La Martiniere is one of the oldest, most prestigious, and most competitive, non-denominational private school in India. Branches are located in Calcutta and Lucknow in India, and Lyon in France. The schools admit students irrespective of religion and race.
La Martiniere Schools were founded posthumously by Major General Claude Martin in the early 1800s. Martin had acquired a large fortune while serving the Nawab of Awad Asaf-ud Daula and bequeathed a major part of his estate to establish the schools. His will outlined every minor detail of the schools, from their exact location to the manner of celebrating the annual Founder's Day.
The Colleges are widely recognized for their excellent athletic and academic programs, and for their architecture. Extra-curricular activities, including sports and community service organizations, are emphasized, and music and dance are included in the general curriculum.
The seven branches function independently, but maintain close contacts and share most traditions.
Founder : Claude Martin was born on 5 January 1735 in Lyon, France. He came to India when he was seventeen. After the French influence declined in India, he served in the British East India Company and rose to the rank of Major-General. After taking up residence in Lucknow, he occupied an important position in the court of Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah and later his son, Asaf-ud-Daula.
The La Martinière coat of arms was designed by the founder Claude Martin. It is supported by seven flags, each bearing the design of a fish, the emblem of Oudh. The devices on the escutcheon appear to epitomise Claude Martin's life. The ship recalls his voyage to India where he established his fortune. The lion with the pennant represents his career as an officer in the East India Company and with the Nawab of Oudh The setting sun behind the castellated building to the right of the shield has been said to point to the sunset of his days and the large part which the building of "Constantia" played in his later years. The coat of arms and the accompanying motto Labore et Constantia are now shared by all the schools founded by Martin.
The La Martinere College flag consists of the coat of arms on a blue and gold background. The flag is generally flown above the buildings, and used for formal events and celebrations, such as the annual Founder's Day.
The seal is engraved on the school buildings.
Founder's Day is commemorated every year on September 13, the day Claude Martin died. Some of the important traditions of this day include an extended formal assembly in the morning involving a faculty march, a speech by a prominent guest or alumnus, the playing of bagpipes, singing of the school song and other selected hymns by the College choir.A Founder's Day Social is held in the evening for the senior school. Classes are suspended on Founder's Day, which is generally followed by a school holiday.
2. Prize Day
At the end of each academic year, usually in the month of April, Prize Day is held to recognise academic excellence and to honour high achieving students. Some of the traditions include a formal assembly in the afternoon involving a faculty march, a formal speech by a prominent guest or alumnus, singing of the school song and other selected works by the College choir. Generally the top three ranking students of each class are awarded prizes, usually books, and upper classes receive subject proficiency awards.
In India, the students achieving first rank in competing academic examinations in grades 10 and 12 are awarded the Founder's Gold Medal. Several additional special prizes are also awarded.
3. Sports Day
Each year, on the last Sunday of November, the day is designated to showcase the athletic talents of La Martiniere students. Traditions include a school march (which involves a military-type march around the school grounds), performance by the school band, and an athletic competition between the school houses.
Houses
The students of each College are divided into four houses, mainly for promoting academic and athletic competition among students. The four houses have different names in La Martiniere Calcutta.In the respective positions:
1) Martin
2) Charnock
3) Macaulay
4) Hastings
Inter Martiniere Meet
Every year there is a Lucknow vs Calcutta Championship held with disciplines of sports conducted.Swimming and debate are conducted for both boys and girls school. Football is conducted for boys school. And Basketball for the girls school. This year was disappointing for the Calcutta football team as they lost by a narrow margin of 1 goal. But victory was taken by Calcutta in swimming and debate.
Curriculum
La Martiniere, Calcutta, has a wide spectrum of co-curricular activities which receives as much importance as the academic disciplines. Through this extensive range of activities, the students are exposed to varying situations and issues. They regularly participate in inter-school competitions at local, state, national and occasionally at international levels.
The scholastic, the intra- and the extra-mural programmes of La Martiniere are geared to nurturing academic excellence, independent and creative thought, the tapping of diverse talents, leadership training and a deep commitment to community service.
The various extra-curricular activities in the school include debates, elecutions, sports like cricket, football, hockey, rugby, basketball, boxing, golf and table tennis. The students are also encouraged to join various school clubs viz. the Interact Club, the Computer Club, the Nature Club, the Dramatics Club, the Heritage Club etc as well as other student organizations like the Library Squad, the School Beautification Squad, DEAS as well as NCC(both Air and Army Wing).
The school also hosts two very popular inter-school fests viz. [i]Karma Yatra(organized by the Interact Club) and [i]Nexus(organised by the Nature Club & Computer Club)
Famous Martinians
The various branches of the College have produced distinguished alumni in all walks of life. La Martiniere Calcutta has produced a father and son duo Vece Paes and Leander Paes, both of whom won medals at the Olympics.
Notable Martinians:
- C K Birla - Industrialist
- Sir Catchick Paul Chater - Father of modern Hong Kong, benefactor to the College
- Justice Jiten Chaudhary - Honourable Judge of Calcutta High Court
- Swapan Dasgupta, Journalist
- K.P.Singh Deo,Politician
- Sunanda K. Datta-Ray - Former Editor of The Statesman
- Rahil Gangjee - Professional golfer
- Dr Ron Ghosh - former Chairman CSFB worldwide
- Dr Saiyid Nurul Hasan - Historian, Union Minister of Education and former Governor of West Bengal, India
- Milford Hennesey - Olympian and former 110m hurdles record holder
- Dr. Vijay Mallya - Chairman of the United Breweries (UB) Group and Rajya Sabha member
- John Mason (Schoolmaster) - Educationist
- Chandan Mitra - Member of Parliament and eminent journalist
- Jaidip Mukerjea - Davis Cup team member
- Rajat Bhatia, investment banker and hedge fund manager.
- Rishi Narayan - Member of the Indian Golf squad in the IX Asiad
- Pritish Nandy - Media person and film producer
- Barry O'Brien
- Leander Paes - Tennis Player, India's only Medallist at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Captain of the Indian Davis Cup team
- Enrico Piperno - Member of Indian Tennis team to the IX Asiad; Davis Cup team member
- Ranodeb Roy (Ronnie Roy) - Head of Morgan Stanley, Asia, Fixed Income Division, Managing Director . Founder of UtsargaCharity
- Suhel Seth - CEO, Equus Advertising
- Jug Suraiya - Humourist and Journalist
- Paranjoy Guha Thakurta - Journalist
- Oscar Ward - Olympian
- School Major Production: Fiddler On The Roof:
The School production this year, named - ' Fiddler on The Roof ' was held at Kala Mandir, on the 5th, 6th and 7th of May. For the passes please contact the school office.
Its a play set in 1905,adapted from the musical previously written by - 'Joseph Stein', it was a musical that trully changed the dimensions of what a one can safely call traditions. A peep inside the beginning of the Russian revolution. Based on Sholom Aleichem's stories, it first opened in broadway in 1965. The music by Jerry Bock and the lyrics by Sheldon Harnick were considered to be one of the best of the era. La Martiniere has endevoured to re-create the magic of a musical, acclaimed in all dimensions of theatrical brilliance. A chance not to be missed, to watch the musical directed by Mrs. Katy Lai Roy. - Feedbacks at- flames_online@yahoo.com(KUNAL)
The School production this year, named - ' Fiddler on The Roof ' was held at Kala Mandir, on the 5th, 6th and 7th of May. For the passes please contact the school office.
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