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| Pannalal Mitra, who has been living in Patna for over 70 years, distributed sweets among neighbours to celebrate Pranab Mukherjee’s visit on Wednesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey |
The Bengalis in the state capital were on cloud nine on Wednesday to see the first President from their community visiting the town after assuming charge of the Rasthrapati Bhavan.
For over two-lakh Bengalis residing in Patna, it was a day of joy and a moment of glory to have Pranab Mukherjee in the state capital.
“Eta Bangalider jonyo ekta gorber bishoy je Banglar chhele President hoyeche. (It’s a matter of pride for all Bengalis that a son of Bengal has become the President). We have very high expectations from him. I am sure he will do a lot for the development of Bihar and Bengal,” Gautam Chakraborty, 46, who is also a member of Bihar Bengalee Association, told The Telegraph.
Mala Chatterjee, a homemaker who resides on Boring Canal Road, said: “I love Pranabda. He is a bhadrolok (gentleman). I have never taken interest in politics. But we were proud when a Bengali became the President of our country. His charm is unique.”
She added that the community was “very excited” with this visit. “You can feel it (the excitement). We have been offering sweets to each other since morning,” she said.
Pannalal Mitra, 75, had been glued to the television set since morning. “Bengalis living in Patna are very hopeful about this visit. All of us are waiting for some positive announcements for the state. Bengalis in general are very kind but also very intelligent. We hope that there would be some positive outcome of this visit. I hope Pranab babu would do something for the development of Bihar,” Mitra, who retired as a deputy manager of a private insurance company, said.
His wife Sunanda Mitra referred to the initial days of struggle in Pranab’s life. “I have heard and read a lot about Pranabda and the journey of his life. It is incredible how a boy who started off from a small village in Bengal has been one of the key political figures of the country,” she said. “Though his political career has been four-decades-long, Pranab did not keep switching from one party to the other,” she added.
Dr D.N. Sinha, a noted orthopaedic surgeon, recalled Pranab’s first visit to Patna, which dates back to 1974. “He came to Patna for the first time in 1974 to inaugurate the Bihar Bangla Academy. Pranabda had then come as a Union government representative. Even then, he was a very down-to-earth person, just as he is today. His ways of answering to different questions in such a calm and composed manner has been commendable, and that is the best part of him,” he said.
Dr B. Choudhury, an ophthalmologist, said: “Pranabda is a very able person. He could have easily become the Prime Minister of the country after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Even though Rajiv Gandhi took over the reins of the country, he continued to serve the Congress.”