8. Fr. ESCANDE Pierre Etienne ( 1900 – 1933 ) Fr.Escande was born on September 9, 1859 and was ordained priest on June 19, 1886. He did his doctorate in Theology in Rome. Fr.Escande joined Petit Seminaire as superior at the dawn of 20th century and continued for 33 long years. The dawn of 20th century saw Petit Seminaire College with a new face; a full fledged Secondary establishment opens to all denizens of Pondicherry, irrespective of caste and creed. At the helm of affairs was a new superior, a giant of a man who would ride across the stage of Petit Seminaire like a colossus for the next one third of a century. A skipper with the longest innings on Petit Seminaire pitch, a soul which is dear to many an old man of the town Fr.Pierre Escande. A practical man with a great foresight, he attended to the day today needs of the establishment with an eye on the distant future. The college entered an era of prosperity registering rapid growth both vertically and horizontally. He added the first floor to the St.Joseph’s block. He bought two houses in Nidarajappaiyer street and put up the building what has been very familiar to generations of students as jail section. He also enlarged the college chapel. The most monument of his construction was the hall which today bears his dear name. This pillarless hall covering an area of 600 Sq meters with a seating capacity for 1000 persons, with a vast roof resting entirely on a dozen cantilever steel frames. As tradition holds it cinema was born in Pondicherry in that hall. Whether it is true or not, it is a fact that it still holds the honour of being the first choice to be the venue of examinations, conferences, seminars and celebrations conducted by the school, or the Archdiocese or the Government or other outside agencies. In 1904 he started an English section in the III standard to meet the growing demand for English education. There was allegation by the Pondicherry Government that French laws regarding Secondary education were not followed in Petit Seminaire and it was illegal. On March 14, 1905 Pondicherry Government issued a degree that the Petit Seminaire should be closed on the evening of March 31. The protest of the public in support of the school was of no use. On March 31, 1905 Inspector of Education visited the school and reminded the authorities of the Government order. Fr.Escande was not of the type who could be brow beaten. He steadily looked into the Inspector’s eye and said that college would function as usual the next day. The Inspector left threatening police action if the law was not abided by. April1,1905 dawned and Petit Seminaire opened its gates as usual and students attended their classes. Petit Seminaire was functioning but not as ancient Petit Seminaire college. Fr. Escande had become Mr.Priest Escande assuming a new designation, Director of a Superior Primary School. The Secondary classes were called complementary courses. Now everything was within law. The Government had been fooled and the institution was saved. During the tenure of Fr.Escande Brothers of St.Gabriel arrived from France to assist the priests in teaching primary classes. Special mention must be made of Brother Faucheux, who was one of the first to arrive in 1903 and one of the last two to leave in 1947. In between he served at Petit Seminaire for more than 40 years as professor of Mathematics, Science, History, Archaeology and Drawing. For his personal satisfaction he made advanced studies in Geology and Minerology. He raised a museum in the college. Pondicherry will never forget his collaboration with Mr.Jouveau Dubreuil in Arikkamedu excavations. In 1916 there was the most terrible cyclone that Pondicherry had ever witnessed. In the dead of the night gushing wind became very violent becoming an imminent danger for the minor seminarians sleeping in the dormitory in the upstairs. The Seminarians sleeping were called out and were asked to assemble in the chapel. Hardly had the boys been assembled in the chapel the only staircase of the dormitory wrenched by the raging storm came down with a crash. Praised be th Lord that only the building was left in a sad state. In 1921 the minor seminarians hitherto attending Petit Seminaire only for English moved to Cuddalore. Petit Seminaire became a misnomer, becoming com[lately a college of day scholars preparing for Government examinations under the French pattern. However the name ‘Petit Seminaire” still remains, kindling blessed memories of its memorable past. In 1932, the English section was upgraded into a high school, preparing boys for the matriculation examination and was affiliated with the Madras University. The joy of seeing the first set of boys appearing for the Matriculation examination in March 1934 was not given to Fr.Escande. Providence chose to give it to Fr.Guillerm the new Director. The first set, though only six in number, set the trend for later years by securing 100 % pass. Fr.Escande left the school to meet his Saviour on January 8, 1933.                Previous                                                           Next