Bobby Chakraborty‘s 482nd global, free-of-cost Anti Addiction Campaign at Government ITI Ranibandh-Bankura was filled with students, or his soldiers, from all engineering and non-engineering trades. They were crying and confessing their mistakes. They joined hands with Bobby and raised their hands in unison, promising their “Commander” to lead a healthy and bright lifestyle, away from all the darkness of addiction (smoking, alcoholism, online gambling through games, abusive language, ragging, bullying, etc.) that society has to offer the youth to destroy them.

The positive response that this awareness program received from the students really astounded the socially conscious College Management, Principal Soumya Chattopadhaya, Event Coordinator Subhadeep Mondal, and all of the instructors in attendance.

Bobby, an actor, activist, and method acting instructor from Kolkata who has been fighting this battle for the past 20 years, and Anjan Biswas, the dynamic Project Head, are unquestionably the strongest soldiers in this series of campaigns taking place at the Government ITIs throughout West Bengal since 2025.

The official photographer of this session was soldier Gobinda Das(Fitter), who was assisted by ‘The Best Friend’ , Soldier Bulet Sutradhar(Fitter). Bulet also presented Bobby with a beautifully handcrafted mask of Goddess Durga, a speciality of Bankura.

The important ceremonial titles were presented to The 1^st Soldier– Joydip Chatterjee (Electrician) and The Trendsetter– Ranajit Pal(Welder). The soldiers who won the concluding quiz contest were Joydip, Sayantan Das (Electrician), and Tapajyoti Mahata (Electrician), who, along with Gobinda, were given special prizes, customised Soldier’s T-shirts, and Community Service Certificates by Bobby.

Long after this highly involved session concluded in their college, the students could still hear the echoes of a soldier’s motto, “I AM THE KING OF MY MIND”, which was the theme of this awareness program.

Priyanka Dutta