Sara Matthew ma’am was born on 20th November 1930 in a small town called Konni in Kerala. She started our school in 1966 in a small rented building in Safdarjung Enclave and appointed Mrs Sudesh Sharma as a teacher to help her. In 1980, Matthew ma’am sent her first batch of students to write the CBSE Board Exams, and that’s how this institution was born and later, over the years, expand into two more schools, two outreach programmes, and three vocational training institutes for women. In 1994 she started her secondary school in Dwaraka and a nursery school in 1999.
Teachers remember Ms Matthews, her kindness, her unshakeable determination, and her faith in the goodness of people with the utmost fondness. The school initially started out as her dream. Teachers and alumni who were present when she was will always keep her in their hearts; she left a lasting impression on everyone. Her spirit lives on as St. Mary’s reaches new heights; her legacy continues as St. Marians grow up to be kind-hearted and socially aware citizens of India.
Ms Mary Manuskhani had just moved into Delhi in 1998, a city unknown to her. Her journey
with St. Mary’s School began with an advertisement she had found in the newspaper. When
asked about her very first interaction with Ms Matthew, Mary ma’am recalls that she was the
elderly lady sitting in the middle of the interview panel with a neat little bun and glasses.
Ms Annie Tharayan’s memories delve into a bit more detail about St. Mary’s administrator. She goes on to detail Ms Matthew life outside her school. She had varied interests and hobbies: president of the Young Women’s Christian Association multiple times, an immense love for plants that begot her admiration and awards at different flower shows. Especially for the dahlias and chrysanthemums. Her presence was a living thing; people became hyperaware of it the moment she took a step into the school, even without seeing her.
“One of the things that made Matthew ma’am stand out,” Ms Annie says, “was her way of
dressing.” She tells me how everything about her was a study of elegance. Not a hair of Ms
Matthew was ever out of place, despite not keeping well in her last few years.”
“Not a speck of dust was present in our classrooms during Matthew ma’am’s time, such was her discipline,” Mary ma’am recalls. “Her connection with children was such that whenever she entered a classroom, all children would run to shower her with hugs, all the while chanting her name.”
She would amble around during lunchtime, talk to the students and even eat with them. Both teachers remember Matthew ma’am always encouraging people to expand their horizons by adopting various hobbies and interests, always seeing the remarkable talent in every person possible.
Ms Annie’s memories of Matthew ma’am have a hopeful note to them. She remembers her
recognising her talent always, encouraging her to utilise it well, expand her horizons via the
YWCA (Young Women Christian Association), which posed a bit of a problem due to
commuting problems back in those days.
Ms Matthews, Mary ma’am remembers, had a genuine charm about her. Despite her position of authority, her orders were never orders. They were always phrased with the sweetest, brightest smile, made into requests that were impossible to refuse. How could they, when she was directing that smile at the person?
Mary ma’am describes one such incident. Being the head of the Young Women’s Christian
Association, she had convinced Mary ma’am to join the group. She had come up to her, and in the softest possible voice, combined with the smile gracing her face, said, “I would love to see you in today’s meeting.”
That was all it took! Before she knew it, Mary ma’am had found herself going to the meetings, even if that meant taking her three-year-old daughter along with her or reaching home only after 4 pm.
She also mentions how Matthew ma’am had taught her the spirit of teamwork, and this was one of the things that she incorporated into her teachings as a class teacher.
Ms Matthew also had a sharp eye and never held back on correcting someone’s mistakes. In one such incident, Mary ma’am had written the letter ‘Y’ incorrectly in a four-lined notebook for children. Matthew ma’am had been quick to catch on to the error and correct her. She believed in honesty and straightforwardness.
Mary ma’am summarises the only unfulfilled wish in a dreamy voice: “I always wished that once the new building should have felt her presence once.”
This is the concluding thought of the interviews with both teachers as we cherish Ms Matthew and her memories right alongside them.
Experience and memories are both rooted in mind, and yet the two words have slightly different meanings for everyone. Both can be good or bad, but memories often give you something to smile upon as you move forward with life.
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