Welham Girls' School Opens Legacy Museum Honouring Women Trailblazers

By: WE staff | Friday, 1 August 2025

• Welham Girls’ School opens heritage museum for women’s empowerment
• Celebrates founders and alumnae who pioneered girls’ education
• Inspires future generations through stories of courage and leadership

Welham Girls' School, a leading all-girls residential institution in Uttarakhand, opened a new heritage museum on campus to celebrate the legacy of women who have shaped their journey since 1957. The museum, located in the iconic building of Nizam-Honing, honours the bold vision and determination behind one of India’s earliest schools dedicated to girls’ residential education.

Founded just a decade after the independence of Miss Hersilia Sussie Oliphant and Miss Grace Mary Linnell, Welham Girls' School was a pioneering step in a male -dominated educational system. At a time when girls' education was limited, her vision helped create a stimulating space for generations of young women to become leaders.

The museum celebrates this journey through memories, stories and artefacts that reflect the spirit of the school. Roosh Sobti, chairman of the council of governors, called the museum “a tribute to a courageous past and a promise for the future.”

Two distinguished alumnae - Neelam Khanna (1965 batch) and Premil Nazir (from the first 1957 batch) - attended the inauguration. Khanna, leader in the cultural and hospitality sectors of India, remembered Miss Linnell as "the spirit of Welham." Nazir, Welham's first official student (Roll No. 1), described Nasreen as her "first home away from home" and praised the museum title, Echoes of Eternity.

Principal Vibha Kapoor pointed out that Welham's mission goes beyond the academics. "We focus on holistic development, compassion and leadership. The museum brings this vision to life."

The Heritage Block presents notes from previous directors, post -colonial India relics and student stories over the decades. Memories of School Life - midnight feasts, Assembly Prayers and the beloved Bajri Way - fill the space with heat. Exhibitions include bird-inspired school houses-Bulbul, Flycatcher, Hoopoe, Oriole and Woodpecker-E waves to Mrs. Russell's natural study classes.

Welham Girls' School, affiliated with CISCE and CAIE, educates the students of Grade VI to XII. Its motto, “Aartt Shanti Phala Vidya” (“The purpose of knowledge is to bring peace”), reflects its focus on purpose learning. As a member of Round Square and WLSA, the school encourages global thinking rooted in Indian values.

The museum remains a living tribute to women's empowerment – celebrating the past, inspiring the present and shaping the future of girls' education in India.