St George’s Grammar School to celebrate 190 years tomorrow

Hyderabad: St George’s Grammar School that counts legends like freedom fighter Sarojini Naidu, India’s first astronaut Rakesh Sharma, Abid Hasan Safrani, a close aide of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, who coined ‘Jai-Hind’, Air Chief Marshal Idris Lateef, among others as its alumni, is all set to celebrate its 190th anniversary on Friday.

The campus, which is spread over 7.5 acres, has a prep school, girls school, boys school, boys junior college, girls junior college, degree and post-graduate college for women. Around 6,000 students study at these educational institutions, which have 600 experienced staff.

The school was founded in 1834 by the British Army, which was stationed in Hyderabad as part of the British’s Subsidiary Alliance with the Nizam. The school offered the best English education to students.

The students were also taught musical instruments, fine arts and etiquette at the school. The students are also trained in march past, horse riding and other skills.

It was initially known as ‘The Hyderabad Residency School’ — one of the oldest missionary schools in the city and India. The school changed its name to ‘The Chudderghat Protestant School’ in 1867, and it was rechristened as ‘St. George’s Grammar School’ in 1891.

“St. George is an archetypal early Christian martyr from the 11th century,” said R. Satyanandam, the school’s special officer.

“This institution was reorganised into three distinct branches, namely St. George’s Grammar School, St. George’s Girls’ Grammar School and St. George’s Grammar Preparatory School. The school was affiliated to Cambridge University in the United Kingdom till 1956 and later to the Inter-School Board for Anglo-Indian Education, which was renamed as ‘The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination’. In the 1960s, the school was handed over to the Church of South India Trust Association, Diocese of Medak,” Satyanandam explained.

Prof. Dr. B. Vimal Sukumar, warden and correspondent, said: “To reflect on its epic 190 years journey of dedicated service in the field of education, the school has organised a science, art and craft exhibition and fests, all through the year.”

“Most parents of our students have been our alumni. This year toddlers are having an air conditioned classroom,” said J. Martha Nissi Daniel, the headmistress of Preparatory School.