Shillong, Nov. 27: The alumni of St Edmund's School are gearing up for a grand reunion in February next year as part of the centenary celebrations of the renowned educational institution.

St Edmund's School, an institution of the Christian Brothers of Blessed Edmund Rice, was established at Laitumkhrah in 1916. The school had inaugurated the yearlong centenary celebrations in May this year.

With the centenary theme - Unity in our Diversity - the St Edmund's Past Pupils Association (Seppa) is expecting around 800 to 1,000 alumni from across the globe for the two-day alumni meet to be held from February 11.

The strength of the St Edmund's School alumni is estimated to be around 10,000, spread across various continents.

The Shillong chapter of the association, which is overseeing the preparations for the alumni meet, is all gung-ho for the grand reunion.

George Richmond Marbaniang, the president of the association's Shillong chapter, said, "As past pupils, we will be celebrating with joy and dignity, and we also expect co-operation from all ex-students."

Marbaniang, who belongs to the 1954 batch, praised his alma mater, which has moulded thousands of young minds over the years.

While acknowledging the changes that have happened between "now and then," Marbaniang, however, admitted saying, "We will have to live with the change of time."

The association's working president, Michael Nampui, said the school's alumni are spread across the globe and that there are chapters not only in Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, but also in Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore and even in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Manbor Warjri, a member of the association, said some of the retired Christian brothers who are residing in Ireland would be present during the alumni meet.

Enumerating the events during the alumni meet, Marbaniang said on February 11, there will be an informal meeting of the past pupils at City Haat Dhaba here while a picnic to the picturesque Sohra (Cherrapunjee) will be organised on February 12.

On February 13, a sports event will be organised at the school grounds, which will be preceded by a prayer service.

The closing ceremony of the centenary celebrations will coincide with the school's annual sports meet on May 5 next year.

In 1894, Monsignor Edmund Becker, the then prefect apostolic of Assam, conceived the idea of a boarding school for boys in Shillong. His enthusiasm was rekindled when noted educationist Sir Archdale Earle was appointed the chief commissioner of Assam in 1912.

Earle strongly backed Becker's idea and the Christian Brothers took up the project.

In 1913, Brother Stanislaus O'Brien came to Shillong to oversee the plans made for the school.

In 1914, Brother O'Brien stayed alone on the 24-acre property and saw the establishment of St Edmund's School, which was his home from 1914 until his death in 1940.

In February 1916, the admission of three boys saw the school open its doors to students. The number soon rose to 31 boarders and 11 day scholars.

Earle officially opened St Edmund's School on October 6, 1916, and Brother Andrew Luke Aherne became the school's first principal. Thus began the saga of St Edmund's and the institution that has since grown providing quality education.