”In the course of the month of October 1959 Mr. N. Krishnaswami and Mr. Ramamoorthi, both of HEC, approached Fr. V. Tucker, SJ, Headmaster of St. John’s High School, Ranchi, about the possibility of having a Senior Cambridge School in the vicinity of Doranda.”

The matter was placed before the authorities in Ranchi, advice was taken and the result was St. Xavier’s, Doranda.

Fr. A. Delporte, S.J., was appointed as the first Principal of the school to be. He describes in his diary the beginnings:” Fr. V. Tucker had attempted to create syllabus and had ordered the text books. As we had no building of our own, admissions were taken in St. John’s, Ranchi. In the afternoon I roamed around Doranda looking for a house, in which to begin classes. Two previous arrangements had fallen through. A property belonging to Mr. Lall along the Khunt Road was sold, a week before Fr. Tucker had applied for it. Another bungalow to a Bank was occupied by a certain Mr. Singh who refused to vacate the place.”

The diary continues:” By accident we discovered an empty house called ‘The White House’……and after a lot of palaver and trouble and disappointment…….the agent gave us the key of the house on 18-1-60 at 8 p.m. On the 19th, we moved in. While the benches were rushed in, the last admissions were going on. On the 20th, we had our first regular class day.”
The Primary Section classrooms were built and occupied after the Puja Holidays.

On September 15, the school had its First Parents’ Day in the Welfare Centre, Ranchi. His Excellency, Sri Zakir Hussain, Governor of Bihar, was the Chef Guest.

The First Prize Distribution took place on December 8.

The year ended with 260 children on the rolls and 11 members on the Staff; besides these were Fr. A. Delporte, Principle, and Fr. R. Norman, SJ, and Br. John Xess, SJ who built the Primary Section classroom.

School reopens on January 23 and on that day the BLUE BUS took to the road driven by Fr. Norman.

In February the boys of Standard IV to VII went for their First Picnic to St. Xavier’s, Hazaribag.

In May Fr. R. Debuck is appointed Bursar of the School. Two young Jesuits Fr. George and Fr. Thomas joins the staff. Br. Simon also joins the Community to care for “everything”. Fr. Norman goes back to his mission in Jamshedpur.

Things are beginning to move regarding the property across the road where the Senior School building now stands.

The Second Parents’ Day takes place in St. John’s Hall, Ranchi, which turns out to be too small.

The White House is now the Residence of the Fathers who no more commute between Purulia Road and Doranda.

On November 11 the Bihar Cabinet sanctioned the transfer of 5.15 acres of land to St. Xavier’s. We can now build across the road.

Another great change took place with the appointment of Fr. M. Tant, SJ, as the first Superior with the duty of Principal. Fr. A.Delporte takes over charge in Lohardaga.

Arrangements for building are initiated under the direction of Mr. J.B. Dube, CEDB, HSL and Mr. Tantia. Fr. Macfarland, of De Nobili School, Jealgora, Dhanbad, helps out with his experience in planning the site and orientation. Mr. Chunilal Banaik, helped by his son Prem, is the contractor. The foundations had hardly been dug when work came to a standstill by order of the DNAC. After further negotiations we were allowed to continue.

In November Fr. J.Lombart, SJ, joins the staff.

Fr. Victor Tucker, SJ, takes over as Principal and moves into his office in the Senior Section. Work still continues on the building. All work is completed in March. A new well is dug near the building to supply water for the laboratories.

With the best of intention and plans nothing would have been accomplished if the Very Rev. Fr. F.Crick, SJ, Provincial of the Jesuits in Chotanagpur, had not obtained for us the huge loans needed to put up such a splendid building.

12 boys of Std IV took part in the programme for the Children’s Day at the All India Radio, Ranchi. One of the items was the Kavali written by our teacher, Mr. Anand.

In July, Sri Mahesh Sinha, Minister of Revenue in the Bihar Cabinet accompanied by Mr. Chakravarty, DC of Ranchi, visited our school, officially. The Revenue Minister declared open our Chemistry and Physics laboratories. Later in the year Mr. Barrow, the Secretary of the Council of Indian School Certificate Examinations, pronounces our laboratories to be among the best in the Cambridge Schools in India. This year we had our Parents’ Day in the open, with the plinth to the south of the Senior Building serving as a stage.

The Green Bus takes to the road.

The Four Houses came into existence and the whole school is divided up among them. Red, Blue, Green, Yellow lapel badges distinguish the members of the four Houses. Captains and Vice-Captains are chosen to head the House.

Fr. Victor Rosner, SJ, joins St. Xavier’s. He starts the school paper “Endeavour”, which is edited by the senior boys. The paper carries articles both in English and Hindi.

We celebrate the first House Day with a match, a tea party and a movie. We have been having our movies in the small hall attached to the bungalow. These House Days become permanent fixtures in the school calendar.

Among the games and outdoor activities is included cross-country running and that for every standard in turn.

Our school enters for the Inter-Jesuit School Speech and Essay Contest for the first time.

We hold the first Inter-Class Elocution in our school. Mr. Jacob of the British Council presides for this first contest in our school.

Fr. Castelino joins our staff and is teaching one of the VIIIs.

Fr. Victor Tucker becomes Vice-Superior in place of Fr. M. Tant who leaves us for another post in Ranchi. Fr. A.Clerx, SJ, and Fr. Charles, SJ, join the Community at St. Xavier’s. Fr. Castelino, SJ, proceeds for further studies.

Fr. Rosner accompanied by five of the Staff takes the First Excursion of 25 boys for ten days to Darjeeling.

Mr. A.B. Hawley, B.A. (Oxon), our first VSO (Volunteer Service Overseas), joins St. Xavier’s in August. He takes over the Games besides teaching.

A quote from the Ranchi Rotarian, Vol. XI, No. 35, Tuesday, 3rd August. He takes over the game besides teaching.

A quote from the Ranchi Rotarian, Vol. XI, No. 35, Tuesday, 3rd August 1965, regarding the Inter Act Club in our school: Rtn President Chadda in his speech on the Inauguration of the Inter Act Club in the School had this to say: “The INTER ACT ORGANIZATION is a worldwide organization dedicated to international understanding and service, the first syllables of the name ’INTER’ standing for ‘International’ while ’Act’ stands for ‘action’ in the service of the community.”

Rtn. Chadda introduced Sri Umesh Bharadwaj and Sri Vaskar Ganguli, the first President and Secretary respectively of the newly formed INTERACT CLUB in the St. Xavier’s, Doranda, to the audience and presented the Charter to Sri Umesh, the president of the “INTERACT CLUB”.

In September the INTERACT CLUB held their FIRST FETE which was a riproaring success netting a sum of Rs 1200/-. Half of that sum was sent directly to the Prime Minster of India, Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri, for his Jawan’s Fund. The Prime Minister graciously acknowledged the gift in his own hand.

Our groups of Seven Seniors appear for the first ISG Examinations from our school. For their Hindi Orals they go to Bishop Westcott Boy’s School. Their written examinations are conducted under the supervision of Fr De Buck in Loreto Convent which is registered under the Centre Number A 116.

Early in the year the boys staged the Operetta “Paddy Blake” under the direction of Mr Kongari, our music master.

Fr. R. De Buck leaves us to take up his new post as Father-in-Charge of Kanke Parish. He is no more with us. He died I France on a furlough in January 1972, but the school cannot forget the work that Fr. De Buck put in for the property and the building and the Blue and Green to the route this year 1966, after he left us. He had done the preliminary negotiation to acquire the Red Bus. Fr. A. De Vlieghere, SJ, takes over as Bursar.

The First Inter-House Athletic Meeting takes place in February. Mr. Srivastava, the Commissioner, was our Chief Guest. Vaskar Ganguli lit the “Olympic Flame”. March brought the news of our First ISC results with five First Division and two Second Division. Well done our First Seven. Fr. Tucker, accompanied by 7 teachers and 30 students visited Kashmir.

The Rotary Club of Ranchi paid for our tennis court.

Br. Simon is replaced by Br. Arul Raj.

Fr. L. De Jaegher, S.J., takes over as Bursar, allowing Fr. De Vlieghere to proceed to South India to take up a lecturership.

Fr. Clerx and Fr. Rosner take an excursion group of 20 boys to Darjeeling. They travel by Red Bus all the way to Siliguri stopping overnight in Mokameh. The group meets Tensing Norkey, the hero of Everest.

Our Second VSO, Mr. Lance Barry, takes over the Games from Mr. Hawley who, completing his two years as a volunteer in our school, returns to England. Incidentally Mr. Hawley was responsible for starting the library in our school. Mr. Hawley took a group of Interact Volunteers to Chippador during the Palamau Famine. The group did marvelous work cleaning wells and building shelters for the Food Distribution Programme. The school had the services of Mr. Donaldson, a Peace Crops member for a year. He did splendid work teaching our boys Science.

Mr. Lance Barry returns to England and hands over the Games to Mr. Robert Acland. Our new VSO initiates our boys into GYMNASTICS. Mr. Acland gives a performance of Gymnastics which is greatly appreciated. Our new Hall to the west of the Primary Section comes up under the direction of the German-sponsored Training Centre in Fudi. Rev. Fr. Provincial of the Jesuits, Ranchi, gives us a donation of Rs.50,000/- towards the expenses of this hall.

We acquire our Fiat BRO 1456.

Mr. Robert Acland dedicates the basketball ground to the school.

Fr. Victor Tucker, who has been associated with this school from the very beginning and who has done so much to build it up and start a tradition of outstanding achievements in studies and co-curricular activities, hands over charge to Fr. George Karakunnel, SJ, one of the pioneers of our school. Fr. L. De Jaegher has been replaced by Br. Francis who becomes the Bursar. Mr. R. Acland, on completing his year of Voluntary Service Overseas, gives over the games to Mr. Michael Miles.

The School conducted courses in New MATHS for Parents on Sunday. 250 parents responded to the invitation. The Courses were inaugurated by Dr. K. M. Saxena, Head of the Department of Mathematics, Ranchi University, and conducted by Fr. Tucker and Mr. H. Prasad.

Fr. Arthur Clerx returns to Belgium. Fr. Paul Dierckx takes his place and is also the Bursar. Br. Francis is transferred to Manresa House, Ranchi. Fr. George Barwa joins our teaching staff and so does Fr. K.C. Philip. Fr. Lombart returns to St. Xavier’s as perfect of Discipline.

For the first time we have a break in the Inter-Jesuit School Essay and Elocution Contests when Sushil Mishra wins the Silver Medal in the Essay section and Vivek Bandhopadhyay bags a Silver Medal in the Junior Section with his piece “A Funny Language”. The Essay set by the host school Loyola, Jamshedpur, was: “To be alive, to be gloriously alive”. The Verdict of the Judges on Mishra was: OUTSTANDING ESSAY.

Mr. Michael Miles leaves us after his two years as a VSO. He is not replaced by another Volunteer.

We hosted the First Ranchi Schools Elocution and Speech Contest and won the Firayalals Challenge Shield for the best team. This shield was kindly presented by Mr. Radha Munjal of Firayalals.

Our School also hosted the Jesuit schools for the annual Essay and Elocution Contest.

The drainage of the playground was completed under the direction and help of Mr. L.C. Goyal. Sri Ram Bearing kindly donated Rs. 5,000/- towards this project.

Fr. Charles and Fr. Rosner take an excursion to Kathmandu. The Red Bus took the group to Patna and from there they flew Indian Airlines to Nepal. It was our first “FOREIGN” excursion.

Br. Jayprakash Kullu takes over from Br. Sylvanus to look after the material needs of our school.

We hosted the Second Inter-Ranchi Schools Elocution and Speech Contests. Bishop Westcott Girls’ School Contest and that on a toss. We had tied for 1st place!

Mr. C. Roy and Mr. S. Jha take an excursion of 13 boys to Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. The boys were accommodated in tents in the Capital and enjoyed the experience.

Fr. Tant comes back to us to take charge of the Primary Section. Fr. K.C. Philip leaves us to continue his studies in Delhi. In a Parents’ Meeting it was decided that the School should switch over from the ISC (Cambridge Syllabus) to the ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) which makes the Xth the last Standard instead of the XIth . This new examination is monitored by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination in Delhi. The change over was suggested by the difficulty ISC boys find in joining Colleges in Bihar. Our first group for this ICSE will appear in the month of December 1974. This involves a great shuffling of our teaching routine.

On August 15, Mrs. S. Krishnamurti organized a Pageant of India.

We have finally made it and brought back the Inter-Jesuit Schools’ Essay Shield from Jealgora. The three essays that won us this conveted Shield came from the pens of G. Ranganathan who stood 3rd out of 27; Vijay Narayan was 5th and Roby Ranjan who took 9th place. The subjects for this winning essay were: “Have modern ease of travel and the tourist explosion led to a greater understanding and goodwill among the nations and meeting individuals? “

We hosted a meeting called by Mr. Barrow, Secretary of the Council for ISC Examinations, for the Principals or their delegates in July. 25 ISC Schools attended. The main topic was the switch over to the Xth . Suggestions for taking on the XII standard were also proposed.

Due to the heavy rains towards the end of the Monsoon and both the bridges on the diversion being washed away, our bus routes had to be altered by Namkum.

We entered for the Rotary South Debating Competition open to the Ranchi Schools. The subject was: “Men should step down and let women take over”. C.K. Nikhilesk and S. Mishra both of Standard X were awarded Certificates of Merit for their part in this debate.

Fr. Tant leaves us to take over a job in Manresa House, Ranchi. He died on 24th June. Sr Christiane Marie from Asha Nivas Convent becomes the Headmistress of the Primary Section. A kindergarten is started under Sr. Anne. We conducted the Third Inter-Ranchi Schools Elocution Contest and took back the Firayalal Shield from Bishop Westcott Girls’ School.

Plans are afoot to build the New Primary Section, long overdue. Fr. A. Delporte is the architect in consultation with Mr. Choudhary of MECON. Mr. Prem Banaik has been given the contract.

Fr. Rosner accompanied our two competitors to Darjeeling for the Inter-Jesuit Schools Elocution Contest.

On August 15, the Primary Section put up a wonderful show of marching drill which was much appreciated by the parents.

This year the Inter-Standard Elocution was held for the whole School, both in English and Hindi.

Three trucks of Steel have already been delivered for our New School building.

Swarup Sinha of Standard VII A was placed second in the Pre-Senior in the 17th All India UN Information Test held on August 31. The number who appeared for both the Senior and Pre-Senior was 52,354 from 805 centres. The number from Bihar alone was 2036 from 25 centres.

18 Scouts accompanied by Mr. E. Ekka went to Faridabad to participate in the 7th National Jamboree of Bharat Scouts and Guides. 15 of these scouts received the President’s Badge from the hands of the President of India.

Both the Annual Fete and the Sports were a great success. A special attraction on the Sports Day was the presence of the military band.

The Weekly Examination has been introduced- a novel idea indeed!

For the first time 4 boys, Sunder Ramchandran, Balbir Ratoul, Dilip Subramaniam and V. S. Shreekumar, took part in the discussion held in the MIT in HSL Colony. The discussion, ‘Wither Indian Youth?’, was initiated by the Experiment of Inter-national Living and sponsored by the Rotary South Club. Shreekumar was adjudged the best speaker.

The land to our eastern boundary has been paid for. Trouble cropped up when the people of Parastoli wouldn’t allow us to occupy the land. The then Chief Minister urged the D.C. to give the land to St. Xavier’s School since such a decision had been taken by the Cabinet. However, till today there seems to be no sign of getting the land.

We had the first Parents’ Day for the Catholic Parents.

The film,’ The day of the Evil Gun’, was screened.

On 31^st July, the new building-the Primary Section- was blessed by Archbishop Pius Kerketta. Henceforth classes for Prep to V will be held in the new complex.

The first Science Exhibition was put up by the senior section, under the able guidance of Mr Hira Prasad, Mr Cherian, Mr Tantubay and Mrs Krishnamurthy.

Farther George thought that motherly touch was essential for the little boys, so he brought J M J sisters to manage the primary section and sister Theresa and sister Mercy took up this assignment.

A four storied building the jubilee wing including a library Audio Visual room, staff room and a large indoor games room on the top was planned and was gradually built and thus the school completed its 25 years of glory.

Father E Baxla took over as Principal a good orator and organizer, he was ever ready to help the staff and students.

Father Joseph Lakra came as a new Principal and under his guidance the school sailed smoothly.

Father James Lakra took charge as Principal, Father Ajit Xess was then the vice Principal.

- The Millennium inspired the management and the Plus 2 section with standard 11th and 12th started. Those classes brought some change as that section was Co-Ed and with the girls in the campus the boisterous boys had to sober down.

- Father James Lakra, was very much interested in totality and his holistic thoughts brought different labs like Maths, English Language and Multimedia into being. To the four houses, three more houses, The Violet, Orange and White were added and expanded to 7 houses.

The school did not shy away from its responsibilities towards the society and with the combined efforts of Father James Lakra and Father Jonckeere the “Outreach” program started. The project is committed to uplift the literacy rate of the targeted groups to help them learn and grow to live well. It educates the underprivileged, drop-outs and helps them to come back to the main stream and also helps them in self employment. The school is trying hard and has reached a target, about 70 students have already passed the class X and 50 students Class XII.
 

The golden jubilee year dawns with the golden dream in the hearts of all the students of St Xavier’s. This golden jubilee speaks volumes for the 50 long years of dedication and devotion of the teachers, parents and students without whom the dream would not have been possible. We must comprehend the thoughts of the founders and embody the vision which they have cherished. St Xavier’s Doranda has always remained faithful to the teaching of its patrons St Francis Xavier and shall always be in times to come. A Xaverian will always strive for manly virtues and will keep smiling when duty calls him and be always ready to serve any one any where. May the glory of St Xavier’s Doranda spread every where.