Vidyasagar's 'Barnaparichay' to be distributed free to mark his bicentenary celebrations

Kolkata: The state Education department is planning to distribute Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's Barnaparichay free among all students of pre-primary and Class I to commemorate the occasion of 200 years of the latter's birth anniversary.

"The distribution of the Barnaparichay copy has nothing to do with the curriculum of pre-primary and Class I. As per plans, the book will be given as a 'heritage book' to pay homage to Vidyasagar," said Avik Majumdar, the chairman of the Syllabus Restructure Committee.

According to a senior official of the state Education department, the government is making plans to celebrate the bicentenary celebrations of the key figure of Bengal Renaissance in a grand manner for at least a week. "We are holding meetings time-to-time on how to celebrate his birth anniversary. It will take some more time to finalise the entire programme," the official said.

It may be mentioned that Vidyasagar's Barnaparichay is not a prescribed book in the syllabus of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education.

A few days back, BJP supporters had allegedly vandalised a bust of Vidyasagar at Vidyasagar College in North Kolkata during a rally by their party president Amit Shah, following which state Education minister Partha Chatterjee had announced that a new statue of the great Indian reformer will be constructed at the same venue.

The state Education department has already announced a series of decisions regarding celebration of the life and legacy of Vidyasagar. The state has plans of construction of a museum containing artefacts related to Vidyasagar, turning Vidyasagar College into a heritage institution and organising of a week-long series of programmes from September 20 to 26 to celebrate his bicentenary.

The state government has allocated Rs 20 crore for the celebration. All government schools will commemorate the occasion through essays, exhibitions, documentaries, discussions, debates based on the life and works of Vidyasagar.

The essay competition will be held in three levels — Group A will involve Class III and IV, group B will cover Class V to VIII while the group C will involve students of Class IX and X. The subjects of the essays will be based on various aspects of Vidyasagar's life including his role in women education and empowerment.

A committee will be formed at the circle level which will make the necessary arrangements for the week-long celebrations. This committee will start functioning from June 15.