Great grandson of founder has compiled school’s history since the 19th century. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
In the 19th century, Parsis began to arrive in Karachi - the city then developing into British India’s foremost ports. Among their earliest priorities were establishing the Tower of Silence in 1847 and the Hirjikaka Dare Meher in 1848 to preserve the community’s religious traditions.
Only after 10 years, the steady growth of their population compelled the community elders to open the Parsi Balakshala to give religious education and knowledge of Gujarati to Parsi children.
In 1870, Shahpurji Hormusji Soparivala donated his home to the community in memory of his late wife, Virbaiji, to house a co-educational vernacular school. The Balakshala moved into these premises, becoming the Parsi Virbaiji School. Five years later, the school introduced English in higher classes and the school was renamed Bai Virbaiji Soparivala (BVS) Parsi Anglo-Vernacular School.
To accommodate the growing number of girls and the society’s norms at the time, the community members realised the need for a separate school for girls. The idea for a separate school first surfaced in 1903 and then in 1911 with Seth Edulji Dinshaw’s proposals, but insufficient funds and legal difficulties prevented it from becoming a reality.
Finally in 1918, the first elected Karachi mayor Jamshed Nusserwanji Mehta brought together the philanthropy of Khan Bahadur Ardeshir Hormusji Mama, with a contribution of Rs300,000, and the trustees of the estates of Seth Nawroji Nusserwanji Pochaji and Seth Edulji Dinshaw with Rs135,000 and Rs75,000, respectively. Thus, Mama Parsi School was set up on April 1, 1918, by restructuring the BVS Parsi Anglo-Vernacular School, which is now known as the BVS Parsi Boys High School.
“One of his [Khan Bahadur Mama’s] first notable public acts was to manifest his interest in the subject of female education in Karachi,” reported The Imperial Gazetteer in 1920 as recorded by Jubin Noshir Mama. The school was named thus in honour of the family, it added.
In its first year, the school functioned from the BVS school premises, moving in June 1919 to Mama Mansions, a residential and office complex owned by Khan Bahadur Mama. Cowashah Edulji Anklesaria, who was principal of BVS Parsi High School since 1899, assumed the dual responsibilities until Miss J Kelly was appointed as the first official principal.
The construction of the school’s own building began in January 1920, and was completed in five years.
On April 1, 1925, a student body of 70 girls moved from Mama Mansions to the new purpose-built premises. In 1943, the school began taking students from other communities as well so that they could also benefit from the broad curriculum it offered
With the creation of Pakistan, the school gave up its parochial status to grant admissions purely on merit, irrespective of religious or communal background - a practice that it follows to this day.
It offers students the opportunity to pursue either the Cambridge International Examinations or the Aga Khan University Examination Board.
“I believe we have been successful in continuing our mission to impart holistic and affordable education to the girls of Karachi,” said Tampal proudly. She has been associated with the school for the past 23 years, and was appointed the principal in 2010.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
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As a mother, it has been always my dream to have my daughters get enrolled in this prestigious school. Getting admission in Mama |Parsi itself is a prove of your child capability, as the whole admission process is purely based on merit and nothing else.
We should thanks our Parsi community for this noble contribution to society.
I feel very proud to study in the Mama School. I have learned lot from here. CONGRAGULATIONS
Mama Parsi felt the need of girls school separately the way back, which is tremendous and they continue to maintain the level of education.....I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your success and achieving the goal. Happy Birthday
May their tribe increase.
What sets The Mama Parsi Girls' Secondary School different from other schools is its constant struggle to truly serve education in its true meaning.
The Mama Parsi School is the alma mater for all of us Mamaians and we are all proud to be associated with one of the best schools in Pakistan. We were not only given education but also educated with discipline and honour and respect for our elders, the art of complete living by our honourable teachers. I salute the efforts of all my faculty for making us what we are today. Thank you dear school for making us proud Mamians and a very happy birthday.
"Let Humility Charity Faith and Labour light out path" Always and forever!
Beautifully written. Mamaians are recognized and their potentials and discipline can be marked out from a crowd even in the IVY league universities.
Best School ever!
You guys forgot to add that the school was opened to Muslim girls on the request of Lady Fatima Jinnah :)
On this day we must appreciate the contribution of minorities in Pakistan. Mama school is a reliable name for providing quality education to Karachites. Congratulations to Mama school community on this auspicious day.
Happy birthday Mama school! Celebrating the joys of Mama school is like celebrating our success. No matter where we are, how much time has been elapsed.. The discipline of Mama school remains in our bloods to-date, can't thank enough to what Mama school has made me and also can't believe that 15years have gone by since the time when we were celebrating school's 80th birthday Mashallah. God bless Mama school!
There are a very few schools in Karachi that could be termed as institutions .......... and the Mama school is decidedly one of them.
Salute to Elders of Parsi Community in Karachi. They have given so much to Karachi in various forms Educational Institutions were one of the prime gift to city dwellers. BVS Parsi School and NED collage are amongst few to quote.