Considering the adverse situation due to Covid pandemic, Durgapur Adda Young Association celebrated the 201st birthday of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, a pioneer of the renaissance, through a “Vidyasagar Exercise” program on the online platform.
Article with no word limit was sought from school students, on the topic, “Comparative Discussion of Vidyasagar and His Contemporary Social Reformers”. As many as 87 people sent their article at our organization’s mail id durgapuraddayoungassociation@gmail.com by 14th September 2020.
Poem with no word limit was sought from common people on “Vidyasagar’s values of life”. The participation was however lukewarm; only 15 poems entered the fray.
On 27th September 2020, a live programme on Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar was aired on the organization’s Facebook page from 6 pm. Eminent social researcher and writer, Ashok Mukhopadhyay discussed vividly on “Comparative Discussion of Vidyasagar and His Contemporary Social Reformers”; the discussion gave us a deep insight on many unknown facts about Vidyasagar.
A three-member evaluation committee (two of which are non-members and not a member of our organization) selected 20 best articles and the names of their writer were announced; the best article was read out during the online live programme. Later on, on the first week of October, a team comprising of DAYA members visited the schools, from which the students got prizes and handed over the prizes to writers; apart from mentioning Vidyasagar’s thoughts and values to the students, relevance of Vidyasagar was also discussed briefly.
The three winner of the poem competition was also announced and the best poem was read out during the online live programme as well.
Since 2019 Durgapur Adda Young Association initiated, “Vidyasagar Smarok Somman” for felicitating someone who has been instrumental on upholding the values of Vidyasagar in society. For 2020, the “Vidyasagar Smarok Somman” was conferred upon Arundhati Bhaduri. Mrs Bhaduri, a retired teacher of Durgapur’s Pranavanaanda Vidyamandir School is also the governing body member of Paschimbanga Biggyan Mancha. The 2 hour long programme attracted live viewers on excess of 2000. Even today, one cann watch the prpgramme, recorded live by clicking HERE.