The heart of Kolkata transformed into a platform of hope and empowerment for young girls as The BSS School celebrated its 75th anniversary. Held recently at Kala Mandir, the platinum jubilee celebration honoured the school’s legacy of educational excellence. The programme also unveiled bold initiatives to shape a brighter future for girls across Bengal.
The anniversary event was attended by renowned dignitaries including chief guest Prof. (Dr) Anuradha Lohia, eminent molecular biologist and former Vice-chancellor of Presidency University; G.K. Khaitan, trustee and secretary of The BSS school and Dipti Khaitan, additional secretary of the school, among others.
Speaking to The Statesman, Sunita Sen, Principal of the school, emphasised on its evolution. “This celebration means a lot because for a school to stay afloat for 75-long years is a very big thing. We had started off very humbly as a Hindi-medium school and transitioned to becoming an English-medium school. So naturally our journey has been on and on towards betterment,” said Sen, adding, “Now our children are placed in various walks of life and that I think gives a completeness to education.”
At the centre of the celebration was the launch of the ‘Go Girl’ initiative, a pioneering outreach program aimed at supporting rural girls with confidence and knowledge. Under the initiative, a fully-equipped mobile science laboratory will travel to underprivileged villages across West Bengal. It will bring hands-on STEM education directly to students who otherwise lack access to such resources. Described as the ‘chariot of discovery’, this lab will ignite the passion for science in girls who’ve long yearned to explore the universe.
Additionally, student-led spoken English classes for the rural girls will be arranged by the senior students of The BSS School. It will help girls build confidence and proficiency in English – a skill essential for higher education and employment. “These classes will benefit both groups. Rural girls will get the scope and gain knowledge, while our students will develop compassion and confidence by stepping into the role of teachers. They will understand that life is not always easy. And most importantly – it will make them a complete and independent individual,” Sen claimed. Each year a group of students will deliver this online course, bridging the language divide. Participants will also receive a certificate upon successful completion of the course. This initiative reflects the school’s commitment to fostering not only academic growth but also social equity.
However, the show-stealer of the evening was a dynamic stage production of Ian Fleming’s story Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Performed by over 150 students, the creative staging showcased the students’ imagination and collaboration. “These kinds of programmes are important for the overall development of a child. We integrate multidisciplinary approaches for the children. They learn not only to sing and dance, but they learn to bond with each other, support each other, and exercise their talents in various fields,” Sen stated.
In his address, G.K.Khaitan highlighted, “Education is not static; it evolves as the world around us changes. We will continue to adapt, innovate, and provide our students with the tools they need to thrive in an ever-shifting landscape.” Dipti Khaitan further added, “BSS’s journey has always been about more than academic excellence – it’s about changing lives. This celebration honours our past and designs bold pathways for the future.”
The platinum jubilee celebration concluded echoing the words of the principal, “Being a girls’ school, the next chapter would be to reach out even further and boost the empowerment of girls in a much bigger way. After all, we believe that if we empower at least one girl child, she will reach out to the world and bring in many more generations of educated individuals.”