" Adesh chilo, Delhi Cholo,
Delhi mora Joi korechi ,
Aj Tumi Kotha Netaji!"
We grew up breathing in the elixir of patriotism ; The current flew strong & powerful throughout our school life....,.
My eldest brother of 13/ 14 years old, who tried to sow seed of patriotism in neighborhood children team . He taught them marching and patriotic music......
My brother led the team of children to march with the music below:
#. KADAM KADAM BARAYE JA,
KHUSHISE GEET GAYEJA ,
" YE JINDEGI HAI KAUMODI."
.......I was then too young to speak distinctly ; I used to sing the last line from my sister's lap
like.... " e-jing- b-jing- korbo-ki"!
All others made fun of it .
My father was posted in HAZARIBAGH,,Bihar.
All the wealthy and elite class people of Calcutta [. so called 'Babus"] used to come for "change"in the healthy region of Bihar ; Hazaribag , Ranchi Modhupur Giridih, Jhajha, Jashidih , shimultala, Deoghar were famous among them. These wealthy people had their own buildings with large garden having variety of fruits and flowers There were gardeners, care-takers to look after the property. Throughout the year the children entered the garden for grabbing fruits by jumping over the wall until they were chased by guard to get out ! Sometimes the guard remained cool ;because the fruits were too abundant to be consumed by the boys.It was a time far from the hotel business flourished ! Most Babus had luxurious arrangements in the building ,not less than any starred hotel.
My father became close friend with some of the "babu" family. I mentioned my father's story in my google 'Blog' account. But now I will add a new story.
Netaji's family also used to come every year in Hazaribagh. I don't know whether that was their own house or rented !
They used to invite my father's family in the 'yangna,' performed at the end of 'SatyaNarayan puja. It was perhaps about 1946, before India owned independence.
When the most invitees left, my mother asked Netaji's mother about Netaji curiously,
" Do you think Netaji is still alive?"
Netaji's mother smiled sadly ; then shifting eyes from curious face of my mother she replied,
"Sure, he is alive very much to me!"
Mom: [in whispering voice] "may I know where he is now hiding? I wouldn't tell anybody!"
By the time my father came to call my mom. He started asking common formal conversation with Netaji's mother; before leaving .
Dr. Sunil Basu [ Netaji's brother] treated my brother and saved him from critical condition. My brother had typhoid and Septic mumps simultaneously. Dr. Sunil Bose operated him in our house . He brought all his surgical instruments necessary for operation and asked my mom to boil water .
He himself came near the kichen for more boiled water . My mother was frying some "pokora / chop."
He sniffed and asked my mother to taste some warm fries . My mother offered him with tea . He asked some more fries.
Operation was successful but remembering pain my brother used to abuse random to the Dr. but the Dr smiled and never minded .
He used to visit our home almost everyday of his stay in the town. I heard the story from parent I also heard that Netaji fled from Gomoh station , near Hazaribag . He was seen lastly in Gomoh , India.
Then in Germany under the shelter of Hitler. But he remained mysterious in the heart of all Bengalese like a painful lump !..... Time to time rumor of "Netaji has come"' ignited the Bengalese in new enthusiasm!
Slowly time healed up the rumor in silence under multiple complexities!
Calcutta Bookfair -2026 knocked to remind India as well as the world how much love and adoration the Begalese still bear for Netaji .
Thanks to Kunal Bose for publishing the book in the broad arena of the Book-Fair!
Hearty Congratulations on behalf of ever-alive-all- patriotic hearts!
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