of Solitude in Hispanic literature. The Indian writer Allan Sealy, a former pupil of the school, set his first novel Trotter-Nama in the old house, which he renamed as Sans Souci (carefree). The school has also featured in short stories. In her autobiography "Unfinished", Priyanka Chopra mentions her later schooling in a boarding house at La Martiniere Girls' College. Postage stamps The two La Martinière schools in Lucknow are one of the few educational institution in India, and possibly in the world, depicted on postage stamps. On 1 October 1995, on the 150th anniversary of the school's opening, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, the then President of India, released a two-rupee postage stamp in the school's honour. In 2007 when the girls' school celebrated its 138th anniversary, it was given a similar honour and a first-day cover was issued by Department of Posts with a picture of Khursheed Manzil on it. Curriculum The academic curriculum includes Mathematics, both English Language and Literature, History and Civics, Geography, Principles of Accounts, Commercial Studies, Science, Art, Craft and Woodwork, Choral Singing, Hindi, Sanskrit and the French language (both up to Class VIII), Computer Studies and Physical Education (three times a week until Class 10). Class 10 students are prepared for the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education and for the Indian School Certificate Examination when they are in Class 12. The four streams at 10+2 stage are Humanities, Commerce, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences. Extracurricular activities Physical and military training – the college has a Senior Division National Cadet Corps (Rifles) Troop, and two troops of the junior Division (Naval and Air Wings), representing the three Defence Services. Younger boys belong to the School Scout Troop and Cub Pack. Thursday is the parade and Co-Curricular activities day when the NCC and Scout activities are performed. The Hashmann Memorial Shield is held on the last working day before Winter Vacations and is awarded to the best wing of the NCC. Games and sports – games include athletics, gymnastics, cricket, soccer, basketball, badminton, volleyball, swimming, hockey, lawn tennis, table tennis, shooting, rugby, baseball, softball and horse riding. Honing intellectual skills – debating, elocution, declamation, dramatics, creative writing and quizzing activities are conducted regularly. Publications Club Publications Club produces articles in English, French, Urdu, and Hindi for the monthly magazie The Martiniere Post. College band The school has a pipe band, which dates from 1967. It was part