12-08-2025
Welham's roll number 1: The girl who made history
India's old boarding schools are more than institutions; they are worlds in themselves. With red-brick walls, bell towers, and endless playgrounds, they shaped not just students but futures. Here, friendships were forged in dormitories, resilience was built on sports fields, and lessons in self-reliance came as naturally as the morning roll these legacies stands Welham Girls' School, Dehradun, a place where tradition met freedom, and equality wasn't taught; it was spoke to Pramila Nazir, roll number 1 of Welham Girls', who remembers a school where girls grew up with the courage to follow their own paths and the grace to treat everyone as an equal. 'There was never a sense of 'Me too' You were what you were!' she recalls.
Can you take us back to your first day at Welham Girls'? What do you remember most vividly?I was only nine and quite homesick at first—but that quickly wore off. Welham girls, being a resilient lot, soon got down to their usual mischief like stealing litchis, making apple-pie beds, and the like. It was all innocent fun. The teachers and other staff were kind and supportive, and the School soon became our home away from home.
The first ten of Welham School
What was daily life like in the boarding school back then—from morning to lights out?Speaking to the girls and teachers during my recent visit, I found the routine to be much the same as it was back then. Of course, there are far more subjects, activities, and sports now—and our results in every sphere are phenomenal!What did 'fun' look like at Welham in those days? Were there any special traditions, events, or secret mischiefs? Welhamites have always been an exuberant lot, full of fun and laughter. As long as the mischief wasn't mean-spirited or malicious, we got away with almost anything!What subjects were considered essential for girls at the time? Were there limitations on what girls could study or aspire to be?A Welham girl knows no limitations!Though the values ingrained in us by Miss Linnell were gentle, we went out like soldiers to face the world and achieve whatever we wanted. We were given an all-round education. Subjects like Home Science and Nature Study were included right from the beginning, and social service was emphasised of every kind was encouraged. I remember one girl wanted to study Persian—and Miss Linnell searched the whole of Dehradun to find a suitable teacher.
Were careers and higher education encouraged for girls then, or was finishing school seen as enough?Most girls went on to pursue a bachelor's degree or more, studying subjects of their own choice. Life wasn't as competitive then, and I don't recall anyone being unable to follow their dreams. Laila Tyabji, Radhika Roy, Subhashini Ali, Brinda Kant, Madhu Trehan, Mala Sen, Aziza Tyabji Hydari—to name just a few from my would you describe the overall change in education for girls from your time to now?It's been sixty-three years since I left school. So many new subjects and disciplines have been added to the curriculum, and there's so much more that can be achieved now because of the choices available.
The carefree school days of our time have been replaced by competition. There's a lot of pressure on students today—that's just the way the world has become. Still, I was heartened to see that today's Welhamites have retained some of the innocence from our time.- Ends
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