St. Gregory's High School is a Catholic High School founded in Dhaka, British India, in 1882 by Father Gregory de Groote, a Belgian Benedictine priest & ex-student of Dhaka Collegiate School. The school, located on Subhas Bose Avenue of Luxmibazar neighborhood of old Dhaka, was named after Pope Gregory I (540-604) who is also a saint. Brother Robi Purification is the current principal of the school.
In 1888, the American priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross took over the Vicariate of East Bengal from the Benedictine Fathers. At the time, Mr. and Mrs. Wise—who were Protestants—ran a school at present Wiseghat area near the River Buriganga. In this school, most of the students were of European and Anglo-Indian Catholic communities. Anglican and Baptist pastors were allowed to teach religion at this school. Father Francis Boers,C.S.C. tried many times to be a teacher of Catholic religion to the Catholic students at the school, but was not allowed. Out of frustration, he started an English-medium school on the grounds of the present adjoining St. Francis Xavier's Convent and girls' high school, that came into being later. The renamed St. Gregory's School shifted to the present site in 1896.
Until 1912, both boys and girls were students of St. Gregory's High School. When St. Francis Xavier Girls' School came into being in 1912, it became a boys' school. After creation of Pakistan in 1947, the school started the Bengali medium section. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the school has only Bengali medium section.
Students of this school are widely known as " the Gregorians". The "Gregorian Association" is the official alumni club of this school.
Early in 1914, a one story building was torn down to make room for the present “Darjeeling “building and the latrines. Also the scout troop, the first in Dhaka, was started and had 40 scouts. The scouts took part in two performances to benefit the scout movement. Bengali replaced Latin as a second language in 1915. Later that year father Crowley resigned as headmaster.
In the year 1998 St. Gregory’s got its first Nobel Prize winner or can at least claim some share in the formation of Professor Amartya Sen who the noble prize for economics. He had been a student of St. Gregory’s in part of class three and four during 1941-42. During a visit to Dhaka he kindly consented to visit this school of his childhood. On December 19, 1998, as the school gave him a grand reception. On the same occasion he dug the first grand at a brief groundbreaking ceremony for the new school building.
Basketball was introduced into the school in 1923. This was the first time basketball was played in this country. In July 1923, father Hennessy gained permission to change the European style school to the education board examination. On June 2, 1924, permanent recognition was granted to St. Gregory’s. Father had pointed out that most matriculation but was not permitted to do so under the rules of European schools. Father Hennessy had the satisfaction of placing St. Gregory’s on the path to stability.
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Early in 1914, a one story building was torn down to make room for the present “Darjeeling “building and the latrines. Also the scout troop, the first in Dhaka, was started and had 40 scouts. The scouts took part in two performances to benefit the scout movement. Bengali replaced Latin as a second language in 1915. Later that year father Crowley resigned as headmaster.
Basketball was introduced into the school in 1923. This was the first time basketball was played in this country. In July 1923, father Hennessy gained permission to change the European style school to the education board examination. On June 2, 1924, permanent recognition was granted to St. Gregory’s. Father had pointed out that most matriculation but was not permitted to do so under the rules of European schools. Father Hennessy had the satisfaction of placing St. Gregory’s on the path to stability.
Two of the three teachers of St. Gregory’s High School had been murdered by the occupying Pakistani army in 1971 were kidnapped from the school premise on March 31, 1971. First, the teachers had been kidnapped by the Pakistani army and were taken to a nearby army camp in Jagannath College. On that dreadful day, two teachers, Mr. N.C. Sutradhar and Mr. D.N. Pal Chaudhury along with two of his teenage sons, who were students of St. Gregory’s at the time were kidnapped and murdered. Mr. Monoranjan Poddar, a student of Jagannath College and Mr. Sutradhar’s brother-in-law was also kidnapped by the Pak army from the school and was murdered on March 31, 1971. In fact, at least 30 other people were taken from St. Gregory’s High School that day who were also murdered by the Pak army. Brother Robert, C.S.C., the Head Master of the school at that time tried to secure the two teachers’ release but failed.
The Pakistan army killed the retired teacher, Mr. Peter D'Costa, with 13 other villagers at Rangamatia Village of the then Dhaka District on November 26, 1971.[1]
In the year 1998 St. Gregory’s got its first Nobel Prize winner or can at least claim some share in the formation of Professor Amartya Sen who the noble prize for economics. He had been a student of St. Gregory’s in part of class three and four during 1941-42. During a visit to Dhaka he kindly consented to visit this school of his childhood. On December 19, 1998, as the school gave him a grand reception. On the same occasion he dug the first grand at a brief groundbreaking ceremony for the new school building.
There are some notable co-curricular clubs in SGHS. Of them Science club, Debating club,Cultural club are renowned for their activists in the city. Science club which is run by Mr.Nilotpal Sarkar, regularly takes part in different science fairs and won prestigious awards.