I was born in April. My mother delivered me at home in the small corner room over looking the busy road in a two story delapididated building, in a Muslim dominated locality in Kolkata the erstwhile British capital of India
It was a happy home, sweet home till I gained consciousness of immortal gloom that enveloped us and still stalks me from all side.
My father was not even able to bear school fees of Rs. 10/- because of big family consisting of 12 heads that included dependent aunt, and cousins.
I sat outside the office of principal, Aapa sat beside me. She had prepared me for the interview; I don’t remember the face of father. I remember hazily that he made me read from a colorful alphabet book. He talked to me English and probably asked simple questions. After coming out of the office, I narrated to Aapa what principal made me read and what questions he asked. Probably she was not happy with several of my answers.
My supervisor mam who was of dark complexion, young, middle height wore thick red lipstick on her lips and smelled with scent, would roam the lawns while children played, to see if any of us spoke in our native tongue। She always carried a wooden ruler. If any of the children, was found not speaking in english, she would impose a fine of six paisa. She would take the student to principal office to note down particulars. She was a dedicated supervisor with a remarkable memory.
She would keep a sharp eye on students: on our dress, manners, cleanliness and behaviors, inside the classroom and outside of it.
It was my cousin sister who got me admitted to Welland Gold Smith School, at Bow Street and helped me oft and on with expenses. I remember the first day in the school vividly. The assembly in the chapel was in full swing. I went running on the stage,We all seven brothers and sisters, used to haul water, in buckets of varying sizes as per our capacity from the street tap to the second floor. We were mortified by shyness and the exercise was very painful for us.
As we seven brothers and sisters grew up, our imporvishment also grew proportionately.
The meager income of father becoming smaller and smaller to fill the increasing size of our stomach and our other needs.
One day I rushed home at lunch break to be told by my mother that there was nothing to eat.
Notice from landlord to quit, electricity disconnection. Perpetual disturbed sleep because of ever increase in the number of transport companies and their business in the locality. The whole night our building would vibrate shake and our ears would drum with terrible noises. With the added terror of the gonads in the area.
One day I was just entering the main gate of our building when one kalloo a vendor below told me “your father is being beaten up by Aftab and others। Near medrasa Nidae Islam” I rushed to the spot and burst into cry. I saw my middle aged sick father who was recovering from T.B bleeding profusely from his mouth sitting in a corner. Everyone knew what his or her beating was like. This man had committed scores of murder. The gang to which this man belonged had committed scores of murder in the locality and maimed thousands of people permanently by then. The same man i.e. Aftab and his accomplice Noorul Abshar pinned Quasim the twelve year servant of my neighbour on the sidewalk below and pulled out all his hairs from his head, in full view of people .It was 11 am in the morning people were milling around every where and rubbing shoulders due to office rush. Quasim shrieked madly every time and the goon burst into laughter.
The goons owed allegiance to Congress(I) under Marxist rule. They were by God licensed killers. Their pet and tried method was to batter their victims with wooden planks or batons and later burn the weapon of offence. No one ever went to police. A few of them did and met with their sure and painful end. There were some who wrote to the chief minister and ministers but there never never was a response.
Every day they bought some one and tortured him for hours on ends nearly the whole night near C.M.O High School building around which they had grabbed properties of poor people. They had their dens in those buildings. They had put up a signboard of Mr. Somen Mitra. The Member of Parliament from Kolkata. Many of the tortures would take place in his presence. Mr. Somen Mitra attended the office daily for two hours in the evening.
The shriek and heart rending whimper of the victims would travel far and wide. When the victim would fall unconscious they would throw buckets of water on him and then resume the beatings, most often the exercise would start after midnight and continue till morning. In the morning we’d find the street or side walk abnormally clean. Because the goons had washed the spot of vomit, faeces and blood.
It was heart of the city flanked by cheek jowl tall buildings and residential quarters, flanked by broad streets roads and tall buildings and medrasas mosques etc with local police station Bow Bazaar police station 5 minutes walk, Calcutta Medical College and University, Police Head Quarters, Government Secretariat at most within 15-20 minutes walk.
Calcutta Police beat officers would in their beat pass by the spot। Police jeeps and vans would pass by the spot umpteen number of times but would never interfere, matter of factedly.
Mostly in the evening, quite too often the area would erupt with explosions. The goons would play bomb game with other groups of neighboring localities I/e Eden hospital road, Bow bazaar satta group, .Rabindra Sarani. They would throw crude bombs here and there madly, their threats and abuses rising to crescendo. The flames would rise a storey high.. But interestingly there never was an occasion when any of them received any injuries. It was mostly the unsuspecting passer byes squatters or children who received injuries or died in the blast. Some time the exchange of bombs would take place across Chitranjan Avenue the most important road Motorcade of dignitaries would pass through the रोड,.interrupting the proceedings and told ma'm in my native language i/e Urdu: : "Main toilet jaaunga" She made me repeat twice or thrice: "May I go to toilet".
Then there was an uncle the proprietor of an optical shop. Everyday he would distribute chocolates to students who passed by his shop.
Our dress was blue pant and yellow shirt. Bhaijan: Aquil adopted son of my aunt or Haqqa chaccha, Osman bhai , a servant who was rather a family member, would fetch me from the school at 2pm.The school was in fact 10-15 minutes walk from my home.
One day Aquil bhai on way from school told me that they have bought kids at home. I was overjoyed and began to twist and jump with joy while walking along the sidewalk.
They were three kids, white, brown and the other a mixture of brown and white. The brown one survived. After one year or so it was stolen. The goat was tied to a lamppost below. I was quite attached with the goat and felt very sad for many days.
Boys could only study up to class 2 in the school so she got my school changed when I passed class I and got me admitted to Ling Liang English High School- at Phears Lane। It was a missionary school। It was the values I imbibed in my missionary Schools made me misfit in the present society I think, I am seeking and searching the same values everywhere।
There was and endemic problem to keep me in the school because of fees repeated default in payment of fees and accumulation, dress, shoes, books exercise books and of course my poor performance and bad hand writing and poor health because of malnutrition. Some of my teachers thought that I was suffering from some disease and would avoid close contact.
Nevertheless my neighbors and relatives thought that I was intelligent and good.
So at last I was taken out of Ling Liang school mid-way and admitted to an Urdu medium school. I loved my previous school inspite of all the trouble and worry and wept. But I never insisted my parents to let me there, because I felt pity on them.
