ADDRESS AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE MILLER HALL AT THE MADRAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL,CHETPET, CHENNAI ON 23/1/2015 AT 11.30 A.M. It is a pleasure to inaugurate the newly constructed Miller Hall, honour the donors, architects, office bearers and address this distinguished gathering here today. Education is one of the foundations for a nation’s progress and prosperity. Running an educational institution is not easy. Today we see many educational institutions coming up. It is a welcome one. What is required is quality and value based education. Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School has earned a name in the field of education. The school has an impressive track record. It is known for its dedication in moulding the youth. The association of Madras Christian College with the Governors of Tamil Nadu dates back to 1950s when the then Governor of Tamil Nadu Maharaja Shri Sir Krishna Kumarsingji Bhavsingji, Maharaja of Bhavnagar declared open its building at Chetpet. This institution which stands as an edifice was not just built using lime and mortar but on the dedication of Headmasters like Dr.Kuruvilla Jacob, Thiru Mathias, E.D. Savarirayan, Thiru Clement Felix, Thiru Jefferson Christopher and others who kept this institution continuously moving forward. The initiatives taken by Thiru G.J.Manohar, the present dynamic Headmaster & Correspondent to make this school create record in every sphere deserves commendation. His efforts to mould and evolve a generation with holistic development and to introduce various fields and programmes apart from academics has today made the Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School a vibrant institution with more than 3500 students. The world is filled with stress and strife. One could see a lot of stress faced by the children at an early age. Integrated education would bring about a holistic development in the students. Encouraging students to take part in sports, to involve them in extracurricular activities like debates, quiz, spelling bee, music, dramatics, arts etc., would relieve stress and will help to explore the inherent skills in them. Brining about a scientific, balanced discipline of the body, mind and spirit is necessary to make the youth into good citizens of tomorrow. Involving students in Yoga, meditation and nurturing in them good qualities will develop values and virtues. I appeal to the students to be bold and dynamic. Be creative and innovative. The nation needs many scientists and entrepreneurs. Nurturing in the students a flair for creativity is necessary. Be master of yourself. The secret of success lies in your will power, determination and hard work. Rekindling the will power, revitalizing the energies 2 and abundant potentials in the children and students lies with the educational institutions. It is shedding away of and leaving no room to desires that will bring about a spirit of humaneness and compassion. I am sure involving students in yoga and meditation will nurture these qualities. Today is an era of technology. If Technology can divert or distract the young generation from attending schools, then it would be prudent enough to use the same technology to capture these young minds and channelize their energies in the right direction. It is necessary to use them as one of the resource kits for education. I congratulate the Principal for adopting new teaching methodologies and introducing elearning, capture software, smart board and audio visual classes as teaching technologies. Updating Knowledge and skills is imperative. It is nice that this institution has come out with the American Field Service Programme for students of 10 th and 12th standard. I am happy to learn that this Youth Exchange Study Programme is funded by the US Government and the students are selected to visit U.S. every year. I am pleased to learn that this helps them understand cultural and social ethics. The initiatives taken by Thiru G.J.Manohar, Head Master and Correspondent to facilitate the students to visit United States, Germany, Russia on exchange programmes will enable the students to know the outside world. This stands for emulation. Career counseling should be an active part of the curriculum. Students should be counselled on careers they want to pursue. Enlightening them on a wide range of careers is necessary. I congratulate the Management for coming forward to offer career counseling and guidance to its students. Enhancing infrastructure, establishing Hi-tech modern labs, virtual classrooms etc are necessary to enable students to compete globally. I commend the efforts taken by the management of Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School for coming forward to construct a new multipurpose Miller Hall in place of the old one. I congratulate the alumini and the generous donors for making their contributions for constructing this new hall. I convey my warm felicitations to Thiru G.J.Manohar, correspondent, the teachers, staff, students, alumini and donors. Headmaster and I conclude with the words of Benjamin Disraeli, “Individuals may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation”. My greetings to you all. Jai Hind.