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.                          

My College Education

There were some renowned professors in Bangabasi College in our time. Among them Prof. M.C.Chaki of Mathematics,  Prof, Jagadish Bhattacharya of Bengali, Prof Niren Roy of English etc were worthy of mentioning . Prof. M.C.Chaki was my mentor who influenced me to become Professor of Mathemaics in my career and did a lot for me. His method of teaching, his delivery of speech and  his style of  arrival in the class, everything I tried to adopt in my life during my career. He lived in Savoy Hotel situated on Shasi Bhashan Dey Street near Bowbazar Street. I met him many times while passing through the same street. I was in the habit of bowing down my head and take dust from his feet.

My college education started from Bangabasi College because that was within our walking distance and the authority allowed me to get admitted with half free studentship. It was a big College considering its no. of students. In I.Sc. there were many sections with about 200 to 250 students per section. The authority decided to admit the best students, coming for admission, in two sections. Section "B" was meant for the students with botany as additional subject and section "C" for students with Biology as additional subjects. We three, Myself, Kanti and Abhoy, was admitted in section C.
We, three myself, Kanti and Abhoy , got admitted in Bangabasi College in I.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology (a fourth subject). A long, hall type, class room , no.22, with doors one at the front and two or three at the rear side of the room. All the classes were not held in this room . Only Science classes , in which Black Board work was necessary There were changes of rooms in each class. The language classes were held in the room almost square in size.  A  "run and occupy" system was in vogue to occupy the first bench of the class room .
My father was in favour of two things. 1. Early to bed and early to rise. He ,too, woke up early in the morning and called us to get up and to go to the park near our house (Santosh Mitra Square). Myself and my elder brother, Rangda, as I called him, went to Santosh Mitra Square and took a run there. One day I got a ball lying on the ground within some shrubs. I took it and came to our house. My father, on seeing the ball, inquired about the ball and knowing that I got it from the park, he asked me to go there and keep the ball in the place, where I got it To him "honesty knows no bound". My father had to go to Bombay off and on for some of his office work. One day he returned home with so many things. 4/5 Carpets , 2/3 bags packed up with materials, one tin-made conical box filled with medicine etc. After taking some rest my father opened the story of all these things that while getting down from the reserved compartment , he was the last person to get down and the coolie asked him, "babu, would you not take all such things". He saw that many luggage were left by a passenger  of the same train. he took all the luggage, put an advertisement in three renowned news papers and got one Some Dr. Chatterjee of Ballygunge  who left all these materials. One fine morning he came with a lorry and took away all his belongings. We became astonished that he did not show any gesture of gratitude to my father.

My Childhood and early Education

I was  born in Medical College Hospital, Calcutta in 1933 as per my horoscope. My father was born sometimes in 1902 (approximately) and came to Calcutta in search of his fortune in 1918 . He was studying in a school in one of his elder sister's Father-in-law's house at Bagmari, Faridpur (Bangladesh). He was scheduled to sit  for his final Matriculation Examination but his elder brother, Motilal, was reluctant to pay the required examination fee and asked him to look after the property along with him. He then came to Calcutta of his own and began fighting  for his living and upbringing. After long struggle he became an accountant of a Mercantile farm, Spence Ltd.
He used to stay in and around Moulali in a walking distance from his office in rented buildings.. After the death of his elder brother he had  to go, time to time to his native village to look after the landed property  and the family of his elder brother, Motilal, consisting of one, daughter, and two sons.

My childhood passed in different rented house within the area covered by four streets.In the south - Dharm
atal Street, north - Bowbazar Street, East - Lower Circular Road and West - Wellington Street.  I remember , particularly, of 3 houses; one at Mahendra Sarkar Street, secondly at Gokul Baral Street and thirdly at the present building 23/D Shankaritola Street. But I could not remember the house which I had seen at the four pt. crossing  of Shasi Bhushan Dey Street, Gokul Boral Street, Creek Lane and Mahendra Sarkar Street and had heard of many stories.  This was the house of "grand mother" ( Thakumar bari). My father , called her Aunt (maternal side, Mauima). This was the convention of the days to call one of ones neighbour. Moreover she was the land lady of the rental house he was staying. When I heard about her and saw her she already sold the the house and shifted to Gobardanga. She used to visit our house till  seventies.  So far as I could calculate my father was married at the end of twenties when my uncle (elder brother of my father) was alive and had chosen my mother as the groom of his brother. My mother used to say that her elder brother-in-law (Bhasur in Bengali) had chosen her due her fair complexion. She was so fair which was rarely seen in Bengali families.
   Most of my education ( from Class IV to Postgraduate ) was  undergone in 23D Shankari Tola Street, from Class IV (1944) to M.Sc. (1958), when we came to Madhyamgram 24 Parganas (N). Probably, we had come to Shankari Tola Street in mid.1930s.We had to go to our native village, sometimes in 1939, just before the beginning of WWII and came back to Calcutta in 1941. My elder brother got admitted in a Upper Primary school in Khandarpara, in one of our aunt's (mother side) house and I was sent to Kaolibera to be admitted in a Primary school in my Maternal Uncle's house. I stayed about two years in our native village at present Bangladesh.
After two years, one year at Maternal uncle's house and one year in our native village we came again to Calcutta, 23/D Sankari Tola Street sometimes in 1942. Calcutta was in a grave situation for WWII. There were trenches in all the parks. Sometimes military with full uniform were parading in the streets. All the street lamp sheds were painted black at the outside portion of the lamp. Sirens were making sounds for testing. All the citizens had been informed to come to the ground floor on hearing the sounds of the siren. Once it so happened that a siren started and we all present in the house specially, ladies and children, came downstairs. After some time another siren was whistling and we went upstairs. I became curious went to the roof and found that something was dropping from the plane, along with smokes.After few moments another siren was heard and again we came to the ground floor. It was about 5 P.M when my father came and found us at the ground floor and asked the reason . We told about the sirens . He remarked that we had done a great blunder . The second siren was the danger signal. This incident took . in 1942-43
Another incident I vividly remember. We, two brothers and three sisters, were in 23/D Shankaritola Street. Suddenly,in the night we heard a tremendous loud sound shouting , " Allah ho Akbar". Later I came to learn that it was 16 Aug 1946.

The Calcutta Riots of 1946, also known as the “Great Calcutta Killing,” were four days of massive Hindu-Muslim riots in the capital of Bengal, India, resulting in 5,000 to 10,000 dead, and some 15,000 wounded, between August 16 and 19, 1946. These riots are probably the most notorious single massacre of the 1946-47 period, during which large-scale violence occurred in many parts of India. However, the “Great Calcutta Killing” stands out somewhat in the history of Calcutta, given that it was by far the most deadly episode in the recent history of the city. Although it received its name very soon after the events, it remains a very controversial episode, and different views or interpretations of it were put forward from Britain, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. While there is a certain degree of consensus on the magnitude of the killings (although no precise casualty figures are available), including their short-term consequences, controversy remains regarding the exact sequence of events, various actors’ responsibility, and the long-term political consequences.Our house was situated in a lane consisting of five houses 23/A to  23/E. The lane could be 
One during this period my mother asked me bring milk from the co-operative situated in Bowbazar Street. That was at the end of the riots. I went with a can to the Co-operative. The streets were full of American military. I went with trembling in heart. It was horrible when I came Bowbazar Street I just found a dead body lying on the opposite foot path and in front of our school. Milk was not available because the Co-operative is closed .
I was admitted in Class IV in Bowbazar High School . The school authority was eager to admit me in classVI but my father got me admitted in Class IV to make base strong. My elder brother Kumudranjan was admitted in Class VII though he was elder to me by one year only.
 The photo , (right), of myself, was taken in 1947 when I was reading in Class VII .To speak frankly, we were born of poor parents and got admission in this school for two reasons. 1. The school was situated near our residence and could attend by walking, 2. we were allowed to take admission with the benefit of free studentship.
  My cousin brother, Akhilranjan, came to Calcutta in 1948 after partition of India and  elder to me by 9 months and younger by 3 months from Kumudranjan, was admitted in Class IX of the same school.
I got only one friend Rabi while reading in class IV but I   lost friendship with him gradually, year by year, because his result in final class examination was  deteriorating.

Kanti (left), Abhoy (right)

  (myself, left)  we three , myself, Kanti and Abhoy became very close which lasted till we passed I.Sc. examination from Bangabasi College.
We,  three brothers, passed Matriculation Examination from Bowbazar High School in 1948 ( Kumudranjan), 1950 (Akhilranjan) and  1951 (myself) respectively.
The school was not a good one so far as the teaching staff or its infrastructure is concerned. On the  top floor of the building there was a hall, equal to the vertical portion of the "L"(lying flat) shaped building. Its toilet and 2-staircases etc. of the building were situated in the short portion of the "L", making    the building  in  the "L" shaped..  The hall, in the top floor, was  made into separate rooms by the movable wooden partition. We studied in these rooms in lower classes from class IV to class VI. In Class VII we got four walled room with separate doors and windows on the second floor;  The year, 1944, in which I was admitted, an annual function was held in the hall with prize distribution for promotion of classes and for other credits. But during the tenure of my study (1944 to 1951) I did not find  any such occasion. The reason was not known to us.
There was a morning shift for Girl Students with different name, Girindranath Balika Vidyalaya where our two younger sisters, Mantu and Dalu,  took there school education. It was a three storied building with no entry to the roof. The ground floor was used by some business shop owners. There was a very narrow corridor,, not more than  10' ft in width,  in the  ground floor with two openings at the left for two staircases. The front one ended in the 1st floor and the second one went upto the top floor.  In the first floor just after the staircase was Office and Headmaster's room, at the left,  made separate by partition and after the office  there were two Class rooms of higher classes IX and X and the corridor for going to the classes.,  At the right there was a corridor, with a staircase from ground floor to the top and a wash room. The  second floor was meant for Class VI, VII and Class VIII. and the third floor was allotted for Classes IVA, IVB, and V . Other than class IV there was no separate section  The school was situated on Bowbazar Street, a very busy street for shopping because there were many retail and whole sale markets on this street.
So far as teaching staff was concerned there was no teacher with post graduate qualification. There were some Graduate teachers with B.A. degrees and some undergraduate teachers. Among them some were having Mathematics as their combination subject who taught us Mathematics in higher classes. Abinash Chandra Saha was our Mathematics teacher in Class IX and Class X. He was also Assistant Headmaster of our school and Headmaster of the Girl Section. At the end of our school we  found a Headmaster with History honours who created some interest in history subjects by his method of teaching . We did not remember more than two or three who could create some lasting impression on our mind. In class IX  I took additional Mathematics as my optional subjects. I happened to be the single student who took Mathematics as optional subject. Abhoy and Kanti took hygiene as their optional subjects. Abinash Babu was my teacher for teaching additional Mathematics. When he came to my class, he seemed to be exhausted due to his whole days work starting from early in the morning . He was headmaster of the of the morning shift, and was only the mathematics teacher in higher classes both morning and day shifts. Our additional classes were held at the last period which started at 3.15 PM. Probably he had forgotten all the chapters to be taught . He used to ask me  to go through the book and try to follow. Thus we had finished Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry but could not go through Trigonometry. At the end of our test examination in Class X, a teacher with B.Sc. qualification was appointed in our School. Abinash Babu advised me to go to Sukhen Babu to learn Trigonometry. One day I met Sukhen Babu requested him to help me about Trigonometry. He replied that he was running short of time. However I may see him at his residence in a lane off Bowbazar Street. After many attempts I met him one day, when it was raining. I saw him in his room placing some utensils to the position of dropping rain drops to protect the room from over flooded. He asked me to came another day. We had three chapters in Trigonometry. At last I was able to get two chapters learnt from him. I could answer 95% in final examination of additional mathematics and got 95 . In compulsory mathematics also I got 92% marks. But I was very poor in literature and history.
My father asked us , myself and my elder brother Rangda (Kumudoranjan), to get admitted in a club of multifarious  activities. He wanted our physical and mental development along with  our education.      The name of the club was Shiksha Samity with many activities. Sports , games, sword fighting,stick play, knife play, and band party with bands and bugles etc.  It had separate routine for separate activities. There were some organizers Known as Karida , Sanatda etc.Karida was expert in many activities and was our main trainer. Gradually we began to participate in all the activities. I took much interest in drill and band party. On several occasions our club was getting invitation to play band party. On such a occasion we would usually put on white dress with white shoes and white caps. We had one set of white dress for such occasions.
The political situation of India specially Bengal became very grave in 1946.

In 1946, the Indian independence movement against the British Raj had reached a pivotal stage when the British Prime Minister Clement Attlee sent a three member Cabinet Mission to India aimed at discussing and finalising plans for the transfer of power from the British Raj to the Indian leadership, providing India with independence under Dominion status in the Commonwealth of Nations. After holding talks with the representatives of the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League—the two largest political parties in theConstituent Assembly of India—on 16 May 1946, the Mission proposed initial plans of composition of the new Dominion of India and its government. On 16 June, under pressure from the Muslim League headed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Mission proposed an alternative plan to arrange for India to be divided into Hindu-majority India and a Muslim-majority Pakistan. The princely states of India would be permitted to accede to either dominion or attain independence.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the one time Congressman and Indian Nationalist, and now the leader of the Muslim League, had accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan of 16 June whereas the Congress rejected it outright. On 10 July, Jawaharlal Nehru held a press conference in Bombay declaring that the Congress had agreed only to participate in the Constituent Assembly and regarded itself free to change or modify the Cabinet Mission Plan as it thought best. Fearing Hindu Domination in the Constituent Assembly, Jinnah denounced the British Cabinet Mission and decided to boycott the Constituent Assembly to try to put pressure on Congress and the British, by resorting to "Direct Action". In July 1946, Jinnah held a press conference at his home in Bombay where he declared his intent to create Pakistan. Jinnah proclaimed that the Muslim league was "preparing to launch a struggle" and that they "have chalked a plan". He had decided to boycott the Constituent Assembly. He rejected the British plan for transfer of power to an interim government which would combine both the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress. He said that if the Muslims were not granted Pakistan then he would launch "Direct Action". When asked to specify Jinnah retorted: "Go to the Congress and ask them their plans. When they take you into their confidence I will take you into mine. Why do you expect me alone to sit with folded hands? I also am going to make trouble."

On the next day, Jinnah announced 16 August 1946 would be "Direct Action Day" for the purpose of winning the separate Muslim state.  Muslim League Council Meeting held during the period 27–29 July 1946 passed a resolution on recommendation of Raghib Ahsan {dubious entry}, declaring the Direct Action Day was intended to unfold “direct action for the achievement of Pakistan.” Raghib Ahsan{dubious entry} in fact gave leadership to the historic “Direct Action Day” in Calcutta on 16 August 1946 to forge and demonstrate the support of Indian Muslims for creation of Pakistan.

( My first photograph, taken in 1947 when I was reading in Class VII.)
The year 1947 was a critical year for India as well as myself. A Hindu-Muslim riot started in Calcutta on 16th August 1946 by the call 'Direct Action' of the Muslim League . Our house 23D Sankaritola Street was situated in a small narrow lane, consisting of 5 houses , 23 A to 23 E can be closed by a wooden door.During Riot we were not allowed to go outside the lane. As a result we, the childrens of different houses had chances for intermixing, had fun, indoor games , listen to songs of Gramophone. In 23 A, there were one girl and his brother (deaf and dumb), in 23 B there were two girls younger to me, and three brothers, unmarried, in 23 C there were one brother of my age group and a sister, in 23 D we two brothers and three sisters, in 23 E there was a little girl. All of us became very close to each other. In
23 C there were different games and gramophones and all the family members were very cordial. In most of the time we had been in that house, playing Carom, Trade and other indoor games.             

.My father had to provide a private tutor, Naba Gopal Mallik to my elder brother. Nabagopal Babu was used to stay in the school building in one room and in his spare time he coached privately some school students with Rs.10/- as his tuition fees and used to teach all subjects.  My elder brother  was weak in Mathematics and English but strong in history and Geography. He got 48 out 50 in geography in his Matriculation Examination but did not take higher education in Geography at the insistence of my father.
There was   a teacher Abinash Chandra Saha who taught us Mathematics in Class X. He was assistant Headmaster of Our School and was Headmaster in the morning shift. My elder brother,
 myself and my cousin brother passed Matriculation Examination from this school in 1948, 1951 , and 1950 respectively.
After passing I. Sc examination in 1950 from Bangabasi College my elder brother got admitted in B.Com, in the night shift, and was trying for service . He got a service in Indian Post and Telegraph as a sorter in 1953. By departmental examination he uplifted his position to a 2nd Class Gazzetted Officer/ He was married in 1956 and got a child in 1958.

Some pictures of my friend.

( Pictures were taken on the occasion of Marriage of Kanti in 1957)

Early life of my sister, (younger by 4 yrs. died recently), Mantu,

Mantu was a faithful assistant and a playmate in my child hood,  residing in 23/D Shankaritola Street till she was grown up . I was reading in B.Sc in 1953-55 in Surendra Nath College and she began to share my thoughts and communicate her own. Thus she gradually became close and closer to me and became my friend, philosopher and guide.  (From left 1.Dalu, 2. Mantu).
We shared each other of our personal liking, disliking, and many personal stories.
The photo was taken in Calcutta in 1948 when she was 11 years old.







Photo taken in Madyamgram in 1958 when I passed M.Sc.

Family of my elder sister - Sachi married with Narayan Mukherjee

 My Didi,Sachi was married in 1948 when I was reading in Class  VIII  in Bowbazar High School. The marriage was  held in 23/D Shankaritola Street . My elder sister did not get admitted in any school. She used to take her lesson at home from our parents. My father arranged for her a tutor for learning songs, Specially Kalikirtan and Bhaktimulak songs. The son  Somesh Chandra Bose, Pinaki Bose residing in our next house, used to come to teach her Drawing. She could learn much in drawing but when Pinakida asked her to outside for drawing steal photo from a Park, she was not allowed and her drawing class ended. She given a harmonium for learning song. The harmonium was used by almost all of our sisters and even myself. The complexion of my elder sister was not fare and she had appear before the groom's party many times  to choose herself. Lastly such occasion arose when she was selected and the marriage took place. Tutul is her only female child. tutul is married and had daughter .  Didi was married in 1948 when I was in ClassVIII.  of Bowbazar High School.    

 On the occasion of Ron's first eating rice, Hiland Park (a get together)

Some more Pictures of my elder sister's family.

 Tutul and Gautam

Tutul in wedding dress

Nayana and Tutul, almost of same age.

From left, Mantu, Dalu and Didi.

Narayan Mukherjee with Didi and sisters-in -law, (dalu amd mantu