History Of Govt High School No 2 Shikarpur

Among all the heritage buildings in the city, one place that continues battling for survival is a school built with the efforts of one Wadhu Mal in the early part of the 20th century. Once called Hopeful Academy but now known as Government High School Number 2, it is located behind the RBUT Civil Hospital Shikarpur

The school originally had a spacious double-story limestone structure adorned with patterns, carved stone frames, arches and accents to accommodate 1000 students. Apart from the exquisite exterior, its halls have their unique architectural character. The Latif Hall, named after the great poet and Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, has wooden beams carved in the shape of animals. The hall’s interior, though, is losing its uniqueness after grey marble tiles have been used to cover its walls, visibly mismatching with the rest of the structure.

At least 900 students are currently studying at the school which may no longer successfully stop the assault on its historic building. The local engineer at the education department is adamant to tear down a block of the building that houses the computer lab. His excuse being that he wants to build a better structure instead. The demolition work has already begun.

Those working inside the block say the new structure is not needed. “The building faces no threat of decay. We were holding our classes there,” claims Dewan Dasnakpal, the headmaster of the school.

Though he agrees that the block “may need some retouches here and there,” it certainly does not need rebuilding. The irony is that the man responsible for hearing to what the headmaster has to say is exactly the man who wants to demolish the building – the engineer.