A staff member of Mount Hermon cuts a cake on the school’s foundation day. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, March 11: In a departure from its tradition of observing its anniversaries in a low-key manner, Mount Hermon today celebrated its 108th foundation day with much grandeur.

The celebration was possible due to an initiative taken by the school’s enthusiastic alumni, who visited their alma mater in hundreds and chipped in to make the programme a grand success.

Touched by the initiative taken by the Darjeeling chapter of the alumni association, the principal of the school, George Fernandez, said: “We now plan to make such a celebration a tradition of the school and look forward to the alumni’s co-operation.”

The alumni of the school founded by the American Methodist Episcopal Church on their part promised to be “more active” in future. Speaking on behalf of the alumni, who have named themselves “Hermonites”, Samden Lama said various programmes had been chalked out for the school, which would be unfolded after getting the nod from the principal and the school’s governing body.

This morning, the Hermonites led a large convoy of vehicles decorated with school flags and banners, carrying birthday wishes to the school.

The teachers were honoured for “the hard work put in to make the students better people”. The alumni also presented a large cake with the school insignia on it.

In keeping with the school’s tradition, the schoolchildren gathered at the Mount Hermon chapel, where the principal, recounted the history of the institution and read out birthday wishes sent by the Hermonites from across the globe.

The principal said the school, founded in 1895 by Emma Knowles, originally stood at the place now occupied by Queen Anne’s School.

“Though the school was shifted to the present location in 1926, it was completely devastated during an earthquake, which even destroyed the playground. The building was reconstructed but in 1968 it was again hit by landslides and the students had to be evacuated by helicopters,” Fernandez added.

After the principal’s speech, the alumni egged on the students to sing songs.

The day ended with a sumptuous lunch. The icing on the cake was, however, the principal’s decision to suspend classes for the rest of the day. The alumni then settled down for a basketball match.