TO HELP INDIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 February 1935, Page 3

TO HELP INDIA

WORKING FOR NEXT GENERATION INTERVIEW WITH LIEUT.COLONEL COOTE Lieut. -Colonel M. C. Coote, Principal of Shri Shiwaji Preparatory Military School, Pooni, India, is at present on a visit to his home at Stoke, Nelson. Colonel Coote was appointed Principal in April 1033 after 28 years service in the Indian Army in the provinces of India, Burma and Assam. He is assisted bv a staff of experienced teachers. Colonel Coote has brought with him on holiday five young students at the school for the purpose of widening their experience. They are most likeable, gentlemanly boys and will be popular with all whom they meet in New Zealand. “The 'school was actually opened in 1032 to till a gap in Indian education,” said Colonel Coote. “We do this by being a preparatory military school run on the lines of an English Public School. Such schools are now necessary to provide candidates for the new Indian Sandhurst, opened about two years ago. The Indian Army is gradually being Indianized the officers being trained at the Indian Sandhurst, officially called the Royal Military Academy at Dehrudun in the Hymahiya- foothills between Delhi and Simla. A competitive examination for the Indian Sandhurst is held twice a year. There are only 15 vacancies at each examination and about 300 candidates appear for the examination and it is open to all Indians. It is very difficult indeed and an Indi-.n boy should be trained for it from the age of 10, or 12. FOR THE INDIAN ARMY “About half the boys in the school will eventually go for this examination if they fail, most will then try through the ranks. There is also! great competition for this. The other half of the school go up for matriculation at present, next year we shall have our own diploma, by passing which they will be eligible to go on to a university. “Well, our chief object in the school is to train boys so that they may have strength of character and fit to be leaders of men,, to turn out the type i hat makes the best officers. The school has nothing to do with government and it is not assisted by government or the military department. I get a great deal of willing help from both civil and military officers and can take boys to any military manoeuvres, inspections, ceremonial parades, lectures, etc. ENDOWED BY PRINCES “The school is actually endowed by the four chief Mahratta princes i.e Their Highnesses The Maharajahs of Kalliapur, Givaliar, Indore and Baroda, the former being the president of the school governing body. “We try to teach boys toleration of all castes, a love of India as a whole, and also to be loyal to His Majesty the King and to understand something of the Empire. We do not allow any ‘religious teachers’ in the school; this is necessary as we have so many castes and the religious teachers in the school would any way lead to many complications and misunderstandings. We have a true spirit of religion in the school, my chief object being to get the boys to believe in one God over all of us, that prayer is a real power in the world. That love is stronger than hate. To tolerate and think of one’s neighbour. “The SO boys I. have are delightful and very quick and responsive. We have room for .120 in the school. There were (50 there a year ago. Our school fees amoimt to about £7O per year which is a high price for India, and so we only get fairly well to do Indians coming to the school. Many of the boys come from Indian states and are connected to the Ruling Princes. I believe the school has a great future and that such schools are needed in every province. We may, I believe, be doing something to help India in the next generation. “The school is entirely residential rid all the boys feed or mess together. We only have two diets, vegetarian and non-vegetarian. The only guarantee we give parents is that no beef shall be served in the school. This is neeesarv as Hindus look on the cow and her kind as sacred and may not touch beef. Ninety per cent, of the boys are some caste of the Hindu religion. We sing a very beautiful prayer common to all mankind both* morning and evening at roll call. A translation of it may be read with interest:

MORNING PRAYER SONG

Ordaincr of India’s destiny, O Ruler of Men’s minds Victory to you. 1. The Punjab, Sind. Gujaratlia, Maharashtra, Dravida, Bengal, Assam and the Vindhyas and the Himalayas and the Jainna and the Ganga and the mighty Ocean with lifted waves—sing to your fair name and ancient glory and pray for your blessing, O Giver of Blessings to men, Ordainer of India’s Destiny, Victory to you etc., £tc. 2. Day after day your mighty voice is heard Calling to Hindu, Mussulman, Buddha, Sikh, Jain Parsi and Christian. Behold the East and the West are seated by your throne singing the Song of Love, O Giver of Unity to men, Ordainer of India’s Destiny, Victory etc., etc. 3. Now, after the age-long night, the glory of the Rising Sun lightens the brow of the Eastern Mountain: The birds sing: The blessed winds blow- And New Life pours forth. And the moving Airs of Your Morning song Sleeping India is awakened. Salutions to you, O King of Kings, Ordainer of India’s destiny, Victory to you etc., etc. Colonel Coote added that he lived and messed with the boys. The five with him were not picked boys in any way but were all candidates for the King’s Commission in the Indian Army. Incidentally, Colonel Coote added he had had two years’ very hard work but he felt it was all very much worth while. A recent development had been the planning of a sports ground connected with the school of 28 acres. The opening ceremony had been performed by Lord Brabournc, Governor of Bombay, at the request of His Highness The Maharaja of Kolhapur, President of the Governing Body of the school.