Students and teachers of Swahid Khargeswar Talukdar High School along with the NGO workers. Telegraph picture

Guwahati, April 24: The school was set up soon after Khargeswar Talukdar was bludgeoned to death by police during the anti-foreigners movement in December 1979.

Named after the first martyr of the movement, Swahid Khargeswar Talukdar High School at Chenimara village in Baksa district remains a victim of Dispur’s negligence over the past three decades.

Finally, hope has dawned with Utsah, an NGO, deciding to adopt the school. An elated headmaster, Prafulla Kalita, told The Telegraph that the initiative would help in realising the school’s dream.

He said Gauri Kanta Talukdar, father of the first martyr, visited the school in 1981 and urged the teachers to produce patriots like his son who could dare to do anything for their motherland.

“The school had a vision to produce good and patriotic citizens by imparting quality education, but it was plagued by myriad problems over the past three decades. First, teachers and students were affected by severe communication bottlenecks. The school was virtually cut off from the mainstream for several years because of non-existence of a bridge over the Borolia river. Students had to cross the river by boats to reach the school and appear for the matric examination in Rangia town,” Kalita said.

The headmaster said besides communication hardships, the school had been facing dearth of basic infrastructure like proper classrooms, desks and benches. According to him, most of the students are very poor and they cannot even afford to have uniforms and textbooks. There is no electricity in the school.

“There are many brilliant students and they have not got the scope to shine because of their economic condition,” Kalita said.

The chairperson of Utsah, Miguel Queah, said his organisation had selected the school because it was set up against a historical background and in memory of the first martyr of the Assam movement.

According to him, Utsah believes in Mahatma Gandhi’s principle that India lives in the villages and it is concentrating on rural schools that are victims of government’s negligence. “First, we will offer scholarships to students of the school so that the meritorious pupils do not face hurdles in pursuing their education and making a brilliant career. The scholarships will be offered to 10 students per year. We will ensure that the dropout rate in the school comes down to zero,” Queah said.

He said Utsah would help the school to collaborate with various institutions for its development. There is a plan to tie up with IIT Guwahati.

“Students of IIT Guwahati will go to the school and offer help and tips on use of solar energy. Use of solar energy can become a suitable alternative for the school to overcome the problem of non-existence of electricity. We will take similar initiatives for many other schools that are plagued by myriad problems,” Queah said.