I have got contributions in terms of photo and writing to remember Subodh Babu. Adding them in one place here. I would expect others to comment on this post to keep your Shraddhanjali here :
Amit Paul writes :
Looking back, it’s just a few decades, when I walked into the class with that inexpressible joy of becoming “Secondary student”, no more waking up in the morning to attend the school. In her farewel speech the headmistress said – “you are now grown-up kids”.
Ranjan was our class monitor and while he was busy establishing his self-professed authority on the first day, a handsome bearded fellow entered the class. We were shy. We did not know how to react. And then the voice boomed – “I’m your class teacher; I will tell you a story today”. He walked over to the board and drew a few swans in just a few strokes on the just refurbished blackboard – the story continued for couple of weeks with perfectly interleaved pictures drawn on the board. We were in our adolescence with the spirit of intellectual enquiry, but we were so deeply dissolved, did not understand why the story needed to be over – the “Manos Sarovar Yatra”. After even 30 years or so I can’t forget those days, not sure of any better way starting our journey to secondary education.
The series of those unforgettable pictures started flashing back in more than hundred frames per second when that monitor Ranjan called me up saying Subodh Babu was no more. It’s a kind of pensiveness, a sense of loosing your nearest one. I was overwhelmed with grief. It is difficult to encounter a teacher who is so versatile, so perfect in his professional role.
It’s perhaps around a year and half back when one day Subodh Babu called me saying “I would be visiting Bangalore for Sahitya Sammelan; would be staying for one day after the Sammelan as a guest with you. I was so jubilant. That was the last and perhaps the first time he chatted with me about his goals in life. While that was much personal, I remember telling him about Kalidas Roy’s – “Chatrodal” – Sir was a little lost. We chatted for long, just before saying good night he said “My students have given me a lot, I wonder if I really created these gems, I wonder why they love me so much, I am proud of my students.”
Now as I write this, I realise it was he who was a rare gem in the system. The value he tried to imbibe in us was the value that stired him as a person and sustained him. “Balo Bir, Balo Unnato Mamo Sir” in his voice used to create spark in teens’ blood; an ideal teacher – who had affection for all of his students – a person who could infuse mammoth confidence by his actions. He was a fantastic narrator, a skillful organizer. Art, literature, sketch, oration, recitation were his precious stones attracting youth and pupils. Moreover his open hearted laugh and unhindered communication helped him touch many minds, hearts too. A rare mix of balanced personality.
Like many of us and Subodh Babu’s fellow followers I also don’t have words to express my gratitude to Sir for shaping our minds in those days.
Photo taken by Binoy Chakraborti at joint condolence meeting at school goes below
Photos taken by Suparnada
Subodh babu is to be remembered by us in many ways. I can recall one incident of 1984. I was a student of class viii and Subodhbabu was our class teacher. We reached in the final and our opposition team was class vii (section I forgot) and Late Samanta babu was their class teacher. I simply observed the childish beheaviour of our two great mentors. Teasing each other as if they were back to their student life.
Another incident I can recall when Subodh babu caught some students who bunked the school.The very next day he gave the punishement. He neither scold nor beat up any student . He had lined them up and paste a poster “Amra School plano chele”, at the front them. After that he made them walk throughout the school.Can u imagine this type of punishment. I can remember one of the student who used to bunk school frequently after that incident changed him , after some years I met that student at Calcutta University.
I was student secretary of Swarasati Puja committee when in Class XI . Subodh Babu was the teacher secretary guiding me. We used to have luchi alurdam at pre puja day dinner . ‘We’ mean the team organising the most gorgeous school puja in North Kolkata in terms of decoration, idol , scale etc. during that time.
The dinner estimate used to be for 100 persons Luchi Alurdam and two Rosogollas per head. A newly joined teacher ( not naming him now – we are in good relation still ) was also among the organisers that year and he finished 90 ( yes ninety ) Luchis and was continuing . Subodhbabu raised alarm and I was tasked to manage. With my experience of Luchi fatigue when you eat couple of them wet with oil – I moved on, served two wet Luchis from the bottom of Luchir balti. It worked !! He stopped at 92nd Luchi . I won’t forget the smile of my then boss . “Parar sob bia barite tui ki poribesshon koris naki ” – came the whispering question. I was kind of blushing then he said “kauke bolis na kintu beparta” !!
I don’t think my daughter or son will get that from their teacher ever.