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Hindu School, Kolkata

Coordinates: 22°34′33″N 88°21′49″E / 22.575697°N 88.363713°E / 22.575697; 88.363713
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hindu School
Main Building of school campus from College Street
Hindu School main building in College Street
Address
Map
1B, Bankim Chatterjee Street

Kolkata
,
West Bengal
,
700 073

India
Information
TypePublic school
Mottoতমসো মা জ্যোতির্গময়ঃ
(Illumine the darkness)
Religious affiliation(s)Secular
EstablishedJanuary 20, 1817; 207 years ago (1817-01-20)
Founder
School boardWBBSE & WBCHSE
AuthorityGovernment of West Bengal
CategoryHigher Secondary
ChairmanGovernor of West Bengal
PrincipalSubhrojit Dutta
Faculty53
Teaching staff19
GenderBoys
Number of students1250 (approximate intake)
CampusUrban
AffiliationsDepartment of Higher Education, Government of West Bengal
AlumniSee List of Hindu School people
Websitehindu-school.com

Hindu School is a state government-administered school in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest modern educational institution in Asia (then known as Hindu College). The institution played a key role during Bengal Renaissance period. It is located on College Street, in the vicinity of Hare School, College Square, Presidency University, Sanskrit College, Calcutta Medical College and the University of Calcutta.

History

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Front view of the Hindu School in College Street, August 2022.

With the establishment of the Supreme Court of Calcutta in 1773 many Hindus of Bengal showed eagerness to learn the English language. David Hare, in collaboration with Raja Radhakanta Deb had already taken steps to introduce English education in Bengal. Babu Baidyanath Mukhopadhya advanced the introduction of English as a medium of instruction further by enlisting the support of Sir Edward Hyde East, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Fort William who called a meeting of 'European and Hindu Gentlemen' in his house in May 1816.[1][2] The purpose of the meeting was to "discuss the proposal to establish an institution for giving a liberal education to the children of the members of the Hindu Community". The proposal was received with unanimous approbation and a donation of over Rs. 100, 000 was promised for the setting up of the new college. Raja Ram Mohan Roy showed full sympathy for the scheme but chose not to come out in support of the proposal publicly for fear of "alarming the prejudices of his orthodox countrymen and thus marring the whole idea".[3]

The college was formally opened on Monday, 20 January 1817 with 20 'scholars'. The foundation committee of the college, which oversaw its establishment, was headed by Raja Rammohan Roy. The control of the institution was vested in a body of two Governors and four Directors. The first Governors of the college were Maharaja Tejchandra Bahadur of Burdwan and Gopee Mohan Thakoor. The first Directors were Gopi Mohun Deb of Sobhabazar, Joykissen Sinha, Radha Madhab Banerjee and Gunganarain Doss. Buddinath Mukherjee was appointed as the first Secretary of the college. The newly established college admitted Hindu students only from affluent and upper caste families.

At first the classes were held in a house belonging to Gorachand Bysack of Garanhatta (later renamed 304, Chitpore Road), which was rented by the college. In January 1818 the college moved to 'Feringhi Kamal Bose's house' which was located nearby in Chitpore.[4] From Chitpore, the college moved to Bowbazar and later to the building that now houses the Sanskrit College on College Street. In 1855 the 'Pathshala' part was renamed as Hindu School and the 'Mahapathshala' part became Presidency College, Kolkata.[5]

Medium of education

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Hindu School had been providing education primarily in Bengali medium until 2017, prior to its bi-centenary, when it has been decided to introduce English as the second medium of imparting education.[6]

Notable alumni

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Main article: List of Hindu School people

Short notable alumni list

References

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  1. ^ "Kolkata: 202-year-old Hindu School to introduce teaching in English". financialexpress.com. Financial Express. Press Trust of India. 7 December 2019. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Presidency University". www.presiuniv.ac.in. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Presidency University". www.presiuniv.ac.in. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  4. ^ This building is a historic one because Raja Ram Mohan Roy inaugurated his Brahma Sabha there and Alexander Duff of the Scottish Missionary Board started his educational establishment, the General Assembly's Institution there as well a few years later in 1830.
  5. ^ "Ad Age Homepage - Ad Age". www.adageindia.in. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  6. ^ "হিন্দু স্কুলে ইংরেজি মাধ্যম". anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  7. ^ Sengupta, Subodh Chandra and Bose, Anjali (editors), Sansad Bangali Charitabhidhan (Biographical dictionary) Vol I, 1976/1998, pp. 554–5, Sahitya Sansad, ISBN 81-85626-65-0 (in Bengali).
  8. ^ Sengupta, Subodh Chandra and Bose, Anjali (editors), 1976/1998, Sansad Bangali Charitabhidhan, pp. 184-185
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22°34′33″N 88°21′49″E / 22.575697°N 88.363713°E / 22.575697; 88.363713

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