Background

EICS was aptly named after an Englishman, an agricultural graduate of Cornel University, Leonard K Elmhirst who came to Santiniketan in 1921 at the invitation of Rabindranath Tagore to work for the materialization of his ideas on Rural Reconstruction. Keeping the ideas and views of Tagore and Elmhirst, Prof Nabakumar Mukherjee a senior faculty of Agriculture College, Visva Bharati University took an initiative to create a community centre to work for the village folk in a simplest possible way- the way Tagore and Elmhirst had done. Prof. Mukherjee’s dream was turned up and EICS came into being in 1983, the principal objective of which is to engage itself in social welfare and developmental work through various projects with special emphasis on the problems of women and children in rural areas and also to address the problems of under-served or disadvantaged group of community. 

Approach to Development Work

The organization’s integrated approach to development work is aiming to make villagers self-relient and self-respecting and competent to make efficient use of resources for the fullest development of their physical, social, economic, cultural and intellectual potential & abilities, to get them acquainted with the resources of their own and to make them well known to all basic community services.  The organization believes utilizing village resources as well as local human resources can do all types of development. Outside charity is mere help to villagers unless united efforts of the villagers have the active role to make their villages developed in all aspects.  The organization designs development work in view of that it will be appropriate and effective if it is grounded in the needs, local knowledge and aspiration of affected community who are the primary stakeholders in development.

Elmhirst Insitute of Community Studies ( EICS ) was aptly named after an Englishman, an agricultural graduate of Cornel University, Leonard K Elmhirst who came to Santiniketan in 1921 at the invitation of Rabindranath Tagore to work for the materialization of his ideas on Rural Reconstruction. Keeping the ideas and views of Tagore and Elmhirst, Prof Nabakumar Mukherjee an Agricultural Economist and a senior faculty of Sriniketan took an initiative to create a community centre to work for the village folk in a simplest possible way- the way Tagore and Elmhirst had done. Prof. Mukherjee’s dream was turned up and EICS came into being in 1983, the principal objective of which is to engage itself in social welfare and developmental work through various projects with special emphasis on the problems of women and children in rural areas. 

Elmhirst Institute of Community Studies (ECIS) started it's journey with moral support of eminent rabindra sangeet artist Padmashree Kanika Banerjee,  the founder chairperson of EICS and with the blessings of Sitar Maestro Bharatratna Pandit Ravi Shankarji, who was the Chief Patron & laid the foundation stone of EICS. The journey continued with the passionate association & immense help of Mr. Peter Cox, Dr. Moni Nag, Prof. Nimai Sadhan Bose, Prof. Amian Dutta & many other eminent personalities.

Below is the Governing Body of Elmhirst Institute of Community Studies.

FOUNDERS:

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  Founder: Late Naba Kumar Mukherjee

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  Founder Chairperson: Kanika Banerjee

Chief Patron: Sir David Green

Members of the Governing Body (2020-2021)

Director: Sri Priyam Mukherjee

Advisors and Honorary Consultants

1. Sri Jawhar Sircar, IAS, Former CEO, Prasar Bharati, Broadcast Corporation of India
2. Faruck Haidar, Management Specialist (Communication, Organisation & Human Resources Development, London.)
3. Rezwana Chowdhury (Banya), Eminent Rabindra Sangeet Artiste, Bangla Desh
4. Sri Srikanta Acharya, Eminent Rabindra Sangeet Artiste
5. Mamata Shankar, Eminent Dancer and Actress
6. Dr. Amitava Mukherjee, Formerly of the United Nations, and LBS National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie
7. Dr. Debabrata Mittra, Former Professor, Cardio Thoracic Dept. S.S.K.M. Hospital, Kolkata
8. Sri Shyam Swaran Bhattacharya, Corporate Service
9. Smt. Sridatta Gupta, Sr. Programme Manager, Parisar Asha, Mumbai
10. Smt. Sumita Samanta, Writer and Editor
11. Sri Sushovan Adhikary, Reputed Artist and Art Critic, Former Curator, Kala Bhavana, Visva Bharati