Shalini Seth
An education – in all its completeness – is what I think Sophia gave me. Even 25 or so years later, I remember lessons from being a part of skill-based groups for learning communication skills, from studying history with Sister Anila in way that connected it to the present, and studying Gandhism with Mrs Raman so that it left a life-long impact, even more than a social work Masters degree that I acquired subsequently.
Literature and life
I majored in English Literature and I think we had the best group of teachers who would rank among the top anywhere in the world. Ms. Colaco taught us syntax along with Shakespeare with equal passion and discipline. It's a fantastic combination for any field, anytime.
Mrs. Steven, while refusing to be drawn into the teenage friendliness, made it clear that we were expected to be the best students we could be and she would be the best teacher. I remember a rare verbal shake-up, the only one in three years, to our particularly unresponsive class who was emotionally and intellectually dead that day.
Whether it was practical criticism or Robert Frost, over decades since then, her honesty in discussing human emotion has been a lesson that has held fast. When you feel too alive for the world sometimes – not average, not fitting in – these lessons remain a glimmer of a reminder that you are on the right track. Just as when you get sucked into the mindlessness of passivity, the way back into being alive seems clear.
I remember being taught Duchess of Malphi even though it was not in that year's syllabus because one cannot study English literature and skip the Renaissance. I remember studying Kiran Nagarkar and other Indian poets in practical criticism – it was a way to include Indian writing even if it wasn't in that year's syllabus.
Be who you’re – and the best at that
Our teachers took their jobs seriously. And while we studied all these works of literature remembering clichéd quotes like generations before us, the life lesson that came through was to be unabashedly good rather than pretend not to care and strive to the safety of mediocrity so you're like everyone else.
Later in my career, when producing international articles and then magazines in topics as varied as fashion and hospitality trade, and, now, business, this focus on the essence of the job at hand has held me in good stead. Being earnest doesn't always make you a nerd. You can be gorgeously, furiously, confidently earnest so that it becomes normal at the place you work.
In the years after, in talking about Sophia to young women looking for a foothold for their tentative growing up selves, I've also spoken about the 13-people strong literature class held in the tiny room, where you could see the sea, and the kites circling the building. I remember the garden and walking down the steps into college every day, trying out ways of expressing yourself via what you wear – and once, sliding down the steps to land with my skirt flounced all around me.
Pugmarks and paw prints
I thank Sophia for many firsts – the first nature appreciation course with WWF where we spent days at Bhimashankar listening to bird calls and barking deer. The Kaleidoscope in my first year BA was the first time someone used my face as a palette for full makeup, and Meeta Kumar (now Luthra) and I went on to win the creative competitions that year and the next, I think. At the film club, we critically looked at Kurosawa and 8 1/2, among others – again, our teachers were not afraid to show us that they cared, that there was nothing more important than teaching us. And along with these, I did my first street play in Hindi on the girl child with Sister Ananda. I had the first of my poems published in literary journals.
From being a suitcase child for many years before – finishing secondary school in a convent in Rajasthan and 12th via correspondence from Punjab University, while we lived in isolated, remote, jungle-like places – Sophia was a fantastic entry into the world. I remember queuing up at the shed to hear about various clubs and marveling that there was so much to do!
Our introduction to our seniors was when, after Sister Penny, they welcomed us into the college on the marble steps with little teekas...quite the opposite of ragging or hazing that one was prepared to combat. While they were busy having fun and producing professional quality plays, our seniors, Avaan and Rupali and Sangeeta... all took us under their wing.
Given this background, along with studying English literature, my final year was the culmination of all that I learnt – I was the class rep, the university union rep from the college and the head of the publicity committee for Kaleidoscope that year. Since we were just back from our nature trail, the theme for all the categories was green, based on pugmarks, bird tracks, and paw prints. Years and many other grown-up achievements later, these still bring back a sense of pride.
When the riots broke out that year, under Sister Fleurette's direction I coordinated relief efforts and donations. At the end of the year, I took home the scholarship for maximum participation in extracurricular activities. It’s been a matter of personal pride that at the youth fest we would handle security and sets with no thought of being "girly" and helpless.
Overall, Sophia nurtured our fledgling attempts to discover who we were – creative, mad, capable, confident, ideological, and natural-born feminists – within the framework of discipline to not compromise on any aspects of learning. It was obvious to us in the first few classes we attended – Mrs Canteenwala's lecture in literature – when we were nudged gently into taking notes in class like grown-ups who can think and pick the relevant portions rather than wait to be spoon-fed.
It was the best introduction to the adult world that I could’ve asked for!
Shalini Seth
https://ae.linkedin.com/in/shaliniseth
1991-93. English Literature major
Current: Editor, Media ME, Dubai
1991-93. English Literature major
Current: Editor, Media ME, Dubai
Current: Editor, Media ME, Dubai
An education – in all its completeness – is what I think Sophia gave me. Even 25 or so years later, I remember lessons from being a part of skill-based groups for learning communication skills, from studying history with Sister Anila in way that connected it to the present, and studying Gandhism with Mrs Raman so that it left a life-long impact, even more than a social work Masters degree that I acquired subsequently.
Literature and life
I majored in English Literature and I think we had the best group of teachers who would rank among the top anywhere in the world. Ms. Colaco taught us syntax along with Shakespeare with equal passion and discipline. It's a fantastic combination for any field, anytime.
Mrs. Steven, while refusing to be drawn into the teenage friendliness, made it clear that we were expected to be the best students we could be and she would be the best teacher. I remember a rare verbal shake-up, the only one in three years, to our particularly unresponsive class who was emotionally and intellectually dead that day.
Whether it was practical criticism or Robert Frost, over decades since then, her honesty in discussing human emotion has been a lesson that has held fast. When you feel too alive for the world sometimes – not average, not fitting in – these lessons remain a glimmer of a reminder that you are on the right track. Just as when you get sucked into the mindlessness of passivity, the way back into being alive seems clear.
I remember being taught Duchess of Malphi even though it was not in that year's syllabus because one cannot study English literature and skip the Renaissance. I remember studying Kiran Nagarkar and other Indian poets in practical criticism – it was a way to include Indian writing even if it wasn't in that year's syllabus.
Be who you’re – and the best at that
Our teachers took their jobs seriously. And while we studied all these works of literature remembering clichéd quotes like generations before us, the life lesson that came through was to be unabashedly good rather than pretend not to care and strive to the safety of mediocrity so you're like everyone else.
Later in my career, when producing international articles and then magazines in topics as varied as fashion and hospitality trade, and, now, business, this focus on the essence of the job at hand has held me in good stead. Being earnest doesn't always make you a nerd. You can be gorgeously, furiously, confidently earnest so that it becomes normal at the place you work.
In the years after, in talking about Sophia to young women looking for a foothold for their tentative growing up selves, I've also spoken about the 13-people strong literature class held in the tiny room, where you could see the sea, and the kites circling the building. I remember the garden and walking down the steps into college every day, trying out ways of expressing yourself via what you wear – and once, sliding down the steps to land with my skirt flounced all around me.
Pugmarks and paw prints
I thank Sophia for many firsts – the first nature appreciation course with WWF where we spent days at Bhimashankar listening to bird calls and barking deer. The Kaleidoscope in my first year BA was the first time someone used my face as a palette for full makeup, and Meeta Kumar (now Luthra) and I went on to win the creative competitions that year and the next, I think. At the film club, we critically looked at Kurosawa and 8 1/2, among others – again, our teachers were not afraid to show us that they cared, that there was nothing more important than teaching us. And along with these, I did my first street play in Hindi on the girl child with Sister Ananda. I had the first of my poems published in literary journals.
From being a suitcase child for many years before – finishing secondary school in a convent in Rajasthan and 12th via correspondence from Punjab University, while we lived in isolated, remote, jungle-like places – Sophia was a fantastic entry into the world. I remember queuing up at the shed to hear about various clubs and marveling that there was so much to do!
Our introduction to our seniors was when, after Sister Penny, they welcomed us into the college on the marble steps with little teekas...quite the opposite of ragging or hazing that one was prepared to combat. While they were busy having fun and producing professional quality plays, our seniors, Avaan and Rupali and Sangeeta... all took us under their wing.
Given this background, along with studying English literature, my final year was the culmination of all that I learnt – I was the class rep, the university union rep from the college and the head of the publicity committee for Kaleidoscope that year. Since we were just back from our nature trail, the theme for all the categories was green, based on pugmarks, bird tracks, and paw prints. Years and many other grown-up achievements later, these still bring back a sense of pride.
When the riots broke out that year, under Sister Fleurette's direction I coordinated relief efforts and donations. At the end of the year, I took home the scholarship for maximum participation in extracurricular activities. It’s been a matter of personal pride that at the youth fest we would handle security and sets with no thought of being "girly" and helpless.
Overall, Sophia nurtured our fledgling attempts to discover who we were – creative, mad, capable, confident, ideological, and natural-born feminists – within the framework of discipline to not compromise on any aspects of learning. It was obvious to us in the first few classes we attended – Mrs Canteenwala's lecture in literature – when we were nudged gently into taking notes in class like grown-ups who can think and pick the relevant portions rather than wait to be spoon-fed.
It was the best introduction to the adult world that I could’ve asked for!
Shalini Seth
https://ae.linkedin.com/in/shaliniseth
1991-93. English Literature major
Current: Editor, Media ME, Dubai
