Turnbull School completed hundred years in the year (2006) but its forerunners dates back to 1870.  

Rev William Macfarlane who was in charge of the Scots mission at Gaya traveled to Darjeeling in 1869. During his sojourn he saw hope in spreading the message of the Lord in Darjeeling. He persuaded his authorities for abandoning the Gaya mission in favour of Darjeeling. His request was granted and he was   transferred to Darjeeling. On June the 10th 1870 Rev William Macfarlane started work in Darjeeling by establishing Mission headquarters and a school in a rented house just above the tea garden at Ging with twenty Nepali and Lepcha orphans whom he brought back with him from Gaya.     

On the 4th of July 1870 Rev Ganga Prasad Pradhan as a young and uneducated boy of 19 working as a labourer at Ging Tea Estate joined Macfarlane’s school, took keen interest in his studies and never looked back. He worked as an assistant to Rev. A Turnbull; together they translated the whole of the New Testament and much of the Old Testament. He started the first Nepali language newspaper “ Gorkha Khabar Kagat” in 1900 and completed the translation of the whole Bible in Nepali and published it in 1914.                                  

The mission headquarters was shifted to Lochnagar by 1872 where a small lakelet or a large pond was said to have existed. Loch (lohh) in Scottish language means a lake. The Scotch Mission Primary School for the local population of Darjeeling was started in this place.
                   
In 1879 Rev Archibald Turnbull arrived at Darjeeling to strengthen the hands of Rev Macfarlane. Rev Archibald Turnbull in his report for “the year ending 31st December 1879,” described the mission headquarters at Lochnagar as a ‘commodious mansion’, with a twelve-acre compound, which had schoolrooms and a native church on the ground floor abutting wings.

In the early1890s the mission headquarters was again shifted to the ‘Banstead’ (Bishop’s House) adjacent to the present Nepali Girl’s H.S.School following the “great Darjeeling disaster” when most of Lochnagar was washed away in a massive landslide including the orchards and the well laid out gardens of the pretty place as stated in the Home and Foreign Missionary Record Vol XVII, July 1890.                        



St.Columba’s Church (Scotch Kirk) was opened on May 15th 1894. Rev Mr. And Mrs. A Turnbull were present during the inaugural ceremony of the church. They occupied the ‘Banstead’ with Mr. And Mrs. R. Kilgour. A part of the St. Columba’s church building was screened off and used for the Scotch Mission Primary School. This arrangement continued until Turnbull School was built in memory of Rev Archibald Turnbull in 1906.  This evidently proves that Turnbull School had its beginning at Ging in 1870. As a matter of theoretical interest it may not be wholly out of place to say that Padre Ganga Prasad was one of its first students. It was upgraded into a High School in 1952.

Rev Archibald Turnbull not only looked after the missionary work in Darjeeling and Kurseong of which he was the Superintendent he was also a well known social reformer and an erudite scholar of Greek and Hebrew languages. He was the chief campaigner against the distillation of spirit (Rakshi), which ruined people’s lives. As a result of his campaign most of the out still shops were abolished in Darjeeling. He took an active interest in establishing the hydro-electric power station at Sidrabong. With the help of Rev Ganga Prasad Pradhan Rev Turnbull published a Nepali grammar and vocabulary in 1887 and also translated the New Testament in Nepali. He started two presses with types in Lepcha and Gorkha/Nepali at Kalimpong and Darjeeling. In 1895, he went on furlough to Scotland where he lost his wife. After the death of his wife, he remained in Scotland and died in 1905. The Mission Committee of Darjeeling built a school in his memory in gratitude of his pioneering activities in the field of education, language and social reform.

              Rev H.C. Duncan became the patriarch of Turnbull School for over fifty years from the time he took control as head of the missionary work in Darjeeling 1902. His major objectives were good education, religious faith, discipline of mind and physical culture on European school lines.

             1. D.H. MUKHIA                             1. 5. 43 –  31. 5. 46
             2. U.D. SHAW                                1. 6. 46 –  28. 2. 52
             3. G.N. SAHU BA. BT.                      1. 3. 52 –   1.  7.  52   
             4. U.D. SHAW (OFFG)                     1. 7. 52 -   28. 2. 53.            
             5.  J. DEVERELL  BA. BT.                  1. 3. 53 - 30. 6. 54
             6.  B.B.CHETTRI BA.                       1. 7. 54 –  30. 9. 58
             7.  M.KUMAR  MA.BT.                      1. 10. 58 – 31. 12. 94
             8.  N. C. KHALING MA.BT.                15.5. 95 –31. 7. 97
             9.  O. T. ADEN     MA. B Ed.             1.  8. 97

                          It is said that Ms Henderson was the first Headmistress of Turnbull School (1906). Other Headmasters were Late Shri L.M.Pradhan (1920), Late Shri S.K.Ghosh (1927), Late Shri H. Lama (1940) and Late Shri L.S. Pradhan. Efforts are being made to find their periods of incumbency and other records.
             
          
Photo of the three MAs in 1968. From left Late Shri H.C. Pradhan (Assitt. HM) Shri Mahendra Kumar (HM) and Shri I.B.Rai (Assitt. Teacher).


Architecture: Turnbull School is of the early English style Gothic architecture with the use of ‘lancet’ windows, which are tall and narrow with a door to complete the façade. The structure has buttresses and roofs of steep pitch with two operational chimneys and attic projections. Strong crossbeam vaults support the ceiling of the hall. It is a small but a dignified building made for middle school requisites. The letters TMS written in the front window panel means Turnbull Middle School. It is said that G.P. Robertson, Engineer to the Darjeeling Municipality was its designer, but there are no records to prove it. The cryptomaria tree in front of the building strikes a discordant note but the recent addition of the fence enclosure in front of the school façade for the centenary celebrations has totally marred the sight of the beautiful structure.
           
School Annexe: School Annexe 1 (south of main school building) made during  the tenure of Late Shri Updan Shaw, Headmaster Turnbull School in 1950.

 

School Annexe II (further south) made during the tenure of Shri Mahendra Kumar Pradhan, Headmaster Turnbull School in 1965.

School Crest:  Concept and configuration of the School Crest- Shri M.Kumar 1968.
                         Design – Shri Frederick of South India in 1968.
                                     Crest in front of the School building was done by Late Sherjung
                                     Pradhan Assitt. Teacher, Primary Department, Turnbull School in
                                     1969.
Meaning of the Crest:                           
                          The Seven Lamps represent wisdom (not knowledge) which
                           results by following the Commandment of God that ‘The fear of
                           God is the beginning of wisdom’ (School motto). This wisdom
                           will lead one to put faith in the atoning sacrifice of Lord Jesus
                           Christ, represented by the Cross.
                           The Yellow Shield represents trust in the atoning work of Christ
                           Which imparts eternal life in the believer.
                           The Blue Colour represents moral environment.
                           The Red Colour represents the blood of Lord Jesus Christ shed
                              for the sake of the whole world.
                             The meaning is incorporated from the text of the Bible-
                            (John 5/24 and 6/63, 2 Tim 3/15, 2 Cor 5/15 and 5/19 and Ecc   




 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (2005)

President                 :     Shri S.B. Zimba
Vice Presidents         :     Lt. Col. P. B.Subba, Shri Sishir Dewan and Shri O.T. Aden.
General Secretary      :    Shri Satish Rasailly
Joint Secretaries        :    Shri K.B. Mukhia, Shri Nain Singh
Treasurer                  :    Shri Madan Kumar Pradhan

Executive Committee members:
                                         Dr. Bhim Pradhan, Messrs. Hemu Rai, D.S. Bomzan,
                                         Prem Kumar Chettri, G.D. Rai, K.B. Ghaley,
                                         Jeevan Kumar Pradhan, Prakash Ratna Tuladhar, Puran
                                         Rai, Ramesh Gupta and Basant Kumar Rai.
                                         
SCHOOL MANAGING COMMITTEE:
President                    :    Rt. Rev. N.S.Ambala (Bishop).
Vice President              :    Rev  R. Thapa
Secretary                     :    Shri J.D. Gurung
Members                    :     Shri D. Bharati (Donor Benefactor), Smt. A. Biswas
                                          (HM Nepali Girl’s HS),
                                          Shri N. Singh (Teacher Representative), Smt. I.
                                                       K.Pradhan (Teacher Representative), Smt  
                                                       J.L.Chettri (Govt. Representative), Dr. P. K. Sharma
                                                       (Medical Representative) ShriG.Thapa (Guardian  
                                                       Representative), Shri O.T. Aden (HM Turnbul
                                                       School).
             
Turnbull H.S. School is run by the Church of North India under  special rules for  the religious minority which is delegated to the Managing Committee of the  School.

VISIT OF HIGH DIGNITORIES:
           
1934- School visited by Sir John Anderson, Governor of Bengal.

Note: On the 8th of May 1934 an attempt was made on the life of Sir John Anderson at the Lebong Race course by two freedom fighters Robindra Bannerji and Bhowani Bhattacharjee. Each one fired one shot each while the 
Jockeys were being lead into the paddock after the Governor’s Race. The Governor escaped unhurt. Robindra’s automatic had jammed after firing one shot and was arrested. Bhowani was pinned down before he could fire another shot by Bhupendra Narayan Singh and E.E.English, S.P. Darjeeling.

1947- School visited by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, Governor West Bengal. He came with his entourage riding on a rickshaw with a blue and yellow lettered monogram embossed on the flap of the vehicle propelled by four strong liveried men. It was a great day for the school. He was the first and last Governor General of India (1948-50). Bharat Ratna, 1954.  

1950- School visited by Dr. Kailashnath Katju the Governor of West Bengal. He presented a complete series of Sherlock Holmes written by Arthur Canon Doyle to the school.

1953- School visited by Dr. H.C. Mukherjee the Governor of West Bengal. He donated Rs.500 as a campaign against T.B.

DISTINGUISHED OLD SCHOOLBOYS:
 
             Late Shri John Dharam Singh Rai, Senior Advocate.
             Late Shri Man Prasad Rai  (All round sportsman)
             Late Shri Salim Hingun (All round sportsman)
             Late Dr. B. Barrielly
           
            Dr. Mani Kumar Chettri, Padmashri
            Dr. Mahendra P. Lama Prof. Jawarharlal Nehru University
            Babulal Pradhan, Lecturer Darjeeling Govt. College.
Enos Das Pradhan, G.S. CNI ((SYNOD) New Delhi.
S.A. Baba, I.A.S
Col. Hemant Ghissing
S.B. Zimba,  Senior WBCS  
K.B. Jogi, Senior WBCS
Lal Bahadur Rai, Editor, News Magazine
Nedup Wangdi, WBCS (Rtd)
Lt. Col. P.B.Subba
B.B.Dewan, Senior Advocate, Chairman Darjeeling Municipality
Prem Kumar Alley, Senior Advocate
B.K.Pradhan, Senior Advocate, Ex- Chairman, Darjeeling Municipality  
N.C. Khaling    Ex-HM Turnbull HS School
             I.P. Rai WBES (Rtd)
             N.K.Kumai, Ex DGHC Councillor
             Jai Narayan Pradhan D.I.G. BSF (Rtd)
             D.S. Bomzan (Trade Union))
             Hem Bahadur Rai (Trade Union))
             B.M. Subba Vice Chairman, Darjeeling Municipality
             Asaad Hingun- Manager Tea Estate (Rtd)
             Basant Kumar Rai   WBPS (Rtd)             
              Dr. Bhim Kant Upaddhya Lecturer NB University
              Dr. Bhim Prasad Pradhan, Lecturer NB University
              Dr. Jyoti Prakash Tamang
             LITERATURE, MUSIC, PAINTING AND DANCE
            
              Late Shri Guman Singh Chamling- Literature
              Late Shri Saran Kumar Pradhan-Music Director
            
             Amber Gurung- Music Director
                Karma Yonzon- Music Director
                Hemu Rai – Artist (Painter)
                Jeevan Kumar Pradhan– Music Director
                Tanka Prasad Sharma- Film Artiste
                Tejendra Gurung – Dance Director
                Machindra Pradhan- Literature
                Kedar Gurung- Literature
                Bikram Rupasa- Literature

                (List is not exhaustive and not in order of precedence)


References: Newman’s Guide to Darjeeling and neighbourhood.
                                 A Concise History of The Darjeeling District since 1835 by E.C.
                                 Dozey
                                 Bengal District Gazetteers DARJEELING by L.S.S. O’Malley
                                 On The Threshold of Three Closed Lands by Rev J.A. Graham
                                 Nepali Around The World by Cindy L. Perry
                                 School at a Glance, Turnbull HS School

  Acknowledgements: Shri Suk Tshering Lepcha, Shri O.T.Aden, Shri Mahendra Subba, Shri Hem Bahadur Rai, Shri Hemu Rai, Shri M. Lama and Shri A. Rahman.