About the School

Nestled in the misty enclave with its sylvan and idyllic surroundings lies Tashi Namgyal Academy, an English medium co-educational residential-cum day school in the capital of Sikkim, Gangtok.

Tashi Namgyal Academy was founded in 1966 by the late Sir Tashi Namgyal, K.C.S.I. & K.C.I.E., the eleventh consecrated Ruler of Sikkim. He was an ardent crusader for education and under his tutelage the portals of learning were established. The present Academy was shaped out of Sir Tashi Namgyal High School which was affiliated with Calcutta University. As a High School it was headed by three headmasters at various times, Mr. C.E. Dudley was the first headmaster. He established the school in the military barracks used by troops of Sir Francis Young Husband in 1903. Mr. A.K. Sarkar took over from Mr. Dudley and Mr. K.L. Kapoor was the last headmaster in the line.

The decision to start a public School in Sikkim or, an institution more or less on the same lines, was taken by the durbar in 1956. In April 1956, Mr. V.N. Langer, Ma (English), M.A. (Economics), LL.B. L.T., a Housemaster from Daly College, Indore was offered the post of Principal. He was entrusted with the task of organizing a new school and reorganizing the old one on modern lines, Mr. N.K. Rustumiji, ICS, the then Dewan of Sikkim, was the driving force in drawing out plans for a school which was to run on public school lines. Prince Palden Thondup Namgyal, second son of the Founder, along with Dewan N.K. Rustumji and Mr. V.N. Langer formed an excellent team to reorganize the school on public school lines, and they were the people who were the main architects of Tashi Namgyal Academy. A Governing Body for the administration, management and control of Sir Tashi Namgyal High School, Gangtok was constituted under the Chairmanship of Maharaja Kumar Saheb.

Plans were drawn up first for the additional buildings for the public school and work started on some of these in 1957. A new annexe to the old school buildings was declared open on April 14, 1959 and by October 1961 the school had a big auditorium as well. The same year the school was upgraded to the Higher Secondary Level (Class XI) and the first batch passed out in 1964. Plans were now made to build a new hostel but there was a slight set back during the period of anxiety following the 1962 Chinese aggression in India. When the situation eased a little building work was pushed on again with vigour. The new hostel was ready for occupation by May 1964 and soon after work was started in the development area on buildings for the new Higher Secondary School. The same year the school campus was demarcated with two main gates, the Upper Gate and the Main Lower Gate were both built in traditional Sikkimese architecture.
After the main School building, the hostel and some staff quarters were ready in October 1965, Mr. V.N. Langer was asked to go ahead with the idea of reorganizing Tashi Namgyal Academy on public school lines. It was decided also that the new public school should, at the beginning have seven classes only, starting from K.G. and going up to VI as the highest class every year till it came to class XI which should mark the final School Certificate Stage.

The school was blessed by the august visit of the first Prime Minister, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru on October 1, 1958 who left behind his impressive remarks as-

“It is a pleasure to visit this school so delightfully situated, young as it is, it has already developed well and the boys are bright and attractive looking. All best wishes for its progress.”

In addition to this the then Political Officer of Sikkim and Bhutan, Shri Apa B. Pant too visited this school on 25 October 1958 and left behind the following comments- “Whenever I visit this school, I see each time change-change for the better. I am sure that under able guidance of Shri Langer this school will develop into an institution where not only future citizens of Sikkim will learn to serve their country, but where sectarianism, communalism, bigotry, small mindedness, pursuit of power will have no place. Let us hope that this institution will guide the youth of Sikkim to become humane, compassionate and full of spirit of humanity and service and in short to follow Dharma.”

On the auspicious occasion of the opening of the Annexe of Tashi Namgyal Academy, the main school building on 14th April 1959, His Highness Sir Tashi Namgyal outlined the reason for which the school was re-named as Tashi Namgyal Academy. He said, “In the past it has been difficult for children of poor parents to enjoy the advantage of the best possible schooling as they could not afford admission to the more highly organized institution in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and elsewhere. It has been decided, therefore, to build up an institution in Sikkim itself which would stand in comparison with the best institution of its kind outside the country. This institution would not be a substitute for, but in addition to the normal type of High Schools that has been established in other parts of Sikkim. As, however, the standard of teaching would be of a higher level and of a special nature, the institution being designated as an ‘ACADEMY’. In course of time, when we also have been able to establish, in addition to the Academy the usual pattern of High School in Gangtok, the fees for admission to the Academy will be proportionately raised. But the Darbar will ensure that there will be ample scope for meritorious children of poor parents to gain admission to the Academy on the result of Competitive Scholarship Examinations. Apart from the purpose, this academy will fulfill in providing a higher quality of schooling within Sikkim itself, equally important objective will be imparting of a pattern of education particularly suited to special needs of Sikkim. Our patterns of education should, therefore, be so designed that our students will be inspired with love of country. For it is our hope that the knowledge that will be imparted here will be directed, above all, to service, and such service must comprise, above all, service to country.”

The school crest has been designed on the pattern of our traditional Sikkimese Art. It portrays sword that cuts away ignorance, symbolizing knowledge, while the Mountains that form the background are the mountains of our motherland, the sacred peak of Khangchendzonga. And so our Crest too, we have sought to symbolize the Spirit of our Academy, which is the Seeking of Knowledge not for itself, but for service to country and in the spirit of Sikkim’s culture and religious heritage.

It was also decided that TNA would follow the outline approved for the Anglo-Indian Schools. A school uniform had been designed and selection of textbooks were done. The first prospectus was published in 1965 and admissions to various classes of the public school were declared open simultaneously. Posts of teachers were advertised in the leading newspapers and tenders for uniforms were invited from local dealers. In March 1966, Tashi Namgyal Academy was reorganized along Public School lines with English as the medium of instruction and the first language. This idea led to the shifting of Sir Tashi Namgyal Higher Secondary School to the Development Area in Gangtok, along with approximately 14 members of teaching staff and majority of students especially from classes VII and above.
Facilities for all round development of the faculties through large variety of cultural activities were provided. There were hobbies such as painting, woodcraft, leather-work, dance, drama, music, sewing and knitting. The major games played were football, volleyball, hockey, netball and cricket.

Altogether 130 students were on roll (both boys and girls), more than what was expected in the first year (MARCH 1966) and more than what could be managed by the available staff. As days rolled by the staffing problem was solved to some extent. A new matron took over charge of the Hostel leaving Mrs. Langer free to devote herself to teaching work, two more teachers were appointed, one for additional section of K.G. class and the other to teach English to senior classes.

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