Victor Banerjee

Moran, Feb. 14: He lights up the silver screen with his performances but unknown to most, actor and activist Victor Banerjee is also lighting up the lives of the blind children who study at the school started by his father in Assam.

The family mission began in the early 70s, when Victor?s father, the late Major S.N. Banerjee, was the manager of Ouphulia tea estate in Dibrugarh district. The senior Banerjee helped establish a school for the blind that has since expanded and is now called the Janamangal Adarsha Andha Bidyalaya.

Victor, an invitee to the ongoing Kaziranga National Park centennial, visited the school in Moran yesterday and promised to continue the good work.

?I have been involved with this school for the past five-six years and the association became stronger after the death of my father a couple of years ago. I spent the majority of my childhood in this state and I always have special feelings for the people here,? he told The Telegraph.

Wearing a tracksuit and sneakers, the actor attended a sports and cultural meet organised by the Lions Club of Moran for the visually handicapped. At least 100 students from five blind schools of the state participated in the meet.

An impressed Victor, who is the executive president of the managing committee of Janamangal Adarsha Andha Bidyalaya, said: ?When my father started the school, the campus was very small and there were only two students. We now have good infrastructure and the campus is spread across 10 bighas. As we go ahead, I want to see this school become an excellent rehabilitation centre.?

The actor stressed the need to constantly guide the students as they venture into the bigger world. ?We sent two instructors for training in weaving at Mumbai?s Happy School and they are back with skills to share. We have set up two looms here and training has begun. The centre will soon have 10 looms.?

Victor urged residents of the area to join the mission to rehabilitate the visually handicapped.

?I am always there, but it is not possible for me come here every week. So we require people who will take it up as a mission and establish this school as a model for not only the country, but for the world,? Victor said.

Before leaving, Victor extracted an assurance from students of the Moran school that they would stage a play properly when he visits them next. ?I will come back next month and you will have to do it once again,? he said.

?Yes, sir,? was the resounding reply from the 40-odd students.