District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati lighting the torch on Sunday to mark the centenary celebrations at the Coimbatore Cloth Merchants Association Government Girls Higher Secondary School.
| Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY
Rekindling tales of a school that has weathered the years, over 1,000 alumni of the Coimbatore Cloth Merchants Association Government Girls Higher Secondary School gathered on Sunday as the institution marked its centenary celebrations in Coimbatore city.
Founded in 1894 as a primary school for girls, the institution gradually developed into a training school and later a high school. It was subsequently managed by the Coimbatore Cloth Merchants Association under the name Coimbatore Cloth Merchants Association Girls Higher Secondary School. In 1985, the government assumed control of its operations, yet the original name was retained.
While some former students exchanged old photographs with their batchmates, others, like R. Soumya from the 2008 batch, shared their thoughts on the old architecture, calling it the ‘Red Building’. “The building was built by an unknown king and was once a court complex. The courtroom with a stage was our classroom, and the wooden stairs were the favourite part,” she said.
Chief guest, Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati, said, “Efforts have been made to renovate the heritage building, with works under way for ₹7 crore, which reflects the importance of this school. There are 58 government schools in the district that are over 100 years old.”
Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran and Chief Educational Officer M. Balamurali were present at the event.
Published – February 02, 2025 07:26 pm IST