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Lakshmi’s House, 3 Regent Park, Kolkata- 700040
91 33-24116262 , +91 83360 69408
ans@saioc.org 
Shri Arunendra Nath Tagore (1914-1975)
- Shri Arunendranath Tagore was born in Kolkata on 15th March 1914 to an illustrious family of Pathuriaghata. A descendant of Raja Ramanath Tagore, he was the third child of Shri Arabinda Tagore and Shrimati Anuja Devi. Anuja Devi was the daughter of Sunayani Devi, sister of Aabanindranath Tagore.
- He grew up in an atmosphere steeped in culture- exemplified by his interest in music and his capacity to play the sitar and the piano mellifluously.
- After he finished his schooling, he joined Presidency College where he came in touch with Shri Jyoti Basu and Shri Siddharth Shankar Ray among others. He married Shrimati Minakshi Devi( Minkudi) in 1937.
- He completed his LLB in 1939, standing first in viva-voce, for which he was awarded the Rash Behari Ghose Medal. He started practicing law and gradually started his own Attorney firm, A.N.Tagore & Co. on Hastings Street. His firm went on to become one of the renowned legal and Tax Advisory firms in the city during those days.
- He had three sons. The eldest, Arup was born in 1939, followed by Joy in 1940 and Barun in 1942.
- It was during this time that he felt a strong inclination towards spirituality which manifested itself when he came in contact with Sri Aurobindo Ashram and the Mother. This was in 1949. Gradually he felt peace and the Divine Power that he was looking for.
- His family, more specifically Minkudi, his wife, was also turning towards the Mother. Finally in 1956, he sent his wife and sons to the Ashram at Pondicherry to remain under Mother’s care. The Mother asked Minkudi to take charge of an Ashram Boarding House, which she named Minku’s Boarding.
- Arunendranath Tagore unfortunately could not join them as the Mother wanted him to stay on in Calcutta. But he took every opportunity to visit the Ashram, to receive the Mother’s Blessings and meet his family.
- Gradually he was introduced to Shri Pradyot Kumar Bhattacharya, Trustee of Sri Aurobindo Ashram who would visit Calcutta every month on engineering Consultancy assignments.
- When this house was offered by Shrimati Lakshmi Devi Loyalka to the Mother in 1967, the Mother named it ‘Lakshmi’s House’ and that it would become the ‘Home of Grace’. She asked Arunendra Nath Tagore to take charge of ‘Lakshmi’s House’ and referred to it as Her home in Calcutta. He moved here in 1968 and remained till 1975, the year he passed away. He had found his true calling.
- The subsequent years saw Lakshmi’s House flower under his able stewardship. The very essence of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother seemed to pervade the atmosphere as more and more people were drawn into the fold.
- Arun Tagore was ably supported by Shri Pradyot Kumar Bhattacharya, Shrimati Rani Mukherjee and other devotees who had gathered around him.
- He made ‘Lakshmi’s House’ the Calcutta office for Auroville and also of Sri Aurobindo Memorial Fund Society and Sri Aurobindo Society.
- Working tirelessly and armed with his legal background, he created on his death bed in 1975, the Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture as a Registered Society under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961.
- 1968 marked the birth of Shakti Centre, our Cultural Educational Unit helmed by Shrimati Asha Rajgarhia, Shrimati Maya Mitra and Shrimati Rekha Mitra. The unit that was started with such love and devotion has been going strong till date.
- 1968 also saw the birth of the Public Library, named as Sri Aurobindo Library – he was instrumental in getting a large number of rare books for the library. It was the foundation of what was to become the Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture Library.
- A laboratory for Science students enrolled in Calcutta colleges to practice their Practical Skills was set up by him in what currently houses Arun Nursery. Shri Subodh Ranjan Moitra, Founder Secretary of the Institute, was the brain behind this unique effort.
- Farming – Hard to believe but fact remains that the present basketball court and Hall of Light was a large tract of land where vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes and paddy were grown.
- In fact, in those days, the Ashram kitchen got its vegetable supply mainly from the kitchen garden. This effort was the brainchild of Shri Sushil Ranjan Moitra, Founder Vice Chairman of the Institute.
- In 1972, Arun Tagore asked the Mother for permission to start a nursery school. The Mother gave her permission and her Blessings. She also named the school Arun Nursery School, much to his embarrassment. Thus on September 04, 1972 the pre-school began its journey and there has been no looking back.
- Shrimati Bharati Dutt, was chosen as the Headmistress of the fledgling school by the Mother. The small seed he had sown with just three children and three teachers is now firmly embedded with strong roots that have dug deep into the soil.
- A fantastic sense of humour characterised him and anyone who came in touch with him will recall the peals of laughter that echoed through the rooms upstairs, specially when Shri Pradyot Bhattacharya was present and there was a circle of friends and devotees assembled here.
- Arun Tagore passed away on 19th July 1975 after a brief illness, leaving Joya Mitter to take over from where he had left.
- A century of his birth has elapsed and it seems but yesterday that he was striding over Lakshmi’s House like a colossus.
Mrs. Shikha Guha
Shikha di was born on 13.April.1948 in Jamshedpur, to Shri Tapas Kumar Ghosh & Smt Gayatri Ghosh. She did her schooling from Sacred Heart Convent, Jamshedpur and her graduation & post-graduation from Ranchi University.
She excelled academically, winning a Gold Medal at the postgraduate level. She taught at Jamshedpur Women’s College for a year before she got married to Shri Arun Kumar Guha on 23.January.1972.
A meeting with The Mother in 1972 at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry completely changed the course of Shikha di’s life.
She went on to immerse herself in selfless service to The Mother at Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture since January 1994.
Although she was most closely identified with the Arun Nursery School in her position as Head-mistress, she contributed at various times to The Future Foundation School, the Public library, Galerie La Mère, the sales counter, the Research wing and in effect, to the entire Institute in countless unseen ways.
Administrative Contributions
- One of the unique things that Mrs. Mitter has introduced is a Day Care Facility for the children. They can come at the normal school time at 8.30 am and leave after dinner. Bus facilities are provided. Mrs. Mitter is a passionate interior designer and children love being there.
- Mitter has also designed and set up a state of the art kitchen and dining facility in three beautiful cottages built around trees. There are lovely ‘etchings on glass’ in each room. The kitchen uses state of the art industrial equipment. Food is cooked using fresh vegetables, poultry, fish and meat. There is no re-use of the best quality cooking oil. The menu is designed to appeal to children and is suitable for their palate.
- Mitter personally oversees the entire admission process of the school. There is a beautifully decorated Reception where prospective parents come to enquire. Subsequently, the entire admission process is handled by her with the assistance of teachers and staff.
- Mitter has trained in Accounts and does the budgeting and resource planning for the school.
- The school has a tie up with reputed hospitals to take care of medical emergencies. The school has a trained medical hand to help out in routine exigencies.
- Mitter is a born Human Resources Manager. She connects to and bonds individually and collectively with her 40 teachers, and more than 60 housekeeping, maintenance, and administrative staff. People confide in her, share their joys, happiness and sorrows with her. She knows all of them, their families, and personally is there for each and every one without exception.
In short, Mrs. Sumitra Mitter is a wonderful combination of a designer of pedagogical innovation, an architect of systems and processes, a person with an eye for detail, passionate in thorough execution, one who will give 100% to her work and expect likewise, and a Team Leader without compare.
Sumitra Mitter (Principal)
Career summary and write up of achievements under her principalship.
- Arun Nursery School was established in 1972. It was named and blessed by the Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. It is promoted by Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture, who have also set up a high school, namely the Future Foundation School.
- Sumitra Mitter, who had been earlier involved for more than a decade as a member of Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture and also as Trustee of the school, took charge after the demise of Mrs. Shikha Guha.
- The school caters to children from 2 years of age to 5 years of age. The four levels are, namely, Toddlers, Nursery, KG I and KG II. Children, after passing out, get preferential admission to the Future Foundation School, or other reputed schools in the city.
- When she took over, the school strength was around 160. The present Principal has taken the school strength to 650 students. She is in the process of creating state of the art infrastructure for the school which will be complete before the forthcoming academic session.
Academic Contributions
- Sumitra Mitter has overhauled the entire curriculum and switched from a traditional to a playway and activity centered approach. Hands-on activities have made the process of learning far more interesting.
- Mitter oversees the learning of every child. One of the ways she does this is by going through the classwork and homework copies of every child on a regular basis. Apart from this helping her gain first-hand knowledge of the learning readiness, habits and issues of each one of her 650 children, the entire exercise also helps in the evaluation of teachers, their corrections, and the remarks they put in.
- Mitter also showcases all the pedagogical work done by the children for the academic session before it draws to a close through an exhibition titled ‘Small Wonders’. Parents are invited, so that they too can see for themselves the pedagogical experiments and endeavours of the school, as well as the collective and individual learning outcomes. Learning thus becomes a celebration.
- Because the school caters largely to working parents, Mrs. Mitter makes it a point to celebrate Grandparents’ Day, for, after all, it is they who give the most time to the children after school hours. She has also introduced the celebration of Mothers’ Day.
- To help children better appreciate the religious and cultural diversity of India, Mrs. Mitter underscores the importance of not only celebrating as many festivals as possible, but also in explaining the special message behind each one of them.
- Mitter has introduced, apart from the study of the mother tongue and English, the study of French in the terminal year of the school.
- The school has a Special Educator who observes and prescribes special handling of children who suffer from learning disabilities. Early intervention has led to successful mainstreaming of many children.
- Mitter also encourages the use of music, yogasana and meditation to improve the learning of children.Mitter encourages aesthetics and discipline in the execution of all work, big or small.