Ajmer’s Mayo College, often hailed as the “Eton of the East,” is marking its 150th anniversary this year, a milestone that unexpectedly brings the Andaman and Nicobar Islands into focus. The celebrated institution, established in 1875 for the education of India’s princely heirs, owes its very name and inspiration to Lord Mayo, the Viceroy of India who was assassinated in Port Blair current Sri Vijaya Puram on February 8, 1872. His death on the islands forever linked Andaman’s history with the origin story of one of India’s most eminent schools.
The idea for the institution emerged in 1869, when Lt. Col. F.K.M. Walter proposed a dedicated centre for the all-round education of the subcontinent’s young princes. A year later, Lord Mayo shaped this into a formal vision: a grand “Raj Kumar College” in Ajmer that would educate future rulers in a carefully curated blend of Western instruction and Indian values. While the project continued after his assassination, Mayo never witnessed the college he envisioned. Three years later, in 1875, the school opened its doors, beginning a legacy that still thrives.
The college’s first student, Maharaja Mangal Singh of Alwar, famously arrived with an opulent royal cavalcade, elephants, trumpeters, camels, aides, and hundreds of attendants. Such royal presence shaped the campus, where princes from several Rajputana states constructed ornate boarding houses that still stand as architectural reminders of the era.
The Main Building, completed in 1885, is an iconic example of Indo-Saracenic architecture designed by Major Charles Mant. Its distinctive feature, appearing different from each side, even earned it a place in the British Museum’s collection of architectural marvels. The campus today houses a polo ground, golf course, amphitheatre, a rare 9,000-artifact museum, and boarding houses named after princely states.
The school’s museum remains one of its key attractions, showcasing miniature paintings, coins, manuscripts, bird eggs, sculptural art, royal memorabilia, and even a unique silver-and-ivory tool used to lay multiple foundation stones in the 19th century. Among its international links, the college also educated Sayyid bin Taimur, the former Sultan of Oman, and later helped establish Oman House on campus.
As Mayo steps into its 150th year, a four-day celebration from November 27-30 will bring together alumni, students, and global dignitaries. Events include the inauguration of the Kapuriah Centre of Excellence for AI and Robotics, a Harvard vs Mayo polo match, a vintage car showcase, a curated fashion show, and performances by Sonu Nigam, Salman Ali, and Euphoria. The main Prize Giving ceremony on November 29 will feature Nandan Nilekani as Chief Guest.
For Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the anniversary serves as a quiet reminder of a historical intersection, the Port Blair current Sri Vijaya Puram assassination that shaped one of India’s most influential educational institutions. Mayo’s journey from a colonial-era princely school to a modern centre of excellence continues to resonate far beyond Ajmer, carrying with it a legacy that traces back, in part, to the Andaman shores.
