Anindita Sil

Assistant Teacher

Seth Bagan Adarsha Vidyamandir (H. S.) Govt. Sponsored School.

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Ritadi is my sister’s sister-in-law. Both are no more now. I first met Ritadi in my uncle’s house in Salt Lake when my brother-in-law Rupakda had come to meet my sister along with a few family members. It should be noted that I am 9 years younger to my sister born and brought up in Sindri, Dhanbad and hardly aware of the ways marriages were fixed up. Everything seemed new to me.

Anyway that day I heard Ritadi sing beautifully Rabindrasangeet. What struck me that day was that Ritadi sang not only because she could sing well but to make my sister feel comfortable as she too had to sing.

One big lesson learnt – make people comfortable when they are being judged. It was coincidence that after we settled down in Salt Lake in 1984 one of her vocal guru Sri Khokon Mazumdar was also my guru for sometime.

Throughout the wedding period we met often and Ritadi made each of us feel special. From then on I found a pattern in her enchanting ways – she would enquire about all our family members. Lesson learnt – and I think I do that spontaneously now.

That she was a scholar is known to all. When I did my class 11 and 12 from Bethune College I saw her name etched in the huge board. Her scholarly graph went up in leaps and bounds. Her switch from College to University then as Emeritus Professor makes us all proud. Every now and then heard about books being written by her, guiding research scholars, reading of papers in many seminars, being invited abroad to give lectures – she was passionate about her subject and I am sure she has left an indelible mark in the history of modern Sanskrit. I was highly impressed with her house as the very living room had her study table with lots of books in the cupboard at the back. People like her are incredible.

She had a nice sense of dressing and her choice of sarees, the sleek jewellery made her look so poised. Her sweet smile was the cherry on the icing. With Rupakda and Didi in Ranchi our connection with them on landline was through Ritadi’s house. She was kind enough to arrange for talks with Rupakda and Didi from her house. Many important events , decisions were exchanged through her this way.

I heard Ritadi telling my mother that she got married to Sudiptoda when he was officially unemployed. At that time such decisions were almost unheard of. I wonder at the love, confidence and faith she had in him. Her love for her husband should be recorded in history of love marriages. I knew she would rue her visits abroad as she had be away from Sudiptoda. He on the other hand was so proud of Ritadi and he had his reasons too – beautiful wife, highly intelligent, great scholar, teacher, good singer, dignified lady with fine taste, and a wonderful social person. Sudiptoda would talk about her accomplishments with his eyes twinkling with well earned pride.

Ritadi’s love was so profound for Sudiptoda that she stood by his side throughout his suffering. And after he passed away I have never seen her join any social gathering. I have never seen anyone continue this for long. Her feelings were so deep  that maybe she didn’t want to enjoy any social event alone.

Being an erudite person many of us would ask her to help out during baby naming ceremony. She willingly complied and suggested unusual names with such deep meanings. I liked hearing her address didi as ‘Boumoni’. It sounded musical and endearing.

Ritadi was the first person to inform me about my didi’s demise… she was crying and I was numb and shaking uncontrollably. Then began a new chapter. Ritadi took active role in getting Rumpa and Bubam admitted at Bharatiya Vidyabhavan.

I often met her in Purbachal then.

Her greatest tribute to Sudiptoda was through a formation of a trust to help needy and meritorious students for higher studies. It involves enormous workload. In her busy life with chronic ailments she undertook so much for this noble cause. Convergence has come a long way because of her.

Ritadi, was an affectionate person….her bond with her son-in-law was the same as with her daughter and grand daughter. She was a loving wife, mother, mother-inlaw and grand mother . She was proud of them all.

Before I wind up I must not forget to remember that she had gifted a Milton jug shaped small flask on my wedding. It was pristine white and stylish. It was our companion for many many years.