Durgapur Adda Young Association (DAYA) celebrates its 7th ‘Foundation Day’ and the country’s 75th ‘Independence Day’ through various programs on 15th and 16th August.
On the morning of 15th August, the national flag was hoisted at ‘Jibanpath Kendra-1’ of the Kamalpur Washing Plot; Jibanpath Kendra is an unique effort of DAYA where 30 odd students belonging to extreme marginalized families working in stone pits are given basic education and nutritious lunch 5 days a week. Incidentally, the national flag was hoisted by the oldest lady of the locality who is around 100 years of age.
Students of Jibanpath Kendra – 1 and Sinchon initiative, along with the members of DAYA sang song and recited poems glorifying the motherland. Then 3 people from the locality born before independence (all three of them were women) were honored with new saris. In addition, very good old clothes were distributed among the poorest families in the area. A tree was planted to perpetuate the memory of Deepak Mukhopadhyay, a late member of our organization who was a regular teacher at Jibanpath Kendra – 1.
At about, 11 am, the national flag was hoisted at the Jibanpath Kendra – 2 in Durgapur Railway Station which is the second Jibanpath being run by DAYA where 20 odd students belonging to extreme marginalized families are given basic education and nutritious dinner 5 days a week. The students of this Jibanpath and also some members of DAYA recited poems and sang song paying their respect. In this area also old clothes which are in very good condition were distributed among the local marginal families.
On 16th August, Durgapur Adda Young Association organized a special evening function at ‘Bidhan Bhavan’ in Durgapur Steel Township. In addition to the songs of the students under DAYA’s Sinchon project, students of Kamalpur-based ‘Jeevanpath Kendra-1’ presented “Katoi Rango Dekhi Duniaay …….”
Special honors were bestowed on 13 “Covid Warriors” of Durgapur who during the Covid pandemic worked tirelessly. Among those honoured included 5 cleaning staff of Durgapur SD Hospital Covid ward, 4 Covid ambulance driver who ferried Covid patients and 4 personnel who handled dead bodies of Covid patients during cremation process, risking their lives and the lives of their families.
The main attraction of the event was of course the renowned musician, lyricist, writer Mousumi Bhowmik. The magic of his heartfelt melody without any kind of instrumental music captivated and charmed the audience. It’s impossible to explain in words what a unique experience it was for the packed audience.
The cover of the seventh issue of the organization’s mouthpiece, ‘Roddur’ was unveiled by Mausumi Bhoumik.
The last attraction of the program was the theatre ‘Savitribai Phule’ of the theater group “Amta Parichay”. Artist Rituparna Biswas presented the biography of Savitribai Phule in an extraordinary presentation; all by her own. The director of the play is Shuvendu Bhandari. Students of the ‘Sinchon’ effort of the organization handed over commemorative gifts to both Mousumi Bhowmik and Rituparna Biswas.
The packed audience at Bidhan Bhavan was deeply moved by such a programme where Mausumi Bhowmick and Rituparna Biswas mesmerized everyone.