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.