Though I have traversed as many as 23 years with Biswas my senior colleage in official life, hardly had we interacted at a personal level in the first 18 years.
But things started to change from the 19th year after I “modernised” myself to smart phones
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
One fine day I received few messages from Biswas through WhatsApp. In response to it, I started to share my opinion revolving around the subject. After such a series of to and fro messages between both of us, I realised that the maximum of our thoughts on various social issues do not only meet on common ground, the posts forwarded by him are also enriched with pure humanity! And within a few months I realised that the person with whom I had hardly interacted in 18 years has become very close to my heart.
One day Biswas informed me that he is leaving for Ladakh next evening for a family trip from Sealdah Railway station at 6.30 pm. Since I also often do visit Sealdah itself during my return home from the office, I made a mental plan to surprise him by seeing them off at the station. But I didn’t disclose it to him.
Next day after our office closed, I started for Sealdah. As I was on my way, I got a call from Biswas enquiring whether it would be possible for me to meet them at the station. While they are supposed to be in an exciting state of mind (i.e. in holiday mood) by leaving all mental baggage behind, Biswas is thinking about me and trying to utilise the opportunity to have a last minute heart to heart meeting. Indeed I got a bit emotional by such an unexplained psychological connection.
Also the realisation dawned upon me that one should not arrive at any conclusion or pass “final judgement” about somebody without exploring the soul and mindset of him/her. And such an exploration can be successfully accomplished only through sincere healthy interaction. Else the treasure trove embedded in the intellect of the concerned person will always remain outside our grasp and reach.
However, much interestingly, despite our absolute agreement on all wordly or philosophical matters; rarely did my opinion tally with Biswas as far as various office-related matters were concerned. Rather in every sphere of the society, promptly does a person get branded as “foolish” “ignorant” or “anti-national” if his/her opinion remains at odds with the other/rest. But Biswas is a man of different species in this regard. Never did he try to impose his opinion over me, never did he belittle me for not agreeing with his assessment or logic.
Biswas is bowing out of service on August 31. And at this juncture, I wonder if all or at least majority of the people had acted so tolerant and democratic in their respective lives, this society would indeed have turned into an ideally beautiful and positive one.
“A house for Biswas” — one of the most significant creations of Nobel Laureate for Literature V S Naipaul. By taking refuge in the title of this iconic novel, I desire to say that a House for Biswas has been erected right within our hearts for his unique humanitarian thoughts and impeccable democratic ethos — both these traits turning rarest of rare today.
