RP Shaha's legacy for the betterment of society

Kumudini Hospital at Kumudini Complex under Mirzapur upazila in Tangail. Photo: Star

“My institutions are my greatest achievement.” These were the words Ranadaprasad Shaha, born in 1896 and a great philanthropist of the sub-continent and martyr of 1971, used when he was asked about all his welfare institutions. When he was 7 years old, he had to endure the loss of his mother due to lack of healthcare for her tetanus infection during her childbirth.
After his mother's passing, Ranada was sent to his uncle's house in Manikganj and later on, he moved to Kolkata. While there, he got involved in various kinds of work including porter and male nurse. Later on, through various businesses, he managed to accumulate a sizable amount of wealth.
The need for basic rights for women such as honor, social standing, education and empowerment was realized by this self-made man more than a hundred years ago. Through the use of his accumulated wealth and time, he decided to try and make his realization, which at the time was considered very progressive, come to life.
About 80 years ago, he had established the Kumudini Welfare Trust, in honor of his mother, to ensure human welfare, enlighten citizens, women's education and treatment facilities for mothers.
The welfare programmes started in his birth place at Mirzapur village near the then sub-divisional town in Tangail in the erstwhile Mymensingh district of East Bengal.
The activity of the Kumudini Hospital was started with the initial name “Shova Sundori Dispensary” in 1944.
To ensure women's education, he established Bharateswari Homes at the same place in 1945.
He also established Kumudini Women's' College in Tangail town (the college went under Government control later on) in 1943 and Debendra College in Manikganj town on the same period (also went under Government control).
During the Liberation War in 1971, the Pakistani military, with the help of local collaborators, abducted RP Shaha from his Narayanganj residence on May 7. They also abducted his younger son Bhabani Prasad Shaha Robi. Both father and son have been missing since then.
Soon after RP's disappearance, his younger daughter Mrs Joya Poti took over the responsibilities as Chairman and Managing Director and continued to serve the Trust, till 1999. The present Chairman and Managing Director is the only grandson of RP Shaha, Razib Prasad Shaha, who took over responsibilities in 2000.
To meet the dreams of RP, the Trust later established Kumudini Nursing School in 1973, Kumudini Women's Medical College in 2001, and Kumudini Nursing College in 2007 at Mirzapur.
The Trust also established Kumudini Handicrafts in Narayanganj in 1983 as part of the self-dependent process for the many neglected women in the society, including the mothers and daughters, who sustained losses during the Liberation War.
Recently, the Trust has also taken various programmes for the welfare of autistic children in the country to honor the memory of RP's autistic son Durga Prasad Shaha.
Durga was the eldest among RP's two sons and two daughters and he died in Kolkata in 1985, at the age of 47, and was cared for like a child by his family until his death.
Due to their own personal suffering through many types of social issues, the Kumudini family have a very intimate interest for it in the society as well.
Programs that they offer for disabled children include creating awareness about autism, social rehabilitation process for the autistic children and setting up ideal institutions for education and training.
On August 27, the trust arranged a workshop on “Autism Human Endeavour” at the Principal Protiva Mutsuddi Auditorium in Bharateswari Homes in Kumudini Complex in Mirzapur.
Principal Protiva Mutsuddi, director of the Trust, attended and addressed the workshop as the chief guest.
Also present were, Shreemotee Shaha, director of the Trust and RP's daughter-in-law, Dr Dulal Chandra Poddar, director of Kumudini Hospital, principal of Kumudini Women's Medical College Dr Abdul Halim and its superindent Dr PK Roy, principal of Kumudini Nursing School and College Rina Cruiz and acting principal of Bharateswari Homes Protiva Halder addressed the workshop as well.
The speakers vowed to serve for the betterment of human welfare and keeping RP Shaha in their hearts.  
Protiva Mutsuddi, an Ekushe Lorient, during her speech, said that the Trust is standing on the contribution of Jhetha Moni (RP Shaha).
“People call him (RP) a 'Danbir' (philanthropist), though his family had no wealth. If so, then how did he become one? He earned his wealth by hard labor and spent it all for the welfare of society,” she said.
The veteran educationist also urged the rich people in the country to follow in the footsteps of RP Shaha and stand beside the humanities with their abilities.