1994Our Story Begins

Calcutta Foundation Orchestra, the genisis of Calcutta Foundation

Shamlu Dudeja took over Calcutta Foundation, which looked after an orchestra of orphan children, The Calcutta Foundation Orchestra, when the chairperson had to go back to the US. She invited several conductors from different countries abroad, and the Orchestra, over the period of next few years became a well-trained Orchestra. It received invitations from various people to hold concerts in major auditoriums in Calcutta. The CFO continues to play in India today.

1998 Udayan

We launched our first formal project, to support Udayan, a residential school for boys from leprosy home. Shamlu Dudeja, through CF, raised funds at the Taj Bengal, with Steve Waugh as Patron, for construction of Nivedita Bhawan, a girls’ wing, for 100 girls, the daughters of leprosy patients.

This was the advent of a long partnership between CF and Udayan, and through scholarships, healthcare and miscellaneous activities, CF continues to support the children of Udayan every year.

2002Calcutta Foundation, the Trust, is born

CF was officially registered as a non-profit organization and starts to conduct welfare activities around Calcutta to support individuals from under-served communities.

As we raised funds to support the orchestra, our work naturally expanded to help other members of our community, so we decided to formally register CF as a trust. — Shamlu Dudeja

2003The Children's Parties

CF held it's first bi-yearly children's party at the Raj Bhawan, the Governor's home in Kolkata. Every year since, two such parties are organized by CF with the Governor as Chief Guest, for over 1,000 children from welfare schools around the city.

2004 CF Education Project

CF enrolled in a national program, "ASER," to spread education through accelerated learning modules in rural bengal, amongst school drop outs or late starters. This program was implemented for 6 years until 2010

2005Tsunami Relief

CF along with Rotary Mahanagar on an initiative, "Together, We Will" raised funds for Tsunami Relief in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. An auction, lead by Steve Waugh, CF's Chief Patron, was organized to fundraise for victims of the Tsunami. Shamlu Dudeja travelled with relief kits to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Pakistani Cricket Team also joined hands with CF to help fundraise for this cause.

I was on of the first flights to reach the Islands after the destruction the Tsunami caused with relief kits for the victims.— Shamlu Dudeja

CF's relief kits included material to make temporary shelter, blankets, torches, clothes, food and other essentials

2007Purbachal Anand Ashram

CF donated money to Purbachal Ananda Ashram (a home for destitute children) for the construction of a girls’ wing at their premises in Purokonda, Barjora, Bankura. Now, over 50 girls are residing there, and are being given education and vocational training.

2008Relief for Bihar Floods

CF worked to raise funds and send relief works to victims fo the catastrophic Bihar Floods. Through partnerships with local non-profits, CF was able to be one of the first respondents to work to help the people of Bihar.

2009Cyclone Aila, West Bengal

In May, Aila Cyclone hit parts of West Bengal, and caused huge loss of life and damage to life, property and vegetation, especially on the remote islands of Sunderbans.

Calcutta Foundation was back into action. A team of volunteers repeatedly visited Sunderbans, with Shelter Kits for 2,000 people. A medical team was sent to help with problems of health and hygiene for the survivors.

2011Kantha Manavi Gatha

In February 2011, during the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, Calcutta Foundation honoured Tagore through the medium of Kantha as StitchArt. (Supported by the Ministry of Culture).

An exposition was organized at Raj Bhavan on 18 February with His Excellency, Sri M K Narayanan, Governor of Bengal as Chief Guest, under the banner of Calcutta Foundation. The event Kantha, Manavi Gaatha was staged by well known musicians and theatre artists of Kolkata. Awards for Excellence were given to senior Kantha artisans.

2011-2015Focus on Health and Education

CF's efforts were focused to provide individuals with schoalrships and healthcare treatment. CF paid for the treatment of children suffering from cancer and other diseases, Sumana Pal, a young woman was treated for Wilson’s disease. Sushma Mahato, daughter of a leprosy patient, was suffering from alopecia due to an accident when she was an infant, and at 15, CF suppiorted her treatment. Little Vedika was helped with a cochlear implant when she was 4 years old. CF also donated money to Calcutta Rescue, to feed destitute women and children over a period of time.

2014-2018Girls For Tomorrow

Girls for Tomorrow, was founded. by Mahima Varma under CF to empower young girls through self defense and political awareness. In the aftermath of the horrific young girl in our nation’s capital, Girls for Tomorrow was co-founded by Mahima Varma. A nation-wide movement to empower young girls through self-defence and political awareness workshops, GFT under the umbrella of Calcutta Foundation worked for 2 years in 10 schools around Calcutta.

2015Relief for Nepal Earthquake

After the catastrophic Earthquakes hit Nepal, CF sent relief to support victims of the community. Relief kits comprised as sheets of tarpaulins, blankets, one stove, cooking utensils, and assorted clothes. The direct efforts of CF reached 500 families in Nepal.

CF also sponsored the rebuilding of 50 shelter homes, in Rotary India Humanity Foundation’s efforts to rebuild the Nepal Community.

2015-2019Focus on Health and Education

Along with Self Defense Workshops under Girls for Tomorrow, CF's efforts were focused on providing individuals with schoalrships and healthcare treatment.

2019Mayuri Health Camps

Founded by Saumya Varma in 2019, Project Mayuri worked in 4 satellite districts, encompassing almost 10 villages on the outskirts of Kolkata. With the partnership of Medica Super-specialty Hospital and Woodlands Multi-specialty hospital, Kolkata, Mayuri conducted regular rural outreach clinics to provide quality care at the doorstep for women and children living in rural Bengal.

After a first round of initial registrations, Mayuri worked regularly with over 2,000 women and children. Clinics were staffed general physicians, paediatricians, gynaecologists, and ophthalmologists and along with free consultations, provided free medicines and investigations when required.

2020Mayuri Relief Work

In March of 2020, at the advent of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Project Mayuri had to suspend all health clinics and redirect focus to relief work. Starting with initial relief work for a small group of daily wage workers and their families, our efforts snowballed and spread across 22 districts around West Bengal.

Relief kits addressed the most immediate need for food through the pandemic and comprised rations, as well as other safety and hygiene promoting equipment like masks, sanitizer, and bars of soap.

In June, when West Bengal was hit by one of the worst natural calamities, in over a century, Cyclone Amphan, our relief measures took new form — we started including tarpaulin for temporary shelter, slippers, cans for water storage , flashlights and other basic necessities.

2020The Legacy Goes On

Shamlu Dudeja passes on her legacy of compassion, feminism, and action to her granddaughter's Saumya and Mahima Varma who are working on creating sustainable impact on the lives of the women they work with.