From its humble beginnings as a small school in 1872, Madrasa-I-Aliya has traveled through the chronicles of history to complete 150 years
Posted on – 12:08 AM, Fri – 12 December 22
Hyderabad: In 1872, Madrasa-I-Aliya (now known as Public High School (Boys’ School) Aliya) started its journey across the annals of history as a small school for children of Hyderabad aristocrats including Salar Jung-1 , completed 150 school years.
Being one of the oldest educational institutions in Hyderabad, it started its journey at the Salar Jung-I Palace Divan Deori in Pathargatti and as the enrollment increased the school with Krohn as its first principal moved to Kothi in Rombold , Sir Thomas Rumbold’s residence, on a hill near Coty Palace.
Partly residential, the school provides English and Oriental education and prepares students for the entrance examination of the University of Madras. Chaderghat College was later merged with Madrasa-I-Aliya in 1881 and the combined name was Nizam College, providing education from kindergarten to post-graduation between 1887 and 1947.
In 1914, they were moved to the present Nizam College premises, then known as Asad Bagh, the residence of the late Nawab Fakhrul Mulk Bahadur. Finally, in 1949, the school moved to its present school building, which is also the residence of Nawab Fakrul Mulk Bahadur.
Over the decades, Madrasa-I-Aliya has produced several eminent personalities in addition to civil servants, police officers, etc., including Ali Nawaz Jung, chief engineer of Ali Sagar, and Nizam Sagar lakes of Abdul Rehman, India’s first professor of physics.
Recalling his student days, when a group of students passed out in 1971, Syed Shujaat Ali said the student council elections were the best of those days. “We elected the head of the union office who has been active in all functions of the school in the past,” he said.
Not only academically, students here have won numerous awards in sport, notably cricket, football, table tennis and badminton. Qameruddin Ali Khan, a student who passed the exam in 1971, recalled how Madrass-I-Aliya’s cricket team beat Hyderabad Public Schools (HPS). “It was a low-scoring game, HPS batted first. We won and lifted the mono trophy. We also won the game against the Railway Academy,” said Khan, who was the goalkeeper.
Silver medals for outstanding students
With the 150th anniversary of Madrasa-I-Aliya, the Celebration Committee has taken several steps to promote the school and develop programs for the students. The committee revived the library, a treasure trove of books dating back to 1920.
The organizing committee decided to award 150 sterling silver medals, which will be awarded to outstanding students of class X and final year students of Aliya Junior College for the next 15 years.
“Ten medals are awarded each year, named after outstanding teachers in the school’s history,” said Syed Basharath Ali, a 1971 graduate student and committee member.
The 150th anniversary of Madrasa-I-Aliya will be showcased through an audiovisual documentary as part of the celebrations scheduled for December 18. A total of 300 alumni from the class of 1955 participated in the celebration.
Due to the disrepair of the school building, Ali hopes to revive the state government of many heritage buildings in the city to start repair and renovation projects to ensure that the historic school building returns to its former glory.
