RBS Budhbarer Boithok – Iswarchandra Vidyasagar Bicentennial Birthday Celebration – 23rd September 2020, 6:30pm
From the Desk of the General Secretary, Rabindra Bharati Society
Dear Members,
Yesterday we gathered over a zoom meeting to commemorate the Bicentennial Birth Anniversary of legendary scholar Pandit Iswarchandra Vidyasagar which would be celebrated on 26th September, 2020.
The forum was opened with a short speech by me on his various works which we all are aware of, having grown up studying “Barno Porichoy”.
Thanks was given to Shri Jyotirmoy Roy of Tripura for introducing Dr. Debabrata Deb Roy to Rabindra Bharati Society who joined in from Agartala, Tripura, to speak on the great personality. He mentioned that Rabindra Nath Tagore visited Tripura seven times. He also apprised us that Vidyasagar Mahasoy danced in glee when the Rajya Bhasha of the State was declared to be Bengali.
Nilotpal Goswami, who joined in from Dharamnagar, Tripura, recited two poems dedicated to Vidyasagar, one being of Michel Madhusudhan Dutta’s.
Dr. Shaktisadhan Mukhopadhyay, Ex President of Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, with his eloquent speech and unparalleled examples drawn from the life of Vidyasagar and unique deliberations, enthralled the audience.
Late Sanat Singha was yesteryears children’s favourite singer. All of us loved his songs which were basically the thoughts of children put into words and music. His daughter, Smt. Rita Nandy, rendered a song by her father based on Vidyasagar, where he asks him why he made such difficult spellings which were tough to memorise by kids.
Dr. Abhijit Ghosh, Gynaecologist and Asst. Secretary of the Society read out an epitaph inscribed next to the stone structure of Vidyasagar. He put a question to all asking who had penned the inscribed poem.
Gold Medallist, Smt. Indrani Chakrabarty, proprietor of “Shrutipuram”, an institute for learning poetry, joined in from Tripura to recite a poem called “Sagar Tarpon”, a medley compilation of many poets, which was appreciated by one and all.
After this a collage of events on the life of Vidyasagar was streamed for half an hour, which was produced by Shri Arup Kumar Dey, who apprised us of the journey in the making of the same. The National Channel of Doordarshan had continuously aired episodes of 22 mins each for 2½ years on Vidyasagar, made by him, which is indeed commendable. All were glued to the screen as much of the facts were unknown to those who were present. After the screening, the ladies could not stop thanking Vidyasagar for his contribution to society, especially for women. A total Reformer who eradicated Sati Daho and Child Marriage, introduced education amongst girls, wiped out the stigma against Widow Remarriage – to name a few.
After this the answer to Dr. Abhijit Ghosh’s quiz was sought and our member, Smt. Lalita Sinha promptly answered it was written by none other than his only child and son, Narayan Chandra Bandhopadhyay. Dr. Ghosh went on to say that Vidyasagar had strained relationship with his parents and son. He made a Will where he had given off all his belongings to various people but did not give anything to his son as he was thoroughly displeased with him. He only gave him the right to his cremation and conducting his last rites.
The Members were apprised of the Rabindra Bharati Society Website which had been lying dormant for decades. Mrs. Rumela Mukherjee with the aid of Shri Himadri Mukherjee and Shri Ranjit Nayak is trying to revive it and it will be active within a few days.
The meeting ended with a Vote of Thanks by our member, Shri Pronob Roy, who joins in regularly from Barasat.
All members expressed their thanks for conducting this special programme on Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar.
Siddhartha Mukhopadhyay
24th September, 2020
