Kolkata: A bust of social reformer and educationist Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was found dumped in bushes at Vidyasagar Shishu Udyan in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, on Saturday, prompting allegations of vandalism by local residents.
The park is located in ward 11 of Baruipur Municipality, near the offices of the sub-divisional administration and the municipality. Residents visiting the park in the morning noticed the bust missing from its pedestal and later found it lying in an overgrown area nearby.
Locals alleged that the bust had been uprooted and thrown into the bushes on Friday night, though it was not immediately clear whether it had been deliberately damaged before removal. The incident drew particular outrage as it came around Teachers’ Day.
The bust, inaugurated on Sept 26, 2020, by then ward councillor Mozaffar Ahmed, honoured Vidyasagar, a key figure in Bengal’s education and social reform movements and the author of ‘Barnaparichay’.
Residents demanded a proper probe, action against those responsible, and immediate restoration of the bust to its original location. They also criticised the poor upkeep of Vidyasagar Shishu Udyan, alleging that the park had long been neglected, with unchecked grass and weeds across the premises.