Mom’s last wish: Ex-teacher’s daughter gifts school telescope
Times of India | 22 April 2024
Kolkata: It was the last wish of late Enakshi Chottopadhyay — who had retired from Rishi Aurobindo Vidyapith in Santoshpur area in 1995 as an assistant teacher— to donate the last penny to the school for its betterment. And, about 6 years after her demise in 2019, her daughter, Sutapa Chakrabarty, donated her mother’s last deposit worth Rs 25,000 to the school on her fifth death anniversary (March 27).With the donation money, the school purchased a telescope for its students.
School headmistress Sarbani Sen said, “We were planning to buy a telescope to set up an astro-club to encourage our students to learn astronomy as we find that many have an inclination towards studying these things. We didn’t have enough funds to purchase the telescope. When we were planning to raise money from teachers, her daughter came to the school and donated her mother’s last deposit. Surprisingly, the amount she donated was exactly what we needed for the telescope.”
Speaking to TOI, Sutapa Chakrabarty, said, “My mother used to say that school has given a lot to her. In return, she wanted to do something for the betterment of the school. This year, the school is observing its 75th anniversary so I felt it is the right time to fulfil my mother’s wish.” The only regret that Sutapa had was that her mother couldn’t see it happening in her lifetime.
The school has set up its astro-club this week and students stayed back at the school after class hours to explore the setting sun and the rising moon. Sharing experiences of class XII students like Bristi and Pushpita, Tania said they were thrilled to have touched a telescope for the first time in the school. Another school in central Kolkata, Taki House will also get a telescope soon. Anirban Kundu, a former student of Taki House School, donated a telescope that will be formally inaugurated at a sky-watching event in May, said headmistress Swagata Basak.
Not only these schools but several other state-run schools in the city are also trying to encourage students towards science and its applications. A hands-on training session was organized at the Jadavpur Vidyapith this week where students from nearby schools like Jodhpur Park Boys’ School and Jodhpur Park Girls’ School participated.