A St. Columba’s Alumnus Revisits His Past After Five Decades

New Delhi: For one former student of St. Columba’s School, stepping back onto campus after nearly 50 years was more than a nostalgic visit — it was a journey through identity, memory and time.

The alumnus first entered the gates of the school as a five-year-old on January 6, 1975. He recalls tears of apprehension on his first day. Decades later, he returned — this time with tears of longing.

While he left the institution years ago, he says the institution never quite left him.

Walking through the campus recently, he found much of it unchanged. The classrooms, sports fields and canteen stood where they always had. The corridor lighting, iron-framed windows and sturdy classroom doors appeared untouched by time. Murals continued to adorn the walls, stone floors bore the weight of generations, and even the familiar hum of water coolers evoked powerful memories.

“It felt as if time had paused,” he reflected.

Echoes of Teachers and Bells

The visit stirred vivid recollections of teachers who once defined daily life — figures such as Brother D’Souza, Mrs. Kak and Mr. Rocha. The alumnus found himself instinctively expecting a familiar nod of acknowledgement or a reminder to hurry to class.

He also remembered the distinctive sound of “Walter’s bell,” which marked the end of lunch breaks and the beginning of lessons. Once met with groans by students reluctant to return to class, the bell’s sound is now remembered with affection.

“I would give anything to hear it just once more,” he said.

Inside the classrooms, memories resurfaced of wooden desks with built-in storage compartments, fountain pens filled from inkpots and lessons delivered by stern but dedicated teachers. While the lectures may have followed predictable patterns, the lessons extended far beyond textbooks.

A Carefully Chosen Beginning

The alumnus’ admission to St. Columba’s was a deliberate decision shaped by family values.

His father, who grew up in rural Punjab and Haryana, had secured a stable government career through academic excellence. Education, therefore, was considered non-negotiable. His mother was equally determined about where her children would study. She chose St. Columba’s for her son and the adjoining Convent of Jesus and Mary School for her daughter, following a family tradition.

Because St. Columba’s admitted children aged five and above, he attended Air Force Bal Bharti School at age four before transferring — and repeating kindergarten — at Columba’s in 1975.

He joined 34 years after the school’s first batch entered in 1941, finding his seat in KG-D and beginning what would become 13 formative years.

When Excellence Made Headlines

The school’s legacy of achievement was reinforced during his time there. On February 22, 1985, a fellow student — Shah Rukh Khan — was awarded the prestigious Sword of Honour, given to the most outstanding all-round student.

Known for excelling in theatre, sports and academics, Khan’s recognition was widely expected among peers. A story often retold among alumni suggests that when applying to St. Stephen’s College, Khan cited the award, only to be told it would not influence the admission decision. Reportedly displeased, he chose to enrol at Hansraj College instead — a decision many classmates viewed as a proud stand for the institution that shaped him.

Whether anecdotal or factual, the story continues to circulate within alumni circles.

Friendships That Outlast Time

Like many school friendships, bonds forged at St. Columba’s evolved over time. After graduation, careers, higher education and family responsibilities dispersed classmates across cities and professions.

Large-scale reunions occurred decades later. By then, personalities had matured and appearances had changed. Former athletes carried age differently, debaters had softened, and quiet students had emerged as leaders in their own right.

Yet one thing remained constant — the ease of laughter.

“There is a different kind of laughter shared with those who knew you before you became who you are,” the alumnus observed.

Revisiting the school, he says, was not merely about reliving the past but understanding how deeply those early years shaped his present. The institution, he believes, helped form one version of himself. Reflecting on it decades later has shaped another.

For him, the bells may no longer ring as they once did — but their echoes endure.