Marking 100 years of the Siddhi Bala Bose Library Association, City Bengali Club is organising a centenary celebration which will include various events spanning the next 12 months.
The centenary celebrations commence on January 12, to coincide with Vivekananda Jayanti. The Minister for Public Works Department, Rakesh Singh, will be the chief guest at the inaugural function.
Institution office bearers and organising committee members inform that the institution was established with the aim of promoting the culture, art, language, and literature of the Bengali community and preserving this rich heritage.
It was named in honour of Siddhi Bala Bose—the wife of Rai Bahadur Prabhat Chandra Bose. The land registration of the institution was completed on January 24, 1925. The first president of the institution was Rai Bahadur SN Varat (1925-1929), and the first secretary was NL Mukherjee (1925-1932).
Over the years, several prominent personalities have served the institution as office-bearers and members, including former President Pranab Mukherjee, Rai Bahadur Prabhat Chandra Bose, Tulsi Das Banerjee, Manaranjan Chatterjee, SC Varat, Dr RN Chatterjee, SK Mukherjee, JB Sen, KC Niyogi, and Justice CP Sen.
The centenary inauguration will feature the unveiling of the centenary balloon, logo, and flag, the launch of a centenary song, the honouring of distinguished guests, recognition of office-bearers from other Bengali institutions in the city, along with a music programme by renowned singer Rajshekhar Basu.
Marking the centenary year, the postal department will release a special cover on January 24. The centenary year will also witness tree plantation, a performance of the famous play Lajja by the New Palli Theatre Group of Delhi on March 2. A number of social, literary, and cultural events will also be held throughout the year.
On this occasion, a centenary pillar will be erected in the institution's premises, and a statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will be installed. The Kali temple will be adorned with attractive lighting, and the institution's building will be decorated. This year, preparations are underway to celebrate Durga Puja in a grand manner.
President Subrata Pal, Chairman Professor Gayatri Sinha, Chief Coordinator Dr Abhijit Mukherjee, Secretary Prakash Saha, and a host of office bearers and members presented the precursor to the year-long celebrations.
