Campion School 1944.
I joined in the V standard which had only 12 students. Campion was even then a really exclusive school. Not yet a high school and not a public school but a school especially stated for children of refugees. Remember these were the war years (World War II) and the refugees in India were not exactly homeless starving and penniless but families who happened to be in India at the outbreak of hostilities. Many of theses families were extremely important and affluent.

For example there was Murrack Mestrovich whose father owned a gun and ammunition factory in Yougoslavia but who was now given refugee status. Exclusivity ski-rocketed as our class of 12 students dwindled to 5. There was also another type of exclusivity: our teachers who are exceptionally good at teaching were also exceptionally good looking. Our lone male teacher was an Austrian Jesuit Brother Augustine, who was strikingly handsome. He looked like a film star in a cassock. In fact he looked an identical twin of a very famous French film star Jean Pierre Aumont who was among the world’s top actors at that time. Brother Augustine was our hero in every way- but it was our lady teachers we worshipped. Each as lovely as a beauty queen. Each had our undivided attention even in class. No wonder we were such excellent students. The result- the V standard was in a permanent state of euphoria and every student’s performance was at near genius level. Naturally too, the students were committed to excellence in every department – every boy was bright of mind excellent in behavior stout of heart and strong of limb. Where else could you find such a bunch of boys but in Campion School?

At that time Campion School was housed in a beautiful bungalow at New Marine Lines near the SNDT College. I lived very near by at AFI Building which is opposite the present Home Guard ground. Every morning the trip to school was a short pleasant stroll across the Home Guards ground and the Cross Maidan and for the trip back I used to walk down New Marine Lines so that I could pass those lovely Parsee-owned villas and bungalows complete with gardens well kept lawns and kindly Parsee ladies, I used to wave to – who often invited me in for tea and biscuits. Eating being one’s prime goal occupation and satisfaction in those days. Our Principal was Fr. Savall an aristocratic and saintly figure who like all teachers paid tremendous personal attention to us. One day he set the school peon to my house asking my mother to see him. When she arrived he asked after the whole family and then asked if we had late-night parties and whether the children were allowed to attend them. “Because your son Ossie D;Souza was caught sleeping during the religion class: he said. That was enough. I got it at home.

But I was also called by Fr. Savall spoken to very kindly and warned. Exclusivity also had something to do with the fees which were Rs 27/- at that time in 1944. It must have been the back of my family’s finances to send me to Campion School. But what I got back in turn more that compensated my parents. Fr. Savall was personally interested in every student. He watched each one’s every move with q strange mix of strictness and affection. I doubt if he’d fit in today’s world. The next time Fr. Savall sent for my mother was for something else. She returned and announced in her own quit way that Fr. Savall has specially invited her to be present for the prize distribution. I didn’t know it – but I was to receive several prizes including the first scholarship of Campion School for the best student instituted in memory of Dr. (Mrs) Myrtie Noronha – this was a exceptional lady who in a large measure was responsible for the starting of Campion School. For years she had collected large funds to help the school get going. Eventually I had to leave Campion School not because I wanted to but because the school’s expansion plans had fallen through.

They had decided to expand by turning the V standard into VI standard and then into VII standard and so on but ran into accommodation difficulties because they had not et got the present building. We of the V standard were regretfully told that we could choose between St Xavier’s High School or St Mary’s High School and so I left Campion School with a heavy heart to join St Mary’s High School.

But that is another story.