| Dr. Graham's Homes | |
|---|---|
Seal of the Dr. Graham's Homes |
|
| Motto | Thorough |
| Established | 1900 |
| Type | Institute |
| Chairman | Lt. General J R Mukherjee |
| Location | Kalimpong, West Bengal, India |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colours | Rainbow |
| Nickname | Homes & D.G.H. |
| Website | www.drgrahamshomes |
Dr Graham's Homes is a famous and well-respected Heritage School in the Hill station town of Kalimpong in West Bengal, India. The school is situated on Deolo Hill overlooking the town. The school was founded in 1900 by Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham,a Church of Scotland Missionary, who settled in Kalimpong and worked with the local community for several years during the early part of the 20th century. His original concept was to establish a refuge for poor and needy Anglo-Indian children, who had no other means of support.
Kalimpong
Kalimpong is a small hill station situated in the foothills of the mighty Kanchenjunga, some 700 km north of Kolkata. It has a population of around 45,000 mainly Nepali speaking people. Dr. Graham’s Homes School is situated on Deolo Hill overlooking the town and at an altitude of 4,600 feet. The establishment of the school was greatly responsible for Kalimpong gaining Economic prosperity owing to the migration of many families in search of quality education and a temperate climate.
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John Anderson Graham originally came to Kalimpong as a missionary. He soon began to focus his attention on teaching the underprivileged children and thus set up an Orphanage-cum-School for destitute Anglo Indian children in Kalimpong. At that time the school was known as St Andrew's Colonial Homes but was later renamed to Dr. Graham's Homes. In the beginning only Anglo Indian children were permitted to school there, but subsequently children from all communities were allowed in.
Katherine Graham, who was no less a leader than her husband.She was called 'The Mother of Homes' For two whole decades, till her almost premature death in 1919 at the age of 58, Mrs. Graham acted as Chief Liaison Officer between the several scores of workers, both welfare and academic, who were drawn from almost every corner of the Commonwealth of Nations, including India. Another aspect of the Integrated Cosmopolitanism that flourished under the leadership of John and Katherine Graham was the truly ecumenical nature of the staff, whose denomination affiliations, in their variety, were almost legion.
It had been Michael Robertson’s dream for many years to capture the ethos and history of the Homes and he mooted the idea of setting up a Museum at the Homes to commemorate its Centenary Year. Housing memorabilia of this unique institution from the time of its inception in 1900, the Museum was formally inaugurated by the British High Commissioner to India, Sir Robert Young on 24 September 2000 during the centenary celebrations of the Homes. It is a place that inspires visitors and, in a sense, embodies the values that Reverend Dr. John Anderson Graham stood for.
The family of Homes raises children from adolescence through their teenage years, into their adulthood by the process of taking them along the channel of a nursery Lucia king, kindergarten Queen Elizabeth Kindergarten School, Junior Section, Senior Section and, if required, employment. The Homes helps to achieve their aim of providing young people with the opportunity to become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and ultimately responsible citizens. O.G.B.s (an acronym popularly used for alumni of Dr Graham’s Homes), Who continue or come back to serve the Homes are given the privilege of being called Grahamites and the rest as O.G.B.s. The school encompasses an area of 400 acres (1.61 km²). The campus is a miniature town and is self-sufficient. It holds together the establishment of a:
Main Office Senior School Office- Strachen Cottage Junior School Office
Central Bank Of India
Homes Museum
Katherine Graham Memorial Chapel
James Patterson Memorial Workshop
The Steele Memorial Central Brenchley Memorial Dispensary
RJG Ballentyne Memorial
Fyfe Bakery
Sir John Anderson Dairy
Carmichael Farm Steading
Ronaldshay Park Lower Field Upper Field School Garden Tear Drop Garden
Honeymoon Hill
CC Macleod Swimming Baths
Betty Sherrif Memorial Court
Mountbatten's Children Library
Biology Laboratory Physics Laboratory Chemistry Laboratory
Pickford Scout Den
Margaret Lloyd Memorial Hut
Pugh Gymnasium
(Principal) - Jublee House,
(Head Master) - Graham House,
(Bursar) - Wolsely House,
(Junior Head Master) - Yule House
Sir Charles Bell Bungalow
Edinburgh Flats/New Flats, Isolation Flats,
Cargil House, Mount House, Ben Creak House,
Shallay Cottage, Deolo Cottage/Gordon Cottage,
| COTTAGES | MOTTO | EMBLEM |
|---|---|---|
| Lucia King | Affectionate | Lamb |
| Wales Lodge | Willing | Rabbit |
| COTTAGES | MOTTO | COLOUR & TIES | EMBLEM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assam | Assiduous | Yellow | Rhino |
| Calcutta | Cautious | Red | Rooster |
| Hart | Friendly | Light Blue | Stag |
| Heathland | Helpful | Royal Blue | Horse |
| Laidlaw | Law-Abiding | Brown | Lion |
| Murray | United | Maroon | Panda |
| Scottish Canadian | Fearless | Maroon | Bear |
| Grant | Enduring | Mauve | Eagle |
| Wiston | Daring | Dark Green | Boar |
| Centenary | Challenger | Red & Black | Snow Lion |
| COTTAGES | MOTTO | COLOUR & TIES | EMBLEM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bene | Sincere | Pink | Lotus |
| Brissa | Begin | Maroon | Butterfly |
| Elliot | Enterprising | Blue | Eel |
| Macgregor | Peace Loving | Royal Blue | Dove |
| Mansfield | Grace | Yellow | Swan |
| Thoburn | Truthful | Dark-Green | Lamp |
| Woodburn | Winsome | Turquoise | Woodpecker |
| HOSTEL | MOTTO | COLOUR | EMBLEM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frazer | Fortitude | Rasta | Elephant |
| Willing don | Will-Power | Berets | Tiger |
Garden of Remembrance
School Bus ~ Presented by the O.G.B.s of Bhutan.
On the other side, the school overlooks the Teesta River and its carved valleys. The establishment of the school was greatly responsible for Kalimpong gaining economic prosperity owing to the migration of many families in search of quality education and a salubrious climate.
The school conducts classes in English medium and follow the ICSE, which is equivalent to the GCSE in the United Kingdom & ISC, which is equivalent to the A Levels in the United Kingdom syllabus.
Subjects Taught
The academic year begins around late February and ends in early December, thus having a long holiday of almost three months, owing to the cold weather in the winter. The school attracts students from not only Kalimpong, but also from places as far as Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Siliguri, Bihar, Calcutta, Assam and the North East States. Internationally from Korea.
The school offers eight Second Languages: Hindi, Nepali, Bengali, Dzongkha, Tibetan, Khasi, Lushai and Thai.
Common Languages used in school by students understood only by one another: P Language, Homes Slang
Also, offering membership of National Cadet Corps / (N.C.C.), Socially Useful Productive Work / (S.U.P.W.), Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme / (D.E.A.S.), Scouts and Guides, Interact Club in association with the Rotary Club of Kalimpong.
Homes encourages students to feel the spirit of sportsmanship, providing training and competition with basketball, volleyball, athletics, swimming, football, throw ball, badminton, table tennis, and cricket.
Further motivating and encouraging students to participate in extra curricular activities like Gardening, Elocution, Quizzing, Dramatics, Choir, Music, Photography, Wild Life Preservation,
Common innocent games played by the children among themselves: Hopscotch, Change pole's, 5 stones, Butterfly, Butterfly what's my number,
World renown Nursery Rhymes that are taught to impeccable children who learn the rhymes and later in life carry it on to their children and that is how the World keeps turning 'Round & Round'. A few Our school keeps them updated on ~ Orange and Lemons ends with the line Remember me till I'am dead, dead, dead. hickory dickory, The mulberry bush, Jingle Bell
St. Augustine's School ~ Special dedication from Homes
St Joseph's Convent ~ Deep in the Valley ~ Special dedication from Homes
This book is a tribute to Dr. Graham’s Homes School, for hundred years of compassion, dedication and service to those who were unfortunate and in great need of assistance in the field of education, health and well being. Beautifually compiled, over 150 wonderful photos of the school, events dating as far back as the 1900s. The book “Daddy Graham’s Homes” portrays the history of the school from 24 September 1900 when it was established till 24 September 2000 when it celebrated its centenary. Great effort has been taken to maintain the quality of the book. Compiled, composed and sponsored by the ex-students of Dr. Graham’s Homes. One might say a tribute to its OGB’s (Old Girls and Boys) as well.
This book is a fascinating story of the life and achievements of one of the missionary giants. In Kalimpong – a beautiful part of northern India – the name of Dr. Graham lives on through the work of the homes he founded.
The story of the first hundred years of Dr. Graham's Homes tells of the enfolding of a vision for children as it has passed on from the founder, Dr John Anderson Graham, to the present day. It is hoped that the record of dedicated work for the welfare and education of children laid out here will not only kept for posterity, but will also serve as an inspiration for the future years and work of the Homes' mission for children.
Documentary on the centennial year of Dr Graham's Homes.
Everybody who went to the Homes has a profound, if baffling love for the school. Film maker and alumni Kesang Tseten set out to explore this difficult love when former Anglo-Indian and Tibetan school friends return for the school centennial celebration. Gradually the pabulum of reunion sentiment gives way to an unfolding of a real childhoods of separation and abandonment and of alienation and cultural displacement.
FORWARD O'YOUTH FOREVER ADVANCING, LOOK TO HORISONS FAR EYES DO NOT GROPE IN DEPTH OF THE NIGHT THAT LOOK ON A SHINING STAR NATIONS FEARFUL IN APARTNESS, NEED YOUR SIGHT TO LIGHT THIER DARKNESS LOOK UP O'YOUTH FOREVER ADVANCING, LOOK TO HORISONS FAR.........
WAKEN THIS HOUR IS NO TIME FOR SLEEPING WELCOME THE RISING SUN NATIONS ARE STIRRING OUT OF THIER SLUMBERS GREAT IS THEWOKR UNDONE WAKEN SISTERS, WAKEN BROTHERS, RISE UP NOW AND WAKEN OTHERS WELOME THE MORN' A NEW DAY IS BORN WHEN PEOPLE SHALL LIVE AS ONE
GO ON WITH SINGING OVER THE LAND WHEREVER THE ROAD WAYS LIE FREEDOM SHALL BE THE THEME OF YOUR SONG THE WATCHWORD OF PEACE YOUR CRY EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERY BROTHER LANDS AT PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER LOYAL TO TRUTH THE SINGING OF YOUTH SHALL ECHO FROM HILL TO SKY !!
Jana gaṇa mana adhināyaka jaya he Bhārata bhāgya vidhātā Pañjāba Sindhu Gujarāṭa Marāṭhā Drāviḍa Utkala Vaṅga Vindhya Himāchala Yamunā Gaṅgā Ucchala jaladhi taraṅga Tav śubha nāme jāge Tav śubha āśiṣa māge Gāhe taba jaya gāthā Jana gaṇa maṅgala dāyaka jaya he Bhārata bhāgya vidhāta Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!