The sun touches the western horizon. The car is running along National Highway 31C. Chasing forth in sync with the car are teak forests, river bridges, tea-garden shade trees, nameless hill groves. There are three or four passengers in the car. The destination is some school or rural club in villages or some semi town.
A white curtain is hung crosswise with two bamboos in the north east corner of Madarihat ground. Just after sunset; shadowy light is drenching the curtain gradually. In the beam of the projector, light points of various colors appear on the screen. Ambient music is playing over the public address system. Dr. Partha pratim started the commentary in aelegant style in graceful voice. Today's topic - 'Space in the Universe'. In this way, for more than three decades, he has been drawing dreamy pictures of light in the midst of darkness.
Usually, one day a week is allotted for this social work. On Thursday, Dr. Partha pratim reaches villages, schools and clubs with his team. With the help of the projector, many things were shown in front of the eyes on the hanging curtain. Sometimes in the evening in the open field, sometimes in the middle of the day inside four walls, they make the sky full of suns and stars. Voyager 2 will take you very close to Saturn's rings, to Neptune's moon Triton, and sometimes to catch a glimpse of our dear Earth from space.
Sometimes there are a lot of information, pictures, ways to prevent diseases related to the pulse-stars of the human body, blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease. Accompanied by ambient music, and Dr. Parthapratim's melodious commentary flood the auditorial place. In the words of Dr. Partha pratim- “Any fatal disease can be prevented by correct knowledge about the disease, proper diet and moderate lifestyle. Bermuda grass and sandalwood on the auspicious day of Bhatridwitiyawill not save the brother from death but a clear understanding of health and its application will do.”
He started with space. The name of the audiovisual show was 'Mahabishve Mahakashe'. Then 'heart talk' about blood pressure and cardiology. More than thirty titles in total, 'Disease Named Diabetes' on diabetes, 'Near Neighbors’ on insects and environment. In the 150th anniversary of the Tagore’s birth, he created 'Tomro Asime' . . . About Swamiji, 'Conscience in Education'. A 'simple lesson in being human' in a covid response situation. Every year new things are growing. The presentation is becoming more attractive.
Why space in the beginning? He replied - "Man has looked at the sky since his creation. At the end of the day, when the night comes, in the middle of that darkness, the ancient cavemen are frightened on one hand and on the other hand,they found the god of their hope-desire-future or ghostsin the light of the planets and stars in the sky. Some of them watched the blinking of the stars that appeared in the sky and connected them with imaginary lines to create imaginary design. One looked like fish and they named it Pisces. The one which looked like a lion was named Leo.
Thus Aries, Scorpio. . . The figures are created. When we were children, we used to see clouds of different shapes in the sky and thought - this is the head of an elephant, that is the tail of a horse. Rashi is much like that.
Meanwhile, some people attributed godliness on the celestial planets or stars and started worshipping them. Various mythologies were born. The majesty of sun and moon is described in Hindu and Islamic scriptures. Similarly, Venus, Apollo, Uranus find their places in Greek mythology. They continued to explain that the successes and failures in human life depend on the satisfaction and displeasure of these deities. They also provide for holding various stones, charms and gems.
Even today many people are engrossed in the false idea of changing their luck by wearing gems and charmsin the illusion of changing their fate. Crores of crores of fake business are run. Many people go around wearing stones, amulets and charms with false hope.
Sky has a close relationship with people. So, there is no end to speculations, imaginations, creedand superstitions with the sky. Most of our rituals are about the sky. Kojagari Lakshmi Puja, Eid Festival, or Chinese Chuonji all revolves aroun the sun and moon during the full moon. There are many more such examples. But a person's fortune mainly depends on his work, dedication, perseverance and socio-economic status.
When he started this journey three decades ago, digital projection technology had not yet entered the market. The journey begins with a projector like a magic lantern. Each slide had to be changed by hand. The projector would get hot after running for a while. He scorched his hands for a number of times on the hot bulb. It is very difficult to get a projection slide in a village of Dooars. Sometimes he had appealed to Science Extension of Delhi, Tejraj of Bombay or sometimes to foreigner friends for slides. Sometimes he himself brought panchromatic film from Calcutta's Born and Shepard and Chitravani and took pictures to make slides for himself. Panchromatic film is a special type of film where, a positive image emerges directly, not negative. This film is mainly used for making projection slides and movies. Making such slides is also quite expensive. At that time, few people worked on this film in North Bengal.
He fell in love and married in 1994. In the beginning, his would be in-laws were not willing to give her daughter to such a bohemian boy. Then as it is, things were accommodated. Professor father-in-law wanted to give some dowry to son-in-law. Finally, seeing that the matter could not be avoided, the son-in-law took a German 'Leica' slide projector. It eliminates the hassle of changing each slide manually. The screen image is also very bright and clear. Images can be scrolled by remote control.
But technology does not stop. What is new today; becomes old tomorrow. After a few years, digital projectors came into the market. Images from a computer or DVD player can be projected directly onto the screen. There is no trouble of making slides. There are thousands of other benefits too. Movies can be shown on this projector. He started learning computer skills. Details of Power point, photoshop, Corel draw, sound editing, video editingwere learnt.
But what’s the use of learning all these? It needs lakhs of rupees to get laptop, projectors and other accessories. With the permission of his elder sister who was a bank employee, he sold the gold ring given by her. His wife, Sukanya, then tutored higher secondary school students. She had saved some money to invest in a large fixed deposit. It didn't happen anymore. She gave all the money for this work. And why would not she? Both the love birds believe that the child's future is not secured by NSC, KVP, Child Future Policy only. The next generation needs clean water to drink, clean air to breathe, a nonprejudiced, creative environment for mental development. Their child 'Samya' will grow up and fight against all discrimination and injustice - this is the wish of this couple.
Earlier it was as difficult as making a movie. First you have to know the subjectin particular, be it malaria, dengue, chikungunya, encephalitis whatever. Causes, symptoms, remedies and prevention methods of the disease should be recorded. Then identifying what images which would fit with it. Then those images were made into color transparency slides.
It is still pretty much the same. Thematic screenplays have to be created. Then collecting the necessary images and videos, adding suitable sound clips for adding sound, giving video and photo transition effects, and finally rehearsing the editing and commentary. It is just like making a documentary. As there are no professionals available in the remote areas of Dooars, the whole work has to be done singlehandedly. As far as is known, he was the first to start such an audio visual show in North Bengal. He is still doing it today, and doing it completely free of charge. He has traveled from remote areas of North Bengal. Mekhliganj, Changrabandha, Haldibari, Coochbehar to Alipurduar, Malbazar, Oodlabari. . . there is no place where is footmarks are not imprinted.
When he started, audiovisual shows were relatively new in the area. In fact, it is quite tough to orient the youngsters or common folks to the proper way of thinking or to explain the subject to them. White curtains are hung in case of audiovisual shows. It used to display various thematic pictures in the dark room much like a movie. But the main difference with movies or documentaries is that the documentaries are one-way communication. In this case, the audience is engaged with the topic through various questions or conversations. Now, with the incredible advancements in digital technology, such work has become very easy. Now they are almost watered down for the audience by power point presentation. Now he uses laptops and digital light processing projectors.
Various deadly diseases are attacking Dooars every year. If malaria, dengue this year, then the next year’s visitors are encephalitis, chikungunya. As soon as the disease struck, this eternal young man tights his belt. He made an uncomplicated and easy audio-visual presentation about the causes of diseases, diagnosis, treatment methods and prevention of the diseases. The commentary is done in languages suitable for the audience Sadari, Bengali, Nepali. He runs a tireless race along the horizon of death. There is no fixed date then. Let the sun start setting and this harbinger of hope starts with laptop and projector to the workers of tea plantationor people of forest fringed villages. Yes, when it is time for the evening to large loom, not in the west, but in the east, he opens his eyes and thinks - in which country is the night fading?
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» » He has been fighting superstitions and teaching Science to Adivasis. . .
Ram Avatar Sharma; Secretary; Indian Tea Association, Dooars Branch: Dr. Partha pratim is a well-known name to the people of Dooars. Tea workers have involved themselves in creating health awareness among families, removing superstitions and many other activities. Partha pratim, a good speaker has a fluent style of speaking using an easy vocabulary. He had received many awards and honors. I have been seeing him for over two decades. He does the work with no expectation of money. Love and devotion to work drive him on this path. He also wrote various books on health. Laptop-projector on his shoulder; he fights his way towards light of bright light of consciousness from the darkness of ignorance. In my eyes, he is a life devoted to social welfare.
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John Barla, Union Minister of State; Govt of India: I have been seeing Dr. Partha pratim for a long time. Dada is active in various social activities. Sometimes with dengue, sometimes with encephalitis, he makes common people aware about the disease with the help of laptop and projector. He did such a program in my Lakshipara tea garden. Dooars area is lagging behind in health, communication and education. Many people still have superstitions about health. This kind of work is very important for the Dooars area where Parthada works.
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The small town of Banarhat lies in the middle of green teagardens and forests. It is a settlement surrounded by tea garden and railway station. The railway quarters were built in the British period. The houses are of red brick, slightly raised from the ground to avoid insects, snakebites. This member of the Basu family was born in such a quarter on 13th November 1962; Tuesday. The Refugee family from across East Bengal had only one aim to build a home in a new country, on a new soil where there will be safety, security, secured future. So cutting a cake or any birthday celebration did not fit in their mental world. At that time there was no birth certificate in circulation. At that time, the headmaster of the primary school used to write it down on the school register as he wished. Because of that, the date of birth of many people of that time was not recorded correctly in the government records.
Their joint family lived together in the small railway quarter. Mother was Geeta Bose. Father Sushil Kumar Bose was an employee of the Indian Railways. Grandmother, father, uncle, cousins all could fit in that small space. This railway station in Dooars was different then. The lines were meter gauge. However, this station was lively then. Fish and Litchi used to come by train from Katihar in Bihar. Oranges, tea, dolomite are transported to distant places. The bell was rang. Railway engines were steam- powered. The smoke of the coal was sizzling. Huge drum boilers were on the coal furnace. That moving hot boiler would pull the coaches. It is said that diesel engines did not exist then. A few handkerchiefs were a must when traveling by train. Coal particles could get into the eyes of the passengers sitting near the window.They had to be gently removed from the eyes. That memory is still visible today thanks to Ray’s 'Pather Panchali'. A few months after his birth, Basu's family left the railway quarter and moved to Banarhat Adarshpalli. There is a tin roofed house with a wooden fence in a mud house. There a little boy grew up normally smeared in dust-soil-mud . . .
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Sadhana Bose - My brother Partha pratim, we call him 'Dhunu'. He is a little different since childhood. He had curiosity about various subjects. He was also very naughty. But there was always a genius mixed in his mischief. We had an old Anglo-Swiss winding table clock in our house. It lay stopped for some time. At that time there was severe water shortage in Banarhat. In exchange of money, some people filled tins of water and carried them from house to house. We used to call them 'Paniwala'. At one time, he used to bring two tins of water on his shoulder, slung on a bamboo pole. A few days later it was noticed that the clock was not in place. At home we thought the waterman must have taken the watch. He was about to be beaten and interrogated. At that time, Dhunu took out the watch bag from the floor of the bed while crying.
Later it was revealed that Dhunu and his brother 'Kalada' hid it under the jum tree and tried to open the clock with kitchen scissors and penknives. Then as usual his spring leaves were scattered here and there. He and his brother got scared dumbstruck. They collected the equipment and put it in a bag. They thought that they would put everything back together and restart the clock.
Dhunu now writes in various magazines and has also written several books. At that time, to qualify for admission to the class one, one had to write 'Saraswati' on a slate and show it to the headmaster. I feel very happy now that I taught my brother how to spell 'Saraswati.'
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Gayatri Basu Bhowmik - Brother Partha pratim has been different since childhood. We were a joint family. The financial condition was not good at that time. Still, despite all the hardships, the days were spent happily. When Brother was going to Bangalore to meet the President of India, he had no good clothes. The shirts had torn buttons, the pants were tornat hem. I stitched them with his Latai thread. So many days have passed. . . He does a lot now. He has made a proof size picture of me with the help of computer graphics, like those old royal oil paintings.
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There was dream of building a new country for the scattered people who originally came from the East Bengal; The village was raising its head as a sapling. New village associations, libraries, schools have been established. The official name of the primary school was Banarhat State Plan Primary School. But colloquially it was Makhanbabu's school, named after the Headmaster Makhanlal Banerjee. Apart from the Headmaster there were three lady teachers in the school. Makhanbabu put down the date of birth of Partha Pratim in the government records. Makhanbabu used to teach math in the class. He used to write a number on the blackboard and ask - what do you understand? I said that I understood. The next question immediately followed - 'Explain what you have understood . . .' It was a hassle. I had to go to the blackboard and do the math from the beginning to the end. One day I said - 'I don't understand sir.' - Sir immediately said –‘Explain what you did not understand. . .' That was also a matter of great trouble.
No, the Hog plume tree of Pandit Sir's house does not existing more today. It is not supposed to exist. It was long time ago. After school was over, everyone used to run towards that tree. So many stones were thrown at the Hog plumes hanging on the branches of the tree. He whose stone hit a fruit would become the 'Arjuna', with a joyous face of victory.
I was admitted to the High School through Scholarship Examination in Class Four. There are various memories of school days from class five. History was taught by Shailen Mandal. He used to bring historical maps to class. He taught with his heart. Sometimes the battle of Palashi, the queen of Jhansi, sometimes Shivaji's escape in the basket. . . He used to draw pictures in our minds with the emotions of words and life. I could not sense when Nandalalda's bell rang.
Bangla was taught by Sunil Kumar Chakraborty. He was a student of Banarhat High School and later a teacher at there. Bachelor, saffron kurta with Chidambaram style dhoti. He had a sagely lifestyle. He was known to the students as Kabi Sir. Tall, well-built, sharp nose with a head full of curly hair, he had a booming voice. If given a chance, he would talk for hours on any subject. Be it Einstein's birthday or Teacher's Day. Swamiji, Netaji and Rabindranath were easily dragged into any topic. I have learnt many unknown facts of poets, writers, public leaders from him. Another teacher was Sushil Chandra Pal who taught Bengali in the school. He was truly civil in his speech. He spoke slowly choosing the right words. Erudition was there, but his expression was overly polite and sophisticated.
At that time, cricket was not so popular. Football reigned the playground. There were regular football tournaments between different schools. The teams used to go from school. Two or three lorries full of supporters accompanied the teams. What a thrill it was! Subhash sir used to stand on the side of the field and gave instructions to the boys. He used to be so excited that it looked that he himself would enter the field and score a goal entered. He used to use abusive language with the boys if they committed wrong technique. Again, he would greet them with sweets if they did well.
In school, there was football, along with that there were other games around the clock. I used to play hide and seek in the tea garden. The name was 'Usikushi'. Stones or iron discs were to be thrown at specific targets. Then the palm was used to measure the bush. If successful, an empty pack of cigarettes would be won. There was a game that we called 'Diggle' game. Also, there were pittu, tops, dariabandha and so on. And there was running a wheel all day with a wire bent handle on holidays.
At that time, free movies were sometimes shown in the tea plantations, for the entertainment of the workers. In the middle of the field, white screens were hung on two bamboo poles, and pictures were shown on them with projectors. There were four or five intervals in a movie. When I heard that there would be a movie show in the nearby garden, I would run away from home and reach the field. I used to sit and watch movies with the tea workers family. In the last scene, when the hero was beating the villain, we also cheered the hero - 'Aur Maro, Maro Shalako, Khun Nikal Do...' I don’t know if the hero was encouraged by our cheers and gave the villain two more blows! But when he returned home at night, the characters and the screenplay would change. Mejdi used to give a good beating to me. She used to make me swear by touching my ear - 'I will never go again'. Next time as usual . . . .
During Kali Puja, the Adivasi boys of the tea plantations used to go from house to house to make 'Deushi'. I used to join the group of Somra, Mohan, Sanchi, Budhua and visited gentlemen and women’s houses. I used to beat the stick on the ground and shout my the rhyme - 'Jhilmili Jhikka Deushire / Babuka Gharma Deushire / Ekk Paisa Deushire....' We were given raw rice, potato, coins from the houses. We had picnic with that. During Saraswati Puja, the school's annual sports and cultural festival were held for four to five days. That was a time for frolicking. Children's games, teachers’ games, recital, song, dance and many other competitions. Various handicrafts and science models were exhibited. Satyabrata Biswas and Ajit Sarkar led the way in making the model. There were science-geography items in six-seven rooms. Managers and their families used to come by car from the tea garden to see the event. The children were rehearsing the play. There were one drama after another drama about the idea of class exploitation and changing the society. From 'Mahesh' of this country to 'Ling-Ching' of another country. All the dialogues of the play were memorized by Amal sir. The desire for a classless society was his dream. Lee Sao Chi's 'How to be a Good Communist' may have been imbibed by Amal Sir. Amal Sir was a plain B.Com. The opportunist Communists with PhDs in the arithmetic did not yet enter the market. The backdated Amal Master used to sing in dreamy voice - 'Prabhater Surye Ranga Oi Diganto Chakrabal/ Bhoi ki Comrade, amader priyo rong lal . . .'
I was not a good student. I would have been somewhere between the first and the tenth. There was a greater tendency to read the books that were out of the syllabus than the ones in the syllabus. I devoured the writings of Eric Maria Remarque, Jules Verne, Alexandre Dumas, Charles Dickens, Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift, Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Lewis Carroll. Narendadu got me addicted in reading foreign literature. Retired English teacher of Banarhat High School, Naren Dadu had a shiny bald head with a handsome figure. In East Bengal used to run a school in Barisal. Then, during the partition of Bengal he ran away in the darkness of the night, leaving his ancestral home. Grandfather's house was next to our house. Narendadu's grand daughter Sujata was my childhood friend. Her nickname is 'Saku'. Her sister is 'Bana' and brother is 'Daku'. Dadu used to come to our house almost in every evening to have tea. Chanddi, Kunu, Chhordi all begged grandfather to tell stories. The story-telling session started in the dim light of the hurricane lamp. His voice had great modulation and dramatics. The parents and uncles retained their dignity but listened to the story while standing in the background. As the night progressed, Saku would call Dadu. Waiting for the next episode would continue.
At that time there were science exhibitions at the national level. The exhibition was organized by NCERT, Government of India. Those who stood first and second at the district level would go to East India Science Fair in Kolkata. The event was held on the grounds of Birla Industrial and Technological Museum and St. Paul's Cathedral Church. I was awarded in East India Science Exhibition and went to National Science Camp, Bangalore. Teacher Tushar kanti Sarkar accompanied as guardian. On the initiative of NCERT, the National Science Camp was held at Lalbagh Garden in Bangalore. Young scientists from different parts of the country gathered in this event. The camp was inaugurated by the then President of India, Neelam Sanjeev Reddy. My invention 'Water Telescope' attracted attention of the President Neelam Sanjeev Reddy, Karnataka Chief Minister Gundu Rao, Union Minister S. B. Chawan, Sheela Dixit and many others. I talked to the President for a while in stumbling English. The President was very appreciative of my invention of the water telescope.
Apart from reading books, I was addicted to reciting, performing dramas, making science models. I used to catch snakes, frogs, chameleons, and crickets and put them in bottles filled with formal de-hyde. Frogs, chameleons were skinned and bones were removed from the flesh and then glued back together to form a full skeleton. In these acts my mentor was Keshtoda, Krishna Pada Kundu. The responsibility of the laboratory of Banarhat High School was on Keshtoda.
As the calendar gets old, once I reached class ten. My adolescence gave way to youth. It's a different feeling. Spring, as it were, waed awakens at the door. Phagun came with its colored fire. Not in the forest, but in the mind. A day to lose your mind with only the sky in your eyes. Writing a dreamy love letter through whole of the night. Keeping the beloved's letter in the fold of the text book and reading it again and again. A long wait to see the beloved. Writing poems in poor rhyme scheme. Gayatri Madam’s daughter 'Senjuti' gave a red rose during a show. Sleepless passed the night! Schooldays gave way to college life. I did not realize when the train of time took me from childhood-adolescence-youth towards agedness. The top winding chord, the tops of childhood is missing today. The rose given by Senjuti may be faded in the folds of some book today. Still the naughty harp of mind plays ‘Behag’ sometimes along with ‘Pilu’ and ‘Imankalyan’.
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Chhanda Ghosh Dastidar: - Partha pratim is my longtime friend. We studied in the same school. His funny jokes about anything made him quite popular among his friends. When he returned to school after being felicitated by the President of India, Neelam Sanjeev Reddy, all our friends were very happy around him. My father, late Dr. Nani Gopal Deb, was popular as a tea garden doctor. When father got a job elsewhere with higher salary, the workers of the garden united and did not let him go. I heard it from various sources that Partha pratim has become quite popular as a doctor. Many awards are in his possession today. But he remains the same humble and sensitive person. Stay well Partha. This dry, hard, harsh world needs people like you.
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Lipika Bose Ghosh: - Partha is my classmate from Banarhat High School. I am married, living in Krishnanagar for 35 years. Here I teach in a government high school. As a student, Partha pratim did not have any remarkable results. However, various subjects which were not in the syllabus were studied and practiced by him. I met him again at the school's 75th anniversary celebration. My lawyer husband Subrata Ghosh had gone with me, he also liked him very much. I saw Partha conducting the stage very nicely. He does many good things and will do more in the future. I am proud to be his friend.
We used to catch various insects on the inspiration of Keshtoda. At that time I was a student of class twelfth. and Banarhat Children's Park was being built very close to my house. There is a small pond next to the artificial hill inside the park. The plan is to keep Water Lily and Lotus in that reservoir. One day a baby snake somehow fell into that cemented pond. My companions reported that. As usual, I ran to see the snake. It was about one and a half feet long.
Quite sable, with white spots like conch rings at intervals, the snake lied there. Not too large. I ran home. I secretly gathered bottles, sticks and ropes from home and came to the park's pond. After much effort I put the snake in a bottle behind the kitchen; behind everyone's eyes. I thought I will bring the snake to Keshtoda. In front of our house lived Swapan Guha Roy, one of Narendadu's sons. Swapan is quite brave and dare devil. We called him Swapan Kaku. At that time, Banarhat Adarshpalli was basically a colony of refugees from the other side of Bengal. Each house had a close connection with each house. Back then there were no mobiles, TV serials or any other form of entertainment. The people of a house knew what was being cooked in neighboring houses.
My mother knew that Mana's father loved to eat gourd leaves with dal pills. After cooking, the bowls were exchanged. Swapankaku used to come to our house almost every morning. He stood near the fence of Vasakaplant and called “Baudi-o-baudi”. Mother handed him tea in a cup with a broken handle and an 'S' biscuit.
That day as usual Kaku took the tea and biscuit. I enthusiastically told Kaku the story of my snake catching. Kaku said - 'Bring it and show me.' I brought the bottle of snake from the back of the kitchen and gave it to Kaku. Kaku took out the snake and held it by its neck and showed it to everyone. My playmate Ratna was carrying pitcher and bucket to fill water. Kaku scared her by pushing the snake towards Ratna. Ratna fell into the drain with the pitcher and bucket. At this time, Kaku also became a little unmindful.
The snake bit Kaku's index finger, Kaku also shook his fingers and threw the snake away. Then I put the snake in the bottle again. Hearing this incident, the mother came running, brought the edge of a torn saree and wanted to tie his fingers. Kaku said that he did not need to do anything like that and poured some kerosene oil on the wound. Mother is screaming at the same time. And Swapan Kaku poured some kerosene oil in his hand and went towards the market. Mother kept saying, “Swapan to go to the doctor.”
After lunch, I heard that Kaku’s condition is not good. Kaku was taken to the hospital. At that time there was no hospital in Banarhat. Kaku was taken to Samtse in Bhutan near Banarhat. Dr. Girindra Nath Sharma was the medical officer there. Then Swapan Kaku's elder brother Jhantu Kaku said –“We have to get the snake now”. I took the snake and with Jhuntukaku and Pilumama left for Samtse. After reaching Samtse Hospital, we saw that there was quite a crowd of people. A healer was also present there. Kaku was senseless. In the hospital bed, he was stretching restlessly and breathing heavily. The healer man told me to release the snake in the hospital grounds. I also let gothe snake. The snake is also very weak, unable to move. Meanwhile Healer man continued with his chanting. Dr. Sharma scolded us and said - 'There are many more patients in the hospital, it is not right to release the snake like this.” Then I bottled the snake again. After some time, Dr. Sharma informwas that Kaku is no longer alive. It is evening. Kaku was brought to Banarhat house in a lorry.
Then various gossiping started about what to do with the inert body of Swapan Kaku. Different people started giving different opinions about what should be done with Swapan Kaku’s immobile body. Various stories were heard. Some said that it was best to float the body down the Teesta River on a raft made of banana tree. Someone said that if you call the local Ojha and perform black magic, Kaku can come back to life. There is one Ojha in Mathabhanga, who resurrected a three-day snakebitten dead body. If it is floated in Teesta or Torsha River, it may reach Bangladesh. There are great Ojhas who can bring Swapan Kaku back to life.
At that time, I saw octogenarian Narendadu take a rational decision. He said - Swapan should be cremated. Ignoring many decisions and suggestions of many people, he remained adamant. Later, I heard from my grandfather that if the dead body is floated like this, the body may spread foul smell on the river bank of a village and cause environmental pollution. Also, some might be spreading gossips by nature and say - 'I went to Rangpur and saw a person who looked exactly like Swapan.' This would transmit anxiety and pain to our loved ones.
The most intense pain in this world is the departure of the child in presence of the father. This well-thought-out pragmatic decision of Narendadu in that situation still commands respect and real support in my mind. Later I came to know that the snake that bit Swapan Kaku was the snake let of Kalchiti or Kalach snake. Its scientific name is Bungarus caeruleus. They are usually 2-3 feet long. They do not want to bite, but if they bite, they hold the bite for a long time, which causes a lot of poison to enter the body of the bitten animal. Its venom contains a deadly neurotoxin. Being a neurotoxin, the venom attacks the nervous system of the bitten person. In India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and different countries of South Asia several people die every year due to the bite of this snake. Currently, many patients survive with timely antivenom injections and artificial respiration.
After cremating Swapan Kaku, our Kestoda put the deadly snake in formaldehyde solution and kept it in a bottle. That night, Kestoda wrote a poem, a few lines of which haunt the mind even today-
"Age is the bird of the storm, the old mind doesn't understand / broken dream empty jetty, water's alpana, / Kalchiti cut th, pregnancy pain /"
Umesh Sharma; Researcher and Essayist: - I first interacted with Dr. Partha praitm while doing a field survey in Karon, Luxan, Chamurchi tea plantations on the society and culture of the poorest tea workers in beautiful Dooars. Thirty years ago, he received me in his chamber cordially and took me to his home. Beside the small lawn of the house there was is a garden decorated with flowers. I came to know in course of conversation that he loved the people of colorful Dooars in diverse society and culture adorned like flowers. He is an archer like Arjuna of Mahabharata. His five arrows were thrown against the illiteracy, ignorance, poverty and ill health of the people of the adjacent townships and with the aim of improving the quality of society and culture. Because of that conversation, he is my beloved younger brother since a long time.
Car number 11, i.e., walking on two legs, he has united with the towns people who are lagging behind. He is in solidarity with environmentalists engaged in the protection of forests and wildlife. Not in hopes of becoming a public representative or political figure but with the generosity of the heart, the villagers have become relatives of the soul. Dr. Partha pratim is a shining example of selfless social service in this era. He is my friend and our friend.
Dr. Partha pratim..