It is not an everyday phenomenon, that an institution stands the test of time and lives on to reach the enviable age of two hundred years. It is certainly much rarer if the said institution happens to be an educational institution! So, Antonio De Souza (ANZA- from the first two and last two letters of the name) High School, in South Mumbai (Bombay of old), reaching the glorious age of two hundred is certainly no mean feat. This historic milestone has not only to be applauded, but the men and women who have shaped the destinies of this great institution, need to congratulated too. For ANZA (the management, staff and students – both past and present) it has been an amazing journey; epochal in nature, like an unfettered Colossus striding across two centuries.
The roots of ANZA can be traced back to the little island of Mazagaon in Bombay. In 1548, one Captain Antonio Peso, built within the precincts of his mansion a small private chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Glória (Our Lady of Glories). Later, in 1632, ‘Gloria Church’ was built at the foot of the Mazagaon hill. Apparently, in 1795, a Goan merchant named Antonio De Souza gifted the trustees of the Church with then princely sum of Rs. 40,000 to start a free primary school for Catholic children of the area. The medium of instruction at that time was Portuguese and Latin. It was named Antonio De Souza High School after one of its original founders and its main donor. In 1911, both ANZA School and the Gloria Church were demolished and shifted to its present premises in Byculla, with the reconstruction work having been completed in 1913.ANZA School and the modern Gloria Church were both built in English Gothic Revival style and are today heritage landmarks of the city.
‘Byculla’ in South Bombay, is centrally located; it is a potpourri of cultures, traditions, religions and ethnicities. In the midst of the labour area of the Mumbai metropolis, the surroundings and neighbourhood areas were dotted with the chimneys of the textile mills. Besides, the famed ‘Jijamata Udyan’ (‘Victoria Gardens’ of old) is home to a botanical garden (1861) and one of India’s oldest zoos (1890) and a museum. The ‘Victoria Gardens’ of yester-years, was a popular spot for nature – lovers, history enthusiasts and ANZA boys when they ‘bunked’ school. Byculla also has the major wholesale vegetable market of the city. Interestingly, exactly opposite Gloria Church stands a temple and adjacent to that is a mosque; not far is a Parsi fire temple and a Jewish Synagogue. ANZA is a short walking distance from the Byculla railway station and one can easily reach most areas of the vast city by the numerous BEST bus routes which begin or pass through Byculla! The area is also dotted with several eateries, catering to every palate.
ANZA, in fact represented (and continues to do so) the best of Byculla! As in the past, the students comprise and epitomise the wealth and beauty of India’s diversity and pluralistic fabric: middle class and lower middle class, children of ordinary people; besides the Christians, there were Hindus and Muslims, Parsis, Jews, some of Chinese origin and from other faith traditions. Many were children of migrants who had come, from other parts of India to Bombay in search of work and made the cosmopolitan city their home. The parents worked hard, some even struggled: but they wanted their children to go to a good English- medium school! It had to be ANZA! No one wore religion up their sleeve; the students went to school together, studied together, pranked together, fought with each other over seemingly trifle issues; yet there was the camaraderie, the deep bonding, which began during schooldays and which for many of the alumni lasts till today! The spirit of ANZA, lives on, it will never die!
ANZA school belongs to the Archdiocese of Bombay; and over the years there have been exemplary priests, outstanding educationists who have been at the helm of affairs and guided the destinies of this great school, as Principals, Managers and teachers. Besides, the school has always had a very committed staff: teaching, administrative and support. Thousands of students have passed through its portals, these last two hundred years- most contributing significantly to the life of the city and even the nation. Today the school has three thousand students on the rolls with Fr Sachin Lopes as Principal and Fr. Cajetan Pinto as Manager
ANZA school has a significant logo. It has emblazoned on it the Latin phrase ‘Per ardua ad astra’ which effectively means ‘to reach for the stars, despite adversities/ difficulties’. A great slogan for yesterday and so relevant today. Over the years, despite many limitations, ANZA has been providing its students with a holistic education, mentoring them, training them, motivating them to reach for the stars, whatever the consequences. Some of the ANZAites who have made a profound mark in the public domain include Raj Kapoor (the legendary film actor, director and producer), Trilok Gurtu (world-renowned percussionist and table virtuoso), Nissim Ezekiel (father of modern Indian English poetry), Libia Lobo Sardesai (Freedom Fighter) and R. M. Sawant (well-known jurist).
Despite not having decent playgrounds of it’s own ANZA has produced some of the finest sportspersons of the city and country; they include Leo Pinto (gold medallist in Hockey at the 1948 London Olympics), Gulam Abbas Moontasir (captain of the National Basketball team), Nasir Khan (star hockey player and coach), Banoo Gazdar (top athlete and silver medallist at the 1951 Asian games) and Pat Mendonca (champion sprinter and silver medallist at the 1951 Asian games)
The extraordinary thing about ANZA is its sheer ‘ordinariness’. It never boasted of or claimed to have the ‘elite school’ tag of Bombay. In fact, it was far from that. It was (and will always be) a school for the ‘hoi polloi’ and not for the elite. A school with an old world charm but ever so new, vintage yet abreast with the times. A school which has lived through tough times yet educated men (and women too) to face the challenges and vicissitudes of life!
The ANZA bicentenary celebrations, which bring together past and present students and staff, well- wishers and benefactors, will be held on the school grounds on January 23 (Thanksgiving Mass, Multi-Faith Service & Musical Performance), January 24(ANZA family Day) and January 25 (Gala Alumni Dinner). Further details of these programmes can be found on www.anzaites.org
As one celebrates 200 glorious years of a great institution, one which believes in excellence in education, one cannot help but look back with deep gratitude and sing (with adaptations) the theme song from that immortal 1967 movie, ‘To Sir, With Love’
“ANZA who taught me right from wrong
And weak from strong
That’s a lot to learn
What, what can I give you in return?
If you wanted the moon
I would try to make a start
But I would rather you let me give my heart
To ANZA, with love”
ANZA today at 200 years, continues to reach for the stars!
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Fr. Cedric Prakash is a Jesuit Priest of the Gujarat Province. He was a student of ANZA from 1957 to 1968. He is an internationally renowned human rights, reconciliation and peace activist. He is also a prolific writer. Contact: [email protected]