Page 14 - Golden Jubilee Magazine

Message

Dear and Rev. Bother,
Thank you for the invitation to share a few lines for the Golden Jubilee Sou-
venir of Delhi Montfort. I always think of my years in Delhi Montfort with
nostalgia: its unique red-brick- buildings, it’s wonderful teachers and sup-
porting staff, it’s even more wonderful students, the alumni who are adorn-
ing coveted places in different parts of the world, the ever cooperative and
supportive parents- present and past. All of these have made Delhi Mont-
fort unique and an enviable temple of learning.
Different people have different reasons for sending their children to a par-
ticular school. Whatever be the reasons that made parents seek admission
in Delhi Montfort, I have not known anyone who has withdrawn their child from this school if they could help it or
anyone who did not try to put another sibling into this school. It is because I believe, Delhi Montfort lived up to the
expectations of parents over these past 50 years, without compromising on the vision and mission of the school.
Congratulations to all the stakeholders of Delhi Montfort.

And different Charitable Societies/ NGOs/ Trusts/ Governments that run schools have their objectives for running
schools. For us at Montfort Schools, our objective has always been to help our students become compassionate,
caring, and good human beings and live a value-based life, and not just a machine churning out quality products.
Congratulations to the Management, all the Principals, teachers, and supporting staff for maintaining the high
quality, the good traditions, the sense of belonging, and the healthy atmosphere in the school put in place by the
founding fathers of Delhi Montfort. In this context a special mention of late Bro. John of Sacred Heart ought to be
made, for, I believe he is the real architect of Delhi Montfort. The succeeding Principals chipped in their share of
hard work, wisdom, and imagination.
Some years ago I read somewhere that Einstein, one of the greatest scientists of all times, was a guest at a famous
socialite’s house in New York. She had invited several people for the evening, and of course, Einstein was the star
attraction. The hostess had put on a record of German composer Bach’s music. Einstein, a knowledgeable musi-
cian himself, turned to a young scientist who was seated next to him and asked him how he liked Bach’s music. Not
wanting to say something meaningless to the great man whose friendliness had touched him, the young scientist
confessed that he did not understand Bach. He added that in fact, he did not understand classical music at all.
Einstein took him upstairs where he had been given a room in which there were several records of classical music.
Einstein put on a simple piece and asked the young man to try to sing those notes. The man tried. Then Einstein put
on another record, then another, each time asking the young man to sing along. In the end, Einstein said, “Now you
are ready for Bach”. As they returned to the room downstairs where the other guests were, the hostess, irritated
at the great man’s absence from the reception for so long, asked him, “Where were you? What were you doing?”
Einstein replied calmly, “Ma’am, I was engaged in the most important activity of a human being”. She asked curtly,
“And that is?” Einstein’s answer was “To open to another human being the horizons of beauty”.
Yes, that’s a teacher’s most important activity: to open to our children the horizons of beauty, knowledge, goodness,
kindness, generosity, selfless service till it hurts. And our wonderful teachers at Delhi Montfort have been success-
fully opening the horizons of beauty to our children. Thank you teachers for this wonderful service to the school and
the Nation. Keep going. May your tribe increase.

It is said that in the last years of his life, Einstein had only one photo in his study. And that was of our great Mahat-
ma “Gandhiji”, of whom Einstein said, “Future generations will scarce believe that such a one as this in flesh and
blood walked this earth”. Such persons did walk the earth: a brilliant scientist who put kindness and humanity far
above atomic theories and scientific brilliance, and another man who, because of truth and morality in his private
and public life, transformed a nation and inspired the world. It takes a great mind to recognize and acknowledge
another.

May our school help our students to develop to the maximum their God-given talents and potential and to find their
rightful place in society to live a meaningful, fulfilling, and happy life. May our teachers open to our students “the
horizons of beauty” to become good and compassionate human beings.
Wishing Delhi Montfort many more golden years.

Bro. Philip Thadathil
Former Principal

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