Carnival to raise funds for Dr Graham’s Homes repairs

Kolkata: The 121-year-old iconic Dr Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong, an institution that was built by legendary Scottish missionary Reverend Dr John Anderson Graham, is in deep financial crisis. The situation is so bad that there are no funds to restore the sprawling buildings on the 300-acre campus. The institution on Sunday made a public announcement on the immediate need for funds at its first-ever carnival organised at Birkmyre Hostel, owned by the Homes on Middleton Row.

The carnival, which saw a large turnout of Anglo-Indian families, was a huge success and the money collected was added by the Homes administration to the funds that the alumni have put together to repair the classrooms first.

“There are about 40 classrooms and the alumni has collected funds to start work on nine of them. All the buildings have become structurally weak. We have to launch a restoration project to save the Homes,” said president Shane Calvert.

Baked condiments from the bakery and dairy of the Homes were sold in the carnival. Many Anglo-Indian families put up stalls where winter delicacies were sold. “Birkmyre Hostel is a transit point for the students of the Homes and since it has a sprawling campus, we decided to organise the carnival here,” said Denise Smith, spokesperson for the 96-year-old hostel.

The evening reached a high point with popular singers Rodney Rodrigues, Christopher Lobo and Craig Francis taking to the stage.