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River Umshyrpi
does not look like a river during winter; instead, it becomes a rivulet as its
source becomes dry. Hence the supply of water lessens in those months. Large
polished granite stones are visible all over on the banks of the river. The
riverbed was our favourite place of adventure and play during our school days.
We used to watch the calendar schedule and wait for the long winter vacation, a
break from studies, after the annual examination. Class promotion exams were
conducted by all schools so that after the examination and results, the schools
declared long winter holidays which usually started from 22 December of the
calendar year till the mid of February the following year when the schools
reopened. Some schools, namely Pine Mount Girls School, used to reopen on 1
March. So each of us would become a Tom Sawyer during winter and hike towards
the source of the river, jumping on those giant granite stones. A number of
Huckleberry Finns were also present. On one such winter holiday, while coming
back from usual accomplished mission for the day, I noticed a tall, lanky, handsome
person who was walking holding a folio type leather bag in his left hand. His
eyes were the most attractive within his dark-framed spectacles. We were
returning through Ken chase Trace area and he was going the opposite direction.
He crossed us near Dr Hujans’s cottage and went down through the left lane. I
was impressed by his personality, and I felt a magnetic attraction towards him.
But obviously there was none at that moment to tell me his identity. Naturally,
I forgot the person after a few days and became extremely busy with my kite and
catapult. But about a week later, while I was crossing the road near lew Dak
(commonly known as Bati Bazar) with my father, I saw him again. I felt the
magic attraction and could not resist myself, so I asked my father, ‘Who is
this lanky but handsome gentleman?’
My father
turned around and saw the person I was referring to. ‘Oh, he is Mr. Shyamadas
Bhattacharyya, triple MA.’ I noticed sign of regard in his eyes while he
answered me.
After that
day, I had come across Prof Shyamadas Bhattacharyya innumerable times in my
school days on different locations, but it was my misfortune that I could
neither plunge into his deep thinking nor get a chance to fathom his knowledge.
Many years later, as a grown-up young man, while chatting with my favourite
Bibhu uncle, a chapter of golden past of Shillong evolved around Shyamadas
Bhattacharyya had surprised me.
‘Have you
heard of a drama troop named “Arup”?’ he asked.
My obvious
answer was no. He could also guess that and did not wait for my reply. He
continued, ‘It was in 1961. No . . . no, actually he joined in Lady Keane
College in 1956. With his charisma and cultural affluence, he easily gathered a
permanent place in Shillong’s cultural circle. Remember, that was the time, when
Bimal Sengupta, Hiranmoy Dhar and his Shilpi Sangha, Rita Mukherjee, Debola
Singha, Syandha Das (Lahiri), Roma Bezbaruah, and Gyanada Kakati were all stars
and great charismatic personalities in their own way. But Shyamadas
Bhattacharyya had his own aroma and talent effloresced very soon to all . . .’
‘You were
telling about some troop, uncle,’ I interfered in between.
‘Yes, it was
Arup drama troop which was led by Shyamadas. In the year 1961, the birth
centenary year of Gurudev Tagore was celebrated at Shillong with much grandeur.
I remember Bangiya Sahitya Parishad had some elaborate celebration plan led by
the then President Kumud Bhattacharjee (father-in-law of the famous film maker
Hrittik Ghatak) along with a presentation of famous Tagore drama ‘Raktakarabi’.
This was magnificently presented and performed by the Arup group. Many a time
this drama was held in Shillong thereafter, but in my opinion, the presentation
of Shyamadas and his group was best.
The role of
Raja was performed obviously by Shyamadas. The other roles were performed by
probably Gauri Kar (Nandini), Aulad Husain (Gossai), Bakul Choudhury (Sardar),
Radhika Chakraborty (Adyapak), and Amal Bhattacharjee (Bishu), but the rest I
do not remember now. Other than this, he has acted in many dramas. He is head
of the department of History in Lady Keane College till date. His immense
contribution towards the cause of Bengali language and literature and above all
towards his community is not properly valued till now.’
‘Yes, uncle, I
saw his activities closely during my college days. You would definitely
remember those hectic days while all literary world of Shillong was ready to
celebrate the birth centenary of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee in 1976. He was
working towards all modalities and logistics for the function like a true
leader leading from the front,’ I added.
‘Yes, how
could I forget? That was the last big cultural extravaganza that Bengalis had
in Shillong, I mean, before the turbulent time.’ He gave a gentle pat on the
back of his pussy cat that had jumped up suddenly from the rear of the room and
sat on his warm lap.
‘And most
importantly, uncle, you were the president of that committee, and he was the
vice president. I saw the drama ‘Pather Dabi’ where he acted in the lead role
of Sabyashachi and probably that was the last time he acted on a public stage.
His acting and direction both was magnificent. Other than this, there were
other dramas too . . .’
‘No, it was
not ‘Pather Dabi’ it was named ’He Rajbidrohi’, which of course was dramatised
in the shadow of Pather Dabi of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee,’ he interrupted in
between.
The discussion
did not last long on that particular occasion as he was busy attending to some
of his guests as he was heading his publishing house also. I slowly moved out and
proceeded towards Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, the nucleus of Bengali cultural
activity in this city till now and God only knew how long we could continue. In
the recent past, I came to know that Shyamadas Bhattacharyya settled in Kolkata
after retirement. I also heard that he lost his only daughter. He had some
other struggle in the domestic front. But the evergreen versatile most
charismatic personality of Shillong never lost his endeavour for creativity.
Enduring all mental struggles, he started a new journey, a new essay of his
life. He had taken the pen to narrate his love, the lively essay of picturesque
Shillong, its origin and its residents in his own classical way. He felt most
for his community, their glorious past, their dark present, and with a heavy
heart he wrote his ‘Shillonger Bangali’.
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