It was 130 years back,
the non-Goan Catholic Deacon named Fr. Lyons who established the first English High School of
Goa, at Arpora Bardez, known as St. Joseph’s High School, Arpora. Because of its high
standard, it was called as Collegio then and even on the Entrance Board during my time
too when I was a student of this prestigious school, it was written as
“Collegio Diocesan de St. Jose – Arpora”. To mark this occasion, a Science, Art
and Cultural Exhibition was organized in
the School premises from 17th to 19th of this month which
was visited by the innumerable visitors not only from the ambient villages but
also from distant places, among these visitors there were many ex students like
me, too. It was something great and unique event made by the teachers and students of the current scholastic
year. Such events were not done by us
during our time and I take this opportunity to congratulate first the Headmistress
Lona Da Silva, all other Teachers and all the Students.
This event was also organized
to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the takeover of the school
by the Diocesan Society of Education.
This school is known to
produce the best students of Goa in all the fields, in education as well as in
sports and other extra curricular activities. Some of the memorable photographs
of the great students of this great school who achieved their greatness while
studying in this school were displayed on the School Display Board, some of
these photographs go back to the inception year of this school. Unfortunately
neither these photographs are seen now nor the Display Board. There were many old items exhibited in this
exhibition but not those photos. I was an individual champion of Goa and also
the fastest runner of Goa while I was a student of this great school. Along with mine, there were photos of other
great sportsmen too of the great students of this great school. It was the finest collection the school had
but who spoiled it and who neglected and ignored it, God alone knows.
There were some of the
finest exhibits displayed in this exhibition especially the Antiques of Goa. Below
here on the photographs some of the Antiques are shown.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim.
The Bust of Fr. Deacon Lyons
Headmistress Lona Da Silva
One of the Teachers
Young boy imitating Mahatmah Gandhi
Some of the antique Goan items
Medicinal Plants of Goa
Some more antiques
Still more antiques
