Stay Positive in life- My teacher told me

Then I was school-boy and was studying in class VII. I was famous for my school for reciting .In every school function I use to get first prize in this category. This trained was intact throughout my whole school life.

One day, I came out from school with my trophy and suddenly some failure students of my school surrounded me and was trying to snatch my trophy. I became afraid of and back to school and hided in a class room. My class-teacher was very fond of me; he noticed me hiding. He called me and heard the matter. He then taught me a lesson which is still gem for me and even now when I think of that day, I can hear his voice. He told me that should not be afraid of problem, face the problem. Because, if escape from problem, it does not mean that problem is over. It will be there until be solved. We have to handle the problem, don't expect that someone will come and rescue you from the problem. One thing should be always remembering that always stay positive in life my class-teacher's lesson made me strong to face problems.

I went out and faced those boys. I told them, take this the trophy. This is nothing but memento for me. My actual memento is my school record which you cannot snatch. I left the place with free hand and never looked back.

Next day, they met me on lunch-break and return me my trophy. I denied accepting the trophy. Then they requested me earnestly and then I took the trophy. Then they asked me for friendship and promised me that next year they would work hard to win this trophy. Then I told them my beloved teacher's lesson that always think positive and live happy.

Still I never afraid of problems, because problem is common in everyone life’s. Our whole life is not the "bed of Roses". Problems will come and go in life; the matter is that how we handle those problems. I also believe that every problem carries its solution also. We just have to search out that solution with positive mind and solve the problem.

Though we don't get chance to meet, still we are good friend since then. All of those friends of mine are well-settled in their life. In my life whenever problem has come, I always remember my class-teacher's lesson and has solved problem. I am also narrating that day's matter to my children and now they are also very positive minded.

Hemanta- The Cycle Rickshaw-Puller

Hemanta- The Cycle Rickshaw Puller

Few days back, on Sunday, I went to Bandel to see Bandel Church and Imam Bari. These are the famous attractions of Bandel. Bandel is the sub-division of the Hoogly district.
 In earlier history, Portuguese businessmen was come to India before the colonial British East India Company. Then Bandel was a busy business place of India. At that time, most of the Export & Import business would be done by waterways. Then India was under the administration of Mughal Emperor .The Portuguese businessmen was taken permission from Mughal Emperor. Most of the Portuguese businessmen were settled at Bandel with their families. 
In 1955, The Bandel church was built by the Portuguese. The distance between Howrah train terminus to Bandel station is about 40 kms by train .Not only by the train, but also by roads / a road / the road we can reach at Bandel. There are many locals and express trains are available from Howrah to go to Bandel. In weekdays, most of the times, the local trains are fully packed up by daily passengers. I dropped down from the train and then the time was 10.15 am at the watch of the station, just 1.15 hours' time was taken to reach there. 
I came out from the station area .That was the first time to Bandel; that's why I did not know the localconveyance system. I asked a co-passenger and then he told me that there is two types of conveyance, cycle rickshaw  and auto rickshaw. According to him, I had gone to auto stands and there I saw that autos was fully packed up by passengers. There was no room for a single person to be accommodated. Then I had searched for cycle rickshaws .
Three-four rickshaws were stood for the rickshaw-stand. I asked the first rickshaw-puller of the queue that he will go to Bandel church or not. The name of rickshaw-puller was Hemanta, he was agreed to go there. Then he told me that his fare is forty rupees for distance. I opposed him that this is something high fares.Hemanata was not ready to reduce his fare. On the other hand times were passing unnecessarily and after visit all I would have to go back to my house early .Lastly, was bound to agree with him .Rickshaw of Hemanta was running on the road. 
I was seeing both side of the road. His rickshaw was passing through a market place, both sides were very congested. Local people were marketing of their daily necessary items .Rickshaw was still running, Hemanta was paddling very fast and thus he was pulling his rickshaw quickly. I started talking about Hemanta and was asking about his family, family members, his lifestyle, earning, all. I am a story writer; this is part of my job to know more and more about those people who come to my touch. Hemanta told me everything about him and his families. Hemanta is from Arambagh sub-division of the Hoogly district. 
Three-four years back, he came here for searching his source of earning. Some time he worked on a local hotel as a hotel-boy, serving and cleaning of dishesof the customers were his daily duty. Few days after he left that hotel job, because his earning form works were not sufficient that he could lead his both sides' daily expenses. Thereafter, hestarted his rickshaw-pulling job. This rickshaw is not belonging to him; he takes the rickshaw from the rickshaw-owner on daily rental bases. At the night, after passing the last train from Bandel, he returns the rickshaw to the owner with the daily rent. 
He belongs to a very poor farmer family.Since from his childhood, he had seen poverty or as I can say that he had grown up with poverty. His father has no separate land for cultivation. His father was daily labor in other person's field. His father called that owner as 'Malik' .The daily wages were very poor and that is why his father could not effort the needs of their family. Hemanta was studied up to fifth standard at their village school. He wanted to study more as he loved education. But one day his father ultimately told him that he could not be able to continue the education of Hemanta; instead of that if he would start work with his father that would good for their family. From boyhood, Hemanta was started work with his father as a daily wages farmer in the field of that Malik. 
Thus their days were passing anyhow and Hemanta was grown up as a young man .His parents were arranged marriage for him. The name of his spouse is Sharmila . According to Hemanta, Sharmila is very nice looking, laborious and most obedient young woman. She took all the charges of their family and thus relief to her mother-in-law from the daily work of the family .Sharmila always respects to the parents of her husband and also she loves to her husband very much . 
Hemanta has four children, three daughters and a son. Son is youngest among his children .They are studying in that village school . Hemanta wants to continue their education at least up to 10th standards that they can think about their future .Hemanta does not want to bring his son to this line of rickshaw-pulling .This is a very laborious job . Huge food is requiring to continue this job , otherwise within very short period any hard disease can capture rickshaw-puller , because cycle rickshaw runs on human-strength , not like auto rickshaw which runs on motor horsepower . 
During this time we reached at the church's main gate , I got down from his rickshaw and paid him the fare forty rupees. He again stood in the queue of rickshaw stands near Bandel church.

My Parents…My Idols

Two Friends

Rabin, my classmate, never forgets the sacrifice of my parents ever in his life. That sacrifice of my parentshelped him to become success in his life. Thus he and his entire family are very grateful to my parents.

This is the practical story of my life which I will never forget in my life.  Then I was at the age of sixteen+. I studied in eleven standards. In my time, the education system of our province of West Bengal which is one of the provinces of India, one to eleven in school and thereafter three years degree course for graduation. Now the present system is 10+2 in school and another two years for general graduation or three years for honors graduation from any college.

We are one of the lower middle class Bengali families of India. These middle class families are having huge wish to help to needy people of the society, but they have no enough financial capability. We are also like that. My father was an ordinary police officer of Calcutta police and his salary was not enough to lead the family according to needs. My father’s salary as Government servant was not enough like today. Moreover, we are six members’ family, consisting my parents   with their four children.  I am eldest among my all brothers and sisters. It was almost unbearable for my father to meet all the expenses like education for all us and other expenses of the family. Still he tired at his level best and now we are all graduates and settled. My parents were died few years back.

In 1975, when I was preparing myself for final examination of eleven standards, I needed some extra classes from my teacher. I explained this matter to my mother; mother understood that was necessary for good result, but she also thought that it would over burden for my family. She then talked with my father and lastly told me “OK,  you can talk with your teacher, how much he will take for extra coaching class!” according to my mother’s instruction, I talked to my class teacher; he knew my financial condition, then he  considered me some concession in his fees.” I informed this news to my parents were also very glad to hear this news.
Few days back, Rabin came to our house and informed me that he also wants to take extra classes from our class teacher; but he has not enough capacity to give such fees.  Rabin was meritorious student in our class. He was my best friend. I took Rabin to class teacher and requested him to consider him also Rabin; but class teacher told me “I will not allow concession both of you. I have allowed this facility to you only as your father is my friend.”

There after many years have passed. Now Rabin is now senior officer in insurance company. He is married and having two sons.
Few days back, one day suddenly we saw each other at Lindsay Street. Both of us were glad and surprised and I told him “after many years, we are suddenly meet”.  Rabin also told me “Yes, this is fact, but in your absence I went to your house two-three times with my family and talked with your wife and little daughter and also to your parents and received their blessing”.  I told him “my wife told me. Where are you going now?”  Then Chandra, wife of Rabin replied me “Now winter season is going on, everybody is going out to enjoy this time.  I pressurized your friend to take leave for one day.  We are going to zoo. will you  come? I went with them as their desire.

Then Chandra told me   “Rabin should not reach today’s position if your parents would not pass on the offer of your tuition fee concession to Rabin on that day. We are thankful to your parents and also our entire family too. In this worthy world, who will sacrifice like this way to other? They are really hats off”.

I had nothing to say to Chandra, only told her “my parents are no more alive. They were died few years back”. Rabin and Chandra told me “we are very sorry to hear this news”.
They were planned canceled the movie program, but I request them and told “Please don’t do this, do not spoil the mood of your children, see how much they are existed.”