Gandhi Ashram School

Gandhi Ashram School, Kalimpong
Address
6th Mile Bridge, Upper Tashiding
Kalimpong
Darjeeling
West Bengal, 734 301
India
Information
Founded 1994
Founder Fr. Edward McGuire SJ
Director Fr. Paul D'souza SJ
Principal Fr. Divyananda SJ
Staff Kamal Gurung (Conductor)
Gender Co-educational
Age 3 to 19
Medium of language English
Language English, Nepali
Website http://www.gandhiashramschool.com

Gandhi Ashram School is a Jesuit Mission school in Kalimpong, India for disadvantaged children from the locality. It was founded in 1993 by Father Edward McGuire, a Jesuit priest from Canada. The school aims to provide a good formal education and at the same time let the children explore their talents, especially through music in the form of stringed instruments.[1]

History

"Violin strings are the bootstraps that will pull these kids up." -Fr. Edward McGuire SJ

In 1954, Fr Mc Guire came to India as a young Canadian Jesuit priest. He taught in St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling and St. Robert's school, Darjeeling and in St. Mary's School in Kurseong before coming to Kalimpong in 1990. In 1993, the Jesuit Region superior asked him to start a school for the underprivileged children and Gandhi Ashram School was born.

It began with 23 children from the neighbouring areas. Fr. McGuire invited Rudra Mani Biswakarma, who he had trained in Darjeeling, to take charge as the Music Teacher and the Conductor. In 11 months, the Orchestra put up their first performance in Western Classical Music.

Today, there are over 180 students in the school from Kindergarten to Class VIII. Around 30 students also complete their high school elsewhere in Kalimpong through Gandhi Ashram School. Every year the intake of students increase. However, due to lack of resources the school now follows strict rules to reward admission to those most deserving.

The School has two orchestras - the Junior Orchestra mainly consists of those till Class VII and the Senior Orchestra consists of those who have passed Class VII. Some exceptional talent make it to the Senior Orchestra earlier.

The musician students of Gandhi Ashram School perform in various parts of the world as "Fiddlers on the Thatch".

International Collaborations

Weltweit Klänge

Students from the School Orchestra participate regularly in Weltweit Klänge, (roughly translated as 'Sounds of the World') a music project organised by the Jesuit Mission Procurator Office (www.jesuitenmission.de) in Nuremberg, Germany. The Project brings together young musicians from across the world to collaborate on a music platform. The Gandhi Ashram School Orchestra members playing Violins, Viola and Cellos are trained and conducted by Maestro Luis Szarán and perform across Western Europe.

In 2007, Kushmita Biswakarma, Jokhim Lepcha, Jennifer Khawas (Violin) and Ajay Darjee (Cello) represented the school. In 2008, Sushila Subba, Indu Sarki, Pasang Tamang, Kushmita Biswakarma (Violin) and Urbanus Lepcha (Viola) participated in the Music Experiment.[2] In 2010, Subham Biswakarma and Bikram Subba made it to Weltweit Klänge. CDs of their performance are available online.[3]

Music Volunteers

Volunteers from Germany, Switzerland, France and the United States help teach the students in the stringed instruments every year. The school is also fortunate to have skilled craftsmen from Europe volunteering to mend and repair the instruments used.[4] Finding such help in India, is extremely difficult and not often reliable.

Indian Performances

Strings - tour and Concert

The Xavier College Chorus of St. Xavier's College, Mumbai in collaboration with the Gandhi Ashram School Orchestra organised the Strings Concert in January 2011. The tour repertoire of the Orchestra in 2 Churches, 2 schools, 2 colleges and a concert in the city consisted of Western classical music, Blues, Bollywood, Nepali folk and national songs.

The Concert at St. Andrew's Auditorium, Bandra was a culmination of months of preparation and 10 days of rigorous practices and touring in Mumbai. Maestro Luis Szarán conducted the South American Baroque pieces and Rudra Mani Biswakarma conducted the Indian and Nepali pieces. The Concert was assisted by a crew of the most talented persons in the field of concert production in Mumbai like Etienne Coutinho, Roger Drego etc.[5]

Future plans

Due to various environmental reasons, it has become necessary to move the School to a safer location. The new location also provides for expansion and to upgrade the facilities of the School.

The new plot is in the Ngassay area of Kalimpong. These former paddy fields are more stable against landslides and earthquakes. The entire development will be carried out in three phases spanning over 3 years. The new school will have more rooms dedicated solely for music practices, a specially designated multi-purpose hall and an innovative auditorium.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.companymagazine.org/v162/gandhiashram.html
  2. ↑ http://www.jesuitenmission.org/uploads/media/CD-Booklet_2008.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.jesuitenmission.org/weltweite-klaenge/musik-cd-bestellen.html
  4. ↑ http://www.navhindtimes.in/iexplore/violin-doctor-makes-visit
  5. ↑ http://www.stringsconcert.info

External links

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