“Dream is not what comes in your sleep, dream is what that does not let you sleep”,Yagnaseni quoted former President APJ Abdul Kalam as she addressed the gathering. She was one of the toppers of this year’s HS Examinations.
At that moment in the backstage some others of her ilk were weeping, tears rolling down constantly from swollen eyes. And then, as if remembering something, they suddenly beamed with a radiant smile.
For Karabi Debnath, Biplab Adhikari or Pinki Modok the colorful stage, the VIPs, the large gathering in Najrul Kalakshetra offered a future of hope and a passage from a tormenting and often a lonely battleground to a supportive and inclusive society that would lead them to blossom forth. Dipankar Chakrabarty could not see what was happening around him- he is visually challenged-but, still he could feel the moment of poignant empathy and affection that breezed inside the jam-packed auditorium.
All of them had braved acute poverty, physical problems and innumerable hurdles in their small life --only to shine brighter. Their pains, tribulations and agony made them sharper–they all performed brilliantly in the HS+2 and Madhyamik examinations or in their sports fields.
After a scorching heat wave on Saturday, 20th June 2009 as the rains swept Agartala bringing in a cool and somewhat a lazy night, the organizers of the annual Hrishikesh Saha Memorial Talent Search and Scholarship programme did not seem really confident as to whether the hall would be packed like previous years.
But soon their apprehension proved wrong- the Najrul Kalakshetra turned out to be full to its capacity with people from all strata of life –from DGP K Saleem Ali to a commoner on the roadside-when Governor Dinesh Nandan Sahaya with first lady Manju Sahaya arrived in the auditorium. They were accompanied by Bela Saha, wife of late Hrishikesh Saha- a philanthropist whose contribution to various spheres of society encouraged the Sports and Cultural Foundation to embark on annual award giving ceremony in his memory.
The guests on the dais decorated the toppers of this year’s Madhyamik and HS examinations under the TBSE, ICSE, ISC, CBSE with ‘Uttariya’ and then felicitated them with mementos, laminated and mounted certificates and a token amount of Rs. 500 to each- as a recognition of their performance.
“When I was a student, whenever I used to come home from Kharagpur IIT Hrishikesh da and Boudi would inevitably invite me for lunch or dinner at their home. During those days this was the recognition right from the heart that a student -who would fare well in his study or sports -would get from persons like Hrishikesh da. I still cherish those days and fondly remember the love and affection I got from Hrishikesh da and boudi”, said Prof. Subrata Bhattacharjee of San Diego State University.
Prof. Bhattacharjee was the topper of first batch of Madhyamik in 1976 and then first batch of HS+2 in 1978 under TBSE. Now, he is a global coordinator of Tripuratalents.com –a worldwide platform committed to help talented but needy Tripura students. Tripuratalents.com is the co- organizer of the programme.
It was, however, at around 7 30 pm in the second phase of the programme the auditorium broke with thunderous applause as the youngsters, who despite extreme hardships and poverty excelled remarkably in study and sports, trooped into the dais- for the first time in their life–to be awarded with the scholarships.
They looked shy, puzzled, embarrassed and uncertain. Conflicting emotions glowed in their face.
“Look at the children. All of them have their own stories. And these are the stories which you would find simply amazing”, said Amitabha Kar, IGP, -also one of the organizers.
“For instance, look at this girl with tears in her eyes-Karabi. She had lost both her parents Anukul and Joytara Debnath when she was in Class VI. She is one of the three small siblings who were destined to fight extreme poverty everyday. Yet, she secured 82.7 percent marks with six letters in Madhyamik this year from Gajaria school in Bishalgarh. She was weeping profusely remembering her parents today”.
Then there were Biplab and Pinki- both were children from a day laborer’s family. Both passed their examinations- HS and Madhyamik- in first division.
“Of course, they are talented but only talents would have not brought them here. It was their sheer determination and dedication, their spirit and their relentless battles-knowingly or unknowingly- against all odds that made them real fighters”, said Kar and then added:
‘Remember these faces, they are our future’.
But, perhaps, the most touchy moment was when 96 years old Gadadhar Bhaumik who helped by two others slowly walked up to the stage to award scholarship to new generation talent. He was followed by octogenarian Renuka Tarat- also grandmother of another topper Rounak – for awarding another scholarship. Then came the family members to award scholarships in memory of Santosh Bala Bhaumik, Abani Mohan Kar, Indubhushan Dasgupta, Jyotsna Dasgupta, Debendra Ch. Banik, Milanbala Banik, Mahananda Ghosh, Janaki Nath Ghosh, Nalini Bala Ghosh et al.
Governor DN Sahaya in his speech said, “My experience in Tripura is that the state is not only bestowed with immense resources – natural and human -but also that the state stands apart for its citizens’ extraordinary love and supportive mind for their less fortuned brethren”.
He congratulated the students in their achievements.
But, the Governor said, their pursuit in academic excellence would be complete when they would imbibe all the shades of human qualities. And primary condition of a good human being is –he is a man of character, he is a patriot in all sense.
Besides, Karabi, Biplab, Pinki, Dipankar others who were awarded with the scholarship include Litan Debbarma, Prasenjit Das, Pritam Rudrapaul, Rajesh Datta, Shafia Khatun, Taslima Begum and Joydeb Nandi.
Earlier, on behalf of the organizers Mukut Debnath, Sports and Cultural Foundation secretary outlined the purpose and goal of the programme.
At the last leg of the program Madhusudan Barman and Gopal Barman, two brothers two eminent exponents in ‘Tabla’ and ‘Shrikhol’-enthralled the audience with their mesmerizing performance.
