Every time I went to Calcutta as a child, I made it a point to meet my friends there. Ranada, Peku (Niloy Pramanick) and Somuda. We grew up together and because we met only about once in six months, our friendship was special. If I was around, Peku would surely make it to Gurpatti and we would go up to the terrace and talk about all the girls we have fallen for. Ranada was our next door neighbor and would always have something funny to say. Somu was an enigma. He always had to be better than all of us. And we humored him. Ranada passed away a couple of years back. Loved him. Love him even today. One day when I was driving to Kodai, Pooja Ghosh called up to inform me about his death. And all I could think of were the three letters that I received from him when I was a student at BHU. Heres transcribing one letter (it is in Bangla and although I feel sad he isnt around today, it always makes me smile): Dated Calcutta, 20/09/94 Bhai Shubho, Chithi-potrer jowab debar bodobhyashti tomar nei. Tai uttor asha na korei ei chithi pathachhi. Upaay thakle chithir bhetor baro anna purey ditam. Kintu ta toe hoyna tai uttor asbe na dhorei niyechhi. Ei baro anna ebaar kaar bhagye? Sayantani? Tumi toe abar poshaker moton premika paltao, tai chinta hoy. Ei shedin Sayantanir jonno kanna kati korle, aabar okhane ekhon hoyto onno kono tonnir chokher jol mochhachho. Kokhono Reshma, kokhono Kakoli, kokhono Tulika, kokhono Sanju, kokhono Tui -- ebaar ektu shanto hau. Onek toe dushtumi korley. Nahoy Liz kei lease nao. Tobu toe ekta ashroy jutbe! Tumi toe baba mar theke aalada thakbe, shey khetre Lizee shera. Tumi borong okei bolo tomay lease nitey. Bhaloi katbe bhobishyot. Obishhi ondhokaro hoye jete pare. Liz toe abar purono paapi! Jakge, baad dao oshob oshlil alochona. Bhodro kichhu shona jaak. Kemon aachho? Maaney, tumi aachho dhore niyei bolchhi. Achho toe aabar, naki tneshe gele? Oboshyo tahole khobor nischoi petam -- karon tomar baba oto kipte non je luchi, chholar daal, aalur dom, dhokar dalna theke ami baad porbo. Tike thakle firchho kobe? Sovabajare bhirchho kobe? Behala-bandhon chhirchho kobe? Addar jaale firchho kobe? Flat 8 er boshar ghore dorja janla bondho kore pachha byatha sofay boshe jomiye porochorcha hobe dinta kobe? aage thakte janiye debe Ami ekhon synthy (tomar bhashay) niye byasto. Peku spanish ta na bhenge chharbe na tai abar bhorti hoyechhe. Bhaloi hobe, thik moto shikhte parle ekta dol godey felbo. Tomakeo nebo, human guitar bajabe. Parbe nischoi? Somur chyala tumi, na parle chole? Chhade uthle Somur kotha money porey. Or shonge amader eto mil, othocho ekhon dekhai jaayna. Kaar matha khachhe ke jane. Bechara borabori chal marte giye gaal kheye gelo. Mollar dour masjid obdi, tomar Jadavpur University. Pujoy ki bhabe katabe shey bishoye JU er meyder diye ekta guide kore nao. Tomar bhalo hole amadero bhalo lagey. Porsrikatorota amar nei --- obishyi poroSTRIkatorota? Oi... ektu aar ki :)
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 18:07:07 +0000
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