"It is better to give the benefit of literacy to the poor man than to build thousands of poor feeding centers" - Mahakavi Subramania Bharati.

From one teacher-one pupil position to Seven Sr. Sec. Schools and over seven thousand students and five hundred teachers in a period of just 75 years is a proud record for any institution. The South Indians of Delhi-Madrasis, according to the friends of the North, are known for their richness of intellect and community life, though economically less fortunate. When our pioneers were at establishing the first school in 1923, the then small community in the capital raised the necessary wherewithal by way of small voluntary contributions. There was a breakthrough and the pattern was set for the successors.

On Vijyadasami Day in 1923, the first Madrasi Education Association School was established in Simla, with one teacher and one pupil by Shri. P.H.S. Iyer. In January 1924, a primary school was opened in New Delhi. This was given recognition by Education Authority in 1925.

The school was given some accommodation in the Municipal School buildings on Mandir Marg (then known as Reading Road) during 1931. Construction of a new building was taken up during 1945. The Higher Secondary Department was started in 1946 and in 1949, the first batch of students appeared for the Delhi Higher Secondary Examination.

The Silver Jubilee of the Association was celebrated on 5th March 1950. In view of the increasing demand and necessity, two new Primary Schools-one each at Lodi Estate and Karol Bagh were opened in 1951 and 1953 respectively. Following completion of its own building for the Lodi Estate School in 1955, the Higher Secondary classes were shifted from Mandir Marg to Lodi Estate in 1956. A Middle school at Lakshmibai Nagar (then known as East Vinay Nagar) was opened in 1958.

The Mandir Marg School was again raised to the status of a Higher Secondary School in 1959. In 1960, the late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, laid the foundation stone of the Lakshmi Bai Nagar School.

The Moti Bagh Primary School was opened in 1961 and Lakshmibai Nagar School was upgraded to Higher Secondary status in 1962. The Karol Bagh School was upgraded to Higher Secondary level in 1963.

In 1964, the Primary School at R.K. Puram was opened and it rose to the level of a Higher Secondary School in 1968. The School in Moti Bagh was raised to Higher Secondary level in 1970.

In 1972, the name of the Association was changed from Madrasi Education Association to Delhi Tamil Education Association (DTEA) and the Schools were renamed as DTEA Schools with due difference to the wishes of the Jankpuri Tamil Association (JTA), the DTEA formally took over the School run by them at Janakpuri in 1975.

Today the DTEA runs 7 Senior Secondary Schools at Mandir Marg, Lodi Estate, Lakshmibai Nagar, Moti Bagh, Karol Bagh, R.K. Puram and Janakpuri. The DTEA follows the wise policy of taking the education to the doors of the children by providing schools in convenient localities as far as possible. Our efforts as a community are based on the belief that man's capacity to do well is perennial and limitless.

The schools are Aided minority institutions, which are owned and managed by the DTEA at Lodi Estate registered under the Societies Registration Act. The Schools, though meant primary for Tamils, impart education to other residents of Delhi also.

The Schools are affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education and are recognized by the Directorate of Education, Govt. of N.C.T. of Delhi. Four languages, Viz., English, Tamil, Hindi and Sanskrit are taught in all the Seven Schools.

The DDA has allotted 2 Acres of land at Mayur Vihar Phase - III for opening our 8th Branch of one-Sr. Sec. School for which the management taking efforts. As on date many of our old students are living in abroad as leading scientists and doctors.
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