Vadamaradchy

In Vadamaradchy till the beginning of the 20th century, educational institutions were run by the Christian missions, the two leading schools being Hartley College for boys and Methodist High School for girls. The first Hindu school, the Velautham School for boys was a breakaway section from Hartley College as a protest against the principal caning a Hindu student for applying holy ash on his forehead. As for girls, whose parents wanted an education in Hindu culture, were sent to Ramanathan College in Chunnagam. Two such parents were the chief founders of Vada Hindu-Dr. C. Sabhapati and Mr. M. Karthigesu, principal of Kokkuvil Hindu College. This pair when they retired from service got together and sowed seeds for a Hindu College of girls’ at Vadamaradchy. They went round canvassing for this long felt need and all the leading lawyers, teachers and parents railed around them and the Vadamaradchy Educational Society was formed. Chief among them was the then eminent lawyer Mr. M. Esurupadham, Mr. M. A Thangarajah, Mr. K. Somasundharam B.A., Mr. N. A. Rajaratnam, Mr. V.T.S. Sivagurunathan, Mr. Sivapathasundharam, Mr. N.A Nadarajasundharam, Mr. A. Sivakolunthu, Mr. A.Velupillai and others. The end result of the selfless service rendered by these founders is the present Vada Hindu Girls College excelling gin all fields of education. This year our school is 65 years young with a student strength of 1500 and a teaching staff of about 55. The school today is one of the leading schools in Jaffna and our students compete in all island competitions such as Tamil and English oratoricals and sports. Many students entered and are entering the portals of the Sri Lankan University in arts, science, law, medicine and engineering and are occupying high posts not only in Sri Lanka but all over the globe.



Mr. M. Karthigesu DR. C. Sabapathy

The Pioneer father of VHGC One of the Chief Founders

It was in the year 1944 and I was 12 years in form 7 at Ramanathan College. When I came for the April holidays I was told by my uncles Mr. M Karthigesu and Dr. Sabhapati that a Hindu school for girls will be formally started that year on an auspicious day and that by next year I should join it. Meetings were held by the members who formed the Hindu society almost daily and hectic decisions were taken- the fundraising, the site for the school, the staff for the school, the students, the classrooms, etc. Volunteers were in plenty but hard cash was a problem. Dr. Sabhapati opened the list with Rs.1001/-. Many government servants opted to pay a month’s salary. Mr. M. A. Thangarajah donated the land, Mr. S. S. Saravanamuthu offered top to put up a big hall. Malaysian pensioners offered to put up an office and some classrooms. Unfortunately Dr. Sabhapati passed away in April 1945 and his daughter Mrs. A. Navaratnarajah put up a Science lab in his memory. A hostel for girls was donated by Mr. Ponniah in memory of his son Thirunavukkarasu. Now this has been converted into a full fledged library, and recently Mr. A Somasundarampillai has put up an open air stage for the benefit of the students. Dr. Thanabalasundaraam and his children have offered their home to form a home for the needy children.

On the 15th of January 1945 more than 100 students were admitted in 2 codjan sheds, one for the primary school and the other for the junior section. Mrs. Ponuduari was the first principal and there were about 8 volunteer teachers. Classes began with the assembly of students. Thevaram was sung and a small talk on relevant topics was given by one of the teachers was a regular feature. I was in the top class J.S.C along with 10 others. We had the best teachers- V.T.S Sivagurunathan retired principal of Ananda College for Maths, Mr. M. Karthigesu for English a first class Tamil trained teacher Pooranam acca for Tamil, Ms. Chandrathilakam Arumugam for Botany, Ms. Savithiri Karthigesu for Religion and Music, and Ms, Maheswari Arunasalam for history. We were as it were spoon fed and all of us came out with flying colours in the J.S.C. examination, held by the N.P.T.A. that year1945 December.

The next 2 years, time flew. Many additional teachers and a few more hundred students joined, concrete buildings for classes also sprang up. Our SSC results was hundred percent, with Ganeshwary leading in getting an exemption from the London Matriculation and Suntharanayaky and I were 2nd and 3rd being referred in English and Maths respectively but we did complete and both got the exemption. The staff and students and the management were very happy and this paved the way for the school to upgraded.

Step by step the school developed under the able guidance and stewardship of the manager Mr. M. Eswarapatham, a founder member. The school became an A grade school and Veda Hindu excelled in all spheres-education, sports, music, dance, religious and other extra curricular activities. Our students are now participating in island wide competitions and are proud to say that they have won laurels. Due to the valuable and the sacred foresighted work of the founder members Vadamarachy Hindu college is today one of the leading colleges in Jaffna. I will be failing in my attempt if I do not mention in this juncture the yeoman and dedicated service by the various principals and members of the staff who infact made it a reality. I also wish to stress the noble work of the old students who remember their almamater with fond love, and gratitude and are carrying aloft the flag of Vada Hindu by forming Old Girls’ Associations in the home town, Colombo, and in various foreign lands they have settled in, be it-England, Australia or Canada. There is much enthusiasm among them and they work incessantly send contributions in cash and kind to make the students in Vadamarachy.


Opening of the "Thirumandram" Donated in memory of Late Mr.P.Thirunavukarasu by his family


By Mrs. Jeyaluxmi Chandrasegaram

Quelle - http://www.vhgcppa.org/