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2012 was about to end, it was a cold December morning. I received a phone call from my dear Jon. Jon Barlow is kind of omnipresent person in the Hindusthani music scenario. He can be seen anywhere in India or different parts of the globe… be it Kolkata, Dharwad, Goa, Mumbai,  Paris or Sydney. This senior gurubhai wanted me to give a performance. He offered  two dates to choose from, one was the 1^st January night or the 2^nd .   I was free on the 2^nd and choose to play on this day. Later I found out that the concert would be  at Dupli’s residence [Dr. Kingshook Biswas] and I became even happier.

I reached the mathematician’s den in the evening and pleased to discover many close friends and some serious musicians assembled to listen to the music. Prabhu Edouard, the tabla maestro from Paris, was already there. Jon had already told me that Prabhu would provide me the tabla support. I started with Sajgiri followed by a madhyalaya gat in Anandi-Kalyan. Audience request came for Kirwani. So, that became  the next item. I remebered that I last played the raga at Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan in Bombay long back in 1976.  When I finished Kirwani it was  about 10 at night .  The audiences wanted more so we decided to sit again after dinner! The famous Bablu, who has been serving Jon for the last 30 years [or longer?] cooked for us tasty dinner. Babui was with me. Babui has become quite a notable sarod player [Saugata Roy Chaudhury] and regularly performing in venerable venues in Europe. We were discussing  on what can be the next raga. Suddenly it clicked… why not try ‘VIlayatkhani Kanada’?… He liked the idea very much and became quite  excited.  I  never seriously tried this raga and did not have opportunity to even listen to Ustad Vilayat Khan excepting a glimpse for say 5 mins. So I plunged into Vilayatkhani Kanada

I had a tiny voice recorder with me. It was not a very good one. I could not position the microphone nicely. so many  details are lost.. still I thought it  is not too bad an idea to put it before you.. although a scratchy recording. I hope you, as a connoisseur will fill the gaps…

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M.S. Banerjee

home, i.e., Deurgati (Village: Dehergati, Police Station: Babuganj (Sadar thana), Sadar Sub-division, District Barishal (Bakharganj), in Bangladesh)? I have heard much about Barishal from my grandfather, my father, uncles, aunts, senior cousins and others since childhood. They had the good luck and opportunity of visiting Barishal, since then it was a part of India (British India).

What I actually did is to put together these bits and pieces (collected through secondary souces). Though I tried my best to fill up the gaps either by what I found to be a logical conclusion or a conjecture. Yet there may be some missing links.  I could do little about such missing links. Testability of the contents is rather an impossibe proposition now. But I am confident of the veracity of whatever is tried to be depicted here.

The Kulin Brahmins of Bengal

The then Kings were always under the stress and strains of external aggressions from the other parts of India. The King of Bengal Ballal Sen once decided to perform a Jagna (worship of Gods before sacred fire chanting mantras) in his kingdom for the welfare and stability in the country. But he found that there were no competent Brahmins to perform such rites. Therefore he sent an emissary to the King of Kanauj, where such Brahmins were in abundance. The King of Kanauj obliged the King of Bengal by sending four Brahmins (probably they were ‘Upadhyays’ which later transformed into Bandyopadhyays, Mukhopadhyays, Chattopadhyays and Gangopadhyays).  After the successful performance of the Jagna, the Brahmins, at the behest of the King, decided to permanently live here. They were given land and property and other concessions including girls for marriage to allure them to stay back here in Bengal. These Brahmins were settled here and mixed up with the Bengalee people. Through the passage of time, they became Bengalees themselves.

Dehergati, Barishal

Once upon a time, our illustrious ancestors lived in a typical village, called Dehergati (pronounced as Deurgati by the locals). Our ancestors possessed of vast agricultural land and property. Being high caste Brahmins (Kulin), the locals treated them with reverence. In those days one’s caste was an important factor of one’s social status. It is also said that ‘Bandyopadhyays’ were the successors of the great ancient sage Sandilya.  Our Gotra is ‘Sandilya’. Since the local people used to address Bandyopadhyays as ‘Banrujje’, probably the English traders (who came to this part of India by early seventeenth century for trading purposes) distorted it to Banerjee. It still prevails and we write our surname in English as Banerjee.

Our ancestors

My  list of our ancestors, start with the name of late Ramraja Bandyopadhyay, about whom I know very little except that he is one of my great forefathers. Even today we require his name for performing almost all religious rites like, upanayan, marriage, last rites etc.  I feel rather embarrassed to admit that, I do not know any other name of my forefathers beyond the name of late Ramraja Bandyopadhyay with whose name I start my list. His name is followed by the name of his son, late Rajaram Bandyopadhyay, his grandson late Gaur Chandra Bandyopadhyay and his great grandson Ramkrishna Bandyopadhyay (father of our illustrious grandfather late Rajendra Lal Bandyopadhyay).

My Great-Grandfather Ram Krishna Bandyopadhyaya

Ram Krishna Bandyopadhyaya was a Nayeb (Deputy) by profession. He was the Nayeb of the reputed Land Lady,  Rani Bhabani (Dadu told me). In those days the big Zamindars (land lords) maintained Kuccharis (offices). They posted Nayebs (Deputys), Gomasthas (tax collector) , Khajanchis (Cashier), Muharirs (Clerks), Paiks and Barkandajes (Private guards) for manning and managing such offices. Nayeb mashais were the local heads of the offices. The residential home of our ancestors was known by the locals as ‘Nayeb Bari’, (which means ‘The House of the Deputy’ or ‘The House of the Deputy Land Lord’) (Kaka1 told).

Here is an interesting incident about our great grand-father  Ramkrishna Bandyopadhyaya that I heard from my grandfather  Rajendra Lal Bandyopadhyaya. My great grandfather’s nature of job required him to frequently visit the local courts and government offices. Once he was in the need of a copy of a document (possibly) containing thirty-five or more pages, which he could not procure. He decided to minutely read the same. On the next day, he recited the the whole document, including it’s recitals, the operational parts, schedules and other contents including the punctuation marks to the surprise of the Judge, the Pleaders, the Bench Clerk and all others present in the in court. It needs no mention that he won the case for his Land Lady. The unimaginable memory of our great grand father became the talk of the town for a long time. I saw that my grandfather became visibly moved with pride in telling us this matchless tale of his father’s extra-ordinay memory.

There is another story told by my cousin Ratan Kanti Bandyopadhyaya (Ratan), son of  Kshitish Chandra Bandyopadhyaya which shows that he had a towering personality too. Let me tell you the story. One day there was a brawl among the children of Ramkrishna Bandyopadhyaya and the children of his gnatis (distant relatives) over the rights of a coconut which fell from a tree. This took an uglier turn when a quarrel broke out amongst the elders in the family. My great grandfather was apprised of the matter soon after soon after he came back from Kucchari. He went out immediately, in search of a new plot of land for building a new home for the family. He shifted to the new home, never to come back to his ancestral home, where he lived along time. Does this incident not show what a towering personality and strong determination he possessed? In the great epic (Mahaabharat) by Kashidas, the character of ‘Bhishma’ is known for his great courage and determination. My great grandfather must have followed the imitable footsteps of Bhishma.

My Grandfather Rai Saheb Rajendra Lal Bandyopadhyaya

After a short stay at Barishal serving in the Collectorate possibly in the land revenue department Dadu joined Survey of India. Dadu’s all India service under the Survey of India necessitated postings at different places and he rose to the post of Superintendent of Surveys. Presumably by 1912/1913, he became a Teacher in the Bengal Survey School at Mainamati (Comilla/Tippera) district of Bengal province) during the British Raj in India. Later he became the Principal of the said Institution in the year 1914 and continued there till his retirement. He came out with laurels in the year 1934. He told me a lot of very interesting incidents that occurred during service life. I shall try to narrate those stories later.

———————————————–

1. Deba Prasanna Badyopadhyay

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Note: I tried to document our family tree. I did it with the information available with me at this time. I feel that this requires more efforts to make it complete. I shall request all to help me to appropriately update this.  Please mail your suggested updates to sitardivine at gmail dot com .  Thank you.::Mahiruha Shekhar Banerjee  [December 02, 2012.]

FAMILY TREE

BANDYOPADHYAYA FAMILY OF VILLAGE DEHERGATI, BARISHAL.

 Ramraja Bandyopadhyaya of Village Dehergati, Police Station- Babuganj

(Sadar), Sadar Sub-division,District Barishal  within undivided province of  Bengal (previously known as Bengal Presidency) under British India.  After Partition of India,15.08.1947, it fell within East Pakistan Province of newly formed Pakistan dominion. r it formed part of Bangladesh since 1971).

 Rajaram Bandyopadhyaya, son of  Ramraja Bandyopadhyaya

 Gaur Chandra Bandypadhyaya, son of  Rajaram Bandyopadhyaya,(he had two sons)

 Ram Krishna Bandyopadhyaya, son of  Gaur Chandra Bandyopadhyaya.Married to  Shibsundari Debi

Chinta Haran Bandyopadhyaya, son of Gaur Chandra Bandyopadhyaya.Married to  Parbati Debi

RAMKIRSHNA BANDYOPADHYAYA & SHIBSUNDARI  DEVI

(3 sons & 1 daughter = 4 children)

1.       Rajandra Lal Bandyopadhyaya (Bilash), b.April,1880 (Ramanbami day), d.1964, eldest son of  Ramkrishna Bandyopadhyaya. Married to Mokshada Sundari Debi, daughter of     (name? district Barishal).

2.       Indu Bhusan Bandyopadhyaya, 2nd son of  Ram Krishna Bandyopadhyaya. Married to Nistarini Devi, daughter of (name & place?)

 3.       Hiranmay Bandyopadhyaya, 3rd son of  Ram Krishna Bandyopadhyaya. Married to Swarnalata Devi, daughter of (name & place?)

4.       Sarojini Devi, only daughter of  Ramkrishna Bandyopadhyaya, wife of (name?)

RAJENDRA LAL BANDYOPADHYAYA & MOKSHADA SUNDARI  DEVI

(4 sons & 6 daughters =10 children)

1.       Bagala Prasanna Bandyopadhyaya, first son of  Rajendra Lal (unmarried)

2.        Shanti Kana Putatunda (Khuki), first daughter of  Rajendra Lal, wife of  Indu Bhusan Putatunda, eldest son of (name?  Village Bamrail, district Barishal)

3.        Renukana Gangopadhyaya, 2^nd daughter of Rajendra Lal , wife of Hemanta Kumar Gangopadhyaya,son of (?).

4.        Sudhakana Chattopadhyaya (Pachu), 3^rd daughter of RajendraLal, wife of (Name? of Place?)

5.        Chitta Prasnna Bandyopadhyaya (Ghentu), 2^nd son of Rajendra Lal. 1^st wife of  Chitta Prasanna, Parulrani/ Parul Bandyopadhyaya 1^st daughter of  Kshitish Chandra Bhattacharyya of district Mymensing, now Bangladesh, grand daughter of Ramesh Chandra Bhattacharyay of Jamalpur, dt.Mymensing, now Bangladesh,. She expired on the Saraswatipuja day of 1943, leaving one daughter Chun Chun and one son Rintu).After the death of 1^st.wife he married Niharkana /Niharika Bandyopadhyaya (Dula), 1^st daughter of  Hrishikesh Chattopadhyaya of Village-Nathullabad, P.S. Jhalokathi, district Barishal.(now Bangladesh. Jhalokathi itself is a district in Bangladesh now).

6.        Deba Prasanna Bandyopadhyaya (Lucky), 3rd son of  Rajendra Lal (unmarried).

7.        Sushama Chakraborty (Nani), 4^th. daughter of  RajendraLal wife of  Lokesh Chandra Chakravorty eldest son of (Name?) of district Noakhali, (now in Bangladesh)

8.        Piyush Prasanna Bandyopadhyaya (Khokan) [06/06/1920 ~ 01/01/2008], 4^th son of  RajendraLal. Married Smt.Lilabati/Lila Bandyopadhyaya (Lila), 4^th.daughter of  Hrishikesh Chattopadhyaya of Village Nathullabad, P.S.Jhalokathi, district Barishal. (now in Bangladesh, Jhalokathi is a district of Bangladesh. She happens to be the youngest sister of Niharika )

9.        Prakrity Bandyopadhyaya (Chhabi), 5^th.daughter of  RajendraLal (spinster)

10.    Maya Mukhopadhyaya (Bina), 6^th.daughter of  RajendraLal Bandyopadhyaya, wife of   Gobinda lal Mukhopadhyaya of district Barishal ( Gobindalal’s mother, popularly known as Laludi by our Baba, Kakas and Pishis, happens to be the youngest sister of  Indu Bhusan Putatunda,(R.L.B.’s eldest son in law, husband of  Shantikana Putatunda).

INDU BHUSAN BANDYOPADHYAYA AND NISTARINI DEVI

They had no children.

HIRANMAY BANDYOPADHYAYA & SWARNALATA DEVI

(2 sons & 4 daughters = 6 children)

1.        Kshitish Chandra Bandyopadhyaya, 1^st.son of  Hirnamay Bandyopadhyaya.Married Lilabati Bandyopadhyaya, wife of   Kshitish Chandra Bandyopadhyaya, daughter of (Name?) , district Barishal.

 2.        Bankim Chandra Bandyopadhyaya, 2^nd son of  Hiranmay Bandyopadhyaya.Married Provabati Bandyopadhyaya, 1^st.wife of Bankim Chandra Bandyopadyaya, daughter of  (Name?) of district Barishal (one son and one daughter).After death of his wife he married Rikta Bandyopadhyaya, 2^nd.wife of  Bankim Chandra Bandyopadhyaya, daughter of ( Name? Datta, of place?)( no children)

 3.       Biva (Rangini), 1^st daghter of Hiranmay Bandyopadhyaya, w/o Name & place?

 4.       Niva ((Sundari), 2^nd daughter of  Hiranmay Bandyopadhyaya,. w/o Name & place?

 5.       Shuva (Patal), 3^rd daughter of  Hiranmay Bandyopadhyaya,. w/o Name & place?

 6.       Ava (Mantu), 4^th.daughter of  Hiranmay Bandyopadhyaya,. w/o Name & place?

SANTIKANA & INDU BHUSAN PUTATUNDA

(5 sons & 5 daughters=10 children)

1.        Rani Chakravorty, 1^st daughter of  Santikana &  Indu Bhusan, wife of Hem Chandra Chakravorty, son of (name),– place?(one son-Shyama Pada Chakraborty (Babun),b.1942,married  Swpna Chakraborty, daughter of Amiya Bhusan Chakraborty of Bejoygarh,Jadavpur,Kolkata (orig. Dhaka)at Bejoygarh).

2.       Sitendu Bhusan Putatunda (Chitta), 1^st.son of  Santikana & Indu Bhusan Aruna Putatunda, wife of Sitendu Bhusan, daughter of

 3.       Parul Chattopadhyaya, 2^nd daughter of  Santikana &  Indu Bhusan, wife of Bimal Chandra Chattopadhyaya, son of  Name Chattopadhyaya of  (place).

4.        Sudhendu Bhusan Putatunda (Buddha), 2^nd,son of  Santikana & Indu Bhusan

 5.       Mukul Bandyopadhyaya (Mukul), 3^rd. daughter of  Santikana &  Indu Bhusan, wife of  Ratanmoni Bandyopadhaya of Jadavpur (previously Dhaka,Bangladesh) son of?

6.        Soumendu Bhusan Putatunda (Manik),3^rd son of  Santikana &  Indu Bhusan,

7.       Rashendu Bhusan Putatunda (Rasu), 4^th.son of  Santikana &  Indu Bhusan,m.Nina Putatunda, wife of Rashendu Bhusan , daughter of

8.        Bula Bandyopadhyaya (Bula), 4^th.daughter of Santikana &  Indu Bhusan, wife of Sri Bhabendra Nath Bandyopadhyaya son of name? district Barishal.

9.       Tanika Ray, (Tanu), 5^th daughter of Santikana &  Indu Bhusan, wife of Sri Sujit  Ray(Dulu), Son of (name), Place, district.Maimansigh ?.

10.   Nabendu Bhusan Putatunda (Bacchu), 5^th son of Santikana &  Indu Bhusan, m.Bulbul Putatunda, daughter of .

 RENUKANA  & HEMANTA KUMAR GANGOPADHYAYA

(8 sons & 3 daughters = 11 Children)

1.        Gauranga Gangopadhyaya, 1^st.son of Renukana & Hemanta Kumar

2.        Dulal Chandra Gangopadhyaya, 2^nd.son of Renukana &Hemanta Kumar

3.       Hubi, daughter of Renukana &Hemanta Kumar

4.       Tuni, daughter of Renukana &Hemanta Kumar

5.        Bishnu Gangopadhyaya, 3^th.son of Renukana & Hemanta Kumar

6.       Nipu, daughter of Renukana &Hemanta Kumar

7.       Gopal Chandra Gangopadhyaya, 4^th.son of Renukana & Hemanta Kumar

8.        Nantu, 5^th.son of Renukana & Hemanta Kumar

9.        Ram Chandra Gangopadhyaya 6th.son of Renukana & Hemanta Kumar

10.   Chhattu, 7^th.son of Renukana & Hemanta Kumar

11.   Nayan, 8^th.son of Renukana & Hemanta Kumar

SUDHAKANA &  DWIJENDRA NATH CHATTOPADHYAYA

(1 daughter only)

 Gaurirani / Gauri Mukhopadhyaya, only daughter of Sudhakana &  Dwijendra Nath, wife of  Shashadhar Mukhopadhyaya son of- name, place.

 CHITTA PRASANNA BANDYOPADHYAYA AND PARULRANI

(1 daughter & 1 son = 2 children)

1.       Swagata Bandyopadhyaya (Chunchun), 1^st. Daughter of Chitta Prasanna and Parulrani ,.(born on 21 September,1940 (4^th Ashwin) in Calcutta. Married on 15^th February 1971 in Calcutta Ajit Kumar Bandyopadhyaya (Tapa) ( born on15th June,1935 at Baranagar in Calcutta), only son of  Chinta Haran Bandyopadhayay and Shaila Bala Devi and grandson of  Gajendra Nath Bandyopadhyaya of  Makardah, district Howrah (West Bengal). Daughter- Sharada Mukhopadhyay (Saru/Iman), born at Ramkrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan on 21^st. September, married to Shantanu Mukhopadhyay son of Gauranga Mukhopadhyay and Gita Mkhopadhyay of Kolkata (formerly Dhaka in Bangladesh) on 31^st January. Grand daughter-Ritacheta Mukherjee (b.20 Sept.3^rd.Aswin, Kolkata), daughter of Sharada Mukherjee and Shantanu Mukherjee.

2.       Mahiruha (Keshari) Shekhar Bandyopadhyaya (Rintin / Rintu),

born at Ramkrishna Mission Shishumangal Hospital, Lansdown Road, Calcutta, on 4^th.day of November 1942), 1^st son of  Chitta Prasanna and Parulrani. Married, Aparna Bandyopadhyaya (Apu), (Born on 14^th.February 1948 in Calcutta), on 31^st. January, 1978 in Calcutta),  5^th daughter of  Kamala Kanta Mukhopadhyaya and  Prativa Mukhopadyaya of Calcutta, grand-daughter of  Nalinaksha Mukhopadhyaya &  Sarojini Devi, great grand-daughter of  Nrishingha Prosad Mukhopadhyaya of Vill. Multi, under Katwa P.S. and Katwa sub-division, of district Burdwan, West Bengal. Daughter- Madhuparna Bandyopadhyay, born at the Metropolitan Nursing Home, Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata on 17^th. August 1982.

CHITTA PRASANNA BANDYOPADHYAYA  & NIHARIKA

(2 Sons & 5 daughters= 7 Children)

 1.       Shushanta Shiromani (Bacchun), Born at Natullabad, P.S. Jhalokathi, district. Barishal,[now in Bangladesh],on the 1^st day of December, 1944 ( 15 Agrahayan)), ( married on 8^th.May 1970, 1^st daughter of  Chitta Prasanna & Niharika, wife of  Kalyan Kumar Shiromani (Badal), son of  Narendra Chandra Shiromani (their original surname was Sanyal, but they preferred to use their title Shiromani, instead of Sanyal) and  Prativa Shiromani, grandson of  Srinath Neogy and  Hemprova Devi of Jadavpur, Kolkata-32, (previously of District Rangpur now in Bangladesh).

a.       Daughter-Kasturi Shiromani Guha, born on 22^nd.June, 1971). Married Sarbajit Guha. Daughter: Adrija

2.        Shimantika Mukhopadhyaya (Chhottun)(born on    May 1948, in Calcutta, married on 15thFebruary 1971 in Calcutta),  2^nd daughter of Chitta Prasanna & Niharika, wife of  Subir Mukhopadhyaya, 1st.son of name, of Calcutta, originally from Shantipur, District Nadia), West Bengal.

Daughters- a.(Babi)  b.(Bumba)

 3.       Samapika (Mipun) Shil, (Born onMarch1949/1950 in Calcutta), 3^rd.daughter of Chitta Prasanna & Niharika, (married on1st November, 1979), in Calcutta), wife of Nandan Shil (Nanda), son of  Upendra Nath Seal and Parul Rani Seal of Netajinagar, Kolkata.( previously East Bengal).(Son- Kalpanta Seal,born in Kolkata on 17^th.November 1980).

 4.       Sharmila Sibadasan, (born on 5^th September 1954 in Calcutta), 4^th daughter of Chitta Prasanna & Niharika, (married on 8^th.March,1980, in Calcutta), wife of Rajan Sibadasan, son of K.Gopalan and Chillamma, of Netajinagar,Kolkata (originally from Kerala).Son- K.S.Manu born in Kolkata, on. Married Gargee on

5.       Kirit Kumar Bandyopadhyaya (Kitu), born on 19^th September1955 (2^nd Ashwin), in Calcutta, 1^st son of Chitta Prasanna & Niharika, (married on                     at Chandannagar, district Hooghly).

Renushri (Tuki) Bandyopadhyaya, (born Chandannagar, Hooghly District, on                       , in                          .), wife of  Kirit Kumar Bandyopadhyaya, daughter of                                         of Chandannagar, Distt. Hooghly, West Bengal .Son- Abja Banerjee (Abhi)(b.at Chandannagar on.) son of  Kirit Kumar and Tuki. Daughter-Oindrila (Oindri), (b.at Chandannagar on.)  daughter of  Kirit Kumar and Tuki.

6.       Ritwik Kumar Bandyopadhyaya (Ratu) (born on 21^st January, 1959,in Calcutta.),2^nd son of Chitta Prasanna & Niharika (married on8th.March,1980 at Netajinagar, Kolkata) …………).  Soma Bandyopadhyaya (born on         , in      ) wife of Ritwik Kuamar Bandyopadhyaya, daughter of Bhabatosh Sarkar and Lila Sarkar of Netajinagar,Kolkata (previously of East Bengal) Son – Sayantan Bandyopadhyay (Mokan) B.at            , on               ., married Dwipannita Bandyopadhyay, daughter of  Atindranath Bandyopadhyay and Namita Bandyopadhyay of Calcutta. Previously – Dist.Birbhum, West Bengal, on     in Calcutta.Grand daughter- Baby Srija.

 7.       Sulata Ghosh (born in Calcutta on 25^th December 1964,) 5^th daughter of Chitta Prasanna & Niharika (married on 9^th March, 2001 in Netajinagar, Kolkata),wife ofArun Ghosh, son of  Anil kumar Ghosh and  Chandana Ghosh of Salt Lake, Kolkata).Daughter- Arunima

 SUSHAMA AND LOKESH CHANDRA CHAKRAVORTY

(3 daughters& 2 sons =5 children)

1.       Rina Banerjee (Tanku), (born on             , at                ) 1^st daughter of Sushama and Lokesh Chandra Chakravorty , wife of  Janardan Bandyopadhyaya son of …,of Calcutta, previously of Barishal. Now in Bangladesh.

2.       Alok Ranjan Chakraborty (Bablu / Babu)(Born on…..,at/in …..) , 1^st son of Sushama and Lokesh Chandra. (married on           at Ranchi, Bihar (now JharKand)) Amita Chakraborty (Belu), wife of Alok Ranjan, Daughter of

3.        Bina Bhattacharyya (Tainu),( Born on       ) 2^nd daughter of  Sushama and Lokesh Chandra (married on         ) to  Bhishmadeb Bhattacharyya, son of   , of Howrah, West Bengal.

4.       Nina Ghosal (Mitu), ( born on     ), 3^rd daughter of Sushama and Lokesh Chandra, (married on     ) to Krishna Brata Ghosal,(Totan), son of      .of West Bengal.

5.   Mihir Ranjan Chakraborty (Satu), (born on    ), 2^nd son of Sushama and Lokesh Chandra (married on          at Jadavpur on  . )Anjana Chakraborty (Khuku), wife of Mihir Ranjan, daughter of

PIYUSH PRASANNA BANDYOPADHYAY AND LEELA

(1 son only)

Sanjoy Bandopadhyaya (Bublu/Bubla)(born on 16 September 1954 in Calcutta), only son of Piyush Prasanna and Leela. Married Rakhi Banerjee (born in 1955 in Kolkata) daughter of  Nihar Ranjan Dutta and Sanjukta Dutta) at Jadavpur, on 26 June 1981.

Daughter-Shreemoyee Banerjee (Mim/Mimma).

Son-Rrik Banerjee (Rushi/Rushai/Rusho).

BINA AND GOBINDA LAL MUKHOPADHYAYA

(2 daughters and 3 sons)

1.       Arundhati Chakravarty( Banu) (born on  25/11/1950 in Delhi), 1^st daughter of Bina and Gobindalal. She was married to Anjan Chakravarty on 27/05/1973 in Kolkata  [1^st son of  Amiya Bhusan Chakravorty, Bijoygarh, Calcutta and previously he was in Dhaka,East Bengal).  Daughters Mitil and Manali.

2.        Amitava Mukhopadhyaya(Bubu),(born on 15/12/1951 in Delhi), 1^st son of Bina and Gobinda Lal. Married  to Suchishubhra Mukherjee (Miku, on ….. …at……. born on …….at……).

Daughter: Sunetrika [Tilla] and married to Amit Kumar Agarwal.

Son:Arijit [Rahul]. Married to Ishita. Their daugheter is Anika.

3.       Gayatri Manaktala (Gitu),(born in 11/01/1953  in Delhi ) 2^nd daughter of Bina and Gobindalal, Married to Mr.  Narindra Mohan Manaktala [Titu], (son of  Ashcharyya Lal Maniktala   of Delhi( originally- Hariyana)

4.       Satyakam Mukhopadhyaya (Satu), (born on 09/12/1954 in Delhi) ,2^nd son of Bina and Gobindalal. Married to Anamika Mukherjee. Daughter Taniya and Son Mitul.

5.       Sandipan Mukhopadhyaya [Apu](born on 16/02/1956 in Delhi. He is the 3^rd son of Bina and Gobinda Lal. Married to Nivedita [Mitu]. Daughter Arunima (Michi) and Son Arup from Apu and Mitu.

This is simply an attempt to introduce the members of the very treasured family we belong to. (An open request to all who may kindly go through these introductory remarks may supply the deficiencies of information in the family tree).

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Raisaheb Rajendra Lal Banerjee

It was mid 80′s. I first chanced to have a glimpse of Dadu’s book in one of the many book-shelves at Anjanda’s house¹. The two storied building is so much packed with books that once you go in you have to almost breathe through the books. I always enjoyed this academic ambiance. Till then I did not know that Macmillan Publishers took interest in Dadu’s pen. I was very glad to discover this! I saw Dadu, my grandpa, as a saintly person in saffron, a person of very high reverence. I saw him with long white beard. A person who had very simple Bengali diet served with western cutleries. A spoon, a fork and a knife to savour machher jhol, bhaat, khichudi or shukto! Isn’t it interesting? I witnessed him spending time  in reading of the slokas from the Bhagavat Geeta loudly or  copying the Geeta with his wooden handled pen-nib taking ink from an ink-pot or running charkha or writing letters to his sons in English! I hear that one of his pass-time was to multiply nine digits with nine digits and directly getting the answer without a pen and a paper. What an unusual combination of activities!!

Back to the main story. McMillan published ‘Mensuration and Elementary Surveying’ by Raisaheb R.L. Banerjee. Another book titled ‘Elements of Surveying and Relaying’ was first published in January 1926 from The Art Press, Calcutta. Here is the book in pdf format. Thanks to my dear Anjanda who very kindly allowed me to digitize the copy of the book in his collection.

Writing conitnues…

When I was happy to be able to lay my hands in one of Dadu’s books, I felt a bit uncomfortable without any link to his Macmillan publication. I faintly remembered that I saw the card-board covers of that book in a huge wooden box at Ramnagar (3). I also remembered that I had a piece of outer-bind of that book. I tried to find that but could not locate easily. Last week [last week of November 2012] I was talking to Dada (2) over the phone. He was writing on Banerjee’s and was

Mensuration & Elementary Surveying

looking for as many details as he could. He was happy that I digitized Dadu’s book. He asked me if Dadu wrote something about himself in that book and so on. During the discussion I mentioned to him about Dadu’s Macmillan publication. He immediately said that he had a copy. It was really very exciting! I asked him if I could digitize the book. He readily agreed. Finally he brought the book today. (4) I set the light, the camera and all… my tiny DIY set-up [Do It Yourself set-up]. Dada turned the pages, put the glass sheet over the pages and I went on clicking my LUMIX. Finally I had all the snaps and took the files to the computer. The thing got ready shortly for uploading. and here it is… Here is Dadu’s book Mensuration and Elementary Surveying by R.L. Banerjee [Rai Sahib], published by Macmillan & Co.,  Ltd, St. Martin’s Street, London published in 1934

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(1) Anjan Chakravarty  is a very serious book-collector. He is my brother-in-law and married to my cousin-sis Arundhati [Banudi]

(2) Mahiruha Shekhar Banerjee [widely known as M.S. Banerjee]

(3) Ramanagar was our farm-house near Bangaon. Click for some details.

(4) 02 December 2012

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I had been to Khairagarh for a week from 08 to 15 September 2012 to teach a course. I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to reach today’s ace-musicologist Dr. Anil Beohar and talk to him. I was not sure how our ancient researchers took to researches on Indian Music. How vidwans like Bharata, Matanga, Sarangadeva and others collected such a volume of data and wrote such brilliant treatises that covered music so methodically with so much detail.  We see that these scholars also described   the music that was present in different geographical locations of the country when transport was difficult in those days. I wanted answers to these questions. So, I approached him and Anilbhai gladly accepted to talk.

Dr. Anil Beohar and with Khairagarh Palace on the background

I had my little Zoom Q3 HD video recorder with me, I carried this from Kolkata. The Khairagarh palace, the first building of the university, was a good backdrop. The roof-top of the teachers’ hostel appeared to me a good spot to try the shooting. From the roof we could get a good view of the palace. I set the camera on three heavy wooden stools, kept a couple of books on one stool and managed to put the camera-stand firmly. Anil-bhai sat before the camera and it appeared to me all set for a beautiful shoot out. So I recorded the interview. But…. on reaching the guest-house I discovered that I had very bad audio. The whole talk was blurred with the sound of the wind and I forgot to put the wind-shield on the microphones! It was very frustrating after all these work. I became sad. Anil-bhai was too busy with his administrative responsibilities and I feared that he might not be able to give me more time for a fresh recording. However, I told him what happened and requested for time. To my immense pleasure he agreed for the second go!

R to L : Sanjoy Bandopadhyay, Anil Beohar, the two Ph.D. scholars those assisted in the recording.

This time I chose the first floor of IKS University’s Central Library where they have kept the university theses. I was glad that there was enough light to shoot. So finally we could make it during the brief 30 minute free time on the 14 September 2012 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The recording was okay this time… and here it is for you… I hope you will like it.

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It was 6:15 in the evening, the call-bell rang. I got angry because I told everyone to keep the house gate unlocked – we were expecting our people to come. I thought it was Rushai who locked the door and I was about to shout at him – just then Mim commented – “Kuttipishi [Apun] has come”. I looked down from the first floor balcony and a pleasantly surprised to discover Mim was correct. Yes, it was my sweet Kuttididi and my sweet sis was confident that the door was locked – which was actually not so. She is such a good soul, simple and true!

I gave some good thoughts on how we can observe this first day of 2009 in the family. It was not easy for me to plan and manage. Finally we decided that it may be a simple one. The first thing I did was to take the phone out of the cradle and start dialing the few numbers that were almost my own numbers. It was nice to feel the warmth. Most of them said that they will make it – a few said that they won’t be able to – I could understand – After all, it was January 1, this is a day to celebrate, to go naughty, to have a special free day — to prepare for the year long routine – But, sure I did not reach all to whom I should have – thinking formally — No, it was January 01 for me too – so ‘’ Bura na mano – New Year day hai – “ Still, I can easily see I missed many. I especially missed Apu [Sandipan Mukherjee] – I shall tell you why when the time comes –

The clocked ticked by – I started getting nervous – and praying for the next soul to arrive. To my great pleasure Dada and Didin came. We were so happy! But yes, I missed some souls here too – but took caution and remembered not to ask anything — after all it was January 01. After sometime this little house was full – and I forgot everything – and started enjoying the collective consciousness – the consciousness created in a group of similar minds. I am glad that Dadabhai [Pranab] and Didibhai [Sathi] also made it. I knew how important was the 01 January evening for them too – but they chose to join us, I was very glad.

Everyone took care to first go to the thakurghar and pay their homage. It was very simple at the Thakurghar where we garlanded Thakur and Dadu-Thakuma with thick ‘Rajanigandhar mala’. Papa’s photo was just there on the table where Rakhi spread a clean white cloth. A pack of India Kings cigarette, a match box and a 100 gram Cadbury Milk Chocolate bar were there on the table as a treat to him. Rakhi read the ‘Satyanarayaner Panchali’ before Thakur. Kuttididi [Apun] joined her during the puja.

People actually arrived after the pujas was over. All went to put their homage [Pranam] to Thakur, and also Peejush Prasanna. Then we enjoyed two and a half hours uninterrupted joy! We just forgot time – we talked about Papa, we saw 145 old photographs and tried to put our brains to discover who they were! They were all our near ones – but we could not recognize many – Here Didin was the champion, she knew many of them – Dada was not behind – he also knew many – Mejdi also tried to help – Chhordi recognized some of her own photographs – It felt so good – such an enjoyable exercise—I am happy that Didin could not leave us early – and almost missed her appointment— I thought – all must go crazy – it was January 01. In between we were served tea in small plastic cups – I don’t know from where these came – I did not get them this morning. Actually, Rushai and I went to Lake Market to buy a few things including disposables – but we did not buy plastic cups— it must be Rakhi or Ma’s magic from old stock. Then we were served ‘Bake Club’ packets. Then someone told that we should have the ‘prasad’ first. So, Rakhi started the Prasad distribution arrangement. I must not forget to mention Dipankar, my student. Let me tell you Dipankar is an excellent flautist. He came around 4 in the afternoon. Since then he was busy in all the arrangements – be it heating the Chicken Piccadilly, vegetable patties or repacking them in the box and serving us.

The day ended with many promises – we promised to assemble periodically – we should remember the dripping love and affections of our seniors and should get inspired – We should spread the message of Love. We also remembered The ‘Absolute Truth’, which Papa used to propagate amongst his closest ones.

Before closing I must not forget to mention that Rushai took all the photographs – so it has become possible to create this photo-report.

Finally us, who assembled on this evening [typed without any specific sequence]: Didin [Swagata Banerjee], Dada [Mahiruha Shekhar Banerjee], Banudi [Arundhati Chakraborty], Baudi [Suchishubhra Mukherjee], Mejdi [Sushanta Siromoni], Chhordi [Samapika Sil], Tuki [Tuki Banerjee], Aindri [Aindrila banerjee], Nandada [Nandan Sil], Kuttididi [Sharmila Sivadasan], Rajada [Sivadasan], Dadabhai [Pranab Dutta], Didibhai [Sathi Dutta], Suju [Sulata Ghosh], Arun [Arun Ghosh], Mityl [Mityl Chakravarty], Manali [Manali Chakravarty], Bubu [Kastoori Guha Siromoni], Babi [Sushmita Siromoni], Tuntu [Ashmita Siromoni], Johny [Arunima Ghosh], Ratu [Ritwik Banerjee], Soma [Soma Banerjee], Rahuli [Arijit Mukherjee], Ishita [Ishita Mukherjee], Mainak [Mainak Banerjee], Dipankar [Dipankar Mukherjee], Anjanda [Anjan Chakraborty – joined late] and we in the house — Maa [Leela Banerjee], Juam [Rakhi Banerjee], Mimmai [Shreemoyee Banerjee], Rushai [Rrik Banerjee] and I [Sanjoy Bandopadhyay]. To end let me type down Papa’s writing that I found in a tiny piece of paper. He wrote it on 13 September 1983 at Khairagarh. You may also find this included in the composed photograph above.
13/9/83

Religion Universal
In universal religion

Relegare has to be found

And relegere is to be done;

It is holy and blissful,

The search for relegare

That which binds

Can nothing but Truth alone,

Not the relative, the absolute one.

Read again means repeatation

The absolute truth in meditation,

This can be had from one who knows

Otherwise there is no end of toils.

Peejush Prasanna Banerjee

SB’s note:

I take the opportunity to write the meanings of two words those are not in common use.

relegere = to read or pursue together; the same root goes to legible and intelligent

relegare = to tie back, to bind fast

Aum Satyam Aum

The post Remembering Peejush Prasanna on 01 January 2009 evening appeared first on Pandit Sanjoy Bandopadhyay.

When I woke up this morning, opened my eyes on the first day of 2009 – I felt a bit strange. I was not very happy when I believed it would be a happier new year.

Today is different from the first day of 2008. On the last new-year day we were differently busy. That was the day when Papa departed us and took to the zone of timeless oneness.

Then a year passed. It was extremely eventful for me. I did many things, met with many new people, many new experiences, and many new inspirations. It gave me richer understanding of life and creations. But the ability to receive them and interpret them came from within.

I always knew that all these happened because a specific soul was here from 06 June 1920 to 01 January 2008. At times I felt Papa more closely than I had him during some of the earlier years. Some of his thoughts are gradually becoming My Thoughts. I believe this is the chain that helps Human grow.

On this day I wish to remember some of his thoughts. I wish to remember how he used to explain The Truth. How he valued the general truth of life and human deeds. I also proudly remember his never ending support to the people who needed it. I remember his voracious reading of books. He read all the books in two sections of Khairagarh University library within a few months! He read day and night without much sleep. I remember the days when he almost did not sleep for months and kept sitting on his small bed. I remember his getting very angry with little reasons. I remember the 50 eggs at Khairagarh that Papa, Rakhi, one year old Mim and I ate at dinner! That was Rakhi inspired ‘Egg Day’. Actually the idea came from a scene from the Sofia Loren’s Sunflower. I also remember his days and nights with Harry Potter!

The comments that came when this page was in ‘Family Wiki’

We Especially Remember Him Today

Today we are especially remembering him – trying to feel his presence more strongly. His affectionate Didubhai, his first grandchild has left for her office. Mim is a great follower of her Tata [grandpa]. She thought that her Tata would want it this way. But, she will be back early to join everybody in the evening. Today we are trying to run the activities as Papa would like. The Thakurbhog with some nicely cooked food, later evening Puja of Satyanarayan and the get together of the people who he loved most.
Sanjoy Bandopadhyay

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More Tributes

Through the blessings of Lord Ram Thakur, we all assembled here to pay our highest regards / Pranams to Peejush Prasanna Banerjee. :: Pranab Dutta, 01 January 2009

I met Shri Peejush Prasanna, the father of my Guruji, Shri Sanjoy Bandopadhyay in 1980 at Khairagarh, whom i was lovingly addressing as Baba. He was a very kind, straight forward person with good guidance all the time. I pray God that his soul may always rest in peace.:: Dr R.Ramkalawon,Mauritius; 04 January 2009

My Kuttimama, Peejush Prasanna Banerjee, was my favourate Mama — because he liked me very much and he was fond of music. His sense of both vocal and instrumental music was beyond limits. When he used to play sitar the atmosphere of the place used to get surcharged with something great – it’s very difficult to exactly express that — I cannot express properly —– I would say, it used to become heavenly.

I also remember that once Kuttimama commented on me to my mother “ Bardi — Dekhbi akdin O kato kichhu karbe”. Kuttimamamr kathata bhebe ami eka eka chokher jal pheli aar ami nijeke santana dei je ato baro maper manushta Maa-ke oi katha bolechhilo.

Tanika Roy, Hyderabad

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Papa [around 1963]

Peejush Prasanna Banerjee was born on 06 June 1920 to Raisaheb Rajendra Lal Banerjee and Mokshada Sundari Devi. He was the youngest son of his parents. Peejush devoted the major part of his life in search of Absolute Truth. He had his revelation of Truth when he visited Vikashanandajee’s Ashram on a personal invitation from Vikashanandajee and his disciple Biren Tahinguria. That was in Nagpur around 1965. He had complete faith on his revelation of TRUTH and stayed with this throughout. He finally took to the fresh course of the next part of his eternal life on 01 January 2008 early morning.

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Note: The title is kept as ‘Dadu’ as we the grandchildren from his son’s side used to call him so.  Usual Bengali practice is, the grandchildren of the son’s side call their grandpa as ‘Thakurda’ and the grandchildren of the daughter’s side as ‘Dadu’. We used just the opposites.

Dadu, Raisaheb Rajendra Lal Banerjee

Rajendra Lal Bandyopadhyaya (Bilash) also quite frequently remembered as Rai Sahib R.L. Banerjee [Ramanavami 1880 - 14 June 1965 (Ramnabami is an auspicious day for the Hindus).It is believed that the day is the birthday of Lord Ram, the eldest son of King Dasarath of Ayodhya) ] came out as a prolific personality in the society he belonged during his 85 years of life.His parents, Ramkrishna Bandyopdhyaya and Shibsundari Devi lived in their ancestral home at village Dehergati (locally pronounced as Deurgati) district Barishal, presenly in Bangladesh but he spent most of his life serving the Government in different parts of India, before finally settling down in Calcutta after retirement in 1934/1935. Rajendra Lal (The word Rajendra means the King of the Gods) did not live himself but lived with a very strong presence in the lives of hundreds in and outside his family. Around 1998 Amitabha Mukhrejee [Bubu] thought that there should be a big get together of all the members who find their root in RLB. Now again the mind-wave has showed its presence.

The WISH of ‘Touch the Roots’ has come again alive. Mahiruha Keshari (Shekhar) Banerjee [Rintu] feeling the urge that this MUST happen. Mahiruha Shekhar called Sanjoy Bandopadhyay [Bublu] on 01 November 2008 and expressed his wish. Sanjoy also believes that there is a strong role of thought-undercurrent of ‘Knowledge about Life’. Sanjoy comments, “The philosophy, approach to life, the understandings are partly the result of the thoughts passed on to us by our ancestors —”. He says that “I talked with many members of OUR family — and I felt times without number that WE feel that we possibly have a soft-uniqueness. This may be true for all living individuals — but WE are more inclined to REDISCOVER ourselves.”

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