How the first English-medium residential school opened in Nepal
April 14, 2024
Godavari School started off in May-June, 1951 with 58 students enrolled in grades 1 to 5.
The ‘Gorkhapatra’ published a notice on its sixth page on September 30, 1946 (Asar 14, 2003), regarding the immediate plan of the Ministry of Education to open a ‘public’ school, including a hostel, in a healthy environment outside the city. This notice was issued because it was deemed necessary to ascertain the number of students interested in studying in that school. The guardians who wished to send their children to that school had to inform the Director General, Department of Education (English section), within the following 15 days about the possible number of students in a class. Failure to do so would mean missing out on the opportunity if seats were packed.
The Rana government of the day had been considering the idea of opening ‘modern’ or ‘boarding’ schools in Nepal. Or this is what the notice indicates. After coming to power, Rana prime minister Padma Shumsher had sought various changes in the field of public education, among other reforms. In the same vein, preparations were being made to implement the fundamental education system, which Mahatma Gandhi had advanced in India, in Nepal as well. Alongside, there was also a plan to open an English boarding school in the country.
The establishment of schools where modern education, including English, was imparted began in Nepal after Jung Bahadur Rana returned from Britain (in 1851). The first such school later came to be known as the Durbar School. Some other ‘public’ schools were also established towards the last leg of the Rana rule. However, these were not residential (or boarding) schools. The traditional Gurukul schools or the education imparted at the monasteries may be termed residential schools but these were not ‘modern’ schools. That means no modern boarding school had been established in Nepal until 2003 B.S. Consequently, during the Rana regime, privileged and wealthy families sent their children to schools in various cities of India. Thus, when Nepalis left their country in droves for study, they not only took money away but also gained knowledge different from what the state desired them to learn.
However, due to the deteriorating situation in India, where religious intolerance was increasing, and disturbances and riots were occurring in the name of religion, some parents of children studying in India were somewhat apprehensive. They raised their concerns with the rulers that if such schools existed in Nepal they would not have to send their children to India for education.
Considering the counsel of his courtiers and the changing global situation, the ruler Padma Shumsher had wanted to know how many parents would send their children to the new school that would open in Nepal. The notice specifies the subjects to be taught and the monthly fee per student: ‘For general education, religious education, art education, food, lodging, common sports, and medicine, the approximate monthly fee is 100 rupees.’
On the same day that this notice was published in ‘Gorkhapatra,’ a short editorial on the same subject was published on the second page of the newspaper. It welcomed the news of the opening of a residential school, stating, ‘When the Department of Education in Nepal also decided to open hostels, this writer’s pen is shaking with joy. May Lord Ram give victory to the one who laid the foundation of this auspicious plan!’
However, since the monthly fees were too high, the editorial went on, “There is no hope for Nepal’s fortunes to improve by means of the prosperity of many middle-class children.’ It nonetheless expressed the hope that common householders, not only landholding officers, would improve if the rate was set low.
Eleven days after the information and editorial regarding boarding schools were published, a letter to the editor by one Krishna Prasad Devkota titled ‘Hostel Fee’ was published in the ‘Gorkhapatra.’ Toeing the editorial line, the letter said: ‘It is indeed a matter of great joy to read the article about the opening of schools with hostels.” At the same time, it expressed the writer’s disappointment at the high monthly fee of 100 rupees. “The very thought causes shivers!”
Devkota expressed his observation, “Without an income of 2,400/3,000 rupees, one cannot afford to raise a son. Not giving birth to one means they needn’t send their child to school. Rs 1,200 is needed for the son only.” They further add, “With an income of up to 1,200, one shouldn’t even imagine sending their child to the school… How to feed other children? Not all children [family] can be raised in the hostel. Certainly not everyone has got land grants.”
The editor of the “Gorkhapatra” supported Devkota’s argument, saying, “If expenses could be reduced as demanded in this letter, it would be very good. If that were the case, even the general public could benefit.”
It can’t be said with certainty who the Devkota who got a letter critical of the Rana policy published in the “Gorkhapatra”. Besides, the editor expressed his dissatisfaction with the then rulers’ policy twice—first in the editorial and then by supporting Devkota afterwards. At that time, Prem Raj Sharma (Paudel) was the editor of the “Gorkhapatra”. Padma Shumsher was different from his predecessors, had allowed for some openness in society, but it would be interesting to know if Prem Raj himself took the risk and published the letter and comments. There are reasons to doubt whether these decisions were Prem Raj’s or not. At that time, the “Gorkhapatra” got its matters approved by the Rana deputed to oversee its content who would add or delete information before it went to press.
For unknown reasons, however, the first English boarding school announced in Nepal could not be opened at that time. No further discussion on this subject is seen to have taken place during Padma Shumsher’s rule. Four years later, during the tenure of prime minister Mohan Shumsher, the subject of opening boarding schools was reconsidered.
Another notice from the Education Department was published in the “Gorkhapatra” in the month of Shrawan 2007 (July-August 1950). That notice was slightly different from the first:
“Since here is no residential public school with hostel like those in India and elsewhere, guardians appealed the maharaja about the trouble of having to send their sons away, this notice is given as per his order to find out the public demand for such a school in the country.”
The notice also asked the parents to contact if they wanted to send their children to the new school that would charge fees cheaper than those in India.
Two months after this new notice was issued, Mohan Shamsher inaugurated Nepal’s first parliament. The subject of the planned school was also mentioned in his inaugural speech, as well as the study ongoing for the same: “If a public school modelled on the English system is opened here, many parents will benefit while the money sent across the border with them can be saved. The education department will study the requirements for such school and submit it to us [me].”
One month after the Prime Minister’s speech, the education department announced another notice on Kartik 18. It stated, ‘Those who want to apply to admit their children to a residential public school with a hostel opening in Godavari or in a similar healthy location must state the name, surname, age, and class of the child.”
Barely four days after this notice was published, there was a major political upheaval in Nepal. The then king Tribhuvan and his family went to the Indian Embassy at Lainchaur before taking refuge in India. On Kartik 23 (November 8, 1950), one of his grandsons, Gyanendra, was crowned the king. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress started an armed struggle, which lasted for a few months before ending in an (Delhi) agreement. King Tribhuvan and his family returned to Nepal, and on Falgun 7 (February 18, 1951), he announced that the Rana rule of 104 years was almost over. The new political developments in Nepal further pushed back the opening of an English ‘boarding’ in Nepal, but the effort was not snuffed out. On the last day of Chaitra 2007 (April 13, 1951) and the first week of Baisakh, the Ministry of Education (the tasks performed by the Department of Public Instruction were brought under the Ministry of Education after the changes of 2007 B.S.) published notices in the “Gorkhapatra”, divulging further details of the school to be opened in Nepal. The latest notice specified the location where the school would operate and its fee structure.
The notices also provided information on how many children were being sent to India for study at that time and the money going out of Nepal to meet their expenses. Nepalis were sending around 200 students to ‘boarding’ schools in Darjeeling, Patna, Nainital, Mussori, Dehradun, Simla and so on. Apart from the expenses incurred for clothing and travel expenses, it was estimated that at least NPR 1,500 was spent annually on each student’s education. This means that these students were spending around NPR 300,000 annually in total to study in India. This indicates that not only now, Nepali students have been spending money to study abroad for quite some time.
The later information from the Ministry of Education confirmed the opening of Nepal’s first English boarding school in Godavari. Additionally, it specified that the school would test children aged 7 to 13, to be admitted to the fourth grade. From then, a new class would open every year until grade 10. The school planned to teach the Senior Cambridge curriculum and also conduct examinations through the Cambridge Centre in a local arrangement. Students residing in hostels were charged NPR 65 monthly, a reduced fee from the initial estimate of NPR 100 per month. Even this nearly one-third deduction was a huge fee at that time, a sum out of reach for the common people.
Most important in this, perhaps, was the entry of a new player. According to the latest notice by the Ministry of Education, the Principal of St. Xavier’s School in Patna, Mr. Marshal D. Moran, had decided to open a school in Godavari with American staff. Furthermore, it was stated that there would be two Nepali teachers in the institution, one teaching Nepali and Sanskrit, with the other focusing on sports education. Additionally, it was noted that “no other religion except ours” would be permitted to preach in the institution.
After a cursory look, it may seem questionable that after the changes of 2007, American Jesuit missionaries suddenly came in to open boarding schools in Nepal. However, Moran had arrived in Nepal in 2006 and had stayed for a month—conducting examinations for Trichandra College from Patna University. At that time, Trichandra College was affiliated to Patna University, and every year during exam time, examiners from that university would come here to conduct the exams. Moran was the Principal of St. Xavier’s School in Patna and a Senate member of Patna University. The Senate membership brought him to Nepal to conduct the exams. Foreign priests could not easily come to Nepal back then.
While in Nepal, Moran had discussions with the Chief of the Education Department, Mrigendra Shumsher, and the Prime Minister regarding the opening of schools. Perhaps, due to the same reason, the Mohan Shumsher government had issued a notice to open boarding schools. However, it was not specified in that notice that the school would specifically open in Godavari, let alone leaving the operation of the school to foreign priests. If Moran’s biographer Donald Messersmidt is to be believed, Migrandra/Mohan Shumsher were ready to open the school at Moran’s insistence. However, that the Padma government mulled opening a boarding school earlier is stated above. If a residential building indeed opened during Mohan Shumsher’s tenure in the Rana era, it’s hard to say if it’d be Jesuit or if American priests would have total sway over them.
After the 2007 revolution, Nripa Jung Rana was appointed the Education Minister. Marshal Moran sent him a telegram—indicating that the previous government had prepared to open boarding schools in Nepal, and discussions were initiated with them. As per Moran’s suggestion, the new government also advanced this plan. Soon after the political changes, preparations were sped up to open St. Xavier’s School in Godavari. Moran, along with his colleagues, arrived in Godavari, set up quarters, and began preparations to run the school. The government also supported him.
Godavari School published its first notice in the first week of Jestha 2008 (third week of May, 1951), calling for admissions. By the third week of Jestha, the list of students to be enrolled was also published. A total of 58 students were selected for admission to grades 1 to 5, with the highest 22 in grade 2, and only one in the fifth grade. The pioneer students include Prabhakar Shamsher Rana (Grade 2) and Bharat Dutta Koirala (Grade 4). Since a fee of NPR 68 per month was charged (NPR 65 for education, 2 for sports, and 1 for laundry), students from economically strong sections were initially enrolled in this school.
After all the preparations, the ‘modern’ boarding school officially opened in Godavari Asar 17, 2008 (July 1, 1951). Along with this, the process began to open other schools too in Kathmandu Valley. Months after the Godavari school opened, individuals including Satyanarayan Bahadur made efforts to open another boarding school in Pharfing, and it was inaugurated in Magh that year.
This is how the history of ‘modern’ boarding schools began in Nepal after 2007 B.S.
(Translated from the Nepali article ‘अनि नेपालमा खुल्यो बोर्डिङ स्कुल !’ published in the Kantipur daily dated 2024-03-16)
[Note: Some help from ChatGPT was taken in the original translation from Nepali.]
