Chail Military School

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Chail Military School
'Character is the greatest virtue (Sheelam Param Bhusnam)
Location
Chail Shimla Hills, Himachal Pradesh
India
Coordinates Latitude: 30° 58' 60 N, Longitude: 77° 10' 60 E
Information
School district Solan
Head of school DGMT
Principal Lt Col V Ravindra Kumar
Staff 100
Students 300
Type Military school
Campus Boarding School
Established 1922
Founder King George V
Houses Nalanda, Taxila, Ujjain
Homepage http://www.chailmilitaryschool.com

Chail Military School is a residential school established after the First World War in 1922 with a donation of Rs 250,000 from King George V’s patriotic fund. The foundation stone of the school was laid by King George V in February 1922. The school started functioning at Jalandhar Cantonment in 1925. Since then cadets are known as "Georgians".

The school is located amidst pine and deodar forests in the heart of the 110 km2 Chail Sanctuary at an altitude of 2144 meters. World's highest cricket ground[1] is located in Chail.

Contents

[edit] History

Chail Military School is the oldest military School in India. Along with its sister institute now located in Jhelum, Pakistan, Chail Military School was named as King George Royal Indian Military School after King George V. After the First World War, in February 1922 the foundation stone of the school was laid and regular classes were started in September 1925 at Jalandhar Cant in Punjab.

The school was founded with the aim of providing free education to the sons of JCOs, NCOs and ORs to prepare them for the various Army examinations including the Indian Special Certificate of Education. The entire curriculum of the school was based on military requirements with English as a medium of instruction. The original strength of the school was 250 and the staff consisted mostly of military personnel.

During the Second World War the school was designated as College. One hundred more cadets were admitted under the expansion scheme. The eligibility norms were relaxed to facilitate enrollment of near relatives of Army personnel and admissions were thrown open to all branches of armed forces. At that time, College was affiliated to the Panjab University for matriculation and intermediate examinations. This institution produced a large number of Officers.

After independence, it was felt that these schools should impart liberal education and should have a wider social basis. The King George Royal Indian Military College was renamed as King George’s School and shifted to Nowgong (Bundelkhand) in August 1952 where it was housed in ‘Old Kitchner College buildings’. The school was reorganized in September 1952 and half of the seats of total of 300 were thrown open to the wards of civilians and armed forces officers. In the same year school the was also made a member of the Indian Public School Conference (IPSC).

The King George’s School was relocated to its current location in Chail in Himachal Pradesh on July 1, 1960. It was renamed as Chail Military School, Chail. Cadets are now prepared for senior school certificate examination of the central board of secondary education, New Delhi and it is no longer obligatory for them to join the Defence forces.

In 2007, Chail Military School along with its sister institutes Bangalore Military School (Karnataka), Belgaum Military School (Karnataka), Ajmer Military School (Rajasthan) and Dholpur Military School (Rajasthan) were renamed as Rashtriya Military Schools of India[2].

[edit] Aims of the school

To prepare boys from the age of 10 to 18 years academically for the All India Secondary School Examination and All India Senior School Certificate Examination, New Delhi and also for Entrance Examination to the National Defence Academy.

To provide a healthy and a sound general education without religious inhibitions and prejudices.

To develop in them those qualities of mind, body and character which enable them to become good and useful citizens of India.

To make them leaders in any walk of life.

[edit] Subdivisions

1. Taxila House (Sidh and Oak Cottage). 2. Nalanda House (New Dorms and Annexe). 3. Ujjain House (Glen and Avanti, previously No.9).

[edit] Admissions

Students are not admitted directly to the school. Students aged in between 10-12 should appear in CET for all Military schools, followed by interview and medical examinations to join the school according to merit list. For further details please visit Director General of Military training (MT15) website [1]

[edit] Academics

The school is affiliated to the CBSE board of India. Regular unit tests are held quarterly in addition to half yearly and annual examinations. Students appear for AISSCE (10th) and AISSE (12th) along with other CBSE affiliated schools in India. Student to staff ratio is about 2.5:1 and student to teaching staff ratio is 10:1 which is far above the national average of India. Staff is recruited by central government from all over India. Students are offered Science, Arts and Commerce subjects in 11th and 12th classes. School curriculum includes seven periods of 40 minutes each. Daily three hours of compulsory prep is included in a routine for students to concentrate on studies. Teaching staff is always present during prep timings and stay in vicinity of student hostels for 24 hrs availability.

[edit] Sports and physical education

Cadets undergo compulsory physical training in morning and play sports in evening. The school has facilities for cricket, hockey, basketball, volleyball, athletics, cross-country, boxing, cycling, hiking and mountaineering. The school is a member of Indian Public School Conference (IPSC) and participates in state as well as national level sports competitions. In 2007, cadets won 6 gold, 7 silver and 2 bronze in CBSE cluster XIII Athletics meet held at Chandigarh. All India Military Schools pentagular meet is an annual sports and CCA event where all five military schools and RIMC Dehradun compete in several field. The school has won many medals in annual pentangular meets.

[edit] CCA

CCA is an integral part of school curriculum. Cadets participate in debates, declamations, quizzes, extempore, dance, theatre, poetry recitation in English and Hindi. They also participate in interhouse and interschool arts competitions. The school team is a regular participant of national and state level CCA meets.

[edit] Chail Military School in Siachin

Cadets from the school have reached the world's highest battlefield 'Siachin Glacier' in a joint expedition. The team comprises four cadets each from the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) and the Chail Military School, two cadets from the Indian Military Academy, six cadets - including four girls - from the National Cadet Corps, four civilians, including the wife of an army officer, four officers, 15 personnel below officer rank and seven media persons.[3][4][5]

[edit] Famous alumni

  • Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria, Param Vir Chakar (posthumously)
  • Shri Bhanu Paratap Singh Lt Governor Karnataka
  • Lt Gen R S Dyal Lt Governor Chandigarh and Maha Vir Chakar
  • Lt Gen Anand Swaroop Maha Vir Chakar
  • Lt Gen J S Gharaya Maha Vir Chakar
  • Maj Gen Shamsher Singh Maha Vir Chakar
  • Brig Rai Singh Maha Vir Chakar
  • Shri H S Gurung Minister (Nepal)
  • Shri Satya Vrat Chaturvedi Minister (MP)
  • Shri Jalil Pal Singh Minister (MP)
  • Shri Lal Bahadur Bashisht Minister (Sikkim)
  • Shri K M Chadha IAS
  • Shri Anoop Singh IAS
  • Shri Khem Bahadur Gurung IAS
  • Shri Amrik Singh Pooni IAS (Chief Sec Punjab)
  • Shri Vipin Pubby[2] Editor The Indian Express, Chandigarh

Besides these, school has produced over 100 officers above the ranks of brigadiers, several IRS officers, doctors, engineers, actors, business men and gallantry award winners (VC, SM, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, KC, SC, COAS CC, SM& bar and so on).

[edit] Getting to school

Nearest airports are at Shimla (48 km) and Chandigarh (108 km) but Chail Military School has its own helipad at the altitude of 2444.4 m. Nearest broad gauge railway station is at Kalka (89 km) and narrow gauge station is at Kandaghat (29 km). Chail is well connected with regular bus services from Delhi, Patiala, Chandigarh, Kalka, Solan, Shimla, Kandaghat and Kufri. By car you can reach Chail from Kandaghat, Shimla, Kufri or Gaura (Giri Ganga).

[edit] Georgian Association North

Georgian association is the vital organisation which is involved in the overall development of school and society. All students and their family members are the part of the extended georgian family.

[edit] References

  1. ^ News - Telegraph
  2. ^ Message Military School
  3. ^ 15 trekking teams have visited Siachen: Antony - India
  4. ^ Chail Military School
  5. ^ Siachen trekking expedition takes off, Kashmir news Kashmir Discussion Forum, Kashmir Tour, Srinagar,Book hotel in Kashmir, Kashmir Bazaar, kashmir SMS, All about kashmir, Kashmir Gifts, Kashmir Websites, Great Kashmiris, kashmir travel forum, forum ...

[edit] External links