Benu
Dear Dadai,
You know what a flute is. It is a musical instrument which when played may generate beautiful tunes and sometimes mesmerize the listeners.
In our ancient Indian language, Sanskrit, from where your mother tongue Bengali was derived, the flute is called Benu. There is a marked different though. Flutes in Western Countries are mostly metallic. But here in India it is generally made processing fine Bamboo Sticks.So sounds are different and Bamboo flutes are more melodious. It has the same mesmerizing power, if not more. Afterwards, many a Bengali poets and novelist adopted the word Benu and used it in their writings.Benu is also named Banshi in colloquial Bengali.
I am about to introduce you to one Lady who was named Benu. Trust me, the name was very appropriate.
She could spend a very short span of active life among her own people but she created tunes even during her toughest times. Those tunes we still cherish and remember her through them.
No.She was neither a musician nor could sing the way you, your Tai, your Baba or Bhaiya kaka does. She was a litteraterior.She was voracious reader ,excellent poet and writer. Every piece of her writing still produces a tune and we all become amazed at the excellence of the produce.
Late Benu Dasgupta, was mother of your Tai, Masidida and Dadan. She brought up two more sons, Swapan and Chandan. Unfortunately both of them, your Baba;s Chorda Mamu and Kutti Mamu left us much ahead of their time.
Benu would turn 92 years last 21st May and perhaps became one of the best Dida for your Pishimoni, Gutus jethu,Baba,Roni Kaku, Kitu Pishiand Putus Kaku, their cousins and also the best Baro Dida for Sona Didi, Bhai dada, Brishti,you and Shristi if she were around. Besides she would remain as Moni Ma or Phool Masi to lot of Tai;s cousins. It is really very unfortunate for all of us that she is not among us.Otherwise, it would have been more colorful a world.
I came to know about her mostly from her younger sister, Late Bijoya Dasgupta, Tai's aunt, your Baba's Masi Dida and Babu Mama Dadu's mother. As narrated by Bijoya , Benu was the darling of their family mainly due to her cordial behaviour, deep affection and most of all her wisdom.
Benu came from a middle class family which might be called affluent while she was born but later on it turned poorer. It was a remote village in the District of Barisal, East Bengal ( Now Bangladesh ). In that village, there was neither a school nor a college. She could not attain formal education with school support. She was absolutely self educated. While most of the girls of her age got themselves involved in playing the common games young girls play she would sit aside with a book. She was one who enjoys learning. To satisfy her thirst for knowledge she used to read a lot and turned into a voracious reader.
She attained the wisdom ,I referred, with difficulty. It was too difficult for her to collect books to read. Bijoya said in a letter to your Baba that she used to be surprised how Manu ( Benu's name given by Bijoya) could manage to collect so many books to read
She had fantastic memory too. Bijoya recalled they had a big volume of Mahabharata written in Bengali by Kashiram Das. You already know that Mahabharata has too many characters, main stories and sub-stories sometimes remotely connected to the main plot. Benu could remember and mention most of them in such details that Bijoya felt puzzled after decades.
I had in my collection a few of Benu's poems, stories and letters. It were mostly copied by Bijoya herself and given to your Baba by Bijoya, his affectionate Masi dida as a gift. They are really classy and priceless. It is difficult for me to assess how a home maker doing all the chores of the household can be so creative. and convert her emotion into well composed verses or proses..
It is our utter misfortune that she could not see her thirty fourth birthday. I sincerely hope that you always remember that you have her ancestry as a prized possession. One day, I am sure you shall be able to read what she wrote and understand.
All my loves to my Dadai,
Yours Dadai
You know what a flute is. It is a musical instrument which when played may generate beautiful tunes and sometimes mesmerize the listeners.
In our ancient Indian language, Sanskrit, from where your mother tongue Bengali was derived, the flute is called Benu. There is a marked different though. Flutes in Western Countries are mostly metallic. But here in India it is generally made processing fine Bamboo Sticks.So sounds are different and Bamboo flutes are more melodious. It has the same mesmerizing power, if not more. Afterwards, many a Bengali poets and novelist adopted the word Benu and used it in their writings.Benu is also named Banshi in colloquial Bengali.
I am about to introduce you to one Lady who was named Benu. Trust me, the name was very appropriate.
No.She was neither a musician nor could sing the way you, your Tai, your Baba or Bhaiya kaka does. She was a litteraterior.She was voracious reader ,excellent poet and writer. Every piece of her writing still produces a tune and we all become amazed at the excellence of the produce.
Late Benu Dasgupta, was mother of your Tai, Masidida and Dadan. She brought up two more sons, Swapan and Chandan. Unfortunately both of them, your Baba;s Chorda Mamu and Kutti Mamu left us much ahead of their time.
Benu would turn 92 years last 21st May and perhaps became one of the best Dida for your Pishimoni, Gutus jethu,Baba,Roni Kaku, Kitu Pishiand Putus Kaku, their cousins and also the best Baro Dida for Sona Didi, Bhai dada, Brishti,you and Shristi if she were around. Besides she would remain as Moni Ma or Phool Masi to lot of Tai;s cousins. It is really very unfortunate for all of us that she is not among us.Otherwise, it would have been more colorful a world.
I came to know about her mostly from her younger sister, Late Bijoya Dasgupta, Tai's aunt, your Baba's Masi Dida and Babu Mama Dadu's mother. As narrated by Bijoya , Benu was the darling of their family mainly due to her cordial behaviour, deep affection and most of all her wisdom.
Benu came from a middle class family which might be called affluent while she was born but later on it turned poorer. It was a remote village in the District of Barisal, East Bengal ( Now Bangladesh ). In that village, there was neither a school nor a college. She could not attain formal education with school support. She was absolutely self educated. While most of the girls of her age got themselves involved in playing the common games young girls play she would sit aside with a book. She was one who enjoys learning. To satisfy her thirst for knowledge she used to read a lot and turned into a voracious reader.
She attained the wisdom ,I referred, with difficulty. It was too difficult for her to collect books to read. Bijoya said in a letter to your Baba that she used to be surprised how Manu ( Benu's name given by Bijoya) could manage to collect so many books to read
She had fantastic memory too. Bijoya recalled they had a big volume of Mahabharata written in Bengali by Kashiram Das. You already know that Mahabharata has too many characters, main stories and sub-stories sometimes remotely connected to the main plot. Benu could remember and mention most of them in such details that Bijoya felt puzzled after decades.
I had in my collection a few of Benu's poems, stories and letters. It were mostly copied by Bijoya herself and given to your Baba by Bijoya, his affectionate Masi dida as a gift. They are really classy and priceless. It is difficult for me to assess how a home maker doing all the chores of the household can be so creative. and convert her emotion into well composed verses or proses..
It is our utter misfortune that she could not see her thirty fourth birthday. I sincerely hope that you always remember that you have her ancestry as a prized possession. One day, I am sure you shall be able to read what she wrote and understand.
All my loves to my Dadai,
Yours Dadai
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