School memories remain evergreen, regardless of how old we grow. And some schools established centuries ago too have stood the test of time. India has many such historic schools which were built in the bygone era, but their architectures and disciplines still inspire us in multifold ways. Here are 6 iconic Indian schools that aptly fit into the definition of ‘old is gold’. They date back to more than a hundred years.
1. Anglo Arabic Senior Secondary School, Delhi ( 1696)
The CBSE-affiliated Anglo Arabic Senior Secondary School that came into existence in 1696 is also the oldest school in Delhi. The government-aided co-educational school at Ajmeri Gate has a hostel and a mosque too. The initial founder of the school was Ghaziuddin Khan, a general of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The original name of the school was Madrasa Ghaziuddin Khan. The architecture of the school reflects the excellence of Mughal architecture. Hocky olympian Mirza Masood, poet Akhtar ul Iman and Pakistan’s first Prime Minister, Liaqat Ali Khan had been the alumni of this school.
2. St George’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai ( 1715)
Founded in 1715, St George’s Anglo- Indian Higher Secondary School in Chennai first came into existence as a male orphan asylum. The school comprises red brick buildings and has a boarding house too. The church and the classroom block of the school form a part of CMDA’s 400 recognized heritage structures in Chennai. It is affiliated to the Anglo-Indian Board of Education.
3. St.Johns Vestry Anglo Indian School, Trichy (1763)
3. St.Johns Vestry Anglo Indian School, Trichy (1763)This institution too was an orphanage initially, for the children of British soldiers. Classes of this school used to take place inside the St. John Church’s vestry room. That is how the school has derived its name. It has boarding facilities too.
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4. Lycée Français de Pondichéry (1826)
Nestled amid the pretty streets of Pondicherry, the yellow-hued Lycée Français is the oldest school of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) network. It is India’s first international school and follows a syllabus approved by the French Ministry of Education. It was established on October 26, 1986, by Eugène Desbassayns de Richemont, the then governor-general of Pondicherry in French India.
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5. St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling (1823)
Archdeacon Corrie had originally established this school in Calcutta in 1823. It later moved to its present location at Darjeeling’s Jalapahar estate in 1864. The all-boys boarding school sits on one of the most picturesque locations, overlooking the mighty Himalayas. The ICSE-affiliated school is also referred to as the Eton of the East, as it has the only Eton fives court outside Britain.
6. Hare School, Kolkata (1818)
One of the founders of the Brahmo Sabha, Raja Ram Mohan and Scottish watch-maker David Hare had established this school in 1818. Affiliated to West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, it is one of the oldest boys school in Kolkata, situated by Asia’s largest books market, College Street. Notable personalities like Guru Dutt, Jagdish Chandra Bose, Dinabandhu Mitra, Meghnad Saha and Prafulla Chandra Roy had studied in Hare school. No wonder, it is considered as one of the best schools in Kolkata.
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These are only a few of the long list of schools in the country that have a strong historic value. Are you the alumni of one of these celebrated schools? Let us know in the comments section below. Meanwhile, have you tried the crunchy phuchkas near Lakshmipat Singhania School in Kolkata?