Report: Denzil Fernandes
Pictures: Daya Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jul 27: At a time when hundreds of government schools are in deplorable condition, the state-run higher primary school at Navarathna Agrahara in the outskirts of the City (near Kempegowda International airport) will give any private school a good run for its money in terms of its infrastructure and aesthetics. The swanky new building constructed at a cost of Rs 3.1 crore has been a reality thanks to the generosity of Ronald Colaco, an NRI philanthropist, who is partly residing in Bengaluru.
On Friday, Union Minister and former Chief Minister D.V Sadananda Gowda and former minister and senior Congress leader Krishna Byre Gowda joined Colaco and his family to inaugurate the new school in the august presence of Colaco’s college English lecturer, Prof K.E Radhakrishna, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) N Megharik, MLC Narayana Swamy, DDPI, BEO, jurisdictional GP president Mahesh and several Zilla+Taluk+Grama Panchayat members. The local community was present in full force including residents of Hollywood and Swiss-Town to witness the grand inaugural.
The high-tech school of international standard which is far better than any private school consists of swanky classrooms from LKG to Class 10, two separate chambers for primary and high school headmasters, staff chambers, records’ room, pantry, staff toilets for gents and ladies, a computer laboratory, a conference/function hall, sports section and facilities, kitchen and dining hall to provide mid-day meal to the children, 31 CCTV cameras, public address system, a separate washroom for girls and boys, watchman quarters, all of which matches the standard of a best-known schools.
Colaco’s son Nigel, director of projects with his father, was behind the entire design, construction and execution of the project, that too within a record time of five months since it was taken up.
Television anchor Aparna Vastarey compered in chaste Kannada, in style. She introduced Colaco as the one who had been invited for breakfast meetings, twice, by the President of the most powerful nation in the world USA, Donald Trump and the first time being within 12 days of his assuming office of the President.
She also said that Colaco has been honoured by the Office of the Prime Minister of Australia in Melbourne during 2015 and honoured by the Premier of Ontario, Canada Dough Ford by inviting Colaco family to the Parliament and handing over a certificate of appreciation for his international humanitarian services which he stated in his certificate that it is an inspiration for all of them. She also cited the honour bestowed on Colaco by the Times Group adjudicating him as the only Global NRI of the Year 2017 in philanthropy selected from over 110 countries.
She also mentioned the prestigious Karnataka Rajyotsava Award 2017 conferred on Colaco and the list of accolades, awards & honours bestowed on Colaco in various countries of the World runs into 3 pages and therefore she would not take more time of the audience.
There was a felicitation ceremony for Ronald Colaco where the dignitaries honoured him with Mysore Peta, shawl and memento.
India needs 100s of Colacos : DVS
Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who travelled from New Delhi for the event, lauded the efforts of Ronald Colaco in building the school. He said: “Not everyone has the nature of giving back to the society. What we normally see is people who want to make more and more money. Colaco is in the forefront of all those people who are committed to generously help the needy people of the society. Politicians who talk in front of the television are becoming popular but those who actually work and walk the talk do not get any limelight,” he said.
During the speech, Gowda, who is also the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, listed out several philanthropic works of Colaco including the donation of a hospital, government and private educational institutions, taluk offices, judiciary bhavan, roads etc.. He said: “I can spend another thirty minutes listing out his charitable works that I know about. I have been in politics for more than thirty years. I have realised that the government on its own cannot do everything. The nation will only develop when the people who have, extend their support to those - have-nots. India needs 100s of people like Colaco. Then, there is no need to depend on the government,” he said, while the crowd responded with thunderous applause.
Gowda also said his busy schedule compelled him to skip the inaugural event but ensured his presence as he was impressed by the philanthropic works of Colaco. “The list of donations and contributions made by him runs into pages without an end,” he said. The union minister also called upon the school management to give importance to specialisation and skill development of the children during their academics.
English medium in 1000 government schools : Krishna Byre Gowda
Former minister and senior Congress leader Krishna Byre Gowda said the JD(S)-Congress coalition government, which was in power till recently, has introduced English medium in about 1,000 government schools in the State. He also promised Colaco to put in all efforts and ensure the English medium is also introduced in the just-inaugurated government school at Navarathna Agrahara.
During the address, he said: “Ronald Colaco has spent Rs 3 crore to build a new government school. It’s better than any private school. I am happy that the poor children will have access to a high-tech school. The facilities and even the quality of material being used are so good. It’s aesthetically built. It’s as good as an international school. Money is one thing but the efforts put in shows the real commitment of the family of Colaco to do the maximum in whatever works he takes up.”
He also explained that the medium of education need not be English to succeed in life. “Colaco studied in a government school but his business has taken him to several foreign countries. I too studied in a Kannada medium school. The students should concentrate on developing skills irrespective of what the medium of education is,” the former minister said.
More people should come forward : Colaco
Speaking at the occasion, Ronald Colaco requested more people to come forward and develop government schools which are in bad condition. “I used to get a lot of requests from people around here to support their children’s education. The parents, by spending their entire savings or borrowing money, want to send their children to private schools since the curriculum is in English. I decided to build a government school with an international standard and seek permission for English medium school so that it provides a permanent solution to these parents wherein they can educate their children free of cost under the government schemes,” he said.
Colaco also urged the faculty and the students to ensure upkeep and cleanliness of the school. “The school is yours. Maintain it well. Keep the toilets clean and ensure the walls are not dirtied. Do not litter anywhere. Also, work hard to earn recognition from the education department of State and the Centre as the best school not only in the standard of upkeep but also in the academic results,” he told the students and the teachers.
The teachers, he said, have an additional responsibility not only to maintain the school but also imparting quality of education as well as human values. “There are three categories of teachers. The bad teacher is the one who always complains, the average teacher is that who always explains and the great teacher inspires and ignites the thinking process of a student. He/she adds fuel of interest to the fire of wisdom. The candle will remain as a candle until it’s burning. If a candle has to throw light, it has to keep burning. Similarly, if the teacher has to enhance his/her knowledge, they have to keep learning. Therefore, the learning is a continuous process. If yesterday’s graduate stops learning today, he will be tomorrow’s illiterate,” he said while advising teachers to go the extra mile and work hard to get the students at par with those of the best-known schools.
Colaco also said that a few well-educated residents of Hollywood Town and Swiss-Town residents such as Swati Sundareshan, Meena Pais, Preet David, Mariette Alavares, Judy Pereira, Ruchira Bharghava, Meera Umesh, Bridge Chopra, Sushila Raju, Kamal Kandhari, Suzan Almeida and Madhu Karur have volunteered to train the teachers and students.
His english lecturer speaks
Prof. K.E Radhakrishna recalled his memories with Colaco as a student and later as a friend. “I am very happy that my student has grown up as an accomplished person who is also God-fearing and loved by all. That gives me immense satisfaction as a teacher. I have been a living witness to his philanthropic works. He not only distributes a part of his wealth but puts in a lot of effort in whatever charitable works he does, be it building schools, police station, taluk offices, temples, churches etc.The end result of his works are always the best and so very different from what others do,” he said.
The retired professor, who was also the former president of All India All College Principals’ Association, hailed the support of Colaco’s wife Jean Colaco. “I have seen many families where the husbands choose to donate for charity secretly due to lack of support from their family. But Jean Colaco is different. She has not only supported his philanthropic works but has encouraged her husband to do even more. And therefore, she is not only the backbone of her husband but the bone itself,” he said.
Radhakrishna made the promise to travel all the way from Bengaluru and teach English to the students of Government Higher Primary School once a week if the government decides to introduce English medium in the school.
By building police station Colaco became a model one in the entire country: ADGP N. Megharik
While appreciating the philanthropic works of Colaco, Megharik also cherished his friendship with Colaco’s family and remembered how Colaco created history in the entire country by being the first one to donate the state-of-the-art police station in Bengaluru’s Frazer Town. “Never in the history of India a private individual has built a police station which became a model one in the entire country. I am sure the government school, built by him at Navarathna Agrahara, will create enough interest among people to come forward and help rebuilding different government schools,” Megharik, who was also the Police Commissioner of Bengaluru, said.
Earlier, Mahesh Kumar NK, president of Doddajala gram panchayat delivered opening address and welcomed the dignitaries. He said: “I had reached out to a lot of companies in the last two years but no one came forward. One of the faculties suggested the name of Colaco. We met him. He wanted to see the school in person and soon after agreed to demolish the existing school building which accommodated students from 1st and 7th standard. Even this old school was also constructed and provided by none other than Ronald Colaco himself some 18 years ago wherein one of the classrooms was donated by a Belgian, Yvon Robert, residing in Swiss Town,” Kumar said. “With the timely support, we were able to complete the construction of new school before the academic year.”
The gram panchayat president also thanked Colaco for constructing an international standard 2.5-km road, consisting of four lanes along with a beautifully landscaped central median, storm water drain and street lights between Sadahalli Gate of National Highway near international airport upto Navarathna Agrahara and beyond. The project was also inaugurated by Sadananda Gowda, who was the then Chief Minister of Karnataka. He also said that Colaco is fully responsible for various overall development of a few surrounding villages including Navarathna Agrahara.
During the address, MLC Narayana Swamy also showered praises on Colaco’s charitable works. He also urged him to build a few more government schools in the state that are in dilapidated condition. Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) Chandrahas also spoke on the occasion and assured all his efforts in getting the sanction of the government for High School and introduction of English medium from the next academic year, especially when such an infrastructure of international standard with all amenities available at their disposal.
The programme ended with cultural dances by students followed by lunch.
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