A Remarkable Story of Service

If you were part of the JIS community in the 1970s and 1980s, you likely have fond memories of Ranu Dally, an exceptional educator whose dedication and inspiration left an indelible mark on our school. 

Mrs. Dally embarked on her teaching journey at JIS — then known as Joint Embassy School (JES) — in 1972, sharing her passion for English and Speech & Drama with countless students and fellow faculty members. Her leadership and dedication did not go unnoticed, leading to her role as the Head of the English Department.

Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Dally was the creative force behind numerous stage productions, including Guys and Dolls (1973), Kiss Me Kate (1974), The Threepenny Opera (1985), and Mother Courage and Her Children. Her love for the theater and storytelling brought every one of these stories to life, and at the same time, inspired a greater appreciation for the performing arts among her cast and crew.

Mrs. Dally's impact extended far beyond her classroom and the school stage. She pioneered Tolong Anak Anak (TAA), JIS's inaugural service-learning initiative, and led it with unwavering dedication until her retirement. Through TAA, she helped nurture the values of empathy and outreach, leaving a lasting legacy of compassion within the JIS community that is still felt to this day with our school’s service arm JIS Peduli.

To capture her rich and diverse life experiences, Mrs. Dally has written a book that is part memoir and part short stories. She gives us a captivating look into her childhood in Malaya during the tumultuous years of World War II under Japanese occupation and her later journey as an educator in Indonesia. The book is not available to the wider public just yet, but Mrs. Dally has invited the JIS community to delve into its pages. If you would like to read her book, you can contact her son, Nikhil Dally, at nikhil@dally.org.uk, and he will grant you access with the appropriate link.