Back to school

She began with 19 students in the age group 5-9 years and started to teach them. It was a literacy mission of sorts where she not only taught them the primers,but also made sure they went to conventional schools for further studies. She gave them books and stationery. Gupta also arranged free tuition for them if she thought it was necessary.

Gupta taught Mathematics at Nava Nalanda School. She happily spent from her own pocket to help poor students. Soon others joined her. At present 20 others contribute to the project and the strength of the school has gone up from 19 to 101. She initially found a place at Greek Orthodox Church. In 2009 she moved to an appartment where she could accommodate more students.

“More than the money,the problem lies in making them understand the importance of education. Most of them run away to beg the moment I turn my back. However,things are improving and their parents are also evincing interest,” said Gupta.

After her husband’s death,Gupta has been living alone in her apartment at 107,NSC Bose Road,Tollygunge. Her only daughter,a doctorate in micro-biology,has settled down in the US with her husband. Though Gupta has retired from school,she is still attached to Nava Nalanda as a department chief.

“I would have been a beggar like my father had I not come in contact with madam Gupta. She taught me to read and write. She sent me to school and always kept a vigil so that I did not drop out. Twice I ran away from her school and decided to beg,but she took all the pains in the world to bring me back. I am really grateful to her,” Poltu said as he narrated his past. Now he works as a salesman with a small time publisher at College Street.

There are several others like Poltu. Gopal and Ram now feel that they would have ended up as beggars like their parents had they not been taught by Gupta. She took all the pains to bring them back and made them realise the importance of education.