Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School
Clockwise from top left: Main entrance of school, main academic building of secondary section, statue of Sister Nivedita, statue of Swami Vivekananda
Address
37, Gopal Lal Tagore Road, Baranagar Kolkata , West Bengal , 700036 India
Coordinates	22°38′04.20″N 88°22′13.57″E / 22.6345000°N 88.3704361°E / 22.6345000; 88.3704361
Information
Former name	Brahmananda Balakashrama (1912–1924)
Type	Private (Higher secondary)
Motto	Atmano mokshartham jagat hitaya cha (For the salvation of our individual self and for the well-being of all on earth)
Religious affiliation(s)	Hinduism
Established	20 April 1912; 112 years ago (1912-04-20)
Founder	Yogindranath Tagore
Status	Active
Sister school	Ramakrishna Mission Centenary Primary School, Baranagore (Estd. 1897)[1]
School board	WBBSE WBCHSE
School district	North 24 Parganas
Authority	Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Baranagore
Session	January–December (V – X) June–May (XI – XII)
School code	B1-019 (WBBSE)[6] 03691 (WBCHSE)[7][8]
Director	Swami Purnagyanananda (Secretary)[2]
Headmaster	Swami Mahamritananda[2]
Head teacher	Swami Gatabhayananda (Assistant headmaster)
Grades	V–XII
Gender	Male
Age range	10+ to 18+
Enrolment	1100[3]
Language	Bengali, English
Schedule type	Day
Schedule	Monday – Friday: 10:40 am – 4:30 pm[4] (V – X) 10:40 am – 3:50 pm (XI – XII) Saturday: 10:40am – 1:55pm (V – X)
Hours in school day	Monday – Friday: 5–6 hrs Saturday: 3–4 hrs
Campus size	3 acres (121,359 m²)[9]
Campus type	Urban
Houses	Sarada Bhawan Nivedita Bhawan[5]
Student Union/Association	BRKMAHS Ex-students Reunion Celebration Committee
Colour(s)	White and Grey   (V – X) Blue and Grey   (XI – XII)
Song	Om Sahana Bhabatu Jana Gana Mana
Sports	Cricket, Football
Nickname	BRKMAHS
Yearbook	Rashmi (রশ্মি)
Alumni	See below
Website	www.rkmabaranagore.org

This article contains Bengali text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols.

Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School (H.S.)^[a] (BRKMAHS) is a senior secondary boys' school in Baranagar, Kolkata, India and a branch centre of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math.^[10][11] The school was founded in 1912,^[3] and is located at the northern outskirt of Kolkata, on the banks of the river Ganga. The school is run by the Baranagar Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Authority under the umbrella of Ramakrishna Mission^[12][13][14] headquartered at Belur Math.^[3] Based on its performance of the students in the Xth standard board examination, the school is considered one of the very best schools in West Bengal.^{[15][16][17][18][19][20]} Department of Tourism (West Bengal) listed it as one of the tourist spots of West Bengal.^[21]

Designed and explained by Swami Vivekananda in his own words:^[22]

The wavy waters in the picture are symbolic of Karma; the lotus, of Bhakti; and the rising-sun, of Jnana. The encircling serpent is indicative of Yoga and the awakened Kundalini Shakti, while the swan in the picture stands for Paramatman (Supreme Self). Therefore, the idea of the picture is that by the union of Karma, Jnana, Bhakti and Yoga, the vision of Paramatman is obtained.

The "Brahmananda Ramakrishna Mission" of the twentieth century is today's "Baranagar Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama". Then the twentieth century was in its childhood – the great hero and saint Vivekananda had elevated himself like a phoenix from the ashes – his divine preaching had enchanted the young mind. India was then under the British bondage. The British Government had already issued the order, of partition of Bengal in accordance with the divide and rule policy of The Lord Curzon. The air was being rented with the melodies of Rabindranath "Banglar Mati Banglar Jol" Bengal became turbulent and agitated like "Nataraj" with the waves of anti-partition movement and this turbulence had given birth to a number of brave dreamers who were inspired by the paradigm of Swami Vivekananda. Yogindnanata Tagore, a disciple of Swami Brahmananda (Rakhal Maharaj) – a brave soldier of the anti-British movement and an active member of Anushilan Samiti, set up an orphanage in the name of his preceptor at the house of Panjas at Alambazar in North Kolkata. In 1912 on the pious day of Akshaya Tritiya, the organisation started its journey with the name "Brahmananda Balakashrama".

Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School has become an embodiment of the ideology 'service and welfare through education', since its initiation in 1912, on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. Since then, through selflessness and service to the mankind, this organization so successfully caters the spiritual genre, convened by Lord Sri Ramakrishna, in every possible way.

The foundation stone of this ashrama, as a "Brahmananda Balakashrama", was laid by Sri Yogindranath Tagore, an eminent freedom-fighter and disciple of Srimat Swami Brahmanandaji Maharaj, the first president of Ramakrishna Order. Later it was shifted into a one storied building adjacent to Jaikrishna Mitra Kalibari at Kutighat in the name of, "Baranagar Ramakrishna Ashrama for Orphan". Then, in 1924 the Ashrama was acquired by Belur Math as a branch centre and hence, renamed as "Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Baranagore". On 20 February 1928, by the patronage of the late zaminders of Narali, Jessore, the Ashrama procured a land of 8 bighas and 8 chhatak beside Gopal Lal Tagore Road. It was the same Akshaya Tritiya on 11 May 1929 the Ashrama was shifted to the plot.

The primary school, set up in the Ashrama premises in 1934, was sequentially upgraded to upper primary and then to lower secondary section in the year 1952. The multifaceted upper secondary wing of the institution was inaugurated in 1954 and it, henceforth, got the recognition of 'Madhyamik' (Secondary).

11 May 1998, on the auspicious Buddha Purnima, a parallel primary wing of the institution (from Class I to Class IV) was incepted under the jurisdiction of Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math. This new segment was named "Ramakrishna Mission Centenary Primary School, Baranagore" and was inaugurated by Revered Srimat Swami Lokeshwaranandaji on the occasion of 'Centenary Celebration'.^[9]

After a prolonged yet rigorous effort of 42 years, this institution has been elevated to the Higher Secondary level in 2018 and education is being imparted through Bengali and English medium in this section. The first batch of Higher Secondary has come out of the school with flying colours in the pandemic-hit year of 2020.^[23]

Top view of BRKM campus during annual festival in 2018

Statue of Swami Vivekananda at BRKM campus

Sarada Bhawan prayer hall

Main academic building of secondary section

Temple at BRKM campus

Open air corridor in front of the primary section building

Monk's quarters

Fibreglass relievo of Sri Ramakrishna's Monastic Disciples

Ashrama has a large and green campus. It contains a primary school section, secondary and higher secondary school section, libraries, three free coaching centres, a charitable homeopathic dispensary, a mobile medical unit, prayer hall, a temple, monk's quarters and playgrounds.^[3] A fibreglass relievo (17 ft x 22 ft) of Sri Ramakrishna's Monastic Disciples was inaugurated in Ramakrishna Mission Baranagar by Revered Swami Shivamayananda ji Maharaj on 15 March 2021.^[24] On 6 October 2023, the showroom-cum-sales Counter at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Baranagar was inaugurated by Swami Suvirananda ji, General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission.^[25]

There are two secondary section buildings in the school campus, one for classes (V – VIII) and the other for classes (IX – X). There are five sections in each of the classes from V – VIII and in IX and X there are four sections each.^[26]

There is one higher secondary section building in school campus for classes XI and XII. The building is named "Nivedita Bhawan" which was inaugurated by Swami Suhitananda ji maharaj on 14 May 2018.^[5][27]

Secondary section (V – X) is affiliated by West Bengal Board of Secondary Education^[6] and higher secondary section (XI – XII) is affiliated by West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education.^[23][9]

BRKMAHS started the Higher Secondary course, in commemoration of the 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's historic speech in the World Parliament of Religions at Chicago. Swami Suvirananda, General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, inaugurated the course in a programme at the Ashrama premises on 22 June 2018 evening.^[27]

As of 2021^[update], the curriculum of higher secondary section, affiliated by WBCHSE, consisted of Arts and Science streams.^[9]

List of headmasters of Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School according to their working period:

Students are highly influenced by the faith and philosophy of Ramakrishna at this school. Former student Shiboprosad Mukherjee said:

In our school, we used to have a special class on religion, and we weren't a big fan of the class. Whenever we got an opportunity, we would bunk classes. But one particular lesson in that class moved me to the core and changed my whole perception about religion. It can be anything and any philosophy.^[31]

BRKMAHS arranged an intensive cleaning programme Swachh Bharat Mission in the neighbouring locality on 30 June 2016, in accordance with the instruction given by the headquarters Belur Math. More than 600 students of standards VIII, IX and X actively participated in the programme under the guidance of monastic members and brahmacharies of the Ashrama and almost all the teaching and non-teaching staff of the high school.^[32]

BRKM is continuing the relief services to the families affected by the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[33]

Ex-students of BRKMAHS (2010 Madhyamik batch) organised a COVID relief fund and delivered much-needed oxygen, food, and necessary things to COVID-19 affected patients and their families of Baranagar and neighborhood areas.^[34]

BRKM started Amphan cyclone relief services to aid families affected by the Cyclone Amphan which wreaked havoc on 20 May 2020.^[35]

BRKM distributed 500 blankets from 14 November 2021 to 9 January 2022 in Baranagar, Dakshineshwar and Harit.^[36] BRKM conducted eye camps at Harit on 7 August and 18 September 2022.^[37][38]

Saraswati Puja at BRKM in 2019

Independence Day celebration at school premises in 2019

Following cultural festivals and activities are held at school premises & Nivedita Krirangan in a befitting manner by the students of school in every year:

• National Youth Day^[39][40]
• Birthday of Netaji
• Republic Day
• Saraswati Puja
• Birthday of Ramakrishna
• Maha Shivaratri
• Akshaya Tritiya (school foundation day)
• Rabindra Jayanti
• Independence Day
• Kali Puja
• Birthday of Sarada Devi

Devotees’ Conference is also once held in every year during annual festival of school.^[41][42]

Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School Ex-students Reunion Celebration Committee is the name of alumni association committee of BRKMAHS. This committee every year celebrates reunion ceremony for ex-students of the school. They are connected with many social activities throughout the year.^[43]

Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Praktan Chhatra Samsad under the guidance of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Baranagore, organised a "Voluntary Blood donation Camp" on 15 September 2019, in association with blood bank of Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan, Kolkata, as a part of the concluding – 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's Chicago Addresses at Sarada Bhawan. Total 51 units of blood were donated by ex-students of the ashrama high school, teachers, monastic members of different branch centres of the Ramakrishna Mission, Ashrama staff, volunteers and devotees. Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Praktan Chhatra Samsad Charitable Trust felicitated all the doctors who have been dedicatedly serving the poor & distressed patients throughout the year in the ashrama's medical unit & also in medical camps at various remote places.^[44]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (April 2019)

• Abhishek Chatterjee, Bengali film and television actor.^[45]
• Jeet Ganguly, score composer, music director and playback singer for Hindi and Bengali films.^[46]
• Shiboprosad Mukherjee, film director, writer and actor who works for Bengali films.^{[47][31][48][49]}
• Tathagata Mukherjee, Bengali film and television actor.^[50]
• Gautam Sarkar, ex-footballer, having represented SC East Bengal.^[51][52]
• Tanmoy Bhattacharya, politician, elected MLA of North Dum Dum constituency, 2016–2021.^[53][54]

• List of Ramakrishna Mission institutions
• List of schools in Kolkata

• Official website
• BRKMAHS Ex-students Reunion Celebration Committee Archived 15 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine

Maps

• Geographic data related to Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School at OpenStreetMap

Photos

• Photos of Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School