THE CATHEDRAL AND JOHN CONNON SCHOOL

“We try and give our children every possible opportunity to be the kind of people they can be. It is important, in this day and age, to focus on emotional quotient as well and that is an area we are pushing.” — MEERA ISAACS, principal

6, Purshottamdas Marg, Fort Website: www.cathedral-school.com

 

Highest ratings for: Teachers Academic rigour Selection process Board: Class 10 — ICSE, Class 12 — ISC Annual fee: 90,000 Student strength: Around 2,000 boys and girls Student-teacher ratio: Between 10:1 and 38:1 (depending on the class)

 

HISTORY: The Anglo Scottish Education Society was founded in 1860 and later became The Cathedral and John Connon School. In its early years, the school was closely associated with St Thomas’ Cathedral, from which it takes its name. Cathedral became co-ed in 1965. UNIQUE FEATURES: Cathedral was the first school in the country to hold a Model United Nations (MUN), now in its 17th year. It has one of the oldest school choirs in the city. The school has digitised all classrooms recently.

PODAR INTERNATIONAL, SANTACRUZ

“To sustain our high standards, we go by our mission statement, which says we prepare our children as global citizens with the right skill sets for the 21st century. We maintain standards through continuous professional development of our staff.”— VANDANA LULLA, principal

Saraswati Road, Santacruz Website: www.podarinternationalschool.com
 

Highest ratings for: Teachers Selection process Teacher-student relationship Board: Class 10 — IGCSE, Class 12 — IB, A-level Annual fee: 1,50,000 Students: 2,000 boys and girls Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 to 12:1

 

HISTORY: In 1927, Anandilal Podar, a businessman who ran cotton mills, founded the Podar group of schools. Mahatma Gandhi was the first trustee of the Anandilal Podar Trust. UNIQUE FEATURES: The school has a strong focus on inclusive education. It admits students with special needs and has facilities for them. The school emphasises digital education — iPads, laptops and interactive boards are available for students, and there is wifi access on the school premises.

UDAYACHAL HIGH SCHOOL

“Udayachal schools have always focused on quality education. Teaching–learning should lead to an amalgamation of heart, hand and mind. We aim towards moulding students into harmonious individuals. We strive to shape our students as engineers of change.” — REKHA PANDEY, principal

Pirojshanagar, Vikhroli (East) Website: www.udayachal.com

HISTORY: Udayachal schools were established in 1955 in the Godrej Welfare Centre with the primary aim of providing quality education to the children of Godrej employees. UNIQUE FEATURES: The school is ISO – 14001 certified and has received the International School Award conferred by the British Council. Secondary section students have been participating in the Seeds of Peace programme in the US for four years. The school has many programmes to make students environment-conscious. Highest ratings for: Teachers Value for money Academic rigour Board: Class 10 – SSC Annual fee: Not disclosed Student strength: 2,705 boys and girls Student-teacher ratio: 16:1

DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, NERUL

“The motto of the school, ‘Service Before Self’ has always propelled the teachers to urge the students to move forward with the simple ideology of always more and always better. We believe in grooming our students to unite to form the global world.” — SRAVANI RAO, officiating principal

Sector 54, Nerul Website: www.dpsnavimumbai.org
 

Highest ratings for: Teachers Academic rigour Selection process Board: Class 10 and 12 — CBSE Annual fee: 47,550 Student strength: 3,500 boys and girls Student-teacher ratio: 25:1

 

HISTORY: The Navi Mumbai branch of the Delhi Public School, one of the largest schooling groups in India, opened in 1996. The Delhi Public School Society is a not-for-profit organisation, whose schools are affiliated to the CBSE board. UNIQUE FEATURES: Students participate in various national level competitions including the Olympiads. Around 54% of students who gave the Class 10 exam and 44% of those who appeared for Class 12 exams scored more than 90%. Many were awarded the CBSE Merit Certificate at the All-India Level.

DHIRUBHAI AMBANI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

“We are delighted that, for the second year in a row, we have been ranked the No. 1 school in Mumbai in the HT Top Schools Survey. We have just completed 10 years and this accolade comes as a tribute to our commitment to build a happy school. ” — NITA M AMBANI, founder and chairperson

Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (East) Website: www.da-is.org
 
Highest ratings for: Teachers Academic rigour Social engagement Board: Class 10 — ICSE and ICGSE, Class 12 — IB Annual fee: Till Class 7 1,25,000; Classes 8 to 10 1,33,000 (ICSE), 3,20,000 (IGCSE); IB 6,25,000 Students: 1,058 boys and girls Student-teacher ratio: 7:1
 

HISTORY: The school was opened in March 2003 and is housed in a seven-storeyed building in Bandra. Nita Ambani, wife of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, is the founder and chairperson of the school. UNIQUE FEATURES: In 2013, two students received the prestigious Manmohan Singh Undergraduate Scholarships to fund studies at the University of Cambridge. The school has initiated the DAIS Leadership Series and launched TEDxYouth@DAIS in 2013. In the past year, its students won 35 international-level awards.

CAMPION SCHOOL

“The school appreciates the importance of play and co-curricular activities in a pupil’s growth alongside their intellectual growth. We are committed to the philosophy that each member of the school community must have the opportunity to reach his full potential.” — PAUL MACHADO, principal

Cooperage Road, Fort Website: www.campionschool.in
 

Highest ratings for: Teachers Academic rigour Selection process Board: Class 10 — ICSE Annual fee: 53,000 Student strength: 767 boys Student-teacher ratio 35:1

 

HISTORY: The school was founded in 1943 by the Jesuits and named after the Jesuit saint Edmund Campion. The school started with 23 students in a rented ground floor space at New Marine Lines, before shifting to Wellesley House in January 1948. UNIQUE FEATURES: The school is equipped with 140 computers connected to an internal network of projectors in every classroom. Online concept-based testing in some subjects forms part of the assessment process. The school offers an optional extra-curricular programme for students from Classes 7 to 10.

SMT SULOCHANADEVI SINGHANIA SCHOOL

“Singhania School strives to instill a culture of excellence in its students, with a global curriculum and a unique pedagogy developed in-house. We focus on developing a spirit of scientific inquiry and our students have won several accolades. ”— REVATHI SRINIVASAN, principal

JK Gram, Thane (West)

Website: www.singhaniaschool.org
 

Highest ratings for: Educational philosophy Attitude towards learning Breadth of vision 

Board: Class 10 — ICSE, Class 12 — ISC 

Annual fee: 35,000 

Student strength: 6,500 boys and girls 

Student-teacher ratio: 40:1

 

HISTORY: Gopalkrishna Singhania established the school in 1968 in memory of his wife Sulochanadevi Singhania. The school started functioning in 1969. It is located in Thane and has a 10.6-acre campus.

UNIQUE FEATURES: The school focuses on child-centered, innovative pedagogy. Till Class 4, it follows the thematic teaching pattern; students do not carry notebooks. From Class 4 to 7, they follow a ‘one textbook’ policy. The school aims to develop students’ research skills.

SMT SULOCHANADEVI SINGHANIA SCHOOL

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JK Gram, Thane (West) Website: www.singhaniaschool.org

HISTORY: Gopalkrishna Singhania established the school in 1968 in memory of his wife Sulochanadevi. The school started functioning in 1969. It is located in Thane and has a 10.6-acre campus. UNIQUE FEATURES: The school focuses on child-centered, innovative pedagogy. Till Class 4, it follows the thematic teaching pattern. From Class 4 to 7, they follow a ‘one textbook’ policy. “We strive to instill a culture of excellence in our students, with a global curriculum and a unique pedagogy developed in-house. We focus on developing a spirit of scientific inquiry. ”— REVATHI SRINIVASAN, principal Highest ratings for: Educational philosophy Attitude towards learning Breadth of vision Board: Class 10 — ICSE, Class 12 — ISC Annual fee: ` 35,000 Student strength: 6,500 boys and girls Student-teacher ratio: 40:1

HIRANANDANI FOUNDATION SCHOOL, THANE

“Ours is an accredited school and believes in following the processes involved in continual improvement by adopting the latest methodologies in the teachinglearning arena. Our quest is to be in sync with the changing times yet reminding ourselves that our culture should stay inherent.”— NEELU LAMBA, principal

Hiranandani Estate, Thane Website: www.hiranandanischools.edu.in/thane/
 

Highest ratings for: Teachers Academic rigour Selection process Board: Class 10 – ICSE, Class 12 — ISC Annual fee: 48,800 Student strength: 2,728 boys and girls Student-teacher ratio: 30:1

 

HISTORY: Hiranandani, a group of property developers, set up various schools for residents of its townships. This school was established in 1999. UNIQUE FEATURES: The school has excellent infrastructure, including facilities for squash, basketball and football and its own swimming pool. Along with these, the school offers coaching in skating, taekwondo, chess and athletics. The school has organised several educational trips to places such as the Sunderbans, Bangkok, China and Dubai. It is fully equipped with smartboards.

HIRANANDANI FOUNDATION SCHOOL, THANE

Hiranandani Estate, Thane Website: www.hiranandanischools.edu.in/thane/

HISTORY: Property developers Hiranandani set up various schools for residents of their townships. This school was established in 1999.

UNIQUE FEATURES: The school has excellent infrastructure, including facilities for squash, basketball and football and its own swimming pool. It offers coaching in skating, taekwondo, chess and athletics. It is fully equipped with smartboards. “We believe in continual improvement by adopting the latest methodologies in the teachinglearning arena. Our quest is to be in sync with the changing times yet reminding ourselves that our culture should stay inherent.”— NEELU LAMBA, principal

Highest ratings for: Teachers Academic rigour Selection process

Board: Class 10 – ICSE, Class 12 — ISC

Annual fee: R 48,800 Student strength: 2,728 boys and girls

Student-teacher ratio: 30:1

JAMNABAI NARSEE SCHOOL

“‘Excellence Through Endeavour’ is the school’s mission. The synergy of the management, teachers, parents and students of JNS is the essence of its excellence in every endeavour — academics, sports and performing arts. ” — SUDESHNA CHATTERJEE, principal

Narsee Monjee Bhavan, JVPD, Vile Parle Website: www.jns.ac.in
 

Highest ratings for: Teachers Academic rigour Selection process Board: Class 10 — ICSE, IGCSE, Class 12 — IB, ISC Annual fee: ICSE 40,000; IGCSE 1,20,000; IB 4,00,000 Student strength: 4,800 boys and girls Student-teacher ratio: 17:1

 

HISTORY: The school was set up in 1971 by Chatrabhuj Narsee, Pratap Narsee and Dharamshi Narsee. The Jamnabai Narsee School is named after their mother. It is currently managed by the board of trustees of the Narsee Monjee Educational Trust. UNIQUE FEATURES: The school has world-class infrastructure. Students have regularly topped the ICSE and ISC exams in Mumbai. The school also won a trophy for excellence for 2012-2013 from the MSSA. It has a resource centre for children with special needs.

Husband Material or Wife Element

तिच्यात/त्याच्यात 'वाइफ/हजबंड मटेरिअल' नाही असं काहीतरी कारण सांगून पालकांना आदर्श वाटणारं स्थळ सरळ नाकारलं जातं. ही 'निवड' म्हणजे नक्की प्रकार तरी काय आहे?

राकेशचं लग्नाचं वय झाल्यानं त्याच्या घरचे मुली पाहाण्याचा सोहळा दर आठवड्याला ठरवायचे. त्याच्या राहाणीमानाला, स्वभावाला आणि आर्थिक संपन्नतेला शोभणारी मुलगी आई-वडील शोधून आणायचे; पण हा पठ्ठ्या पहिल्या भेटीतच सरळ नकार देऊन रिकामा व्हायचा. त्याचं कुठं प्रेमप्रकरण आहे का, हेही घरच्यांनी तपासून पाहिलं. हाती तसं काहीच आलं नाही. नंतर त्याच्याशी बातचित केली असता, पाहिलेल्या मुलींमध्ये 'वाइफ मटेरिअल' जाणवलं नाही, असं काहीसं भलतंच (घरच्यांच्या दृष्टीनं) उत्तर दिलं.

ते दोघं एकदम जिगरी दोस्त. कॉलेजमध्ये जाण्यापासून ते आउटिंगला जाईपर्यंत सगळीकडे एकत्रच असत. त्यांच्याकडे पाहून ते किती 'मेड फॉर इच अदर' आहेत, हे इतरांनाच जाणवायचं. त्यांच्या मात्र हे ध्यानी-मनी नाही. एकदा तिच्याच आईनं टोकलं असता, 'नाही गं, तो काही 'हजबंड मटेरिअल' नाही, फक्त खास दोस्त आहे माझा,' असं उत्तर तिनं देऊन टाकलं!

ही उदाहरणं काही कोणती गृहितकं नाहीत, तर तुमच्या-आमच्यातलीच आहेत. ऑफिस, कुटुंबीय किंवा मित्र-मैत्रीणींमध्ये असं एखादं तरी उदाहरण आपल्याला अवाक् करून जातंच. वाइफ किंवा हजबंड मटेरिअल म्हणजे नेमकं काय? तर, ती/तो चांगली आहे; पण लग्नासाठीचं 'मटेरिअल' तिच्यात/त्याच्यात जाणवत नाही असा साधा अर्थ घेता येईल. कालपर्यंत लग्नाचं नातं हे अपेक्षांवर ठरवलं जायचं. आता त्याला बहुधा 'मटेरिअल' हे नाव रूजू पाहातंय.

पालकांना हे उत्तर अगदी अनपेक्षित असलं, तरी मुलांची मात्र ती खरी प्रतिक्रिया असते. ज्याच्याशी किंवा जिच्याशी लग्न करून आयुष्याची गाठ बांधायची, ती व्यक्ती आपल्याला आतून तशी वाटत नसेल, तर काय करायचं? पुन्हा आजकाल पूर्वीसारखा दबाव नसतो. मुलानं किंवा मुलीनं नकार देणं हे वावगं समजत नाही. मुलीला नकार आला, की आभाळ कोसळत नाही आणि मुलालाही नकार येतो, हे मान्य झालं आहे.

लग्नासाठी अपेक्षांची यादी मांडताना होणारी बायको/नवरा चांगली मैत्रीण किंवा मित्र असावी अशी अपेक्षा ढोबळपणानं केली जाते. मात्र, कॉलेजमधला चांगला मित्र किंवा मैत्रीण जोडीदार म्हणून नको असतो, का तर त्याच्यात/तिच्यात 'मटेरिअल' जाणवत नाही!

अति सहवासामुळेच

काही वर्ष एकमेकांसह मित्र-मैत्रीण म्हणून एकत्र वेळ घालवल्यामुळे आतून-बाहेरून पूर्णपणे मुलं एकमेकांना ओळखत असतात. त्यामुळे एकमेकांतल्या कोणत्या गोष्टी नकोत, हेही कळलेलं असतं. म्हणूनच मैत्रीण किंवा मित्र म्हणून हवे असलेले ते दोघं एकमेकांना बायको किंवा नवरा म्हणून नाकारतात.

इतक्या वर्षांच्या ओळखीत किंवा लहानपणापासून एकत्र वाढले असतील, तर एकमेकांच्या खांद्यावर हात टाकून फोटो काढणं, ट्रेक किंवा ट्रीपला बाइकवर एकत्र जाणं, वाढदिवसाच्या दिवशी केक भरवणं वगैरे या गोष्टी अत्यंत रोजच्या होऊन जातात. त्यातून एकमेकांविषयी शारीरिक आकर्षण वाटेनासं होतं, जे नवरा-बायकोच्या नात्यात अपेक्षित आहे.

अलीकडे स्वतःच्या पायावर व्यवस्थित उभं राहिल्याशिवाय मुलं लग्नच करत नाहीत. एका विशिष्ट वयापर्यंत त्यांना परिपक्वता येते. तोपर्यंत त्यांच्या नवरा किंवा बायकोविषयीच्या कल्पना पुरेशा स्पष्ट झालेल्या असतात. म्हणूनही मुलं अलीकडे वेळीच मैत्रिणीला बायको समजण्याचा वेडेपणा करत नाहीत. हेच मुलींच्याही बाबतीत म्हणता येईल.

क्वचित कधी घरातल्या वातावरणाचाही परिणाम मुलांच्या होकारावर किंवा नकारावर होत असतो. उदाहरणार्थ, घरात आई वर्चस्व गाजवणारी असेल आणि बाहेर मैत्रीणही 'आत्ता कुठून आलास?', 'इतकं साधं कळलं नाही का?', 'माझा वाढदिवस कसा काय विसरलास?' यांसारख्या मुद्द्यावर हक्क गाजवणारी असेल, तर आईसारखीच बायको नको, म्हणूनही मैत्रिणीला नकार दिला जाऊ शकतो.

अतिकाळजी करणाऱ्या मैत्रिणीबाबत किंवा अति 'पझेसिव्ह' असलेल्या मित्राबाबतही हेच होऊ शकतं.

आस्था आणि प्रतिमेत बसणारा/री

मुलींना अजूनही रोमँटिक जोडीदार हवा असतो. पिढ्या बदलल्या, तरी भावना तीच असते. मित्र बऱ्याचदा काळजी घेणारा; तरीही प्रॅक्टिकल वागणारा असतो. त्यामुळे नवरा म्हणून असा मुलगा मुलींना नको वाटतो.

नवरा-बायको हे तसं बरंच पुढचं नातं आहे; पण एखाद्याशी आपली मैत्री जुळेल की नाही, हेही आपल्याला समोरच्या व्यक्तीच्या व्यक्तिमत्त्वाकडे पाहून लक्षात येतं. त्यामुळे कुणीही कितीही म्हटलं, तरी तुमचं दिसणं महत्त्वाचं असतंच.

एखाद्या विशिष्ट व्यक्तीलाच आपण पत्ता का विचारतो? काही व्यक्तींशी आपली तार का जुळते? तसाच काहीसा प्रकार एखादी व्यक्ती नवरा किंवा बायको म्हणून आवडण्याबद्दल होत असावा.

'क्लिक' होणं म्हणजे एखाद्याविषयी आस्था वाटणं आणि अर्थातच मग ही आस्था आपल्याला भावी जोडीदार म्हणून एखाद्या व्यक्तीविषयी वाटते किंवा नाही, हे पाहिलं जातंच.

प्रत्येकाच्या मनात नवरा-बायको या नात्याविषयी काही विशिष्ट कल्पना असतात. समोरच्या व्यक्तीला त्या कल्पनांशी नेहमीच ताडून पाहिलं जातं. आपल्या कुटुंबाच्या व्याख्येत ती व्यक्ती बसते का, वगैरे विचारही केले जातात. त्यामुळे एखादी व्यक्ती 'हजबंड मटेरिअल' किंवा 'वाइफ एलिमेंट' नसण्याविषयी आपण बोलतो.

- गौरी कानिटकर, मॅरेज कौन्सेलर

तुम्हाला काय वाटतं?

तो किंवा ती आवडत असली, तरी तिच्यात/त्याच्यात लग्नासाठी 'मटेरिअल' जाणवत नाही. याला विरोधाभासी व्यक्तिमत्त्व म्हणायचं का? या 'मटेरिअल'ची नेमकी व्याख्या काय? लग्नासाठी स्वभाव, आर्थिक सुबत्ता, रंग आदी गोष्टी मिळत्या-जुळत्या असताना केवळ त्याच्यात/तिच्याच 'मटेरिअल' वाटलं नाही, हे सांगणं म्हणजे मानसिक गोंधळ असल्याचं लक्षण आहे का?

किंवा, त्याच्या बाजूनं विचार करायचाच झाला, तर 'मटेरिअल' नावाची भावना खरंच अस्तित्त्वात असते का आणि लग्न ठरवण्यासाठी ती 'मॅटर' करते का?

... असे अनेक प्रश्न. वाचकहो, तुम्हाला काय वाटतं? काय असतं हे 'वाइफ' किंवा 'हजबंड मटेरिअल'? अपेक्षांहून त्याची व्याख्या वेगळी आहे, की स्थळ नाकारण्यासाठी घेतलेली पळवाट आहे? ही भावना खरंच मनात असते का? तुम्हाला त्याचा अनुभव कधी आलाय का?