In a classic (scary too) example of how web power can put you into the public limelight, five classmates (L-R: Aapel, KaLee, Dadoo, Kutsab and GooLee) of 1993 madhyamik batch were featured on ‘The Statesman’ last weekend; completely unaware of the event. Pritam’s (aapel) relative spotted him on the article and sent a congratulatory note!!! Whoo whoo. A little more digging found out the real story. It was our puja get-together of 2004; after a hectic long day filled with fun (laced with khisti, old school events and many other things which cant be explicitly told but should be understood by all the readers :D ), we decided to unwind a bit at the peaceful ambiance of Dhakuria lake in Southern Calcutta, before we headed for a short puja vromon. Later, we put up the photos at our site narendrapur.com like we always do for any trip, get-together or similar events. Little did we know that a naive photo from that travel journal will pop out on a print media after three years, that too on the page of a popular newspaper?
A simple image-search for the term 'adda' on Google, and this photo comes right at the 2nd page, front row. They (the author and the content developers?) picked it up without bothering to obtain permission or informing to the owner, and went on to use it for the article “The Adda Funda”! Do we sue??
This makes me wonder how vulnerable we are at this internet-age to the extent that anything and everything you put up on this public domain might be used/abused/misused somewhere else w/o you even being aware! Scary, naa?
Note: i couldn't find the web version of this article from the newspaper's online archive. if anyone can find it (titled "The Adda Funda"), please forward the link. you candownload the scanned copies of the article here. Finally, thanks to the Google God for attributing this momentary lapse of printed fame!!!
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Wednesday, August 1, 2007
A little moment of fame??
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Praktani: Update II (as on 21st June 2007)
Atri Mitra of 1993 batch forwarded this mail which he received from Debdut-da (1975), an active member of the Praktani. kindly go through the mail and fwd this to your batchmates...
We will be meeting at Narendrapur on 24th June at
Narendrapur for a general meeting at 10am. Lunch will
be provided.
Golden Jubilee Activities:
##--A Proposal--##
Inside Narendrapur
1. Golden Jubilee Gate.
2. Goden Jubilee Open Air Theatre.
3. Golden Jubilee Bio Technology Laboratory.
4. Golden Jubilee Computer Centre.
5. Improvement of the Arogya Bhaban.
6. Improvement of the Prayer Halls of all the
Hostels.
7. Golden Jubilee Gym.
8. Guest House for the Ex-students with a office of
Praktani.
9. Funding the orphan houses run by Swami
Debendrananda (Shashanka Maharaj) around Narendrapur.
10. Golden Jubilee Ecopark at Narendrapur.
11. Special fund for the welfare of the employees of
Narendrapur.
12. Upgradation of the Museum.
13. Videography of Golden Jubilee Celebration.
Outside Narendrapur
1. Adoption of a village at Ajodhya Pahar, Purulia
2. Funding the different Social Activities Carried
out by different batches.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Progress of Golden Jubilee Celebration of RK Mission Narendrapur School
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The chronology of events; as it happened...
19.02.2007
Pradyut (1986) and Kamalda (1974) contacted me for arranging a Press Conference at Press Club to announce the Golden Jubilee Celebration of our School.
15.03.2007
A meeting was held at Press Club, Kolkata. Debiprasad Bandyopadhyay (1969), Tapanda, Secretary of VidyalayaPraktani (1972), Kamalda (1974), Udayda (1974), Pradyut (1986), Anirban (1994) and myself were present. The Press Club were booked finally for 3 rd
May (the date was deferred due to the sudden illness of Bishnuda). Food packets were ordered. Payments made by Tapanda.
25.04.2007
A meeting was held at Press Club, Kolkata, to review the progress of the agenda of the Press Conference, Scheduled at 3rd May. Tapanda, Kamalda, Udayda, Pradyut, Anirban and myself were present.
03.05.2007
Press Conference held at Press Club, Kolkata. Bishnuda (Secretary of RKM, narendrapur) and Ashokeda (Head master of the School) addressed the press. Tapan
Maharaj (Swami Jogeswarananda) Sharad Mirani and Shaktida were present from Narendrapur. Many ex-students of various batches were also present.
After the Press Conference some of the members of Praktani had a long discussion to pinpoint the role of the praktani in the Golden Jubilee Celebration of our School.
15.05.2007
Again a meeting was held at Press Club, Kolkata and we discussed a serious problem about the differences between the President and the Convenor of the Golden Jubilee Committee. We decided to sit together to solve the issue to make the Golden Jubilee celebration a success. It was decided that we would sit at the office of Kamal Banerjee on 27th May, 2007.
27.05. 2007
The meeting was held as scheduled at the Office of Kamal Banerjee (1974) at Behala. Members present were Tapan Mukherjee (1972), Arijitda (1974), Udayda (1974), Debashish Chandra (1979), Aruni (1979), Pradyut (1986) and myself.
We decided to organise a meeting of representative of most of the batches on 10th June outside Narendrapur.
Tapanda took the responsibility to book the hall. We took the responsibility to mobilise the ex-students to attend the meeting. Tapanda was requested to inform Ashokeda about the meeting to avoid the further complication. It was decided that Tapanda and Pradyut would request Sharad da to attend the meeting.
06.06.2007
Some of us met in the Press Club, Kolkata on immediate basis to discuss the agenda of the meeting of 10th June. Tapanda informed that he has already booked a hall at Bhowanipore for the said conference. Alida (1965) and Samarlalda (1969) were present among the others. We were told that Sharadda will attend the meeting of 10 th June on behalf of the President Praktani.
10.06.2007
In a very short time we could assemble 35 ex-students representatives of 26 batches starting from 1966 to 2006. Sharadda was also present. Many important things were discussed. Many proposals were taken.
It was suggested that (1) An Alumni Register will be made so that we could contact each and every members of Praktani when needed, and (2) A representative of the Praktani will meet Ashokeda and Tapan Maharaj at Narendrapur on 16th June to explain them the sentiments of the ex-students regarding the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the School.
A team comprising of Samarlalda (1969), Tapanda (1972), Dipankarda (1974), myself (1975), Debashish Chandra (1979), Pradyut (1986), Anirban (1994) and Debamalya (2003) was formed who will visit Narendrapur on 16th June.
16.06. 2007
The team led by Samarlalda met Ashokeda, the President of the Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee as well as the Prasktani and explained the present situation to
him. Tapan Maharaj was not there as he was ill (as reported by Ashokeda). We could not bring the two leaders across the table.
After meeting Ashokeda we decided to meet Tapan Maharaj as he was ill. But surprisingly we got to know that he was fit and working in his office in the 1st
floor of the Central Office. We went there and took Tushar Maharaj with us.
We had some heated arguments with Tapan Maharaj, where Tushar Maharaj intervened and fought in support of our cause. In one stage he wanted to resign from the post of the Convenor if two Joint Convenors were added as proposed by the Praktani. However Ashokeda did not oppose the proposal.
Although we was confused, however some important things came into light and two important decisions were taken:
(1) Tapan Maharaj disclosed that he is facing some problems to work with Ashokeda and there is a big communication gap between the two. Tapan Maharaj agreed to have an one-to-one discussion with me and the date was fixed. Tapan Maharaj told me to come at 9 am on 20th June, 2007.
(2) We will have an ex-student meet at Narendrapur on 24th June, 2007. Ashokeda not only approved it, he was even kind enough to announce that the School will provide lunch to all participants.
(3) We decided to meet Shyamalda (Swami Jitatmananda) for his guidance for the preparation of the Golden Jubilee Celebration.
(4) Praktani promised to take active role to make the Golden Jubilee Celebration a success, provided that our sentiment is looked after with due respect.
19.06.2007
(1) Tapan Maharaj cancelled his appointment with me. So there was no scope to hear from him about the problems faced by him.
(2) But Shyamalda agreed to sit with us in the evening. A team comprising of Samarlalda, Arijitda, Dipankarda, Kamalda, Udayda, Nirupamda (1974) and myself went to Swamiji-r bari to meet Shyamalda.
On behalf of the representation, I explained the situation to Shyamalda and requested him to guide us to formulate a concrete proposal which would be permanent in nature.
Shyamalda was very kind to give us two hours and promised to help us in near future. He has also given us some concrete proposals. He also promised to be present at the meeting of 24th June, provided Ashokeda requests him to attend the said meeting.
Compiled by Debdut Ghoshthakur (1975)
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Who am I???
I am 59 years old. I am an ex-student of Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission Residential College. I was a monk of the Ramakrishna Math & Mission and was posted at Narendrapur, Belur Math, Madras Math, Singapore Mission. I was a maths teacher at Narendrapur School. I was headmaster at Barrackpore Vivekananda Mission High School. I am in teaching profession from 1967.
Love for maths or trying to hook fishes? Could he be Hari da, who fled RKM Narendrapur after a scandalous affair...? unlikely though. Any clue, who this self-claiming Maharaj is? Nevertheless, it's interesting to see another deluded ONE trying to return to the mainstream! opens another channel of thought. check out urself!!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Praktani: Update
As mentioned in the last post, Praktani had a meeting on 10th of June to discuss primarily about the Golden Jubilee celebration. The immediate concern that emerged out of the meeting was 'non-availability' of a consolidated/updated contact information of the members (ex-students). they're meeting again on 24th of June. so, kindly inform your respective batches to send atleast one member as the batch representative. we're thinking of a platform to build up the database. for now, a group may be formed to reach out to every alumnus personally. i guess, the recent batches have their respective mail-groups. Praktani will now consolidate this mail-group info and reach out to the moderators to pass on any new communication. this, although an untidy and lengthy process, looks to be the starting step towards the consolidation.
keeping that in mind, this blog will try to bring all the alumni together on the web-sphere. do subscribe to the blog and pass on the message to others as well. those, who want to contribute their write-ups/posts, please do send us your email-ids (preferably google mail), so that we can add you as authors in the blog. we're currently looking for atleast 2 bloggers from each batch. Write to Us at - 
Kindly update your current information from here. This will help us consolidate information until we launch an interactive database. Do write your suggestions.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Noticeboard: Praktani meeting on 10th June
To discuss about the upcoming Golden Jubilee celebration, Praktani (Alumni) has arranged a get-together on 10th of June @ Hazra, Kolkata. it will be great if atleast one representative from each batch can be present there. So, if you're in Kolkata that time, do drop in.
For further details, please contact Mr. Anirban Bagchi (1994 Madhyamik) - cell no:+91-9830942391 | email: bagchi_anirban@yahoo.co.in
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Narendrapur RKM to celebrate golden jubilee
Narendrapur's Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, established on April 22, 1958, plans to celebrate its golden jubilee by starting a year-long celebration from January, 2008. for this they're appealing to the alumni and various sources to raise money.
Swami Satyatnanda, Headmaster of the Mission, said, “The celebrations will include an inaugural function with a five-day-long exhibition (23 to 27 January, 2008), publication of a golden jubilee souvenir, Swarna Smriti, felicitation to monks, members of the staff and persons of qualities and values, teachers’ meet, alumni meet, workshops and seminars, cultural programmes, inter-school competitions, study camp for local school students, presentation of literature and mementos of Ramakrishna, Vivekananda and distribution of clothes and study materials to deserving students.”
Read here [Source: ExpressIndia.com] or here [Source: Yahoo] for more.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Fund 2007
The idea
Never did we imagine to have a strong web presence or an emerging network of classmates like this, say 5 years ago, when we started a small yahoo groups to exchange mails within. the little idea of staying connected gradually burst into a larger stream, and we found many lost faces emerging from different corners of the world - be it to support the beloved organization or having alumni get-togethers.
many, since the inception of this site, have been visiting the place, curious to know why narendrapur.com for a bunch of mates from the 1993 alumni madhyamik? well, the idea is to expand this into a virtual alumni of RKM narendrapur, where all the ex-students, teachers, administrators and current students can come together for anything and everything. imagine the strength that we can amass and then channelize it to support the institution that gave us so much...
share your thoughts; we know we can make a difference.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Ex-students initiative to support poor students
Rubina Khatun is in Class III. She works as a domestic help in the morning, comes to school and gets back to work again in the evening. Though she wants to pursue higher studies, she may not be able to take her Madhyamik examinations. “Amader khamata nei (we cannot afford it),” says the 12-year-old girl. The story is similar for many students in the schools of Vivekananda Education Society, in Jagaddal and Sonarpur, South 24-Parganas. In 1996, the Society had started a non-formal school in a clubhouse in Jagaddal without any infrastructure. The aim was to give underprivileged children in the areas a chance to receive an education. “There was no provision for mid-day meals for them, we only looked after the education part,” explained Saikat Basu, secretary of the Society, who is also a teacher at Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission. That is when a handful of ex-students of Ramakrishna Mission took the initiative to scale up the project.
Read more. [Source: Telegraph]
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Unravelling of a great Mystery
A Drexel University scientist who hails from Egypt announced provocative new findings yesterday about one of the enduring mysteries of his native land: How did the ancients lug the enormous carved blocks, weighing more than two tons apiece, to build the upper portions of the great pyramids? "We have a tough time because we are materials scientists" and not traditional scholars of Egypt, said one of his coauthors, Adrish Ganguly, who now works in the private sector.
Adrish Ganguly is an alumnus of RKM Narendrapur, 1993 madhyamik batch. Read more. [Source: Discovery] Here is Anandabazar Coverage of the story.
