Age may have caught up with their bodies but not their minds.
They were as spirited as their younger college-mates as they arrived at their alma mater, a college that will soon celebrate its centenary.
Mothers, daughters, granddaughters, nieces and students-turned-faculty members travelled back in time and relived their days spent at Women’s Christian College (WCC). Squeals of joy filled the auditorium every time former students recognised one other despite the decades that have passed since their time together.
Saturday’s homecoming was special for 99-year-old Anna Jacob, the oldest alumnus of the college. Overwhelmed with emotion, Ms. Jacob, a resident of Vellore, said: “I did my intermediate studies here and went to Canada for higher studies. I once visited the college many years ago. But now I hardly recognise it.”
WCC is also close to the family of 94-year-old Lily Edwards, who was accompanied by daughter Vasanthi Mathew-Edwards. A history student of the 1936 batch, Ms. Edwards and her two sisters graduated from the college. Her three daughters were also educated at WCC.
Belonging to an era when college education for girls was not very common, Ms. Edwards who worked as a teacher, said: “I am very happy to be here. I felt encouraged when I found out that other alumni of the same decade were attending the event.” Her daughter Vasanthi was crowned homecoming queen at the event, along with two others.
Many alumni from abroad and across the country were dressed according to the colour code specified for each decade.
Elizabeth Palmer (90) was a history student of the 1942 batch. “I visit the college whenever I come to India from the UK. I even taught here for a decade. Some buildings have changed. But the college traditions remain,” she said.
College principal Ridling Margeret Waller said, “We are involving the alumni in many centenary projects lined up for this year.”
