Chitra Bose to receive the inaugural “Bulbul Mukherjee Smriti Puraskar”

Chitra Bose

Dear Friends and Well-wishers of Overman Foundation,

To recognize the invaluable contribution of individuals, especially women—the Shakti behind one and all—for their outstanding contribution in the fields of literature, art, education and music, Overman Foundation has started a new award—the “Bulbul Mukherjee Smriti Puraskar”—named after the late Bulbul Mukherjee (4.10.1934—15.8.1990). I take the opportunity to inform you that the inaugural “Bulbul Mukherjee Smriti Puraskar” would be awarded to Mrs. Chitra Bose, Managing Trustee of Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre Trust and Principal of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir (New Alipore, Kolkata) for her contribution in the field of education.

Hailing from the illustrious zamindar family of Basirhat (now in North 24 Parganas), Chitra Bose was born on 17th March 1933 to Harendra Nath Majumdar and Santi Majumdar. Harendra Nath Majumdar, a nephew of Swami Brahmananda (a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and the first President of Ramakrishna Mission), was a noted Congressman and active participant in the struggle for India’s independence. He was in the company of Mahatma Gandhi during his stay at Haidari Bhavan at Beliaghata. Later, Harendra Nath Majumdar became a minister in the cabinet of Dr. Prafulla Ghosh (the former Chief Minister of West Bengal) in the late 1960s. A devotee of the Mother, he was also the erstwhile Chairman of Sri Aurobindo Society West Bengal.

From her childhood days Chitra Bose came in touch with personalities like Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, Dr. Prafulla Ghosh, Sri Atulya Ghosh and other eminent persons. She did her schooling from Brahmo Girls School and later graduated from Presidency College, Kolkata. Eminent scholars like Prof. Amartya Sen and Prof. Sukhomay Chakravarty were her batchmates. She met the Mother at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, where she used to visit with her father. She married K.C. Bose, the later Additional General Manager of Eastern Railway in the Indian Railway Service. After the Sakti Centre was established in New Alipore in 1972, a kindergarten school was established there by her, christened Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir with only 5 students and mattresses to sit upon owing to lack of basic furniture in the then dilapidated building. Under her stewardship, Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir grew up to be one of the eminent pre-primary schools of south Kolkata based on the ideas and ideals of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, providing quality education with a present strength of 350 students in Nursery and Kindergarten sections. She is the mentor and guiding force of the school.

The award ceremony would be held on Monday, 10 November 2014 at 6.30 p.m. at the premises of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir (532, Block “M”, New Alipore, Kolkata 700053). Mr. Subroto Sen, the Secretary of Sri Aurobindo’s Action West Bengal Trust, would grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. Prabrajika Divyaprana, Secretary of Saradashram (New Alipore Branch) would also grace the ceremony as a Special Guest.

We invite everyone to participate in the award ceremony.

With warm regards,
Anurag Banerjee
Founder,
Overman Foundation.

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2 Replies to “Chitra Bose to receive the inaugural “Bulbul Mukherjee Smriti Puraskar”

  1. Dear Anurag:

    I am very happy to learn about the Bulbul Mukherjee Smriti Puraskar being awarded to a life-long worker in the field of education as guided by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. My best wishes to Mrs. Chitra Bose.

    With affection
    Prema

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