In 1960 , Mr. BELL , the then G.M. of Hindustan Steel Ltd. (now known as
Durgapur Steel Plant), requested the Jesuit provincial Fr. R. Anthoine to
establish a school in Durgapur. He offered a small plot of land at the crossing
of Sarat Chandra Avenue and Kalidas Road for the purpose. However, finding it
inadequate, the Provincial declined the offer.
A few years later, Mr. A.N. Lahiri, GM of H.E.C.(later known as MAMC)
contacted Frs. Van Exem and Drugman in Asansol and offered a shed in the
Opthalmic Factory for a school. St. Xavier’s School, Durgapur was first
established there on 1.5.1963, May Day, the Workers’ Day.
On 14/09/1963 the school was transferred to a small Primary School building in
the HEC (MAMC) Township. The Jesuit Provincial declared that since no land was
made available for St. Xavier’s School, Durgapur the Jesuits would be bound to
close the school before taking the responsibility of higher classes, and leave
Durgapur.
In mid 1964, Mr.L.Donnelly, the deputy Managing Director of AVB Ltd. contacted
the provincial and informed that if the Jesuits agreed, he would request the
West Bengal Government to hand over 10acres of land leased to A.V.B for a Jesuit
School.
Meanwhile, in 1964 the Sisters of Apostolic Carmel(A.C) opened a school for girls. In time, when the sisters raised their school to a high school, St. Xavier’s became a Boy’s only school around 1969, till then St. Xavier’s had both boys and girls.
In January 1965, a full three-year contract was signed between the Calcutta Jesuit Province and the MAMC authorities to run a Bengali medium school, the then High School in MAMC Township, fully sponsored by the MAMC concern. A few days before the expiry of the contact, the Jesuit Provincial was informed that the contract would not be renewed, by the M.A.M.C authorities.
On 18/02/1966 the foundation stone of the present St. Xavier’s building was laid
by Dr Dharmasey M. Khatau, Chairman, A.V.B, on a plot of land of A.V.B , leased
by the Government of West Bengal to the Calcutta Province of Jesuits for 997
years. In January 1967, St. Xavier’s School was transferred from the MAMC
Primary School to the new and permanent building at A.V.B.
Fr. J. Dubois was the Headmaster from the opening of the English Medium School.
Concurrently to the main school in MAMC and AVB, a primary school-part of the main school- was started in Hindustan Steel Ltd.(Later called D.S.P), in 1964 in Tagore House. After a few months, the school was transferred to a Primary School building of D.S.P at Lala Lajpat Rai Road. In 1971, the school was transferred to our own building at Mirabai Road. Eventually in 2001, on the expiry of the 30 years lease, the DSP authorities demanded a huge sum of money for further lease, and the Jesuits decided to move out of DSP are after 5 years grace period. The H.M tried his best to get a piece of land near the Bidhan Nagar close to the present main school for relocation of primary wing so as to separate the secondary and eventually a +2 proved futile, a new wing was begun in the main campus in 2004 June and in 2005 May the Primary wing from Mirabai section was shifted to the new building.
St. Xavier’s Durgapur has classes only upto ten with a preparatory class(KG).Each class had four sections. It is English Medium and affliated to the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi. Admission to KG is in December; Admissions to classes 1 to 8 in March when & if vacancies arise. Academic session is from April to March.
Some main features of the Institution are:
Majority of children are of employees of different factories.
Many of the parents(both) are educated and employed
Most of boys are Bengalis but there is good mixture
of boys from other states.
Lots of trees& greenery and a large play field
Homely and friendly relationship between teachers and
students
(Later called D.S.P), in 1964 in Tagore House. After a few months, the school was transferred to a Primary School building of D.S.P at Lala Lajpat Rai Road. In 1971, the school was transferred to our own building at Mirabai Road. Eventually in 2001, on the expiry of the 30 years lease, the DSP authorities demanded a huge sum of money for further lease, and the Jesuits decided to move out of DSP are after 5 years grace period. The H.M tried his best to get a piece of land near the Bidhan Nagar close to the present main school for relocation of primary wing so as to separate the secondary and eventually a +2 proved futile, a new wing was begun in the main campus in 2004 June and in 2005 May the Primary wing from Mirabai section was shifted to the new building.
