Rita Farhat Mukand/Siliguri

Tucked in the heart of lush trees, foliage and nature away from Siliguri city's hustle and bustle is a school that has 25 percent of students from neighbouring Bangladesh. The Sacred Heart Residential School is the preferred choice for the Bangladeshi elite to get their children a wholesome and inclusive education.

Priyakee Gupta, co-owner of the school with her husband, who is the founder, Anil Gupta, says, “The parents from Bangladesh particularly want to send their children to India because some of the dads work out of Bangladesh so looking after them properly can become tedious for single moms. Another thing is some mothers are ambitious and want to especially keep their daughters away from the traditional Islamic network of early marriage, and want them to get higher education after schooling, and the best way to do this is to send them to a boarding school out of Bangladesh”

Spread over three acres, the Sacred Heart School stands as a symbol of India’s inclusive syncretic values. As one enters the sprawling campus, a temple stands at the side, infused with the aroma of sweet incense and we hear the temple bells ringing at times. They have a professional team running the school and is managed by the Kurseong Sacred Heart Educational Society.

As I walk through the grounds, I enter the huge lobby with its glistening floors, and sophisticated cool AC ambience and also find an enormous statue of Jesus in the lobby along with polished shelves filled with gleaming trophies and medals.

A cultural show in the school

On speaking about the syncretic presence in the school, Priyakee Gupta says, "We celebrate all festivals equally, Bhanu Jayanti is a mega big event of the year and children willingly take puja Prasad for different festivals. When we sing the Indian National Anthem, we do not push the Bangladeshi students to sing it but they gladly sing the National Anthem along with the others.

“During Eid, Muslim children visit the mosque under supervision. We also give them a special sweet dish on that day. We do not permit any fasts for all children from any religion as they are all under 18, but we allow a kind of vegetarian food if there is a death and a student is following a shradh ceremony kind of observations.

On Easter, students are free to go to church. We also have our lobby with Jesus statues, so Christian students can pray there too if they wish. All the children are encouraged to either go to the temple to pray or the Christian chapel or visit the mosque during their respective festivals, under supervision." 

In December 2023, I was invited to watch to the school to watch a modernized version of "A Christmas Carol", a story by Charles Dickens. All the children spoke impeccable English, acted like professional actors, and sang famous old pop songs of the 1980s enacted by the students over all the classes, and this marvellous major production brought a deeper harmony among the children.

Priyakee says in the kitchen both non-vegetarian and vegetarian food is cooked. “That is fine with everyone because in life, that is how we have to live. Imagine if we are invited as delegates to another country for an event and the veg and nonveg food is all cooked in one kitchen, but we refuse to eat it demanding there should be a different kitchen. It will make things tough for everyone. This is how we learn tolerance."

Girls' hostel

Founder, Anil Gupta has an interesting office with the Bhagavad Gita, the Quran, the Bible, Guru Granth Sahib other Holy books heaped on the side of his table.

Priyakee, a Hindu Marwari, chose the Christian-sounding name of her school for a reason.

“I felt an Indian name would make it more challenging and keep others away while a name like Sacred Heart emits secular vibes. I grew up in a Catholic convent in Kurseong, St Helen’s Convent, my husband studied in St. Joseph. I did my college in a Catholic convent, Loreto College in Darjeeling, My father, uncle, and brother all studied in Goethals in Kurseong which is a famous old Catholic school, that goes back over a hundred years. All our experiences were completely secular and wonderful. I learned human values more than anything. We always were taught a motto, "Do all things well" and that has stuck with me.

“Today, we say the morning prayer, “Our Father Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name, the whole prayer” I consider it a secular prayer praying to the Creator who made us all. Some of our staff are Christians and other religions too. 

The school is planning to install air conditioners in dormitories.

Priyakee says, “I am also a trained counsellor, and we have a counselling team of trained counsellors, as well as a clinical psychologist partner of the school, available anytime who comes once a month to the school and also a therapist. Our career counsellors give them grounding advice. The children open up to share their problems, some are from broken homes and are shattered, and others suffer from depression, and without violating their confidence, they pour out their problems. The children who come for help go out feeling healed and happy. The NEP NCF legislation is underway as well. We are into holistic learning. music, dance, sports, acting, and drama along with standardly excellent education.

Stuidents singing carols on Christmas

“Our Muslim girls from Bangladesh in the hostel feel their life is beyond marriage and they want to achieve something great in their lives. When I talk to girls, I say, "Pita, pati, then Putra", is that what you want or more? Is your life going to depend on these three people? I tell them they have to be educated, and do it as an assignment like a volleyball shot to help them become independent, and later you will be happy and rich. Be passionate, and look after your parents and grandparents. This generation will not be putting their parents or grandparents in old people's homes."

What makes you feel that children should not put their parents or grandparents in an old people's home, what if they need to travel elsewhere?

She said, "We want our children to learn deeper values of life such as taking care of their old parents and grandparents. There are always ways to incorporate families to support each other and it's a matter of choice and decision. Our ultimate goal is to teach our children human values," says Priyakee. “ We want our children to evolve into spiritually holistic beings with good human values, not only in mind and body.

Priyakee and Anil Gupta, founders of Sacred Heart School, Siliguri

“I go by the motto I learned at St Helens School, Kurseong, "God and my duty," also Deus et officium meum which means to strive, to persevere, to achieve, in Latin. I also have another inspirational aim that has stuck with me, "Do all things well" and I want to do my best in everything I do, with commitment, dedication, and accountability because the highest force is always watching you - God and Karma and it will come back to you," she says with passion.

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A school that inculcates deeper values, inner healing, and spiritual holistic learning with its core of inclusivity as the strength of its fabric is indeed an inspirational school model.

Rita Farhat Mukand is an independent writer.