The second edition of The Telegraph School Awards For Excellence, North Bengal 2024, will be held at the Dinabandhu Mancha in Siliguri on November 18 and 19. Schools, students and academics will be felicitated and recognised for excellence in academics, extracurricular activities and other fields.

“We introduced the school awards in north Bengal last year and the response was overwhelming. This time, the award function will be held for two days and several schools from across the region will attend. The initiative has been taken to recognise these institutions, the students, and the teachers,” said Amitabha Datta, chairman of The Telegraph Education Foundation (TTEF).

For the awards, schools sent nominations to the TTEF last month. A 10-member jury panel, comprising prominent educationists and stalwarts from other walks of life, picked the winners.

“Along with the winners, certificates of honour, merit and appreciation would be handed over to the schools. Also, individual students would be awarded for their achievements in academics and other fields. Furthermore, scholarships will be handed over to students to encourage them to continue their studies,” Datta added.

Some members of the jury shared their experiences on the selection process, the challenges and meaningful moments.

“The toughest part was deciding where to draw the line between achievement and adversity," said Rita Sengupta, a renowned educator based in Siliguri. "It reminded us that excellence is not only about top marks but also about the spirit to rise above life’s difficulties."

Swaraj Kumar Banerjee, a stalwart of the tea industry, an environmentalist and writer, spoke of the talks among panel members and the emotional impact of reviewing countless inspiring stories.

“This is a very good platform for students not only from elite schools but for students from rural areas. Their stories of overcoming adversity, serving their communities and excelling in studies show what sheer grit can accomplish,” said Banerjee.

Another jury member, Partha Ghose, the last living student of Satyendra Nath Bose and one of the senior-most physicists of the country, said his experiences with The Telegraph School Awards for Excellence had always been positive and rewarding.

“I would also like to mention that every year there are students or individuals who face significant challenges, yet continue to persevere and pursue their goals with determination. Witnessing their journey is both inspiring and deeply moving. Nothing can be more positive than this,” said Ghose.

Subhash Ranjan Chakraborty, a former professor in history at Presidency College (now University), cherished his role in the jury.

“This is my second year as a jury in The Telegraph School Awards for Excellence. We get to know stories of people.... It is a very good support to schools, students, and individuals,” he said.

Jeta Sankrityayana, an economist and a social thinker in north Bengal, termed his experience as a jury member as a profound journey that reinforced his belief in the transformative power of education.

“This is my second time as a jury member in this award show. This award is a great opportunity for students and schools of north Bengal. It allows us to connect with people from many places under one roof,” said Jeta.