Kolkata Branch Relief Society in Maheshtala, a faith‑based community group.

The Kolkata Branch Relief Society, based in Maheshtala, is the women’s auxiliary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints in the region. Its origins trace back to the year of the author’s baptism, when missionaries from the United States and Fiji introduced the gospel to a family of mixed Hindu and Christian background. The society began as a small group with no counselors, led by a single president who met members at home and later at a dedicated address. Over the past 25 years the society has grown, now boasting a majority of Sisters‑Power members and the first official counselors, Sister Manasi Kundu and Sister Rita Chatterjee, appointed in June 2019. The Relief Society works closely with the Branch Presidency on humanitarian efforts, including blanket distributions to Prabartak Samgha Home in Salt Lake, Kolkata, and to the Sunderbans via the New Life Charitable Trust. During the pandemic, the society raised funds for essential commodities and continued service through social media. Sister Kundu is pursuing a BYU‑PATHWAY program, setting an example for others. The society remains committed to supporting each other and the broader community, guided by faith and the vision of the living Prophet.