She grew up with poverty. These words had to be heard constantly at home and. But nothing could break her spirit. Because these things did not enter her ears. Swami Vivekananda's words were playing in her ears - "Arise awake and stop not till the goal is reached."
That bad looking, black girl is our "Medina Acharya", our pride. She is a shining example to the society, to the country. Through her single efforts, financially backward children have learned to see life in a new way. He taught those children the new way of life.
Pritikana Jana was born in Begunabari village under Khejuri police station in East Medinipur district. Father Smritiranjan Jana and mother Alaka Jana. Through many obstacles she completed graduation from 'Bajkul Milani Mahavidyalaya'. Then she moved to Santiniketan to study law. From a very early age, she had a deep desire to do something for the financially backward children. She got that opportunity while studying at Santiniketan.
The Santal people live next to the college where she studied law. Every day on the way to college, she saw some students wandering around the streets instead of going to school regularly. That scene awakened her latent desire to do something for the society and it intensified during the Corona pandemic.
She first approached the headman of that village and offered to teach school dropouts. But the people of the village are suspicious and do not show interest in that way. Without giving up, she went to the neighborhood every day and started to convince everyone. At first, everyone misunderstood, some even said child-lifter. In fact, a fear was working among the innocent villagers. But with Pritikana's efforts, that fear was overcome. She gets permission to teach children.
Her dream school started on 2nd September 2020 with only 11 children. She named the school 'Rubani Gautam Sikhangan' (Gopalnagar, Bolpur, Birbhum). The word Rubani means "Soul of Holy Book". The spirit or essence of any scripture, so the word Rubani is very dear to Pritikana. Associated with 'Gautama', ie Gautama Buddha. Together they became 'Rubani Gautam', the journey of 'Rubani Gautam Sikhangan' began.
But this school is very different from others. This school is self-dependent, no material help is taken from others. Many wanted to help financially or with clothes, books, notebooks, etc., but Pritikana returned the favor. According to her, it is her dream that her children will stand on their own feet after being educated in real education instead of surviving by waiting for help from others.
Along with teaching, she gives life lessons. Cleaning the area, planting trees. Kitchen garden made for nutrition of children and their parents. Also made the village people aware of their own culture. Regularly cut children's nails, hair etc. Clean the children's clothes. Teach healthy habits.
Kitchen Garden (Photo: Rajkumar Das)
The number of students in her school has now increased from 11 to 56. Along with studies, Brishti, Rekha, Purnima are taught dancing, singing, drawing, etc. Ajit Murmu has already passed the secondary examination. Two more students Raju Baski and Anil Mardi are preparing for the secondary examination. Due to her efforts, 8 students got 8 thousand rupees scholarship annually.
Not only studies. To overcome social barriers, a girl student was ordained in the Saraswati Puja held at her school. Girls have proved again and again that they are not behind in any field. Professor Ruby Sain, advisor, Jadavpur University’s Centre for the Study of Religion and Society said it is surely a great leap for woman. “Priests belong to the male-dominated world of upper caste Brahmins and they control the society. So this tribal girl’s puja will help create a gender-neutral caste-free society. In the Vedic period, there were women priests like Gargi, Khana and Moitri but King Manu had pushed women back.” Hindu scripture expert K K Bhaumick also appreciated Murmu’s efforts. “We must encourage girls to act as priests and organize training workshops to groom them.”
Apart from all this, Pritikana has donated hair for cancer patients. She fed stray dogs during pandemic. Medicines and food have been delivered to the homes of corona patients. She underwent complex surgeries at a young age, but nothing, body or mind, could stop her.
Pritikana Jana on the stage of the popular Bengali serial 'Didi No 1'.
The villagers who once suspected her now consider Pritikana as their daughter.
Pritikana you go ahead. The song we will sing on your way -
"We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome someday"
Arindam Bhowmik
midnapore.in
Published on 26.09.2023 (204th Birthday of Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar)
From 2020 onwards ‘Midnapore-Dot-In’ is celebrating Vidasagar’s English & Bengali birthday as ‘TEACHERS DAY’ of undivided Medinipur District.
