Please see my Page Farce of the Coat of Arms and Crest and my page Bogus Military Traditions. Within Bogus Military Traditions you will see the Parade celebrating the 167th anniversary of the Founder’s day. It is utterly scandalous that Indian children are honouring a British Colonialist, Sir Henry Lawrence who, when founding the institution specified that only children, both of whose parents were European were to be admitted! Below is Lawrence School’s Coat of Arms incorporating the motto ‘Never Give In’
While other schools adorn their crests with mottos that uplift the human spirit—’Let Knowledge Grow,’ ‘The Truth Shall Set You Free,’ ‘Through Light We Rise’—Lawrence School slaps its students across the face with the asinine, knuckle-dragging grunt of ‘Never Give In.’ This isn’t wisdom carved in stone—it’s the desperate howl of a Victorian drill sergeant, stitched onto a moth-eaten banner of imperial failure. What does it teach? Not inquiry. Not enlightenment. Just the same mindless, chest-thumping obstinacy that got Henry Lawrence blown to pieces by his own incompetence. While great schools plant seeds of curiosity, Lawrence School pours concrete on young minds—a boot camp where the only lesson is how to march blindly into the 19th century. ‘Never Give In’? More like ‘Never Think.’ Never Question. Never Evolve. Congratulations—your motto isn’t an inspiration, it’s an indictment.
The only thing more embarrassing than the motto is watching children parrot it with straight faces, as if ‘Never Give In’ were anything but the battle cry of losers and tyrants.
Other schools produce scholars. Lawrence produces hostages.
Why Emblems Are More Suitable Than Coats of Arms for Modern Schools
A coat of arms is a formal heraldic design that originated in medieval Europe, used to identify noble families and military units. It typically features a shield, crest, helmet, and often weapons or animal “supporters,” all governed by strict heraldic rules. These designs were deeply tied to warfare, hierarchy, and lineage — concepts that feel out of step with the ethos of a modern school. By contrast, an emblem is a symbolic design that represents the identity, values, or mission of an organization. Emblems are flexible, culturally adaptable, and not bound by rigid traditions. Unlike the coat of arms, which is European in origin and militaristic in nature, the emblem allows for universal imagery — such as books, torches, or trees — that can inspire young students regardless of their background. In schools across Asia, Africa, and beyond, emblems offer a more inclusive and contemporary way to communicate purpose and pride.
Have a look at the mottos and emblems of schools I have mentioned in my Pages
INDIAN SCHOOLS
| School | Motto (Original & Translation) |
|---|---|
| Daly College | “Gyanamev Shakti” (Knowledge is Power) |
| Doon School | “Knowledge our Light” |
| Mayo College | “Let there be Light” (Latin: Lux in Tenebris) |
| Rajkumar College | “Yasya Buddhi Balam Tasya” (Knowledge is Power) |
| Scindia School | “Vidya Dadati Vinayam” (Knowledge bestows humility) |
KENYAN SCHOOLS
| School | Motto |
|---|---|
| Allidina Visram | “Life is Duty” |
| Oshwal Academy | ”Compass for Life Skills” |
| Technical High School | “In Unity Is Strength” |
The emblems below are Daly College, Doon School, Mayo College and Rajkumar College
The emblem below is of Scindia School and by its side I have put a description because of the ‘Shiva’ Connection which is revered by us Lohanas
Here is an explanation of the Scindia School emblem: The two snakes represent wisdom and transformation, aligning with the school’s motto “Knowledge Liberates” . In Hindu mythology, snakes (e.g., around Lord Shiva’s neck) symbolize eternity and cyclical renewal, reflecting the school’s blend of tradition and modernity.
The bust below is of Shiv Bhagwan that my father kept by his side for decades. See reference to Shiv in the Scindia School description of its emblem.
The emblems below are Kenyan Schools: Allidina School, Oshwal Academy and Technical High School. Note: Technical High School is where P.M. Rishi Sunak’s father Yashvir and uncle Harish studied. All the text books for that school were and continue to be supplied by Savani’s Book Centre, Nairobi
Let me end this page on an irony. Near Lovedale is Wellington where the Defence Services Staff College is located. The motto of this august institution is Yuddham Pragya (युद्धं प्रज्ञा) translated as To War with Wisdom. The official motto of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, India, is “Seva Paramo Dharmaḥ” (सेवा परमो धर्मः), which translates to “Service Before Self”. Below are the emblems:
Every one of the mottos and emblems set out is vastly superior to the Never Give In motto and Coat of Arms of Lawrence School. The Coat of Arms is medieval, European, its design and authorisation still held by the College of Arms in London. There is no mention of anything other than warmongering! The schools shown have as their themes knowledge, light and duty. Even the armed forces emblems and mottos shown above refer to wisdom and service, a far cry from warmongering! The coat of Arms and motto of Lawrence should be booted into obscruty!
Please also see Page: Other Prestigious Indian Boarding Schools and Page: Alternative schools in Kenya.