Anwar is a commerce graduate from St Xavier’s College, Kolkata. He also holds a post-graduate degree in law from the University of Calcutta. Having grown up in Kidderpore, Anwar knew too well what ails his people — drugs, poverty and the lack of education.

“A few locals and I started a school in ward 79 in 1969. A few months later we opened another one in 1970,” recollects Anwar. In 1985, the slowly growing chain of schools got registered as Sir Syed Group of Schools. Today, three formal schools and six non-formal schools are running successfully in Kidderpore, Garden Reach and Tangra. However, a majority of these schools awaits government recognition although they cater to more than 850 students.

The schools have turned out to be a boon for the deprived sections among the minorities, primarily Muslims. They have given an opportunity to exceptional students for finding a way out of their gloomy present. Nasreen would have continued selling tea like her mother had she not been offered a place in one of the group’s schools. She has cleared her class X. Sarfaraz and Husne Ara, two other students, even won a scholarship. “From the very beginning, our emphasis was on modern education and rational thinking. And we worked with a belief that besides administration the community, too, is responsible for its up-keep,” Anwar said.

While educational opportunities helped newer generations in Kidderpore join the mainstream, Anwar’s efforts didn’t neglect the youth. In the 90s, the group set up a 15-bed hospital in the locality for treating drug-addicts and alcoholics. This experiment brought Anwar in direct confrontation with the drug-peddling gangs. However, over a period of time, this effort also met with a success with the people’s active support.

“Kidderpore was once a hotbed of drug-peddling. Drug agents found that it was easier to exploit poor people for selling drugs. Things, thankfully, are much better now,” Anwar said.

But has one man’s efforts in organising community resources helped? Yes, feels Anwar: “We have observed a change. People have started visiting health centres. For polio or otherwise, you don’t have to search them out. More girls are taking up studies at schools. Girls are also going out to work.”

Despite so much happening, there are forces, political and social, that don’t want the change to set in. “There is always an undercurrent that tries to destroy your efforts. Once you start some work for a good cause, chances are that you get aligned with some political outfit. We have not comprised, though it is very tough to continue with no political attachments. At times, political interests don’t let you grow and change. But you have to move on,” Anwar said.