27th October 2012 : DANDIYA DHAMAKA
As part of the 150th Year Celebration of the school, a Dandiya Programme was organized within the school premises for our students, ex-students and parents. The famous South Mumbai band – ‘Mini Satellite’ was chosen to provide live music for the evening and they did a fantastic job. A stage was set up in the quadrangle. About 600-650 students and adults participated in the Dandiya.
All the enthusiastic participants came in traditional outfits, all set to dance away the evening with friends and family. Food and Drinks Stalls were put up by the parents and the school staff to feed and quench the thirst of the dancers. There was a Guest Performance by Kinjal and Chintan, two Professional Dandiya artistes and everyone greatly enjoyed watching them dance.
The Guests for the function were famous personalities like Ms. Dilkhush Reporter and a benevolent ex-student, Ms. Neha Gulmani. They gave away the prizes for the Best Dancer and Best Dressed Person in several age categories. Over 90 prizes were given away. The judges for the Dandiya Competition were Mrs. Heena Kapadia, Mrs. Avni Tanna, Mrs. Binita Shah and Mr. Amit Gharat.
Several invitees, well-wishers, teachers and principals of other schools graced the programme. There was a Lucky Dip at the end and 15 prizes were given to the lucky winners. The lucky numbers were drawn out by our honoured guests on stage.
The Programme ended with the singing of the National Anthem. Everyone present had a rocking time. The Dandiya Dhamaka at Alexandra was indeed a ‘Dhamaka’, a super hit!
Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla – Director
Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla has an active teaching career spanning more than 45 years. She retired from Wilson College where she was an Associate Professor, in the Dept of Philosophy and served as Vice Principal & NAAC & IQAC coordinator for 10 years.
Post retirement she continues as visiting faculty at several colleges and the University of Mumbai.
At present she is the Vice President of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai and on the Governing Body of the KRCama Oriental Institute.
She is also a Trustee of several schools.
Mr. Zubin F. Billimoria – Director
Mr. Billimoria is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and an Associate Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). He was with Deloitte Haskins & Sells / S.B. Billimoria & Co. for 30 years (including 8 years as an Audit & Assurance Partner) till his early retirement in March 2015. Since then he has been involved in providing attestation related advisory services / consultation as well as training to professional services firms and corporates covering implementation of accounting standards, internal control evaluation, CSR / ESG implementation, audit quality and documentation, amongst others.
Mr. Billimoria is an Independent Director of Finolex Cables Ltd. and The Zoroastrian Co-operative Bank Ltd. for 3 years and a Trustee, Secretary and Treasurer of the Parsee Girls’ School Association which manages 2 parsi girls schools viz. The Bai B.S. Bengalee Girls’ High School and the N.M. Gamadia Girls’ High School for 8 years. He has also been the Hon. Treasurer of the Bombay Chartered Accountants Society, which is the largest voluntary body of Chartered Accountants in India and is currently the Jt. Secretary.
Mr. Billimoria has consistently contributed towards the development of the accounting and auditing profession as well as on governance matters by being an author, contributor in professional journals as well being a Technical Reviewer of the Financial Reporting Review Board of the ICAI and the Quality Review Board constituted by the Government of India under the ICAI Act, 1949.
Mr. Billimoria has also served as the President of the Lions Club of Bombay (Host) which is the premier Lions Club in India.
Ms. Ruby Pavri – Director
Ms. Ruby Pavri is an alumnus of AGEI (batch of 1985). She has completed her graduation in Psychology from St. Xavier’s College, and went on to secure a first rank at the M.A. level in the University of Mumbai. Her area of specialization was counselling psychology.
She has been a lecturer with the psychology department of St. Xavier’s College for over 25 years and is currently the Head of the Department. She has been a resource person, visiting faculty and examiner for various courses and institutions including; TISS, H.R. College, Mithibai College, XIC and XICP. She has coordinated departmental co-curricular activities that present students with learning experiences that go beyond the syllabus. She has also been a resource person for in-house training programmes, for the staff at St. Xavier’s College and her presentations on pedagogy, innovation and value education have reached out to a variety of audiences including students, parents, teachers, Principals and psychologists.
She has worked as a radio jockey for over 6 years, occasionally freelancing as a compere and voice-over artist. She’s a life member of the Bombay Psychological Association (BPA) and has served on their executive committee. She is a life member of AGEI and has attended meetings and functions organised by the Ex-Students’ Association.
Mr. Homiar N. Vakil – Director
Mr. Vakil is a practicing Advocate and Solicitor enrolled on the Bar of Hon’ble Bombay High Court since 40 years.
As Partner of the prestigious Law firm, M/s Mulla & Mulla and Craigie Blunt & Caroe since 2010, has dealt with Civil and Criminal Litigations, Constitutional Matters, Writ Petitions, Arbitrations, Public Trust matters and Public Interest Litigations. Also, specializes in the area of Conveyancing, Title Investigations, drafting contracts, preparing and vetting International Banking documents.
He is a member of Law, Review, Reforms and Rationalization Committee of Indian Merchants Chamber, Mumbai and also a member of Indo German Chamber of Commerce.
He has been appointed in several Trusts and Companies as a Trustee/Director.
Mr. Hoshaang F. Gotla – Director
Mr. Hoshaang Gotla finished his schooling from Campion School and graduated from H.R. College. He then went to California for further studies. On returning to India, he founded CHECKMATE, an event management company and INKFESTED, a t-shirt brand.
Mr. Gotla is a visiting faculty at numerous colleges and business schools in the subjects of Communication and Entrepreneurship and received the KPMG Scholarship to do his Post Graduation in Management and the Bajaj Scholarship to do an MBA from New York University.
Mr. Gotla has been actively involved in numerous activities within the Parsi Community. He organises monthly prayer meetings and has founded an NGO called XYZ – Xtremely Young Zoroastrians, to inculcate the passion for the community along with giving back to society from a very young age. He completed his Grade 6 in Speech and Drama at the Trinity College, London examination with distinction. He has participated in numerous debates and literary arts events in school and college. He also completed his Bachelors in Law (L.L.B.) from K.C. Law College, Mumbai and is a Director on the Board of Directors and Trustees of The Alexandra Girls’ English Institution, a 160-year-old school that provides education to girls.
Currently, Mr. Gotla is working with the Hiranandani Group as the Executive Assistant to the Managing Director – Niranjan Hiranandani. He handles the education initiatives of the group along with Skill Development activities which are taken up by the company.
Mr. Nawshir H. Mirza– Director & Trustee
Mr. Mirza is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He was with S.R.Batliboi & Co./Ernst & Young, from 1967 till his (early) retirement in April 2003. Since 2003, he has been involved in the movement for improved governance in the corporate sector.
Mr. Mirza is an independent director on the boards of Exide Industries Ltd., Tata Power Company Ltd., Thermax Ltd., Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd., Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd., Tata Power Renewables Energy Ltd. and Centre for Advancement of Philanthropy.
Mr. Mirza was the country head of Jardine Matheson Ltd. for over ten years after retiring from the profession, during which time he served on other boards of companies and charities.
Mr. Mirza has contributed to the governance and accounting professions, being a speaker or the chair at conferences in India & abroad and authoring a number of professional publications. He has chaired and served on the boards of various professional bodies and chambers of commerce.
Prof. (Mrs.) Nergish P. Charna –Director & Trustee
Prof. (Mrs.) Nergish Charna has an extensive experience in the field of education to name a few of her achievements: she has been the Principal of Elphinstone College; she was also the Chairperson of the Board of Studies for Political Science at the University of Mumbai. Prof. Charna was a member of the prestigious Academic Council, Research and Recognition Committee of Faculty for Arts, Local Enquiry Committee of the University of Mumbai.
Prof. Charna was a nominee for the Government of Maharashtra for Career Advancement Scheme and Appointments Committee for lecturers and Professors to different Colleges. She has also served as a visiting Professor at the Institute of Administrative Studies and lectured postgraduate students at the University of Mumbai. Prof. Charna has attended the U.N.O. session in New York too. She has presented several research papers at the National and International Conferences. She was also the P.T.A. Chairperson of The Alexandra Girls’ English Institution.
Dr. Jehangir B. Mistry – Chairman, Board of Directors & Trustees
Dr. J. B. Mistry is the current chairman of our School. He is not only experienced and competent in the field of education but also an inspiration to all. He is an avid learner who loves to read and is also passionate about photography.
Dr. Mistry did his Ph.D in Laser Spectroscopy from B.A.R.C. in 1986. He retired in the year 2007 from St. Xavier’s College as the Head of Physics Department. Dr. J. B. Mistry has a long career, and he has contributed immensely to the growth of his students and every institution that he is associated with. To name a few of his noteworthy achievements: recipient of the Nuffield Award (UK) in 1974, T. Mathias Award (AICHE – India) in 1986 and the Best Teacher Award (University of Mumbai) on 15th August 2002. He is also a board member of several educational institutions in Mumbai and Gujarat. In 1986 he made an educational film on “Lasers… the wonder light” for ‘UGC – Doordarshan: Country wide classroom’.
Dr. Mistry also regularly conducts workshops in Public and Private Sector Companies and Institutions on Effective Communication, Evaluation, Creativity and Problem solving, Photography, 3D Computer Graphics and Animation. He retired as Dean, Xavier Institute of Communication, St, Xaviers’ College in 2022.
Prof. Khurshed. C. Sheriar
Chairman, Board of Directors & Trustees (till February 2021)
Prof. Sheriar served as the Vice Principal of Jai Hind College, Mumbai University for 10 years and acting Principal for one year till retirement. He was on the Board of Trustees of Sir J. J. Group of Schools, R. J. J. Group of Schools, Bai A. F. Petit Girls’ High School, Bai B. S. Bengallee Girls’ High School, Bai M. N. Gamadia Girls’ High School and M. F. Cama Athornan Institute.
Mrs. Keti F. Mehta
Chairman, Board of Directors & Trustees (till March 2016)
Mrs. K. F. Mehta served as Advocate and Senior Solicitor with Mulla & Mulla Craigie Blunt & Caroe from 1957 to 1990 (Retired). She was a Trustee and Director on the Board of Trustees of Girton School, Bai R. F. D. Panday Girls’ High School, B.J.P.C. Institution, Bai B. S. Bengallee Girls’ High School and Bai M. N. Gamadia Girls’ High School. She was the Chairperson of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Prince of Wales Museum), Jehangir Art Gallery, and a member of the Asiatic Society and The National Society for Equal Opportunities to the Handicapped.
Dr. Sheryar K. Ookerjee
Chairman, Board of Directors & Trustees (till December 2013)
Dr. Ookerjee served the Wilson College as a Professor of Philosophy from 1948 to 1985. He was appointed Head of Department of Philosophy from 1957 till retirement. He is the author of two books on Philosophy, ‘Human Reason and its Enemies’ and ‘Plato and the Arthashastra’. He wrote several papers in Philosophical Journals.
I conducted my first ever dance class when I was in the 6th grade at The Alexandra Girls’ English Institution. From there, my dance career kicked off. I am now a choreographer and have my own company Two Right Feet. I am also a F&B content creator. Dancing for school shows gave me the interest to pursue dancing as a career. I’m forever grateful.
Kanchi Shah
Choreographer
When I started looking for a school for my daughter, I wanted one that would instill a spirit of compassion, not just competition, one that would let her personality blossom, not just make her part of an assembly line, one that would encourage her to step into the world with confidence not just with a degree. I realized I was looking for a school like Alexandra Girls’ English Institution. Thank you, my Alma Mater, for making me who I am!
Rakshanda Khan
TV Star
My school years at Alexandra have been the stepping stones in my life! It has taught me great values and helped me shape into the person who I am today! And one of them is accepting inclusivity in diversity! Kudos to all the teachers and staff whose continuous efforts have made this school stand strong for all these years.
Dr. Reshma Jhaveri
Ophthalmologist, & Queen of the World
A good school is like clay and the teacher the potter… both go hand in hand in shaping your life. I am forever grateful to A.G.E.I. for what I am today. The mould they used to cast me, has defined me and helped me achieve my dreams. I owe my success to my school and all my teachers.
Tasneem Shahani
Owner / Chef at Tasneem’s King’s Kitchen, Nepal.
My school years lay the foundation to my life today. The teachers at A.G.E.I. always took a keen interest in every student, encouraged thinking and questioning and taught with passion. I owe a great deal to them.
Alifia (Nalwalla) Tameem
Anaesthetist and Pain Management Consultant in Birmingham, UK
What I am today is thanks to the tireless efforts of my parents and my teachers who helped lay those foundation blocks, every day of my growing up years. I will always be indebted to my parents for the sacrifices they made and my school“The Alexandra Girls English Institution” where I spent most of my childhood. Every teacher from Nursery to Std. X taught us way beyond the syllabus. They taught us how to be disciplined, good humans and stand the test of time. They taught us what’s right and practiced what they preached. I can never forget how proud I was carrying the School flag as the Head Girl. Every achievement since is thanks to what I was taught.I strongly encourage every student of this prestigious institution to dream big and achieve great heights, as they face every challenge in life after a solid foundation developed by our dear AGEI.
Anahita Varma
Corporate Senior Vice President,
WNS Global Technology Services
