Acharya Prafulla Chandra College - My whole career.( Aug 1960 - Dec 1994)

(Welcome to Acharya Prafulla Chandra College

Acharya Prafulla Chandra College was founded on 16 August, 1960 under the Dispersal Scheme–with the joint participation of the State and Central Governments. Late Haripada Biswas was the founder secretary of this college. Initially it was named ‘New Barrackpore College’.)

I came home from Bajali College, pathsala, Assam, in the 1st week of May, after summer vacation and heard that a College , from RR Dept of Govt.of India was going to be opened in New Barrackpore, at a distance of 1 KM from our residence, Madhyamgram, at the initiative of the founder of the New Barrackpore Colony, Mr. Haripada Biswas, a  famous personality.  I made him pleased at my first interview. Actually, myself , Mrs Nilima Das of Madhyamgram ( stayed just in front of our house) and Dr.Manati Mitra of New Barrackpore got the first appointment in this college and joined on 4th August 1960 for enrollment of students. The foundation stone of the College building on Sodepur Road was laid down by Mehr Chand Khanna , Minister in charge of R.R Dept.of Govt. of India. on 16th Aug  1960.Actually the College began functioning  in the morning in the premises of New Barrackpopre Boys' Colony High School on 4th August 1960 ( this can be verified from the old records of admission register . I used to write the admission, Prof. Minati Mitra used to write the bills and keep the cash in a wooden box) . The name of the College was New Brrackpore College. Later it was renamed as Acharya Prafulla Chandra College, New Barrackpore (north 24-Parganas) 

Only 9 (nine)Professors were appointed in the first year of the College. 1. Prof. R. Samadder (Mathematics), 2. Prof. (Dr.) Minati Mitra ( Bengali), 3. Prof. Nilima Das (Philosophy), 4. Prof. Bhabadeb Banerjee (English), 5. Prof. Jogesh Chandra Chakraborty (Sanskrit), 6. Prof. Binoy Roy (History), 7. Prof. Amalankur Sen (Economics), 8. Prof. Arunendu Dasgupta,( Political science) 9. Prof. Kalyani Roy (Sanskrit). At first it was started as a Degree College only in Arts with Mathematics as combination Subjects. Prof Jogesh Chandra Chakraborty acted as Professor -in-Charge of the College. Prof. B.C.Chakrabarty was  appointed as a First Principal of the College in 1962 (probably). in the new College building. The Functioning in the new building was opened by Prof. Humayun Kakir, Minister in the Dept. of Education of Govt. of India.    

Librarian - Asit Brahma, Office Assistants - Sukumar Ghosh, and 4 Class four staff were also appointed.

Bajali College , Assam - My first appointment

My first appointment was in Assam, Bajali College in August 1959 and served upto ( April 1960). In  summer vacation I came home and did not join again for anti- Bengali movement gripped the whole of Assam.

During this period I got an appointment from Acharya Prafulla Chandra College, NewBarrackpore (formerly Nrew Barrackpore College).

Post graduate study in Pure Mathematics (1956-1958)

Before the results of M.Sc. being published we had to shift to our newly constructed house at Madhyamgram at the end of 1958. Our result was published in the first part of 1959. The first eating rice of the elder son of my elder brother, Kumud Ranjan (first grand son of Ashutosh samadder ) was held there within two/three days. 

The first Indian teacher of Pure Mathematics with International accolades was Prof. S. D. Mukherjee whose works in Geometry derive appreciation even now. The Department of Pure Mathematics can boast of its predecessors who have set up such a qualitative pattern that the progeny feels inspired. The Department feels pride for the Geometers, like Dr. S. D. Mukherjee, Dr. R. N. Sen, Dr. M. C. Chaki and others; Analysts, like Dr. W. H. Young, Dr. Ganesh Prasad, Dr. Haridas Bagchi, Dr. H. M. Senguta, Dr. N. C. Bose Majumdar, Dr. P. L. Ganguly and others; Algebraists like Dr. F. W. Levi, Dr. R. C. Bose, Dr. S. S. Pillai, Dr. B. C. Chatterjee, Dr. A. C. Chowdhury, Dr. S. P. Bandyopadhyay and other luminaries in the field of other branches of Mathematics as well.

( Darbhanga Building, Dept. of Msthematics)
After the end of the regular classes I started preparing  for Examination along with one of my class mate. But during the examination he dropped appearing exam. for his preparation was not up to the mark. 
Results were out after three months and it was found that I had gone through with more than 70% marks in 4 four papers and obtained less than 60% marks in the other four papers. 
We had by this time shifted to Madhyamgram to the newly constructed house  of my father. 
My elder brother got service in Post and Telegraph as a sorter and was married.He had a son and on the occasion of his first eating rice, held at Madhyamgram, some pictures of his son were taken by Ranjit and this was , probably the last meet with Ranjit.      

Punched Card Machine Operator and admitted in M.Sc. (Pure Math)

A punched card, punch card, IBM card, or Hollerith card is a piece of stiff paper that contained either commands for controlling automated machinery or data for data processing applications. Both commands and data were represented by the presence or absence of holes in predefined positions. 
After some application I got a service in Indian Statistical Institute as a Punched Card Machine operator for which I had to undergo an apprentice for 3 months and then permanent appointment would be available. I joined it. But I could not continue tuition of the two girls of Mr. Mukherjee. Mr. Mukherjee asked me to arrange a tutor for his two daughters. I requested Kanti to do it in place of me which he accepted. But after some time  Rupashree, the younger one, showed her unwillingness to take lesson from Kanti. As such I had to take the responsibility of Rupashree and Santashree, the two daughters of Mr. Mukherjee. At first I was going 3 days in a week to teach the son of Mr. Mukherjee. But when I had to teach the two girls, also, my routine was extended to both the shifts, morning and evening.  After getting my job I discontinued to teach the two girls making my morning free to join my service. 
Our apprenticeship usually started at 10 A.M. and ended at 5 PM. After that I had to go  home. But this time after reappointment to teach the daughters of Mr. Mukherjee I used to from office direct to Mr. Mukherjees house.
That is I used to  teach them in two shifts  in the  Evening. I was offered good tiffing at the break of the two shifts.
Learning the prospects of Punched Card Machine I wanted not to continue . Anil Gupta , my friend, gave some tips how I might get admission in M.Sc. in pure Mathematics since I could continue only in  the subject of  Pure Mathematics.

Anil Gupta passed B.Sc. with distinction in the same year as I did and was staying in front of our house of 23/D Sankharitola Streeet. I asked him the details of admission in Postgraduate classes. He was studying M.Sc. in Pure Mathematics My score in Mathematics was not sufficient for admission. I met Prof. M.C.Chaki known to me since I was a student of I.Sc. On hearing from me, Prof. Chaki advised me to apply for admission as a player and he would see that I got admission. Actually I procured certificates of a player in College team  of Bangabasi college, a certificate of  player in V th Division (Allen League) of IFA from my local Club Maitreyee Sangha in which I was a member and applied for M.Sc. With the recommendation of Prof. M.C.Chaki I got admitted in M.Sc. in Pure Mathematics in 1956.
But this time too I could not find time for studying. Moreover, I tried to depend on class notes given by the Professors. Apart from Prof Chaki there were some more good teachers. my daily routine was very simple. I remained out for tuition in morning as well as in the evening. from this time I had to contribute Rs.100/- towards my family expenses.  
     

My College Education (contd-3)

Not only myself, a group of friends  who were once members of Shiksha Samity, began to become close  the members of Ranjit's family. This was possible with the initiative of Habu, grand mother of Ranjit. We got frequent entry into the house of Ranjit situated at Shashi Bhusan Dey Street which was rare in 2-3 years back. This time I got admitted in Bowbazar Batam Samity of College Square, a swimming Club. Ranjit also took his admission there. I rose early in the morning at about 5 A.M., called Ranjit and went to College square for swimming. We had to undergo three courses, 1. messaging oil, 2. swimming and 3. bathing after swimming. We used to come back home at about 7 A.M. Ranjit took admission in Bangabasi College. We had to go to our respective colleges if it was open or we were to go to Santosh Mitra Square for playing Cricket or foot ball.
  These pictures were taken by Ranjit, Pic. left was taken on the bank of the Ganges in Dalshineswar Kali Bari, the other pictures were taken in his studio at his house with artificial light with effects of light and shed.
Everyday in the afternoon I used to go to Ranjit's house. The house was in two attached portions such that each floor was in next half landing so that there were two roofs . One was at 2nd floor and the other was 2 and 1/2. On this floor there was a water tank for delivery of water to different places as required. We usually sat on the tank and pass our time gossiping day after day.
I spoiled so much of time in non-academic activities during this period that I could not get through the "elimination test" in Chemistry Honours Examination held after three months of admission and was transferred to the pass course. When my final examination was very close I came to senses and turned to study. Ultimately,I passed B.Sc. examination with Distinction by studying for 6 months. After passing B.Sc. I tried two things, 1. to get some tuition  for my personal expenses, 2. to apply for job. I gave an advertisement in Ananda Bazar Patrika and got some interviews for tuition of all classes up to B.Sc. ( for Math.), This one came from the son of care taker of the Assembly House.
One day the owner of a big press "Navana" on Ganesh Chandra Avenue called me an interview and talked with me for his son reading in class IX. He preferred me as  private tutor for his son because I got distinction in B.Sc.
One day Mr. Mukherjee,  owner of Navana, asked me whether I had any time to teach his daughters reading in Class VII and Class VIII. I accepted the proposal and went everyday to the the house twice, morning and evening. The family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Mukherjee, their children, one son Sovan and two daughters Gitashree and Santashree, and mother of Mr. Mukherjee.                

MyCollege Education (contd-2)

( Pic left -Surendranath College, Calcutta, Pic centre and right is of myself after passing I.Sc. examination)
We three, Myself, Kanti and Abhoy, took different lines we took different lines according to our own choice after  passing I.Sc. examination in 1953 but were separated in different lines.
Kanti took an apprentice in Post and Telegraph, Engineering Supervisor, Abhoy went to the Commerce stream and was admitted in B.Com in Goenka Commercial College  Myself got admission in B.Sc. in Surendra Nath College with Hons in Chemistry for two reasons, 1. Openning of Chemistry Hons was, more and wide, 2. My marks of Chemistry secured by me was good.
The activities of Shiksha Samity had been stopped for want of administration and the attendance of the members was gradually deteriorated and came to zero..At this time I got a new friend, Ranjit Ghosh formerly known to me as he was also a member of Shiksha Samity.We and some other friends of Shiksh Samity formed an organisation of outdoor games ( foot ball and cricket) in the ground
( Sontosh Mitra Square) near our residence. Formally, out games of Shiksha Samity were held in Wellington Square. A new friendship was developed with some of our old known youths. specially with Ranjit Ghosh. The intimacy with Ranjit Ghosh went up to the members of his family for two reasons. 1. This year (1853) Ranjit passed  S.F. examination after 2/3 attempts. 2. His grand mother was fond of playing cards (auction Bridge) and invited me to play cards in the evening. We, four , used to participate in the game. The game required four persons in two teams called opponents. Myself and the grand mother of Ranjit (called by all, Habu) beccame my partner and Ranjit and his sister formed another team. Thus intimacy began to grow day by day. Ranjits to a upper middle class family. They possessed 2 or 3 houses in Calcutta. They lived in one and the other two were used as property of rented building. Ranjit's grand father was a medical practitioner. All these properties were earned by him. Ranjit's father did not have higher education and used to look after the property left by his father.He were having two wives and Ranjit had two mothers. It was assumed that one of them, some sort of unfair in complexion , might be elder than the other, called by all, Manima,  and not so good looking was married by his own choice. The marriage of the other one , fair and good looking and soft in nature, was arranged by his parents. Probably, after the death of his father, Manima was brought home to live together. Manima did not have issue. It was heard that Ranjit's mother was so soft that one day she began weeping noticing Manima to weep. She without asking her any question, sat by her and began to weep.    
     

My College Education (contd-1)

The activities of the club, Shiksha Samity, was gradually deteriorating in regards to its attendance and its activities after two/three years of Independence of India. Some times our club would also attend outside call with our band party. I remember, a "pravat ferry " from Deshabandhu Park of Shyambazar to Deshapriya Park of Ballygunge attended by Shah Nawaz Khan (left), G.S.

Dhilan (top right), Lakshmi Sehgal (left), etc moving in a jeep car, in front of the "Pravat ferry" . The  was extended from Daeshabandhu Park to Wellington Square. Our Club participated in this rally with its band party and about 40 volunteers with all white dress including a white Cap on our head. Such rally took place two / three years from 15 August 1947, on the same date.
On another occasion in our club, a camp was organised  in Baruipur, (south ) 24-Parganas with about 40 volunteers.Probably, our fund was very limited. In the camp we were offered a dinner of Roti and Alur Dam . But there were less amount of potato pieces. The young generation attending the camp were demanding more pieces of potato. Karida, our commander-in-chief,  ordered that no more extra pieces of potato would  be supplied, one potato piece for one Roti. Many of the younger generation got up half fed. In the camp fire I pointed out that some volunteers of younger generation were half fed. Karida disagreed and with a
( photo  of mine during leisure in the camp)
 threatening voice, asked whether there were any. Karida was like Yama and there was none to say against him. I was trembling and thought there would be none to rescue me. But to my astonishment, 3-4 young volunteers came one step forward and replied in the affirmative. At once, an  arrangement was made to hold another dinner on the same night with sufficient potatoes cooked later. Actually, I was liked always by the younger generation.
There was a second occasion of my grievances against Karida.
A competition was held to determine Captain, a newly created post,  of our club. The competition included drill, commanding, band playing (both general and single), Stick game, knife game, athletics. The volunteer stood first in aggregate would be awarded a gold medal with the logo of the club and a badge of Captain ship.  It took about one month to complete the competition. I took seriously the competition and practiced the items everyday. When the result was out, it was found that I stood first and got the badge of Captain. But Karida, our commander-in-chief  started remaining absent from the club. Everyday in the ground I saw there was none senior excepting me. One day, on the 15th August , in flag hoisting of our club in the club ground, I put the Badge to the cap on the head  of the youngest volunteer present on the occasion. Suddenly, Karida came and saw it. He plucked the badge and asked me why it was done by me. I replied instantly, " I think him fittest for this badge." He simply put it in his pocket and went away. Other things happened as it was.
From that day Karida did not come to the club again.  That was almost the end of our club, Shiksha Samity.