Childhood - III

On a festive occasion of Basant Panchami (Saraswati Puja), Baba asked his Aunt (Smt. Sailaja Ray, wife of his maternal uncle, Shri Prashant Kumar Ray) to dress him up in a sari like Goddess Saraswati. His highly amused uncle, Shri Prashant Kumar Ray asked him to pose for a photograph.

Baba's first train journey was from Howrah Station to Saria Hazaribagh Road Station. This fascinating train journey ignited his childlike curiosity to know more about the world beyond his home and local milieu. His love for trains and train journey continued unabated throughout his life. His first train journey was with his grandfather, Dadi (Shri Jnanendranath Ray) to their summer residence in Saria Hazaribagh Road.

Baba's elder cousin brother, Shri Shishir Ray (Shishir Da), who was Shri Prashant Kumar Ray's (Baba's maternal uncle)peer, would accompany them on such weekend and summer vacation visits to Hazaribagh. Infant Baba's cousin brother Shishir (Da) Ray was his idol and role model. Often Shishir Da would tease and torment infant Baba as elder siblings do.

One day, infant Baba peeved by Shishir Da's ribbing headed for the front door yelling, "I will not stay with you all, everyone scolds me, mocks me and makes fun of me! I will go wherever my pair of eyes lead me to!" In fits of laughter, Shishir Da picked up kid Baba in his arms volunteering to accompany him.

Infant Baba enjoyed playing cricket with Shishir Da. Whenever they would lose a ball, they would make a paper ball and continue with their game of cricket.

Barakar River, a monsoon-fed river that remains mostly dry during summer and flows in full spate during monsoon flows close to Saria Hazaribagh. During one such visit to Saria Hazaribagh Road with Dadi (Grandfather) and Shishir Da, Baba would often stroll with Shishir Da to the banks of Barakar river. One day, Baba asked Shishir da whether they could cross the river. Shishir Da returned Baba's excitement asking him to carefully step on the stones and rocks on the more-or-less dry river bed and closely follow him to cross the river. Baba, studiously followed Shishir da stone by stone, step by step. Just as the duo reached the other side of the river, Baba missed a step on a stone to reach the river bank. Shishir da quickly held on to a branch of a bush while catching Baba with his other hand and pulling him onto to the river bank. They enjoyed hearty laughter before trekking to explore the forest.

Often a sparrow would fly into Baba's room and build a nest in the crags of the ceiling's wooden beams. Occasionally a fledgeling would fall off the nest and squeal for help. Baba would rush into the room and find the mother screaming and hovering above its fallen child.  Baba and his Nurse would put the sparrow's fledgeling back into its nest.

At times a sparrow would fly into the room and frantically flutter around searching for its way out. Baba and his nurse would try to shoo it towards the door for exit.

Occasionally, the sparrow would tire out and perch in a corner of the room. Baba's Nurse would gently throw a cloth over it, pick it up and hand it to Baba.  Baba would gently take the bird and feel the tiny and fretful bird's heart thumping loudly against its feathery chest. Baba would lovingly whisper "Don't be afraid little bird, we are helping you to fly to your nest."

Baba would take the sparrow outside and release it. He would marvel at the tiny bird fly away out of his sight. This would fill him with a sense of pride and loving warmth of compassion thinking the tiny sparrow must have reached its nest and its fledgelings.

Baba used to enjoy standing on the terrace at night and observe the night sky. He would enjoy his flights of imagination reaching out to the fluffy clouds floating in the sky; to the distant stars and imaginary beings inhabiting them. He would listen to the distant sound of moving vehicles, the sound of the horn of ships docked in the shipyard. He was not afraid of darkness and loved to be all by himself in his imaginary world. He would imagine the characters from the stories come to life and visualise the narratives of bedtime stories Didi would tell him.

You must be wondering what infant Baba is trying to do at the edge of the concrete water trough. What happened next?! Let that be the narrative of Childhood IV.

Additional Information:

Barakar River: https://www.indianetzone.com/33/river_barakar_indian_river.htm
Hazaribagh Road Railway Station: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazaribagh_Road_railway_station
About Hazaribagh: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazaribagh