; History

A Century Of Service : Milestones for Bombay Institution for Deaf & Mutes (1885-1985)

1885

  • A small school for the deaf was established by Dr. Leo Meurin S. J., then Vicar Apostolic of Bombay, at his residence on Meadow's Street (now Nagindas Master Road), Fort Bombay.
  • The school started with only 5 pupils and was headed by Mr. T. A. Walsh, an Irishman who learned the art of teaching the deaf in Belgium and was specially brought to India by Dr. Leo Meurin.

1886

  • The first public exhibition was given by the pupils, trained in barely twelve months, receiving applause from the Bombay Gazette on 8th March 1886.
  • Towards the end of the year, the school shifted from the Archbishop's residence at Meadow's Street to a one-storeyed building at Grant Road with a playground. The rental was Rs. 110 per month, accommodating 50 pupils, but there were only 23 pupils on the roll.

Dr. Leo Meurin & Staff

1887

  • The first Committee of Management was formed with Mr. Thos S. Baker as the first President.
  • Dr. Leo Meurin, the Vicar Apostolic of Bombay, was the ex-officio patron and member of the committee.

1902

  • A Deed of Trust was executed on 9-12-1902, appointing Rev. James Russell Goldsmith, Mr. Dominic Joseph Ferreira, and Mr. Richard William Didcock as the first official Trustees.
  • The Instrument of Trust incorporated the aims and objects, rules for control and management by an 11-member committee, admission rules for pupils, and a schedule of amounts held in bank accounts and municipal debentures.

Building in 1982

1903

  • The school was relocated from Grant Road to Nesbit Road, Mazagaon, occupying an old one-storeyed residential building.
  • This new location provided ample accommodation for school classes, the Principal's residence, and boarders' quarters on the first floor.

1912

  • On 11-9-1912, under the Indenture of Lease, the Government of Bombay leased to the Institution a 6000 sq. yd plot at Nesbit Road, Mazagaon, for 77 years (from 1-1-1902 to 31-12-1978) at an annual ground rent of Rs. 64.00.
  • To provide technical training, the Institution started Needlework (for girls) and Carpentry (for boys) classes with competent instructors on staff.

Teaching

1935

  • The Institution celebrated its Golden Jubilee with His Excellency, Lord Brabourne, then Governor of Bombay, and Lady Brabourne as Guests of Honour.
  • A special Souvenir was published, and students presented an interesting programme.

1954

  • The Institution was registered as a Public Educational Trust under the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950 on 30-10-1954 with Registration No. E-1025 (BOM).
  • Management was entrusted to the ICM Sisters, who had vast experience running schools for the deaf.
  • The first batch of Sisters included:
    • Sister M. S. Beatrice (Principal)
    • Sister Godelieve Van Limbergen (Drawing Mistress)
    • Sister P. Cecily (Secretary)
  • The Boarding Section was closed down.

Sports

1971

  • The Government of Maharashtra granted a fresh lease of the land at Mazagaon to the Institution for 99 years, effective from the expiration of the previous lease.

1978

  • His Grace, Archbishop Simon Pimenta, the Patron and Trustee of the Institution, laid and blessed the foundation stone of the new school building on 18-2-1978.
  • The project, estimated at Rs. 13.50 lakhs, was supported by MISEREOR (W. Germany) through the Indo-German Social Service Society.
  • Architects: J. B. Fernandes & Son, with Mr. J. B. Fernandes, a Trustee and Board Member since 1960.

New Building

1982

  • The new school building with:
    • 17 spacious classrooms
    • Principal's Room, Office Room, Teacher's Room, Library
    • Audio-Visual Room, Audio-metric Testing Room
    • Fully-equipped Kitchen for cooking classes for girls
  • Formally opened by Dr. (Miss) Eva Linderman, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, and blessed by Archbishop Simon Pimenta on 13th December 1983.
  • The event was attended by:
    • Superior of the ICM Order in India
    • ICM Sisters formerly connected with the Institution
    • Board of Management Members, Parish Priests, School Principals
    • Teaching Staff, pupils, parents, donors, and well-wishers
  • The event featured an entertainment programme and an exhibition of student handicrafts.

1985

  • Centenary Celebrations of the Institution, marking 100 years of dedication and service to the education of the deaf.
  • Celebrating an illustrious past and envisioning a glorious future, the Institution reaffirmed its commitment to empowering the hearing-impaired community with renewed vigor and purpose.