Busts of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar and Sister Nivedita were unveiled at Bethune College on Friday to celebrate 100 years of the alumni association of the institution.
The busts were in memory of late Roma Sur, a former professor of chemistry at the college and former secretary of the alumni association, said a college official.
“Vidyasagar and Nivedita both were pioneering figures in women’s education in India. Bethune is also a pioneering institution in the history of women’s education,” the official said.
Bust of Sister Nivedita. Telegraph photo
The college owes its origin to John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune (1801-1851). What began as Hindu Female School in 1849 was renamed as Bethune School in 1856.
“In 1856, the Government took charge of the Hindu Female School, later renamed as Bethune School. The Managing Committee of the school was then formed and Pandit Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, ... a relentless supporter of women’s emancipation was made the Secretary. In August 1878, Bethune School was amalgamated with Banga Maha Vidyalaya which was founded by Miss Annette Akroyd with the help of Durgamohan Das, Dwarka Nath Ganguly and Anandamohan Basu,” says the college website.
On Friday, college principal Krishna Roy, former principal Pushpa Mishra and Minakshi Sinha, the president of the alumni association, were present during the unveiling of the busts.