As we begin the Centenary year I would like to thank the Salesians and the teachers who have worked hard to make St. Bede's a school with a vision, an educational institution that has made an impact on society. It is always heartwarming to hear the past-pupils speak of our school in glorious and endearing terms and never tiring of saying "We owe it to St. Bede's!" I would like to thank all those who had in some way contributed in making St. Bede's "the school of our hearts".

It is narrated that Mahatma Gandhi was going from city to city, village to village collecting funds for the Charkha Sangh. During one of his tours he addressed a meeting in Orissa. After his speech a poor old woman got up. She was bent with age, her hair was grey and her clothes were in tatters. The volunteers tried to stop her, but she fought her way to the place where Gandhiji was sitting. "I must see him," she insisted and going up to Gandhiji touched his feet. Then from the folds of her sari she brought out a copper coin and placed it at his feet. Gandhiji picked up the copper coin and put it away carefully. The Charkha Sangh funds were under the charge of Jamnalal Bajaj. He asked Gandhiji for the coin but Gandhiji refused. "I keep cheques worth thousands of rupees for the Charkha Sangh," Jamnalal Bajaj said laughingly "yet you won't trust me with a copper coin." "This copper coin is worth much more than those thousands," Gandhiji said. "If a man has several lakhs and he gives away a thousand or two, it doesn't mean much. But this coin was perhaps all that the poor woman possessed. She gave me all she had. That was very generous of her. What a great sacrifice she made. That is why I value this copper coin more than a crore of rupees."

We are grateful to all who have toiled to make St. Bede's what it is today - a fine institution, a great school. Like the woman with the copper coin in the story, many have quietly contributed to the growth of this institution without wanting to be noticed, without much glamour or fanfare. They have just worked hard or done their duty. We are grateful to such people. They have sacrificed their time and energy to make our school an endearing and efficient institution. May God bless all the past and present teachers and the non-teaching staff, all our benefactors and well-wishers. May God bless you all!