On that fateful Monday morning of 2018, the day started with a startle as news arrived of the disappearance of one of our most respected and loved senior colleagues in the waters of the Hooghly with the incident happening around Sunday midnight.
The residence of him is bang opposite our bank of the Hooghly.
Immediately I started for his residence by riding a launch. His teenage son was out of the town for school excursion with his wife in home in shattered state.
His elder brother (already retired) used to stay with his family in another accommodation, but within the same ancestral plot. Though I didn't get introduced to him previously; but I was well aware that always did he (with full support from his better half) play the role of a highly responsible and loving elder brother, lending his broad shoulder in all possible crisis befalling upon our colleague (and his spouse and child).
Got intimated that the elder brother is engaged in search on the river bank. On reaching the stairs leading to the river, noticed a group of around 10 people engaged in serious discussion with a few physically negotiating the waters as the tide was low. Clearly understood that they form part of the neighbors of my colleague with his elder brother surely present in the group!
As I randomly asked a person about the identity of the elder brother, he called out a gentleman who started approaching me upwards from the river bank. Though retired, the smiling faced gentleman didn't appear so! Rather he walked up briskly with a big pure smile on face despite the unfathomable turmoil in mind and physical toll since midnight! After our introduction and his brief description of the happening, he urged me (and others) to stand under the shade of the temple above the stairs as the sun is too scorching! Got aback by his unparalleled protective mindset towards the world at large, even in circumstances of disappearance of his own younger brother down the flowing waters!
Now it was the time of visiting police station to submit the details and photograph of the missing. While venturing to the police station and also during our return journey after the mission, he continuously insisted me to have sweets and breakfast as I started early in the morning! Simply I got awestruck by his mentality of embracing all - - be the person his own younger brother by blood or the
just-introduced colleague of his brother!
As the ball has gone to the court of the police who would notify if our colleague is located somewhere, I returned home by bidding goodbye to such an extraordinary man who continued to maintain his calm poise and smile on exterior self despite plagued by internal storm in mind!
Our man ie colleague got finally located in Wednesday evening amidst the part of the Hooghly little south of the iconic Rabindra Setu ie Howrah bridge.
On Thursday afternoon as myself and other colleagues reached the police morgue of Central Kolkata, met the elder brother for the second time, welcoming us to the waiting room in such an enthusiasm as if he is the father of the bride welcoming guests on the special say of her daughter! No wonder why this Superman of real world or the epitome of positivity could manage to accomplish all post-mortem related official protocols without any exterior tremble or psychological breakdown.
After taking possession of our man, we proceeded towards their hometown in Hooghly district and after touching the residence, moved towards the final destination in this mortal world ie the crematorium, located beside the flowing Hooghly.
On reaching the site, the elder brother confidently marched towards the office with measured gait to write down the register and produce the cards of identification.
And right from the morgue to the crematorium, he was relentlessly asking us to relax, take a seat with an apologetic smile! And while waiting in the crematorium, he was asking many or few to return home to take a bit of rest!
Again most unsurprisingly when our man was on the verge of leaving the world in physical state with the priest asking for a pot of water and one of their neighbors ready to rush towards the flowing Hooghly amidst semi-darkness all around ; the alert elder brother ie the most compassionate loving Dada of all shouting at the top of the voice "Sabdhane Jaas, Aar Kono Durghotona Jaeno Na Hoy" (remain alert, lest another accident happens)! His level of concern towards all have attained such a height surpassing the Himalayas that even at the last stage of the proceedings, he is alert enough to warn that no other person face the same fate as his younger brother!
I mingled with my senior colleague for 19 years! But even at the point of departure from the physical self of him; I just stared at his elder brother in an awestruck fashion, with whom I got introduced just 3 days ago and seeing him merely the second time in my life! Is he a Man of this earth or an Angel from Heaven!
Thereafter whenever I have visited his residence, found him waiting to welcome me literally standing outside the gate and during my return, he used to invariably accompany me till the river bank and again literally running towards the counter to purchase the launch ticket for me!
And thanks to a believable source, got aware much ago that during all possible crisis of his relatives neighbors and acquaintances, this Dada of all immediately rush towards them in midst of crisis - - be it in hospital or crematorium!
And when my very own passed away on the verge of dawn, this person reached the hospital in early morning by hiring a car and accompanied us right till late evening while we were negotiating various formalities process and complexities, that too at various sites! He helped me through his physical presence and calm demeanor; he helped me extensively through crucial timely advice on various matters not by raising voice in top gear, rather in whispers in most low-key mode!
And another help indeed bear special mention as apparently it doesn't appear much significant! As soon as I was handed a large plastic bag by a nurse, containing various Test Reports and Scan plates along with other medical papers; the elder brother promptly took the packet from me and throughout the hectic day, whenever I asked him to hand it to me, he preferred to carry it himself! No it was not such a heavy bag, but the fact remains that one of my hands would have always remain engaged, thereby preventing me to go through various jobs (writing to physical) with elan! Moreover the much important papers could have also got misplaced resulting in another set of problems. So what a silent (almost invisible) support had he given me throughout the day and only after reaching home, did he return that packet so that I can keep it in safe custody!
No this man hadn't ended the latest phase of development in my life by attending the rituals in the temple premises only by attending the programme from first to last!
Rather his gallantness seems to have simply no end. Right on the hospital itself, he had clicked a highly important document which was not handed over to us as per protocol. But crucial information did it carry. So not only did he click the document, he also forwarded it to my WhatsApp account on that day itself.
But if I inadvertently delete the picture from my mobile! So this silent humble angel took multiple colored print out of the document in best sheet possible, put it within a folder and couriered it through speed post by paying a significant amount! And only after transmission, did he intimate that such a courier will be delivered to me within a day or two!
And the Greatest (till now) specimen hitting right on Sunday morning!
As some questions got raised by few banks or agents questioning the "authenticity" of the Death certificate, issued by the Kolkata Corporation (and forwarded to me through a link by the West Bengal Government); I discussed the matter with him on Saturday evening. On viewing my print out, he informed that the digital signature is not being seen in the Death certificate and requested me to send him the link.
On early night he informed that he has taken the print out of digitally signed certificate.
So as to prevent him from again spending a significant amount to send the courier and also to save his time/energy of visiting the Post office, immediately I intimated him that myself will visit his residence across the river to take those print outs.
He told that on Sunday morning he would have to accompany his daughter to college to attend a programme. So on afternoon he will intimate the time of meeting.
Early morning of Sunday started with a ringtone in my mobile and in that half-slumber state assumed it to my alarm and simply ignored it! On the third occasion, I gained my composure and noticed that it was a call and noticed his name! Immediately I understood that this much more than required Bhadralok has surely reached our residence to deliver those Certificates!
And instead of reaching our flat, he is indeed standing downstairs and would return home immediately to accompany her daughter to the college!
Despite such a family-devoted person performing all possible responsibilities, he doesn't hesitate to spend time energy and money (pension) to come in aid of others and what a contrast indeed! Myself immersed in slumber in safe comfort of bed, this person (surely in late 60s) has arrived at our place from another district, separated by a river! And yes with a large packet of sweet delicacies at hand! And I was trying to save time energy and money of this Man!
What a foolish indeed I am! And so with a large folder in one hand containing the colored certificates (with one of them even laminated) with the packet of sweets in another ; I couldn't do anything apart from helplessly and stunningly looking in a daze towards the man who started his return march with the eternal broad divine smile remaining intact in face!
In his epic poem 'Bangabhasa', Michael Madhusudan Dutta had lamented "Kelinu Saibal Bhuli Kamal Kanan" ("Playing with ugly moss, leaving beautiful red lotus")!
Had Michael been alive today to witness the state of affairs of "New India" and got introduced to this unique out-of-the-world gallant-hearted Dada whose heart brim at the seam with milk of love compassion and well wish towards all; surely he would have thought twice before undermining Saibal and praising Kamal Kanan !
Yes, while the absolutely innocent Kamal has got a bad name with merchants of hatred claiming association with it through their symbol; surely Saibal should also not be considered "ugly" any more when the Bangla speaking world will get enlightened of such an exceptionally true Human being and Bhadralok !
No I don't know whether up above there is a place named Heaven! Also I cannot vouch for the existence of Angel in that paradise!
But I have seen an Angel right here in this much poisoned earth who responds to the name SAIBAL BASU MALLICK - - whose only mission is to gift nothing but Heaven in the lives of them who are lucky enough to receive his warmth and touch!