It is amusing to know that the school began as a game. When Babar Ali was nine, he used to play ‘school-school’ game with his friends and used to act as their teacher. The other ****, unlike Ali, had not seen the inside of the school and hence we’re excited to play the game with him. But, soon, the game turned into real teaching as **** were happy to learn arithmetic. ‘Anand Siksha Niketan’ got established with eight students on roll. In the course of nine years, the school grew step by step, and from eight, the number increased to 220 students on roll and 800 students in all.
The school started receiving both private and government assistance and had 10 volunteer teenage teachers teaching grade 1 to grade 8. It also had 60 regular attendees. The **** of the village who worked as maids to cook, clean, wash clothes and dishes for their employees or as mechanics, day labourers, grass cutters and livestock herders came voluntarily to Aii’* school in the afternoon after finishing their chores.
What is heartening is the fact that Ali’ good work was rewarded as he received help from Babar’ teachers, IAS officers, and Ramakrishna Ashram monks. What is even more gratifying is the fact that the school was recognised by the West Bengal State Government and hence students from Baba’* school were eligible to pursue their studies in other schools if the need arose. The recognition gave Babar the singular privilege of being the youngest headmaster at the age of 16. Thus, what started as a game resulted in a much sought after school for the underprivileged and inspired other selfless youngsters like Debarita Bhattacharya, a college student, to work as volunteers in helping the have-nots.
