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Centenary of orphanage founded by Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das & Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Dakshin Kalikata Sevasram, among the oldest and continually-run orphanage on Sarat Bose Road, was founded in 1924 by Deshbandhu C R Das and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The Sevasram is celebrating its centenary on 11 & 12 March 2023. Some special welfare projects for destitute children will be initiated on the occasion, according to Mr. Subhrendra Maulik, Secretary. A commemorative volume, comprising unpublished letters and historical documents signed by Netaji, research-based articles, and rare photographs, will be published on the occasion.
The celebration will be inaugurated by Swami Suparnananda, Secretary, RKM Institute of Culture, on 11 March 2023. Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh, First Lokpal of India, will be the chief guest.
On the second day, there will be cultural presentations by inmates of the orphanage, other social welfare homes, and members of the CLT.
Mr SP Gon Chaudhuri, India’s “Solar Man”, will be the chief guest. On the same day a panel discussion on the topic “Social Service: Passion or Pastime?” will take place. The panelists will include Mr. Krishna Gupta, IAS, Addl Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal, Prof Dr. Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay, Vice Chancellor, Sister Nivedita University, Mr. Justice Sambuddha Chakraborty, Mr. Biswajit Gangopadhyay, Trustee, Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Alakananda Roy, social worker and noted danseuse.
Orphanage activities: The Sevasram is home for 70 destitute boys with moral & physical education facilities, as well as shelter, food & healthcare. Its free primary school is open to all poor children of the locality and it also runs a daycare centre for them. Two-year courses on electrical house wiring, computer training, and tailoring for the inmates are an initiative to inculcate life skills in the inmates.
Recognition: President Zail Singh visited the Sevasram on its diamond jubilee year in 1984 and recalled its exemplary services for poor children. The Vice-President of India, Mr. Krishna Kant, visited it during the platinum jubilee celebration in 1999. The Sevasram was given the National Award for Child Welfare in 1999 by the President of India.
