Nalini Ranjan Chaudhury unveils a bust of Nisith Ranjan Acharya at Balurghat High School. Picture by Abhiijit Chakraborty

Balurghat, Jan. 6: The ex-students of the Balurghat High School paid tribute to their former headmaster Nisith Ranjan Acharya by installing a bronze bust of the late teacher here today.

Nalini Ranjan Chaudhury, another former headmaster, who was entrusted with the school’s responsibility when Acharya retired after 24 years in office, unveiled the statue at a simple ceremony in the premises of the institution.

A select group of students — 15 of them and all settled in Calcutta — who have attained social respectability thanks to Acharya’s lofty ideals, contributed for the installation of the bust, which was sculpted by one of his favourite students Madhusudan Chaudhuri.

The students recently got together and decided to do something in memory of the late teacher.

The headmaster, though, born in riches — he hailed from a zamindar family — was never attracted to wealth. Born on September 4, 1909, he became a Brahmo early in life and soon plunged into the struggle for Independence.

Inspired by the Father of the Nation’s ideals, he played a pivotal role during the freedom movement but distanced himself from politics shortly after the country gained Independence. He took the reins of the local high school in undivided West Dinajpur district in 1950 and was associated with it till 1974.

In 1972, the President’s medal was conferred on him for his untiring role in uplift of education in the district.In the following year, the government also recognised his contribution to the freedom movement and awarded him a tamrapatra.