Didi – The Torch Bearer

It seems to me that I am the most improper sister of my Didi for writing some words as a tribute to her. Didi, Manju Banerjee, is the founder of Scholars Special School and Utoron Slum Children School at Mohammadpur in Dhaka. She was also a member of the Bangladesh Communist Party and Mahila Parishad. Didi's life story is one full of sacrifice. These lines from Thomas Gray seem to be appropriate:

“Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The darkest unfathomed caves of ocean bear; 
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen
And waste its sweetness on the desert air. 
So I have this little effort.”  

Didi was born at Garuria, a village in Barisal district, in the year 1943. She was the eldest among the ten children of our father Sree Bijoy Krishna Banerjee and mother Anjali Banerjee. I don't know how much love and care she received as the eldest daughter; but I know about the heavy burden of such a large family that she had to carry. My parents had ten children altogether. And my mother became gradually very tired and frustrated. My didi had to take care of her younger siblings, sacrificing her study and her dreams early in her life. In this way Didi became our mentor and guide. Didi had no adolescence and youth, but only the burden of this family. She became a matured woman before her 'sweet sixteen' under the pressure of the responsibility. After a long, exhausting day, Didi used to study by the dim light of a lantern. By her talent and hard effort she completed her matriculation and higher secondary. But she had no opportunity to admit herself in an institute for higher studies. In the meantime my two elder brothers had grown up with precise consciousness and humanity. They came forward to assist Didi in all her works. But life has its own demands. Didi gave up all her desires with a smile on her face for the purposes of her younger brothers and sisters. Ever truthful Didi, never left her commitment for the family for a single moment. When both of my parents became unable to perform their duties for their children, Didi became ready for the biggest sacrifice of her life. She took the firm decision in her life to stay in her father's family forever as a spinster. Didi sacrificed her marriage, particularly for the sake of her four younger sisters. Didi being a conscious, cultured and politically aware person understood that without her guidance the four young sisters could not have any future. I must salute Didi here for setting this supreme example of sacrifice. 

After the liberation war the family came to Dhaka, obviously life became tougher though in the meantime, my elder brothers became established. Now life changed in its own way. My mother became seriously ill. In the meantime, Didi completed her graduation. But I only know that very few people can be able to do so in the situation Didi had to face. What I have to emphasize that when I was in class five or six I started to notice that my luminous Didi became so grateful that whoever came to her touch became one of our family. Didi was like a touchstone. Day by day people beside our family accepted Didi as their guidance and mentor. In course of time we were all grown up. Now there were families with families. Didi, the most considerate person in my life, without whom I could ever had the position where I am now. Today we are all in some sort of established positions in our own paths, but the one who had faith on us throughout the life, was Didi. 

 My Didi became the 'Didi' of an uncountable number of people. Each and every one of them shed tears out of loss and immense respect when they heard that Didi has left. The beginning of the ended started earlier this year, when the diagnosis confirmed that Didi has been attacked by cancer. As the last hours neared, Didi being Didi, took the most significant decision of her life, to donate her body. On August 30, 2016, at around 9.30, Didi breathed for the last time. Thus, Didi, the benevolent soul and the most honorable person of my life set the best example of sacrifice. I would like to convey my deepest respect and gratitude towards Didi for being there whenever needed. Without Didi, I would have just spent my life as a nobody; Didi, I love you.        
The writer is an associate professor, Govt. Kabi Nazrul College, Sadarghat, Dhaka.