St. Stephen's School Chandigarh, sector 45 B

ST.STEPHEN'S SCHOOL CHANDIGARH, sector 45 B

Mr. Harold CarverFounder Principal, St. Stephen's School, ChandigarhA living legend, a great teacher

Born the sixth child in an Anglo Indian family of thirteen children, young Harold grew up in a regimented manner as his father left no stone unturned in instilling the values, morals and the discipline true to the rooting of the Armed forces, and was groomed under the able guidance and stewardship of Monsignor Cyril George at the St. Joseph’s Collegiate Allahabad. As a child, Mr Carver dreamt of being a Naval Air Pilot, but the Almighty had other plans as it may be a small loss to the forces, but a huge gain to the noble cause of education. Mr. Harold Carver, Principal, St. Stephen’s School, Chandigarh runs through the annals of the history of the School with inputs from the School’s Additional Principal Mr. Richard Ellis, and Ex Stephenian Gaurav Chhibber, MENTOR interweaves these interlocking blocks that have gone into the establishment of so esteemed an Institution.

“St. Stephen’s school has been synonymous with ideals, which are pillars of education, namely discipline and integrity”

There is a unique exuberance amongst the students and the teachers as they assemble for morning prayers in the huge quadrangular area of this magnificently built school. The prayers are said and all students and staff stand silently as if waiting for what might be essential to their day’s working. A fleeting smile then crosses all faces as they see the one man they revere as their confidante and mentor-Mr. Harold Carver. For a man who commands such authority, he is one who strongly believes in virtues of humanity and generosity. Mr. Carver can easily be mistaken for someone from the world of celebrities than an educationist. His students feel he is both.

Child of destiny:

Mr. Carver whose persona on stage has an unmatchable aura around it, recalls those early days when he went on stage for his first extempore. “The first time I went to speak on stage, the topic I was given was: ‘Why I like to study English?’ When I saw my parents in the Auditorium I forgot everything and stood silent for what seemed ages.” He shares this anecdote with all the young students who try emulating him in all ways possible. “Never give up”, he adds with a smile. True to these words, the Man has truly lived by them.

As a young lad I was fascinated by adventure and excitement. I aspired to be a Naval Air Pilot. My dreams were however squashed when my father refused to sign the forms which would have made my childhood dream come true. For what then seemed to me as a cruel decision, in retrospect, seems like a decision made by the Lord above . Thus, the favourite teacher of all his pupils became a teacher more out of destiny’s works than his own choice. The grooming of the educationist in Carver Sir is largely attributed to his Mentors namely Mr Joseph Malikail, Director of Studies, and Mr. T. A. Vyse, Principal of St. Thomas’ Teacher’s Training College Calcutta. As a teacher in St Joseph’s Allahabad and then in St. John’s School, Chandigarh, Mr. Carver was inspired by the Christian Brothers to a great extent, and has led by example with the committed and devoted approach that students placed under his care have benefited from immensely.

“A living legend, a great teacher, a best friend and lots more of such appellation are associated with him by his students”

Dreams and reality:

In 1979 my father who was ill at that time, called me in one day to discuss what he considered was important. During the course of the conversation, I understood my father’s dream of opening a school. Taken aback by this sudden expression of my father’s dream, I simply told him that I was confident of being a good teacher but had my own doubts over my capabilities of being an administrator. In other words, I did not want to take the risk. That was when my father said, “You don’t know. I know. I have nurtured you as a son. So I know your capabilities as a son.” These words of inspiration grew to be a guiding factor all my life thereafter. Soon after my father passed away, it was my mother who urged me to define my father’s dream into a reality. By the time my mother returned from England, bookings for St. Stephen’s had begun. The school which then had begun in a residential area with students from various strata of the society.

Against all Odds:

In 1991, the school shifted to a 4 acre site in the southern sector of the city. The grand plans were however put a spanner into by a group of people in the management with vested interests. The group wanted to take over the school and turn it into a commercial institution compromising on the student friendly and educative ambience the school was now famous for. What followed then proved beyond doubt the love of the students, teachers and parents for Mr. Carver. For the first time probably in India students and staff struck work and declared a strike to ensure that Mr. Carver would not step down. On October 1, 1993, the day celebrated even today as Thanksgiving Day by all the students and teachers; Mr. Carver was reinstated as the rightful principal of St. Stephen’s School, Chandigarh.

An enigmatic personality at times, Mr. Harold Carver has ushered in many a novelty in the field of education that spans a period of over 43 years says Richard Ellis, Additional Principal at St. Stephen’s. As goes the age old adage-“Rome was not built in a single day”; so runs the chord of sentiments at St. Stephen’s School, Chandigarh. The School owes its very existence to the extreme resolution and grit that overcame many an impediment to being regarded today as one of the premier educational institutions. The fact lies endorsed in the milestone of the School which is celebrating its Silver Jubilee year; a glorious achievement that stands testimony to the making of the School. It has been a labyrinth of odds that sum up to