History

General Information

St. Alphonsus Higher Secondary School is a Private Catholic Minority Institution under the Grant - in Aid scheme of the Government of West Bengal. It is owned by the Diocese of Darjeeling and is run by the Darjeeling Province of the Society of Jesus. At the Secondary level, it is only for the boys. However, it is a co-educational institution at the Higher Secondary (Science and Commerce) level. The Arts section of the Higher Secondary level still remains only for boys. The institution is recognized by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education as well as by West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education.

A Historical Note

Atop a hill of Kurseong, St. Mary's is a beautiful hamlet. This little village has been contributing many learned, distinguished and persistent teachers to the Mepali society. it is in this village that St. Alphonsus School was established by Bro. Celestine Motet as Vidhyashram (school) in 1891. With great difficulty collecting around ten orphans and some other boys and girls from the village he began this charitable work on January 15, 1951. LAter on the rsponsibility of making this good work more than firm and developed, was carried out by each priest who came there.

In 1910, Fr. John Baptist Linen became the in-charge of the Vidhyashram. He not only developed it but also started primary school in Malata in 1915 and in Chimni in 1916. Many priests who came after him like, Fr. Verelst, Fr. Vander Ables, Fr. Fischer and so on contributed in the ddvelopment of this Home of Knowledge. As a result, this Home got the recognition of Middle School (English) in 1931. Mr. Pascal Yonzon with his great knowledge in Hindi, English and Latin became the Headmaster.

Soon after the recognition of St. Alphonsus School as Moddle English School,a courageous, agricullturist and missionary Fr. Michael Wery, SJ arrive in the area, As a result of his skills, persistence and selfless service, St. Alphonsus School got the recognition if High School. There were total eight students for MAtriculation in 1936. Out of eight candidates, seven of them passed the exam, among whom were Eric Benjamin Moktan (who later became the Bishop of Darjeeling Catholic Diocese), distinguished Literate Mr. Indra Sundas, Mr. C.B. Gurung (who became the Head of the Muncipal Corporation of Kurseong), Mr. D.B. Rai, Mr. Norbu Moktan, Mr. Dawa Moktan, and Mr. Babulal Moktan.

In order to serve the poor more effectively, Fr. Wery bought the Clarendon Hotel in Kurseong where the railway passengers used to get down for reffreshment. St. Alphonsus School was shifted to this hotel from St. mary's Hill in 1937. with the increase in number of students, Fr. Wery faced the difficulty of lack of teaching staff. Meanwhile, an old priest, Fr. Roshwell, an educationist from Culcutta came to Kurseong for his treatment in 1958 and helpsed in the school till 1959. In 1959, Fr. William Mickey, SJ, another young, hardworking, chherful and jovial Canadian came to India and stepped in the school to shoulder the responsibility while Fr. Roshwell returned to Calcutta. He grenrated a new lease of life in students and the school became a role model for the other institutions of Darjeeling district, especially in the fields of games and sports. in 1959,, Fr. Mickey was appointed as the Headmaster of St. Robert's School in Darjeeling. In the place of Fr. Mickey, Fr. Pentergast came from St. Robert's. But within a year, on being appointed to work in Bishop's House in Darjeeling, Fr. Pentergast had to leave the school. In his place, Fr. John Abraham Murray, Sj, a learned, hardworking Canadian Jesuit came in 1959 and with his arrival the history of the school marked a miraculous turn towards a tremendous progress. 

With his trip to various American and European countries, Fr. Abraham raised funds for the school and developed the infrastructures as well. He established Nehru Kennedy Library which had more than fifteen thousand books. During his absence due to his fund raising trips, Fr. Namchu, a Diocesan priest took up the responsibility as caretaker Headmaster for a year.

Later, in 1982, Fr. Gerard Van Walleghem, SJ from St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling, came to take the responsibility of running the school. In 1984, Fr. Edward Gurung, SJ headed the school who had a hard time in shouldering the rsponsibilities, especially durin the Gorkha agitation in the hills. From 1990 to 1992, Fr. Marcel Benedict Singh, SJ took care of the school. And from 1992 - 1995, Fr. Joseph Pradhan, SJ took care of the school and during this time the school celebrated the centenary of its existence. In January 1996, Fr. Kinley Joseph Tshering, SJ, a Catholic priest from Bhutan continued from his predecessor and riased the school to a new level by obtaining recognition of Higher Secondary education. After his transfer in the year 2000, Fr. Edward Gurung, SJ served as the Headmaster for the second time till 2009. After his retirement, Fr. Daniel Bara, SJ was the Headmaster till 2012. From 2012 to 2013, Fr. Cherian Mallekal, SJ headed the school and later Late Fr. Alex Minj, SJ till his untimely death due to heart attack in November 2015. AT this critical moment, Fr. Justin Thiruveyam, SJ took up the rsponsibility of the Headmaster of the School. It was in his time in 2016, the school celebrated Quasquicentennial Jubilee. Fr. Justin was transferred in March 2017. From April 2017, Fr. Kevin Moktan, SJ continues till date as the Headmaster of the school carrying out the responsibility of ensuring the quality education and continuing the Jesuit legacy.

The Jesuits

The Jesuits are the members of a Religous Order called the Society of Jesus founded in 1540 by St. Ignatius of Loyola. These men are spread throughout the world, numbering about 19000. From the very beginning, what characterizes these Jesuits is their intellectual apostolate. This is evident from the fact that over 700 educational institutions are being managed by them around the globe. And in India, this number keeps getting bigger and bigger every year. Like other parts of the world, in India, these Jesuits are actively engaged in high qualility University colleges, Research Cntres, Management Institutions, Technical Institutes, Teacher Education Volleges and numerous high schools. What is noteworthy about all these institutions is that these are open to all - no one is discriminated against and hence excluded from these because of his/her caste, creed, colour or natioanlity.

Although the Society of Jesus is one Universal Society, for practical reasons, it is divided into smaller administrative units called Provinces and Regions. In India, there are sixteen such Provinces and one Region. Darjeeling Province is one of them. St. Alphonsus Higher Secondary School is managed by the members of this Darjeeling Province.