I Studied Here, When I Was a Kid

Extracted by El avarasan from http://www.oocities.org/athens/2960/fi ns_today.html

The Friend-In-Need Society or more colloquially known as "FINS", traces it's humble
beginnings to around 1830, when times were tough in Mysore and Bangalore which came
under the Government of Madras, although there was a Maharaja at Mysore, the British
ruled from Madras. Ravaged by the times of Tipu's wars and no proper medical or financial
support, there were many cases of destitute, children were orphaned, asylums were there to
care for those under depression, and as most army people were 'volunteers', continued
support was only the individual to his family. Once he passed on, it was up to his colleagues
to look after his family, or they were destitute. Having no means to return to England, where
many had come from and then there were those who sprouted along with the local flavour
that could not go to anyplace. In this scenario, the destitutes were given a helping hand,
mainly the aged. As seen from the history, the places where they were looked after were
around the Cantonment. Old Poor House Road (OPH Road as it is referred to today, a road
perpendicular to Commercial Street on the West side), and then Thimmiah Road. In the
early days there were abundant destitutes from European descent, later Anglo-Indians
(Anglo Indians) and Eurasians were filling in, and today anyone who is too poor to look after
themselves are welcome here provided there is place, of course, permitting. There was a bit
of support from Whitefield and Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) communities, as many were
admitted from there.

There were changes that were abundant to the demarking of areas as the years
transgressed. Areas like OPH were being 'commercialized' and one could not imagine to find
a 'poor house' right next to the areas where the 'rich & famous' were found to be parading
with their flowing gowns, broad rimmed feathered plumed hats, fur coats and of course
parasols, not to forget straight jacketed husbands in tow!!

There are two important dates that have been recorded at FINS, namely the laying of the
Foundation Stone of the Home was laid by the Hon'ble Mr. H. V. Cobb, C.S.I, C.I.E., C.B.E.,
on the 1st March 1920, and the Home declared open by the Hon'ble Mr. W. P. Barton,
C.S.I., C.I.E., on the 1st February 1921. There is no date available or stone for the
Girdlestone Ward, but one can assume that it was around the same time or even earlier.
One feels that this Ward being smaller did not garner the attention or necessity of being
opened or presided upon by the Resident of Mysore, but it would be interesting to know..

The present location at Col. Hill Road, is apparently the final resting place of the Society,
where FINS moved in 1920. There is an Anglo Indian school attached to the FINS called
Colonel Hill School, but because of the area, and the not too glamorous location, and SSLC
(the local School Examination Board), not too many Anglo-Indian children are attending, and
those who are attending are mainly from the Shivajinagar - an area for many who are BPL,
as most want to go to the affluent schools of the 'richer' parts of the Cantonment, which offer
ICSE (Examination Board conducted from Delhi). The school caters to mostly the backward
classes and local area residents, and gives them ample hope for a bright and better future,
with English as the medium of instruction.