Carmel Convent, Dhanbad

Dhanbad was, and is a business centre, because of the railway lines and the coal mines of Jharia, Katras, Dhansar and the surrounding areas. These mines were taken over by the private influential people, like the Worahs, and the Chanchanis. Many of these people sent their children to boarding schools in other cities (such as St. Joseph’s, Hazaribag, which was opened in 1949). But the lower middle class could not afford to send their children to boarding schools. It was they who needed a school in Dhanbad.

There was already a Carmel School, in Digwadih, but it was too far for the children of Dhanbad, to commute daily from the collieries.

Father Sharpe, S.J., the then Parish Priest of Dhanbad, approached Mother Violette, Superior of Carmel Convent, Digwadih, and spoke of the urgency to start a school in Dhanbad. Fr. Sharpe personally spoke to the president of the Lindsay Club, who offered the club premises to hold classes, and so it was decided to start a Primary school in January, 1956. Mother Violette together with Sister Terese went to Dhanbad on the first day i.e 4 January, 1956 to take admissions. There were 30 admissions and Mount Carmel School, Dhanbad, came into existence on 9 January 1956. The Sisters however resided at Digwadih and commuted every day.

The School kept growing. At ISM ( Indian School of Mines) there was a Montessori school that was not functioning well, it was handed over to the sisters, and the school shifted its premises from the Lindsay Club to the ISM on 3 April 1956. A second hand van was purchased with the help of Fr. McFarland S.J . The difficulty in plying this van became a familiar sight between Carmel Digwadih and Carmel Dhanbad.

In the meantime Mother Violette became seriously ill and Mother Irmina replaced her in 1958.

In 1958, the Superior General gave permission for the sisters to stay at Dhansar and return to Digwadih on weekends. On 14 Feb, 1958, the Sisters occupied on rent, one of the houses that Mr. Agarwal had constructed. In April, 1959, the Sisters shifted to another house in Dhansar itself.

The climate and the commuting daily to school was difficult. A young Sister, Sister Helmina who had come in January 1959, died on 17 April 1959 and on that very day, all the hurdles regarding the piece of land which was about to be purchased were overcome. This is the plot where the present school building stands. It is believed that this is a gift from Sister Helmina.

The first community of Carmel Dhanbad was formed on 15.01.1961. The pioneering group of sisters were Sister Cleopha (sister in-charge) Sister Leonora (Headmistress), and Sisters Trinita, Clemencia, Assumpta, Zoe and Fausta. Earlier the Sisters had shifted from Dhansar to Hirapur , where they remained till 30.9.1962.

Because of the increase in the number of students the higher classes were shifted to Jharudih. The Sisters had to do the teaching in two different places. This situation continued for two years. On 25.6.1962, all the classes were shifted to the present building which was still under construction. The Sisters however, occupied the building only on 01.10.1962.

On 01.09.1963 the Sisters’ residence cum the school building was blessed by Rev. Bishop Lawrence Picachy, S.J. of Jamshedpur.