Celebration of 75th Indian 🇮🇳 Independence Day was conducted at the Bhutnath Mayamaya Girl’s High School located in Tangra, Kolkata West Bengal India. Two NGOs, namely ECHO (Educational Counselling and Helping Organization) and SAB (The Science Assiciation of Bengal) joined hands in sensitizing students on major achievements on various realms of Indian Science and Technology, Environmental and Biodiversity Conservation, Phillumeny demonstrations, and by showing a documentary film on Conservation of tigers.

The Science Association of Bengal (SAB) and the Educational Counselling and Helping Organization (ECHO) jointly participated in the celebration of the 75th Indian Independence Day on 16th August between 1:30-3:30 pm at the Bhutnath Mahamaya Girl’s High School, 56/H/8, D. C. Dey Road, Kolkata 700015. The program was graced by both SAB and ECHO representatives for highlighting the importance of education and awareness as well as the significance of our Independence Day among the students through interactive lectures, open discussion, documentary film highlighting both progress and challenges faced by the nation since her independence on August 15, 1947.

Ms. Mallika Boral, the honourable Principal introduced the guests and initiated the workshop that was followed by Dr. Subhobroto Roy Chowdhury, Secretary (SAB). He highlighted how science and technology in post independent India has helped towards the economic growth of the nation by meticulously highlighting upon the role individual scientists and their contribution.

Next Ms. Sutapa Bardhan, Secretary, ECHO (Educational Counselling and Helping Organization) emphasized upon the importance of mental health and counselling among the school students. The vote of thanks was delivered on behalf of ECHO Ms. Santwana Basu (Treasurer) and Ms. Tillotoma Dey (Member) and received a huge applause from the participating students. The members of SAB and ECHO jointly released the latest issue of Bijnan Mela (Science Fair), the flagship magazine of SAB. The program was a grand success

Eminent environmental and agricultural scientist, Saikat Kumar Basu made a colorful presentation on the illegal wildlife trafficking to the students. He highlighted on the various anthropogenic and natural factors contributing to the global loss of biodiversity. He highlighted that without taking care of the human populations living adjacent to the forest no conservation efforts would ever be successful. The students had a large number of questions for him which was answered with great enthusiasm.

The collection of match boxes is known as PHILLUMENY. Mr. Gopi De Sarkar an acclaimed Kolkata based journalist has been collecting match boxes for the past five decades and has a collection above couple thousand matchboxes. He has organized several workshops, produced documentary films and published books based on their personal collection representing the entire globe including India.

He demonstrated the students, the use of match box images to make public aware of tiger conservation is a priority as tiger is an apex predator of their ecosystem. Mr Gopi De Sarkar is therefore contributing towards biological conservation in his own way of communicating education abs awareness by using his hobby as a leading Phillumenist.

Most of these match boxes not only serve as a tool for lighting ovens, candles, lanterns, pipes, cigarettes or cigars; but at the same tine provides an important message of tiger conservation. Why is this important? Because every tine an individual uses the match box, he or she is reminded that as an apex predator tiger needs protection to conserve our ecosystem. If our apex predator (or the flag ship species) is protected we can secure the health of the entire ecosystem.

The tiger family pics or pics of tiger and cub(s) are an essential emotional connection to an individual user by linking it to his or her own family. A simple image but yet so powerful in its statement to connect it to the user instantaneously. The messages of conservation communicated through match box cover is an illuminating act demonstrating how a powerful image could change our thoughts. His presentation was very well received by the students. 

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