Pradhan with the citation. Picture by Vivek Singh

Kurseong, July 18: The President of India has recognised a teacher from this town for her role in guiding children to become responsible and disciplined citizens of the country.

Former headmistress of Dowhill Girls’ High School Radhika Pradhan has been conferred the highest award in Bharat Scouts and Guides. She is the first person from the Darjeeling hills to be thus honoured.

“I received the award from President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on July 11 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan,” Pradhan told The Telegraph at her residence here last evening. “It is called the Silver Elephant Award and is regarded as the highest award in Bharat Scouts and Guides.”

Pradhan, who is currently the state commissioner of the Bharat Scouts and Guides, received a medal bearing a silver elephant and a citation. The award was for the year 2002-2003.

Pradhan had joined the Bharat Scouts and Guides in 1942 as a Guide, then called a Blue Bird. Years later, when she joined as the headmistress of Dowhill in Kurseong, she formed the first company of Guides at the school.

“In fact, it was the first company of Guides in the Darjeeling hills,” recalled Pradhan, who now runs a private school.

“The girls who joined the movement are all employed in good positions now, serving the country in some way or the other,” Pradhan added.