Gopal Boro H.S. School Guwahati Assam

The school started as Beltola ME School in 1953. In 1959, it was upgraded into a high school and re-christened as Gopal Boro Government High School. In 1981, it introduced higher secondary classes. The plot for the school was donated by Late Arjun Chandra Thakuria, who was the gaonburah of Dispur, in Ganesh-guri, where the school stands now.

The general secretary of the alumni association, Jayanta Barman, said the school building was in a dilapidated condition because of prolonged neglect by the state government.

The association, in collaboration with the school authority, will take up the construction of a new multi-storied building to coincide with the golden jubilee celebrations, he added.

“We also propose to construct a modern library, an auditorium, a welcome gate at the entrance, a statue of Gopal Boro — father of Thakuria, improve the playground and a permanent podium on the school premises,” Barman said.

The association appealed to past pupils in particular and the public in general, including corporate and business houses, to make donations to translate the development plan into a reality.

Bhaben Singh Basumatary, the president of the golden jubilee celebration committee of the school, said they were banking on the past pupils to make the event successful.

Basumatary said they were proud that a former student of the school, Kali Kanta Boro, was in the Indian contingent for Beijing Olympics. Boro is the observer of the boxing team participating in the Games.

Bipul Rabha, an alumnus, said the government-run school had faced several problems but had not allowed its academic standard to decline so far. In this year’s matric exam, the school recorded a pass percentage of 93.2 per cent.

At present, the school has 1,100 students and 57 teachers.

Rabha said the 17 classrooms in the school were not enough to accommodate the increasing number of students. Hence, it had become imperative to construct the new building at the earliest.

Development plans, especially infrastructure, tops the list for Gopal Boro Government Higher Secondary School which will complete 50 years in January next year.

Unveiling the development blueprint for the golden jubilee celebrations, principal Amrit Chandra Kalita said they had chalked out an elaborate plan to give a new lease of life to the crumbling and dilapidated school building.

The building will be restored will the help of the state government, former students and well-wishers of the school over the next few years.