History

“History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul.”—Lord Acton

The history of SRIKRISHNAPUR CHITTA RANJAN HIGH SCHOOL (H. S.) goes back to almost 90 years when the dream and visionary zeal of some education enthusiasts got shaped into reality. It was 2nd January, 1931—the Foundation Day of this school. But its birth was not preplanned. Rather, it was a destiny. Deshabandhu Chittaranjan Das, well-known Indian freedom fighter and political activist had been suffering from prolonged illness in the year 1925. His health condition was deteriorating day by day creating concern among the citizens. It was the time when some well-wishers of this area decided to raise a fund for his treatment. But before the fund was sent, Deshbandhu had breathed his last on 16th June, 1925! Then it was decided to use the fund for the establishment of a school after his name. And as it was thought so it was done. Initially, the school, simply a small cottage with straw-made roof, was set up in Srikrishnapur mouja just beside the Midnapur canal in an abandoned kolur ghani (oilmill). But no concrete proof has been found regarding the actual founder of this institution.

However, charitable contributions and generosity of local residents as well as some well-wishers helped the school grow up bit by bit. There was always an everincreasing demand for additional accommodation with the surging in the number of students.The school got recognition from West Bengal Board Of Secondary Education and West Bengal Council Of Higher Secondary Education as following:

2 Class Junior High School (w. e. f- 01/01/1939)

4 Class Junior High School (w. e. f-01/04/1958)

As High School (w. e. f01/01/1964)

As Higher Secondary (w. e. f01/07/2000)

Eventually the old buildings became inadequate and unsafe and then gradually new buildings were set up. During the last 90 years, hundreds of children have been educated within the walls and grounds of this school. Many teachers and staffs have committed their time, expertise and knowledge to educate the future generations of this locality. This school takes pride in the renowned visitors to its campus and some of them were—Dr. Roma Chowdhury (ViceChancellor, Rabindra Bharati University), Dr. Nimai Sadhan Basu (Vice-Chancellor, VisvaBharati University ), Dr. Sushil Kumar Mukhopadhyay (Vice- Chancellor, Calcutta University), Dr. Pratap Chandra Chandra (Educationist, Union Minister of India). And among the respected teachers, the name of Sri Hemanta Kumar Adak, popularly known as pundit mahashay, is till inscribed in the hearts of his affectionate pupils.

Everybody who had or has been a part of this school, had or has left indelible mark— more or less—for the continuous development of this institution. And only the old banyan tree at the entrance of the school has been the eyewitness of this development from time immemorial. Indeed, we feel proud of our school, SRIKRISHNAPUR CHITTARANJAN HIGH SCHOOL (H.S.)—a very special school to all of us.