Maharani Gayatri Devi’s Girls Public School

Published in Roots & Wings, Coffee Table book

Golden Jubilee of Class of ‘65 

Maharani Gayatri Devi’s Girls Public School, the first all girl’s school in India was our Alma Mater, more often than not was just known, MGD. We were the MGDian’s.

MGD - Through the Decades

The history of Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls' Public School, Jaipur, begins in 1943.To be precise, on 12th August 1943. The Maharani of Jaipur, the charismatic HH Gayatri Devi, was always focused on the girl child’s education and could foresee an opportunity to build a landmark education institution for young girls on the modern lines that could at the same time embellish the ethos of Indian culture. This she felt, would enable them to grow up to be refined, knowledgeable and responsible person in the yet to evolve fledgling Indian democratic society. 

Over the years, not only has. M.G.D, come to be acknowledged as one of the finest public schools in the country, but has acquired international repute by attracting students from overseas as well.  It has been open to the girls without distinction of race, class or social status. MGD has not only widened our educational base, but intricate care was taken to work on our total personality. 

The MGD motto has willy-nilly become rooted in us forever … ‘Our Utmost for the Highest’.

Perhaps the MGD kernel came into being in  the summer of 1940,when the Maharaja of Jaipur, Sawai Man Singhji Bahadur brought home Princess Ayesha Gayatri Devi, of Cooch Behar, as his bride. As an educated and well-traveled young woman, it was her dream to create an opportunity of education for girls. 

This became a reality when she convinced her husband to order the Prime Minister Sir Mirza Ismail, and the Education and Finance Minister, Rao Bahadur Amarnath Atal, to allot land so that  she could begin to plan and build the school.

 The school was started on the lines of the British Public School Pattern, with only 24 girls.  Miss Lillian G Lutter became the founder Principal. Thus we had a 'Dream-Team' of a visionary Founder and iconic Principal, together they became the heartbeat of MGD.

The long-run story about British Public Schools is surprisingly little known. The first public school was Winchester College, founded by William of Wykeham in 1382, over the next two centuries came Eton (1440), St Paul’s (1509) and Westminster (1560). Most of these pioneer schools were intended by their founders to educate predominantly the poor and deserving; but in practice the public school education became, “almost the standard education for the elite class”.  Mercifully by 1940‘s new public schools progressed to cater to the needs of rapidly expanding aspirations of the upper middle class.

MGD was one such Elite Public School established in the Twentieth century in the image of British public schools. These old schools  now face intense competition from new emerging system of  ‘elite ’Schools, however the old cream of the crop schools like MGD in India, utilise  its  history to strategically re-position itself within the emerging global market of elite schools.

The decade was on the cusp of the development. MGD became the first girls' public school to be accepted as a member of the Public School Council of India' Conference (IPSC). In 1950, M.G.D. became a Center for the Cambridge Examination for Jaipur. In 1962 the school shifted to the Indian School Certificate Board.

Our school is situated on the Sawai Man Singh Road, in the heart of the city. The 26 acres campus contains beautiful large buildings, gardens, lawns, Stadia, sports fields and swimming pool. As it was, and as it is a lot has changed. 

Much of the second phase of growth took place in our time. We were the first occupants of the ISC class rooms in Science block. The shramdaan and completion of stadia complex we saw through and in fact it was our ISC board exam Centre. I am sure the class of ‘65 will recall, albeit misty eyed, our farewell finale in the new rectangular sports block. Many of us still feel the ‘rafters ring’.

The students are divided into four houses named after notable women achievers: Madame Curie: red, Helen Keller: blue, Florence Nightingale: green, Sarojini Naidu: orange. The naming of houses was again a transitional feature that took place in our time. I suppose, part of the acclaim we can appropriate. Another notable feature was the adaption of evening dress during our time. The pink polka dots. Since 1943 the school uniforms have gone through  many a change . 

Change is the only constant, hence many landmarks have been altered and modified and along with them innumerable nostalgic memories. One such change now is re-alignment of hostels. The Junior-Senior House, the Senior House and Indira Bhawan were exclusively for S3, Pre-ISC and ISC. Each House had its own House Mistress, Matron and Bai jee’s. Today it is on basis of House colours.

 The Quiet Corner

For old students like us, return to school  remains  unfinished ,without a pilgrimage to ‘The Quiet Corner’, Miss Lutter’s resting place and reaffirm our faith that dreams of our guiding lights ,our founder principal and our  Founder, Rajmata Gayatri Devi remain unchanged.

 “The aim of the institution is to make its pupils cultured and useful members of society. When they enter the world they should be able to take an active interest in the betterment of their homes and community and when they grow up, they should be able to fit themselves usefully into the world of tomorrow.”

The Dream Team

 Our ‘Dream Team’  has walked on into the sunset many many years ago, but they gave their dream a name and that became the guiding spirit of MGD for us. Forever this mystical connect with MGD remains unchanged
  

                                                        Her Highness and Miss LG Lutter