Alfred High School (Rajkot)

2021-05-24T09:56:21Z

2405:204:222F:5914:32CB:BDD:507A:96C6:

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2016}}
{{update|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox School
|name = Mahatma Gandhi Museum
|caption = sky view of Mohandas Gandhi High School
|nickname =
|image =
|image_size = 250px
|motto =
|established = {{start date|17 October 1853}}
|closed = May 2017
|type = [[Public school (government funded)|Public]]
|affiliation = [[GSEB]]
|district = [[Rajkot district|Rajkot]]
|grades = 10+2
|founder = H.M.S Nawab of Junagadh
|president =
|principal =
|head of school =
|dean =
|faculty =
|staff =
|students = 720 approximately
|enrollment =
|athletics = Cricket, Football, hockey,
|conference =
|colours = White, Navyblue
|mascot =
|alumni = [[Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi|Mahatma Gandhi]]
|free_label = Current Name
|free_text = Mohandas Gandhi High School
|free_label2 = Architect
|free_text2 = [[Sir Robert Bell Booth]]
|location = Jawahar Road,<br />[[Rajkot]]
|coordinates = {{coord|22.298492|70.801724|region:IN_type:edu|display=inline}}
|country = India
|homepage =
}}

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

==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 (title)|Bahadur]] Khanji Babi, and was named [[Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Prince Alfred]], the [[Duke of Edinburgh]], as a memorial. This School was opened in January, 1875 by [[Philip Edmond Wodehouse|Sir Philip Wodehouse]], [[Governor of Bombay]].<ref>"[http://rajkotcityguide.com/guide08/visit-rajkot Source] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231043111/http://rajkotcityguide.com/guide08/visit-rajkot |date=31 December 2007 }}", Retrieved on 26 December 2007</ref>

===Mohandas Gandhi===
[[Mahatma Gandhi]] graduated from Rajkot High School in 1887 at age 18.<ref name=Misra2007p102>{{cite book|title=Rediscovering Gandhi: Hind Swaraj Volume 1: Gandhi's Challenge to Modern Civilization|author=R. P. Misra|publisher=Concept Publishing Co|page=102|year=2007|isbn=978-8180693755}}</ref> Accounts vary on Gandhi's time at the school.<ref name=Gandhi2006p17>{{cite book|title=Gandhi: The Man, His People, and the Empire|author=Rajmohan Gandhi|author-link=Rajmohan Gandhi|publisher=University of California Press|year=2006|page=17|isbn=978-0520255708}}</ref> Several accounts suggest he was a quiet and academically unremarkable student who did not participate in sports or extracurricular activities.<ref name=Misra2007p102/><ref name=Jaypalan2010p156>{{cite book|title=Indian Political Thinkers: Modern Indian Political Thought|author=N. Jayapalan|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors Pvt Ltd|year=2010|page=156|isbn=978-8171569298}}</ref> 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".<ref name=Jaypalan2010p156/> However, [[Rajmohan Gandhi]] suggests that this view comes from a misreading of his "self-deprecating" autobiography.<ref name=Gandhi2006p17/> 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]].<ref name=Gandhi2006p17/>

Following [[Indian Independence Act 1947|India's independence]] in 1947, the school was renamed the "Mohandas Gandhi High School" in honour of Gandhi.<ref>"[http://www.rmc.gov.in/tourist_detail.php Colonial Tour of RMC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213210329/http://www.rmc.gov.in/tourist_detail.php |date=13 February 2008 }}", Retrieved on 26 December 2007</ref>

In 2017, the school was closed and announced that it will be converted into museum.<ref name="H2017">{{cite web | title=School where Mahatma Gandhi studied shuts down after 164 years | website=PTI | date=5 May 2017 | url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/8673641_School-where-Mahatma-Gandhi-studied-shuts-down-after-164-years | access-date=14 May 2017}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
* [[S. R. Rana]], Indian political activist<ref name=KBU>{{cite thesis |last=Gohil |first=Dharmendrasinh Vaghubha |date= 18 May 2015|title= Contribution of Sardarsinh Rana in Freedom struggle of India 1870 to 1947|chapter=1-7 |publisher=Department of History, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji [[Bhavnagar University]]|language=gu|pages=4–|hdl=10603/41755 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Rajkumar College, Rajkot|The Rajkumar College]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Mohandas K. Gandhi}}

{{clear}}

[[Category:Education in Rajkot]]
[[Category:High schools and secondary schools in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1853]]
[[Category:Schools in Colonial India]]
[[Category:Boys' schools in India]]
[[Category:1853 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Government schools in India]]
[[Category:Schools in the princely states of India]]

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Alfred High School (Rajkot)