Our Alma mater needs our inputs!

I had a chat with Jhadeswar Mishra- an assistant teacher of our alma mater and also the most trusted alumni in the school administration- on 13 February 2012. I reminded him that this year it would be the tenth time we’d be sending good wish cards to the Matriculation examinees- on a row. He assured that it would be continued and also told me the following:
Sri Anil Kar- an alumni of 1986 batch- visited the School recently and sportively offered to donate some equipment. Thank you Anil bhai!

The sad part:

Now the student strength has come down to around 750 (from 1200 a couple of years back). Correspondingly in all standards- viii to x- now there are only 4 sections instead of 5.
Both the clerks have retired and none of the vacancies have been replaced.
There is only one Sanskrit teacher instead of 2 and it puts a lot of pressure on him to manage the classes- from class VI to X.
There are only 22 teachers. In most comparable ‘Saraswati Sishu Mandiras’ they have two times that many teaching staff and many have 3 times of that.
I assured that I’d escalate this matter to our concerned alumni and hence this effort.

Our Alma mater needs our inputs! Can we do something to address her concerns?

30 May 2012:
It's more 3 months since I posted the above and it's truly painful that there is no reply! I promised Sri Jhadeswar Mishra- who is the link between the school and the alumni- that I'd escalate the problems and then together with other concerned alumni we'd do something to ameliorate the situation... Now what do I tell him, when I talk to him next? and a talk with him has already become overdue...

Eco-camp for school children:

To build environmental awareness among our future citizens and make them more environmental friendly we- the alumni of DNHS, Police HS and Saraswati Sishu Mandira- have planned an eco-camp for 24 of our school students. The salient features of this project are as follows:
1. 12 students from D N High school, 6 from Saraswati Sishu Mandira and 6 from Police High School.
2. Efforts will be taken to take 12 girl and 12 boy students there by providing equal opportunity to all.
3. Each school will depute one male teacher and one female teacher to accompany the students.
4. All the three heads of the institutions have been requested to go in the inaugural edition.
5. We wish to make it a regular occurrence and integrate this with the activities of the eco clubs.
6. Santosh Mohapatra, a student of Yr-2000 batch of DNHS, is coordinating this from Kendujhar and will accompany the group at the time of its execution.
7. The eco camp will comprise a 5 day workshop at ‘Sambhav’ – Nayagarh and about 2 days for traveling.
Budget:
Fees payable to Sambhav (Rs.300/ per person per day).........= Rs.45,000/-
Souvenir to accompanying teachers (Rs.300/ x 6)....................= Rs. 1,800/-
Traveling expenses of accompanying teachers(Rs.300/ x 6)... = Rs. 1,800/-
Other incidental expenses & contingencies..............................= Rs. 1,400/-
Total.........................................................................................Rs.50,000/-
.
Note: the participating students will bear their traveling expenses.
.
.
To know more about ‘Sambhav’ please visit their web site:
http://sambhavorissa.org/home

The project is dependent upon participation.
if adequate support is not received from the alumni of the 3 high schools listed then it would be premature and difficult to execute this project.

Best efforts are made to elicit interest and we are hopeful.

Platinum jubilee on 29 December 2009

As informed by Sri Jhadeswar Mishra; the platinum jubilee function will be held on 29 and 30 December 2009 in the school premises. Honorable chief minister Sri Naveen Pattnaik is expected to inaugurate the function on 29th of December 2009.

All alumni, teachers and ex-teachers, staff and ex-staff and well wishers are welcome to connect/ re-connect with their alma mater.

The genius of Sri Balaram Prusty

Sri Balaram Prusty chose to be a teacher though he could easily have become an administrative officer. His memory and his honesty are legendary. He retired from Orissa Education department, on superannuation and at present – at the age of 72- he is a guiding spirit behind the Old students’ Association of D. N. High School, in which he studied and then taught as an assistant teacher and then administered its affairs as a Head Master. He is among the very few teachers who hated to be a tutor and devoted his entire energy and recourses to character building.

Here is one of the many unforgettable vignettes from his time and life as a teacher:

Last rites of a retired teacher:

Sri Rangadhar Mishra served as an assistant teacher in D. N. High School for almost 3 decades and after retirement continued to stay in his samantaray pur residence, which is just in front of the school. He was highly respected for his dedicated teaching and had a good following. Yet as it happens after retirement he spent most of his time in a small room of his residence and would be found poured over a news paper or a book or contemplating about his good old days.
Sri Balaram Prusty, as his wont, kept a regular touch with his former colleagues and as Sri Rangadhar Mishra stayed in the immediate vicinity of the school there was no exception in his case. It so happened Sri Balaram Prusty visited him just a couple of days before his demise, when the old master complained of aching limbs and hinted that the time has come for departure. Sri Balaram Prusty made light moment of such remarks and tried to convince him that he was still fit for more endurance! Soon after, Sri Rangadhar Mishra passed away and as Sri Balaram Prusty was the headmaster of the school he wanted his earthly remains (dead body) to be brought to the school and all the students and staff paid their last tribute to the departed master. Pupils and the staff of the school renewed a vital value of our human existence- that to show the last respects to a deserving departed soul- which seems to be receding in our quest for quick fixes and lack of commitments to institutions and values.
Sri Balaram Prusty gracefully intimated to the sons of Late Rangadhar Mishra that if they wished, the school would be glad to open its premises for conducting the last rites of Late Rangadhar Mishra, with in the school premises; of course he had already figured it out that it would not interfere with the teaching.
For Sri Balaram Prusty, what was more important was that the departed teacher was a member of the larger family and the school was a living and breathing institution and so in the time of need it was becoming of the institution to stand by its adherents- whether serving or retired..
The last rites of Late Rangadhar Mishra were duly carried out and Sri Balaram Prusty would be remembered for ever for showing such courage and conviction and upholding such enabling values of camaraderie and valor.

19 Sept 2009- Meeting to discuss about the Paltinum Jubilee

It has been informed by the secretary- Mr. Trilochan Das - that the next meeting to deliberate about the "platinum Jubilee" would be held on 19 July 2009 at 3.30 PM in the school premises.

Those alumni, who can make it to the meeting are welcome.

3 Key persons for Platinum Jubilee

Rejuvenation of our alma mater- D N High School- is another wish and if not something great, we can at least help in gathering its folks! And the arrangements for the platinum jubilee lead us towards that end.

The passing away of Dr. KK Behera- president of DNHSOSA- is certainly a great blow yet if we can fire the imagination of a few key stake holders then holding a really successful jubilee function would not be a difficult affair. As per my humble perception the three key persons- old students- for the success of the jubilee functions are:


1) Sri Balaram Prusty, our beloved Prusty sir, who not only served the school for long periods as an assistant teacher but also set an example as a head master. He is the Vice-president of DNHSOSA and with the demise of our president he is the de-facto president. He has also been elected as the president of the ‘Platinum jubilee celebration committee’ (Cell phone no: 9938613636)

2) Sri Jhadeswar Mishra; our beloved Jhadu sir (1976 Batch); as an assistant teacher in DNHS he is our link with the school administration. His proven managerial skills and dedication towards the school is already the talk of the town. He has also been elected as the Treasurer of the ‘Platinum jubilee celebration committee’(Cell phone no: 9438191933)

3) Sri Sandeep Behera; popularly known as Tikoo Bhai (1978 batch). As the successful organizer of “Nanhi pari”- a beauty pageant contest for pre-teen age girls- he has already proven his managerial skills and finding him to be the right fit he has been elected as the Secretary of the ‘Platinum jubilee celebration committee’. (Cell phone no: 9437055345)
And what about you? Please do chip in :)

11th day memorial service for Dr. Karunakar Behera

D.N.High School and the DNHS-OSA are planning to hold an 11th day memorial service for Dr. Karunakar Behera, who was the president of DNHS-OSA since its inception in 1982 till his demise at 3 ‘O’ clock in the morning of 25 July 2009.
The memorial service is planned in the after noon of 3 August 2009 and the school auditorium will serve as the venue.
All concerned alumni of D N High School and concerned citizens of Kendujhar are invited to pay their last respects to Dr. Karunakar Behera, who was loved for his stature and integrity.

Our president Dr. Karuna Kar Behera passed away

Dr. Karuna Kar Behera, aged about 90 years, passed away in Bhubaneswar, at around 3 ‘o’ clock in the morning of 25 July 2009- today. For last few months he was indisposed and frequently being admitted to hospitals for treatment.

He has been serving as the president of ‘DNHS OSA’- D.N.High School Old Students’ Association since its inception/ registration in 1982. Since 2004 Dr. Behera was seriously trying to hand over this responsibility to some younger members yet owing to lack of interest among the younger members and fervent requests from other members he was forced to continue at the helms of affairs.

He wished to see the successful conduct of the platinum jubilee celebrations and towards this end dragged himself to several preparatory meetings despite his severe illness. His punctuality was legendary and in his demise the ‘DNHS OSA’ has lost one of its main stay and it would be almost impossible to replace him.

Sri. Sandeep Behera- the secretary of the Platinum jubilee organizing committee- is grief stricken and is making arrangements to place the mortal remains of Dr. Behera in the D.N.High School premises for a few minutes, so as to facilitate the old students and citizens of Kendujhar to pay their last respect to this outstanding son of the soil. He is sad that Dr. Behera’s last wishes – a reinvigorated D. N. High School and successful conduct of the platinum jubilee celebrations -could not be fulfilled during his life time.

Please pass this message to the alumni of D. N. High School and all others who love Kendujhar.

Dreaming to see DNHS among the best 1,000 schools

We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.
We have to laugh and find humor everyday and what’s more important is, we must have a dream to strive for!

. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. Its like if you are thirty-six years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn thirty-seven years old.
Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly rarely have regrets for the things we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.

Now how if we dream to make DNHS one among the best 1,000 schools in the world?

Good wishes for your High School certificate examinations- 2009

Dear__________________________

As you get ready to appear for your High School certificate examinations here are good wishes from us, on behalf of the entire family of D.N High School and we hope you would do justice to your ability and our expectations.

Do remember the often repeated cliché:

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the person who thinks he can!"

…And approach your examinations with confidence and an iron resolve to bring honors to you, your family and your institution.

Yours affectionately,



Sri Nilamani Sahoo Dr. Trilochan Das
- Head Master Secretary, DNHS Old Students’ Association

PS:
You are cordially invited to the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of our institution, which are planned to be observed in the year- 2009; details of which will be advertised in the notice board as those get finalized.


To avoid last minute panic please run through the following check list before you leave for your examination hall:

1. Admit card
2. Examination board
3. Pens
4. Pencil(s)
5. Rubber
6. Scale
7. Geometry box (if needed)
8. Calculator (if permitted)
9. Handkerchief
10. Sketch pens (if permitted)

Data Base of old students n Alumni

People who are willing to help us in compiling a data base of old students/ Alumni may please contact me in the following e-mail id:
sid.ranjan@gmail.com

Platinum Jubilee celibration in Feb' 2009

Our hearty thanks to our MP Sri Ananta Naik, who went along with our past student Sri Ramesh Ch Sahoo (1988), on 22 Dec 2008, to Dr. Kalam’s place to seek the kind presence of our beloved Ex-President in our Platinum Jubilee function.
It appears our beloved past president is really interested to attend our function and hence he has indicated that he would soon let us know his availability in early February. The possibility of his coming in January 2009 is remote.

@ Bhubaneswar:
12 ex-students met in the Delta Guest house at Unit- VIII Bhubaneswar on 23 Dec 2008 under the guidance of our chief Patron for this function- Sri Suresh Ch Mohapatra, IAS (1978 Batch). Sri Aswini Behera, IRS also joined in this meeting along with other established ex-students of BBSR. Sri Sandeep Behera (1978) the organizing secretary for this function co-ordinated the meeting along with Sri Prashanta Sahoo (1978).
The silver lining is that the most organized batch- 1978- has stepped in whole heartedly to take this process forward and in that light the success of this function is almost a foregone conclusion!

Long live DNHS and the Alumni unity!!!

Your alma mater needs your efforts

• Please send your separate requests to the beloved former president to tilt the balance in our favor; as the very short notice given to him has come in the way of his coming to our alma mater.
  
  His e-mail id is: apj@abdulkalam.com

Invitation to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Old Students’ Association
D.N. High School, Kendujhar gada
Platinum Jubilee Celebration
1934 – 2009

To
His Excellency Bharat Ratna Dr A P J Abdul Kalam
Former President of India

Sub : Invitation to grace our Platinum Jubilee celebration as the Chief Guest

Most esteemed Sir,
We, the alumni of Dhanurjaya Narayan High School, Kendujhar, Odisha are going to celebrate our Platinum Jubilee in the year 2009. It has been our long cherished dream since your presidentship days - to invite you to grace this function as the Chief Guest.

Most humbly we request your highness to be kind enough to indicate a suitable date between January 12,2009 to February 10, 2009 to grace our function as Chief Guest.

It is quite pertinent to mention here that we plan to organize a science exhibition, by students from different schools and also dedicate a small garden, in the memory of this mile stone, in the annals of our alma mater, which have been planed keeping in mind the visiting green loving scientist seer, that our beloved past president is.

We, the organizers of this function were ignorant about the exact official procedures to avail your gracious presence and that has resulted in a shorter notice, for which we apologize profusely and fervently hope that, this technical inconsistency would not jeopardize our dreams of having His Excellency in our midst ; ours being a backward and tribal district and amongst the most neglected areas of the country.

With regards
Yours sincerely,


Nilamani Sahoo Dr. K.K. Behera
Secretary Chairman
& Head Master, D.N.High School & President , Old Student Association


P.S. : A line of your kind confirmation is solicited sincerely.

My Alma mater

A brief introduction of D.N.High School, Kendujhar, Odisha

Dhanurjaya Narayana High School is the oldest High school of Kendujhar, a tribal dominated district in the mineral rich hilly terrains of Odisha. The school traces its origin to late 19th Century, when it operated as a Middle English School. In CE1934 the school was enhanced to the level of a High School and named as Gibson High School, in the name of the then British Political Agent Mr. Gibson.  After Independence, Gibson gave way to Dhanurjaya Narayan and hence the name D. N. High School.

Where as, only 15 students passed out the matriculation examination in 1938, close to 200 students have the same honor in the recent years. In the last 78 years D. N. High School has crossed many milestones and has established its name as an educational institution of repute.

Some notable transitions have taken place in its medium of instruction and student composition.

Co-education:

Initially woman education was not prevalent in the society and hence there were no girl students. Things changed and parents enrolled their daughters in the 1940s. After establishment of a Girls High School in the close vicinity -in 1957- the administration decided to make this a ‘boys only’ school in 1963 and it continued as such till 1993. Sri Balaram Prusty, the then Head Master, worked hard to bring back the glory of the High School and besides undertaking some much needed renovations he re-opened the doors to the girl students in 1994 and since that time the school continuous to be a co-educational institution.

Medium of instruction:

In the same vain, the medium of instruction at the inception - in 1934 - was more inclined towards English. End of the British raj and rise of nationalistic feelings subdued this and Odiya became the only medium of instruction and regrettably the standard of the students fell in English. Even as a subject also it no longer enjoys its previous status. Concerned alumni have raised their voice regarding this ‘Odiya only’ policy and as it involves legislative changes, the talks of forming a peer group of such esteemed schools to wrest the past glories back, is in the air. For a brief while a plan to take D.N.High School to the next frontier of International schools was on the anvil.

Pertinent to note, D. N. High School enjoyed the status of a Zilla school- Premier District School- and was one of only thirteen such esteemed schools in Odisha. Changes in Government policies and practices have diluted such distinctions and privileges; yet the school continues to be among the finest Odia medium schools of Odisha.

A glimmer of hope, which promptly faded!

For some time – between 2005 to 2009, on the eve of the platinum Jubilee celebrations- the alumni of D.N. High School celebrated the annual function with the enthusiastic support of the school administration and hence the family of old students, staff and well wishers of D.N. High School was becoming more and more integrated. Alas the completion of the celebrations ended this bonhomie and again an eerie silence rules when we think of Alumni as a group. A few individual batches do celebrate their re-unions almost religiously but that in nowhere near being called an alumni group for their alma mater. They are more into their own fun and frolicking and at most they may be shedding some tears at the sad plight of the school.

How big are we?

In last 8 decades, the alumni of D.N. High Schools have reached most part of the globe and their imprints can be seen in all walks of life. The number of people who have passed out from this esteemed institution has reached the 7,000 mark and is proudly marching towards the five figures. The extended family, which includes all the associated staff, parents of students and ex-students, well wishers and spouses and children of ex-students; has became very big and substantial.

In this age of transience many changes have impacted D. N. High School and have brought about a situation, which calls for some out of box thinking and re-calibration of many things, which are central to existence and continuity of this school. The platinum Jubilee celebrations set such a process in motion.

One pertinent question:

We talk about corruption and make such heavy weather about it. But please think, if you forget your parents and let them die by degrees will that also not be considered as a form of corruption? Now, aren’t our alma maters stand in the same pedestal as our parents? So why are we so apathetic about our alma maters?

Hope remains:

Though the gross apathy of the alumni is not very difficult to understand- we do not have such a culture- yet very painful. Well, reminiscing about the cliché : “when everything looks bleak remember the future remains” I hope someday we’d bring about a change in this attitude and not only this school but most other state government run schools of Odisha would stand up and be counted alongside their counterparts- private schools. Please mull over it, will you?

Wish to communicate about the platinum Jubilee of DNHS (in Jan 2009)

We the alumni of D.N.High School, Kendujhar, Odisha are going to celebrate the platinum jubilee – 75th year of its foundation- in the last week of January 2009.

You are requested to pass this message to your friends and other alumni of DNHS and help re-unite the Diaspora.

Please act as the representative of your batch and help those who are out to compile a directory by furnishing/ advancing relevant date regarding you and other old students.

Sri Jhadeswara Mishra (1977 pass out) an old student, who is currently serving as an Assistant Teacher in DNHS, has been chosen to discharge the function of the treasurer for this celebrations and he is the main contact in the school. You can reach to him @ 9438191933