Gandhi Ashram School

Gandhi Ashram School, Kalimpong
Location
Kalimpong,6th Mile Bridge
Darjeeling, India
Information
Established 1994 (1994)
Founder Fr. Edward McGuire
Director Paul D'souza
Principal mr. Divyananda
Staff Kamal Gurung (Conductor)
Gender Co-educational
Age 3 to 19
Language English, Nepali

Gandhi Ashram School is a Jesuit mission school in Kalimpong, India for disadvantaged children from the locality. It was founded in 1993 by Fr. Edward McGuire, a Jesuit priest from Canada. The school aims to provide a good formal education and at the same time let the children explore their talents, especially through music in the form of stringed instruments.[1] It has become a tourist attraction[2] and some of its players have performed in Europe.

History

In 1954, Edward McGuire came to India. He taught in St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling and St. Robert's school in Darjeeling and in St. Mary's School in Kurseong, before coming to Kalimpong in 1990. In 1993, the Jesuit Region superior asked him to start a school for the underprivileged children and Gandhi Ashram School came into being.

It began with 23 children from the neighbouring areas. McGuire invited Rudra Mani Biswakarma, who he had trained in Darjeeling, to take charge as the music teacher and conductor.[3] In 11 months, the Orchestra put up their first performance in Western Classical Music.[4]

Today, there are over 180 students in the school from Kindergarten to Class VIII.

The musician students of Gandhi Ashram School perform in various parts of the world as "Fiddlers on the Thatch".[4]

References

  1. ↑ Barbara Grover. "Gandhi Ashram". Company Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  2. ↑ "Sikkim | Zanskar Ladakh". www.visitzanskarladakh.com. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  3. ↑ "The Hindu Business Line : The road to Kalimpong". www.thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  4. 1 2 Gautam, Savitha; Gautam, Savitha (2010-11-12). "Bowing to the hills…". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2017-10-24.

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