Satikanta Guha (1st June, 1910 to January 8th 1991) founded a school that went on to become the largest in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records. But that is hardly enough of a measure of the greatness of the man. For he was a true polymath, a multi-faceted talent – a celebrated poet, a social reformer (the school he founded was co-educational long before women’s empowerment had become a buzzword), an educationist (his contributions in the field are acknowledged as both timeless and well before their time), and because of the value system that he helped imbibe in countless batches of students who have gone to scale every peak they have encountered, including winning a Noble Prize.
Although many awards were conferred on him in his lifetime, including the highly coveted Rabindra Puroshkar, many believe that Satikanta Guha did not receive the accolades he truly deserved. That is why, when Kaushik Maitra, the Managing Director of Sulekha and an ex-student of South Point, the school founded by Satikanta Guha, wanted to pay his humble tribute to his teacher, the idea was hailed by everyone who was consulted.
What better tribute could there be than an exclusive fountain pen, a bottle of ink, and an illustrative notebook detailing the life of the visionary, thought Kaushik Maitra as he and his team went to work. Indranath Guha, Satikanta Guha’s illustrious son, and Kabita Guha, were contacted, who extended their unstinted support to the extent of offering access to the sprawling facilities of Garden High School, which they now run, to host the proposed program. Full support of the Satikanta Guha Foundation, the parent body that oversees the functioning of the Garden High School, was also extended.
“His was a life, that was epitomized by the pen. His struggles, his crusades, were against the forces of apathy and ignorance, which Satikanta Guha overcame with a fountain pen firmly in his hand. His innumerable students were taught that the pen is mightier than the sword and were encouraged to wield the pen for the greater good, which they continue to do in myriad walks of life” said Kaushik Maitra as he went on to have a pen created that would befit the man whose name it would carry.
The blanks were imported from Europe, the nib and converter from Germany, and the best pen turners in India were tasked with creating the pen with “Satikanta Guha” subtly engraved on the ring band. The Ink, a greenish hue of blue was created by Sulekha and was called “Neelkantha” – a reference to Lord Shiva, who imbibed the deadly hemlock that had arisen during the churning of the oceans of eternity, so that others could partake of the Nectar was deliberate, for it is believed that Satikanta Guha’s sacrifices were no less. The Notebook features a brief writeup from Indranath Guha along with some rare photographs – vignettes from a life extraordinaire. The pen, the ink, and the notebook were housed in a beautifully crafted wooden box.
His 115th Birth Anniversary celebrations were flagged off at the Garden High School on June 1st. On the dais were Indranath Guha and Kabita Guha in the presence of a huge gathering of ex-pointers, including Sanjay Mukherjee, an octogenarian who had passed his secondary examination from South Point way back in 1960!
It was an emotionally charged evening in which Kabita Guha delivered the keynote while many Pointers, including senior bureaucrat Roshni Sen spoke about the contributions of the late Satikanta Guha to the world of education in general and the lives of innumerable students of South Point, in particular.
Members of ASPEXS, Pointer’s Business Forum, and South Point Care Wing also felicitated Indranath Guha and Kabita Guha.
The program was conducted by Suvobrata Ganguly.
Prasun Hazra representing ASPEX and South Point Care Wing delivered a short but emotionally touching Vote of Thanks.
The commemorative pack and its contents individually are available for sale @ www.sulekhaink.co.in
watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOr5WGt6Yfk