Macky's Mart

CALCUTTA COMES CALLING

The demographics of the College were temporarily disturbed with the evacuation and resettlement of the Calcutta Martiniere for the period that the East of India was under threat of Japanese aggression in World War II. Effectively, it meant that two institutions were running parallel in the same campus. By 1942, neighbouring Burma had been invaded by Japan. Calcutta was under threat. From 6 April, 1942 the Calcutta Martiniere was accommodated “within the school buildings for the purposes of tuition, games and hospital attention; the Calcutta School retaining its own organisation under its own administrative and teaching staff.” The Calcutta Martiniere continued in residence till 1945, beyond the conclusion of the War. By July, 1945 the Calcutta Martiniere reopened in a city no longer under the threat of war.

Not including the numerical strength of the Calcutta Martiniere, the number of Boarders rose considerably due to the requisitioning of school buildings and the evacuation from Burma. Some of the evacuees were offered demi-Foundationer status, considering their financial condition. These events related to World War II were presented in the Principal’s report on the year 1942.