Ranchi: It is hard to imagine Bhagwan Birsa Munda as a schoolboy. But if sources are to be believed, legendary freedom fighter and tribal icon Birsa Munda studied from Classes III to V at Lutheran Middle School in Chaibasa, West Singhbhum, from 1885 to 1888.
This piece of Jharkhand's heritage, which not too people know about, is getting a facelift, thanks to Kolhan divisional commissioner Vijoy Kumar Singh's efforts.
Singh has worked out an extensive plan for the school's renovation and development and directed West Singhbhum DC Arwa Rajkamal to contact National Archives in Delhi and secure copies of documents through which Birsa Munda secured admission to this school and stayed in a hostel on the premises.
According to regional deputy director of education Vijoy Bilung, the school was set up in 1868, but granted recognition much later by the erstwhile Bihar government on January 1, 1946.
Currently, there are 510 students in its high school section, 443 students in middle school, 123 in primary boys and 220 in primary girls. But, the school on 80 decimal in the heart of Chaibasa district town lacks basic amenities. The buildings, including two toilets, are rundown. For water, it has a deep boring system. The hostel building where the schoolboy Birsa stayed has virtually collapsed.
"Last month, someone told me Birsa Munda studied here. I couldn't believe it initially and demanded concrete evidence. I was told that relevant documents have been kept at National Archives in Delhi. I asked the DC to get in touch with National Archives. The school principal and management have submitted on record that Birsa Munda studied in this school from 1885 to 1888. This was also confirmed by other sources. Thereafter, I formed a committee to work out the school's development plans in consultation with the management," said the Kolhan commissioner.
The school management demanded two extra classrooms, separate toilets for boys and girls, computers and a computer room, a dining hall, furniture, renovation of assembly hall, a generator and a bicycle stand. The commissioner has approved their demands involving expenses to the tune of nearly Rs 4 crore and also started moves to begin groundwork at the earliest.
Drinking water and sanitation department has been asked to construct 10 each toilets for boys and girls. The forest and environment department has been asked to start planting greenery on the premises. Construction of buildings may begin soon after rainy season. "The school will also have a rich library," the divisional commissioner said. "The West Singhbhum DC is supervising daily progress while I am monitoring the efforts," Singh said. "The revamped school would be our humble tribute to the tribal icon."
