The headmaster of a high school in Burdwan town battling hard to overcome deadly colon cancer and possessing five international research papers on Botany has been selected for National teacher award by Centre’s Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Dr Subhas Chandra Datta (in picture), the headmaster of Kanchannagar D N Das High School in Burdwan has received a communication from Mr G Vijaya Bhaskar, director, Department of School Education & Literacy, MHRD yesterday, stating that he has been selected for National Awards to Teachers 2018, which will be conferred on the Teacher’s Day on 5 September. After short-listing a bunch of incumbents, state’s Commissioner of School Education, Dr Soumitra Mohan, on 9 August had proposed six names from Bengal for the award in which Dr Datta from Burdwan (East) and Dr Kalimul Haq from Durgapur in Burdwan (West) were included. The MHRD finally picked up Dr Datta’s name. Dr Datta incidentally was honoured with state’s Siksha Ratna award in 2018. Former Project Officer, Burdwan (East), Mrs Sharadwati Chowdhury reportedly asked Dr Dutta to send application for the award, he said.

Dr Datta said: “My research is centred with life of plants and derivation of life-saving benefits from the plant extracts. So I hunt for life, which taught me not to get frustrated with cancer.” He continued: “My colon cancer was detected in April 2016 and I was eligible to avail 18 months leave for my treatment but I was back to my school within three months just because my research works and my school dragged me back to track and I have always remained grateful to them.”

Dr Datta joined as an assistant teacher at Ayodhya High School in Kanksa block (now in Burdwan – West) 23 years ago. In 2007 he assumed the charge as the headmaster of Kanchannagar D N Das High School. Apart from his research work and teaching, Dr Datta is more known to the locals for his dedication for the birds. He has planted multiple nests on the great banyan tree within his school compound where he is nursing the birds since seven years. Multiple birds like Black Hooded Oriole (Bou Katha Kou), common Myna, Oriental Magpie (Doel), besides common parrots are always seen chirping in the surrounding. The tree and the teachers, non-teaching staffs and even the students at Dr Datta’s school volunteer labour for the winged guests by arranging food and water for them. Dr Datta also volunteered setting up an Echo Club at his school too and progressed further on his research works on nutritional garden. The school was recognised as the best innovative school by the state in 2017 and a teacher Mr Basudev Mondal was chosen as the best teacher in the district.

Dr Datta had earned patent right in 2005 for his work on Acacia Auriculiformis (Sonajhuri) extraction for preparing pesticide to kill fungal and bacterial infection on plant roots.