KOCHI: It is a moment of pride and joy for the 8000-member strong Gujarati community in Kerala as the Cochin Gujarati LP and UP School at Mattancherry here celebrates its centenary for three days from January 31.
The school, started in 1904 as a centre for Gujarati girls to learn Gujarati in 1904, became a regular school in 1920 and got recognition in 1957. Managed by Shri Cochin Gujarati Mahajan, it currently has nearly 2500 students and 115 teaching and non-teaching staff.
The foundation stone for the building of the school was laid in 1919 by Vijaya Raghavachari, the late dewan of Cochin and was inaugurated by Vijaya Raghavachari in 1921. Popatlal Govindji Sanghani was the first headmaster Ramji Kuverji Pathak the first president. The present headmaster is P.V. Naveen Kumar.
The school was expanded by adding an English medium section in 1962, higher secondary section in 2003 and the KG wing in 2009.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will inaugurate the centenary celebrations on January 31 by at a function to be presided over by Shri Cochin Gujarati Mahajan president Kishor Shamji Kuruwa. K.V. Thomas, MP, will be the guest of honour. Senior most student of the school, 94-year-old Dharmashi Mulji Jasapara, will be honoured on the occasion.
