International Educator– Ms. Subhalakshmi Nandi

"Valuable. . . resourceful. . . creative. . . adaptable to the needs of the hour . . ." these apt descriptors describe United Missionary’s own English teacher, Ms. Subhalakshmi Nandi. For these qualities and an impressive resume of academic and creative work, Ms. Nandi  was selected one of the first four Fulbright Exchange Teachers from India to work in the United States.

In the United States, Ms. Nandi spent six months teaching Advanced Placement English, Honors classes, and Creative Writing at Sinagua High School in Flagstaff, Arizona. Ms. Nandi was immediately embraced by the student body who nominated her for the honor of faculty dedicatee at the annual Homecoming celebration. Ms. Nandi shared her expertise in short story writing and literature with students. Her innovative teaching style also included the initiation of India Day at Sinagua High School. During this occasion Ms. Nandi highlighted the music, food, clothing, literature, handicrafts and other cultural aspects of India. Students enthusiastically participated in the activities and many vowed to visit India in the future.

When Ms. Nandi applied to Fulbright, she wrote that she wanted to broaden "the window to the world," for her students at United Missionary Girls’ High School. Certainly, Flagstaff students have grown in understanding and appreciation of India as a result of the window she constructed. In addition to Arizona, Ms. Nandi has taken the story of United Missionary Girls’ High School to Washington, D.C., Colorado and to other Fulbright educators who teach throughout the world. Ms. Nandi is truly an international ambassador who will be a valuable resource for education at United Missionary Girls’ High School and for all Kolkata.

Ms. Nandi graduated from South Point High School in Kolkata and was an honors student at Visva Bharati University in Shantiniketan where she enjoyed "mingling with numerous students of both national and foreign origin. "  She then returned to Kolkata to complete educational coursework at St. Xavier's and a Masters degree at Calcutta University.  Ms. Nandi realized a childhood ambition to become a teacher when she was hired at United Missionary Girls' High School in 1986. 

Ms. Nandi's husband is a journalist and executive; her daughter is an undergraduate law student at National University of Juridical Science in Kolkata.  

 

 

United Missionary Girls’ High School has innumerable assets: a rich heritage, spacious grounds and a dedicated faculty and staff. This is exemplified by the story of one remarkable woman, Mrs. Sashi Mire, affectionately known as Sashi Moshi. Sashi, whose name means the moon, has been a fixture Sashi at United Missionary Girls’ High School. Many teachers who attended school at United Missionary, including Mrs.Anurada Basu, affectionatly remember Sashi from childhood. Sashi has served three generations of students and three headmistresses at United Missionary Girls’ High School. Her personal motto, "Do your job with sincerity and faithfulness," has earned her many admirers.

Ms. Mire’s personal story is one of transcendence. Born in modern-day Bangladesh, her mother died shortly after delivering Sashi and a twin brother. Because of poverty, Sashi’s father gave her to Australian Christian Missionaries. Sashi lived with the missionaries for 25 years, until they left after India’s independence. Sashi attended school up to class 6 and was briefly and unhappily married until her missionary friends again rescued her and found her placement in Calcutta.

Sashi went to work in a Calcutta home that belonged to Mrs. Hoshi Adhikny, a teacher at United Missionary Girls’ High School. Originally, Sashi helped Mrs. Adhikny care for her children. Later, when Mrs. Adhikny became headmistress, Sashi joined Mrs. Adhikny at United Missionary Girls’ High School .

Sashi has many stories of her experiences at United Missionary Girls’ High School. She remembers her first paycheck for 30 rupees plus food and lodging. She is proud of being the first female attendant at the school. And she is delighted that many of the students she worked with when she came to United Missionary Girls’ High School now have grandchildren attending here.

In Sashi’s mind United Missionary Girls’ High School is home. "Kolkata is a good city," she explains, "but it is crowded and full of traffic." She has enjoyed the safe haven of the school grounds. What little Sashi has seen of the world she has experienced on school outings with the children.

As she looks back at her long career of service, Sashi says she is content with her life. Although she has no children of her own, Sashi says she has received ample love from others. She cites her proudest accomplishments as being Christian, doing a good job and earning respect.