Krishna Bhabini Nari Siksha Mandir, an integrated Girls’ Higher Secondary School offering classes from I to XII, is managed by the Education Committee of Chandernagore Municipal Corporation. It is a Government-sponsored school with the provision of a Girls’ Hostel. At the higher secondary level, the school offers Science (in both English and Bengali), Arts, and Commerce streams.
Founded in 1926 by the visionary Late Harihar Sett, the school is named in loving memory of his mother, Late Krishna Bhabini Devi. Its establishment required persistent efforts, including obtaining permission from the French Government. The school’s inaugural ceremony was graced by Sarala Devi Chowdhurani, a prominent figure in Bengal’s Ladies Community and the niece of the renowned poet Rabindranath Tagore.
Krishna Bhabini Nari Siksha Mandir embarked on its journey with four teachers and thirty-one students. As the school grew, it received additional land from the Chandernagore Municipal Authority, leading to the establishment of the “Tarak Dasi Nari Kalyan Sandan,” which now serves as the school hostel.
Initially, Harihar Sett bore all the school’s expenses for its first four years. In 1931, the first Managing Committee was formed, and the same year, the University of Calcutta granted permission for the school’s students to appear for the Matriculation Examination. In 1932, two students achieved First Division in the Matriculation Examination, marking the beginning of a legacy of academic excellence.
In 1943, the school became a government school under the French Government, following a resolution adopted by the Managing Committee. On November 27, 1947, Chandernagore was declared a ‘Free City’ by the French Government, and the city’s government body took over the school’s management. From June 9, 1952, Chandernagore became a part of the Indian Union, and the school came under the purview of the Government of India. On October 2, 1954, Chandernagore was formally incorporated into the jurisdiction of the State of West Bengal, and the school came under the Education Department of the Government of West Bengal. It currently operates as a Government-sponsored school.
In 1955, the Chandernagore Municipal Act was enacted, and the Chandernagore Education Act came into force. Despite its present status as a Government-sponsored school, the Managing Committee continued to function as the Education Committee of Chandernagore Municipal Corporation, overseeing various schools in Chandernagore.
The school has the privilege of being visited by the esteemed poet Rabindranath Tagore, who penned a poem in remembrance of the institution. In 2019, the main school building received the distinction of being declared a Heritage Building by the West Bengal Heritage Commission. In 2016, the school was recognized as one of the “Best Schools” by the Education Department of the Government of West Bengal, acknowledging its commitment to excellence in education.
