Beacon of Hope and Dignity

In Badu, North 24 Parganas, Anandalok redefines care for the specially abled—building dignity, resilience, and hope through community, creativity, and a lifelong promise of compassion

- ANIL SWARUP

In our relentless pursuit of progress, amidst the clamour of headlines that often amplify division and despair, it is easy to lose sight of the quiet, constructive work that forms the true bedrock of our society.

It is this search for the nation’s hidden reserves of strength and compassion that led to the creation of the Nexus of Good—a movement dedicated to discovering, celebrating, and connecting the countless individuals and organisations working tirelessly to build a better India. There isa belief that by shining a light on these “islands of excellence,’ a powerful ripple effect of positive change can be inspired.

Recently, at an event organised by the Kolkata Chapter of Nexus of Good, the audience had the profound honour of listening to the story of Anandalok, the Welfare Centre for the Mentally Handicapped. As their journey unfolded, a hush fell over the room. Here was not just a presentation, but a testament to the enduring power of human empathy—a story that deserves to be told far and wide.

Anandaloks story begins not with grand blueprints, but with a simple, powerful vision. In 1989, four committed individuals—Ashok Sengupta, Bijoy Choudhury, Devika Mallick, and Mala Banerjee—saw a pressing need. They saw families struggling, often in silence, to care for their adult children with intellectual disabilities. ‘They saw the looming question that haunts every ageing parent of a special-needs child: “After us, who?”