Interview with Late Mr. Monomoy Banerjee 01/06/1936 - 21/08/2007
Managing Member and Secretary to the Board of Management -Dr. Graham’s
Homes
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By: Ruchika Gurung ,Valerie Moraes, Tenzing Paldon (Excerpt from Thorough Magazine 2006) Q. How has your life in the Homes effected your real life? Sir: It has effected
my real life in a big way. First of all there was the attraction of coming
back to the place where I grew up, where I grew up in the sense that I became
matured person. On the other hand our only son and daughter-in-law being away
at Singapore and my wife teaching in Calcutta, it was quite a dilemma to
choose which way to goand there were objections
from all quarters except a good doctor who said that if you are going to die,
you may die right now, you may not even die in your own house, you may die
while traveling. So I thought at this age, I must make a decision, whatever
little contribution I can make as an average man to go and to make a bigger
ideal my objective in life, so I decided to come back despite being away from
my family. Q. What has been your fondest memory in
the Homes? Sir: Actually, If I go back
to my childhood, I lost my parents at a very young age but whenever I used to
sit down to study my mother who taught me till class five because I didn’t go
to any school then told me that I would become the headmaster of our village
school and as luck would have it, I one day became the headmaster of this
institution and I only remembered her and as a tribute to her and also till
date I think which is an unthinkable proposition, being the first
non-Christian to come to an institution to be the headmaster as a dream and
that dream came true. Q. What was your first reaction when you
came to the Homes? Sir: When I joined from the Q. You’ve come from a different locality,
a school with different systemns and
administration. How do you hope to integrate your innovative ideas into a
system which has been there for a 100 years? Sir: I am absolutely certain
that when one goes to a place, the place doesn’t adjust with him but it is
one who has to adjust with the place. Fortunately in my case I have the
knowledge and experience of this place. This place is still a model in many
things in academic as well as pushing forwards in other aspects. I don’t
think that an individual can make any dramatic changes suddenly. To me,
except Dr. Minto there |
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hasn’t been anyone who has made any revolutionary
changes. He is an ideal person to me because he made the barefooted children
put on shoes and also made the central kitchen possible through economic
conditions. He stressed on the slogan, “To walk this Earth with dignity:. Otherwise there have been many people who have
contributed to the system and helped it thrive. Q. What things would you like to change or
implement into the school? Sir. To be very honest with
you I don’t think there could be anything immediately changed but at the same
time not to change is to follow the path of stagnancy. Our children have
changed along with this institution. One should be proud of how the girls and
boys passing out of here have attained great success. I have only been an aid
to guide then and encourage them. There have been some dropouts for sure, but
those with capabilities have made something out of their lives. I don’t have any
distinct views that this should be done. I’ve always been a doer rather than
a person who tell then not to do it. We should always encourage and help in
guiding them. Q. What heights do you think this
institute has achieved? Sir: This school has great
possibilities. I believe that the spiritual side to an institution always
adds to an encouragement when difficulties arise. This place has faced many
difficulties during these 106 years. But as time moves it has to run at a
faster pace to compete with other institutions. Therefore, nothing should be
taken for granted, the future depends on the hardwork put in by the hardwork
of the people who want to achieve greater heights. Q. Why did you plan to join the Homes, was
it the location, the innocence of the people or a reason personal to
yourself? Sir: First in 1964 I came to
Victoria School Kurseong. Coming from the plains
where all is dim and grim. I came to DGH for the sports, the wide open space
and lovely surroundings. Wherever I stayed the place was always too small for
me but when I came here it was different. I felt that I was a different
person altogether. Also, I loved this place and intermingled with everyone. Q. People have had high expectation on you, do you feel you have lived up to them? Sir: I am a mediocre person
and I have never had any regrets, I’ve always looked at the high mountains
and I have tried to follow the great people who have left great marks in
their lifetime. I may not have made a Tendulkar
achievement in my life but somewhere down the line I’ve been a responsible
teacher and have takenthings as they’ve come. Its upto people to decide if I have let them down, which I
feel I haven’t or I’ve lived upto their
expectations. |
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It is with profound grief and sadness I
inform you that our beloved Mr Monomoy Banerjee, Managing Member and Secretary to the Board of
Management left us for his heavenly abode on Tuesday, 21st August, 2007. We had a special condolence service in the
Katherine Graham Memorial Chapel at 8.30 am, on the same day. We also had a very
touching and befitting memorial service on Monday, 3 September, 2007 at 1.30
pm, which was attended by the students of the senior school, teachers,
employees, many OGBs & Principals of different
schools in Kalimpong. Mrs Banerjee
and her son, Raja, were with us for the service which was followed by the
interment of ashes in the The children,
teachers and employees shared the grief and loss with Mrs Banerjee,
her family and friends. Mrs Banerjee and her son, Raja, left for Mr Banerjee will be remembered in a very, very special way
by all. |
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