The Daly College: A Royal Institution Shaping Modern India
The Daly College, located in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, is one of India’s oldest and most prestigious co-educational boarding schools. Founded in 1870 by Sir Henry Daly, the then Agent to the Governor-General of India in Central India, the institution was originally established to educate the sons of Indian royalty and nobility.
Initially known as the Indore Residency School, it was renamed The Daly College in 1882 to honor its founder. The school was modeled after British public schools and aimed to blend traditional Indian values with Western education. It served as a finishing school for princes from the Maratha, Rajput, Bundela, and Muslim royal families of Central India.
The college’s iconic Indo-Saracenic architecture, designed by Col. Sir Swinton Jacob, was inaugurated in 1912 by Lord Hardinge, the Viceroy of India. The sprawling 118-acre campus includes heritage buildings, temples, mosques, and modern academic facilities.
In 1940, The Daly College transitioned from an exclusive royal institution to a public school, opening its doors to students from all backgrounds. It became a founding member of the Indian Public Schools Conference and later joined the Round Square Conference, emphasizing holistic education, leadership, and service.
Today, The Daly College offers CBSE and Cambridge curricula and houses over 2,000 students. It also includes the Daly College Business School (DCBS) and Daly College of Business Management (DCBM), offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
The school’s motto, “Gyanamev Shakti” (Knowledge is Power), reflects its enduring commitment to academic excellence and character building. Its alumni include royals, politicians, business leaders, and public servants who have shaped modern India.
Initially known as the Indore Residency School, it was renamed The Daly College in 1882 to honor its founder. The school was modeled after British public schools and aimed to blend traditional Indian values with Western education. It served as a finishing school for princes from the Maratha, Rajput, Bundela, and Muslim royal families of Central India.
The college’s iconic Indo-Saracenic architecture, designed by Col. Sir Swinton Jacob, was inaugurated in 1912 by Lord Hardinge, the Viceroy of India. The sprawling 118-acre campus includes heritage buildings, temples, mosques, and modern academic facilities.
In 1940, The Daly College transitioned from an exclusive royal institution to a public school, opening its doors to students from all backgrounds. It became a founding member of the Indian Public Schools Conference and later joined the Round Square Conference, emphasizing holistic education, leadership, and service.
Today, The Daly College offers CBSE and Cambridge curricula and houses over 2,000 students. It also includes the Daly College Business School (DCBS) and Daly College of Business Management (DCBM), offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
The school’s motto, “Gyanamev Shakti” (Knowledge is Power), reflects its enduring commitment to academic excellence and character building. Its alumni include royals, politicians, business leaders, and public servants who have shaped modern India.
Trivia Points About The Daly College:
- Founded in 1870 by Sir Henry Daly.
- Originally for royal families of Central India.
- Renamed The Daly College in 1882.
- Architecture designed by Col. Sir Swinton Jacob.
- Inaugurated by Lord Hardinge in 1912.
- Became a public school in 1940.
- Member of Indian Public Schools Conference.
- Joined Round Square in 2005.
- Offers CBSE and Cambridge curricula.
- Campus spans 118 acres in Indore.
- Motto: “Gyanamev Shakti” (Knowledge is Power).
- Hosts over 2,000 students.
- Houses DCBS and DCBM for higher education.
- Alumni include royals and national leaders.
- Featured on a 2007 India Post stamp.
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Indo-Saracenic Architecture
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