C.M. Anglo Bengali College

People walk past our gate on Bhelupur Road every day without thinking much about it. C.M. Anglo Bengali College has been sitting here in Varanasi for quite a long time now. The building is old, you can see it in the bricks and the way the windows look. It’s not one of those modern glass buildings you see in the newer parts of the city. Inside, it’s mostly the sound of fans whirring and teachers talking over the noise of the street outside. Traffic on Bhelupur Road never really stops, so there is always a hum of rickshaws and horns in the background of our lessons. The hallways are wide and have that old school smell of dust and paper. We have students who come from families that have lived in Varanasi for generations. Some of them walk here, others come on cycles. We don't have a big fancy reception area. If you want to talk to someone, you just walk into the main office and hope someone isn't too busy with paperwork. It’s a busy place, especially in the mornings when everyone is rushing to get inside before the bell. We just try to keep things running smoothly. There’s always a desk that needs fixing or a light bulb that’s gone out. It’s just how it is here. We aren't trying to be anything other than a local college for the neighborhood kids. We still have our Bengali roots from when it all started.