Oriental Seminary, school in Kolkata, India
Oriental Seminary is a school in Kolkata founded in 1829 and located on Chitpore Road, serving students from primary through higher secondary levels. The building features colonial architecture and is protected as a Grade IIA heritage structure by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
Gour Mohan Addy established the school in 1829 as the first private English-medium school in India, offering modern education to Hindu children without religious influence. After his early death in 1845 during a river crossing, his brother continued the school, which grew into a respected institution with nearly a thousand students.
The name reflects its founder's mission to provide English education independent of religious influence to Hindu families. The school represented a new approach to learning in Kolkata, offering parents a space where they could educate their children in modern subjects while preserving their cultural values.
The school is located in Ward No. 20 and accessible by public transport, with the heritage building clearly visible on Chitpore Road. Since it is an active school with students, visiting outside school hours is best for viewing the exterior and understanding its place in the neighborhood.
The school was rare for being founded as a private institution without government support, giving it independence at a time when most schools depended on state aid or colonial backing. Notably, Rabindranath Tagore, one of India's most influential thinkers, received his early education here, which shaped his later passion for teaching.
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