My FB Post on Dec 20, 2015 ..

Last year, this time, Ma was in the hospital, suffering from a bleeding ulcer and acute anemia.. I was at home with Baba who we thought was oblivious, not understanding 70 % of what was happening around him or with him.. But, how he surprised me when he started eating up his food in just 5 mins when on other days with Ma trying to feed him he often used to take more than 1.5 hours for each of his 3 meals! To be precise, Ma was admitted on the morning of 18th Dec and Baba started helping me and cooperating with me from that day lunchtime.. Both the nurse and I were astonished when he ate up his lunch in just a few minutes! And that continued for the next 7 days! I remember that night when I had no one to help me and I requested the delivery boy from the pharmacy to come upstairs with me and help me with turning Baba on his side.. The moment I arrived before Baba with the boy and told him what the boy would help with, he himself turned on his side, something that he had not done since his accident and surgeries! The boy was not needed to do anything more than just touching him lightly! When Baba saw Ma return home on Dec 24th, he changed drastically and refused to take his dinner, almost making me cry :).. I guess he was unhappy why Ma was not feeding him when she was already back home.

My dear Baba, my heart rains whenever I think of those 7 days and how you helped me! Baba, who never wanted me to be in any kind of trouble, tried his best to lessen my problems during those days! Baba, who loved me more than anyone ever did, anyone ever would! <3 span="">

My heart bleeds today as I complete 6 months of Baba leaving this mortal world, not because he has left, but because he had suffered so much during those 14 months! Could not do anything to lessen his pain! Hope you are in a painless and peaceful world now, Baba! Miss you more than ever

Things I never knew about the amazing writer-artist of Tutu-Bhutu - everything in this post is courtesy Calctuta Yellow Pages

Things I never knew about the amazing writer-artist of Tutu-Bhutu -

"

Late Sri Dhiren Baul (Artist and Children's Writer), son of Nandalal Baul and Dakshabala Baul, was born on 22nd January in 1912. His childhood days were spent in Baroil village in Bagura district, now Bangladesh. He used to draw pictures from early childhood.                    He loved to see making of earthen dolls. While returning home from school he used to go to the clay modelers making different models, when he was ten years only. He contributed to his school magazines. He wrote poems and drew pictures in his school exercise books thereby gave them a magazine like shape name of the magazine Gatha. His daughter Pritha Bal collected this magazine from one of his relatives residing in Bangladesh. The magazine is 90 years old. It was an exercise book of 1922. He passed his school life in Bagura Coronation School and got his first training from his drawing teacher of his school. He became a subscriber of  “Sandesh” and “Khoka Khuku” magazines. He was inspired by the pictures and poems of Sukumar Roy and wanted to become an artist and poet like him.

When he was 13 to 14 years age he used to send his poems and pictures from his remote village, to “Shishusathi” magazine, in Kolkata. In 1927, having finished school, he was admitted to Carmichael College and passed B.A. in 1931. Later, he came to Kolkata and was admitted to Government Art College, and passed from there in 1934. From then on he used to draw pictures for “Himani”, “Himkalyan”, and “Cocola” etc. During this time “MOUMACHI”, alias Bimal Ghose helped him join Ananda Bazar Patrika at Kolkata in the year 1939-40. Later his artistic creations were published in Desh, Anandamela etc. In Anandamela his creations were “Theke Habul Shekhe”, “Chenga Benga” pictures were drawn by him regularly. Slowly his creations began to be published in different magazines and as story books.

His first book “TUTU BHUTU” was enriched with beautiful pictures and writings. TUTU BHUTU was published in the year 1959. It was treated as a most beautiful children story book. He drew pictures of different animals, duly dressing them as a humans. After publication of TUTU BHUTU, he secured government honors and was named as “Walt Disney” of Bengal. This book is also well admired by foreigners. He got Bhubaneshwari Medal, Moumachi Award, and also an award from Sishu Sahitya Parishad. He also got Ranjit Smriti Padak. He because the judge of N.C.E.R.T. to judge children books. He was a famous children writer and poet also. Besides drawing he was expert in clay modeling and made Durga and Saraswati clay images, while he was in Simla. Before that no clay models were made and worshipped in Simla (Ref: Bharat Barsha Patrika, 1945). In the year 1952 he married the daughter of a Subjudge at Raghunathganj in Murshidabad and came to Kolkata and settled permanently. With his earnings he purchased a 3 storeyed house. He drew pictures in this house, which he decorated well. He also founded a publication house “DAKSA BHARTI” at College Street. This publication house is now guided by his son Koushik Baul. After the death of Dhiren Baul, his daughter Pritha Bal made a publication house, Dhiren Bal Pustakalya in 1994 and his old books are republished by her as Pritha Bal is wellknown childrens writer also.. His four daughters and two sons are living in Kolkata. He never took part in any competition or exhibition in his life. But once in Mumbai, Art in Industry exhibition was held and of the 22 contestants from all over India, he was awarded 3 best prizes in three departments in the year 1945."  Courtesy: http://www.calcuttayellowpages.com/

DIpa Pisi - Kalipuja will be haunted forever from next year

As if we had just parted last evening when school got over

My meeting with Sweta yesterday was one after 5 long years (the last time I met her was in November 2009 when we spent a lovely evening shopping in Dakshinapan and South City Mall and talking our hearts out and having some good food at the sc food court).. Over the last five years, our lives have undergone one too many changes.. Things that have happened to each of us over the last 5 years have some been desirable, some been unimaginable, some been not-too-desirable.. life has changed around us, appointing us new roles, newer responsibilities, different mindsets, and a lot more different elements that maybe we did not have back then.. What remains unchanged was the relaxation that Sweta always brings to anybody around her, the love, concern, and good wishes that we hold for each other, the needlessness to prove anything to her, the dispensability of the facade I usually wear with everybody (except close and dear old friends) around me.. What remains unchanged is that we both can always begin as if we had just parted last evening when school got over and we left our 11D-12D classroom.. 

Meeting Sweta - written on Nov 28, 2014

So, I finally come out of my 2.5-year-long hiatus of shying away from friends (except Koyel, who is no less than a part of me) and visit my dear friend Sweta at her parents' house (which means I meet her parents, especially her Mom, as well).. get to meet her 3.5-year old son, Tiplu, for the first time.. rediscover that feeling of assurance and warmth that old friends bring effortlessly.. gather the will, desire, and courage to meet friends whom I have been avoiding for the last 30 months or so .. get to know so much that I did not know about her parents' health.. share my dad's stories.. hear the beautiful laughter of Tiplu, see his lovely smile, touch his slender tenderness..shed my inhibitions and earn the feeling that I have places to share my story if and when I want.. Thanks, dear friend, for the unspoken and spoken words (for the beautiful blanket and lotion, as well).. Thanks, Tiplu for the giggles, chuckles, and heartfelt moments <3 span=""> .. I am happy that I made the effort and paid the visit.. that I turned a visit to the bank and market into a beautiful meeting with a precious friend..

Thamma - November 11, 2016 - 16 years of Her Passing

When I first saw this picture in Jethu's mobile, I thought this was Bunu Pisi! Jethu corrected me and said that this was Thamma! Actually, I have never seen her with a Bindi, except for in another picture!

This picture was clicked by Jethu from a picture at Niya Pisi's place, during his Sep-Nov 2016 visit. 

My Thakurda

Thakurda, Shri Arunendranath Ray, who passed away at the early age of 49 - This picture was clicked by Jethu from a picture at Niya Pisi's place, during his Sep-Nov 2016 visit..

Niya Pisi and ChhoTo BuRo resemble Thakurda so much!!! 

The little Sonu - Clicked by Jethu from Monikaka's collection - 18th Oct, 2016 

Monikaka at 23!

An age-old Picture of Monikaka / Dadu (Sri Sachindranath Ray), my father's Paternal Uncle.. the oldest family member we are blessed to have with us.. This picture is of the time when he was 23! <3 span="">

Jethu clicked this from a framed photograph in Dadu's bedroom.

Monikaka at 23, his Grandson Sonu (Anirban) at 38 :)
Clicked by Jethu on 18th October, 2016.  :)

Another click of a framed photograph - Monikaka's family

Another beautiful picture from Monikaka/ Dadu's drawing room.. I clicked a few pics of this one, but none came out as clear and bright as the one that Anirban Sonu clicked .. Monikaka with his wife, daughter Mausumi (my dear Babli Pisi), and son Sabyasachi (Babua Kaku) :) .. Such an old gem! <3 span=""> So thankful that I visited and saw and got these pics!

The Priceless Notebook of Monikaka

Monikaka's / Dadu's Diary or Notebook where dates of birth, dates of marriage, and dates of passing have all been written down by him so very meticulously! 

This is the page from where I got to know that the date of passing of my Thakurda was 29th August, 1962 - this date had never been mentioned and observed by my Thamma or my Baba or Pisi-s.. It is a pity that I did not get to know his date of birth!

This page also tells me the dates of birth of both my Pisi-s .. things that I never knew..

It tells us the date of wedding of S N Roy and Mago, date of their marriage reception, date of birth of BaRo Jethu Prabir Roy, and a lot more dates ..

It mentions Baba's date of birth too :) and Sonu's DOB too :)

And this is just one page! 

We can see "Tarudidi passed away on 11. 12. 26" on the upper left page. The Pisi about whom our fathers never knew, the sister of our Thakurda-s who had never been mentioned before Anjoli found out about her in 2014.. being mentioned so lovingly as "Tarudidi"

Monikaka's Picture clicked by Baba !

Original Pic Credit: Kabir Ray

I have never seen somebody so handsome and so smart! (Y) <3 span="">

He is my father's paternal uncle, Sri Sachindranath Ray .. known to all of us as Monikaka <3 span=""> .. a picture from decades back! Yesterday afternoon, I clicked this from a framed photograph in his drawing room :)

(He used to work in the police)

After I had posted this picture on FB last night, my dear Babli Pisi (Monikaka-s daughter) told me that this pic had been clicked by my Baba <3 span=""> at the Ganges GhaaT of Chandennagore ! And yesterday, unknowingly, I clicked a picture of that picture! Goosebumps!  How history repeats itself! 

A very strange thing is that while I was posting this picture on FB, still unaware of the fact that this had originally been clicked by Baba, decades back, I had strange feelings that Baba was standing behind me, just as he often used to do, while I worked on the computer! 

My Thakurda (Arunendranath Ray), the younger one, with Jethu's Baba Samarendranath Roy, the eldest sibling ..
 A gem collected from Monikaka 

Kamala Sengupta

My Thamma's eldest sister, Kamala Sengupta was the Principal of Lady Irwin School from 1946 (the year her father Dr. Shashikumar Sengupta died) to 1973.. She used to cook for her younger siblings while studying her college texts, reach college, appear for exams, and top her class.. After their mother Sarajubala's death, Kamala Sengupta and Bijoya Sengupta (my Thamma's Mejdi) looked after their younger siblings just as a mother would:

It was Kamala Sengupta's 101st Birth Anniversary in 2011:
http://www.thehindu.com/…/t…/life-lessons/article2407204.ece

http://ladyirwinschool.blogspot.in/…/ms-kamala-sengupta-pri…

The History of the Bholanath Dham Durga Puja

When that lady from the topmost floor of 33/2 Beadon Street (Bholanath Dham) had told us that she, in her childhood, had seen Bijoya Sengupta (my Thamma's Mejdi) who used to visit the house during Durga Puja, I never knew which Durga Puja this was! Then she asked us to visit the house during the Pujas as that is the time when the few senior members who are still around gather there. They might be able to share many old stories with us was what she tried to say. Yes, that is the time when these old joint families have all their relatives visiting them, I thought! Earlier, when we first entered the courtyard, the first thing that caught my eye was the "AaTchala" or the background frame of the idols. Wrapped in a few polythene sheets, it was kept in a way as if it had just been dragged out of a corner. Despite so many Puja references, who would have known that this was THE "Bholanath Dutt-BaRi-r Pujo".. the Puja that had been continued by Balaram Dutt's descendant Bholanath in Varanasi and by Bholanath's descendants first in Shovabazar and then for the last 88-89 years at 33/2 Beadon Street!

Now I remember that prior to Sokal Sokal, I had written another article on this Puja for Shankar da in 2009.

Some clippings about this Puja at 33/2 Beadon Street, Bholanath Dham:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/…/…/calcutta/story_5278360.asp

"Duttabari, Beadon Street: Shiva-samanwita Durga is worshipped at the Dutta household, Bholanath Dham, as well. Neither does she carry weapons nor is she accompanied by her mount or the warring asura.

The 101-year-old puja carries on the tradition of the legendary sea merchant Chand Saudagar, a worshipper of Shankar Bhabani. The actual image was conceived by another forefather Dhanapati Saudagar, also belonging to the kulin Gandhabanik clan.

A twist in fortunes caused the puja to stop. But Bholanath Dutta, an ancestor, revived the puja in 1905 in Varanasi."

http://amitabhagupta.wordpress.com/…/durga-puja-of-bonedi-…/

"BHOLANATH DUTTA BARIR PUJO

Address
33/2, Beadon Street (Alias Abhedananda Road)

(From Manikatala crossing whilst going towards Shyambazar, Beadon Street falls just after the crossing on the right. Beadon street has been divided and renamed as Abhedananda Road upto Bidhan Sarani and then till Rabindra Sarani it has been renamed as Dani Ghosh Lane)

At the Kulin Gandhabanik Dutta household, Bholanath Dham the idol of Durga is sitting on Shiva’s Lap with no weapons or Vahana and no Mahishashur around. This is a legendary idol visualized by one of legendary Merchants of history Dhanapati Saudagar, also belonging to the kulin Gandhabanik clan. Bholanath Dutta started this Shiva Durga Puja idol in 1905 at Bholanath Ashram of Varansai. His sons continued the Puja till 1913 after Bholanath’s death and then eventually shifted it to Sovabazar at Calcutta and finally to the residence at Beadon Street."

Bunu Pisi (Banani), the elder one of Baba's two younger sisters.. She passed away on November 7, 2004.. 

Wrote this to ANJOLI on July 10, 2014

“GINNI” she was.. The word “ginni” in Bengali means the wife and the decision-making lady of the house, the homemaker who manages and controls everything, the most important woman of the house.. Ginni had passed away in February 1988, just two years after Mago and Jethu visited.. We visited Talabari with Mago and Jethu when Ginni met them after decades. Pisimoni (that is our Sunanda Pisi) was about to get married and Ginni, frail and old, was eager and inquisitive to know about the would-be-groom.. Baba had a hard time explaining “Korean” to her.. then Baba said, “Ginni, your family has spread worldwide”.. I remember that.. Ginni’s sons were Gijukaka, Robikaka, Sintukaka, Mintukaka (kaka-s of my dad and yours, i mean).. I do not remember the 5th name.. She was Ginni for all.. I dont know who started this address, but irrespective of generations and relations, everybody called her Ginni.. we also referred to her as Ginni.. in our childhood, Ginni was an integral part of Talabari.. when the autumn Kalipuja (worship of Goddess Kali) took place every year at that house (it continues even today), Ginni praying to the Goddess by bumping her forehead continuously on the floor (which made a black or purple spot on her forehead) is a memory I can never erase..She loved my Dad and Im sure your Dad too..

But, I really didnt know that our grandfathers had a sister.. its a shame that I didnt know this..when Jethu remembers, then it must be true that she had spent a part of her life in Talabari and may have passed away early? or what.. I dont know..

The place where Thamma’s and Mago’s father stayed where Jethu spent his young childhood was Beadon Street.. (all these Iv heard from Thamma, Baba..).. we have to solve this Pisimoni (Jethu’s and Baba’s , i mean) mystery.. Im sure Niapisi and Monikaka wl be able to say.. sadly, my Baba cant right now..

I will send you my Muniya’s Diary.. written about that 1986 visit of Mago and Jethu and a lot more.. do make Jethu read that.. it is written for kids (i dont mean Jethu is one, though :P)..

Yes, leaving Delhi and these libraries and archives are bound to make you emotional. they have treated you well with so much to offer.. having goosebumps reading Kalinath’s mercy plea.. just cant download that part yet.. but, such beautiful English, Anjoli : “Can be better imagined than described” .. No wonder he was THE EDITOR of The Tribune.. no wonder he was BABU Kalinath Ray without whose editorials Gandhi thought The Tribune to be defunct… A Great-Grandfather in every sense of the term.. .. this research is invaluable.. and no one can dare to thank you, Anjoli.. Kudos