Tashi Namgyal Academy was founded in 1926 by the late Sir Tashi Namgyal, K.C.S.I. & K.C.I.E., the eleventh consecrated Ruler of Sikkim. The present Academy was shaped out of Sir Tashi Namgyal High School which was affiliated with Calcuttal University. As a High School it was headed by three headmasters at various times, Mr. He established the school in the military barracks used by troops of Sir F
rancis Young Husband in 1903. Sarkar took over from Mr. Kapoor was the last headmaster in the line. In 1956, Sir Tashi Namgyal took a decision to establish a public school in Sikkim. In April 1956, Mr. V.N. Langer, Ma (English), M.A. (Economics), LL.B. L.T., a Housemaster from Daly College, Indore was offered a 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 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. 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. The school was blessed by the August visit of 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.”
The year 1959 was a landmark in the annals of the institution. 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 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 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 and that from this love of country should arise also this view that we have chosen our new motto – for the Academy – “Service Through Knowledge”. 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 new 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.
“In opening this new Annexe, I express my confident hope that Academy will in due course, rear citizens of whom Sikkim will have reason to be proud, that it will grow in stature and gain in luster as the cradle of Sikkim’s future generations and so the moulder of her destiny.”
Maharaja Kumar Palden Thondup Namgyal, the Chairman of the Governing Body, on the occasion of the opening of the Annexe said, “The Principal objective of the Darbar has been to provide education that will be consistent both with the culture, heritage and economic conditions of Sikkim. So that youths of Sikkim may grow into people with love for one’s country and heritage and useful citizens of Sikkim”. In May 26, 1959, the Rules concerning Departmental procedures of the Academy and in December 24, 1959 Financial and Administrative Powers of the Principal were defined. With the additional buildings and a defined campus, the Junior Section was started with classes from Kindergarten to class III. Increase in students roll necessitated another hostel in the double storied building then know as Northern Block, half for Nepali boarders and half for Bhutia-Lepcha boarders with a Dining Hall at the site now occupied by Science Block with separate Kitchens for Nepali and Bhutia-Lepcha boys. The old junior school block where LKG classes were held then served as the Hall with a capacity of approximately 300 people with a low stage. In October 1961, the Auditorium was opened with a eating capacity of 600 built at a cost of Rs. 3 Lakhs. The same year the school was upgraded to the Higher Secondary Level (Class XI) and the first batch passed out in 1964. In May 1964, another New Hostel was added across the Football field (the present Boys’ Hostel), the campus was demarcated with two main gates, the upper Gate and the Main Lower Gate, and both built in traditional Sikkimese architecture. In 1964 the idea of reorganizing Tashi Namgyal Academy on public school lines as co-educational institutional was implemented. It was decided to have in the beginning only seven classes starting from K.G. to VI as the highest class and then to go on adding one higher class every year till it reached class XI, the Final School Certificate Stage. This policy, it was hoped, would enable to build up an institution in which even through medium of instruction and the first language English it would remain Sikkimese in its tradition and culture. It was decided to follow the outline approved for the Anglo-Indian Schools. A school uniform had been designed and selection of textbooks 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 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, baseball and cricket. Some of the elder staff of Higher Secondary School who had been retained, gallantly rose to meet the pressing demands of the situation. Mrs. Langer, wife of the Principal, Mr. Langer, took over the responsibility of organizing the Hostel and its routine so that it may be ready to receive the boarders when they come a day before the start of the session in March 1966. Altogether 130 students were on roll (both boys and girls), more than what was expected in the first year 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. A programme for weekly terminal tests also was drawn out and monthly and terminal reports made their appearance.
