History Of Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls' School

ABOUT MGD

 Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ school, affectionately called MGD, was founded on 4th July, 1943, by Her Highness Maharani Gayatri Devi Ji, with, His Highness Sir Sawai Man Singhji of Jaipur as its Patron. The distinguished Patron, Founder, the eminent Members of the Board of Governors, along with the dedication and experience of the founder Principal, Miss Lillian G. Lutter. combined to establish this School from very small beginning, to the stature and prestige it commands today as a premier centre of value based education and learning. The School began on the lines of the British Public School Pattern, keeping our own cultural and traditional values intact and important. In order to shape and equip the students, then drawn from homes steeped in the claustrophobic orthodoxy of the “Purdah Age Aristocracy”, to step out into the mainstream world with confidence, and a will to do their best and face situations brought about by the winds of change that swept across the globe and India, post World War II. To achieve this end, the school was affiliated to the Cambridge School Certificate Syllabus. The first batch to appear for this examination had to travel to Ajmer, then the only centre in Rajputana, in 1946. As the veil of purdah lifted slowly and gently, requiring great tact and delicate handling by Their Highnesses and Miss Lutter, MGD entered a phase of phenomenal growth. Its fame spread far and wide. Being Residential cum Day school girls from across the country and overseas joined in. Miss Lutter put things into “over drive” and by 1950 was able to overcome the purdah hurdle completely.

MGD was accepted as a member of the Public School Council of India, the first Girls’ public school in India and remained the only one until 1976. In 1950 MGD also became a centre for the Cambridge Examination for Jaipur. In1962 the school shifted to the Indian School Certificate Board. Currently the school follows C.B.S.E. System.

In the seventyfive years since it was founded, MGD has been steered by five Principals:

• Late Miss. L.G. Lutter (1943-1980) (Founder Principal, at the helm for  37 years )

• Late Miss. U. Sircar (June 1980 – July 1981)

• Late Miss. S. Doonga Ji (July 1981- December 1988)

• Late Dr. Mrs. G.D. Bakshi (January 1989- April 2009)

• Mrs. Suniti Sharma (May 2009-April 2018)

• Mrs. Archana S Mankotia took over in May, 2018. She is currently the Principal.

HISTORY

In the summer of 1940, the Maharaja of Jaipur, His Highness Sir Sawai Man Singhji Bahadur brought home the legendry beautiful Princess Ayesha/Gayatri Devi, of Cooch Behar, as his bride.

His Highness, the Maharaja Sahib, being a modern thinking ruler, was very concerned that Girls’ education was one field in which Jaipur was far behind other states & provinces in India. So one morning he asked Her Highness what could be done to get the women out of the shackles of the ‘purdah’ ‘Give me a school and I will try’ she said, “Once the girls go to a school there will be no ‘purdah’ in a few years”. His Highness immediately summoned his Prime Minister Sir Mirza Ismail, and the Education & Finance Minister, Rao Bahadur Amarnath Atal. The order to allot land and plans ready for the school building was given. Her Highness discussed her ideas with the two ministers - The foundation of Maharani Gayatri Devi School was laid.

The Silver Jubilee was celebrated in 1968. Dedication Day started with the majestic sound of 25 ‘Shankhs’, unfurling of School Flag by Miss L.G. Lutter Golden jubilee was celebrated in 1993. For the Prize Giving function, the Chief Guest was Shri K R Narayanan, Vice President of India, Governor of Rajasthan Shri Chenna Reddy was the Guest of Honour.

The School’s Diamond Jubilee was a sparkling event in 2003. Rajmata Sahiba was the Chief Guest for all the functions.

Emerald Jubilee of MGD was celebrated in the year 2008 by the guild.

75th year celebrations were held with much fanfare in 2018.

SCHOOL CAMPUS

The 26 acres campus contains beautiful large buildings, gardens,lawns, sports fields and swimming pool. There are five Boarding Houses for different age groups namely Lillian Hurst, Ashiana, Deepshikha, Maharani Indira Devi Bhawan and Rani Vidya Devi Bhawan and Teachers' Residence - Nivedita House.

• The making of the 'Story of MGD' – “The making of the coffee table book requires a complete manuscript in itself. It started humbly enough in the guild office. Jane Jija, Chandralekha Jija, Laxmi Singh Jija and the undersigned minuted, signed and sealed the intent to create the story of MGD.’
• The Foundation stone for the Main Building was laid down by HH Rajmata Gayatri Devi on 30^th July, 1944.
• The school song was written by Late Ms. H. Prabhu. It is interesting to know she was our first English Teacher.
• Sampat Kumari of Bikaner was sworn in as the first Head Girl of MGD school in 1945.
• The Foundation stone for the House of Science was laid down by Shri Hari Bhau Upadhaya, Minister of Education, Rajasthan on 22^nd September, 1962.
• The Foundation stone for the Maharaja Jagat Singh Wing was laid down by HH Rajmata Gayatri Devi on 4^th September, 1998.
• The Foundation stone for the Frolic Children’s Park was laid down by Rani Vidya Devi on 25^th September, 2013.
• Dr. Reema Hooja was awarded the Maharana Kumbha Samman for her contribution to the state’s history by the Maharana Mewar charitable foundation in Udaipur
• Rajnigandha Shekhawat (1992) has been included by DNA group in their list of “25 Women of Substance of Rajasthan” on December 20, 2012. She was also awarded the Rajasthan Sangeet Ratna title on December 23, 2012.  She was also felicitated with Beti Srishti Ratna.
• On 6^th February, 2013, the school library was reinstituted and inaugurated with the name “Ms Lillian G Lutter Memorial Library and Reading Room.”
• Shagun Choudhary an ace shooter received achiever’s award by FICCI – FLO Jaipur Chapter. The Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II award was given to her at the Sawai Jaipur awards at the city palace ceremony.
• MGD has been successfully accredited with the British Council International School award for the period 2012-2016.
• Sandhya Mridul (born 28 March 1969) is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films and television. 
• Apurvi Singh Chandela (born 4 January 1993) is an Indian shooter who competes in the 10 meter air rifle event. She won the gold medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
• Meira Kumar is an Indian politician and five-time Member of Parliament who was the United Progressive Alliance nominee for President of India in the 2017 election.

People who visited MGD :-

-Queen Elizabeth  , Lady Mountbatten, Sarojini Naidu
 Mrs. Roosevelt, Prince Charles, Amitabh Bachchan, Jawaharlal Nehru , Indira Gandhi,  Shakuntala Devi,  Satya Sai Maharaj, Raj Kapoor, Dr Vandana Shiva, Prince Philip