Alfred High School (Rajkot)

The Alfred High School (also known as Mohandas Gandhi High School) in Rajkot is one of the oldest educational institutions in India today.

Mahatma Gandhi Museum
Aerial view of Mohandas Gandhi High School
Location
Jawahar Road,
Rajkot

India
Coordinates22.298492°N 70.801724°E / 22.298492; 70.801724
Information
TypePublic
Established1885
Founded17 October 1853
FounderH. H. Nawab of Junagadh
School districtRajkot
Grades10+2
Number of students720 approximately
Colour(s)White, Navyblue
AthleticsCricket, Football, hockey,
AffiliationGSEB
AlumniMahatma Gandhi
Current NameMohandas Gandhi High School
ArchitectSir Robert Bell Booth

History

This school was constructed during British rule in India by political agent Kernel Singh, and was the first English school in the saurashtra (region). Originally called Rajkot English School, it was founded on 17 October 1853, and later became a full-fledged high school. By 1868 it came to be known as Rajkot High School, and was named Alfred High School in 1907. The present buildings of the Alfred High School were built for Kathiawar by the Nawab of Junagadh, Nawab Nawab Sir Muhammad Bahadur Khanji Babi, and was named Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, as a memorial. This School was opened in January, 1875 by Sir Philip Wodehouse, Governor of Bombay.[1]

Mohandas Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi graduated from Rajkot High School in 1887 at age 18.[2] Accounts vary on Gandhi's time at the school.[3] Several accounts suggest he was a quiet and academically unremarkable student who did not participate in sports or extracurricular activities.[2][4] Gandhi said of his schooling, "I had not any high regard for my ability. I was to be astonished whenever I won prizes and scholarships".[4] However, Rajmohan Gandhi suggests that this view comes from a misreading of his "self-deprecating" autobiography.[3] Out of 38 students who had passed the high school entrance examination, Gandhi was one of only two students in his year to matriculate. Following graduation Gandhi enrolled at the Samaldas College in Bhavnagar, where he stayed for one term before travelling to London.[3]

Following India's independence in 1947, the school was renamed the "Mohandas Gandhi High School" in honour of Gandhi.[5]

In 2017, the school was closed and announced that it will be converted into museum.[6]

Notable alumni
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See also

References
  1. "Source Archived 31 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine", Retrieved on 26 December 2007
  2. R. P. Misra (2007). Rediscovering Gandhi: Hind Swaraj Volume 1: Gandhi's Challenge to Modern Civilization. Concept Publishing Co. p. 102. ISBN 978-8180693755.
  3. Rajmohan Gandhi (2006). Gandhi: The Man, His People, and the Empire. University of California Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-0520255708.
  4. N. Jayapalan (2010). Indian Political Thinkers: Modern Indian Political Thought. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors Pvt Ltd. p. 156. ISBN 978-8171569298.
  5. "Colonial Tour of RMC Archived 13 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine", Retrieved on 26 December 2007
  6. "School where Mahatma Gandhi studied shuts down after 164 years". PTI. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  7. Gohil, Dharmendrasinh Vaghubha (18 May 2015). "1-7". Contribution of Sardarsinh Rana in Freedom struggle of India 1870 to 1947 (Thesis) (in Gujarati). Department of History, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University. pp. 4–. hdl:10603/41755.
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