Kolkata, March 2023: Dakshin Kalikata Sevasram, among the oldest and continuously-run orphanage on Sarat Bose Road, was founded in 1924 by Deshbandhu CR 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 Subhendra Maulik, Secretary. A commemorative volume, comprising unpublished letters and historical documents signed by Netaji, research-based articles and rare photographs, will be released on the occasion.
The celebration will be inaugurated by Swami Suparnananda, Secretary, RKM Institute of Culture, at 5-30 pm on Saturday, 11 March 2023. Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh, First Lokpal of India, will be the chief guest. Smt Roma Roy (94), daughter of Sarat Chandra Bose, will grace the opening ceremony
On Sunday, 12th March, at 10-30 am, there will be cultural presentations by the inmates of the orphanage, other social welfare homes and members of the CLT. There will be short plays in Bengali & English. Mr SP Gon Chaudhuri, India’s “Solar Man”, will be the Chief Guest.
The same evening, a panel discussion on the topic “Social Service: Passion or Pastime?” will take place, at 5-30 pm. Mr Krishna Gupta, IAS, Addl Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal, will be the Chief Guest. The panelists will include 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. Mr Biswajit Matilal will be the Moderator.
Centenary projects: The projects being introduced in celebration of the Centenary include:
I. Electric motor winding course-6 months: Free for under-privileged youth
II. Electric house wiring course-6 months: Free for under-privileged youth
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 while it also runs a day care centre for them. Two-year courses on computer training and tailoring for the inmates are an initiative to inculcate life skills for 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 1999 by the President of India.
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