How many of you knew that in its early days, the Vidyalaya Praktani published a souvenir beautifully and aptly named ‘Smarani’? Here is a pleasant walk down memory lane as we revisit the first issue of ‘Smarani’ brought out in 1965. Check the contents page as well. Do some of the names sound familiar? Depends on the number of gray hairs you have. The first issue was edited by Sri Ranjit Mukhopadhyay and published by Brahmachari Girish Chaitanya. Sri Ramendranarayan Sarkar, then vice-president of the Vidyalaya Praktani, was the adviser.
Photo Courtesy: Chandan Das (1961)
Paradise Regained
The 26th biennial reunion of the Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Narendrapur, was organized on December 25, 2024 by NRVP. This year, the day-long Reunion programme took a distinctly different look with the entire campus decked up with welcome gates, selfie points, praktani ensigns and a specific logo for Reunion 2024 designed by Kaustav Chakraborty of 2000 batch. In a first, several stalls were put up and an enthralling cultural programme was organized in the afternoon on the open-air stage at the Aam Bagan. As many as 1,050 ex-students joined the Reunion and around 2000 people in total were served lunch on the day.
The 1999 batch celebrated 25 years of their passing out of the Vidyalaya by felicitating their teachers (Photo below). Similarly, the 1974 & 1975 batches felicitated teachers and non-teaching staff from their time to mark the golden jubilee of their school leaving at two separate programmes on December 24 and 25.
Altogether 48 old boys joined the summer retreat on May 10 & 11. All of them were accommodated in Advaitananda Bhavan in junior Section. They enjoyed their stay with non-stop adda, morning and evening prayers and of course sumptuous meals, recalling the good old days of their stay at Narendrapur. The turnout was much higher for the winter retreat held on December 23 & 24, 2024, with 168 ex-students in attendance. It was a special occasion for the 1974 and 75 batches, as it marked half a decade of their school leaving. 29 from the 1974 batch and 19 from 1975 joined the retreat.
NRVP invites all to join its next annual general meeting on August 17, 2025 at the Vidyalaya.
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News From the Campus
Football Fever
Swami Prabhananda Memorial Inter Ramakrishna Mission Football Tournament 2025 (Third Initiative), a joint initiative of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya and Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya Chhatrabas Praktani Parishad, Narendrapur, was held from June 27 to June 29. As many as 15 RKM-run schools from West Bengal participated in the tournament. RKM Boys’ Home High School, Rahara, beat RKM Vidyamandir, Jhargram 2-0 in the final to lift the trophy.
The gravity and grandeur of the occasion was increased manifold this year by the auspicious presence at the Vidyalaya stadium of Most Revered Swami Gautamananda Ji Maharaj, President, Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Maharaj inaugurated the tournament by kicking a football and blessing all the players and match officials, much to the awe and delight of everyone present. He also graced the prize giving ceremony with his presence. It was a moment of unbridled joy for one and all.
Beginning of Commerce Stream
The Vidyalaya, which had only science and humanities sections in Plus II, opened the commerce section this year with 17 seats. The commerce section will have accountancy, costing and taxation, economics and business mathematics and basic statistics as subjects offered, according to the the syllabus of the state higher secondary council.
Exam Honours
Like every year, our boys did well in Madhyamik and HS examinations. In Mahyamaik, Somtirtha Karan stood fifth while Pushpak Ratnam secured the eighth position. In HS, Adrij Gupta and Rafid Rana Laskar secured the eighth position in the state while Anish and Anik Barui, twin brothers, stood ninth. Several students cracked the NEET UG, JEE Mains and JEE Advanced examinations. Five were selected for admission in ISI Kolkata. Two boys qualified for the International Mathematics Olympiad training camp to be held at CMI, Chennai.
Eat Right, Drink Right
The Vidyalaya was awarded the Eat Right School award by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India for promoting safe, healthy and sustainable eating habits among students. So, think twice before you complain about dining hall er khabaar the next time.
In a related development, a composite ceramic membrane-based groundwater treatment plant was inaugurated on the campus by Dr. Chiranjeeb Bhattacharya, president of West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education on June 7. The project will ensure supply of pure drinking water that is free of arsenic, bacteria and other harmful elements.
Yearlong Activities
Round the year, regular events and celebrations were held with due diligence and fervour. These include the annual exhibition, excursions, various sporting events, Rabindra Jayanti, musical soirees, Pujas, various intra-school competitions, Yoga activities, blood donation camps, NSS programmes etc. The annual exhibition 2025 (65th edition) was inaugurated by eminent economist Dr Kaushik Basu in the auspicious presence of Revered Swami Jnanalokananda Ji Maharaj.
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Achievements
Posthumous Padma Bhushan to Dr Bibek Debroy
In May, Hon’ble President Smt. Draupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian award, posthumously to Dr Bibek Debroy, for his contribution to the field of literature and education. His wife, Smt. Suparna Debroy received the award at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Dr. Debroy, who joined the Vidyalaya in 1965 and passed out in 1970, is one of the most distinguished alumni of this institution. After leaving Narendrapur, he studied at Presidency College, the Delhi School Of Economics and Trinity College, Cambridge. In a star-studded career, he was economic advisor to the Prime Minister, member of NITI Aayog, director of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies and the chancellor of various educational institutions. Apart from being an economist, Dr. Debroy was a brilliant speaker, columnist, erudite scholar and prolific author on many subjects — from fountain pens to economic theory to Indology. He has written on and translated the Puranas, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata.
Debroy had received Padma Shri in 2015. He passed away on November 1, 2024, at the age of 69. On August 8, 2024, he had visited his alma mater with his wife. Here are a few snaps from that day:
Honor for a Teacher and ‘Role Model’
Dr Subhashis Ghoshal (Madhyamik 1983), a member of the faculty at the department of Statistics, North Carolina State University, US, was honored with the D D Mason Faculty Award in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to mathematical statistics, probability theory, and asymptotic methods, especially in high and infinite dimensional Bayesian inference. In an announcement, the university described Ghoshal as “an exemplary researcher, a role model for researchers across the globe” and someone whose “contributions have brought key distinction” to the department.
Telling Untold Stories
Aniruddha Das (Madhyamik 2004, HS-2006) directed a documentary feature film titled ‘Made In Paradise’ on the life of the Changpa tribe of Ladakh, known for producing the world’s finest Pashmina. The documentary brings to light their unique nomadic lifestyle, their deep connection with the land and animals, and the delicate art of Pashmina harvesting. Stanzin Lundup, an alumnus from the same batch, assisted Das and handled all local coordination, translations, and guided the crew through the challenging terrain of Ladakh. His support made the entire project possible.
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Book on Varanasi
Journalist and author Suman Gupta’s (1970) book Varanasi: Mahatyer Mahabhumi was published in February 2025. The book has received much critical and popular acclaim. The author (standing centre in the photo below) presented a copy of the book to Revered Swami Suparnananda Ji Maharaja at Golpark.
Investing in Education
Dr. Purnendu Chatterjee, (1966) an alumnus and leading industrialist of the country, has set up a private research university named TCG-CREST University in Sector 5, Salt Lake. It has been recognized and approved by the Union ministry of higher education as a deemed-to-be university. What makes this even more special is that eminent statistician Prof. Bimal Roy (1974), another praktani, has been involved in the project all along as the principal adviser. From coming academic year, that is 2025-26, the varsity will enroll PhD scholars. Master’s programmes will take off from the following academic year. The focus of the university is on extremely niche areas like quantum science & technology, energy, neuroscience, AI&ML, cryptology & cyber security, translational mathematics etc.
United We Serve
NRVP felicitated 16 boys of the Vidyalaya who excelled in the board exams or various national-level entrance tests after Class 12. The programme, held at the VC Hall on July 12, was attended by Prof Bhaskar Gupta, former VC, Jadavpur University as chief guest. Prof Suman Chakraborty, director, IIT Kharagpur, addressed the students and guests online as guest-of-honour. This year, one of our boys, Brotin Naskar, has been selected to join the National Defence Academy. He was among those who were felicitated.
NRVP donated a total of Rs. 1,97,000/- to various needy individuals and organizations during the financial year 2024-25. The beneficiaries include Ramakrishna Sangha, Sitarampur, an ex-employee of Falguni Press, an ex-student who appealed for funds for medical treatment, a social organization which arranged Durga Puja pandal hopping for the underprivileged children, an organization in Nadia district which has been engaged in building a women’s football team and a blind school in Hooghly district.
South Suprayas (a group formed by boys of the 1979 batch) continues their service to the respected teachers of their time by providing Mediclaim policies to them and their spouses and widows of expired teachers. In March 2025, they paid ₹4,93,000/- towards renewal of Medical Insurance policies covering 34 persons.
Uddyom (a group formed by boys of the 1987 batch) continues its service to the society through welfare activities round the year. A health camp was organised by them at the Vidyalaya from January 23 to 26. As many as 200 people came in for eye
check-up, 82 for dental check-up and 80 for blood sugar tests. In May, they donated Rs. 1 lakh to RKM Jhargram for running a free coaching centre at Anandapally near the ashrama. Total 82 students will benefit from this.
Two books on our beloved Vidyalaya have been brought out by two batches, 1974 and 2005. The former titled, ‘Narendrapur — Timeless Tales’ is not just a collection of memoirs, but a heartfelt tribute to the enduring legacy of Narendrapur. The book by the 2005 batch is called ‘Narendrapur — Chena Mukh, Ojana Katha’. 2024 marked the 25th year of their joining Narendrapur. The wonderfully curated book is an effort, according to the editors, to make it a momentous and unforgettable occasion.
The much awaited and badly needed renovation of the NRVP office was completed in December, 2024.
The 1974 batch spent Rs. 4.50 Lakh approx. for the purpose as part of their various plans to mark the golden jubilee of their school leaving. They also donated Rs 11 Lakh approx. for installing a polycarbonate shade covering the Rabindra Udyan (on the right side of the assembly hall) at a height of 20 feet. Work for this has been completed as well.
A New Beginning
Swami Anuttamananda (Tushar Maharaj) joined the Vidyalaya and took charge as prefect-cum-assistant headmaster of junior section in April 2025. NRVP extends a hearty welcome to him.
Edited by Aruni Chakraborty and Indradeep Bhattacharyya.
Published on July 29, 2025, by Shivaji Basu Roy, Joint Secretary, NRVP.
Newsletter committee: Chandan Das, Asit Motayed, Somesh Bhattacharya, Nirmal Kumar Mirani, Aruni Chakraborty, Indradeep Bhattacharyya.