History of Growth and Expansion of Bethany Mission School and it’s Transfer to a Corporate School (1977- 2024)

in Published Volumes

Author:

Binay Laha
PhD Researcher
Department of History
Raiganj University
Uttar Dinajpur,West Bengal,India

Email: binkrishna.taps@gmail.com

Abstract::Uttar Dinajpur district is an agricultural district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The district has been part of the larger West Dinajpur district since independence and was part of Dinajpur district before independence. North Dinajpur district is a backward district in education. English medium school education entered this district through Bethani Mission School in Raiganj. This school was earlier known as Bethany English School which was located in Ukilpara, Raiganj. After a few months, it was shifted to Raiganj’s Rebeli Mor, due to the increase in students and lack of space. A teacher named Johny Emmanuel took charge of this school as the Rector of this school. His father Reverend Emmanuel was the founder of Bethany English School. And Johnny Emanuel Hall is the founder of Bethany Mission School. This school ran for several years in Rebel Road. Then the need for a permanent campus came due to the increase in the number of students, increasing the reputation of the school, increasing interest in studying in English medium. Johnny Emmanuel bought about six bigha of land in Tulsipara, Rupahar, Raiganj for only ten thousand taka. Here he gradually built Bethani Mission School. This school with arts department, science department and commerce department has got the best results in the last seven years of North Dinajpur district in the arts department. On 4 January 2024 it was reported that the Bethany Mission School had been sold or leased to the Narayana Group of Schools in Andhra Pradesh. The first CBSE approved English medium school in North Dinajpur district ran from 1977 to 2024 but its transfer cut off past connections of former students and with it the tradition of the school was sold in the dark. This article presents the history of this school from its inception for 47 years and then its sale to another Sansham which can be considered to take some place in the history of education in North Dinajpur district.

Key Words::Bethany, English Medium School, Education, Uttar Dinajpur, Students etc.