Educationist Vidyasagar’s bust found lying among bushes on Teachers’ Day in Bengal

In a shocking incident on the occasion of Teachers' Day, the bust of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, one of West Bengal's foremost educationists and social reformers, was found lying in a forested area adjacent to a children’s park in South 24 Parganas district, triggering anger among local residents.

The bust was allegedly removed from its original location inside the Vidyasagar Children's Park in Baruipur's Ward No. 11 and dumped among bushes and trees. The discovery on Saturday morning, coinciding with Teachers' Day, has raised questions over the maintenance and security of the park and the role of the local authorities.

The incident took place close to the Baruipur Sub-Divisional Magistrate's office and the Baruipur Municipality, both located within a short distance of the park. Locals have questioned how the bust could have remained in such a condition despite the area being frequented by residents and visitors every day.

Residents also questioned the surveillance arrangements at the park and alleged that the condition of the bust reflected negligence on the part of the authorities responsible for its upkeep.

According to local sources, the bust was installed at Vidyasagar Children's Park and inaugurated on September 26, 2020, by Muzaffar Ahmed, the then councillor of Ward No. 11. It was placed there as part of efforts to create a pleasant environment for children while commemorating Vidyasagar's contribution to education and social reform.

However, nearly six years later, the bust was found lying in a neglected, forested patch, prompting residents to demand an explanation.

For Bengalis, Vidyasagar remains an important figure in the history of education and social reform. He played a major role in promoting education, particularly among women, and was closely associated with the campaign for widow remarriage. His efforts also contributed significantly to the development and modernisation of education in Bengal.

"If the bust of a scholar and social reformer like Vidyasagar is found lying among bushes in a government park, it reflects a serious lack of administrative responsibility. The authorities must explain how this happened," a local resident said.

Residents have demanded that the bust be recovered immediately, cleaned and restored to its original place. They have also sought an investigation into how it was removed from the park and ended up in the forested area.

Locals said action should be taken against those responsible if the inquiry establishes that the incident resulted from negligence or deliberate removal.

A senior government official said the matter was being looked into and that an investigation was underway to determine how the bust reached the spot and who was responsible.

“Except for the headline, no changes have been made to the story by Education Post staff.”