Annual Cultural Program and STEM Lab Inauguration Held at Vivekananda Adarsha Vidyalaya in Sundarbans

“Modern learning tools like digital and STEM labs will help our students engage with science and technology,” said Ujjwal K. Chowdhury.

Vivekananda Adarsha Vidyalaya hosted its annual cultural program along with the inauguration of a new STEM lab, marking a significant step toward strengthening rural education in the Sundarbans region. The event saw the presence of several distinguished guests from Kolkata, including professionals from the education, corporate, and social sectors.

Among those present were Dipanjan Bandyopadhyay (Head CSR, Petronet LNG Limited), Ratri Banerjee (Senior Branch Manager, Bank of India), Srinjini Mukhopadhyay (General Manager, United Way of Kolkata), Akash Ghuowalewala (Company Secretary, Touax Texmaco Railcar Leasing Pvt. Ltd.), Saurav Roy (Principal Director, Defence Estates, Eastern Command, Ministry of Defence), Birendra Adhikari (Block Development Officer, Kultali), Swapan Biswas (Officer-in-Charge, Kultali Police Station), retired IPS officers Sujit Sarkar and Tarun Kumar Mukhopadhyay, along with several other eminent personalities including former ISRO scientist Dr. Debashish Chakraborty.

The school, run by the Smt. Anu Chowdhury Memorial Foundation, was established in 2007 by former MLA Joykrishna Haldar of the Kultali Assembly constituency. Built on land donated by Kolkata University professor Dr. Sudip Bhattacharya, the institution currently operates as a private, non-aided school with around 14 teachers educating nearly 300 students.

Foundation President Joykrishna Haldar emphasized the broader role of education in rural India. He stated that education must not only empower young minds but also strengthen the social fabric of communities. Over the past year, the school has significantly expanded its infrastructure, including the addition of STEM and digital laboratories, improved sports facilities, and environmental learning spaces such as a kitchen garden and biodiversity park.

Professor Ujjwal K. Chowdhury, Secretary of the Foundation, highlighted the importance of holistic education. He noted that learning should extend beyond textbooks and foster curiosity, creativity, and empathy. The introduction of STEM and digital labs has transformed how students interact with science and technology through hands-on experiments, collaborative learning, and digital tools. He also stressed the importance of sports, arts, and environmental initiatives in building confidence, discipline, and ecological awareness among students.

Located in a remote corner of the Sundarbans—where life is shaped by rivers, forests, and challenges—the school has been quietly transforming the futures of hundreds of children. Inspired by the ideals of Swami Vivekananda, the institution aims to prepare students not just for exams, but for life.

The past year has marked notable progress, including new learning laboratories, expanded sports initiatives, environmental education programs, and improved academic outcomes. These achievements reflect the collective efforts of teachers, students, parents, community members, and supporters.

Principal Debashish Das, associated with the school since 2022, pointed out that access to quality education remains limited in rural Sundarbans. He emphasized the need for institutions like Vivekananda Adarsha Vidyalaya to continue growing. Beyond classrooms, the school offers facilities such as a library, STEM and digital labs, auditorium, science hall, art exhibition space, and guest house. Plans for further expansion are already underway.

Additionally, the school integrates nature-based and vocational learning, supported by its surrounding environment, which includes nearly 70 bighas of mangrove forest and 40 bighas of wetlands.

Overall, the institution stands as a model of grassroots educational development in Sankizahan, Sundarbans—strengthening access to quality education and shaping future leaders in one of India’s most remote regions.