The World of Elder Care

Marriage took our member, Ms S. Sinha, to Bhilai in the mid-sixties. An industrial township, it was so different from Kolkata. Even more different was the Durga Puja celebration there.

The pandemic has stirred up nostalgic memories ...

Marriage took our member, Ms S. Sinha, to Bhilai in the mid-sixties. An industrial township, it was so different from Kolkata. Even more different was the Durga Puja celebration there.

The pandemic has stirred up nostalgic memories of days that were. Durga puja has come and gone without much of the frenetic spirit of celebration. For Ms Sinha this year’s restrained experience evoked rather wonderful and joyous memories of her puja days at Bhilai some four decades ago. Bhilai pandals and idols stuck to tradition and the celebrations were homely with every Bengali household participating.

From organizing finance to organizing the fun and cultural events, everything was done by the families themselves. Some went from home to home, bill books in hand, collecting subscription, a job that was later handed over to the women; others got into the act of organising the cultural events, hosting regular rehearsals for plays and other performances that would be put up every day; yet others got busy supervising the pandal constructions and talking to the murti karigars.  

Almost every block had its puja so the options were varied and there was much to look forward to between saptami and dashami. The days would start quite early with everyone taking a shower and turning up at the pandal in a new dress. Some would help the priest with the rather elaborate arrangements, others would cut fruits, yet others wove garlands.

Once the arrangements were done, it was time for Anjali at the auspicious hour, which the children eagerly waited for. The prashad, in packets, would be distributed after the Anjali and every child looked forward to the packet. The joy of such innocence is still fresh in Ms Sinha’s mind. Then there was the ‘dhak’ that the Kalibari was famous for and devotees would go off to the Kalibari to enjoy the dhakis.

Ms Sinha’s special responsibility was to get the actors ready for the cultural events. Every one had to be made up for different cultural programmes in different blocks and Ms Sinha would happily take on the job of the make-up artist, patiently getting everyone ready till well into the evening.

The shows would take place every evening with participating children adding to the general merriment. Even the non-Bengali members of the community got into the festive spirit and demanded front row seats to the programmes.

Back in Kolkata, it has been different, pandal-hopping and appreciating the remarkable creativity on display at every pandal. Yet Ms Sinha does “miss the traditional pujo of Bhilai”. That was her “own household pujo.”

Our member, Mr M. K. Bhattacharya, born in 1936, had a colourful childhood, as the son of the Station Master at the Dhanbad Railway Station. It was in Dhanbad where he spent his school days and where he got initiated ...

Our member, Mr M. K. Bhattacharya, born in 1936, had a colourful childhood, as the son of the Station Master at the Dhanbad Railway Station. It was in Dhanbad where he spent his school days and where he got initiated into soccer. Early in life he took to football and soon formed a team with his friends. It took part in many tournaments organized in the coalfields and acquired quite a reputation.

Mr Bhattacharya was the specialist goalkeeper and sports must have helped him in many ways. From Dhanbad, he came to Calcutta, as it then was, to study at the Jadavpur Engineering College. Getting into Jadavpur was quite an ordeal; one that he got through thanks to his goal-keeping skills.

He was called for an interview by the admission board of the Jadavpur Engineering College. The famous educationist, Dr Triguna Sen, then the vice-chancellor, was on the board. When asked about his extracurricular activities, Mr Bhattacharya talked about his goal-keeping skills in football.

The quick witted and erudite vice chancellor asked: “Since you are a goalkeeper and have come for studying engineering, tell us the dimension of a football goal post.” Mr Bhattacharya had to confess that he did not know the answer. Would he or would he not get in, when he did not know the dimensions of the post that he was supposed to guard?

The vice-chancellor was a sport though. He did not let the failure to answer the question come in the way of his admission.

Upon graduating, Mr Bhattacharya joined Bata, the famous shoe company. Once again, his footballing background helped him get into the company that had an excellent football team. Our member had the opportunity to play an exhibition match against the Indian football team of the 60s. Prior to the team’s departure for a trip to the far-east, a practice match had been lined up with the Bata football team.

Our member defended the goal against, arguably, the best Indian football team till date. The team consisted of stars like Peter Thangaraj in the goal, Jarnail Singh in the defence and Chuni-PK-Balaram, the trinity of Indian football in the offence. He still cherishes the memory of that match. The Indian team won by three goals as expected but our member played extraordinarily, saving many goals and his team from drubbing.