Our member, Mr B. Bandopadhyay, takes us back to a time when the word “celebrity” meant something quite different. He shares vivid recollections of political leaders, spiritual figures, and cultural icons he encountered.
Nowadays, people get excited when they see a sportsperson or film personality. Celebrity culture has infiltrated our everyday lives through social media. But when we were young, we used to find a glimpse of a political leader thrilling.
I once saw Pt Jawaharlal Nehru as he passed by, campaigning in our lane. I also saw his daughter, Ms Indira Gandhi, two or three times in Kolkata. I saw Rajiv Gandhi on the very day Ms Gandhi was shot dead at her residence in New Delhi. He was campaigning in West Bengal, and I happened to be on the road when his motorcade passed me. A few years later, he too was assassinated in Tamil Nadu. Rajiv Gandhi’s killing still haunts me. Life in politics is truly unpredictable.
Some important political moments are coming back to me now. I had the chance to see not only national leaders but also significant international political figures.
In 1955, I saw Soviet leaders Nikita Khrushchev and Nikolai Bulganin at the Shyambazar five-point crossing. So many people had gathered that the traffic came to a standstill.
In 1961, I saw Queen Elizabeth II during her first visit to India. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was by her side as they travelled to see the Victoria Memorial. Both of them were young then. I distinctly remember her in a mint-coloured dress, waving at the crowds from a convertible. I caught a glimpse of her again during her second state visit in 1983.
I’ve also had the good fortune of meeting Sri Sri Mohanananda Maharaj ji up close. He was staying by the Ganges near Khardaha at the time. I spent a long time in his presence, standing right beside him as he sat in a chair meeting his disciples. I also met Maharaj Gahanananda ji, President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission from 2005 to 2007.
In the cultural sphere, I once met the legendary dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj at his residence in Lucknow. A relative of mine, who knew him, didn’t want to miss the opportunity! I remember him praising the people of Calcutta for being very knowledgeable—he called them true samajdars of art and culture.
These were some of the great figures I had the chance to see and meet—a far cry from the film stars and social media celebrities of today—but our interests were different back then. No doubt, our “celebrities” too were of a different kind.
(as narrated to Support Elders by our member)
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Memories of Meeting My Heroes
