“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.

My association with this 120-year-old grand lady has been for 30 years — as a student, a teacher and today as the Principal of this great institution, the “Bai R. F. D. Panday Girls’ High School.” I am immensely privileged and honoured to be at the wheel in this landmark year.

The aim of this larger-than-life institution has always been good, affordable education for the girl child. We, at Panday, constantly endeavour to enhance intelligence and arouse compassion in the hearts of our students so that they can find their place in this complex and competitive world without losing their humanity.

Our goal is not just to increase their knowledge but to create opportunities for our children to invent, discover and develop the confidence to be resourceful and successful — doing new things and not merely repeating what earlier generations have done.

Today, our country is positively moving towards a better tomorrow. With multidisciplinary and multifaceted challenges in the field of education, we need to instill a strong foundation in academic and co-curricular activities for the young architects of our nation. Education is and will always be the most powerful tool for individual and social change, and we must do all that it takes to facilitate it.

Rightly said: “Education is a shared commitment between dedicated teachers, motivated students and enthusiastic parents with high expectations.”

Our School is blessed with a very caring, generous and committed Board of Trustees, led by Mr. M. N. M. Cama, and a posse of excellent, competent and compassionate staff members — both teaching and non-teaching. This whole team at Panday ensures a safe, secure and nurturing environment, giving each child in our fold the opportunity to grow and blossom.

Added to this is our set of cooperative, understanding and supportive parents who appreciate all we do, making our task easier and pleasurable.

To end in the words of the late A. P. J. Abdul Kalam: “Education in its real sense is the pursuit of truth. It is an endless journey through knowledge and enlightenment.”

May the blessings of the Lord Ahura Mazda always be upon our Alma Mater!