THE BAKER VIDYAPEETH, KOTTAYAM

The Baker Hill was the 'Aiswaryam' and the centuries old Baker memorial girl’s high school the 'Thilakakkuri' of the Kottayam town until it got caged by a string of commercial buildings almost four decades ago. I still wish the aesthetic, serene edifice at the southern tip of this “coral island”, which would easily qualify to be a heritage structure, escaped the commercial onslaught. Even after all these years, walking past this thing of beauty, I hear a sob. Yes, this structure is not just brick and mortar; it has a soul in perpetual pain. But then, the sun still rises in the east and sets in the west.

Caged though, there is a Spot of Good Hope within the remains of a glorious past. Yes, I am talking about “The Baker Vidyapeeth” (BVP). Renjan and Anna were students here. While Renjan had his entire schooling here Anna was here only for two years. Yet, I think it is Anna who is more attached to and nostalgic about the school. Perhaps because, for her the school was an amazing discovery. Like a jewel the school too has many a shining facet. But alas, to my dismay I often feel that in the BVP, as the bible says, the lighted lamp is put under the bushel when it should have been on the high lamp stand. I think a little explanation is worthwhile. 

For many years I have analysed and compared the examination results of the school with that of other schools in Kottayam. It is often very good if not the best. Yet it always goes unnoticed obviously for two reasons. People tend to look at the absolute number of A or A+. This is low as the total number of students appearing in exams are low. One should look at the percentage or ratio of the top graders to the total number of students. Of course this is not the job of the general public. I feel that the school authorities and the management should take some effort to project this. This is not to say that the Principal should do some marketing nor am I saying that the school should engage in any advertising blitz. That will be against the spirit of the school. Yet, I would maintain that the lighted lamp should be in a place it deserves, lest it should extinguish if not fail to shine on others and lead them from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge.

Excellent output in examinations is only one of the things that make BVP special for me. While most schools are reluctant to admit differently abled students, the BVP embraces them with both hands and make their life here a memorable one for them. (Pallikoodam, Kottayam is a glaring exception) I will say that even this is only a by-product of the more fundamental love without limits that is the hallmark of this school. Elsewhere I have not found the kind of love that exists here between the teachers and the taught. This kind of love does wonders. A sense of belonging develops in the minds of the students and they don’t need to be frightened to do their duties. The level of freedom is incredible, discipline just happens and it never needs to be enforced. Once I watched with awe some students entering the principal’s room and informing him what they have decided for the next day’s function. My God, they were not seeking his permission. Yet, as they came out I could feel that they had not just the customary permission but blessings in abundance too. This is where the BVP transcends to the sublime. This may not be very visible if one gives too much of importance to examination oriented academics. The air of love and freedom makes BVP unique. As Rabindranatha Tagore sang, BVP is a place where the mind is without fear. It is a heaven of freedom. I would say that it is a heaven of freedom and love.

Let me conclude by invoking a biblical verse (Mathew 5:14) which I think suits well for the BVP and write: A school built on a hill should not remain hidden, literally and figuratively.