The city of Jabalpur is situated close to Tripuri and has a rich history associated with Satvahanas, Bodhis, Senas, and Kalachuris. In historical records, this town was called JABALIPURAM. One modern historian says that the town abounds in huge granite boulders, which in Arabic are called Jabal, and the town is rightly designated as a land of stones. During the Second World War, the Ordinance factory was established at Khamaria in 1943 to meet the requirements of ammunition of Allied Forces.
Ranjhi which was to play a leading role in the education of the youth was just a suburb of Jabalpur, is situated in the portion of the city which is devoted to the Defense Establishment, Ordinance Factories, Depots, and Training Establishment. Jabalpur has the unique distinction of having a Military base and an Area Command.
To attend to the spiritual needs of Catholics employed in the Ordinance Factory a priest used to come from Jabalpur and celebrated Holy Mass every Sunday in the Ordinance Factory Staff Club Westland and at Eastland.
In 1955 Rev. Father Van Helvert O’Praem bought the land situated near Westland Estate of the Ordinance factory from Seth Narsingdas. A church and Parish House were built and blessed on 21st Dec 1956 by Rt. Rev. DubblemanO’Praem, the then Bishop of Jabalpur. The church was named after the Patron Saint of India St. Thomas the Apostle and the third Roman Catholic Church was built in Jabalpur City. A Dutch Priest, Rev Father A. BaxO’Praem took an active part in building St. Thomas church at Ranjhi. He was appointed the First Parish Priest. He served in Ranjhi Church from 1956 to 1969.
The Provincial Council meeting held at Yercaud on 5th June 1959 appointed Brother Eugene Mary as the first Director of St. Gabriel School. The school, the brother’s residence, St. Thomas Parish Church, and St. Joseph’s Convent were all in a plain compound without any disturbance from the factories. Ranjhi, where the School was established was a bleak wilderness. A large portion of the area was a treeless, underdeveloped wasteland. The pioneers had received the living quarters and four classrooms to start with. There were no roads, no electricity, nor swift means of transport and communication. The deserted areas all around these institutions have now become crowded places with residential houses, shopping centres, etc.
The School was inaugurated on 6th July 1959 with the blessing of the four classrooms constructed by the Diocese by Rev. Fr. A BaxO’Praem, the Parish Priest of Ranjhi. The School started with class VI in Hindi and English Mediums.
In 1972 the English Medium admitted girls bringing about a welcome change in the school environment. Slowly, demand for a primary section made its impact. A plan was placed on the anvil, which materialized though facing some obstacles. In 1984 the Primary School with classes I to III got started. Another important landmark in the History of St. Gabriel’s was the starting of the Montfort Vidhya Bhawan, the Candidates’ House in 1987 for the training of young men who wanted to become Brothers.
The Eugene Block building was added to the campus in the year 2006 and the old Science lab block was rebuilt during the golden jubilee year 2009.
The school, with multistoried buildings sprawling all around with a lush green playground and a beautiful grotto, has 4000 students, had switched over to the CBSE Board in the year 2006, and has about 65 staff members including three Brothers.
In the year 2011, the third floor of the Primary wing was inaugurated by Bro. Mani VJ, the Provincial Superior.
The Montfort Vidhya Bhawan building is converted with the necessary/alterations for Pre-School Education. The Pre-novitiate was shifted to Tamil Nadu (Satyamangalam), Trichi for better facilities, and possibilities & for all round development of Pre-Novices in the year 2014.
The construction of the Second floors and third in the High School building was made in 2017. The extension of verandahs in High & middle schoolbuildings with the addition of a ramp has enhanced the overall effectiveness of the structures besides the scenic beauty of the campus.
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE YEAR 2017-2020
• Renovation of Auditorium
• Addition of Verandah
• Addition of Ramp
• Addition of a floor on the office complex and to the adjacent main building
• Addition to two floors in Montfort Buildings giving the Pre-School children independent facilities meant exclusively for themselves with play area and required facilities.
The success story can be attributed to the selfless service of a number of Principals and these Brothers will shine in the annals of the School.
| SN | Name of the Principal | Period |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Bro. Eugene Mary | 1959 -1966 |
| 02 | Bro. Julian | 1966 - 1969 |
| 03 | Bro. Justine | 1969 - 1970 |
| 04 | Bro. Peter Canisius | 1970 - 1972 |
| 05 | Bro. Ignatius | 1972 - 1975 |
| 06 | Bro. Alphonse | 1975 - 1976 |
| 07 | Bro. Mani O.T | 1976 - 1979 |
| 08 | Bro. Jose Thottiyil | 1979 - 1985 |
| 09 | Bro. Jacob Kavungal | 1985 - 1987 |
| 10 | Bro. K.T. Johnl | 1987 - 1988 |
| 11 | Bro. Mathew Montfort | 1988 - 1992 |
| 12 | Bro. Jacob Kavungal | 1992 - 1993 |
| 13 | Bro. P.T. Joseph | 1993 - 1999 |
| 14 | Bro. Sebastian M.O | 1999 - 2000 |
| 15 | Bro. T. T. Mathew | 2000 - 2001 |
| 16 | Bro. Lucianus Lakra | 2001 - 2004 |
| 17 | Bro. Cyriac Francis | 2004 - 2008 |
| 18 | Bro. Mani V.J | 2008 - 2010 |
| 19 | Bro. Joy Joseph | 2010 - till date |
Montfort Pre-School building has as of now all relevant facilities in order, with the addition of Ramp at the back side, just being completed in December 2022. This will ease out the connection in space for Parents reaching the students to the upper floors of the building as well as quite a few students moving up and down the Ramps by themselves. Besides, the Ramp at the back will be useful to Teachers wanting to take the students for games to the playfield on a regular basis. The number of students in classes Nursery, Lower Kindergarten, and Upper Kindergarten has substantially increased in the last few years.
The school buildings used by the senior students have undergone a lot of transformation in terms of providing facilities for games like Kho Kho, Table Tennis, Chess, Caroms, Stars, Dominoes, Kabaddi, and the like,especially in the Rainy Season when the grounds turn watery. These facilities are made possible by attaching dismantlable tresses on the upcoming columns and fixing roof sheets on them. The entire roof spaces are assets useful for the above games. The students will not have to remain restricted to classrooms during the rains but enjoy full physical activities as per their schedule.
The activity-based education provided to the students from Nursery to Class XII renders commendable results not only in Academics but in every aspect of human endeavors. The students turn out to be products of worthwhile processes ensuring qualities of the head and heart. They enjoy sound human dignity, physical wellness, altruism, and academic excellence. They turn out to be confident and self-assured to face the world outside and make a career of their choice.
Today, St. Gabriel’s occupies a unique place in the educational scenario of Jabalpur and is considered among the premier institutions of Madhya Pradesh.