Scindia School: A beacon of excellence

It is a prestigious institution renowned for its rich heritage of holistic education and vibrant culture of over 125 years. Nestled atop the historic Gwalior Fort, the Scindia School offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity and stands as a beacon of excellence. What sets the school apart from others is its unwavering commitment to holistic education, where character development is as important as academic prowess.

The school has been nurturing young boys and grooming them into confident leaders of tomorrow, equipped with the skills, values, and virtues that would guide them for a lifetime. The school was founded as The Sardar School in 1897 by the visionary Maharaja Madhavrao Scindia I. The school shifted to Gwalior Fort in 1908, where it continues to flourish.

At the Scindia School, the transformation journey of the boys goes beyond the classrooms. It is about instilling a sense of discipline, resilience and compassion through a plethora of co-curricular activities, sports and social initiatives that shape their character and fortify their resolve to excel in every sphere of life. The school has been a pioneer in influencing the lives of countless young boys, who have gone on to excel in diverse fields, making a mark on the global stage. The school takes immense pride in its illustrious alumni network, which includes distinguished personalities from politics, sports, business, arts and academia.

“The Scindia School is committed to nurturing future leaders who remain deeply rooted in culture,” says Ajay Singh, principal, The Scindia School. “Our Asthachal tradition emphasises moral values through prayers and teachings in both Hindi and Sanskrit. Atma Manthan Asthachal is the soul of our school, where our vision aligns with our actions, and our culture reflects our values – humility and soft-spoken demeanour. From the time a student enrols in Class VI until graduation from Class XII, they undergo a phase of self-discovery, shaped by our emphasis on culture and values”.

An engaging experience

“As the world moves ahead in uncertain times with volatility as the new normal, we provide an engaging experience to every Scindian to metamorphose themselves into humble, articulate and responsible global citizens rooted firmly in the Indian ethos,” adds Singh. “This engenders a strong feeling in every Scindian to embark upon a unique journey of self-exploration, which verily, is the hallmark of the empowering education imparted at the school. The school itself, housed in the safe, secure and magnificent sixth century fort, stimulates the young minds with curiosity and imagination, as well as a unique sense of completeness, achieved through living with the natural vistas of sylvan charm offered by the rich flora and fauna of the fort”.

The spiritual waterhole of the school – the Asthachal, with its statue of the ‘eternal pilgrim’ silhouetted against the sky during the sunset, provides an unparalleled, meditative and reflective experience that empowers each Scindian spiritually, and goes a long way in laying the foundation of a profound understanding of sensitivity and an all pervasive calmness which over the years culminates into the distinct humility with which the boys grow into men of substance and calibre.

Every evening, come the twilight hour, dressed in crisp white kurta pyjamas, the boys assemble in the amphitheatre called Asthachal. The place has interesting origins. It was conceived in the troubled times in India of the 1940s as a common spiritual space by the then principal F.G. Pearce. One of the teachers produced the clay model, based upon which the construction was completed in 1943. In fact, Asthachal is inarguably a defining feature of The Scindia School. The experience of Asthachal remains etched in the consciousness of every Scindian and this memory survives long after the school years are done and dusted.

The opportunities offered by the school provide nurturance for a well-groomed personality which is actively committed to academics, sports, adventure, arts as well as service. The Scindia School is committed to transforming young impressionable minds into strong, confident, just and wise young men, who can lead the world tomorrow.

“The Scindia School houses students from all corners of the world and provides a caring, friendly and well-structured educational environment. With a special emphasis on holistic development, we value students who are intellectually curious and creative. We mentor them towards attaining academic excellence with co-curricular activities, and responsibility towards the environment integrated into the learning process. The efforts are to remain abreast with the latest in the field of education, keeping the academic program contemporary and rigorous at all times,” says the school principal.

“Sports play an integral role in our curriculum, with students engaging in 2-3 hours of physical activities daily. They can choose from various sports and get a chance to participate in inter-house, inter-school and state-level competitions. Beyond physical fitness, sports instill resilience, teaching students how to face failure, learn and rise again – a crucial life skill,” adds Singh.

Awe-inspiring architecture

One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of the Scindia School is its architecture. Situated within the majestic Gwalior fort, the school boasts of a captivating blend of Mughal and British architectural influences. The sprawling 160-acre campus, adorned with regal courtyards, stately facades and lush gardens evokes a sense of grandeur and history that is unparalleled.

The biosphere at the fort is a testament to the school’s commitment to sustainability and conservation. With its own water harvesting system, organic farms, and biodiversity-rich flora and fauna, the biosphere serves as a living laboratory where students learn to appreciate the delicate balance of nature and imbibe eco-friendly practices that shape their worldview.

In a world of depleting resources and rising population, the school plants saplings every year and makes a dedicated effort to nurture them. To reduce one’s carbon footprint, the school has taken steps to create a very active Eco Club, where students are made aware of their responsibility towards the planet and encouraged to take proactive steps to take care of their immediate environment. Water scarcity, a major issue on the fort, is being resolved by water harvesting units, which can harvest rainwater by over 40 per cent. Two sewage treatment plants have been constructed to provide water to the garden in the junior school.

Rooftop water harvesting system, creating new water channels, deepening and cleaning of channels have been done to make the school a ‘Zero Run off Campus’. In order to save the trees and plantation, the principle of Xeriscaping (dry area gardening) is being followed to carry out extensive plantation. The method of drip irrigation has been implemented.

The school encourages and gives students many opportunities to participate in community services. It strives to create awareness amongst the students about the importance of care and concern for the underprivileged and inculcates in them a sense of empathy and compassion. They are also sensitised towards the environment through conservation projects.

The objective of the Scindia Social Service League, founded in the early 1950s, was to let students experience the lives of the needy, empathise with them and contribute to the service of society. One of the remarkable feats of the SSL is the adoption of Sonsa and Nathon ka Pura villages, which includes their development in agriculture, education, infrastructure, etc. Various activities, such as blood donation camps, programmes for the differently abled, eye donation camps and computer awareness programmes in various schools for the differently abled have also been held. A vasectomy camp for the villagers of Sonsa organised by the school was another great success.

The school, a residential institution with difference, is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), with English as the medium of instruction. The school has a dedicated faculty of highly qualified and efficient teachers, who use modern techniques of teaching. Interdisciplinary and experiential learning is encouraged to strengthen conceptual knowledge. In fact, it was a pioneer in introducing IT education within the CBSE framework as early as 1984. The first IT examination was taken by four students from the school, and the initial examination paper was designed by one of its teachers.

With the best-in-class infrastructure facilities, along with supportive and affirming learning experiences, the students of The Scindia School have excelled in all fields and have proceeded to study in the top colleges of India and abroad. In a rapidly changing world, experts believe that only those with skills and education can sustain themselves.