The Indian School ( ar, المدرسة الهندية) is a
CBSE–affiliated community school in
Bahrain
Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an ...
. Founded by three Indian women as an elementary school for the children of Indian nationals in
Bahrain
Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an ...
, it is currently one of the largest co-ed schools in the
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a mediterranean sea in Western Asia. The bod ...
region. It was founded in 1950.
History
Bahrain's much-acclaimed Indian School owes its origins to the far-sightedness of the Bhatia community. When families started coming to the Gulf in the ‘fifties', formal education was non-existent and housewives used to run an informal “gurukula” system of in-house study. Older children were sent off to India for higher education. It was obvious that the “gurukula” system was of limited use and when a young Indian boy playing in the streets was involved in a road accident, queries were raised by the British Advisor
Sir Charles Belgrave about schooling for Indian children.
Seizing this opportunity, Lalchand D.I. sought permission for such an establishment, and to the delight of the Indian community, permission was granted almost immediately. To make the vision a reality, two prominent and industrious Indian businessmen were elected – Balubhai B. Desai who was with
BAPCO and Karunakaran of Kanoo, brother of Narayanan, Sir Charles Belgrave's secretary. Assistance was provided by the Divine Life Society, a religious body, and several individuals such as Shivlal Hemraj, B. Ratilal, Chaturbhujdas Mulchand, Purushottam Naraini (Narain Maharaj, who had already helped establish the first Arabic school in Muharraq) and the prominent Paris social worker Jamshed Marolia.
The school's founder members who served in the initial years were: B.B. Desai, Thawardas Issardas Kikla, Chaturbhujdas Tulsidas Asarpota, Karunakaran, Khubchand Jayramdas Megchiani, Vishwanath and Budhanmal Tirthadas Gajria. The school was inaugurated on Dussehra day in 1950 (just 3 years after India got its
Independence
Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...
from the
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
) and started with three lady teachers and 30-35 students. The first teachers included Shantaben Gopaldas Kikla, Nirmalaben and Geeta Tikamdas Gajria. Despite modest salary scales (Rs. 150/- for the Principal and Rs. 75/- for the teachers), the fledgeling school needed support and this was given by businessmen such as Shri Lala Gajria and Shri Mathardas Rupchand Bhatia. This help continued and the present Senior School in Isa Town owes a lot to the pioneering vision of Lala Gajria and Atma Jashnmal among others who undertook to obtain land and raise funds for the school.
Founded in 1950, its creation was initiated by the efforts of the Indian community in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The school's board is largely composed of parents elected for three-year terms. It is one of the oldest Indian schools in Bahrain.
The school commenced its journey with a headmistress and three staff members. Today, The Indian School is one of the largest expatriate schools in the Persian Gulf with over 13,000 students and a workforce of over 2077 members.
The school is spread over two expansive campuses located at
Riffa (LKG/JKG to 3rd) and at
Isa Town (4th to 12th). The school has around 13,000 students and is one of the largest co-ed schools in the
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a mediterranean sea in Western Asia. The bod ...
region.
During the years 2008-2014 which was considered as the golden period for ISB, the school stretched both ways, almost doubling the student and staff strength and building a new campus in
Riffa for lower classes and expansion of the existing campus at Isa Town. Before the Riffa campus, lower classes were at the
Sitra
Sitra ( ar, سترة or , ''As-Sitra''), also known as Sitrah ( ar, Jazīrat Sitrah, script=Latn) or Sitra Island ( ar, Jazīrat as-Sitra, script=Latn), is an island in Bahrain.
It lies south of the capital, Manama, on Bahrain Island.
History
...
campus in a rented building. Traffic issues at Sitra forced the school to shift to a much safer location for the students.
Notable alumni
*
Mamta Mohandas
Mamta Mohandas is an Indian actress, film producer and a playback singer of Malayalam film industry, she has also worked in Tamil and Telugu productions. She has acted in more than 50 films and won several accolades including two Filmfare Awar ...
– actress, film producer and playback singer
*
Vishnupriya
Vishnupriya Devi ( bn, বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া) , was the daughter of Raj Pandit Sanatan Mishra and second wife of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. She is believed to be the reincarnation of the Goddess Satyabhama, the third consort of Krish ...
– actress, dancer and model
*
Manasy Veetinal – actress
*
Mathew Thomas
Mathew Thomas (born 16 October 2002) is an Indian actor who appears in Malayalam films. He is known for portraying Franky in his debut movie '' Kumbalangi Nights'', Jaison in ''Thanneer Mathan Dinangal'' and Jomon in ''Jo and Jo''.
Early life
...
- actor
See also
*
List of schools in Bahrain
This is a list of educational institutions located in the Asian country of Bahrain.
Museums
Schools Primary and secondary education
The following primary schools and secondary schools are both national and international schools.
Tertiary e ...
References
External links
*
International schools in Bahrain
Indian international schools in Asia
Isa Town
Educational institutions established in 1950
1950 establishments in Bahrain
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