The Northern Province (comprising of the present day Delhi and Ranchi Provinces) got divided into two Regions in the year 1982. It was governed by one Provincial (Bro. CM Joseph). Montfort School, Delhi housed the Regional headquarters as well as the Provincialate till it got shifted to Bhopal. The two Regions became autonomous Provinces in the year 1989 and Bro. Emmanuel PJ was appointed the first Provincial of Delhi Province.
Bro. Emmanuel, not happy with the arrangement of having Provincialate in the school set up, was on the lookout for a suitable, independent plot of land for the purpose. After much search, he decided on Bhopal, bought two acres of land at Patel Nagar.
A foray into J & K Diocese
It was at this period (in 1989) we received an S.O.S. requests from the Bishop of Jammu and Kashmir (Bishop Hippolytus) through his brother priest Fr. Thomas Kunnunkal, the then Chairman of C.B.S.E. to take charge of Burn Hall School at Srinagar. The case was recommended by Bro. John of S.H. The request was only for a brief period of 12 years. The Provincial in council accepted to the request and deputed Bro. Mani VJ to head the mission. In October 1989 Bro. Mani left for Srinagar alone, to take charge of Burn Hall School, with the assurance that two more Brothers would join me later.
In 1990 January, the school was handed over to us, at the peak of militancy and uprising in Kashmir. Bro. Mani was joined later by Bro. Raja followed by Bro. Cyriac Francis. Inspite of all odds we hanged on, facing bravely the challenges posed by militancy. After 12 years the diocese took the school back and the Brothers had to retract from Kashmir. Bro. George Pottakaran was the last Principal who served in Burn Hall. The promise to permit us to start a school of our own was turned down by the then Bishop Peter Celestine.
Institutions which came under Delhi Province at the time of separation from Ranchi Province:
[St. Gabriel’s Academy was taken back by the army (BEG) after 50 years’ contract had expired. Bro. NT Cyriac was the last serving Principal at our withdrawal.]
Foundations developed under the independent Province of Delhi