With the setting up of the first scholarship in February 2005 for a resident in the orphanage, Probini started sponsoring Surjyo Sen Anath Shishu Sadan. The scholarship will pay for all costs - food, clothing, tuition, books, medical - for a school-going child residing in the orphanage.

Background: On January 1, 1983 a Surjyo Sen Anath Shishu Sadan (children's orphanage building) and Vidyasagar Sanskrit Mahabidyaloi (college) were established in the rural, evergreen area of south-central Bangladesh. It is located in Malikanda village of ChoudhurirHaat post office of Uzirpur upazila (sub-district or police station) of Barisal district. The orphanage was named in honor of the anti-British Indian independence leader, martyr Surjyo Sen, and his followers, many of whom gave their lives for the cause of Indian independence. A publication of the institution pays homage to the following martyrs and revolutionaries: Ambika Chakraborty, Gonesh Ghosh, Ananta Singha, Loknath Ball, Ms. Pritilata, Ms. Kalpana Datta, Ms. Sabitri Debi, Apurba Sen, Tarakeswar Dastidar, Ramkrishna Biswas, Amarendra Nandi, and Ardhendu Dastidar. Most of these early 20th century revolutionaries either lived in Chittagong area of southeast Bangladesh or in Uzirpir's neighboring Gour Nodi area.

Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, Ocean of Knowledge, on the other hand was a 19th century social revolutionary and a truly enlightened person who contributed immensely toward Bengal and Indian Renaissance. Through these institutions its founder-president Mr. Ranjit Kumar Roy and other committee members hope to preserve the memories of such Bengali luminaries. (Incidentally, at Gandhi Ashram of Noakhalil, Probini has set up seven scholarships in honor of seven martyrs who were murdered by the Pakistan Army and its Bengali Islamist allies during Bangladesh's struggle for liberation from Pakistan. All of those murdered were Gandhian pacifists belonging to the minority Hindu community.) The orphanage is guided by 11 principles. Some of those are: creation of a self-sufficient nation, serving the nation through the orphanage, eliminate racism (casteism), eliminate dowry, help educate poor, orphaned and meritorious students.

At present Surjyo Sen orphanage has 50 students divided almost equally between boys and girls between 5 years and 16 years - the age for completing 10th grade and take School Final Exam. Although the area is agriculturally very productive, yet there are a large number of poor residents in that rural area, thus there is unmet educational need in Uzirpur. With the scholarship provided by Probini, a small part of that need would be met. Vidyasagar Sanskrit College employs five professors and three additional employees for 98 students attending the college, vast majority of them from the traditionally oppressed castes.

Probini Foundation is proud to be able to help the orphanage and wishes its continued success.

Report by S G Dastidar