Saturday 28 January 2017

The school that taught us 'interconnected living' as a noble way of life!

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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