G.A. MURRAY: “I’ll keep your memories warm in my heart”

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”

                                                                             -   Lao Tzu

    Mt. Hermon School staff, 1963

    In honour and fond memory of our beloved Principal Mr. G. A. Murray (August 24, 1931 – April 7, 2015), who passed away at this time last year on April 7, 2015, I have decided to begin recording and documenting the rich and unique heritage of our alma mater, Mount Hermon School.

    Introducing “HERMONITE Archives” is our first ‘single step’ towards a thousand miles journey. I hope Hermonites from  all over the world, particularly the older ones, will take this initiative seriously and begin setting  aside some time for themselves and MH and start using this page to record  their time spent around the ‘old and friendly walls’ of Mt. Hermon School.

   I’m honoured and delighted to formally begin a serious attempt to document our school’s history and its rich tradition and renown personalities.  I joined MH as a Class 2 student in 1963, finished Senior Cambridge in 1972, joined Mt. Hermon’s  Teacher’s  Training College (TTC) for two years in 1974-75, and finally taught in MH between 1976-1979.  Therefore, I’m perhaps one of the very few fortunate ones who worked under Mr. Murray for such a long time.

   Mr. Graeme Armstrong Murray began his teaching career in MH in mid-1950s when Rev David G. Stewart was the school Principal. He later became the Senior Master and finally the Principal in 1964. Before he left MH at the end of 1978, MH was one of the best boarding schools in India.

   Most Hermonites of my generation last saw Mr. Murray in 1995 during the school’s centenary celebrations. Some of us last saw Mr. and Mrs. Murray in Darjeeling a few years after 1995. I had hoped to visit him and his family in New Zealand thereafter but sadly that was not to be.

   When Mr. Murray passed away at this time last year a part of each one of who knew him so dearly and fondly also died. But a part of him also lives in each one of us and we rejoice in knowing this.  Hail Mt. Hermon!

Jigme N.  Kazi

MH – 1963-1979, Gangtok, Sikkim