Rajat Subhra Chatterjee
0016
Head Sir or Head Master of a school in our days used to be a pillar and giant of a person who was held in awe by the students, top to bottom. When I was shifted out of Ballygunge Govt. High School, due to my father’s transferable job, to Sarisha Ramakrishna Mission, Ashram in class IX, I had really no clue what could be the real image of a Head Sir, as till then I was contended with Sri Biresh Chanda Chakraborty as the Head Sir of Ballygunge Govt. He was quite, erect and tall and a person of fewest words as I had only a few interactions with him.
But on entering Ramkrishna Mission Ashram, I got one Head Sir whose name was Sri Subol Bose. I can not imagine a more empathetic, a more helpful, and certainly a stricter Head Sir one can encounter. In Ramkrishna Mission, it was customary to call the teachers as Dada. Likewise, Subol Bose was to us only Subol da. In spite of all these hard attributes, Subol da was a father figure to students and to me he was next to my own father. My life would not have been re-shaped had there not been Subol da handy during my formative years, away from my own parents in the Hostel. It was an exhilarating yet rewarding experience for being a boarder.
In Ashram life it was mandatory for all boys to wear half pants or Dhoti within the campus. Subol da used to wear white khodder Dhoti and Panjabi all the time. He used to reside within Ashram campus in a tiny room with simplest living. He was a Masters in Chemistry, but he used to take any subject class even in class XI. When Subol da used to take those classes in the absence of the designated teacher, it seemed to us that the lesson could not have been better. His hand writing was bold, big and longish in shape. These signified the person as transparent, honest and straight talker. I realized this much later when I grew into my own sphere of life. Subol da had high powers in his glasses. He used to read very close to his eyes, I had never seen such before. It was -7 and -6 in both the eyes !
My first encounter with Subol da was mixed. I came into Ashram from Ballygunge Govt. in the midst of class IX just before the summer vacation. The most important query Subol da had made was about my seriousness in continuing with hostel life. He perhaps had hesitation if a son of a District Collector would be able to settle in Ashram life. It hurt me as I was being looked upon differently. My reply perhaps had convinced him. I said, from first day, I will wear Dhoti all the time. He looked at me and nodded. I tried to fathom how a Head Master was trying to test his ward ! In the long three years I was there directly under Subol da, and thereafter too, I discovered him gradually layer by layer.
When in class IX, I failed in Mathematics in the half yearly examination, Subol da took me aside evenings after evenings and imparted special lessons to me on Mathematics. When hostel boys bullied me with physical torture, Subol da comforted me by talking to the Hostel Superintendent Swamiji and ensured my safety. When I was seriously injured in a football match, Subol da spent two nights at my bed side along with Hostel Superintendent Swamiji and helped me recover faster. It was a father’s touch that I was missing but got in default from Subol da.
Every morning, before school hours, Subol da used to be there for the prayers with the harmonium and used to sing different nationalistic songs that would inspire young minds. It was an incredible skill of Subol da to play harmonium to any song. We used to lend our voice in the chorus. For evening prayers at the Mandir of the Ashram, Subol da used to be the lead singer of songs of Thakur Ramakrishna. He used to love to be with the boys as much as possible.
The above few traits of Subol da made him closer to us. But what was striking to me that he used to know each of the students by their first names. He used to know each of our parents again by first names. He often used to call students in his office to chat with them periodically to know if all was well with him and his family !! This personal touch was so loving that an immediate bonding was made between the students and Subol da. Although the hostel superintendent Maharaj was equally concerned, yet Subol da was one step ahead. Why Subol da was special to me because I found in him a strict Head Sir with a heart of a father who only wanted that his wards must grow into good human being. A passionate Head Sir and a compassionate human being – was merged together in to Subol da.
Time flew. I passed out, yet I kept in touch through post cards and occasional visits. Subol da retired. Still he was retained in the Ashram as an inmate. By then, Subol da was almost blind. He used to smell and get to know who was in front of him. Whenever I had been in front of him, he just smelt and used to shout – Oh you Rajat ! I informed Subol da about my son Abhishek. Later when Abhishek was about 5/6 years, I presented him to Subol da, he exclaimed, Oh you are Abhishek ? He blessed my child. Both me and my wife were stunned to see his memory.
Subol da is no more. He left for his heavenly abode in 2012 in the Ashram. I wept as I lost my father second time. He may not be in flesh and blood with me but his blessings, love and memories will linger so long I will remain alive.
Joy Thakur. Joy Ma. Joy Swamiji.
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