Raj High School
Darbhanga, Bihar
Established 1878
Raj High School, Darbhanga, is one of the oldest and most historic educational institutions in the Mithila region of Bihar. Established in 1878, the school has been associated with the educational initiatives of the Darbhanga Raj and has served generations of students for nearly a century and a half. Contemporary educational listings also record 1878 as the year of its establishment.
The establishment of Raj School was part of a broader effort by the Darbhanga Raj to promote modern education in Mithila. Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh is credited with establishing Raj School as part of these educational initiatives. During this period, the Darbhanga Raj supported the development of schools and other institutions and encouraged modern education alongside the region's strong traditional and cultural heritage. Historical accounts note that English education was introduced at Raj School during its early years.
Over the decades, Raj High School developed into an important center of secondary education in Darbhanga. Its history is connected not only with formal education but also with several notable personalities and events.
One particularly memorable chapter came in 1942, when Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the distinguished philosopher and educator who later became the second President of India, visited Raj High School as the chief guest at a school convocation. According to contemporary accounts recalling the event, Dr. Radhakrishnan addressed the students and, true to his identity as a teacher, turned his address into an educational interaction with them.
The school has also educated individuals who later played important roles in public life. B. P. Mandal, who later became Chief Minister of Bihar and chairman of the Second Backward Classes Commission, commonly known as the Mandal Commission, studied at Raj High School in Darbhanga. Accounts of his early life mention that he lived in the school hostel while completing his high-school education.
Through changing times, Raj High School has continued to serve the students of Darbhanga. Today, it operates as a higher secondary institution and is commonly known as +2 Raj High School or Raj Higher Secondary School. Government records identify the school in the Rajkumar Ganj/Lalbagh area of Darbhanga.
The historic character of the school continues to receive recognition. In 2025, five newly constructed classrooms were inaugurated as part of improvement work at the school. At the time, attention was also being given to the restoration and reconstruction of its older buildings and boundary structures while attempting to preserve their traditional appearance. The school was publicly described as an important part of Darbhanga's historical heritage.
From its beginnings in 1878 to the present day, Raj High School has witnessed more than 145 years of educational and social change. Generations of students have walked through its classrooms and grounds, carrying memories of the school into different parts of India and around the world.
For its alumni, Raj High School represents much more than an educational institution. It is a shared connection to Darbhanga, to the history of Mithila, to old friendships and teachers, and to memories that continue long after students leave the school.
As the alumni community reconnects and looks toward the future, preserving the history, photographs, stories, achievements, and memories of Raj High School will help ensure that the legacy of this historic institution continues to inspire future generations.