Mahatma Gandhi Museum, Rajkot

Mahatma Gandhi Museum was formerly Alfred High School (also known as Mohandas Gandhi High School or Kathiawar High School) in Rajkot was one of the oldest educational institutions in India which was active for 164 years where Mahatma Gandhi studied few years.

Alfred High School
circa 1948
Location
Information
Type	Public school (government funded)
Established	17 October 1853 (17 October 1853)
Founder	H.M.S Nawab of Junagadh
Closed	May 2017
Nickname	Mohandas Gandhi Vidhyalaya, Kathiawar High School
Alumni	Mahatma Gandhi, S. R. Rana[1]
Architect	Sir Robert Bell Booth
Years active	164

History of school

This school was constructed during British rule in India by political agent Kernel Singh, and was the first English school in the saurashtra (region). Originally called Rajkot English School, it was founded on 17 October 1853, and later became a full-fledged high school. By 1868 it came to be known as Rajkot High School, and was named Alfred High School in 1907. The present buildings of the Alfred High School were built for Kathiawar by the Nawab of Junagadh, Nawab Nawab Sir Muhammad Bahadur Khanji Babi, and was named Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, as a memorial. This school was opened in January, 1875 by Sir Philip Wodehouse, Governor of Bombay.^[2] Following India's independence in 1947, the school was renamed the "Mohandas Gandhi High School" in honour of Gandhi.^[3]

Mohandas Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi graduated from Rajkot High School in 1887 at age 18.^[4] Accounts vary on Gandhi's time at the school.^[5] Several accounts suggest he was a quiet and academically unremarkable student who did not participate in sports or extracurricular activities.^[4][6] Gandhi said of his schooling, "I had not any high regard for my ability. I was to be astonished whenever I won prizes and scholarships".^[6] However, Rajmohan Gandhi suggests that this view comes from a misreading of his "self-deprecating" autobiography.^[5] Out of 38 students who had passed the high school entrance examination, Gandhi was one of only two students in his year to matriculate. Following graduation Gandhi enrolled at the Samaldas College in Bhavnagar, where he stayed for one term before travelling to London.^[5]

Museum

Mahatma Gandhi Museum

Renovated into museum
Former name	Alfred High School
Established	30 September 2018 (2018-09-30)
Coordinates	22.298546°N 70.802102°E / 22.298546; 70.802102
Type	Biographical museum
Owner	Rajkot municipal corporation, Gujarat Tourism
Website	https://www.mgmrajkot.com/

History

In 2017, the school was closed and announced that it will be converted into museum.^[7] Due to the less student count around 100 where hardly one third attended the school regularly (out of 100). Subsequently the Rajkot municipal corporation decided to close down the school and convert it into a museum so the youngsters can learn about the events that shaped Gandhi's life and shaped India's freedom struggle.^[8]

The project was finished at the approx cost of ₹26 crores (₹260 millions).^[9]

On 30 September 2018, then Hon. Prime Minister of India Shree Narendra Modi along with Chief Minister of Gujarat Shree Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Shree Nitin Patel inaugurated the museum as celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Gandhiji. The museum is operated jointly by Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) and Gujarat Tourism.

Features

The museum has repurposed school rooms into galleries totaling at 39. Visitor navigate sequentially through each gallery where dedicated narrator guides and depicts briefly. Ground floor has 18 & top floor consists of 21 such galleries.

Galleries are equipped with modern technology including air-conditioned rooms, sensor-aware models, projectors with audio speakers, touch screen kiosks with headphones, 3D models and different lighting. Light and sound show is regular occurrence after sunset, making it more attractive to children. Along with galleries museum also has following amenities:

• Museum guide
• Ticket counter & Cloakroom
• Helpdesk
• Library
• Children Area
• ATM
• Parking
• Toilet
• Garden
• Food Court

See also

• The Rajkumar College
• Watson Museum

References

1. Gohil, Dharmendrasinh Vaghubha (18 May 2015). "1-7". Contribution of Sardarsinh Rana in Freedom struggle of India 1870 to 1947 (Thesis) (in Gujarati). Department of History, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University. pp. 4–. hdl:10603/41755.
2. "Source Archived 31 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine", Retrieved on 26 December 2007.
3. "Colonial Tour of RMC Archived 13 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine", Retrieved on 26 December 2007.
4. R. P. Misra (2007). Rediscovering Gandhi: Hind Swaraj Volume 1: Gandhi's Challenge to Modern Civilization. Concept Publishing Co. p. 102. ISBN 978-8180693755.
5. Rajmohan Gandhi (2006). Gandhi: The Man, His People, and the Empire. University of California Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-0520255708.
6. N. Jayapalan (2010). Indian Political Thinkers: Modern Indian Political Thought. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors Pvt Ltd. p. 156. ISBN 978-8171569298.
7. "School where Mahatma Gandhi studied shuts down after 164 years". PTI. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
8. Oza, Nandini (25 June 2019). "A school then, a museum now". Theweek.in. p. 1. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
9. "Scam in building of Gandhi museum: Congress". 27 September 2018.