Addition of Four Bright Lamps to Bhattacharyas of Katyayon Gotra

 DARSH ,son  of  Priyabrata  & Indrani , grandson of Partha Sarathi (Pintu) &  Jayati(Mala)   was born on 15 August, 2016 . May  Almighty grant the child good health, long life and  glory .

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• ADRIJA, daughter of  Rupayan & Sharmistha  and  granddaughter of Ramaprasad (Sontu) and Rekha    was born on 18 January, 2015.
• RUDRAYAN ,son   of Rupayan & Sharmistha  and grandson of  Ramaprasad (Sontu) and Rekha  was  born on 11 March 2021. They live in Barasat .

May  Almighty grant the children good health, long life and glory. 

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ADI /ADVAITO , son of Prodipto and Deepti and grandson of   Prosanto (Kanchan ) and Dipali  was born  on  31 Baishakh-1428 Bongabdo, Akshoy Tritiya,15 May 2021 in Mumbai . May Almighty grant him good health, long life and glory.  

                  

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• Paritosh Bhattacharya ( Bolu), my beloved Rangada passed  away.. sorry for reporting late as details were not available.

Nov1936  - 19 Dec 2017

He was only  eleven at the time of  partition. He lost his mother when  he was a toddler.In the absence of his mother , he regarded my mother ( he  used to call her "Khurima") as his own mother when  all seven children of  Purna Ch Shastri and his brother Promode chandra  ( in the joint family) were being brought up in the sprawling Habiganj  ( Sylhet Dist, then undivided India,now Bangladesh) house.We brothers, from age  five upwards, used to swim in the river Khowai... about 500 steps away from our rear gate.In the evenings,Rangada and seniors used to read aloud ,and at the sametime make me busy with a slate and pencil.  His father Late Purna Chandra Shastri had to leave behind properties in Habiganj and shift to Birati (near Kolkata), then to Barrackpore. Rangada had to go through unimaginable hardship  in lifting his five younger siblings  and himself. He equally loved his younger cousins like me. When I was at crossroads reg my  own educational career  around 1960 in the unexplored dreamland like Kolkata, he sheltered me in all possible ways.He was a man with high EQ , a man without enemy , a man at everbody's beck and call. He retired as chief of Post & Teleghaph Audit & Accounts. 'Bridge' was his passion and played at national level in major tournaments. Let his soul rest in peace in heaven. His sacred soul might be watching us from above.

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• Partha Sarathi Bhattacharya  (Pintu)  passed  away...   

8 Nov,1949  - 8 July 2019

Another brilliant member  of the  family
passed away prematurely. His father  Late Prahlad Bhattacharya settled in Bagha Jatin Palli, Kolkata in late fifties..the then Bagha Jatin colony was a swampy land with modest houses with low cost walls and  corrugatd tin roofs, without piped water supply and sewer lines.I was a teenager then; occasionally visited them  and as  his elder cousin brother, used to make fun  with this gifted primary school boy. Those were the days of bus route no.5, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, Uttam Kumar and Ultorath,Hemanta Mukherjee and Jibonanando Das and of course,upcoming CPM. Evenings were marked by lighting of Kerosene lamps and hurricane lanterns and sounds of thousands of crickets,frogs, and mosquitos with varied frequencies .These sounds were mixed with a distant  dreamy faint voice of a girl singing nijhumo sandhyay pantho pakhira  behind the louder tune of the accompanying single reed harmonium.All of my brothers and sisters of  my generation had to go through extreme hardship during that  period  as our parents had just migrated (risking their lives) as displaced persons from East Pakistan( now Bangladesh).But in one generation the area became cosmopolitan.  Sriman Pintu  had  to  work hard to be a successful Engineer. He got BE ( Electronics) from BE College ,Shibpur...  a distant dream destination for aspiring engineers. His  place of work was mostly in foreign countries, particularly in  the middle east. Please  play the video to hear  from  his wife Smt. Mala  speaking  at the condolence  meeting at the BE college (BESU), Shivpur :

Imput from Smt Mala :

Respected Dada, your brother Pintu( Partha Sarathi Bhattacharya) joined MAMC  ( in Design ) after graduating from  BE College,Shibpur as Electrical Engineer .Then he joined Bhilai Steel Plant as trainee engineer for 2 years . Afterwards he joined Bokaro Steel Plant as General Foreman and did his job for 10 years. But he left his job and joined in DCPL ~Development Consultants Private Limited as Senior Electrical Engineer for 19 years. Lastly he went to Saudi Arabia and did job in Saudi Electricity Company,next to Aramco as  Senior Electrical Engineer and when posted on some project his designation was Consultant .  My grandson's name is Darsh Bhattacharya (now in Sydney with his parents).His  date of birth is~ 15/8/ 2016.

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• Chuni- da  is  no  more   ...long live  Chuni-da 

15 January 1938, Kishoreganj   -  30 April,2020 Kolkata

Formidible  Indian forward-trio of sixties ,best ever, (from L to R)Chuni, PK and Balram

Chunida ,my cousin brother ( pishtuto  dada), was  the  heart -throb of India’s football lovers , a household name  in West Bengal. Some say that  he was the best sportsman of all time , of all places in the world. His mother was Padmanath Saraswati’s daughter and my father’s cousin sister.  Chunida was a footballing legend, a first-class cricketer, a tennis and hockey player at local clubs. The  sporting megastar  later went on to act in a Bengali film and even became a Sheriff of Kolkata. He captained  both the cricket and football teams of his college. He was with Mohun Bagan club since the age of eight. His father Late  Pramatha Nath Goswami ,originally from Jasodal, Kishoreganj ( then in East Pakistan,now in Bangladesh) was an extremely handsome, highly educated,accomplished and widely respected  nobleman who settled in Jodhpur Park, Kolkata in late fifties. He had four sons : Manik( played for Sporting Union) , Chuni, Benu ( played for university and Clubs), Biku.  Each of first three  were good football and cricket players.I first met Chunida in 1958 in  their Dhakuria house; frequented their Jodhpur park house  till 1968 and last saw him in 2011. All his  relations like me were obviously  proud of him as well as enjoyed reflected glory  of such a  jolly, ever smiling and handsome superstar and the most popular household name in  West Bengal.

As a professional  footballer he played as a striker or winger, captained both the Mohun Bagan club and the Indian national team. He scored nine goals in 30 international appearances. The versatile  greatest football player in India, perhaps also in Asia at the time was never paid for his services to club and country. He had 14-year stint with Mohun Bagan. He worked as a manager at the State bank of India’s Chowranghee  branch.He  turned  down  an offer for a trial from English club Tottenham Hotspur in 1960. The Club had won their first league and cup .But he could not think of staying away from Mohun Bagan and his family.  Indian Football team captained by him won Asian Games gold medal; played in olympics .  Although he continued to play for Mohun Bagan till 1968, he shifted his focus mainly to cricket, captaining the Bengal team to the Ranji Trophy final in 1972. However, the greatest moment in his cricketing career came in 1967 when he was part of the combined East and Central zone team that took on  Cricketing  great Sir Gary Sobers-led West Indies. Chunida took eight wickets in the match as the Indian side won by an innings and 44 runs. During that match, Chunida  back-pedaled 25 yards to take a catch ; Sobers termed it  unbelievable from a cricketer in Indian  sub-continent.  Awards that he received  are - Arjuna Award for Football and  Padma Shri.When  Chunida announced his retirement from international football in 1965 in Mumbai, two fans came up to him with a hope to convince him to change his decision. The two  were none other than Bollywood superstars, Dilip Kumar and Pran .Even Lata Mungeskar was their fan when Goswami brothers (Manik-Chuni duo) played in Durand cup in Bombay in late fifties.  I donot know when next  God will send such an angel to this family ;  we were  extremely  lucky to have  him amongst us. May his soul rest in peace in heaven.

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Photo-da passes a away

Shakti Prosad Bhattacharya (Photoda)  left for his heavenly abode on 5 March 2019, at the age  of 84.  He was an ever smiling ,simple and extremely loving  person. He was not a partition victim  himself , but his near relations were. Like  his  parents ( daktarkaka and kakima) , he  sheltered  his displaced relations  in distress  and helped  them in all possible manner .He was the darling of all  in any  family gathering  where he entertained everybody, from children to seniors, with humour. He had unending  stock of  new  humourous  words  and  jokes . Besides he was a good story teller . His feeling  for family was exemplary. He knew how to be happy and make others happy by servicing relationship carefully.He was "ajatoshatru". If he goes to Gaya, he will offer 'pindodan' for  departed souls of  all relations.   

Photos..Some of us who attended  his shradh ceremony  , a newspaper  clipping  (about  publications  of  our  grandfather ) that he  had given me.  

He persued commerce and  worked in senior post in  a private enterprise. His four  younger sisters were  always around him , even on the last day of his life. He has left behind his wife, four sisters, two sons and two sweet grand daughters. 

He spent  a year in Rajibpur as a school student where  he thoroughly enjoyed  his boyhood  in jungles infested with  wild animals, specially  deadly cobras, scorpions and the like. He and my elder Kajol used to silently slip away from the house, braved  heavy  evening Kalbaishakhi storm and  rain and collect sackful of  mangoes and other fruits   that fell off in the orchards. The sack  used to be  so heavy that they had to drag and drag  only to stop  at he sight of  their angry  guardian  uncle at the doorstep. The uncle will overpower them  and  beat them up  before they could  even park the sack inside.  I was a child then .

Next I met him in their house in Ghulam Mohamad Road  sometimes in 1953, when Kanuda ( eldest in my generation,then in Presidency College ) used to stay  with them. When I was sudying in Jadavpur Engg college, I used to visit him  almost every weekend at  45 Mahim Halder street where they stayed for many years. Before that, he got me admitted in Ashutosh College with Physics(Hons) when I was at crossroad  of my career  after being bedridden with typhoid in their house. 

Let me quote Krishnendu, his elder son.."..thoroughly broadminded throughout his life..I miss his innocuousness, humbleness and his generosity"

 By now, brothers of my generation that I have lost are - Kanuda ( Paramesh Bhattacharya), Dadamoni (Kajal ,Prabhakar), Rangada ( Balu,Paritosh ),Bishuda( Priyotosh) ,Khoka(Phalguni),Pintu (Partho Sarathi) and now Photoda. Let their souls rest in peace.

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Sad demise of Phalguni Bhattacharya( Khoka)

Phalguni Bhattacharya(24 Feb1947 - 12 March 2016)

Phalguni Bhattacharya ( Khoka) passed away prematurely  on  12 March 2016.  He died of a sudden heart attack at night in his house A/129 Bagha Jatin Pally, Jadavpur.
 Born to Late Prahlad Chandra  and Late Protiva Bhattacharya ( my kaku and kakima) at the time of political turmoil and partition of Bengal, like most of our brothers  of that generation he faced enormous challenge in his early life  to establish himself'. Being meritorious, succeeded to  take admission in prestigious BESU (erstwhile BECollege or Bengal Engineering College,Shibpur) in Civil engineering stream. Had a successful career as a Civil Engineer.Taught at Civil Engineering deptt in Jadavpur University as a Professor.He is remembered with deep respect by  his numerous students and members of faculty. Heart felt condolence to his wife Uma and son Promit.

Marriage Reception of Rupayan( son of Shri Sontu) at Barasat

Rupayan is  a Mechanical Engineer , Sharmishta  is in the final year Bsc(Hons) Microbiology.  You  may  view  details  of the  marriage  reception   trapped  in the Movie ,  link  of  which  is  given  below( in Facebook : P K Bhattacharyya)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1456178437934377&l=3234928764229546984

When you're on a mission to spot your own house

Let me rededicate this website  to my ancestors , particularly to the six  brothers of  14 th generation :  please watch the movie

25 Dec,2012 : Chattogram city Bus  Station(saudia): thanked stars to reach there in time, as our bus from Cox’s Bazar broke down   at Midway Inn. Quarrel/refund at Counter, no vacant chair..overcrowded, people on upper floor sat  braving foul  smell of toilet. Our Volvo Bus (with multiple injuries on glass panes tamed by cellotapes) to Sylhet started around midnight..took almost  two hours to travel 10 km within the city..highest traffic density & jam..the well dressed smart Bus Courier  was told more than 5 times to unload us at Shayestaganj  railway station. Volvo seats are good, but no sleep. Thick fog & no street light..close your eyes & pray.

          26 Dec,2012 :     Bus stopped at Chouddagram (Kumilla)  inn..a huge modern  building ..toilet and tea, dark due to fog at 6  am...Then Kumilla –Brahmanbaria-Madhavpur- shayestaganj bypass, We jumped out of the bus. Asked a person on road whether it is Shayestaganj and whether Hobiganj is near. After confirmation,   pulled out our bags from the belly of the bus.                  3-wheeler… 18 km to Habiganj at Rs. 230. Still semi-dark at 8 am. Braved chllled wind to look at the route through  which my parents with 4 children,youngest one being 8 months old,  escaped on horse drawn Tomtom from Hobiganj house to Shatestaganj railway  station 65 years ago. Driver called out “ Murubbi(senior citizen)..don’t lift the plastic sheet, otherwise you’ll  catch cold.” Tears rolled down my cheeks   remembering the exodus from Hobiganj and  suffering of my parents.. ..referendum , partition of Bengal and  threat to life from  the other community as communal feeling  was fanned by politicians.

                     I did not know where to check in; after a brief search we checked in a motel “Sonar Tori” around 10 am. Leaving Dipali in the toilet I asked a pan shop (Satyen Ghosh).. where is Puratan Munshefi ? He said..this is the place. I looked around to fit the landscape in the framework of  my 65 year old memory…yes.. this’s the tank with cemented embankment! And that's the road towards my house and river! I  almost ran ..hardly 300 steps  and my house  at the corner on my right  with high walls in place of   bamboo fencing connecting  dozens of  tall & smart supari  trees   encircling the house. Another 300 steps in the same direction  and you will find the river Khowai…..BUT THERE WAS NO RIVER.

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Dejected and tired I went to Kalbari facing my hotel. The place seemed familiar, I could spot  where a  sacrificial buffalo was kept days before DurgaPuja. Asked  an old man to help me. He stopped somebody on the road who took me to one Bidyut Roy living near the tank. Two Roy brothers with  their children and grandchildren are a happy joint family . The senior brother recognized my late  father Promode Chandra  and his elder brother late  Purna Shastri. Even he could copy their style of walking. He could also remember Chandreshwar Chowdhury ,our next door neighbor, his servant Chorai who used to run and jumped into  the river along with his cow. He also talked about Anath Kar(next to Chowdhuri’s house)  Tea, breakfast followed. His son  Bijon took me to my house..called out..”.Budhha.. achho ni ?”and entered  a living room. Now I learn that the river was reclaimed and  the colony is so dense that hardly any open space exists today.

Portion of my house occupied by Buddha Mahajan(today’s house no.4186)  and the portions(4185) occupied  by two other muslim  families  comprise two –third of the then house  while one third is still vacant  ( surrounded by wall)

I remember every space of house. Sketch “A” shows the  location  and “B” shows the  plan of the then house : 110  ftX180 ft, E1(entry/portico),E2..  gates , 1..Father’s(advocate) Chamber, 2,,5..bedrooms,3..puja room4..living. K..Kitchen,T..toilets, HP..handpump and bath. G1 &G2: lemon bush & fruit trees..A shiuli tree  and a  Dalim tree at the puja room. Entry E2 used to open to the river ..hardly  300 steps. . Firm lines conform to the then house, dotted lines show today’s position.

 The  Video  shows the route to my house from Kalibari Road. The corner where Dipali and Bijon take right turn  housed my father’s chamber. Buddha’s portion today housed our bedroom1 and  long verandah ‘V’. The open space shown in Video was our inner uthone. The sheds( cow and outhouse) at the end of the open space  remain almost same during last 65 years. The last portion of video shows the then river front ; Mintu Choudhuri (stage actor & singer) who is singing with his back at our cow shed  and E2, lives in the third house. He asked  for my identity when I was videoing.I said.. ‘I am a bhut with a human body who was born here , left the place  at 5 and revisits it after 65 years,’ He became emotional,  respectfully requested me come to his rehearsal room..songs, tea, snacks.. introduction to others.. talks on cultural trends   followed..

               

My 1974 visit to Bangladesh

...Memories ... photograph of 1972 at  Teen  Murti  Lawns  (14 November, Chacha Nehru's birthday & National  Science Exhibition for Children).. the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi asks  me to take this Mobile Science   laboratory personally to Dhaka to donate  this to newly  born Bangladesh  as her gift  for taking Science to villages.  This Mobile Science  lab  was designed  and fabricated by  me at the NCERT workshop, New Delhi.        With  mutual arrangement between the two countries,  I drove it all the way from Delhi to Dhaka in October ,1974  and handed  over this to the then  Education Minister, Bangladesh in  a huge International gathering  at the  Education Extension Centre, Dhaka