Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School

Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School (BRKMAHS; /brkmɑːhs/ (listen),[9][lower-alpha 1] Bengali: [brkmaɦs] (listen)[10][lower-alpha 2]) is a senior secondary boys' school in the district North 24 Parganas of West Bengal, India. The school was founded in 1912,[5] and is located at the northern outskirt of Kolkata, on the banks of the river Ganges (Hoogly). The school is run by the Baranagar Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Authority under the guidance of Ramakrishna Mission[11][12][13] at Belur Math (taken over in 1924).[5] Based on its performance of the students in the Xth standard board examination, the school is considered as one of the very best schools in West Bengal.[14][15][16][17][18][19]

Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School
Clockwise from top left: Main entrance of school; main academic building of secondary section; statue of Sister Nivedita; statue of Swami Vivekananda
Address
Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School
Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School
Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School
37, Gopal Lal Tagore Road, Baranagar

Kolkata
,
West Bengal
,
700036

India
Coordinates22°38′04.20″N 88°22′13.57″E
Information
Former nameBrahmananda Balakashrama
(1912–1924)
TypePrivate (Higher secondary)
MottoAtmano mokshartham jagat hitaya cha
(For the salvation of our individual self and for the well-being of all on earth)
Religious affiliation(s)Hinduism
Established20 April 1912 (1912-04-20)
FounderYogindranath Tagore
StatusActive
Sister schoolRamakrishna Mission Centenary Primary School, Baranagore
(estd. 1897)[1]
School board
School districtNorth 24 Parganas
AuthorityRamakrishna Mission Ashrama, Baranagore
SessionJanuary–December (V – X)
June–May (XI – XII)
School codeB1-019
(WBBSE)[2]
03691
(WBCHSE)[3][4]
DirectorSwami Shibapradananda (Secretary)
HeadmasterSwami Dharmapriyananda
Head teacherSwami Shashishekharananda (Assistant head master)
GradesV–XII
GenderMale
Age range10+ to 18+
Enrolment1100[5]
Medium of languageBengali, English
Schedule typeDay
ScheduleMonday - Friday:
10:40 am – 3:50pm (V – VI)
10:40 am - 4:30pm[6] (VII – X)
Saturday:
10:40am – 1:55pm
Hours in school dayMonday - Friday:
5-6 hrs
Saturday:
3-4 hrs
Campus size3 acres (121,359 m²)[7]
Campus typeUrban
HousesSarada Bhawan
Nivedita Bhawan[8]
Student Union/AssociationBRKMAHS Ex-students Reunion Celebration Committee
Colour(s)White and Grey         (V - X)
Blue and Grey         (XI - XII)
SongOm Sahana Bhabatu
Jana Gana Mana
SportsCricket, Football
NicknameBRKMAHS
YearbookRashmi (রশ্মি)
AlumniSee below
Websiterkmbaranagore.org

Emblem
Emblem of BRKMAHS

Designed and explained by Swami Vivekananda in his own words:[20]

The wavy waters in the picture are symbolic of Karma; the lotus, of Bhakti; and the rising-sun, of Jnana. The encircling serpent is indicative of Yoga and the awakened Kundalini Shakti, while the swan in the picture stands for Paramatman (Supreme Self). Therefore, the idea of the picture is that by the union of Karma, Jnana, Bhakti and Yoga, the vision of Paramatman is obtained.

Establishment

The “Brahmananda Ramakrishna Mission” of the twentieth century is today’s “Baranagar Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama”. Then the twentieth century was in its childhood – the great hero and saint Vivekananda had elevated himself like a phoenix from the ashes – his divine preaching had enchanted the young mind. India was then under the British bondage. The British Government had already issued the order, of partition of Bengal in accordance with the divide and Rule policy of The Lord Curzon. The air was being rented with the melodies of Rabindranath “Banglar Mati Banglar Jal” Bengal became turbulent and agitated like “Nataraj” with the waves of anti-partition movement and this turbulence had given birth to a number of brave dreamers who were inspired by the paradigm of Swami Vivekananda. Sri Yogindnanata Tagore, a disciple of Swami Brahmananda (Rakhal Maharaj) – a brave soldier of the anti-British movement and an active member of Anushilan Samiti, set up an orphanage in the name of his preceptor at the house of Panjas at Alambazar in North Kolkata. In 1912 on the pious day of Akshaya Tritiya the organisation started its journey with the name “Brahmananda Balakashrama”.

History

1912–2018

Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School has become an embodiment of the ideology ‘service and welfare through education’, since its initiation in 1912, on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. Since then, through selflessness and service to the mankind, this organization so successfully caters the spiritual genre, convened by Lord Sri Ramakrishna, in every possible way.

The foundation stone of this ashrama, as a "Brahmananda Balakashrama", was laid by Sri Yogindranath Tagore, an eminent freedom-fighter and disciple of Srimat Swami Brahmanandaji Maharaj, the first president of Ramakrishna Order. Later it was shifted into a one storied building adjacent to Jaikrishna Mitra Kalibari at Kutighat in the name of, “Baranagar Ramakrishna Ashrama for Orphan”. Then, in 1924 the Ashrama was acquired by Belur Math as a branch centre and hence, renamed as “Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama , Baranagore”. On February 20, 1928, by the patronage of the late zaminders of Narali, Jessore, the Ashrama procured a land of 8 bigha and 8 chhatak beside Gopal Lal Tagore Road. It was the same Akshaya Tritiya on 11 May 1929 the Ashrama was shifted to the plot.

The primary school, set up in the Ashrama premises in 1934, was sequentially upgraded to upper primary and then to lower secondary section in the year 1952. The multifaceted upper secondary wing of the institution was inaugurated in 1954 and it, henceforth got the recognition of ‘Madhyamik’ (Secondary).

11 May 1998, on the auspicious Buddha Purnima, a parallel primary wing of the institution (from Class I to Class IV) was incepted under the jurisdiction of Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math. This new segment was named "Ramakrishna Mission Centenary Primary School, Baranagore" and was inaugurated by Revered Srimat Swami Lokeswaranandaji on the occasion of ‘Centenary Celebration’.[7]

2018–Present
Unveiling ceremony of the plaque of Nivedita Bhawan on the day of inauguration

After a prolonged yet rigorous effort of 42 years, this institution has been elevated to the Higher Secondary level in 2018 and education is being imparted through Bengali and English medium in this section. In the first batch of HS Abhigyan Dutta stood first from Arts stream securing 463 marks out of 500 and Subhadip Chakraborty stood first from science stream securing 485 marks out of 500. Cg [21]

Campus
Top view of BRKM campus during annual festival in 2018

Ashrama has a large campus. It contains a primary school section, secondary and higher secondary school section, libraries, three free coaching centres, a charitable homeopathic dispensary, a mobile medical unit, prayer hall, a temple, monk quarters and playgrounds.[5]

Infrastructure

Secondary section
Corridor of secondary section building of school

There are two secondary section buildings in school campus, one for classes (V – VI) and other for classes (VII – X). There are five sections in each of the classes from V – VIII and in IX and X there are four sections each.[22]

Higher secondary section
Nivedita Bhawan

There is one higher secondary section building in school campus for classes XI and XII. The building is named "Nivedita Bhawan" which was inaugurated by Swami Suhitananda ji maharaj on 14 May 2018.In the first batch of HS Abhigyan Dutta stood first from Arts stream securing 463 marks out of 500 and Subhadip Chakraborty stood first from science stream securing 485 marks out of 500.[8]

Affiliations

Secondary section (V – X) is affiliated by West Bengal Board of Secondary Education[2] and higher secondary section (XI – XII) is affiliated by West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education.[21][7]

Academics
Computer laboratory of higher secondary school of school

The present curriculum of higher secondary section, affiliated by WBCHSE, consists of Arts and Science stream, for the time being.In the first batch of HS Abhigyan Dutta stood first from Arts stream securing 463 marks out of 500 and Subhadip Chakraborty stood first from science stream securing 485 marks out of 500 [7]

Organisation structure
Headmaster of Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School
Incumbent
Swami Dharmapriyananda
since October 2014
StatusHead of Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School
ResidenceRamakrishna Bhawan
AppointerBelur Math
Term lengthNot specific
Renewable
Inaugural holderSwami Umananda
DeputyAssistant head teacher of Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School

List of headmasters of Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School according to their working period:

List of headmasters of Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School
  • Swami Umananda
  • Swami Ramananda
  • Swami Jayananda
  • Swami Girutmananda
  • Swami Biswanathananda
  • Swami Bidhanananda
  • Swami Sukhananda 2003–2010 [23]
  • Swami Gyanalokananda, 2010–2011
  • Swami Kalyaneshananda, 2011–2014
  • Swami Dharmapriyananda, 2014–Present[24]

Swami Tathagatananda was the head during the period 1975–February 1977.[25]

Student life

Academic

Students are highly influenced by the faith and philosophy of Ramakrishna at this school. Former student Shiboprosad Mukherjee said:

In our school, we used to have a special class on religion and we weren’t a big fan of the class. Whenever we got an opportunity, we would bunk classes. But one particular lesson in that class moved me to the core and changed my whole perception about religion. It can be anything and any philosophy.[26]

Activities

Swachh Bharat Mission

BRKMAHS arranged an intensive cleaning programme Swachh Bharat Mission in the neighbouring locality on June 30, 2016 in accordance with the instruction given by the headquarters Belur Math. More than 600 students of standards VIII, IX and X actively participated in the programme under the guidance of monastic members and brahmacharies of the Ashrama and almost all the teaching and non-teaching staff of the High School.[27]

COVID-19 relief services

BRKM is continuing the relief services to the families affected by the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[28]

Amphan relief services

BRKM started Amphan cyclone relief services to aid families affected by the Cyclone Amphan which wreaked havoc on May 20, 2020.[29]

Cultural activities
Saraswati Puja at BRKM in 2019

Following cultural festivals and activities are held at school premises & Nivedita Krirangan in a befitting manner by the students of school in every year:

Devotees’ Conference is also once held in every year during annual festival of school.[30]

Alumni association

Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School Ex-students Reunion Celebration Committee is the name of alumi association committee of BRKMAHS. This committee every year celebrates reunion ceremony for ex-students of school. They are connected with many social activities throughout the year.[31]

Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Praktan Chhatra Samsad under the guidance of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Baranagore, organised a “Voluntary Blood Donation Camp” on 15 September 2019, in association with blood bank of Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan, Kolkata, as a part of the concluding – 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago Addresses at Sarada Bhawan. Total 51 units of blood were donated by ex-students of the ashrama high school, teachers, monastic members of different branch centres of the Ramakrishna Mission, Ashrama staff, volunteers and devotees. Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Praktan Chhatra Samsad Charitable Trust felicitated all the doctors who have been dedicatedly serving the poor & distressed patients throughout the year in the ashrama’s medical unit & also in medical camps at various remote places.[32]

Notable alumni
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
  • Sarada Bhawan Prayer Hall of BRKMAHS
  • Biology laboratory of BRKMAHS
  • Independence Day celebration at BRKMAHS campus in 2019
gollark: We should have a Discord "breed an ultra-messy" project.
gollark: ... thured?
gollark: Or my 14G messy thuwed red.
gollark: I will breed the prize with my 29G messy aeon.
gollark: Can get golds, can't get random eggs from coast.

See also

Notes
  1. Typically pronounced /brkmɑːhs/ in the English-speaking world.
  2. Typically pronounced Bengali pronunciation: [brkmaɦs] in the Bengali-speaking world.

References
  1. "RAMAKRISHNA MISSION CENTENARY PRIMARY SCHOOL, BARANAGAR". Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  2. "Affiliated Schools of West Bengal Board of secondary Education".
  3. "Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School (H. S.)". rkmahsb.blogspot.com. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  4. "List of West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education affiliated schools". Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  5. "Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Baranagar, Kolkata". Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  6. "Boy battles brain tumour to best exam". The Telegraph. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  7. "Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Baranagore". Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  8. "Inauguration Of Nivedita Bhavan, Baranagar RKM". Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  9. Jones, Daniel (2003) [1917], Peter Roach; James Hartmann; Jane Setter (eds.), English Pronouncing Dictionary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 3-12-539683-2
  10. Laurie Bauer, 2007, The Linguistics Student's Handbook, Edinburgh
  11. "Ramakrishna Mission and Ramakrishna Math Branch Centres".
  12. "Ramakrishna Math and Mission Branches In India".
  13. "World Centres - Vivekananda Brisbane". vedantabrisbane.org. Vedanta Centre of Sydney. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  14. TNN (7 June 2018). "District schools outshine usual top-scoring government Institutes in Kolkata". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  15. TNN (5 June 2012). "Bengal higher secondary toppers deny school credit". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  16. Mukherjee, Mita (29 June 2000). "MADHYAMIK HANDS CITY TOKEN PRESENCE ON MERIT LIST". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  17. "TOPPERS AT HOME WITH RAY AND HORROR TALES". The Telegraph. 25 June 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  18. "PERSECUTED MISSION SCHOOLS SCORE HIGH". The Telegraph. 25 June 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  19. Ali, Arshad (6 June 2018). "Madhyamik has a small syllabus and it's not difficult, says Class X Kolkata topper Sarthak Talukdar". dnaindia.com. DNA India. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  20. Vivekananda, Swami. "Conversations And Dialogues ~ XVI". The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. 7. Advaita Ashrama.
  21. "Inauguration of Higher Secondary Course in BRKM". Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  22. "Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School (H. S.)". 9 July 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  23. "Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School".
  24. "Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School".
  25. Swami, Resident (15 January 2011). "Swami Tathagatananda". Vedanta Society of New York. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  26. Mitra, Bishwabijoy (27 July 2019). "Shiboprosad on the inspiration behind his upcoming film". Times of India. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  27. "Swachha Bharat Abhiyan, Baranagar". Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  28. "COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Services By Ramakrishna Mission, Baranagar". Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  29. "Baranagar Mission: Amphan Cyclone Relief Services". Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  30. "Religious Festivals & Celebrations organized by BRKM". Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  31. "BRKMAHS Ex-students Reunion Celebration Committee".
  32. "Blood Donation Camp: Baranagar Mission". belurmath.org. 22 September 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  33. "On Gomolo". Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  34. "Shiboprosad Mukherjee Biography". Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  35. "Tathagata Mukherjee Biography".
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