Vidhyanjali High School
Vidhyanjali High School more commonly known by its old name Shree Bhawanipur Gujarati Balmandir is a high school located at 20/1, Ram Mohan Dutta Road in Bhowanipur locality of Kolkata.[1]
History
It was founded by the generous contributions from the Gujarati speaking migrant community living in Calcutta with a view to teach Gujarati language based curriculum to their children. Among the founders were Himchandbhai Shah, Saudamaniben & others.[2][3] Jayantilal Manishankar Ojha was also one of the founder trustee of the school.[4][3] The noted educationist and independence activist Shantaben Patel, who was a pioneer of the Montessori system of education in India was instrumental in founding of the school. The school was a member of Association of Montessorians in India.[5] and running the school for over 60 years.[6] She collaborated with Maria Montessori to laid the foundation of school on 22 March 1945.[1][6] In 2005, Shantaben Patel was felicitated with Dr Mrs NB O'Brien Lifetime Achievement Award on September 28, at The Telegraph School Awards for Excellence, held at Science City auditorium in Kolkata.[6] In later years city's prominent Gujarati businessman Kanubhai Bhalaria also served the school as one of the trustees.[7]
In 1984, the medium of instruction was changed to English from Gujarati. In 2000, the school opened its doors to the children of other communities.In 2004, in its Diamond Jubilee year, Balmandir became a High School under the newly christened name ‘Vidyanjali High School'.[2]
Current status
Currently, the school is affiliated to West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education. It provides education up to 12th with streams in humanity, science & commerce.
Vidhyanjali International School
Further, it has tied up with Cambridge International Examinations, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom as a Cambridge International Centre and another unit & faculty runs in the same premises as Vidhyanjali International School.[2]
References
- ^ a b Around the Child. Association of Montessorians. 1974. pp. 93–94. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ a b c Vidhyanjali High School
- ^ a b Diary of Golden Days at Jharia – A Memoir & History of Gurjar Kashtriya community of Kutch in Coalfields of Jharia – written by Natwarlal Devram Jethwa of Calcutta compiled by Raja Pawan Jethwa published in year 1998 in English pp:32- Amritlal Ojha (1890-1944) & Ojha family.and Section: Gujaratis in Kolkata. pp:xi - Rai Bahadur Himchand K. Shah, Jayantilal M. Ojha, Lira Raja & other prominent Gujaratis living in Bhawanipore were earliest donors to start the Balmandir.
- ^ Reed, Sir Stanley (1961). The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. Bennett, Coleman & Company. p. 1157. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ Around the Child. Association of Montessorians. 1974. p. 93. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ a b c "The Telegraph - Calcutta : Metro". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ Calcutta's Who's who in Business. K. K. Taneja. 1972. p. 379. Retrieved 2 May 2018.