Kolkata woke up on Monday to the news of Buddhadeb Guha's passing away late on Sunday and soon tributes began to pour in for the noted Bengali writer. He was 85.
Many of Guha’s myriad admirers, including other authors, actors, singers and even politicians, expressed shock at the death of Lala da, as Guha was known to those close to him.
Joy Goswami
“During our adolescent days Buddhadeb Guha was one of the writers whose writings really inspired us,” poet Joy Goswami told My Kolkata. “All his works, be it Khela Jokhon, Madhukori, Obobahika, Holud Basanta, Koyeler Kachhe, Ektu Ushnotar Jonno, have kindled curiosity and creative pursuits. He is one of my favourites.
“Just like thousand others I have also been a big fan of Rijuda,” Goswami continued. “I had a very close relationship with him. In the year 1990, when I first received the Ananda Purashkar , as I walked down from the platform Buddhadeb Babu was the first to come forward and hug me. I was not aware that he was Buddhadeb Guha. He said: Amaye cheno na toh? Ami Buddhadeb Guha (You don't know me I guess, my name is Buddhadeb Guha). I greeted him with pronam. I was very fortunate to personally hear him sing. In 1992 he visited my house one day and sang around 20 songs. He was a very humble person. Needless to say a fantastic and very talented and profound singer. He learnt puratoni gaan from Chandidas Mal, Rabindrasangeet from Dakhkhini under the guidance of Subho Guhathakurta and from Debabrata Biswas.
“I remember him singing Sohosha daalpala tor utala je, a popular Rabindrasangeet. I also remember him sing Nabaneeta Deb Sen’s favourite, Aami bandhinu tomar teere toroni amar, in her memorial service at Rabindra Sadan. He was also a good painter.
“During my early days of writing when I was in Ranaghat he quoted some lines of my poem Preetibhoj in one of his novels. It was a huge acknowledgement for me. Later in his novel Changhor he has cited my poem. As a young and struggling writer he encouraged me to persevere and pursue my dreams.”
Bani Basu
“My connection with Buddhadeb Guha goes way long back. When I started writing he sent me a letter on a very interesting letterhead with images of jungles,” writer Bani Basu told My Kolkata.
“He always used to praise me for my writings. I have always been an ardent admirer of his writings and singing, specially toppa. He had a clear baritone. Actually he was a man with a multifaceted personality. Anything he spoke about wrote about or described was engrossing and full of life. He would take keen interest and write about new places with minuscle details. I have always admired his perceptions. The way he took note of human individuality was remarkable. Anything he described, be it any new food, jungle, place or people, has always been true to its essence. My personal favourite from his writingd is Khela Jokhon.... His mortal life may have come to an end but he will live on in his writings.”
Pracheta Gupta
“Buddhadeb Guha was a stalwart and pioneer of modern romantic literature,” writer Pracheta Gupta told My Kolkata.
“His contribution towards Bengali literature is unparalleled. His characters became so popular that people began to name their children after them. His writings were so intriguing that readers were drowned in them. An element of romance was always intricately woven in all his writings. He will remain immortal in his writings.”
Parimal Bhattacharya
“I came to know him in the mid-90s. Back then, I was teaching at Darjeeling Government College. One day I got a letter from him, asking me to translate his novels. Since then, we met many a time in his office at Waterloo Street,” author Parimal Bhattacharya told My Kolkata.
“Buddhadeb Guha had undeniably been able to capture the popular imagination of the Bengalis. He had been able to consciously craft a romantic Bengali character who is an adventurer and nature lover. His Riju-da inherited traits of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Srikanta, Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s Shankar and Satyacharan and even Sunil Gangopadhyay’s Nillohit.
“In a way, he was carrying out the legacy of Srikanta and Shankar, the adventurous Bengali. He even crafted himself in that mould. Since morning, I see on social media so many people sharing pictures of him wearing a forest ranger’s outfit and hat. He knew the forests intimately, the flora, fauna and the people who inhabited them.
“I remember even before I started translating one of his novels – I did only one — he sent me a hefty cheque as advance. I didn’t want to accept it but he said, “Even I take advance payments from my clients before I start with their job, why won’t you?” I bought an Olympus typewriter with that money. Even though typewriters went out of vogue a long time ago, I still have it.”
Goodbye, Lala da
A host of Bengali film actors such as Prosenjit Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee and Abir Chatterjee also grieved the author’s death on social media. Actor Arindam Sil reminisced about the fun times he had shared with the author and how magnanimous Guha was.
Among those who condoled Guha's passing were also singer Sahana Bajpaie, actor turned politician Saayoni Ghosh and Bangladeshi television star Ziaul Faruq Apurba.