Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

Months after Gazi Jalaluddin’s passing, his two sons are finding it hard to pay teachers, provide midday meals and fulfil his vision of a residential school for girls.

Taxi driver Gazi Jalaluddin, who built three schools in West Bengal (Sundarbans and Narendrapur) for underprivileged children using taxi earnings and donations, passed away on January 9 / All pictures by Amit Datta

Gazi Jalaluddin drove a taxi in Kolkata but his life’s mission was providing education to children from underprivileged families. He founded three schools – two near the Sundarbans and one in Narendrapur – was featured on many newspapers and news clips and was even on Kaun Banega Crorepati hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.

Jalaluddin died on January 9 this year and the dream he gave shape to is struggling.

“We are facing a severe shortage of funds for midday meals and the schools’ financial condition is currently very poor,” Israfil Gazi, Jalaludddin’s younger son, the head teacher of the Sundarban Shikshayatan schools that his father founded, told My Kolkata.

My Kolkata visited the schools in Thakur Chak in South 24-Parganas district, around a two-and-half-hour drive from Kolkata.

Schools built on taxi fares and public donations

Following Jalaluddin’s death, his sons, Israfil and Ismail Gazi, are struggling with severe fund shortages / Image sourced by correspondent

Jalaluddin drove his taxi in central Kolkata mostly and his efforts to provide free schooling to underprivileged children stemmed from his life experience; he missed out on education because his family was poor.

His sons became part of that mission.

“I completed my higher secondary examination in 1999 and began serving as headmaster of the free primary school in 2000, working alongside my father,” Israfil said. “I completed my MA in Bengali, becoming the first in the family to hold a postgraduate degree.”

Israfil said the family established the first school at their ancestral home in Thakur Chak as the Ismailpur Iron Foundation Primary School (IIFP).

In 2006, Jalaluddin met two social activists, Ajit Kumar Saha and Dipankar Ghosh, while driving his taxi. After visiting the school, they helped take the initiative forward. They bought land about 2km from the main school, donated it in the school’s name and built a building where classes began in 2009.

Younger son, Israfil Gazi holds an MA in Bengali; serves as headmaster and manages academic/administrative affairs across the schools

That school, Sundarban Shikshayatan, has eight teachers and 134 students from nursery to Class V.

“A society named Sundarban Shikshayatan was registered to manage the institution. He served as its secretary, with Saha as president and Ghosh as vice president. In 2019, the management was formally handed back to the family through a deed that specified that the institution would provide free education to underprivileged students,” Israfil explained.

The schools operate under separate trusts. Israfil said he formed the Sundarban Shikshayatan Trust on November 3, 2023, after difficulties with the earlier society’s annual registration renewals and audits.

The IIFP is housed in three rooms on the first floor of the family home, with the family living on the ground floor. The school offers classes up to Class IV. There are 95 students with five teachers.

The IIFP has not been able to secure approvals to become a full-fledged school because it lacks sufficient open space for children to play.

About 5km away, Sundarban Shikshayatan has open space that meets the government’s requirements for a school.

Midday meals and teachers’ allowances hit

Teachers receive minor stipends rather than formal salaries, relying on community goodwill

For years, Jalaluddin’s taxi was a crucial source of support for the schools. He collected contributions from passengers and other people to pay for school expenses, including teachers’ allowances and midday meals.

His sons have continued the work, but maintaining the network of donors has become difficult.

“My father would drive his taxi in Kolkata and collect donations from passengers. Now my elder brother does the same. But the donations are irregular. We need government and public support to keep the schools running,” said Israfil.

The midday meals in the schools, funded entirely by donations, have stopped. Teachers receive only nominal allowances, which Israfil said could hardly be described as salaries.

“Children in this school come from families where the parents are toto drivers, tailors, odd-job workers,” Israfil said. “The one-time annual admission fee is around Rs 2,700 and is paid in instalments by the family whenever it is convenient. There are government schools nearby with no proper infrastructure or teachers.”

Sundarban Shikshayatan serves 134 students (Nursery to Class V) with 8 teachers and features proper infrastructure, including open play space

When My Kolkata visited the Sundarban Shikshayatan school, the children were taking their art examination.

The school has six classrooms with a staff room, a green open space with swings, a library and a drinking water facility.

The IIFP has only four classrooms with a terrace for cultural activities.

Ismail Gazi, Israfil’s elder brother, who drives a taxi in Kolkata like their father, continues to collect money from passengers for the institutions. He also oversees the school in Narendrapur, where classes from Class I to Class IV are being held.

“My responsibility in this institution is to collect some money from taxi passengers and bring it here. That’s my duty. If anyone can help us with some books and support for midday meals, then we will be able to run the school even better,” Ismail said.

Government approval remains a hurdle

The family’s application for an official No-Objection Certificate (NOC) remains stalled

The family is also trying to secure government approval. Israfil said an application for a no-objection certificate had been submitted in 2012, but they had received no response.

Recently, Israfil attempted to complete the online application process through the Banglar Shiksha portal. Of the 29 proforma forms, they had completed 27 before the portal closed, leaving the process unfinished.

“If the portal opens again, we will try to fulfil all criteria to obtain the NOC,” Israfil said.

A residential school for girls remains a dream

Jalaluddin’s vision of establishing a residential school for girls (Sundarban Orphanage Mission) remains unrealized

The late Jalaluddin had hoped to extend education opportunities for children in the area through a residential institution offering classes from Class V to higher secondary, to help students continue their studies locally rather than lose access to education after primary school.

“We started the project called Sundarban Mission in 2012,” Israfil said. “A building was constructed under the Sundarban Orphanage Mission and classes were run for a couple of years. However, poor road connectivity made the premises difficult to access during the monsoon. The institution eventually had to close, leaving the building unused.”

He also said that Jalaluddin approached local MLAs and MPs and took up the matter with then Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s office.

Israfil said the road project was eventually sanctioned and completed, but his father died shortly afterwards.

The Narendrapur school is another part of Jalaluddin’s plans.

“The money my father received after appearing on Kaun Banega Crorepati was intended to fund a school for Classes XI and XII,” Ismail said. “As the proposed building has not yet been constructed, the institution currently runs classes from Class I to IV.”

Elder son; continues driving a taxi in Kolkata to collect passenger donations and manages the Narendrapur school branch

For both brothers, the immediate concern is to keep the existing schools functioning. Ismail continues to drive a taxi and collect donations, while Israfil manages the academic and administrative responsibilities.

Bijon Kumar Haldar, a teacher at the school, said, “We appeal to everyone across West Bengal, India, and other countries, wherever this news reaches, to extend a helping hand. This school needs your support.”

Israfil Gazi is aware that the schools need more than that.

“If there is one thing that can save my father’s vision, it is government affiliation,” he said.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online, My Kolkata / Home> People / by Jaismita Alexander / October 28th, 2026