St. Joseph’s Convent, in the French colony of Chandannagar in West Bengal, India – run by the Sisters Of Cluny…
Founded by Anne Marie Javouhey https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne-Marie_Javouhey
My belated tribute today to Sr. Andrea, my school’s Headmistress, also my English teacher(shared a story below) for several years – who passed away on the 26th of April.
This was exactly five days after my mother had left us on 21st April so suddenly, that this news of Sister following her – came at a time when I was completely numb from shock and grief already, to be able to write anything yet.
Today, the 10th of June is Sr. Andrea’s birthday and I take this opportunity to acknowledge my deepest respect and gratitude for her inspiration and strength since I was at boarding school.
Not even heaven is far enough to make me forget your birthday, Sister. Although you aren’t here to celebrate it with us. I know that you’re getting a birthday serenade from the angels. As all of my life I compared your singing to how the angels might sing in heaven. Sending my best to you and your family today.
Many birthday greetings from all those you left behind on earth. We love and miss you dearly, Sister.
When grief and a kind of insecurity from
loss of your moral support are your inspiration, over and above every other emotion – it is extremely difficult to write what you truly want to say and yet I have been trying hard since the first word of this post.
My mother, being with a teachers training college and getting on so well with Sr Andrea – much to my fear and consternation all through school – both have been the guiding, driving, nurturing and saving factors of my life in so many ways that I cannot even begin to elaborate here.
I have been pushed beyond my endurance many a times as I often thought – by both these women and a few other people in life including teachers and bosses – but today I have to admit I am truly blessed with the values and strength they have thereby inculcated in me. My school character certificate that’s enclosed here – vis a vis the numerous job assignments I’ve handled, also the grit to persevere and never give up are what these two women have gifted me with.
I have been severely penalised and punished in extreme ways by both – also kneeling at Sister’s office all day in view of anyone who passed – when I was in class 9.
All my working life discipline is something I coached, trained and inculcated in others – would they believe I had passed through fire so many times to be able to do that. I’ve elaborated several of these instances in my books Across Borders
and Existences.
Sharing two short stories below:
http://shuvashreechowdhury.com/2015/05/25/when-poetry-and-hymn-merged-in-my-soul-out-of-deadly-fear/
http://shuvashreechowdhury.com/2016/09/20/my-earliest-leadership-training/
#tribute #school #headmistress #mother #principal #teacher’s training #discipline #grief #loss #empowerment #lifecoach
Sharing the photos of my schools 125th year celebrations in 2011, in this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150120085269974&type=3
Shuvashree Chowdhury 