I have been asked to introduce myself before a 12,000 strong audience of Wassians. I feel very embarrassed to present myself with all my humble background, past and present before such an august body. But there is no way out as the request came from none other than our very own Sudipda. So, without muddling much, I should start to tell my tale.
The only proud moment of which I still can boast is the day of my birth. I was lucky enough to be born in a very auspicious day which even a forgetful Bengali can never forget. It was 25th day of Baisakha, the birthday of Rabindranath Tagore. So everybody present then and there welcomed my arrival at this little planet in the universe. And some of them, I guess, might have thought that the boy was going to be some bigwig in future. But to the utter appointment of all, I showed no sign of any such things from the very onset of my early years.
I was born in a middle class family in Ranghunathganj (Jangipur) in the district of Murshidabad in the year 1950. Ours was a joint family. My grandmother, my uncles, we, the five siblings lived though not in much affluence but comfortably in a tranquil atmosphere. At that time the ‘Para’ bonding in the semi-urban places like our locality was quite strong. We knew all the people in our area and were strongly bonded and used to address them with some adjective of relationship like ‘Paresh da’ , ‘Cini Thauma’ etc though in real life we had no blood relationship only the para bonding. But whenever, today, I recollect all those people, a lump still come into my throat, imagining the closeness of our relationship and in course of time, losing them forever.
When I was in class V, I first encountered death, the ever cruel reality in my life. Aloka was my elder sister who was four years elder than me and very well known and popular girl in the locality for her jubilance and participation in public functions. I saw her dying from typhoid. It was the first great shock of my life from which I could not recover for long. I can still remember the every details in her last moments. I saw every people in the locality crying for her. But tears didn’t come in my eyes. I was really taken aback. How death could be so cruel to snatch my didi? I started walking miles after miles in blank mind and I was far away from my locality and not traceable for many hours. Finally, they found me.
So, after the death of Aloka, my father who was a government servant shifted from Jangipur to Raniganj. After a brief stay there, we shifted finally to Lalbagh, Murshidabad. I was admitted to Nawab Bhadur’s Institution, a great school which was founded by Mani Begum, the wife of Mirjafar. It was great experience. I got so many friends there and spent a beautiful period thereat. Adolescence is a great period when you can feel the real taste of life. I was also in the dream period of my life. And it first started with looking at the dew soaked beauties of Lalbagh. And their beauties were so ethereal that it induced me to write a series of poems called ‘Manju, tomakei’. Anyway, that period lasted for quite a long time till I got embraced with Marxism in the Krishnathnath College. I actively participated in the programmes of the Communist party and later was known as a Naxalite. But soon, I discovered that I had neither the character nor the guts to be a selfless communist. So, after my physics course was over at College, I started working at State Bank of India in different positions. I worked as Branch heads of SBI for nearly two decades at different centers. It gave me immense job satisfaction as at that time we, the managers were delegated with sufficient financial powers. And today, I feel proud that I could be of immense help to many people for pursuing their education, of building their own homes and with many start ups etc. I retired from service in the year 2010 but have not retired from life. I am still doing a little bit of work and engaged in various social causes. I love reading particularly English and Latin-American literature, My favourite writers are many apart from Sunil, Shrishendu, Shakti and others, I love to read Dickens, Maughm, Gracia Merquez ,Kahlil Gibran,Prust and many others.
I live at Fulbagan, Kolkata with my two sons. I am happily married with Kuntala. Kuntala is a painter, singer and business person also. My two sons are gainfully employed. I have two great grand Children whom I love the most. And most importantly, I am the youngest in my family, still romantic and rebellious.
In my twilight years, I am enriched with so many friends in WAAS. All my friends are important and precious to me. I love, you friends. WAAS is an important part in my life. If you ask me about my philosophy in life, it is magic realism of course. It is some magic and something reality. With this, I am going ahead. In the stellar and star-studded body of WAAS, I am nothing but a shooting star. I thank sudipda for giving me an opportunity to write something about me.
Long live WAAS.
The only proud moment of which I still can boast is the day of my birth. I was lucky enough to be born in a very auspicious day which even a forgetful Bengali can never forget. It was 25th day of Baisakha, the birthday of Rabindranath Tagore. So everybody present then and there welcomed my arrival at this little planet in the universe. And some of them, I guess, might have thought that the boy was going to be some bigwig in future. But to the utter appointment of all, I showed no sign of any such things from the very onset of my early years.
I was born in a middle class family in Ranghunathganj (Jangipur) in the district of Murshidabad in the year 1950. Ours was a joint family. My grandmother, my uncles, we, the five siblings lived though not in much affluence but comfortably in a tranquil atmosphere. At that time the ‘Para’ bonding in the semi-urban places like our locality was quite strong. We knew all the people in our area and were strongly bonded and used to address them with some adjective of relationship like ‘Paresh da’ , ‘Cini Thauma’ etc though in real life we had no blood relationship only the para bonding. But whenever, today, I recollect all those people, a lump still come into my throat, imagining the closeness of our relationship and in course of time, losing them forever.
When I was in class V, I first encountered death, the ever cruel reality in my life. Aloka was my elder sister who was four years elder than me and very well known and popular girl in the locality for her jubilance and participation in public functions. I saw her dying from typhoid. It was the first great shock of my life from which I could not recover for long. I can still remember the every details in her last moments. I saw every people in the locality crying for her. But tears didn’t come in my eyes. I was really taken aback. How death could be so cruel to snatch my didi? I started walking miles after miles in blank mind and I was far away from my locality and not traceable for many hours. Finally, they found me.
So, after the death of Aloka, my father who was a government servant shifted from Jangipur to Raniganj. After a brief stay there, we shifted finally to Lalbagh, Murshidabad. I was admitted to Nawab Bhadur’s Institution, a great school which was founded by Mani Begum, the wife of Mirjafar. It was great experience. I got so many friends there and spent a beautiful period thereat. Adolescence is a great period when you can feel the real taste of life. I was also in the dream period of my life. And it first started with looking at the dew soaked beauties of Lalbagh. And their beauties were so ethereal that it induced me to write a series of poems called ‘Manju, tomakei’. Anyway, that period lasted for quite a long time till I got embraced with Marxism in the Krishnathnath College. I actively participated in the programmes of the Communist party and later was known as a Naxalite. But soon, I discovered that I had neither the character nor the guts to be a selfless communist. So, after my physics course was over at College, I started working at State Bank of India in different positions. I worked as Branch heads of SBI for nearly two decades at different centers. It gave me immense job satisfaction as at that time we, the managers were delegated with sufficient financial powers. And today, I feel proud that I could be of immense help to many people for pursuing their education, of building their own homes and with many start ups etc. I retired from service in the year 2010 but have not retired from life. I am still doing a little bit of work and engaged in various social causes. I love reading particularly English and Latin-American literature, My favourite writers are many apart from Sunil, Shrishendu, Shakti and others, I love to read Dickens, Maughm, Gracia Merquez ,Kahlil Gibran,Prust and many others.
I live at Fulbagan, Kolkata with my two sons. I am happily married with Kuntala. Kuntala is a painter, singer and business person also. My two sons are gainfully employed. I have two great grand Children whom I love the most. And most importantly, I am the youngest in my family, still romantic and rebellious.
In my twilight years, I am enriched with so many friends in WAAS. All my friends are important and precious to me. I love, you friends. WAAS is an important part in my life. If you ask me about my philosophy in life, it is magic realism of course. It is some magic and something reality. With this, I am going ahead. In the stellar and star-studded body of WAAS, I am nothing but a shooting star. I thank sudipda for giving me an opportunity to write something about me.
Long live WAAS.
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