A musical drama, a documentary screening, the launch of a coffee-table book and a commemorative postal stamp marked the centenary celebrations of Shikshayatan Foundation.
Thousands of students, ex-students, retired and current staff members and guests attended a programme at the Science City auditorium on August 31 to celebrate 100 years of the foundation.
(L-R) J. Charukesi and Justice Indira Banerjee release a coffee-table book on the history of the 100-year-old Shikshayatan Foundation Soumyajit Dey/My Kolkata
The grand show began with a musical drama by 450 students of the four institutions under Shikshayatan Foundation — Marwari Balika Vidyalaya, Shri Shikshayatan School, Shri Shikshayatan College and Calcutta Business School. The musical narrated the journey of the foundation right from the setting up of Marwari Balika Vidyalaya, the oldest of the four institutions, to the latest member — Calcutta Business School. The students performed ballet, contemporary and Indian classical dance forms while the choir sang the songs.
A documentary on Shikshayatan Foundation with board members, including Shikshayatan Foundation president S.K. Birla, talking about the journey, was screened on the occasion.
Justice Indira Banerjee of the Supreme Court, was the chief guest; J. Charukesi, the chief postmaster general, West Bengal circle, was the guest of honour; and Shashi Shalini Kujur, postmaster general, south Bengal region; was the special guest.
“Our country has a very rich history involving women whom we know and the world knows because of their achievements. For 100 years, this institution has focused on contributing to the holistic development of women and empowering them. Empowerment is not just about letting one lead a life of one’s choice but it is also making them able to be someone and do something. I wish all of you luck and hope you all will be something in life so that you can give back to society one day,” Justice Indira Banerjee said in her address to the students.
Justice Indira Banerjee and J. Charukesi unveil a postal stamp to mark 100 years of the Shikshayatan Foundation as Bratati Bhattacharyya, secretary general and CEO of Shikshayatan Foundation, and G.K. Khaitan, president of Shri Shikshayatan College, look on Soumyajit Dey/My Kolkata
On the occasion, a coffee table book was launched that holds the documented journey of Shikshayatan and accounts of various people who have been a part of the foundation.
Justice Indira Banerjee and J. Charukesi unveiled a postal stamp to mark 100 years of the Shikshayatan Foundation.
“It is a proud moment for me as Shikshayatan Foundation celebrates 100 years because this is my alma mater, too. I completed my graduation from Shri Shikshayatan College and I spent five years here. Here my dreams were given shape. The faculty members saw what I was capable of and encouraged me to reach my goal. Today’s programme took me back to my college days when I used to participate in cultural activities,” J. Charukesi said.
The programme at Science City auditorium was attended by past and present students and staff members Soumyajit Dey/My Kolkata
Bratati Bhattacharyya, secretary general and CEO of Shikshayatan Foundation, said the celebrations had to be repeatedly postponed because of the pandemic. “We are glad we could finally celebrate it in a grand way. The response and hard work of each person was overwhelming,” she said.
Ex-students from various parts of the country joined the celebrations.
“It is a lovely feeling to come back to my alma mater. I am a professional singer today and I owe it to Shikshayatan. It was great to participate in the musical today and I thank my teachers for always remembering me,” said Ritwicka Talukdar, who passed out of the school in 2008 and college in 2011.