Ready for Work: Mr. Rao on his Excelsior motorbike in 1957

It was he, who played against me and taught me field hockey, from my boyhood days. People used say, "Rustom and Sohrab are on the field". It became my favorite game thus! He was a great Tennis player too. He was known for his powerful backhand drive! I had gone on several Scout camps with him, as a Boy Scout of Board High School, Yellamanchili, of which he was the Head Master for 35 years. There, he introduced many games, including Cricket and Baseball. He handled English for the students of VI th. Form [equivalent to the Xth Standard in Loyola] and I was lucky enough to be his student in 1947.

It was he, who introduced and organized the popular Grigg Sports, in Vizag District, bringing several schools in the entire Vizag District of those days, into the arena of sports. I guess, this sports-meet, a mini-Olympic mimicry, was named after a British Collector of the then Vizag District. The Sports-meet is still existing there, these days! He directed several English plays during his tenure as the Head Master and was the author of Chemistry and General Science Text Books, which we followed in our student days. He was a senate member of the schools in the entire Madras Presidency for several years.

In the School Garden: Mr. Rao enjoying a stroll

Rev. Fr. J. McGinley, S.J. appointed him as the Secretary of Loyola. That position was later elevated to the status of Registrar, by Rev. Fr. G. A. Hess, when the school moved to the new building from the old auditorium in 1954 and was inaugurated by Lady and Sir Jehangir Gandhi. Thus, endowed with so many superb qualities, humor, quick thinking and ready wit, Mr. Rao won the hearts of the erstwhile faculty members and students alike. Being a sportsman, he shunned the word, "Punishment" and introduced a productive system, called "Jug". The entire management of the school and office business, making schedules for teachers, and bringing harmonious relation between parents, teachers and students were all under his control. Also, he taught Science for a few months in the early days of his joining Loyola, because he loved teaching very much. Rev. Fr. A. R. Roberts called him, "Man For All Seasons" and truly he was so!  He maintained professional relationship with me and always addressed me as Mr. Arun on the school campus. I, for my part, used to call him as Mr. Rao. Rev. Fr. Power accorded amusing attention with a gentle smile, when Mr. Rao and I greeted each other that way.

With Mr. Rustomji of TELCO: (L to R) Mr. B Rai, Mr. Rao, Mr. Arun, Mrs Devi, Mrs R Abedin. Not in this picture: Fr. Judge & Mr Rustomji

Mr. Rao's dynamic personality laid strong foundation for Loyola to achieve its glory. He made an early attempt to introduce computers for official work, in 1968.  Rev. Fr. K. M. Judge endorsed that idea quickly. So, Mr. Rao arranged a meeting for some teachers with Mr. Rustomji, who was the Director of that department in TELCO, to feel the way of working on that project. Rev. Fr, Judge, Mr. Rao, Mr. Rai, Mrs. Abedin, Mrs. A. K. Devi and I attended that meeting in Mr. Rustomji's Office in TELCO.

Mr. Rao receiving The Bene Merenti Award from Bishop Piccachi in Dec. 1969