First building of Hindu School awarded heritage status

KOLKATA: State government has agreed to award heritage status to the building which housed

Hindu School

when it was first established 200 years ago. The school authorities also plan to set up a museum in the building once it receives the heritage tag. “Scientist Satyendranath Bose, social reformer

Ramtanu Lahiri

, actor Chhabi Biswas, mathematician

Radhanath Sikdar

were all students of Hindu School. We would want the museum to hold books authored by them and also display the items used by these great minds of

Bengal

,” said assistant headmaster Narayan Das.

A notification to award the building a heritage status has been issued by the government. “At the moment, the building is office of the Sanskrit Parishad,” added Das. On Tuesday, Hindu School kick-started the 200th bicentennial celebrations which will continue till September 29. As part of the jubilation, a cultural program was organized which was inaugurated by the commissioner of school education Avanindra Singh. It was followed by a short play where almost 42 government as well as aided schools participated. There were also participation from schools from other boards. There were dance competitions on folk, classical and

Rabindra Sangeet

along with a debate and extempore speech.

“The government has already sanctioned Rs 11 lakh as fund for the celebrations. We want to build a new annex building which will be part of our infrastructure development,” the vice principal added. Avanindra Singh said, “parents should ensure that their children do not become a part of the rat race. Instead they should be given an upbringing, free from undue pressure to excel in academics only.”