Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School

Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School has become an embodiment of the ideology ‘service and welfare through education’, since its initiation in 1912, on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. Since then, through selflessness and service to the mankind, this organization so successfully caters the spiritual genre, convened by Lord Sri Ramakrishna, in every possible way.

The foundation stone of this ashrama, as a "Brahmananda Balakashrama", was laid by Sri Yogindranath Tagore, an eminent freedom-fighter and disciple of Srimat Swami Brahmanandaji Maharaj, the first president of Ramakrishna Order. Later it was shifted into a one storied building adjacent to Jaikrishna Mitra Kalibari at Kutighat in the name of, “Baranagar Ramakrishna Ashrama for Orphan”. Then, in 1924 the Ashrama was acquired by Belur Math as a branch centre and hence, renamed as “Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama , Baranagore”. On February 20, 1928, by the patronage of the late zaminders of Narali, Jessore, the Ashrama procured a land of 8 bigha and 8 chhatak beside Gopal Lal Tagore Road. It was the same Akshaya Tritiya on 11 May 1929 the Ashrama was shifted to the plot.

The primary school, set up in the Ashrama premises in 1934, was sequentially upgraded to upper primary and then to lower secondary section in the year 1952. The multifaceted upper secondary wing of the institution was inaugurated in 1954 and it, henceforth got the recognition of ‘Madhyamik’ (Secondary).

11 May 1998, on the auspicious Buddha Purnima, a parallel primary wing of the institution (from Class I to Class IV) was incepted under the jurisdiction of Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math. This new segment was named "Ramakrishna Mission Centenary Primary School, Baranagore" and was inaugurated by Revered Srimat Swami Lokeswaranandaji on the occasion of ‘Centenary Celebration’.[7]

Unveiling ceremony of the plaque of Nivedita Bhawan on the day of inauguration

After a prolonged yet rigorous effort of 42 years, this institution has been elevated to the Higher Secondary level in 2018 and education is being imparted through Bengali and English medium in this section.[21]

Corridor of secondary section building of school

There are two secondary section buildings in school campus, one for classes (V – VI) and other for classes (VII – X). There are five sections in each of the classes from V – VIII and in IX and X there are four sections each.[22]

Nivedita Bhawan

There is one higher secondary section building in school campus for classes XI and XII. The building is named "Nivedita Bhawan" which was inaugurated by Swami Suhitananda ji maharaj on 14 May 2018.[8]

Students are highly influenced by the faith and philosophy of Ramakrishna at this school. Former student Shiboprosad Mukherjee said:

In our school, we used to have a special class on religion and we weren’t a big fan of the class. Whenever we got an opportunity, we would bunk classes. But one particular lesson in that class moved me to the core and changed my whole perception about religion. It can be anything and any philosophy.[26]

BRKMAHS arranged an intensive cleaning programme Swachh Bharat Mission in the neighbouring locality on June 30, 2016 in accordance with the instruction given by the headquarters Belur Math. More than 600 students of standards VIII, IX and X actively participated in the programme under the guidance of monastic members and brahmacharies of the Ashrama and almost all the teaching and non-teaching staff of the High School.[27]

Saraswati Puja at BRKM in 2019

Following cultural festivals and activities are held at school premises & Nivedita Krirangan in a befitting manner by the students of school in every year:

• National Youth Day
• Birthday of Netaji
• Republic Day
• Saraswati Puja
• Birthday of Ramakrishna
• Maha Shivaratri
• Akshaya Tritiya (school foundation day)
• Rabindra Jayanti
• Independence Day
• Kali Puja
• Birthday of Sarada Devi

Devotees’ Conference is also once held in every year during annual festival of school.[28]