In this ocean of human race since time immemorial, there come some human beings who by the sheer dint of their trajectory leave the marks of their existence in this continuum of time. Such was the life lived by a great woman with an eternal fire burning in the pyre of her soul – Mrs Renu Majumder. This is the ballad of this undying soul that I came to know about from her childhood friend, my grandmother.
Dhaka, during the mid-1930s’ undivided Bengal. In the dimly lit ray of the kerosene lamp, at the dead hours of the night, when the entire household is asleep, a girl prepares her study book lessons for the next morning’s school. Assisting her mother along with the other women, in household activities kill most of her day. Only in the late hours of night, she has her own time. But the exhaustions of the school hours and the domestic work all day long, take its toll on this frail, little soul. Her eyelids close in the heaviness of stupor. But then again she comes back to her senses. Her body becomes firm, as if some subdued purpose jolts her from inside. She proceeds in her academic pursuit. This has been going on for the past few years in the life of little Renu.
Born at the beginning of the 20th century in the Dhaka district of the undivided Bengal in India, the asphyxiations of the patriarchal society had started creeping inside Renu since her childhood. The little soul used to get afraid at watching the fears and trepidations on the faces of the women in the household. By the time she stood at the threshold of adolescence, Renu realized that if there was any way to set her free from the rubric of this male dominated world, it was education – the light of all light. At the dead hours of night little Renu took the solemn vow – “I would become an independent, educated person and would continue studying till the last day of my life.” And so started her academic plight.
Through the constant struggle with the financial adversities of a lower middle–class family that at time put her back on the wall, Renu kept chasing her dream and each time came a winner by holding ranks in the final exams. Thus she finished her I.A. exam with letter marks and the first division. But the financial situation became so worse that churning out a decent living became impossible for the family.
Renu, you have to put aside your study for the time being. We cannot support it under the prevailing situation. – Came the heavy voice of her father. The world fell apart for Renu.
But someone like Renu who was born with an unvanquished spirit, was about to write the dictum of her own fate. One night when everyone was asleep, she had cut her hair short, wore a pair of trousers and the shirt of a cousin, and ran to the nearby jetty. There, evading the watchful eyes of the ferryman, she boarded a steamer. After getting down she took a train and arrived at Sealdah railway station in Calcutta, the first capital of British - India.
The money was spent on the journey. A penniless girl first time in this huge metropolis with nobody to turn to. Moreover, the claws of a starved stomach and the fatigue of that long journey had made her weak. But Renu wasn’t someone to give up her resolve so easily. Still, she was made of flesh and blood. Weakened by the constant lashing of hunger and thirst she proceeded towards a nearby tap for some water.
And it was right at that moment that she was spotted by her guardian angel in the form of a gentleman named Sri. Khirod Majumder.
At a glance, he understood that this wasn’t a boy standing in front of him. Driven by his intuition he approached that young soul. – Where are you from? – he asked compassionately.
I am from Dhaka – came the firm reply of that weak voice.
Then what are you doing here alone? Where are your companions?
May be it was by the sheer feminine instinct that Renu saw someone in that tall, handsome, soft-spoken gentleman, she could confide in. She told him her entire story.
Look you can come with me in my house. Else I don’t think being alone will be safe for you.
While floating in the midst of an ocean Renu found something to hold onto.
Yes, I’ll go with you – came the prompt reply.
Khirod Babu also helped her getting an admission in a premium college and funded her study. A new journey began.
Meanwhile, Khirod Babu also corresponded with Renu’s folks back in Dhaka. The family, going through an emotional turmoil for losing their daughter came to Calcutta to take her back.
No – came the firm reply from Renu.
Why? Don’t you believe that we love you? – asked the anxious father.
First I’ll complete my graduation here and after that I’ll decide.
Exam is far away. Your mother is ailing. -That broke the ice a bit. Renu went back.
In due course of time Renu finished her graduation in Sanskrit obtaining first class. But fate had other plans for Renu and Khirod babu. What started as an act of mere hospitality had blossomed into love between them. They entered into holly wedlock.
Few years had gone by. Renu had given birth to a boy and a girl. She had become a happy wife. They were not rich but they were happy being with each other in the small space they had secured in this wide world. But one day it struck Renu that in between the girl who once had taken the vow to pursue higher study had drifted away from her resolve. The fire might have died inside her.
I want to appear for the Master degree now. – Renu uttered those firm words to her husband one morning.
Khirod Babu looked at his wife. There were those eyes hardened by that steely determination that he saw years ago in front of the Sealdah station. He smiled at her.
Next morning they went to Calcutta University to enquire about the admission procedure. And so began her study. With an elevated spirit, she delved deep into her study. Renu was back in her old form. But this time, fate had delivered the final blow to her that was beyond her capacity to fight out. And what a cruel irony it was.
It had started inside her much earlier without giving any outer signs. At last when the symptoms became prominent, she was diagnosed with severe leukaemia.
To the amazement of all, instead of shedding tears, Renu hardened her jaws. The battle became much harder for her. On one hand, it was maintaining the family of two offsprings who were still in their infancy and on the other hand, a continuation of the study for the master's degree. Above all, coming to terms with this insurmountable shock and the inevitability that awaited her.
For the next one year and ten months, her battle went on. When my grandma visited her at her Dumdum residence, she saw her in a frail frame lying on the bed. The entire body albeit covered with a blanket bespoke the ravages of cancer. But there was a miraculous aura on her face that only befits a true warrior. With a book in her hand and few others by her side, she greeted Grandma with the same jubilant smile as she used to in their childhood days. The usual conversation went on between her and grandma. When the time came for grandma to leave she looked at grandma with that steely determination and then uttered those unforgettable words – “Chhaya, I will sit for the M.A. this time. Come what may.” That was the last time the two childhood friends saw each other.
Six days later in the morning, the phone in our house rang. Grandpa picked up the receiver and there came the sobbing voice of Renu’s little daughter Jaba – Uncle, Ma is no more. - Renu Majumder was only in her late twenties.
When grandma and grandpa attended her shradh ceremony they saw there were piles of books kept beside her photograph. The marks of her fingers were still fresh on them.
After that Grandma had completely stopped visiting Renu Majumder’s Dumdum house. It was only Khirod babu who kept on visiting Grandma and grandpa at our south Calcutta house till the very end of his life. Sri Chitto Majumder had passed away almost twenty-six years ago. After that the connection between the two families was completely cut off.
In Greek mythology, the mythical bird Phoenix flew towards the Sun with his wings of wax in a mad pursuit. But nearer he went, his wings melted down in the heat. He fell into an abysmal darkness. Then again after growing his wings he flew towards the Sun. And again his wings were burnt up. And since then every time after regaining his wings he went after his mad pursuit of chasing the Sun, for eternity. And here on Earth there was this human being who throughout her life, even in the face of the dire adversities, went after chasing her academic pursuits with such an undying spirit that even in the face of a painful death she went on chasing that dream, till her last breath.