Kolkata, September 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A bust of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, one of Bengal’s most prominent educationists and social reformers, was found lying in a forested area beside a children’s park in South 24 Parganas on Saturday, triggering anger among local residents on Teachers’ Day.
The bust was reportedly removed from its original location inside Vidyasagar Children’s Park in Ward No. 11 of Baruipur and dumped among bushes and trees. The discovery has raised questions over the park’s maintenance, security and surveillance arrangements.
The park is located close to the offices of the Baruipur Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Baruipur Municipality. Residents questioned how the bust could have been removed and left in the area despite the park being frequented by locals and visitors.
According to local sources, the bust was installed at the park and inaugurated on September 26, 2020, by Muzaffar Ahmed, the then councillor of Ward No. 11. It was intended to commemorate Vidyasagar’s contribution to education and social reform while adding to the park’s environment for children.
Residents said the condition in which the bust was found reflected a serious lapse and demanded that authorities explain how it ended up in the forested patch.
Vidyasagar remains a significant figure in Bengal’s history of education and social reform. He played a major role in expanding education, particularly for women, and was closely associated with the campaign for widow remarriage. His efforts also contributed to the modernisation of education in Bengal.
“If the bust of a scholar and social reformer like Vidyasagar is found lying among bushes in a government park, it reflects a serious lack of administrative responsibility. The authorities must explain how this happened,” a local resident said.
Residents have demanded that the bust be recovered, cleaned and restored to its original location. They have also sought an inquiry into how it was removed and whether negligence or deliberate action was involved.
A senior government official said the matter was being examined and that an investigation was underway to determine how the bust reached the spot and who was responsible.
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