Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla
{{Multiple issues|
{{prose|date=April 2023}}
{{overly detailed|date=April 2023}}
{{very long|date=April 2023}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Convent of Jesus and Mary, Chelsea
| logo = CJM Crest.png
| caption =
| founder = Religious of Jesus and Mary
| established = 1864
| motto = Nothing Without Love
| principal = Sr. Stella Mary
| staff = 52
| streetaddress = Eaglemount, Shimla
| state = Himachal Pradesh
| zipcode = 171002
| country = India
| coordinates = {{Coord|31|05|35|N|77|11|18|E|display=inline,title}}
| type = Convent school
| religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic
| schoolboard = CBSE
| enrollment = 1,719
| classrooms = Classes 1-12
| houses = {{color box|#ff0000}} Honesty
{{color box|#0000ff}} Perseverance
{{color box|#00ff00}} Generosity
{{color box|#ffff00}} Responsibility
| affiliations = Provisional
| url =
| website = {{URL|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.{{Cite web |last=CJM Shimla website |date=2018–2021 |title=Convent of Jesus & Mary, Chelsea - Shimla {{!}} About School |url=https://www.cjmshimla.org/about-school.aspx |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=www.cjmshimla.org}}{{Cite book |last=Punjab (India) |first=Shimla District - 1904 (Mention CJM Shimla convent school page 47 & 115) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lOnun8ByfusC&dq=Convent+of+Jesus+and+mary,+Simla+India&pg=PA115 |title=Punjab District Gazetteers: Simla district, 1904 |date=1908 |publisher=Superintendent, Government Printing |pages=47 |language=en}} 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.{{Cite book |last=Mangla |first=Akshay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PA-cEAAAQBAJ&dq=Convent+of+Jesus+and+mary,+Simla+India&pg=PT361 |title=Making Bureaucracy Work: Norms, Education and Public Service Delivery in Rural India |date=2022-12-01 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-009-25803-6 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=America - A catholic review of the week |first=The America Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wqNGAQAAMAAJ&dq=Boarding+school+Convent+of+Jesus+and+Mary+Simla&pg=RA1-PA408 |title=America |date=1913 |publisher=America Press |pages=408 |language=en}} It is an all-girls elementary and secondary school, now affiliated with the CBSE board,{{Cite web |last=Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla, India website |first=Chelsea |date=2023-04-08 |title=Convent of Jesus & Mary, Chelsea - Shimla {{!}} Home |url=https://www.cjmshimla.org/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=www.cjmshimla.org}}{{Cite web |title=Convent Of Jesus and Mary School |url=https://skoodos.com/school/convent-of-jesus-and-mary-school-navbhahar |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=skoodos.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla |date=2023-04-08 |title=Convent Of Jesus & Mary School, Shimla {{!}} Admission 2022, Fees, Reviews - CBSE Girls School |url=https://www.schoolmykids.com/school/convent-of-jesus-mary-school-shimla-shimla-himachal-pradesh-india-s1001083 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=SchoolMyKids |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Brainfeed website |date=2023-04-24 |title=Convent Of Jesus and Mary School – Shimla – Brainfeed Magazine |url=https://brainfeedmagazine.com/convent-of-jesus-and-mary-school/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Brainfeed |language=en-US}} established in Shimla{{Cite web |last=Ghosh |first=Ruchira Adhikari |date=2020-07-09 |title=Shimla: Memories of a Bygone Era! - Different Truths |url=https://www.differenttruths.com/travel-getaways/history-culture/shimla-memories-of-a-bygone-era/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=DT Different Truths |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Best Boarding Schools in Shimla |url=https://boardingschoolsofindia.com/boarding-schools-in-shimla/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Boarding Schools Of India |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Verma |first=Yamini S. |date=2018-03-03 |title=7 Best Boarding Schools in Shimla With Fees, Admission Details & More |url=https://chandigarhmetro.com/boarding-schools-shimla-list-best-fees-admission-details/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Chandigarh Metro |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla |first=7 Best School in India by Indiaisfamousfor website |title=7 Best School In Shimla - List of Excellent Schools in Shimla |url=https://www.indiafamousfor.com/top-schools-in-shimla.html |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=IndiaFamousFor website}}{{Cite book |last=Mangla |first=Akshay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PA-cEAAAQBAJ&dq=Convent+of+Jesus+and+Mary,+Shimla,+India+-wikipedia&pg=PT361 |title=Making Bureaucracy Work: Norms, Education and Public Service Delivery in Rural India |date=2022-12-01 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-009-25803-6 |language=en}} The Convent of Jesus and Mary School, Shimla,{{Cite web |last=Ghosh Ruchira |first=Adhikari |date=2020-07-09 |title=Shimla: Memories of a Bygone Era! - Different Truths |url=https://www.differenttruths.com/travel-getaways/history-culture/shimla-memories-of-a-bygone-era/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=DT Different Truths |language=en-US}} is favorably referred to as Chelsea'. Its students wear a red uniform and are called 'Chelseaites'.{{Cite web |last=The Tribune ( India) |date=2022-10-03 |title=Convent of Jesus and Mary, Chelsea, Shimla |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/schools/convent-of-jesus-mary-chelsea-shimla-437701 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=www.TribuneIndia.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKpHUKSNj6o|title=CJM Shimla Campus|date=31 July 2021 |via=YouTube}}
Founder
Marie Claudine Thevenet founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary.{{Cite web |last=Marie Claudine Thevenet |first=The Vatican site |date=2023-04-08 |title=Claudine Thévenet (1774-1837) - biography |url=https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19930321_thevenet_en.html |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=www.vatican.va}}{{Cite web |last=Marie Claudine Thevenet |first=Nominis french website |date=2023-04-08 |title=Sainte Claudine Thévenet |url=https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/555/Sainte-Claudine-Thevenet.html |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Nominis |language=fr}}{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Catholic |title=St. Claudine Thevenet - Saints & Angels |url=https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=5996 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Catholic Online |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mother Provincial, CJM Poona 1977 |first=Robin Summers Books Ltd (Aldenburgh, UK) |title=The Life and Times of Claudine Thevenet. Mother Mary St. Ignatius. by Gabriela Maria.: Very Good {{!}} ROBIN SUMMERS BOOKS LTD |url=https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/Life-Times-Claudine-Thevenet-Mother-Mary/30073536872/bd |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=www.abebooks.com |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Marie Thevenet "How Good God is" |first=RJM Generale site |date=2023-04-08 |title=Saint Claudine {{!}} Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary |url=http://www.rjmgeneral.org/en/who-we-are/history-and-foundation/saint-claudine/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=RJMGenerale.org |language=en-US}} She died on 3 February 1837, at the age of 63. 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.{{Cite web |last=Himachal Watcher on Chelsea 150 yrs jubilee 2014 |date=2014-09-28 |title=Jesus and Mary school celebrates 150 years of existence {{!}} Himachal Watcher |url=https://himachalwatcher.com/2014/09/28/jesus-and-mary-school-celebrates-150-years-of-existence/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Himachal Watcher website |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=The times of India |date=2013-08-25 |title=Shimla's Chelsea school kickstarts events to mark 150 years |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/shimlas-chelsea-school-kickstarts-events-to-mark-150-years/articleshow/22043333.cms |access-date=2023-04-24 |issn=0971-8257}} Pope John Paul II, canonized her a saint on 21 March 1993.{{Cite web |last=Catholic.net site |first=Pope John Paul II canonized her in 1993 |date=2023-04-08 |title=St. Claudine Thevenet |url=http://catholic.net/op/articles/2092/st-claudine-thevenet.html |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Catholic.net |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Claudine Thevenet {{!}} Convent of Jesus and Mary Catholic Infant School |url=https://www.cjminfantschool.co.uk/claudine-thevenet/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=www.cjminfantschool.co.uk}}
Early history (1864–1940)
Chelsea is 2206 meters above sea level in the inner compound of St. Bede's College{{Cite web |last=St Bede's College |date=2023-04-08 |title=PROFILE – St Bede's College Shimla |url=https://www.stbedescollege.in/profile-2/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=St. Bede's College, Shimla, India |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite book |last=Carey |first=William H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dpFeAAAAcAAJ&dq=Boarding+school+Convent+of+Jesus+and+Mary+Simla&pg=PA54 |title=A Guide to Simla: With a Descriptive Account of the Neighbouring Sanitaria, Subathoo, Dugshaie, Sunawar, Kussowlie, Kotegurh, Chini, &c., &c., &c |date=1870 |publisher=Wyman & Company |pages=50 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Towelle's handguide to Simla |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7SqedmvmJq0C&dq=Convent+of+Jesus+and+mary,+Simla+India&pg=PA50 |title=Towelle's Hand Book and Guide to Simila and the Interior |date=1880 |publisher=Station Press |pages=50 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Lemerle |first=Franz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L1QoAAAAYAAJ&dq=Boarding+school+Convent+of+Jesus+and+Mary+Simla&pg=PA194 |title=My Diary, Or A Record of Events and Experiences [in Ootacamund]. |date=1891 |publisher=Examiner Press |pages=194 |language=en}} 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.{{Cite book |last=Webster |first=John C. B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lvqNDwAAQBAJ&dq=Convent+of+Jesus+and+Mary,+Shimla,+India+-wikipedia&pg=PT289 |title=A Social History of Christianity: North-west India since 1800 |date=2018-12-22 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-909757-9 |language=en}}
Chelsea chapel 1873
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.{{Cite web |last=Shimla Chandigarh Diocese (website) |first=Fr. Kejus R. |date=2019-01-01 |title=ABOUT RT. REV. GILBERT B. REGO |url=https://www.simlachandigarhdiocese.com/About_Rt_Rev_Bilbert.aspx |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=www.simlachandigarhdiocese.com}} The priests of the diocese pray and attend school ceremonies.{{Cite web |last=The Tribune (newspaper website) |date=2023-04-24 |title=Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/schools/convent-of-jesus-mary-chelsea-shimla-437701 |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=The Tribune}}
Boarding school (1940–2000)
= Boarders =
As a boarding school, there were no more than 300 students in Chelsea. As a day school the enrollment was 1900 students in 2016.{{Cite news |last=The canonical visitation of the province of Delhi - 2016 |date=2016-11-01 |title=RJMGeneral.org on 2016 News - visitation of the Province of Delhi |pages=2 |url=http://www.rjmgeneral.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/News2.pdf |access-date=2023-04-08}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Aishwarya Khosla |first=Hindustan Times |date=2018-10-29 |title=Convent of Jesus and Mary Chelsea: Giving young women tools to take over the world |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/convent-of-jesus-and-mary-chelsea-giving-young-women-tools-to-take-over-the-world/story-thyEv1GVsYVx8w5E1W0xwL.html |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Brentnall |first=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayYbAvECXQwC&dq=Convent+of+Jesus+and+Mary,+Shimla,+India+-wikipedia&pg=PA192 |title=The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh |date=2004 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-163-4 |language=en}} The school year lasted from March to December.{{Cite book |last=McDowell |first=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N8AQwhrPuyMC&dq=Convent+of+Jesus+and+mary,+Simla+India&pg=PA16 |title=From the Diplomatic Bag |date=2011-04-01 |publisher=Mereo Books, mereobook, mereobooks |isbn=978-1-908223-16-6 |pages=16 |language=en}}
= Dormitories =
In the 21st century the building that housed the senior dormitories was replaced with a new multi-purpose building named Claudine Thevenet Hall.{{Cite web |publisher=Convent of Jesus & Mary, Chelsea - Shimla |title=Magazines |url=https://www.cjmshimla.org/magazines.aspx |access-date=2023-04-24}}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-24 |title=Convent of Jesus and Mary school, photos (see Claudine Thevenet hall pic) |url=https://www.justdial.com/Shimla/Convent-Of-Jesus-Mary-School-Chalsea/0177P177STD86081_BZDET/photos |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Justdial}}{{Cite web |author=dhirprakriti |date=2010-03-02 |title=Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla |url=http://www.socialvillage.in/resources/26551-convent-jesus-mary-shimla |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=socialvillage.in |language=en}}
= Infirmary =
Like its other CJM boarding schools, Chelsea had an infirmary.{{Cite web |last=Education |first=History of Jesus and Mary convent school |title=Jesus & Mary Convent School {{!}} India's Best Schools, Colleges {{!}} Schools |url=https://educationtoday.co/listing/jesus-mary-convent-school/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=India's best Schools, Colleges, Universities at EducationToday |language=en-US}}
= Curriculum =
The school belonged to the ICSE board and then affiliated to the CBSE board in the 21st century.{{Cite web |last=CJM website |first=Objectives |date=2018–2021 |title=Convent of Jesus & Mary, Chelsea - Shimla {{!}} Aims & Objectives |url=https://www.cjmshimla.org/aims-objective.aspx |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=www.cjmshimla.org}}{{Cite web |last=eHimachalPradesh website |date=2023-04-24 |title=Convent of Jesus & Mary, Shimla |url=https://www.ehimachal.org/list/convent-of-jesus-mary-shimla/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=ehimachal.org |language=en-US}}
Alumni
- Rani Sudha Kumari, former princess of Keonthal state (titular queen of Jubbal).
- Urvashi Kumari. The Princely and Noble Families of the former Indian Empire.{{Cite web |last=Rathore |first=Abhinay |title=Jubbal (Princely State) |url=https://www.indianrajputs.com/view/jubbal |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=Rajput Provinces of India |date=20 July 1937 |language=en}}
- Baisa Bhumika Kumari Singh, the family of Bidwal from Maharaja Udai Singhji of Jodhpur{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=Royal |date=2022-08-01 |title=Bidwal (Thikana) |url=https://oroyalarchives.com/bidwal/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Royal Archives |language=en}}
- Begum Qudsia Aizaz Rasul, belonging to the princely state of Malerkotla.{{Cite book |last=Majumdar |first=Maya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X5aYvBs7iGIC&dq=Convent+of+Jesus+and+Mary,+Shimla,+India+-wikipedia&pg=PA227 |title=Encyclopaedia of Gender Equality Through Women Empowerment |date=2005 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=978-81-7625-548-6 |pages=227 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Pitam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ldhazU_vvQcC&dq=Convent+of+Jesus+and+Mary,+Shimla,+India+-wikipedia&pg=PA112 |title=Women Legislators in Indian Politics |date=2003 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-019-8 |pages=112 |language=en}}
- Preneet Kaur, a politician in the Ministry of External Affairs in Punjab state (2009–2014).{{Cite web |last=Preneet Kaur |date=2019-07-20 |title=Preneet Kaur's Aspiring Goal-oriented Plans |url=http://www.5dariyanews.com/news/269545-Preneet-Kaurs-Aspiring-Goal-oriented-Plans |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=5 Dariya News}}
- Priya Rajvansh, Bollywood actress.{{Cite web |last=Indian Cinema Heritage Foundation |first=Priya Rajvansh |date=2023-04-08 |title=Priya Rajvansh |url=https://www.cinemaazi.com/people/priya-rajvansh |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Cinema Azi website}}
- Preity Zinta, Bollywood actress.{{Cite web |last=Preity Zinta |first=IDiva website |date=2022-07-03 |title=Preity Zinta Shares A Rare Throwback Photo From Her School Days & It's Too Sweet To Ignore |url=https://www.idiva.com/entertainment/bollywood/preity-zinta-shares-a-rare-throwback-photo-with-friends-from-her-school-days/18035227 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=www.IDiva.com |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.cjmshimla.org/}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Catholic boarding schools in India
Category:Schools in Himachal Pradesh
Category:Boarding schools in Himachal Pradesh
Category:School buildings completed in the 1860s