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CALCUTTA YMCA - A GROWING MOVEMENT

The lesson we learn from the history of Calcutta YMCA is that if a YMCA wants to live, it is not enough to work to maintain the status quo. It must grow, because it is a growing movement. And the secret of growth as revealed in the history of YMCA is to discover new and larger fields of service into which the love of Christ compels an Association to enter. Only by making use of this secret will the Calcutta YMCA be assured of a second century. An impressive start toward the end was made in the sixties, a decade that has few parallel in Calcutta YMCA history. Besides acquiring property and erecting buildings for its service projects, the Calcutta YMCA launched new programmes, re-organised its social service ventures, remained in the national main stream, made headlines through its illustrious members and on the whole laid foundations for the coming decades.
The major developments took place during the last 40 years may be mentioned here in short:--------
            College Branch, which during the Overtoun Hall days was a tremendous influence on the educational life of the city , carried on its rich traditions over several decades, popularizing its debating forum through lectures, debates and symposia and raising the forum to the level of a national institution with 1965 gloriously ushering in the golden jubilee. The services of B.B.Chakraborty, the Hony. Secretary of the forum was officially recognized. The golden jubilee observance was an occasion for Calcuttans to recall the glorious days of Overtoun Hall when it vibrated with the voice of such celebrities as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, J.C.Bose; Netaji Subhas Bose, C. Rajgopalachari, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. B.C.Roy and many other distinguished men of the day.
            A significant happening at about this time was the dedication and formal inauguration of the new building at the Wellington Branch. The new 51-bed working men`s hostel on the sprawling campus of the Wellington branch was formally inaugurated by His Excellency Dharma Vira, the governor of West Bengal, before a large gathering on the Basketball court on September 20, 1968.
The urban expansion of the YMCA in this time was sustained admirably as typified by the formal opening of the new quarters of the College and Boys Branch at 111, Vivekananda Road following purchase in 1969 at the Oxford Mission property. The formal opening , after necessary renovation , was kept for January 1970. However on June 6, 1970, A.K. Sen, President Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, formally opened the Branches, Mr. Justice D.N. Sinha, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court and former Actg. Governor of West Bengal, was the guest in –chief.
            The year 1970 had more than its share of inaugurations, Following closely on the basis of the College Branch opening was the Boys Town inauguration at Dayabari, Ranaghat, Nadia district. A beginning toward the Boy`s Town was made with 26 orphans one bright summer morning when they landed in a gleaming matador with J. N. Mukherjee and Brother Andrew. The boys were picked up from streets and Railway platforms numbering 50 were placed under the care of a Superintendent and a Matron, a husband and wife team. The home took care of orphans in the 5 to 8 years age group, irrespective of caste , creed, or religion.
            Following the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, the Calcutta YMCA was active in relief and rehabilitation of refugees streaming into West Bengal through Bongaon boarder in 24 parganas district. The Army authorities temporarily requisitioned the Ranaghat Boys Home and the YMCA secretaries, some form outstation, were pressed into work. JN Mukherjee was deeply involved in this refugee work and he was loaned out to the National Council`s Refugee Services Committee. After his resignation in 1972 he was commissioned by the World Alliance to start a YMCA in Bangladesh, a rare distinction for a Calcutta YMCA Secretary.
            The epic sporting event of the seventies, the 33rd World Table Tennis Championship in Calcutta, in 1975, afforded YMCA an opportunity to parade its proudest Table Tennis stars and organizers on the international scene.
            The Youth need opportunity, guidance to use his energy and enthusiasm is something constructive for his own character and for the community; and friendship which will understand him and help him to understand himself. Toward these broad goals the YMCA`s UNI-Y addressed itself. The University YMCA was inaugurated at a historic function in Chowringhee Branch before a large gathering of College Students in 1976. The UNI-Y provided college goers with a forum of debates, lectures, symposia, drama and an opportunity to develop leadership qualities. For the YMCA, the UNI-Y was a market place of ideas for “tomorrow`s leaders today”.
            Preceding the formation of UNI-Y in Calcutta was the HI-Y, High School YMCA, making its debut on the Calcutta scenes on February 17 , 1976. The HI-Y replaced the Boys Work programme of the YMCA. With its motto of clean sportsman ship and clean living, the HI-Y became an instant favourite with the Boy`s section with some local Schools near the College Branch forming units of the HI-Y in Calcutta especially in north.
            During the eighties a massive rural development programme titled Integrated Rural Development Project was continuing with its base in the Ranaghat YMCA complex. The Centre for Social Development, Delhi under the guidance of Dr. Prodipto Roy, x-member, planning commission prepared detailed feasibility report based on which the IRDP was launched with financial help from the Bread for the World, West Germany. The integrated approach towards total development of villages covered nearly all the villages of Nadia District south. Similar activity was also started in Habra-Machlandpur after establishing a Rural YMCA unit with cooperation from Lutheran World Service in 1981.
            The years of nineties are marked for skill development training for the rural youth. The terry Waite Vocational Training Certre was constructed in Ranaghat YMCA complex with all modern amenities to conduct training in various skills viz. Electrician, Television repairing and assembling, Tailoring, Nursing, Air conditioner repairing , Radio repairing and assembling , Beautician and plumbing . The YMCA was able to provide training in these skills to thousands of sponsored selected by Ranaghat, Chakdah, Krishnanagar, Baharampur Municipalities under the Govt`s D.R.D.A. programme. It also happened that to manage the huge rush of students, a new three storied house was purchased in Baharampur, Murshidabad district to divert a considerable no of trainees there. This programme earned a huge name in the Govt. circle particularly the rural development ministry. This project was possible with the financial assistance received from Overseas Development Administration, The British Government , Y Care International and above all Mr. Glyn Evans, General Secretary, Swansea YMCA, Wales who had also initially organized International Work Camps for the Young YMCA members from all over U.K. in cooperation with local and National Council of YMCAs in U.K. The Calcutta YMCA organized all these Camps locally in the Ranaghat YMCA.
                        All these achievements were possible because of the dedication and zeal of a number of very sincere laymen who directed the YMCA and a band of very hardworking sincere Secretaries who had rendered absolutely professional service to the great organization.



	CALCUTTA YMCA - A GROWING MOVEMENT The lesson we learn from the history of Calcutta YMCA is that if a YMCA wants to live, it is not enough to work to maintain the status quo. It must grow, because it is a growing movement. And the secret of growth as revealed in the history of YMCA is to discover new and larger fields of service into which the love of Christ compels an Association to enter. Only by making use of this secret will the Calcutta YMCA be assured of a second century. An impressive start toward the end was made in the sixties, a decade that has few parallel in Calcutta YMCA history. Besides acquiring property and erecting buildings for its service projects, the Calcutta YMCA launched new programmes, re-organised its social service ventures, remained in the national main stream, made headlines through its illustrious members and on the whole laid foundations for the coming decades. The major developments took place during the last 40 years may be mentioned here in short:-------- College Branch, which during the Overtoun Hall days was a tremendous influence on the educational life of the city , carried on its rich traditions over several decades, popularizing its debating forum through lectures, debates and symposia and raising the forum to the level of a national institution with 1965 gloriously ushering in the golden jubilee. The services of B.B.Chakraborty, the Hony. Secretary of the forum was officially recognized. The golden jubilee observance was an occasion for Calcuttans to recall the glorious days of Overtoun Hall when it vibrated with the voice of such celebrities as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, J.C.Bose; Netaji Subhas Bose, C. Rajgopalachari, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. B.C.Roy and many other distinguished men of the day. A significant happening at about this time was the dedication and formal inauguration of the new building at the Wellington Branch. The new 51-bed working men`s hostel on the sprawling campus of the Wellington branch was formally inaugurated by His Excellency Dharma Vira, the governor of West Bengal, before a large gathering on the Basketball court on September 20, 1968. The urban expansion of the YMCA in this time was sustained admirably as typified by the formal opening of the new quarters of the College and Boys Branch at 111, Vivekananda Road following purchase in 1969 at the Oxford Mission property. The formal opening , after necessary renovation , was kept for January 1970. However on June 6, 1970, A.K. Sen, President Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, formally opened the Branches, Mr. Justice D.N. Sinha, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court and former Actg. Governor of West Bengal, was the guest in –chief. The year 1970 had more than its share of inaugurations, Following closely on the basis of the College Branch opening was the Boys Town inauguration at Dayabari, Ranaghat, Nadia district. A beginning toward the Boy`s Town was made with 26 orphans one bright summer morning when they landed in a gleaming matador with J. N. Mukherjee and Brother Andrew. The boys were picked up from streets and Railway platforms numbering 50 were placed under the care of a Superintendent and a Matron, a husband and wife team. The home took care of orphans in the 5 to 8 years age group, irrespective of caste , creed, or religion. Following the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, the Calcutta YMCA was active in relief and rehabilitation of refugees streaming into West Bengal through Bongaon boarder in 24 parganas district. The Army authorities temporarily requisitioned the Ranaghat Boys Home and the YMCA secretaries, some form outstation, were pressed into work. JN Mukherjee was deeply involved in this refugee work and he was loaned out to the National Council`s Refugee Services Committee. After his resignation in 1972 he was commissioned by the World Alliance to start a YMCA in Bangladesh, a rare distinction for a Calcutta YMCA Secretary. The epic sporting event of the seventies, the 33rd World Table Tennis Championship in Calcutta, in 1975, afforded YMCA an opportunity to parade its proudest Table Tennis stars and organizers on the international scene. The Youth need opportunity, guidance to use his energy and enthusiasm is something constructive for his own character and for the community; and friendship which will understand him and help him to understand himself. Toward these broad goals the YMCA`s UNI-Y addressed itself. The University YMCA was inaugurated at a historic function in Chowringhee Branch before a large gathering of College Students in 1976. The UNI-Y provided college goers with a forum of debates, lectures, symposia, drama and an opportunity to develop leadership qualities. For the YMCA, the UNI-Y was a market place of ideas for “tomorrow`s leaders today”. Preceding the formation of UNI-Y in Calcutta was the HI-Y, High School YMCA, making its debut on the Calcutta scenes on February 17 , 1976. The HI-Y replaced the Boys Work programme of the YMCA. With its motto of clean sportsman ship and clean living, the HI-Y became an instant favourite with the Boy`s section with some local Schools near the College Branch forming units of the HI-Y in Calcutta especially in north. During the eighties a massive rural development programme titled Integrated Rural Development Project was continuing with its base in the Ranaghat YMCA complex. The Centre for Social Development, Delhi under the guidance of Dr. Prodipto Roy, x-member, planning commission prepared detailed feasibility report based on which the IRDP was launched with financial help from the Bread for the World, West Germany. The integrated approach towards total development of villages covered nearly all the villages of Nadia District south. Similar activity was also started in Habra-Machlandpur after establishing a Rural YMCA unit with cooperation from Lutheran World Service in 1981. The years of nineties are marked for skill development training for the rural youth. The terry Waite Vocational Training Certre was constructed in Ranaghat YMCA complex with all modern amenities to conduct training in various skills viz. Electrician, Television repairing and assembling, Tailoring, Nursing, Air conditioner repairing , Radio repairing and assembling , Beautician and plumbing . The YMCA was able to provide training in these skills to thousands of sponsored selected by Ranaghat, Chakdah, Krishnanagar, Baharampur Municipalities under the Govt`s D.R.D.A. programme. It also happened that to manage the huge rush of students, a new three storied house was purchased in Baharampur, Murshidabad district to divert a considerable no of trainees there. This programme earned a huge name in the Govt. circle particularly the rural development ministry. This project was possible with the financial assistance received from Overseas Development Administration, The British Government , Y Care International and above all Mr. Glyn Evans, General Secretary, Swansea YMCA, Wales who had also initially organized International Work Camps for the Young YMCA members from all over U.K. in cooperation with local and National Council of YMCAs in U.K. The Calcutta YMCA organized all these Camps locally in the Ranaghat YMCA. All these achievements were possible because of the dedication and zeal of a number of very sincere laymen who directed the YMCA and a band of very hardworking sincere Secretaries who had rendered absolutely professional service to the great organization.