SIR stirs concern, revives horror of partition, says awarded teacher

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) being carried out by the central government has recalled the horrors of partition and the hardships and disgrace faced many decades ago, opined a recipient of the President's Award as a National Teacher.

- HEMANT JACOB Hooghly, 18 August

Speaking at a discussion titled "Partition: Painful Bengal and Bengalis," organised by the National Service Scheme of Balagarh Bijoy Krishna Mahavidyalaya, Mr Bidhan Chandra Sarkar, who was the main speaker, narrated his horrifying and painful experience while crossing the border into Bengal and Indian territory.

"I climbed the barbed wire fence and then, on being caught, passed days in detention camps, undergoing inhuman humiliation. Gradually, colonies were formed. Then, the struggle for food and shelter began. It was soon realised that the only way out of this helpless life was education. They took the initiative to build schools in the colony-dwelling areas of Balagarh," Mr Sarkar recalled.