RAJKOT, Aug 14: Gasping for proper care in the heart of Rajkot is the Alfred High School where Mahatma Gandhi had his schooling.

The school building is in decrepit state and no efforts are being made to repair it even in the 50th year of Independence.

But, the rare photographs of the Father of the Nation, his books and his school records, including the answer sheets, are on display in the central hall of the edifice.

The huge compound surrounding the main building is barren except for a few wild bushes and overgrown grass. No trees have been planted or flower beds created to beautify the place in keeping with the status and the historical importance of the building.

The main gate of the building remains permanently closed, with students using the back door, giving tourists and visitors the impression of the building being ``closed''. As a result, most return assuming the place to be locked.

Built by the Nawab of Junagadh Sir Mohahat Khan Baabi in 1853 at a cost of Rs 1,00,000, the school has been rechristened many a time. It was first named Rajkot English School and in 1866 renamed as Rajkot High School. In 1868 it was Kathiawad High School and in 1907 Alfred High School.

On October 2,1971 the school was renamed as Mohandas Gandhi Vidyalaya in memory of the Father of the Nation.

Though the school is the main attraction for tourists visiting Rajkot, it becomes difficult for them to locate it because the lone sign board on its main gate is in Gujarati.

Instead of maintaining the building, befitting its status, heaps of garbage are dumped in the backyard.

Surprisingly, a private nursery called Mahatma Gandhi Nursery has come up on one portion of the compound.School Principal CS Kishori said the matter was sub judice. He said he had taken charge only a few months ago. And so couldn't explain how and when the nursery came up in the compound.

At present there are about 1,600 boys studying in two shifts in this high school.The school is under Gujarat Government's Education Department and there is no permanent person to look after the central exhibition hall.Its exhibition hall is in a shambles without even proper lighting arrangements.

At night the school presents a dark silhouette with no flood lighting in contrast to the Lang Library and Watson Museum across the road.