The school Crest has changed a few times over the years. What initially started out in around 1941-42 had an inclination toward symbols of Goa; but it gradually evolved and took symbols which were more Belgaum Centric.
The Initial Crest
The first coat of arms of St. Paul’s High School was conceived and designed by Fr. Claude Saldanha SJ somewhere between 1941 – 42. It was drawn by Mother Josephine Sala FdCC of St. Joseph’s, Belgaum, before it was printed for the first time in the “St. Paul’s Annual 1942.” The Coat of Arms is a shield divided into two parts.
In the left portion of the shield is a golden sun spreading its rays through the sky. In the centre of the sun are three letters IHS. These three letters written in Greek capitals are the first three letters in the name of Jesus and are JES (in English). This golden sun with its rays spreading out and with the name of Jesus in the centre is the monogram of the Society of Jesus, popularly called Jesuit Fathers. It is placed here to make known that the school is run by the Jesuit Fathers and draws its inspiration from the teachings and values of Jesus Christ.
This right side of the shield shows a citadel surmounted by a wheel and a small shield. The citadel symbolized the fortified city of Old Goa and the wheel was a symbol of St. Catherine, the patroness of Old Goa. These were part of the shield of Old Goa. The citadel is flanked on both sides by palm trees, and in front of them are the blue waters of the Indian Ocean. The Portuguese Fathers chose these symbols because of their affinity with Goa.
In the lower portion of the shield is seen a chequered board of blue and gold, the colours of the school. On this board is a red book on which is placed a lighted lamp. Both these are symbols of faith, knowledge and learning.
The ribbon below the shield displays the Latin motto of the school : ‘Induamur Arma Lucis’. These words in Latin are the words of St. Paul, the patron of the school and from whom the school draws its name. These words were a change from the original motto that had been chosen the previous year. The earlier motto mentioned in the Annual of 1941 was ‘Virtute et Labore’–Virtue and Hard Work. When it was discovered that another school in Bombay had already chosen this motto, it was changed to the words of St. Paul. This new motto means ‘Let us put on the Armour of Light.’ If translated literally from Latin, it would broadly mean: “Let us drive away the darkness of ignorance, hatred, anger and greed with the light of knowledge, learning and faith, shown in its fruits of forgiveness, love and generosity.”
The Present Crest
As years passed, the Crest evolved to have more affinity to Belgaum and its surroundings, since the original Crest had an inclination toward symbols of Goa, to which the Portuguese Fathers had affinity. The new crest took symbols which were more Belgaum Centric.
In 1951 over the shield a ribbon was added with the name ‘St. Paul’s High School’ on it. This made the shield more complete. In July 1954 changes were again made to the crest. From the upper right portion of the shield the Citadel of Goa and the symbols of Goa (palm trees and the waters of the Indian Ocean) were removed and replaced with reddish-brown hills and the sky. On the hills were shoots of bamboo. These were chosen because it is said that the original name of Belgaum was ‘Venugram’ land of the bamboo (which abounds in Belgaum and the villages around). So the hills and bamboos are symbolic of something typical of Belgaum.
At the same time, on the ribbon above the shield ‘Belgaum’ was added to the name of the school where it was situated. The motto below the shield which was in Latin was replaced with a Sanskrit line, meaning “Let us put on the clothing of knowledge and wisdom.” However by 1957 the original Latin motto was put back on the crest.
In 1959 the Pre-University Classes were added to the High School. St. Paul’s now became a Higher Secondary School. Accordingly, on the ribbon above the Coat of Arms the name was changed to St. Paul’s Higher Secondary School, Belgaum.
However another significant change was also made. On the upper right portion of the shield the hills and bamboo shoots which symbolized Belgaum were replaced by ears of rice. They were meant to signify growth, abundance and plenty, the fruits of our labour. These ears of rice were meant to signify Belgaum which had as its staple crop, rice. When the Pre-University Classes were permanently closed and St. Paul’s reverted to its status of a High School, the name on the ribbon above the crest also reverted to St. Paul’s High School, Belgaum. This is what we have today.