Shri Ajit Kumar Sarkar and Shrimati Kalpana Sarkar

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January 30, 2022

অজিত দার কথা --
উত্তর শিক্ষা সদনের ফিজিক্স এর অধ্যাপক অজিত সরকার মহাশয় চলে গেছেন। খুব খারাপ... moreঅজিত দার কথা --
উত্তর শিক্ষা সদনের ফিজিক্স এর অধ্যাপক অজিত সরকার মহাশয় চলে গেছেন। খুব খারাপ লাগছে। আমি একেবারেই অযোগ্য ছাত্র ছিলাম , কিন্তু আমার স্মৃতিতে ঐ ১৯৮৬-৮৮ দুটি বছরের সময়টাই শেষ সময় তখন আমি ক্লাসের পড়ায় মন দিয়ে, ভালোবেসে পড়েছিলাম। গোটাটাই তাঁর পড়ানোর গুণে। প্রকৃতির প্রতি, মানুষের প্রতি ভালোবাসা, প্রকৃতিকে আর প্রতিটি মানুষকে মানবিক আবেগ দিয়ে জানার আগ্রহ অজিত দাকে অসামান্য ছাত্রদরদী বিজ্ঞান সাধনা ও অধ্যাপনায় হয়তো অনুপ্রাণিত করেছিল। পিতৃতুল্য স্নেহশীল এই মানুষটি যখন ই আমাদের চোখমুখ দেখে ধরতে পারতেন আমরা বিষয়ে আগ্রহ পাচ্ছি, শিশু র মতো খুশি হয়ে উঠতেন। ওঁকে দেখে আমরা সেবয়সেও সেটা বুঝতে পারতাম। স্বভাবত অমনোযোগী হওয়ায়, পড়াশুনো নিয়ে বিশেষ গল্প আমার জীবনে নেই, তবে একটা ঘটনার উল্লেখ না করে পারছি না। বীরভূমের গ্রামে ঘেরা ছোট শহরের উচ্চ শিক্ষিত ভদ্রলোকদের অনেকের মতোই অজিতবাবু নিজের জীবনে রাজনীতি অপছন্দ করলেও, তাঁর প্লজন্মের অনেকের মতোই আমাদের দেশের স্বাধীনতা আন্দোলনের আদর্শে উদারপন্থী জাতীয়তাবাদী ধারার সমর্থক ছিলেন। আমি কম্যুনিস্ট পার্টির ছাত্র ফ্রন্টের সঙ্গে ছিলাম এবং তর্ক করতে লজ্জিত ছিলাম না। তাতে কারোরই কোনো উপকার হয়নি সেটা আলাদা কথা। একবার দেখা গেলো আমাদের ক্লাস টুয়েলভের একজন ছাত্রী, সংসদের নির্বাচনে আমাদের প্রার্থী হয়েছিলেন তার প্রার্থীপদ বাতিল‌ করেছেন অধ্যক্ষ মশাই। যুক্তি তেমন কিছু নেই, সেকালের মাষ্টারমশাইদের কড়া স্নেহ এবং ছেলেমেয়েদের রাজনীতি করা নিয়ে আপত্তি। মুখে বললেন ওরা তো পাশ করে বেরিয়ে যাবে ওদের ভোটে দাঁড়ানোর দরকার নেই। পড়াশুনো ও আছে । এরকম কোনো নিয়ম ছিল‌না । আমি প্রতিবাদ করলাম , যুক্তি দিয়ে নিয়মাবলী পড়ে শোনালাম, অধ্যক্ষ মশাই জেদ ধরে রইলেন, অজিত বাবু রাজনৈতিক ভাবে আমাদের ঘোর বিরোধী হওয়া সত্ত্বেও আমাদের যুক্তিতে সারবত্তা আছে দেখে অধ্যক্ষ মশাইকে ধীরে ধীরে শান্ত করে বোঝাতে সক্ষম হলেন, যদিও উষ্মার হাত থেকে রক্ষা পান নি। ওঁকে শুনতে হয়েছিল , প্রিয় ছাত্রদের কথায় ভুলে স্নেহের বশে আহ্লাদ দিয়ে মাথায় তোলার অভিযোগ। উনি যুক্তিবুদ্ধিতে পেছোন নি। কিছু ই না সামান্য ঘটনা , অধ্যাপকদের এই স্নেহ কি আর আজকের এডুটেক দিতে পারে ? নাকি রাজনীতি, গণতান্ত্রিক পদ্ধতির প্রশ্নে নিয়ম নীতির বালাই আদৌ আর কিছু আছে। ছাত্রদের গণতান্ত্রিক অধিকার, প্রতিষ্ঠান পরিচালনা ও দেশ নিয়ে চিন্তা করার অধিকার যে রয়েছে সেটাও লোকে ভুলতেই পছন্দ করছেন। এটা শুধু নস্টালজিয়া না, বাঙালি র আত্মবিস্মৃতি নিয়ে অকারণ বিলাপ না, জীবনে বিশেষতঃ বিদ্যালয় স্তরের বিজ্ঞানশিক্ষা আর বিজ্ঞানমনষ্কতা বা যুক্তির চর্চা, চিন্তার স্বাধীনতার চর্চা বা উদাহরণ হয়ে ওঠা এগুলি যে আশ্চর্য ঘনিষ্ঠ , সেটা মনে করার একটা প্রয়াস। সাম্প্রতিক পিতৃবিয়োগের কষ্ট আজ আর আলাদা করতে পারছি না। অজিত দা আমাদের প্রজন্মের সমস্ত ছাত্র-ছাত্রীদের মনে চিরকাল থেকে যাবেন। তাঁর পরিবারের সকলে যেন এই কষ্টের দিনেও আমাদের সম্মিলিত সশ্রদ্ধ স্মৃতি থেকেই ভবিষ্যতে পথচলায় কখনো একলা বোধ না করেন। বোধিসত্ত্ব দাশগুপ্ত, ১৯৮৬-৮৮ উত্তর শিক্ষা সদনের ছাত্র less

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January 28, 2022

Ajitda was one of the most respected teachers in our time (1988-1989) in Uttar Sikkha Sadan. Everyone knows that he was an excellent teacher, but if I now look back, I realize that other than exceptional teaching quality he had a rare personality, which... more

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January 27, 2022

It was about forty years ago. The year 1982. I had just finished school and was admitted in the Science stream in Uttar Siksha Sadana (USS)--the now nonexistent section for Class 11 and 12. USS was halfway between school and college. We had heard a lot... moreIt was about forty years ago. The year 1982. I had just finished school and was admitted in the Science stream in Uttar Siksha Sadana (USS)--the now nonexistent section for Class 11 and 12. USS was halfway between school and college. We had heard a lot about Ajitda's Physics class in USS from our seniors (notably, Sudipta Mukherji). In fact, we had also seen Ajitda move around between classes. He seemed like a hard taskmaster with a no--nonsense approach and a teacher in the classical mould--sincerity and dedication personified. Such people are getting rarer as the days go by.

Classes began in Uttar Siksha. As we learnt more from Ajitda, we realized his immense involvement and passion for physics. And he was always ready to discuss. Many of us would land in his little, shared office, once in while, with our problems/questions. With a characteristic smile and twinkle in his eye he would give us his answers. But, many a time he would make us find the answer. We visited his home at Sriniketan too. I recall the long queue of bicycles outside his rather small house. Students buzzing in a small room and animated discussions. His wife, Boudi/Mashima to us, was a picture of warmth and simplicity. She always made us feel at home, whenever we visited.

Then, one day, a strange thing happened.
I do not recall whether it was in the class or during a discussion. But, surely Ajitda was trying to explain something to us.
And, perhaps we were not getting his point. Suddenly, he uttered--"you know, Physics cannot be taught". We were shocked.
Here was our best teacher, a hero in our eyes and he says Physics cannot be taught. We did not understand.

But those words still ring in my ears. As I grew old and became a teacher I
perhaps realized what he meant. The teaching process is always incomplete and a given topic appears and reappears in different avatars in the mind of the teacher. Understanding changes. A teacher can therefore just show a path, but every student has to ultimately traverse it alone, by walking. Something similar to Antonio Machado's famous words--'traveller, there are no paths, paths are made by walking...'. Learning in science is not 'acceptance' or a 'recipe'. It is largely an individuals own effort while she/he assimilates the logic. That probably is what Ajitda meant when he uttered those words.....modestly saying--I cannot do much, in the end YOU have to learn it yourself.

A few years later, one dusty evening, in a candle--lit Cheena Bhavana (those were the days of load--shedding!), I heard the legendary George Sudarshan. The talk was titled ' The Awakening of the Waterfall' in tune with 'Nirjhhorer Swapnabhongo'. And it was about teaching! Sudarshan likened the height of teaching with spontaneous creative awakening during a class--a realization emerging in the expression of a thought while a class was on. This happens, he said, as the teacher gets more and more immersed in her/his subject. And it can happen in even the simplest of topics--thereby generating an individuality in expression. Many a time, while teaching, at a subconscious level, I believe, Ajitda must have experienced such awakenings. As with all teachers these are personal and the teacher enjoys them --so do students--then they are lost forever.
During such occurrences it is not that something is being taught to someone--but a subtle creative process is taking place ..... both teacher and student enjoying it through their individual awakenings.... In a sense that very utterance 'Physics cannot be taught' is perhaps an awakening
moment which we experienced and remember even today.

I have known and seen Ajitda for many years. Have had the privilege of knowing his daughter, sons and their families for a long time too.
There are many pleasant memories which remain etched in my mind. Losing both parents within a year is difficult to bear with--my heartfelt condolences in this hour of grief to all in the family.

Let wonderful memories take over and place the departed souls in the realm of eternity...... less

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January 27, 2022

It is hard to accept the fact that I will not see Ajitda and Masima any more.

In this difficult time I convey my heartfelt condolences to Saswatidi, Jayanta, Babu and other members of the family.

Ajitda touched my life at a very crucial stage. I did... more

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January 23, 2022

On a quiet August afternoon of 1987, I had stepped onto the campus of Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan aspiring for a Masters in Physics. For almost a decade thereafter I would continue to live in that campus. During the course of my stay, I... moreOn a quiet August afternoon of 1987, I had stepped onto the campus of Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan aspiring for a Masters in Physics. For almost a decade thereafter I would continue to live in that campus. During the course of my stay, I learned a bit of Physics, made scores of friends and was embraced by a few Physics families of Santiniketan, notably the Sarkars. In my second year I got to know the siblings, Saswati and Subrata, the former (and elder) enrolled for an ambitious high-energy Physics research project with Prof. Asim K. Ray, and the younger ever-vibrant and extremely witty student in his 1st year Masters. The acquaintance turned into friendship. Whilst doing Prof. Ray’s course on particle physics, I would get to interact with his group of research students, Saswati and Debashis quite often. Academic activities besides regular classes, coupled with campus life enhanced learning and deepened friendships.

Later that year, Saswati invited us over to their residence at Ratanpalli. It was then that I got to meet Saswati’s parents and her second brother, Jayanta. Earlier, I had heard praises about Sri Ajit Sarkar from his students and my friends Sayan (Kar) and Partha (Chakraborty). However, in my first visit I was completely overwhelmed by the welcome and amiable conversation with Masima (Smt. Kalpana Sarkar). Her warmth and simplicity could bowl over even the remarkably depressed. (I wish I could write in present tense!) Mesomoshai on the other hand was gentility and dignity rolled in one person. One could approach him for advice on varied problems and issues. A very keen listener, he would patiently hear out the problem and would then put in his rationally worded reply. He possessed a deeply composed mind and so could command thoughts of absolute clarity.

Early 1991, I enrolled as a Junior Research Fellow at the Department of Physics with Prof. Samar Kumar Roy. Samarda was (past tense, sadly, yet again!) a very dear teacher and a gentleman and gave me full freedom to choose my problem and work on it. By now, I was a frequent visitor at the Sarkar home in Ratanpalli. Once my parents came visiting me and how could they escape the hospitality that was planned impromptu by Masima and Mesomoshai. So began the next phase of connect. Families became friends. And they remained friends. Years later, occasional phone calls between Masima and my mother would end reminiscing “those days”. They would address each other as sisters. And so were they! I had great difficulty in breaking the sad pieces of news to my mother twice in less than a year’s time.

Saswati’s marriage to Gautam-da was an expansion of the family. My mother bumped into the Sengupta household the day after the newly-wed couple arrived in Kolkata to “bless them”.

Coincidentally, from 2002 till 2009 I was living in Durgapur and so was Subrata. We got to meet again. The difference being, by now, both Subrata and I were married and had kids. Masima and Mesomoshai were in their advanced years. The demeanour changed, not their spirits. Their love for our wives and kids was overpouring. We visited them again a few years later. This time it was at the house they built near Sriniketan. How joyous they were on seeing us! That was the last time I got to see them.

The adorable couple, Sri Ajit Sarkar and Smt Kalpana Sarkar will live on in our hearts.

~ Sourabh Banerjee less