St Thomas’ College, Dehradun began its centenary celebrations on Saturday with a thanks-giving service.

The day started with the Thomasian family gathering at the Rangers College Ground. The college mascot “CENTUM” was placed right in the middle of the ground surrounded by the Thomasians. One hundred balloons were released to mark the completion of 100 glorious years of the college. It was followed by the principal RV Gardner releasing a dove by way of celebrating  purity and peace.

The Thomasians along with the Alumni, commemorated the thanks giving service by singing hymns to thank and praise God for making the institution fortunate to celebrate its 100 chaste and dedicated years of service in the field of education.

The service began with the school song followed by the speech of the Principal RV Gardner. In his speech he remembered all the 12 principals who had served the school before him and laid the foundation to serve even the weaker sections of the society who were deprived of quality education. He also extended a warm welcome to the guest of honour, Major Gen Basant Singh, an Ex-Thomasian. Gardner has been the 13th principal and under his able leadership since 1980 the college has prospered a lot.

The program then proceeded with the inter-faith prayers said by the religious of different religion to spread the message of oneness in God. The Christian Priest, the Head Granthi, The Maulana and the Panditji prayed for many more resplendent years for the institution to come.

This was followed by the readings by M Abel, supervisor Middle school, GIG Mann, Ex- Thomasian and Principal Carman School, Dalanwala, The College captain Anubhav Joshi, Pranav Dhasmana and Jaishree Bansal of class XI.

The principals of various schools present for the occasion were GIG Mann (Principal Carman School, Dalanwala), VR Gardner (Principal St. Jude’s School), Bro. Dennis Joseph (Principal, St. Joseph’s Academy), Greta (Principal, Convent of Jesus and Mary), Neena Singh (Principal, The Himalyan Public School), Col AK Pundir (Principal Constancia School) Dr D Arora (Principal Ann Mary School), Chhaya Khanna (Principal, Scholars’ Home),. J Gonsalves (Principal St. Xaviers School), M Saxena (Principal Touchwood School), J Brar (Principal Welham Girls School), Maya Narula (Principal Hopetown School), Dr. S.C. Biala (Principal, Cambrian Hall) and M Minocha (Principal little Flower School).

Besides it, the eminent dignitaries including Dr Naveen Ahuja, noted neurologist in Dehradun, Ashok Verma, (Chairman Other Backward Classes, Uttarakhand), lt. Col PK Bhatt, Ex-Thomasian (Project officer army infantry Battalion), Yogesh Sethi, Ex-Thomasian (Advocate), Rahul Dora (Head Marketing and PR, Synergy Hospital and many more retired army officials.

The function concluded with the centenary song reminding all the Thomasians that we have lived up to the College moto “BUIlD YE HIGH AND BUIlD YE TRUE” since 1916 and shall do so for many more years to come.