PANJIM: At 101, veteran freedom fighter and Padma Shri awardee Libia Lobo Sardesai is still trav elling, still reminiscing, and still deeply connected to the institu tions that shaped her life. On Fri day, she left for Mumbai to attend the bicentenary celebrations of her alma mater, Antonio de Sou za (ANZA) High School at Byculla, one of the city’s oldest education al institutions. Lobo Sardesai has been invited as the chief guest for the three day bicentenary celebrations, which will culminate on Sunday, January 25, on the school cam pus in South Mumbai. The cele brations, which began on Friday, include a thanksgiving Mass, a multi-faith service, cultural programmes, an ANZA Family Day and a gala dinner for alumni. Before departing for Mumbai, Lobo Sardesai spoke about the milestone. “My school, ANZA, is completing 200 years. There will be three days of programmes on the school grounds at Byculla, Mumbai. It is one of the oldest schools in the city, started by a Goan, Antonio de Souza. I have been invited to be the chief guest,” she said. For Lobo Sardesai, the invita tion is not merely ceremonial — it is a return to a place that nurtured her formative years, long before her life became synonymous with Goa’s freedom struggle and public service. Asked whether the occasion would offer a re union with her classmates, she replied candidly. “No, I don’t think so. Most of my classmates have passed away,” she said. She added that even among celebrated alumni, familiarity was often incidental. “Even prominent people like Raj Kapoor and Nissim Ezekiel were alumni. I don’t know whether they were my classmates, because when we were young, we didn’t know each other in that way, though we played together.” ANZA High School boasts an illustrious alumni list span ning cinema, sports, law and public life. Among its distinguished former students are legend ary Bollywood actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor; Poet and actor Nissim Ezekiel; internationally acclaimed percussionist Trilok Gurtu; eminent jurist R M Sawant; 1948 Olympic gold medallist in hockey Leo Pinto; na tional basketball captain Gulam Abbas Moontasir; hockey player and coach Nasir Khan; and 1951 Asian Games medal winners Banoo Gazdar and Pat Mendonca. Despite the star-studded legacy, Lobo Sarde sai’s recollections remain rooted in simpler times — shared playgrounds and youthful innocence. On her arrival in Mumbai, Lobo Sardesai was re ceived at the airport by Brother Aubrey Corda, mark ing the beginning of what promises to be an emotion al homecoming for one of ANZA’s oldest living alumni. As ANZA High School celebrates two centuries of educa tion and legacy, Libia Lobo Sardesai’s presence stands as a living bridge between its past and present — a testament to resilience, memory and the enduring bond between a student and her school.
At 101, Libia Sardesai returns to school
