Panday’s seven

Headmistress of Bai Ruttonbai F. D. Panday Pre-Primary School Silloo Commissariat has had the distinction of meeting, and working with all the six other principals who have served the School in its 120-year history. Felicitated on February 10, 2018 at the School Hall for her 60 years of service as teacher, vice principal, principal and currently as headmistress, School alumna Commissariat began her talk with a quote from Sir Dinshaw Wacha: "Happy is the nation and the community whose mothers are educated.”

Commissariat met the School’s first principal Piroja Sorabji Banaji-Boyce, when the latter was 103 years old in 1981. A graduate in English and French from Bombay University, the centenarian had led the institution from 1898 (it’s year of establishment) to 1910. "It was then a primary school with five classes and two teachers. Children wore ijars and jhablas and embroidered caps. The older girls attended school in saris, long sleeved blouses and covered heads,” said Commissariat. "We visited Banaji-Boyce and presented her a shawl and flowers. She had lost her eyesight.” She passed away a few years later at the age of 106, according to the headmistress.
Commissariat knew the second principal Piroja Banaji as a student during Banaji’s 40-year term as principal, from 1911 till her retirement in 1951, "through two world wars.” During Banaji’s tenure, the School progressed from the primary level to middle school and commenced preparations for the girls’ matriculation. "There were 500 Parsi children in the school in those days… We played badminton with her every afternoon.”
The third principal Bacha Mowdawalla led the School from 1951 to 1959. "Piano, music, English and French were her subjects... She brought quite a few changes in the School… I was a teacher of English and Geography under her… We started the School library (and introduced) supplementary readers.”After her short stint at Panday School, Mowdawalla served as principal of Dr Noshirwan Dastur High School in Poona. "She died recently at the age of 99,” Commissariat commented.
The fourth principal, Goolcher Khergamwala ("my icon”) led the School from 1959 to 1975. "Practical, down-to earth, open and frank in her dealings… her tall frame and strict look hid a gentle and warm heart.” It was during Khergamwala’s tenure that the School raised funds to build in 1966 the Annexe building now named "Seth Dadi Cowasji Panday Pavilion and the Panday Girls’ High School Extension.” During that time, the "number of Zoroastrian girls fell below 250” and a decision was taken to make the School cosmopolitan. Khergamwala continued as School secretary till her death in 1982.
Commissariat’s tenure as principal began in 1975 and continued till 2001, after which she took over as headmistress of the pre-primary section. During her stint, student strength peaked. For a while, the School ran in three shifts. "Additional emphasis was given to extracurricular activities like karate, yoga, Indian dancing; a band was started, as was a counseling service. Freny Jabulee, "a senior teacher under me” who succeeded Commissariat carried on "all the activities and traditions of the School,” till 2017, after which the baton passed on to current principal Hutoxi Mistry ("my spitfire student”), under who, Commissariat is confident, "the School will go a long way.”