Barabazar, Chandannagar, West Bengal 712136
OUR HISTORIC ROOTS
A Legacy of Excellence Since 1862
Discover the rich history of an institution that blended French curriculum with Indian spirit for over 160 years.
Barabazar, Chandannagar, West Bengal 712136
Originally founded in 1862, our school has a rich history that mirrors the political changes of its hometown, transitioning from a French-administered institution to an integral part of the Indian educational system.
Established by a Jesuit missionary as 'Ecole de Sainte Marie' in 1862.
Became a French government-run school in 1887, later renamed 'Collège Dupleix'.
Renamed 'Kanailal Vidyamandir' in 1948 after India declared autonomy for Chandernagore.
Came under the management of the Chandernagore Municipal Corporation in 1955 after the city joined India.
The first name, ‘Ecole de Sainte Marie’, or ‘St. Mary’s Institution,’ established its foundation under Jesuit missionaries.
It became ‘Collège Dupleix’ in 1901, honoring the famous French colonial governor.
After India’s autonomy, it was renamed ‘Kanailal Vidyamandir’ in 1948, a tribute to revolutionary and former student Kanailal Dutta.
The full title, ‘Chandernagore Kanailal Vidyamandir (French Section)’, acknowledges both its Indian identity and its unique French heritage.
To take a trivial example which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise.
Kanailal Dutta was a pivotal figure in India’s freedom struggle, a revolutionary whose unwavering commitment to his country culminated in his martyrdom. Born in Chandernagore, he became a member of the Jugantar revolutionary group and was arrested in connection with the Alipore Bomb Case. Inside the jail, he and Satyendranath Bose assassinated Narendranath Goswami, who had turned into a British informant. For this act, Kanailal was sentenced to death. He faced his execution with remarkable calm and dignity, becoming a symbol of heroic sacrifice for his countrymen.