Historical Alfred High School, Rajkot where Gandhiji studied!!

Navrang India July 25, 2017
The Alfred High School, Rajkot  Times of India

The Alfred High School (also known as Mohandas Gandhi High School) in Rajkot is one of the oldest educational institutions in India today and was the first English school in the  Saurashtra region. 

Alfred Highschool (now Gandhi Museum), Rajkot, GJ.amarujala.com


The Alfred High School, Rajkot en.wikipedia.org/ Rajkot

Earlier called Rajkot English School, it was founded on October 17, 1853 during the East India Company's rule with 36 students.  Built by the political agent Kernel Singh,  it  later became a full-fledged high school. From 1868 till  1907 it used to be known as Rajkot English School  and later the name was changed to Alfred High School in 1907.  The Nawab of Junagadh,  Sir Muhammad Rasul Khanji Babi, built the present buildings for the Alfred High School for the benefits of the people of Kathiawar region. It was christened  after Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, as a memorial. It was opened in January, 1875 by Sir Philip Wodehouse, the Governor of Bombay presidency.

 The Alfred High School, Rajkot  /timesofindia.indiatimes.com

The school has gained  historical importance, for once it had  a distinguished alumnus who changed the course  of Indian history. He is none other than Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the father of our nation, who shook the very basic foundation of the mighty British Empire through his powerful political weapon - Satyagraha -civil  disobedience and non-cooperation. Mahatma Gandhi graduated from Rajkot High School in 1887 at age 18. Though there are many versions about his  school performances, etc., two facts seem to be quite clear. Gandhiji did not take interest in sports or any  extracurricular activities on his spare time, besides, his academic performance was just average. The other fact being he was the one among a few (in a class of 38 pupils) in his  year to matriculate.

Commenting on his school days, Gandhiji  said, "I had not any high regard for my ability. I was to be astonished whenever I won prizes and scholarships". After high school  Gandhiji joined  the Samaldas College in Bhavnagar, Gujarat where he stayed for one term before travelling to London to to be trained as a lawyer at Lincoln's inn. After India's independence in 1947, the school was  aptly renamed the "Mohandas Gandhi High School" in honour of Gandhi.

The Alfred High School, Rajkot YouTube

 For some reasons, the historical 164 year old school was closed for good and a Museum will be coming up in the school building soon. A sum of Rs. 10 to 15  crores had  been allocated by the government for the museum project. This museum would showcase life and times of Gandhiji, Sardar Patel and many other prominent personalities," said Pani, Municipal  Corporation Commissioner of Rajkot.
 
The Alfred High School, Rajkot  Asian News Service

The school  is on Jawahar Road, a prime locality of  Rajkot city, Gujarat and was designed by Sir Robert Bell Booth. The building, despite its age and vagaries of weather, still retains the old charm, grandeur and beauty. Gandhiji studied here from 1880 to 1887.

As part of the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhiji, Mahatma Gandhi Museum, Rajkot was inaugurated by Hon. Prime Minister of India Shree Narendra Modi along with Chief Minister of Gujarat Shree Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Shree Nitin Patel on 30th September 2018.The museum is managed by Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) and  Gujarat Tourism.