The Compassionate Chronicler – Biswajit Jha – Part 1
The author ended up meeting Biswajit Jha the chronicler of ‘Bike Ambulance Dada’ during a holiday in Darjeeling. What followed was a unique experience which is shared in this story. We share part 1 of this series today.
By Somashis Gupta
It was the spring of this year that my iron constitution showed some symptoms of giving way in the face of constant hard work. Dr. Banerjee after an in-depth examination declared “Hawa bodol korte hobe” giving positive injunctions that I lay aside all my work and surrender myself to complete rest if I wish to avert an absolute breakdown. I was induced at last on the threat of being permanently disqualified from work to give myself a complete change of scene and air.
Three days later I found myself at the Dumdum airport awaiting a flight to Bagdogra for my onward journey to Darjeeling. It was here that I found a matter of immediate interest in the form of a book titled ‘Bike Ambulance Dada’. It was on Kamirul Hak, whose dedication to save human life had echoed in the national media a few years back when he was awarded the Padma Shree.
But I am always of the opinion that the news reports are with certain reticence and do not ventilate the complete story. So the true history remained entombed somewhere until this instant when I found an account of his life narrated by Biswajit Jha the chronicler of the book. I bought the book and soon was engrossed in it, so much so that I almost missed out the boarding call from the Airlines. But it was the well polished silver plated coffee pot which saved me from the disaster as my eyes caught the glimpse of the departure gate.
I recalled my good friend Sid informed me that Biswajit is one of his acquaintances and made a mental note to ask him to fix a rendezvous if he can. My thoughts kept me occupied along with the book and I was in a state of oblivion until a laconic message from the cockpit informed me our arrival at Bagdogra. In the next four hours I was at the reception of The Windamere Hotel.
The next morning I was completely unprepared for the delightful surprise which awaited me. It was at the restaurant when I went for my breakfast. Finding a vacant table near the fireplace the waiter ushered me to it. As I approached I struck against a man who had been behind me and I knocked down several books which were wedged under his right arm. As I picked them up I observed the title of one of them – ‘The Bike Ambulance Dada’. I was pleasantly surprised at this coincident. I endeavored to apologize for the accident but it was evident that these books which I had so unfortunately mal treated were very precious objects in the eyes of their owner.
“I see that you are reading this book” said I pointing to the vary book which I read the day before.
With a smile of contempt he turned towards me and said “Yes, have you read it?”
“Yes as a matter of fact I did,” I continued “in fact this book is the reason for which my eyes met no sleep last night, and perhaps the reason for my contorted movement.”
“You liked it so much, did you?” he asked with a sense of satisfaction.
“As a matter of fact I did, in fact from the point of view of a bibliophile myself books have become a singularly uninteresting until I bought this book yesterday” said I with an expression of enthusiasm.
He looked greatly pleased as I continued “I intend to meet the author of the book to express my feeling of happiness”
“And how do you plan to do so?” he asked with a sardonic smile.
“Well my good friend Sid from Delhi knows him personally, and I thought….”
“Sid? You mean Sid Ghosh?” my words were interrupted by his avid expressions making me more puzzled than ever.
“Yes, but how do you..”
“Well my name is Biswajit Jha” he said and I saw him quivering with silent laughter.
I rose my feet stared at him for some seconds in utter amazement and then I gave a gasp and a cry of amazement “what a coincidence”
He smiled and said “well I am glad that you liked reading my book, how do you know Sid”
“He is my childhood friend” I said and asked him “and you?”
“I know him from my journalism days”
“You were a journalist?” I asked
“Yes I was”
“Interesting, I was unaware of this” I expressed “so how did you start your journey?”
“It is a long story” he said and fell into a brown study.
“Well I am all ears” I intruded his thoughts “why don’t you join me for breakfast and I can listen to it all”.
I ordered for a English Porridge and a Cheese and Onion pie along with some Darjeeling second flush while my companion restricted to just a pot of freshly ground coffee.
To be continued….
Click here to read Part 2
Click here to read part 3
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Nicely written article