Empowering a girl child

In, one of “those” family meetings at home brought up this idea to help a girl child from my alma mater to achieve her dreams. It was my mom who initiated the talk on this cause in the memory of our “DaddyMa” who passed away on July 21st 2020.

For me, she has been an important pillar. She was with me when I learned my first alphabet to the day I left home for the next section of my academics. She lived on for 88-90 years and in this big lifespan travelled many different places — most being Hind Motor, a small suburb in Kolkata.

St.Xavier’s School holds a special place in my heart. The school has been one of the biggest foundation stones of my life such that I keep going to the place. My dad and my uncles have studied in the school. We (my sister and I) followed the same suit. All of this possible only because of the grit and will of my grandmother.

Education has been a core of our family. Our family moved to Sahibganj just because of the school. The School was started around 1950s as with 4 students.

Hence, in honour of our grandparents — specially to my “DaddyMa”, we are instituting a scholarship to empower one girl student every year.

Here is an excerpt from the initiative.

P.R. Saraswati & P.K Gopal Krishnan Scholarship for empowering a girl child

Our grandfather and grandmother relocated to Sahibganj in 1967 with the purpose of getting their children educated at St.Xavier’s. We value their efforts and feel extremely grateful to have inherited the path which they created.

This scholarship is in the loving memory of our adored grandmother “Saraswati Krishnan” – a lady of strong will, to acknowledge her contributions in our journey throughout our childhood, school, and beyond.

A sum of Rs 25,000 will be awarded to a girl student from the senior section, showing a strong sense of empathy, leadership and the willingness to take initiatives for the welfare of society. She should appear as a beacon guiding and encouraging others to follow in her footsteps.