Bidhan Sishu Udyan not only celebrated Doctors’ Day on July 1 but also shared interesting trivia from the life of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, on whose birth anniversary the day is observed and after whom the children’s activity centre in Ultadanga is named.
“Dr Roy had applied to both medical and engineering colleges but since the acceptance letter for the medical course arrived by morning post and that of engineering arrived by afternoon post on the same day, he enrolled for the medical one,” said
Goutam Talukdar, secretary of Bidhan Sishu Udyan.
Lest children today remember him only as the founder of Salt Lake, Talukdar also shared how Roy was the mayor and the vice-chancellor of the University of Calcutta before serving as chief minister for more than 10 years till his death in 1962.
“I had heard many an anecdote about BC Roy from Atulya Ghosh (politician and founder of the Udyan). One such was how Dr Roy increased his height through regular skipping,” Ghosh said.
Dr Amal Kumar Mullick, president of the Dr BC Roy Memorial Committee, reminisced about the massive crowd at Roy's funeral. “The journey started from the Senate Hall of Calcutta University and as the funeral procession reached Bowbazar we noticed a lady weeping incessantly from her balcony. Later I realised she was none other than actress Sandhya Roy. By the time the procession reached Rashbehari Avenue, my clothes were torn from the jostling in the crowd."
Dr Partha Karmakar, deputy secretary, state board of primary education, shared with the students how Dr Roy miraculously cured a patient with severe ear pain with some jackfruit. “Always remain positive and obey your parents as they are your first mentors,” he advised the students.
Dr Manab Nandi, dean, Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, and Dr Arijit Saha, radiation and oncology specialist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, were felicitated at the event.
Students then performed, beginning with Tagore’s Aji subhodiney pitar sadaney in chorus. Then there was recitation. “The final poem, Bhabani Prasad Majumder’s Tapur tupur chharar nupur was a tribute to the poet who passed away earlier this year," said Rubi Gandhi, who teaches elocution at the centre. “We encourage every student to participate and showcase his talent. This would help him become stage-free.”
Singers of Bidhan Choir sang Rabindrasangeet. “They also presented a song composed for Dr Roy by our music teacher Aloke Chatterjee,” said Aditi Talukdar. “This platform gives us a new lease of life and creates bonding.”
There was dance and then students of athletics and yoga presented pyramids and asanas. Prizes were also distributed for events that had taken place at the centre round the year.
“The kind of care and facilities we get here five days a week, free of cost, is hardly available elsewhere. I’ve always had a knack for sports but after joining here, my physical and mental health has improved a lot. I’ve gained confidence from participating in many outdoor competitions,” said Bhaskar Burman, a Class XI and winner of the first prize in athletics for senior boys.
Yoga teacher Sumpa Das singled out Sanchari Biswas, a differently-abled child, for her achievements. “Sanchari was initially restless but has made a huge improvement over the last three years and is now winning prizes at contests,” Das said.
Debut with Tagore
What better way to announce one’s arrival than with Rabindrasangeet and Nazrulgeeti? Miledge is a new event management group and the first event they held was a Rabindra-Nazrul sandhya at Rabindra Tirtha.
“In future, I plan to hold social and entertainment events but being involved with music, I can’t take my first step without it. So, I begin my journey today with the blessings of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam,” said Damayanti Roy, who has started the group.
The chief guests for the event included painter Samir Aich, elocutionist Sovan Sundar Bosu, former Hidco and NKDA chief Debashis Sen, and his academician wife Urmila Sen.
Debashis Sen recalled how Aich had conducted a sculpture workshop at the wax museum in New Town some years ago. “Today’s event is important as it helps uphold Bengali culture,” he added.
“Now-a-days in the name of fusion, confusion is being created. By attending this event I am reliving the era of Tagore and Nazrul,” said Aich, before singing the Rabindrasangeet Tomar holo shuru.
Urmila Sen recited Rathayatra by Tagore and Bose recited Hriday amar nache re by Tagore and Durgam giri kantar by Nazrul.
Some residents’ groups like Chhondoneer, Rabi Chhaya, Sanchari and Rabi Sathi performed too. Sutapa Majumdar sang Sraban tumi batase. “This is a song to invoke the rains so it seemed apt for today,” she said. Dyutipravo Bhowmik, a medical student, sang too. “I may be from Gen Z but I am a big fan of Bengali music,” said the singer.
Shreejoyee Nandy
