Rawdon Street: A mother handed over the founder's gold medal to her daughter at La Martiniere for Girls, three decades after she had received the same medal when she graduated from the school.
IAS officer Sanghamitra Ghosh of the department of women and child development and social welfare was back on the Rawdon Street campus, this time as chief guest at the 183rd commemoration service of the founder, Major General Claude Martin, on Thursday.
Ghosh handed over the Founder's Medal for Scholastic Achievement ISC 2018 to daughter Sumedha in the Lawrence Hall.
"It is special going back to school as a chief guest but handing over the medal to my daughter was an indescribable and unique experience," she said. "When I passed ISC in 1988, I received the same medal. But the difference is my daughter has both the gold medals (also the one given by the school for scholastic achievement in ICSE) and I have only one."
Ghosh, who is also the vice-chairperson, West Bengal, Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission, said the school "made it special" by inviting an old girl to do the honour.
For Sumedha, who scored 99 per cent in ISC science, Thursday's experience was "a proud family moment".
"It is a slice of victory but also an extraordinary family moment. I was excited when I heard that my mother would be the chief guest for such a solemn occasion. It is humbling for me," said the economics student of St Xavier's College.
Principal Rupkatha Sarkar described Ghosh as "a role model" who "will inspire students to excel". "The founder did not only believe in academic excellence but also recognised all-round development and good conduct," she said.
Five founder's medals were handed over on Thursday - two gold medals for scholastic achievement in ICSE and ISC and three silver medals for all-round excellence, best athlete and good conduct.
The service every year is followed by "The Dinner," given to the senior pupils in accordance with the Founder's Will. Before dinner, the toast in memory of the founder is raised in silence.
