Blog

Part I: Rooted with Purpose

Posted on 13.07.2026

A Familiar Presence

Most mornings, I hurry into school much like everyone else. The school day begins with a sense of purpose and momentum, carrying us from one task to the next. There are classes to prepare for, assignments to discuss, students to meet, and a dozen thoughts competing for attention. In the midst of this rhythm, it is easy to overlook the familiar sights that form part of our everyday landscape.

And yet, I have become increasingly aware of a mango tree that stands just outside our school gate. I cannot claim that I pause every morning to admire it. More often, I notice it later from the corridor, its branches stretching above the boundary wall, sheltering the entrance to the school. Over the years, it has remained a constant presence through changing seasons, examinations, vacations, farewells and fresh beginnings. What is interesting is that this familiarity did not emerge from any grand moment of revelation. Rather, the tree grew meaningful through repeated glimpses from the corridor and the experience of everyday school life. 

Perhaps that is why the metaphor of the tree continues to resonate as a symbol of education. There is something intriguing about the parallels between the two; both nurture growth quietly, patiently and often unnoticed.

The Story Beneath the Surface 

Like a tree, a school draws its strength from roots that are not immediately visible. Birla High School traces its origins to 1941, during the uncertainty of the Second World War, when a group of visionary individuals came together with a shared belief in the transformative power of education. From its modest start as Hindi High School with just twelve students, the institution has since grown steadily, adapting to changing times.

Beneath this growth lay a consistent belief in education as a means of nurturing thoughtful, responsible and capable individuals. As curricula, pedagogies and contexts evolved, this belief remained firm, shaping the institution’s journey. Renamed Birla High School in 1997, the school entered a new phase of expansion while remaining anchored in its foundational ideal of creating an environment where learners feel secure, respected and encouraged to think independently.

When we speak about happiness in schools, we often think of celebrations, achievements and moments of success. The deeper dimensions of happiness, however, lie elsewhere: in a child’s sense of belonging, in the assurance of being valued, in the freedom to ask questions without hesitation, and in the feeling of being part of a caring community.

The Voices That Sustain the Tree 

The roots of a school lie in its history and its guiding principles, but they draw strength from the people who nurture them every day. Parents and teachers become the living custodians of this shared purpose, and their voices reveal how the school’s values are lived, experienced and carried forward.

Ms H. Sadriwala, parent of Mufaddal A. Sadriwala (Class X), reveals that a parent's choice of a school is rarely guided by academic reputation alone. "I wanted a school that looked beyond academics, and Birla High School (Moira Street) stood out among the top schools in Kolkata for its emphasis on holistic development through extracurricular activities, counselling, fests and opportunities to engage with real-world problems," she says. What began as a choice soon evolved into a continuing connection with the school through its structured engagement with parents: "The orientation programmes do much more than introduce the curriculum. They help me understand not just what my child learns, but how and why he learns it." What delights her most, however, is not a report card but the conversations that continue at home: "He comes back excited to tell me about the models he has made, his club activities and the responsibilities he gets during fests." Listening to her, one realises that a child's happiness often begins with the feeling that school is a place where they truly belong.

Every classroom offers its own opportunities and challenges, calling upon teachers to adapt and respond with sensitivity. Reflecting on this, Dr Sreetamaa Gupta, Head of the Department of Biology, shares what she believes lies at the heart of a meaningful learning environment.

“There is no single formula. It changes from class to class and day to day. Whenever a student asks a question, I don’t evaluate it first. I just say, ‘That’s a good question,’ or ‘Thank you for that question.’ It immediately tells them their voice is welcome.” Small affirmations shift the tone of a classroom from hesitation to participation. Participation, she believes, often begins with feeling acknowledged.

Teachers today are navigating a dynamic educational ecosystem that demands constant reinvention. “Technology becomes meaningful only when it evolves with the learner. We cannot rely on the same methods and expect engagement from a generation that is already creating, coding and exploring on their own,” Dr Gupta notes, emphasising that teaching must remain relevant if learning is to feel alive rather than mechanical. For her, the goal is not simply to introduce new tools, but to ensure that every student feels connected to the learning process.

Above all, she returns to the foundation of learning: trust. 

“Sometimes students need to say, ‘I might fail,’ and hear us respond, ‘Okay… no problem.’ Mental well-being is not about removing difficulty; it is about learning to move through it.” In that acceptance, she suggests, lies the essence of a classroom where learning is not confined to instruction, but shaped by understanding and presence.

Towards the Light

The happiness of a school does not remain limited to its roots. Like sap rising through a tree, it moves outward, taking shape in classrooms, conversations, friendships and shared experiences of growth. As the mango tree extends its branches towards the sky, learning too reaches beyond structure into a wider world of exploration. It is in these expanding spaces that curiosity deepens, talents emerge and the joy of learning begins to take form. In the next part of this reflection, we follow these branches as they reach towards new possibilities.

#Cbseschoolsofkolkata #Kolkata #Education #Kolkataschools #mentalhealth #happinessquotient

Enna Dey
Department of English
Birla High School, Moira Street
Senior Section

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