High up in the Himalayas where the mountains cover the large part of land and the winters encrust the thick layers of ice on the meadows. Kashmir remains the most beautiful part of northern India. In India, it is common thing that the best educational institutes are located in the hills. If we travel in the Himalayas we can see some of the best schools of the country. The mountains provide a secluded atmosphere and the serenity where the young minds get developed. Same in Kashmir, which is located in upper parts of northern India. In 1800’s it was a princely state ruled by the maharaja of kashmir. British people used to come for holidays and to spend some time away from the humid plains. Though they were not give land by the maharaja and these British lived in the houseboats on river Jhelum. The British gentry consisted of officers in the military, soldiers, artisans, priests & missionaries. Missionaries build churches and instead of the conversions they laid emphasis on education and social service. A British missionary by the name of Cecil Tyndale Biscoe also called “bisco sahab” by kashmiri people opened up a educational institute in 1880 in the lap of the valley which is surrounded by rivers & lakes. That time education was very limited to poor man or distinctly unavailable. Mr Biscoe’s enthusiasm to serve the society by sending his students for firefighting, street cleaning & in rescue during floods, much emphasis were laid on co curricular activities, teaching the young boys swimming, mountaineering & regatta. The school organized annual boat races, swimming competitions, cross country runs & trekking expeditions. The schools motto “in all things be men” all the activities were being revolved around this motto. These activities were not limited to summers only. In winters during the winter vacation, the students would go to attend various skiing courses in gulmarg.
Out there in the middle of the lake a small boat circles near the fountains, children in yellow uniform, in other boat the kids are in blue uniform. There are four houses in the school named after the high peaks of Kashmir, kalohoi, harmukh, tatakuti & mahadev. Prominent teachers of the school included TN Misri, TN Kaul , Shadi Lal Dhar, BN Mujoo, Rajinder Kaul , Mr Mughloo , Nazir Dar.
After the long winters the cross country run is the biggest event in the history of the school. It is a run through the mountains of shankaracharya. This race starts after a long winter vacation After the race kashmiri khawa is served to participants . Studying and growing up in this school is a great upbringing for a perfect man. Tyandle Biscoe school Is also called the eton of Kashmir. It was the only school to impart modern education & give boos to adventure tourism in Kashmir. Growing up & studying in this school is the best part of my life, this school is still producing some of the best sportsmen, doctors & academicians.
About the author.
The author of this article has studies in the same school, were he was molded into one of the finest trekker in Kashmir, right now he works as a travel guide for his family owned travel company www.heritage-indian-adventures.org