Guru Narayan Night High School Continues To Lit Knowledge

See the evil of ignorance with the power of knowledge

See the evil of passion with the power of light?

See the evil of untruth with the power of truth

See the evil of an inferior metal by the strength of bravery?

See the world's doldrums with the metaphysical power of Koodala Sangan Sharanas' 

Following the footsteps: In the above vachana, Basavanna has given importance to self-realization by saying that his experience went haywire due to the metaphysical experience of sharanas’, who were seekers of truth apart from being an embodiment of knowledge. Following the footsteps of such great saints, Mahatma Jyothibha Phule and Savitri Bai Phule, opened a night school in Pune, Maharashtra to provide free education to poor children. In a way, it can be said that it also happened to be the first night school in Maharashtra.

A role model source of inspiration to the present and future generations: About a century ago the wind was not as artificial as these days to have an adverse influence. Our forefathers who imbibed noble ideas made education important and built night schools. They, with their laudable vision, ensured that the poor children who migrated to Mumbai with the dream of absolving themselves from the clutches of poverty which haunted their lives entangled with hunger should not be deprived of education. In the process, they also gave a thrust to see that their language also thrived and likewise the native culture. It goes to the credit of Tulu Kannadigas, who were at the forefront of setting up Kannada night schools in Mumbai to promote the Kannada culture. The forefathers of the Tulu population in Mumbai continue to remain a role model source of inspiration to the present and future generations.

The credit for setting up the night school goes to the Mogaveera Management Board: Mogaveera Night High School was started in 1908 in the vicinity of the fort area. It is not only the first school for Tulu-Kannadigas but also ranks second among all night schools in India. The credit for setting up the night school goes to the Mogaveera Management Board.

Jawahar Night High School was merged with the Guru Narayan Night High School: In 1939, the high school was recognized by the University of Mumbai giving a boost to the literary aspirations of the poor children. Later this school was shifted to Khar Road in 1990. However, sadly this school has been closed due to scarcity of students. The Jawaharlal Night High School was established in 1948 by M S. Rao, a great teacher who loved education. Later due to some reasons, this school also lost its government recognition. Then the Mumbai Billavara Association took this school under its management and succeeded in getting re-accreditation. It ran well for a few years. However, the number of students decreased due to its distance from the railway station, the Jawahar Night High School was merged with the Guru Narayan Night High School.

Recognition of the school: Its only records are in the Guru Narayan Night High School. The Guru Narayan Night High School was first established at Bora Bazar on 24 July 1961 by the divine hands of Bomman Beharan, a member of the City Municipality. From 1961 to 1963, he ushered a new light of knowledge into the students’ minds. However, the school was not recognized by the Maharashtra government. MS Kotyan who was the office bearer of the organization then, Advocate Nagesh Kotyan and K. K. Suvarna, all together worked hard to get the recognition. Shantilal Shahar, who was the education minister of the Maharashtra government, asked the education authorities to give recognition to the school. Then the mother institution appointed teacher S. R. Rao as the headmaster of this school for the first time.

A glance at the series of accomplishments: 

*In 1984, Mumbai Kannada schools stood first in the tenth board examination and in 2002, 80% of them passed from this institution. 

*In 2007, a student secured 75.69 per cent marks and stood first among Kannada night high schools in Mumbai in the SSC Board examinations.

*In 2008, Mumbai Kannada night high schools stood first in Kannada night high schools with 91% marks. 

*In 2009, a girl student got 78% marks in the SSC board examination and stood first in night schools.

The parent institution is proud that the school is running smoothly: The reasons and credit for such astounding success go to the dedicated teaching staff and their sincere efforts. Thanks to Vidya Prema for the advice and guidance of the education committee and the encouragement and cooperation of the executive committee of the Billavara Association makes the parent institution proud that the school is running smoothly.

Successful in its work after shifting to Santacruz: Guru Narayan Night High School which was running from 1961 to 1996 at Bora Bazar, Porti was transferred to Dongri Municipal School due to lack of space. Later, due to the efforts of the office bearers, it was transferred to the Municipal School opposite GPO in Porti in 1970. In this direction, L. D. Kotyan's services are laudable. This is a school that has been successful in its work after shifting to Santacruz for the convenience of its students. The quality of education girls are being imparted in this school is commendable. Giving education to 4 thousand students and changing the direction of their lives by itself is a great record today.

The first among the 176 night high schools in Maharashtra: The school celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2011. This school has got 100% results 5 times with most children in the 10th board examination of Maharashtra, and the parent organization Billavara Association has given credit to it. Apart from that, Guru Narayan Night High School has the distinction of being the first among the 176 night high schools in Maharashtra, with two students topping the 10th board examination of 2015-16. The One students were felicitated by the then Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.

Some instances of the school’s series of accomplishments in the 10th standard Board examinations in a nutshell:

1) In 2013-14, the school got 100% results. Student Shiv Lakshmana Dhanagar got 83% marks and got the first position in the school.

2) The school got 100% results in 2014-15. Student Sharanappa Prakash Patil secured 85% marks and secured first place in the school.

3) 100% result in 2015-16. Student Sunil Babu Dangapur secured 89% marks and topped the school in 173 night high schools of all mediums in Mumbai.

4) The school got 100% results in 2016-17. Student Preeti Seena Mulya secured 92% marks and stood first among all media night high schools in Mumbai.

5) 100% result obtained in 2017-18. Student Kishora Shankar Pawar secured 77% marks secured the first position in the school and brought glory to the school.

6) 100% result obtained in 2018-19. Puja Dasharatha Chavan, a student secured 89 per cent marks, he stood first among 136 night high schools of all mediums in Mumbai and brought glory to the school.

7) In 2019-20 the school got a 90% result. Aishwarya Revanasiddappa Pujari, a student in the Corona era, secured 91% marks and stood third among all media night high schools in Mumbai and brought credit to the school.

8) In the year 2020-21, the school got 100% marks even in the time of Corona, the student Lakshmi Hanumanta Kudgunti got 91% marks and brought the school first position.

9) The school got 100% results in 2021-22. Student Soundarya Revanasidhappa Pujari secured 83% and stood first in the school.

10) In 2022-23, the school got 100% results. Student Akasha Raju Mogaweera has secured 80.20% marks and has stood first in the school.

11) The school has got 100% results in 2023-24. Student Meenakshi Hemanath Pujari secured 82% marks and won first place in Kannada medium night high schools in Mumbai and brought glory to the parent institution of the school.

 

Dream of celebrating the Diamond Jubilee in 2035: Now the school has completed 64 years and the immediate and urgent onus is to strive to save and develop the school to realize the dream of celebrating the Diamond Jubilee in 2035. Students who have completed their education in the school have graduated in various fields and are shining at the highest level in the state, country and abroad.

Providing them with all possible privileges: Recently the students have been pursuing courses in science, engineering, Hotel Management and Bio Technology, apart from various other fields. It is commendable that the Billavara Association is encouraging the students studying in the night high school to attend the educational institution by providing them with all possible privileges.

The institution continues to grow and contribute to the field of education: The notable among such noble philanthropists include Jaya C.Suvarna, a former president and honorary president of this parent organization and other former presidents like Suvarna, L.V.Amin, Nithyananda.D.Kotiyan. Guru Narayan Night High School is reputed as a prestigious school due to the foresight of people like Kotyan's guidance. Many veterans who worked hard for fifty years were commemorated on the occasion of the Honna festival. Presently Billavara Association is chaired by Harisha G. Amin Thanks to all their able guidance; the institution continues to grow and contribute to the field of education.

A special jury award: Thus Guru Narayan Night High School received a special jury award from MAHARASHTRA EDUCATION.COM on 04 October 2023 for the services rendered by the parent institution in the educational field of Billavara community. In the annual sports festival organized by Masooma Sansthan, the Guru Narayan Night High School girls in all-night high schools in Mumbai have brought glory to the school by winning the first second third position in the dodgeball game.

Glory to the school: The students of the school have been felicitated five or six times among the students who scored the highest marks in the SSC Guna Honor Ceremony. Apart from that, the school teachers who got the highest marks in their respective Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science subjects were also given a memento. Thus, due to the presence of talented teachers, the students got good marks in the SSC examination and brought glory to the school.

Annual sports festival is organized every year: The Guru Narayan Night High School organized by the parent organization Billavara Association is known for its greatness and the annual sports festival is organized every year with the help of the parent organization. Students participated in various sports like kabaddi, cocoa, and running races and won prizes. Every year in the school, an annual sports festival is organized for the school children and they are felicitated with prizes on the anniversary day celebrations. In the inter-school talent competition organized by the Kannada Sanghas, the school students participated in various competitions such as poetry, speech, quiz, group singing, one-act role play and dance and won many awards.

The number of noble souls makes a big list: The students of the school are also outstanding in cultural and literary activities by actively participating in the public national festivals, Independence Day, Teacher's Day, Children's Day, Sharad Puja etc. The working president has worked day and night for the progress of the school. The number of noble souls who have rendered yeoman service for the upliftment of the institution makes a big list. However, it is impossible to make a note of the contributions of S. Kotyana, L.D.Kotyan, D. U.Saliyan, S. D. Anchan, R. P. Anchan, D. K. Anchan, N. L. Suvarna G.S. Karkera, M. B. Sanil, Chandramohan.Anchan Suvarna, M, N, Suvarna and Bannanje Ravindra Amin, present Jay V. Suvarna There is no way that one can forget the valuable services of these gentlemen in smoothly running the school administration by their timely advice and instructions for the betterment of the institution. 

The number of students decreasing: Once upon a time, people migrated to Mumbai from Karnataka to work in hotels and factories. It was found that the number of such children who worked during the day and attended night schools in the evening was high. But gradually the number of people coming to work in Mumbai is decreasing as all the facilities are available in the nearby cities of Karnataka. So it is a fact that the number of students studying in day and night schools of Kannada medium is decreasing.

English craze among parents: And tending to the growing English craze among parents, they prefer to educate their wards in English medium. Apart from that, it is unfortunate that the number of students studying in Kannada schools is also decreasing due to the opening of English schools by the government. Even in such a dire situation, running Kannada schools in a city like Mumbai is becoming much more challenging.

Mallikarjuna Badiger's work is commendable: To save and develop the Guru Narayan Night High School with the cooperation and encouragement of the Billava Foundation, Mallikarjuna Badiger, the headmaster of this school, is doing everything possible with the cooperation of the teaching and administrative staff. They are working hard for the progress of the school by bringing the children of labourers and educating them in search of green pastures. There is no doubt that Badiger's work is commendable.

A boon to educating poor students: The Tulu Kannadigas in the city of Mumbai, which has a multi-lingual culture, have improved Kannada by building associations. One such organization is the Billavara Association, which is doing social, educational and cultural work which is again commendable. Apart from that, Guru Narayan Night High School is a boon to educating poor students with the mission of providing education to the children of labourers who are deprived of education. Let's wish the Guru Vrinda, the lovers of education, that the Guru Narayana Night High School will always be lit with the lamp of knowledge, remembering all the senior minds who have laid down their lives for this great educational institution.

-Manohar Yadavatti