Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla

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Convent school in Himachal Pradesh, India

Convent of Jesus and Mary, Chelsea

Address

Eaglemount, Shimla

Himachal Pradesh

171002

India

Coordinates| 31°05′35″N 77°11′18″E﻿ / ﻿31.09306°N 77.18833°E﻿ / 31.09306; 77.18833
Information
Type| Convent school
Motto| Nothing Without Love
Religious affiliation(s)| Roman Catholic
Established| 1864
Founder| Religious of Jesus and Mary
School board| CBSE
Principal| Sr. Stella Mary
Staff| 52
Enrollment| 1,719
Classrooms| Classes 1-12
Houses|   Honesty
Perseverance
Generosity
Responsibility
Affiliations| Provisional
Website| cjmshimla.org

The Convent of Jesus and Mary, Chelsea, Shimla is a private English medium school, founded by a French nun, Marie Claudine Thevenet of the Religious of Jesus and Mary and run by the nuns situated in the hills of the Himalayas ranges.[1][2] It started as an orphanage for the children of the British soldiers and established as one of the elite educational institutions in post colonial India.[3][4] It is an all-girls elementary and secondary school, now affiliated with the CBSE board,[5][6][7][8] established in Shimla[9] in 1864. Its boarding school operated for over one hundred and thirty five years, until its decision in 2000 to close the boarding section and transition to a day school.[10][11] As a day school, it expanded with new buildings to educate children from the stages of nursery, kindergarten, to higher classes of grades XI and XII.[12][13] The Convent of Jesus and Mary School, Shimla,[14] is favorably referred to as Chelsea'. Its students wear a red uniform and are called 'Chelseaites'.[15][16]

## Founder

[edit]

Marie Claudine Thevenet founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary.[17][18][19][20] She was born in Lyon, France, on 30 March 1774, the second of seven children. She founded the religious order in 1818 and became known as Mary of St. Ignatius.[21] She died on 3 February 1837, at the age of 63.[17] After her death, six Irish nuns of the order set out for colonial India, in 1842 and one of the convents established there was Chelsea in 1864.[22][17][23] Pope John Paul II, canonized her a saint on 21 March 1993.[24][25]

## Early history (1864–1940)

[edit]

Chelsea is 2206 meters above sea level in the inner compound of St. Bede's College[26] through a shared entrance. On recommendation from the Governor General of India at the time, Charles Canning, the CJM nuns moved from their work from Agra to the hills of Shimla in 1864.[27][28][29] Mother St. Lewis Gonzaga was the first supervisor, the orphans of the British soldiers were cared for and received education from the nuns until 1940, when it was no longer an orphanage. In 1873, a chapel was built adjoining the school.

In 1946 a fire burned two-thirds of the school building; the church, the rectory, and the Victorian-style main building survived. The main building has the principal office, the administrative office, and the library. Its upper floor was used as elementary students' dormitories and an infirmary, another building on the south side was the senior boarders dormitories. In 1947 India became independent, and the school began accepting students from well-off families, mostly from the North India and some from overseas of Indian expatriates.[30][31]

## Chelsea chapel 1873

[edit]

The British built the Chelsea chapel. A statue of the sacred heart of Jesus stands outside the front compound and a grotto of Mary behind the church, jointly shared by St. Bede's.[32] The priests of the diocese pray and attend school ceremonies.[33]

## Boarding school (1940–2000)

[edit]

### Boarders

[edit]

As a boarding school, there were no more than 300 students in Chelsea. As a day school the enrollment was 1900 students in 2016.[34] The boarder students predominantly came from the northern states of India. A few came from UK, North America, Africa, and Thailand, from Indian families. Some of these students were from families of the elites of Indian society.[31][35] The school year lasted from March to December.[36]

### Dormitories

[edit]

In the 21st century the building that housed the senior dormitories was replaced with a new multi-purpose building named Claudine Thevenet Hall.[37][38][39]

### Infirmary

[edit]

Like its other CJM boarding schools, Chelsea had an infirmary.[40]

### Curriculum

[edit]

The school belonged to the ICSE board and then affiliated to the CBSE board in the 21st century.[41][42]

## Alumni

[edit]

* Rani Sudha Kumari, former princess of Keonthal state (titular queen of Jubbal).[31]
* Urvashi Kumari. The Princely and Noble Families of the former Indian Empire.[35][43]
* Baisa Bhumika Kumari Singh, the family of Bidwal from Maharaja Udai Singhji of Jodhpur[44]
* Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasul, belonging to the princely state of Malerkotla.[45][46]
* Preneet Kaur, a politician in the Ministry of External Affairs in Punjab state (2009–2014).[47]
* Priya Rajvansh, Bollywood actress.[48]
* Preity Zinta, Bollywood actress.[49]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ CJM Shimla website (2018–2021). "Convent of Jesus & Mary, Chelsea - Shimla | About School". www.cjmshimla.org. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
2. ^ Punjab (India), Shimla District - 1904 (Mention CJM Shimla convent school page 47 & 115) (1908). Punjab District Gazetteers: Simla district, 1904. Superintendent, Government Printing. p. 47.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
3. ^ Mangla, Akshay (1 December 2022). Making Bureaucracy Work: Norms, Education and Public Service Delivery in Rural India. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-009-25803-6.
4. ^ America - A catholic review of the week, The America Press (1913). America. America Press. p. 408.
5. ^ Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla, India website, Chelsea (8 April 2023). "Convent of Jesus & Mary, Chelsea - Shimla | Home". www.cjmshimla.org. Retrieved 8 April 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
6. ^ "Convent Of Jesus and Mary School". skoodos.com. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
7. ^ Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla (8 April 2023). "Convent Of Jesus & Mary School, Shimla | Admission 2022, Fees, Reviews - CBSE Girls School". SchoolMyKids. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
8. ^ Brainfeed website (24 April 2023). "Convent Of Jesus and Mary School – Shimla – Brainfeed Magazine". Brainfeed. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
9. ^ Ghosh, Ruchira Adhikari (9 July 2020). "Shimla: Memories of a Bygone Era! - Different Truths". DT Different Truths. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
10. ^ "Best Boarding Schools in Shimla". Boarding Schools Of India. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
11. ^ Verma, Yamini S. (3 March 2018). "7 Best Boarding Schools in Shimla With Fees, Admission Details & More". Chandigarh Metro. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
12. ^ Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla, 7 Best School in India by Indiaisfamousfor website. "7 Best School In Shimla - List of Excellent Schools in Shimla". IndiaFamousFor website. Retrieved 8 April 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
13. ^ Mangla, Akshay (1 December 2022). Making Bureaucracy Work: Norms, Education and Public Service Delivery in Rural India. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-009-25803-6.
14. ^ Ghosh Ruchira, Adhikari (9 July 2020). "Shimla: Memories of a Bygone Era! - Different Truths". DT Different Truths. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
15. ^ The Tribune ( India) (3 October 2022). "Convent of Jesus and Mary, Chelsea, Shimla". www.TribuneIndia.com. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
16. ^ "CJM Shimla Campus". 31 July 2021 – via YouTube.
17. ^ a b c Marie Claudine Thevenet, The Vatican site (8 April 2023). "Claudine Thévenet (1774-1837) - biography". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
18. ^ Marie Claudine Thevenet, Nominis french website (8 April 2023). "Sainte Claudine Thévenet". Nominis (in French). Retrieved 8 April 2023.
19. ^ Online, Catholic. "St. Claudine Thevenet - Saints & Angels". Catholic Online. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
20. ^ Mother Provincial, CJM Poona 1977, Robin Summers Books Ltd (Aldenburgh, UK). "The Life and Times of Claudine Thevenet. Mother Mary St. Ignatius. by Gabriela Maria.: Very Good | ROBIN SUMMERS BOOKS LTD". www.abebooks.com. Retrieved 10 April 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
21. ^ Marie Thevenet "How Good God is", RJM Generale site (8 April 2023). "Saint Claudine | Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary". RJMGenerale.org. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
22. ^ Himachal Watcher on Chelsea 150 yrs jubilee 2014 (28 September 2014). "Jesus and Mary school celebrates 150 years of existence | Himachal Watcher". Himachal Watcher website. Retrieved 8 April 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
23. ^ The times of India (25 August 2013). "Shimla's Chelsea school kickstarts events to mark 150 years". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
24. ^ Catholic.net site, Pope John Paul II canonized her in 1993 (8 April 2023). "St. Claudine Thevenet". Catholic.net. Retrieved 8 April 2023.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
25. ^ "Claudine Thevenet | Convent of Jesus and Mary Catholic Infant School". www.cjminfantschool.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
26. ^ St Bede's College (8 April 2023). "PROFILE – St Bede's College Shimla". St. Bede's College, Shimla, India. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
27. ^ Carey, William H. (1870). A Guide to Simla: With a Descriptive Account of the Neighbouring Sanitaria, Subathoo, Dugshaie, Sunawar, Kussowlie, Kotegurh, Chini, &c., &c., &c. Wyman & Company. p. 50.
28. ^ Towelle's handguide to Simla (1880). Towelle's Hand Book and Guide to Simila and the Interior. Station Press. p. 50.
29. ^ Lemerle, Franz (1891). My Diary, Or A Record of Events and Experiences [in Ootacamund]. Examiner Press. p. 194.
30. ^ Webster, John C. B. (22 December 2018). A Social History of Christianity: North-west India since 1800. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-909757-9.
31. ^ a b c Aishwarya Khosla, Hindustan Times (29 October 2018). "Convent of Jesus and Mary Chelsea: Giving young women tools to take over the world". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
32. ^ Shimla Chandigarh Diocese (website), Fr. Kejus R. (1 January 2019). "ABOUT RT. REV. GILBERT B. REGO". www.simlachandigarhdiocese.com. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
33. ^ The Tribune (newspaper website) (24 April 2023). "Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla". The Tribune. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
34. ^ The canonical visitation of the province of Delhi - 2016 (1 November 2016). "RJMGeneral.org on 2016 News - visitation of the Province of Delhi" (PDF). p. 2. Retrieved 8 April 2023.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
35. ^ a b Brentnall, Mark (2004). The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publishing. ISBN 978-81-7387-163-4.
36. ^ McDowell, William (1 April 2011). From the Diplomatic Bag. Mereo Books, mereobook, mereobooks. p. 16\. ISBN 978-1-908223-16-6.
37. ^ "Magazines". Convent of Jesus & Mary, Chelsea - Shimla. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
38. ^ "Convent of Jesus and Mary school, photos (see Claudine Thevenet hall pic)". Justdial. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
39. ^ dhirprakriti (2 March 2010). "Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla". socialvillage.in. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
40. ^ Education, History of Jesus and Mary convent school. "Jesus & Mary Convent School | India's Best Schools, Colleges | Schools". India's best Schools, Colleges, Universities at EducationToday. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
41. ^ CJM website, Objectives (2018–2021). "Convent of Jesus & Mary, Chelsea - Shimla | Aims & Objectives". www.cjmshimla.org. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
42. ^ eHimachalPradesh website (24 April 2023). "Convent of Jesus & Mary, Shimla". ehimachal.org. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
43. ^ Rathore, Abhinay (20 July 1937). "Jubbal (Princely State)". Rajput Provinces of India. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
44. ^ Archives, Royal (1 August 2022). "Bidwal (Thikana)". Royal Archives. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
45. ^ Majumdar, Maya (2005). Encyclopaedia of Gender Equality Through Women Empowerment. Sarup & Sons. p. 227\. ISBN 978-81-7625-548-6.
46. ^ Singh, Pitam (2003). Women Legislators in Indian Politics. Concept Publishing Company. p. 112\. ISBN 978-81-8069-019-8.
47. ^ Preneet Kaur (20 July 2019). "Preneet Kaur's Aspiring Goal-oriented Plans". 5 Dariya News. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
48. ^ Indian Cinema Heritage Foundation, Priya Rajvansh (8 April 2023). "Priya Rajvansh". Cinema Azi website. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
49. ^ Preity Zinta, IDiva website (3 July 2022). "Preity Zinta Shares A Rare Throwback Photo From Her School Days & It's Too Sweet To Ignore". www.IDiva.com. Retrieved 8 April 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website