The Bengal government will dedicate a new auditorium to Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s memory in an attempt to rekindle the late author’s association with Barrackpore, where he lived for seven years.
The 500-seat auditorium is coming up adjacent to Sukanta Sadan in the heart of the town. The state government will also build an archive of his works and paraphernalia associated with his memories. There will be a study room adjacent to the auditorium.
This was announced by the Barrackpore municipal authorities on behalf of the state government on Saturday at an event organised by the Bibhutibhushan Smriti Sanrakshan Samity at Sukanta Sadan to mark the author’s 71st death anniversary.
The author of Pather Panchali, Chander Pahar, Aranyak and many other works, who spent seven years in Barrackpore in the 1940s, died in Ghatshila, in Jharkhand, on November 1, 1950.
“This new auditorium and the archive will remind the people of Barrackpore of the town’s seven-year association with one of the greats of Bengali literature. Many, particularly the younger generation, are unaware of the association,” said playwright Chandan Sen, president of Bibhutibhushan Smriti Sanrakshan Samity.
In Barrackpore, Bibhutibhushan lived in a rented house called Bhootnath Kutir, located on Sahid Mangal Pandey Sarani near the railway station. His father-in-law had arranged the accommodation for him.
Even after his death, his wife Rama Devi continued to stay there. In 1952, Satyajit Ray had visited Bhootnath Kutir to meet Rama Devi to secure the film rights of Pather Panchali.
Unfortunately, Bhootnath Kutir no longer exists. A few years ago, the plot with the dilapidated structure was demolished to make room for a multi-storey residential complex.
“No previous government had bothered to preserve Bhootnath Kutir or the author’s association with Barrackpore. From 1943 to 1950, Bibhutibhushan had conceived important novels and stories like Debjan, while staying at Bhootnath Kutir. Our aim is to rekindle his memories with the town,” said Sen.
Sen added that an appeal was made before the state government through Trinamul MLA and filmmaker Raj Chakraborty for the preservation of the author's memories and to build a plaque to identify Bhootnath Kutir.
“I tried my best to materialise the proposal made by Sen with the support of the state government,” Chakraborty said.
Sources in the state administration said the proposal for the auditorium and archives got the nod from Nabanna for execution by Barrackpore Municipality.
“It is a tribute to the great author by the state government. We are privileged to be a part of this endeavour. The municipality had earlier named a park after the author,” said Barrackpore Municipality chairman Uttam Das. “Since Bhootnath Kutir does not exist, we will put a board on the auditorium premises indicating its location.”
