History

In the year 1847 in the village called Chhota Jagulia a few noble personalities set up a school room having a double shed roof on 4 katas of land. India was under the British Rule. The so-called land was adjacent to Barasat and in order to reach Chhota Jagulia you needed to take the way to be covered by walking. It was a flourishing village rich in mango, jackfruit and coconut trees.

The fertile land able to produce paddy, wheat and mustard, the Hindus and the Muslims lived in co-habitual harmony with one another. Bit by bit the village was developed into a human habitation with the helping hand of the rural inhabitants and the creaking sound of the bullock-carts. The 'Babus' of Kolkata of that time started living here by purchasing land and houses and more than 90 buildings were built up. The famous affluent ‘Babus’ of Kolkata used to employ themselves in merry-making with songs and dances here. Sometimes a good number of Englishmen used to attend some special functions in this beautiful village.Durga Pujas with bigger dimensions were frequent and one would try to emulate or even surpass the other in respect of mandap or function. It was heard that social get-togethers were also common where inebriated liquors were served.

As some local people with developing minds came forward, endeavours were made to educate the tiny and tender boys and girls. A small school was set up inside a mango grove by the side of a muddy road. They named it ‘Chhota Jagulia School’. The 'Babus' of Kolkata extended monetary help and a few educated people started teaching the children. Initially the British Government approved two classes. As the number of students increased, in 1857 the school attained approval of six classes. A wonderful environment of joy and bliss reigned in the village; some enthusiastic people from remote villages started sending their wards to the school. Gradually the number of students increased and reached the number of 50-60. Naturally the British Government got attracted towards this school.

A few learned men appeared in the village and a movement of education and culture ensued. In this cultural movement the English people started paying attention to spreading education in order to ascertain the British Rule. In this regard names may be made of Mahatma Madhusudan Basu, Mahatma Kaliprasanna Biswas, Mahatma Rajendranath Basu, Mahatma Surendranath Basu, Mahatma Lalitmohan Ghosh, Dr. Bhupendranath Basu, Mahatma kshetramohan Upadhay, Mahatma Madanmohan Basu, Mahatma Benimadhab Rudra and Mahatma Aghornath Chattopadhaya.

The name of Chhota Jagulia village is worth mentioning in the Freedom Movement of India also. At that time Chhota Jagulia was regarded as a noted place outside the big city of Kolkata. It was heard that Mahatma Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar appeared on a palanquin in this village and visited this school along with one or two schools in the vicinity. On the ground of history it is a grand honour to Chhota Jagulia School. Gradually the muddy road was transformed into a road made of brick. The knee-deep muddy road became easily accessible to all and with that end in view urban people started coming here. Being attracted by the rural scenic beauty, people like Mahatma Chhabi Biswas and Uttam Kumar, the great film artists, purchased land and houses here and joined in the all-round development of the village. It was an era of notable and joyful environment in the village of Chhota Jagulia. The students of this place proved their sheer genius in many places of Kolkata, in the state and even in India. We must mention names of Dr. Pratap Basu and Sree Balaipada Dutta in this respect. In the arena of politics, sports and games, education and culture there were many distinguished personalities who proved to be thoroughly successful due to their multifaceted genius. With the passage of time the number of students increased to such an extent that in the year 1962 with the aid of some good-hearted people of the village Chhota Jagulia School got approval of ten classes and since then the school did never have to turn back. It is worth mentioning here that in 1847 it was a Middle English School, in 1956 it became a High Elementary School and in 1962 it came to be known asChhota Jagulia High School.

The name of Dr. Pratap Chandra Basu is very important. He not only wanted the development of the school but also by holding a higher post in the administration, tried his level best in the other various well-beings of Chhota Jagulia. A good number of mills and factories, B.D.O. Office, S.I. Office came into existence and all the credit goes to this great man.

After 1965 due to the natural calamities of storms and floods, the office of the school moved from one place to another by turns—first in ‘Duttabari’ and then in ‘Chakrabortybari’. Till the year 2002 some changes or alterations could be found in the facet of school as well as the condition of the teachers and the students. But in 2002 since the arrival of the new Headmaster of the school, Sree Prabir Ghosh, drastic changes have been evident in the condition of the school and its teachers and students. The extended help of the Managing Committee paved the way of the upgradation of the school to a Higher Secondary school from a Secondary school within one year.Humanities, Commerce and Science—all the streams opened a new vista for the students. From a meagre number of 550 the roll strength increased to a number of 1000 within three years. The number of teachers became 25 from 15. The narrower canvas of the school got a much bigger dimension. In this connection it should be mentioned here that this change could be made possible because the school could manage 2.5 bighas of land from the Bosebabus at the cost of a scanty amount. Within the boundary of the school lived a poor family and by purchasing land beside the school, provisions were made for them to live there peacefully, thus enabling the expansion of both the beauty and the circumference of the school. To the north of the school and to the west of the pond a tall palatial building was erected to manage the shortfall of space. In the southern corner of the school the latrine was renovated into the kitchen of Midday Meal as well as the space for serving the Midday Meal to the students and in this way the optimum lucrative atmosphere of the school was ensured.

Today in the month of April in 2019 the school consists of 2100 students as well as 52 teachers and few schools in North 24 Parganas and even in West Bengal can boast of the number. The departments of Anthropology, Geography and the Humanities, Commerce and Science streams are much developed. All the laboratories under these streams are well-furnished, decorated and self-sufficient. The praise of the school has spread far and wide. The library of the school consisting of as many as 4200 books is meeting all the needs of the students in an outstanding way. The office rooms of the school are a matter of envy to the other school teachers, students and people. Though situated at a short distance, the playground of the school is the best venue of sports in the entire area. Other schools, B.D.O. Office, I.T.I. College and the local clubs use the ground to show their skill in games and sports. The spot where the students keep their bicycles and the teachers keep their motor bikes and four-wheelers demands admiration from all. With the facilitation of the Managing Committee and incorporating the lovable attitude of the teachers towards the students, the advanced management system of both the Headmaster and the Assistant Headmaster, the sincere and heartfelt support from the clerks and Group-D staffs enable the school to become noteworthy not only in the village but also in the district. It is worth mentioning here that in 2002 the number of Madhyamik examinees was only 20 whereas in 2019, 250 examinees appeared at Madhyamik Examination and 240 examinees at Higher Secondary Examination—biggest in the entire area. The well-developed attitude of the Honorable Headmaster has ensured a true advancement of the school far and wide.

It is the heartfelt wish of all that the praise and goodwill of this school may spread not only in the village or in the district but also in the state, in the country—everywhere.

The reciprocal boost from the school-loving Hindus and Muslims as well as their enthusiastic attempt for its all-round development is surely taking the school towards excellence.