The first time I stood there, I was a nervous wreck! Holding a piece of paper in which I had copied out the headlines of the day, I stood there nervously awaiting my turn. I had created mental images of myself, standing there and reading out the news, full of confidence, with a deep resonating voice of Kabir Bedi. However, the final product, when my turn came was something in-between a squeak and a squawk – a part-consequence of my voice choosing that most inappropriate time to graduate into adulthood! I managed to stutter out the contents of the page to a hapless audience, who by the way had little choice in the matter – when it came to listening! The ordeal finally over I dashed back into safe anonymity of another 300 pairs of legs that stood and shuffled in uncomfortable silence.
The weekly assembly in the Miller Hall was an ordeal that stays fresh in the mind, almost a quarter of a century later. But not all memories of this wonderful building are so macabre. Many were the wonderful Christmas dinners that we enjoyed in the company of several other families of school teachers. Memories of Avarachettan serving us generous dollops of freshly-made ice-cream also come to mind; as do the several memorable plays and music performances that were staged in that hall.
The Miller Hall has, for several decades been a memory-laden landmark for those students who have passed out of the portals of MCC School. A multi-purpose hall, it was a canteen by day, a dining hall for the hostel students by night, and transformed itself into several other things during the course of its fifty-plus years of existence. For those old students who visit school, a peek into the Miller Hall is a must-do activity as part of their pilgrimage to the alma mater. Talk to any old student, and they will have a story to tell about the Miller Hall.
"And so the Miller Hall Project, I thought, would be the most appropriate way to celebrate 175 years of the existence of our wonderful school. What do you guys think?" The Headmaster's question brought me back into the present. Mr. GJ Manohar, Headmaster of MCC School was presenting his vision of transforming the now crumbling edifice into a more modern 'designed for multi-purpose' building that would serve the students of the future. We hope to hear more when he announces his ambitious plans for the school as part of the 175th year celebrations.
If you are an old student of MCC School, take that walk down memory lane. I would love to hear your stories about the school and Miller Hall in particular.
