HISTORY OF TNA

Before 1956, there was no question of age group. In classes VIII upwards most boys were grown-up young men. Bhutia and Lepcha boys would not have their haircut and so the teenagers had a rather effeminate appearance.

In 1964, a new hostel for students came into being (as indeed was the need). It was a significant step towards the Academy’s progress. Thus the Academy developed step by step as the years rolled by.

The year 1966 proved to be an important turning point in the Academy’s history of development. According to the government’s decision, the then TNHS School was shifted elsewhere (now it is a Senior Secondary school) and a Kindergarten-cum-Junior School based on Public School lines came into being. It was for this reason that the 1991 term is being celebrated as the Silver Jubilee Year of the school, counting 25 years since 1966.

The school then became co-ed. Consequently, new co-curricular activities, such as afternoon games, Sunday outing, daylong hikes in the hills and boarders’ evening classes were introduced by the Principal. The students wore grey suits from Monday to Friday and the navy-blue blazer on Saturday and special occasions. The new school consisted of nine classes up to class VII. The school timing for classes I and above was from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. More and more teachers were appointed to meet the need of the school regarding effective class teaching. Everyday the school hummed with various activities involving the students as well as all the members of the staff. The school badge was different from what we have today and the motto was ‘Service Through Knowledge.’

The geography models made by Dr SK Srivastava (who joined after 1966 - Naresh 2004: Dr Srivastava is now the principal of TNA) and his students won the attraction of anyone who saw them. In carpentry workshop, Mr Srivastava showed his talent and skill. Art classes were introduced in 1966.

Miss B Subba and her colleagues taught the two KG classes efficiently, and very capably organised cultural programs to be performed by tiny tots during the Annual Day.

Mr DK Pradhan taught music to junior students and late Rinzing Lama taught Sikkimese group dance.

Dr Srivastava and Mr PB Chakraborty infrequently undertook daylong hikes along with a team of interested students.

Every year, a higher class was added and in 1970, the Academy became an eleven-class school. Science Laboratory functioning in three separate rooms in the main school building was fully equipped and a gas plant for Chemistry Laboratory was set up.

Mr Langer built the school on a firm foundation. He enforced strict discipline and punctuality and believed in having a better quality of students than a larger quantity. He instilled into the minds of the teachers feelings of amity and harmony. He left the Academy at the end of 1971 (In 1972, the Government of India awarded the Padmashree to Mr. Langer for his distinguished services in the field of education in Sikkim). The first batch of XI class students sat for the ISC examination in 1971.