How Author Biswajit Jha Changes The Lives Of Helpless Children In West Bengal After Quitting High-profile Media Job In Delhi
Ten years ago, everything seemed perfect for Biswajit Jha in Delhi. He was working as a sports head of the news portal of Zee News in Delhi and leading a fun-filled life with his friends and family. His son was just born, and his wife was planning a different life for them in Delhi. Then, just when everything was going smoothly for him, Jha made a decision that changed not only his life trajectory but many unprivileged children of North Bengal.
Biswajit Jha quit his high-profile job in Delhi and, along with his son and wife, came back to his village in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal to work for underprivileged children. After almost 10 years, he now runs one school in his village for underprivileged kids, many free-coaching schools in the tribal areas of the Alipurduar district and one innovative CBSE school which includes organic farming in its course curriculum in Cooch Behar.
He is now lovingly called ‘Boi Dada’ (Book Dada) by his students and tribal villagers of northern parts of West Bengal as he provides books to many poor students who can’t purchase books.
Jha, born and brought up in a humble family in a small village called Rajganj in Jalpaiguri district, said, “When I grew up, I did not get enough support. I wanted to learn English, but I did not get a teacher. One day when I was in class eight, my father requested a geography teacher from my village to teach me English, but not only he refused and insulted my father by saying that I was useless and learning English was not my cup of tea.”
“When my father came home in a dejected mood, I promised him that not only I would learn English, but I would definitely make you proud one day,” Jha further added.
“I was a very stubborn type of person from my childhood. So I took it as a challenge and started learning English on my own. I had no idea of basic grammar like ‘tense’ or ‘voice’ before I was in class nine,” said Jha, who now dreams of opening English learning educational centres in every village of North Bengal.
“When I was in class eleven, I first got my hands on an English newspaper. When I started to read the newspaper, most of the words were uncommon. So then I bought a dictionary and started to learn English on my own. And after just eight years, I got a job in an English newspaper as a reporter and wrote in it,” said Jha.
Jha has written two books in English. His debut book Bike Ambulance Dada is on the Padma Shri-winning social worker Karimul Hak, a tea garden labourer who gives free bike ambulance services to the poor people of his area. His inspirational book will soon be screened as a mainstream Bollywood movie.
But the initial days after quitting the job were not easy for Jha. But once he met Karimul Hak, he got much-needed mental support. Inspired by Karimul’s dogged determination and never-say-die attitude, Jha started to work for the poor children of his area by giving them free education.
“After quitting my job, I faced a lot of hardship in the initial days. But after meeting Karimul, I understood that my own problems were much lesser than his challenges. So I thought when a tea garden labourer, who earns a meager Rs 3000 per month, can undertake such a path-breaking journey, I can also fulfill my dream of serving the helpless children of my region,” Jha added.
“After working with Karimul Hak, I thought I should write a book on this nobleman. I felt the need for the story of Karimul Hak to be known by everyone and get inspired to work for fellow human beings. I was lucky that Penguin decided to publish the book, which was selected as one of the most inspiring books of 2021, along with the book of Indira Nooyi. I am happy that the book will soon be turned into a Bollywood biopic,” Jha said.
And there was no looking back after that. He started teaching in a small school his father ran in his village. He also set up many more English learning centres for the village students who don’t have access to English learning.
He also ran a football academy in his village for poor children. The football academy also produced many talents like Manoj Mohammad, who is currently playing for ISL champion team Hyderabad FC and Kalpana Roy, who represented India at the under-19 level in women’s football.
“The three years I ran the football academy was one of the most satisfying moments of his life. I helped so many poor children of my village to become football superstars.”
Jha said he wants no child to face the same hardships and rejections he faced in his childhood. The journalist-turned-social entrepreneur, whose mission is to help the talented children in the northern parts of West Bengal, is considered among the country’s under-developed regions.
When Covid-19 broke out, he found many children, especially those living in the tribal belts and tea garden areas, were out of school. That’s when he, along with his wife, Dr. Sanjukta Saha, who worked as an Assistant Professor at IMS, Ghaziabad, before quitting her job and coming back with her husband, started to run free tribal coaching schools in different tribal villages of Alipurduar district.
“It was a very grim situation in the tribal villages in Alipurduar district where government schools were closed due to the lockdown, and the children stopped studying altogether. So we thought it’s our duty to help these underprivileged children by setting up these coaching schools for them,” said Jha.
“When we were running these schools, I heard that one girl of Cooch Behar district-- Supriya Debnath-- was about to quit her study because she had to sell lottery tickets along with her mother as her father was ill and bedridden. We immediately rushed to her home and found that the girl was eager to continue her studies,” described Jha emotionally.
Jha then assured Supriya that he would take care of her study from now on. After Supriya, he assumed the responsibility of bearing the cost of education of as many as 50 more girl children. Many more people came in to support Jha as he took responsibilities for more girls.
“Many people now give them free tuitions. Many are donating books and other learning materials also. That’s how I am able to take care of so many girls’ cost of education,” said Jha.
Not only Supriya but girls like Kalpana, and Mousumi, who are good in sports, are also continuing their passion due to the efforts of Jha.
He has recently started his own NGO, which is helping the helpless young talents in the regions in the fields of education, sports, dance, karate and other areas and domains. Moreover, the ‘Book Dada’ is now planning to take books to every corner of his region and among the poorest with his dream ‘Mobile Library’ project.
“I want every child should get an opportunity to read because only education can change the fortunes of these underprivileged children,” Jha concluded.
About Author:
Suvam Pal, a freelance journalist, author and documentary filmmaker
