Kolkata: He was the assistant headmaster of a school in West Bengal and on retirement, he decided to donate his entire life savings to help poor students continue their education. Saradananda Das, a school teacher in South Dinajpur district, formed an educational trust and contributed a whopping Rs.8.1 million, school authorities said on Wednesday.

Das, who was assistant head master of Khadimpur Boys High School at Balurghat in South Dinajpur, donated his savings by starting an educational trust for the welfare of economically weak students in the village and has gone for a pilgrimage, the school's head master Dipak Kumar Mondal told sources over telephone.

"Saradananda was a respected teacher in the district. He always wanted to do something for his students. So he made a contribution of such a huge amount only for the poor and brilliant students," Mondal said.

He added that Saradananda had gone for a pilgrimage May 20 and said he would never come to Balurghat again.

"He said now he would travel across India. He will first go to Shimla then south India and Andamans," the headmaster said.

"The total amount was given to the trust through four cheques. We'll get an yearly interest worth Rs.660,000 which would be spent for the education of underprivileged students.

"The poor students of three different schools - Khadimpur High School, Khadimpur Boys High School and Chakrabhrigu N.C. High School - will benefit from this fund. Altogether 36 school students, who can't afford to continue their studies, will get Rs.500 per month from the welfare trust," he explained.

According to Mondal, 10 poor students each from Balughat College and Balurghat Women's College will also get Rs.600 stipend per month. This apart, 10 university students, who belong to the economically backward section, would get Rs.800 and five medical students will get Rs.1,000 per month from the trust.

The trust comprises 11 members and is headed by Saradananda's favourite student Madan Mohan Moitra. IANS