In the earlier years, the OBA was guided by its Managing Committees led by its Presidents who were outstanding old boys, who had a vision and who where very enthusiastic about literary activities. They were always supported by the Principals who used to take very active part in their meetings. No Committee meeting would be held if the principal of the school was not present by the virtue of the fact that he was the ex- Officio Chairman. Thanks to their commitment and initiatives and the continued efforts of subsequent committees, OBA St GERMAINS is the only Alumni Association in Bangalore with a repertoire of programmes in the literary and sporting arenas.
The first venture was into Literary Activities on the level of an Inter school Competition. The Inter School English Debate for the OBA Shield was started in 1972, during the tenure of BM Suares as the President. Very soon, it became a premier debating trophy in the city amongst the top schools. St Joseph’s Boys High, earlier called European High School, the Cottonians, boys and girls, the Baldwinians, boys and girls, Sacred Heart School, Sophias, Frank Anthony Public School, Innisfree House School, St Francis Xavier’s Girls High School, besides St Germain High School, have all etched their school names on this trophy. The competition each year was so fierce and it took a real performance to lift this shield. Imagine when you have a situation of nearly 100 speakers to handle in an entire afternoon, going into the evening and night. This intense competition prevails even till today.
Immediately the following year- 1973, Prabhu Prasad donated a Trophy in memory of his late father- Sri Nanjundappa Memorial Rolling Shield for the Hindi Debate.
In 1980, BM Ramprasad as President instituted another shield - Sri B R Manikam Memorial Rolling Shield for the Kannada Debate in memory of his father.
In 1976, BK Anand, as President introduced the Rev Fr Benito D’souza Inter School Quiz Rolling Trophy. Rev Fr Benito D’souza was Principal of the school from 1968 till 1975. In 2000, during the 25th Edition of the trophy, Fr.Benito D’souza was personally present to hand over the trophy to the winners.
When C N Abraham took over as President in October 1999, he and his team continued the Spirit of the Golden Jubilee. Two new competitions – the inter-school MARCHING BAND and ENVIRONMENTAL COLLAGE were added with trophies sponsored by the D’sa family and the Sunbeam Motha family. The Inter – School dramatics competition was also revived. It was in 2000 that Noaman Razack introduced the Rev. Fr. Hilary Pereira SJ English Debating Trophy, erstwhile called the OBA Debating Trophy in honour of our past Principal.
In 2000, the inter school activities were brought under the Umbrella of the The Germainite Challenge Cup in 2000. Participants need to assure themselves of the top places in the debates, quiz or collage, in order to participate for the Germainite Challenge Cup on the final day. This programme has been designed in such a way that right from the morning till its closure late in the evening, the participants do not know who the ultimate winners are in the Junior and Senior categories. They are grilled in all aspects of spellings, a super knowledge quiz, group discussions, interactive group discussions and finally appearing before an interview panel. It tests their knowledge skills, the adaptability skills, the relation to their roots, personal talent rounds, clarity, originality, confidence levels, emotional quotient and other attributes. The competition is so intense that the Winner of the Juniors last year was knocked out this year before he could reach the final round.
At the end of the show, there is a scramble amongst the participants for obtaining the coveted Certificates, more valuable than the fantastic gifts and prizes.
The Germainite Challenge Cup and the way it has been conducted over the years has brought the OBA appreciation and compliments, from not only the students and parents, but from the teaching fraternity and the Principals of various schools.
The Most non controversial programme very well conducted with no heartburn for anyone…. Principal, NPS- Indiranagar
The most unbiased programme… Mrs Srinivas -a Parent mother of Pooja Srinivas winner Juniors 2013
Such a unique and wonderful programme, no school does it in Bangalore… Mrs Chakraborthy a parent mother of Oindrilla Chakraborthy outstanding student in 2012.
The Challenge Cup has been conducted on a regular basis except for 2009 and 10. It was revived last year and in order that it becomes a regular feature of the OBA Activities, it now is mandatory for Managing Committees in future to conduct it as it has been included as part of a Constitutional requirement.
The 2012-13 Managing Committee has taken steps to ensure that an experienced Core Group consisting of individuals other than members of the Managing Committee, will be in place to provide continuity and ensure that these activities are properly conducted in future.
IN 2000, continuing with the spirit of the Golden Jubilee of the association, the GERMAINITE SPORTS FOUNDATION came into existence. The Annual Coaching Camp- brainchild of C N Abraham, who along with the then chairman of the OBA Rev Fr John Rose, ensured that all sporting related activities – the Golden Jubilee Hockey Tournaments, the Hockey Academy etc come under a single umbrella the GSF.
A corpus was created merging all sports related funds under this nomenclature an till today the GSF has a fund of Rs3.00 lakhs in deposits.
Some of the original members of the GSF- C N Abraham, Richard Anthony, Sydney D’sa have been instrumental in ensuring that the Golden Jubilee Hockey Tournament is conducted every year.
In 1999, the OBA celebrated its Golden Jubilee. It was a year to remember, it was a year when the INTER-SCHOOL SPORTS was conducted by the OBA, the GERMAINITE HOCKEY ACADEMY was born, and the OBA GOLDEN JUBILEE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT FOR SCHOOLS was launched. The credit for these initiatives goes to the then President of the OBA- Leo Devadoss and his team. The Germainte Hockey Academy secured an affiliation from the Karnataka State Hockey Association and also entered the annual C- Division Hockey league . The inaugural-inter school hockey tournament was conducted and it still continues since then for the senior and junior category. The OBA was able to get Sam Varkey who was associated with a company Sprayfield involved in agricultural activities to sponsor the senior tournament for the initial year with a generous corpus, along with the trophies. Similarly, Wing Commander (Retd) Nestor Conceicao, an old student, also put in a generous corpus for the Junior tournament , along with trophies dedicated in the name of Rev Monsignor Patrick Aranjo.
This tournament has been held from 1999 except when it was not held in 2007 -2010. Members of the GSF have been responsible to conduct all the editions till date including 2013.
The Annual Coaching Camp was introduced in April 2000. In the first year there was record -breaking participation of 300 students, for the three disciplines of cricket, Hockey and basketball. This year was the 14th edition and has thus been the most successful ventures of the OBA till date, as it has been conducted without a break since inception. In 2012, Venky’s Chicken provided eggs for breakfast, along with chicken. This is the only camp in Bangalore where breakfast is provided along with caps and T shirts. The fee is very reasonable and it is about 50% of what is charged by other camps in Bangalore where breakfast too is not provided.
In the earlier years there was a very focused attempt to groom young sportsmen who could play for the school state and country.
In 2003 St Germain High School were successful in winning both the Seniors and juniors of the Centenary Shield Hockey, last achieved in 1981.The products of the earliest camps have been successful in playing for the state Junior and senior teams in recent years. This is one area , where the OBA needs to focus year after year in order to achieve results.
Old Boys of Bishop Cottons, St. Josephs Boys School, Baldwins and St. Germains play matches against each other 4 times a year each hosted by one school.
Every year, during the week before Christmas, the OBA hosts a dinner for the teachers in the school and their families. The evening starts at 7 pm with cocktails accompanied by music and dance followed by a sumptuous dinner.
The statutory Annual General Body meeting held traditionally in the last Sunday of September every year is a day eagerly looked forward to by many old boys.
In 1991, the Inter School Table Tennis Tournament was introduced by Leo Devadoss as President. This was regularly conducted till 2004, after which the successive Managing Committees have not taken it up.
The popular Maroon and Black Germainite Ball was inaugurated in 1990 and the last time it was conducted was in 1999, after which, Samuel Jayarajan revived it in 2003/4 and after that it has been dropped from the activities of the OBA.