Institute of Exploration of Kolkata, India

Early Days

A young man in 1971 with his friends organised civil society to pursue adventure in India. The society was formed as  The Institute of Exploration the office of the Institute was at central Kolkata near Raja Subodh Mullick Square. It was a chamber of a medical practitioner Dr Manindra Lal Sarkar who was a regular visitor of the Himalayas and active supporter of such philanthropic activities.

The Institute was registered under West Bengal Societies Act 1961. The citizens were not aware of such an act and its office at Kolkata. The culture on mountaineering was a regular topic when the members used to meet at this office during the evening hours. The Himalayan Club published the Himalayan Journal five-volume was donated by the club. A book titled The Himalayas by D Mordeca was published from central Kolkata which has the details of peaks of the Himalayas with latitude,  longitude and climbing details. It was published in 1962.

The members who had signed the Memorandum, Rules, and Regulations of the Institute.

Our President was Sailendra Nath Chakraborty who was a bachelor and working as an accountant of a private company. he was a regular visitor to the Himalayas.

The Vice President was Gyan Dutt a cartographer officer of Government of India, Ministry of Science & Technology, National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation

Dr Robin Chatterjee with whom I had first interaction at Disaster Training Center of Indian Red Cross Society at Gokul Boral Street, He was a seasoned volunteer, a bachelor a permanent resident of Chincura, Hooghly.He had drafted the Memorandum, Rules, and Regulations of the Institute.

Sanatan Bhattacharya, an employee of State Bank of India, he was our mentor on mountaineering, he was a serious trekker, he was our leader of the first successful mountaineering expedition to Central (20620fts) & Lion (20100fts) of Barasigri glacier of Himachal Pradesh in 1972.

Amar Roy, a photographer, the home town was in North Bengal.

Dibeyesh Roy a resident of Central Kolkata who joined Kolkata Police. In his family, they had printing types which helped us to take proof of a letterhead for communication with various official communication.

Manash Bardhan, a good looking person at the age of 70 years now resides in Hooghly district.

Sushanta Kumar De a college student and NCC, senior division  Cadet of Army wing who took initiative to make the Institute to grow.

Durand Cup 2019

At the heart of Kolkata city the maidan area and surroundings are defence land for law and order matter the Kolkata Police look after that and HQ Bengal Area looked after other issues. The Victoria Memorial Hall, Rabindra Sadan, Press Club, and other athletic and sporting clubs, all are located in this area. To protect the area judiciary helped has been extended.

The various clubs at the maidan had exclusive space in their gallery for Armed Forces personnel including veterans. The identity of the entry the identity card issued by the Army and Zila Sainik Board. I am not sure about the present status of this arrangement. I have watched the matches from this gallery in 1980 to 1982.

This year Durand Cup was organized outside the Delhi. The number of sports lovers who watched this tournament may be more. The organizer is the HQ Bengal Area.

Lt General JFR Jacob (R) PVSM, a keen lover of football and supporter of Mohan Bagan Club. I had to update to him whenever I had the opportunity to meet him maybe in New Delhi or at Nasik.

The final match of the Durand Cup held at the best stadium in our country. Thanks to the lobby to bring Durand Cup at Kolkata. Spectators had the opportunity to watch the matches at Kolkata Maidan, Howrah, and Kalyani. The title song of the Durand cup should have included the song of Bengali film on Football.

AIR Hindi commentary

AIR Bangla

The Week

To understand INA and Indian Independence League and there role for our country

Quite often some important initiative which has been undertaken by a nonprofit organization is unnoticed and not recognized by the national authority.

A young officer of the Territorial Army was associated with an exhibition of the Indian Army where effort was made to highlight the activities of the Indian National Army (INA). in the second world war in east Asia. It was mainly displayed monochrome visuals supplied by the Netaji Research Bureau, Kolkata.playing the INA songs, address of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose from various radio stations and projecting films of black and white of Films Division. The outfit of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose was displayed. The exhibition was organized by the HQ Eastern Command in May 1984.

This was an inspiring activity for the young officer He was able to contact living Ex  INA personnel at Kolkata and Chennai. and also got the contact detail of Ex INA who have settled at Kulampur, Malaysia.

The Indian National Library and State Central Library both are located at Kolkata. A reasonable number of printed books are available for consultation. They were approached to the organized program to display these important publications. The Indian National Library not acted on this request, it was brought to the notice of the authority.

The State Central Libray agreed to organized a joint program at the library with the Young Explorers' Institute for Social Service of Kolkata.  The School  Education Directorate of  Government of West Bengal advised the schools located at Kolkata, North, South  24 Parganas and Howrah was advised to join the program. The Field Publicity Directorate of Government of India sponsored the prizes for the competitions. The Sub-divisional  Information & Culture office of Bidhan Nagar conducted the competitions.

The National Thematic Mapping Organisation of the Government of India prepared a route map of the world where Netaji Subash Chandra Bose landed for the freedom of India.

The State Central Libray had a good number of books in Bengali and English languages on INA and Netaji Subash Chandra Bose.

Our Indian Historical Council organized programs on INA and Indian Independence League. The Asiatic Society also organized a program on this subject.

Recently the National Libray has inaugurated galleries of 4 Indian stalwarts including Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. These galleries are having visuals only.

The State Central Library may consider having a separate collection on INA which may be developed an interest in the subject by organizing a lecture, debate, quiz e.t.c.

Kindness by a shepherd at Indian Himalayas

It was in 1975 in Indian Himalayas, I was with the Japanese Self Defence Force (JSDF) as a Liaison Officer of Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) IMF We were 12 Japanese and 7 Indians. We went for  climbing a peak, named Sickel Moon in the Jammu  of J&K. This peak was then virgin.

It was in the month of July to mid-September. We had only one member who was in the earlier experience to be the part of  expedition to this peak in 1973, it was a joint expedition with the Indian Army and JSDF.

We had walkies talkies that we're able to communicate Advance Base Camp to upper camps.

One day one shepherd reached the Base camp with some milk local product for me. He came from a distant place, he was going back in the evening at his location, I had inquired about his location, I thought it may not be good to return at this time. He stayed at our camp and left his place in the next morning. 

We had an accident at the summit camp, we lost two lives Lieutenant Takachi of JSDF and Havildar Ang Chotar, a Sherpa from Darjeeling, West Bengal, This team had no doctor, we had to approach the nearest Medical Officer for the death certificate. 

A rescue team went to summit camp to bring down two dead bodies. The shepherd was among the rescue team, he brought down Havilder Ang Chotter's body all the way from summit camp. The aluminum ladder was used to carry the body, it took 48 hours to come down to Base Camp.

The shepherd only requested some excess rice to give him for his stay at that altitude for his remaining period of stay thereat.

I do not forget his kindness until today.

Citizens and society role on volunteerism

Citizens and society role on volunteerism

There is a phrase in the Bengali language that if you do not have any work fry the rice puff. The citizens have the attitude to work for the society as a volunteer which is not so important for the society,  it may be fashion. But in India, there is a long history to work self less or society.

The big  landlords creating water bodies, school and health center were some of the good work for the society, this tradition was maintained for the years. Arrangement of drinking water for the pedestrians and the animals and birds during the summer was to earn the good deed for society.

Various educational institutions were established and maintained over the years for primary, secondary, higher education and libraries are some of the examples.

In West Bengal women who had to sell commodities at the local market and brought up her son as a doctor to run a medical hospital for the poor. She could not treat her husband for lack of money. Now the poor people are getting treatment at a very low cost or no cost basis at this center.

The needy students are studying various professional courses their tuition fees are reasonable the state is sharing the cost for which a poor men’s contribution are there. After the education these professional people earning from society without any paying back to society. In Scouting and Guiding there is a practice to do good turn on each day is one of a good example for the citizens.

The resources for such philanthropic works are from the public, corporate, government and foreign funds. Now these funds are so many stakeholders. It is difficult to identify organizations.

The Niti Ayog of Government of India has a portal where NGOs have to registered their information on line. This portal is not the only gateway for the Government of India’s fund.

Volunteer  to work during his/her own time may be on holidays or after his/her lively hood work

Volunteer is working for an orgaisation with an International /National /Regional perspective

Working environment in Urban/ Semi Urban/Rural are different.

Each volunteers who is doing volunteerism they must be recognized at the appropriate level, this has a role to play by the civil administrator  at National/State/District/Sub Division/Block level and also by the employer for their employees.

There are volunteers who donate their own organ after the death for the benefit of the man kind such donation to be appreciated  (mentioned) at his or her death certificate

Book distribution to schools

Books distribution to Schools

PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR GRANT

Project Title: Book Distribution to Schools

Name of Agency: The Young Explorers’ Institute for Social Service

1.       DETAILS OF IMPLEMENTING AGENCY

1.1	Registered official address	C 2/8 Karunamoyee Estate, Salt Lake sector II, Kolkata 700091
1.2	Registration No Registration Certificate of The Young Explorers' Institute for Social Service	S/75488 of 1993-94,
1.3	Whether the amount given to the Organisation is exempted from Income Tax Act 80(G)	Yes, we have been granted the same in term of Office of the Directorate of Income Tax (Exemption) Kolkata, No DIT(E)0218/8E/146/98-99 of dated 02/12/2011,
1.4	Name of the principal Bank with address and Bank A/c no in the name of the Organisation (Cancelled cheque )	State Bank of India, AE Market Branch, AE Market, Kolkata 700064, SB A/c no 10527195101, the canceled cheque is enclosed
1.5	PAN No	AAATT6912C,
1.6	Principal Act and Bye-Laws by which the organisation is governed Memorandum, Rules & Regulations of The Young Explorers' Institute for Social Service	Memorandum and Rules and Regulations,
1.7	Certificates of Audited Accounts of Income and expenditure of last 3 financial years duly audited by a Chartered Accountancy Firm	a)  2015 -2016, b) 2014-15 & c) 2013-14
1.8	Confirmation that the assets created from the donation /financial assistance shall eventually rest with the organisation and shall not be passed on to any Private Party	It is included in the audited reports

I NATURE OF ACTIVITIES

The Young Explorers' Institute for Social Service

I ) To encourage developing a sense of life, general outlook, mutual cooperation, and promotion of knowledge by way of training and practice. Our representative joined programs held at Kolkata, Ranchi, New Delhi, and Darjeeling, these were organised by International, National  Institutions, Details are in the Annual Reports 2013 – 2014,2014-15 & 2015-16

II) List of major activities were undertaken during the past three years :

Training of youths on endurance (wall climbing) at Yuva Bharati Kriangan,

Discussion on national importance on the “Role of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose & Indian national Army for India’s freedom movement,

Discussion on a career  in  Indian Army, visit of Fort William

On line training scope with the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent.

                            III) Any partnership with an agency like Central or State Govt or other

a)      Vigyan Prasar ( An autonomous organisation under the Dept of Science & Technology, |Government of India) , as Science club, the Xerox copy of their letter allotting unique authorization no.

b)      Rabindra Bharati University for programs

Discussion on national importance on the “Role of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose & Indian national Army for India’s freedom movement & Discussion on a career  in  Indian Army

c)       National Book Trust of India as authorizes booksellers.

d)      Program on Role of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, INA and East Asian’s countries for India’s freedom movement

i)                    Government of West Bengal

School Education Directorate, Memo no 2252(5),SC/P of dated 31^st Dec 2007

ii)                  National Cadet Corps Burdwan Group, letter no  0155/74/G of 24 Dec 2007

iii)                West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) for the enlistment of our organisation, allotted no WBPCB/KLKTA/038  and financial support on 27/03/2001

iv)                Department of Environment, financial grant Rs 20,000 on 7^th February 2000 & Rs 15,000 on 10^th March 2001

Government of India :

v)                  National Atlas & Thematic Organisation letter no Misc-Tech/Div VII -2007 of 12^th December 2007,

Films Division, Films despatch note dated 7.1.2008,

vi)                Directorate of Field Publicity Office Chinchura, letter no 2(2)/2007-Prog of dated 05/01/2008 & Burdwan letter no 29/4/2000-Prog/722 of 26^th  Feb 2001.

vii)              Science Centre Burdwan, letter no BDN-112/2 of 16/02/2001,

viii)            Song & Drama Division order no CAL/1101201/08 P&P /237 of 24/12/2007

ix)                National River Conservation Directorate, Ministry of Environment & Forests: Public Participation and Awareness Programme letter no P-13001/15/98/rd-nrcd/cal/660 of 8/12/1998

x)                  National Service Scheme of Achutram Memorial College, Jhalda, Purulia letter of 27/03/2002.

            2.1.   Description  of the projects /Scheme in details

2.1. We proposed to distribute books to the schools which are located in the state of. But in the first phase, we would like to distribute books to 40  Schools, it will be in the school libraries .in the West Bengal

a)  Display donor’s name this will be pasted on each book, we are in receipt of their consent in writing.

2.3. We would like to request you kindly consider to sanction to purchase books @ Rs 3000 per school (National Book Trust of India (NBT)  

3.Objectives to be achieved

To encourage for developing a sense of life, general outlook, mutual cooperation, and promotion of knowledge among the students, teaching and nonteaching staff

3.1. Section of the society to be benefited from the project

Students at large teachers and nonteachers,

3.2. Approximate no of beneficiaries

a) Students  20000, b) Teachers 400 & c) Non Teachers 600.

4. Details of Schedule and phase-wise requirement of fund for implementing the project

a) Placing an order for books, Collecting the books, pasting donor’s details on each publication

and arranging publications for distribution 2 weeks

b) Informing the School authority for delivering the books

c) Delivering and collecting receipt of books from the Schools.

5. Revenue Expenditure on the following items and table

Sl no	Items	Estimated cost	Next  yr
1.	Communication	780	780
2.	Printing and stationary	820	820
3.	Cost of books	120000	120000
4.	Transportation	19500	19500
5.	Publicity	3900	3900
	Total	145000	145000

6.1 Publicity a) All the books will be pasted the sticker of  donor’s name

b) We will post the details on social media.

c)  We will request  the donor to hand over the books to the Schools authority.

We do also hereby declare that the above information is true to the best of our knowledge. For any misstatement of facts. we shall be liable for civil/criminal action. Further the undersigned undertakes to submit ‘Utilization Certificate’ in the prescribed format within reasonable days of the receipt of any amount if sanctioned.

                                                                                       

Scope of more adventure activities in Jharkhand

Rock climbing training is the first step towards adventure activities. In West Bengal, there are few spots where this training is imparted those are in South Bengal, in the districts of Bankura and Purulia. It is only possible during the winter season. The duration of such training is generally is four days. The instructors are from local volunteers. A pattern of training schedule is followed.

The equipment is having at the clubs located in the state of West Bengal. The allotment of training sites is made by an agency under the Youth Service Department of Government of West Bengal. This agency also grants funds for the adventurous activities of this state.

The certain climbers and clubs do visit the Jharkhand area for rock climbing activities, it may be better a comprehensive plan can be worked out so that young people can master the art of climbing.

This was suggested during the session at the Travel & Tourism seminar jointly organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce, Kolkata.