In the serene hills of Shillong, more than a century ago, a quiet revolution was born. It was the year 1881—India was still under colonial rule, girls’ education was a distant thought, and the world paid little heed to the aspirations of young girls. Yet in this silence, Pine Mount School dared to break through with courage and clarity. On March 3rd, 1881, it opened its doors with five boarders and two day scholars—a humble beginning that would go on to transform the lives of generations. By April, the numbers had grown to eleven boarders and five day scholars. The first Headmistress, Miss E. Cordue, began the school’s story with quiet determination, her arrival in Shillong marked by the image of three boarders journeying in a tonga.
The early years were fragile. The journey was interrupted when, following the devastating earthquake of June 12, 1897, records were lost and the All Saints Church—closely connected with the school—was reduced to rubble. With no records surviving the dislocation, Pine Mount vanished from mention for almost a decade. Yet, like the spirit of education itself, the school never truly disappeared. It re-emerged in 1900 under Headmistress Miss Miles, whose entries in the oldest surviving register mark the official resumption of a mission that never really ended.
Fast forward to 2025. Based on available records, Pine Mount School celebrated its quasquicentennial—125 years of nurturing intellect, character, and courage. The celebration echoed with stories of perseverance and pride, memories and milestones, as the institution marked a journey few others can claim.
At the grand ceremony, Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Prestone Tynsong, stood as Chief Guest—a moment both symbolic and celebratory.
Addressing the gathering, Tynsong said, “This establishment was started from the scratch and we reached upto the stage today, I am so proud profoundly delighted to know that pine mount school is the only school from Meghalaya and very few from the North Eastern States who can reach to the standard of 23 position.”
“ 23 position out of 800 very high profile institutions in the country again it is a matter of pride. You raised the standard and image of Meghalaya. My only request to the management of the school can you maintain this 23rd position our why not in 10th position throughout the country. Please don’t let us down. This is the only Government run school you maintain the standard nicely,” the Deputy Chief Minister added.
While reaffirming the government’s focus on education as a driver of change, he said, “Budget allocation for 2025-26 has been enhanced to Rs 3635.4 crore, the budget allocation in state of Meghalaya is highest allocation being made to education sector.”
Tynsong added, “We are in the hopeful state, if you compare 125 years what a change we have…. We got the sanction from Ministry of Tribal Affairs more than Rs 1000 crore for the establishment of 38 EMRS schools across the state.”
Alongside him, Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma underscored the state’s commitment to strengthening higher education infrastructure. “For the ongoing projects Rs 1.86 Cr. and additional Rs 4.4 Cr. for upgradation of the school sanctioned under Asian Development Bank,” he announced. He also noted the establishment of 21 People’s Colleges, calling it a historic investment in accessible, inclusive learning.
Among the many dignitaries present was East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner R.M. Kurbah—an alumna of Pine Mount herself. Her return to the school in an official capacity was more than ceremonial; it was a full-circle moment that spoke volumes of the school’s enduring impact. Her journey from these very classrooms to the corridors of administration exemplifies how Pine Mount has shaped not only students, but leaders.
Today, the school stands tall with Kindergarten to Class XII, affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE). Yet beyond its academic accomplishments, Pine Mount remains what it always has been: a sanctuary of dreams, a cradle of hope, and a forge for future makers.
What began as a haven for European and Eurasian children—built from the compassion of Anglican chaplains and the resolve of the Church—has grown into a symbol of educational empowerment. Back then, when travel to Calcutta or Darjeeling for education was long, arduous, and costly, Pine Mount became the answer to a need too great to ignore. Its early years were marked by uncertainty, but never a loss of purpose.
Today, as the voices of students echo through its hallways, the school’s legacy is not just written in registers or remembered in speeches—it lives on in every young girl who dares to dream, to lead, to rise. Pine Mount isn’t just a school. It is a living story. One that began in 1881—and one that continues, powerfully, into the future.