First the Pathabhan, later studies in Kalabhaban. Worked in Kolkata for 40 years. But the pull of the roots is hard to forget. So after retiring, Subalakshmi Goswami left the city and returned to Santiniketan. Even today he is vocal about the good and bad of Santiniketan. Protest if any power wants to undermine the tradition of Gurudev’s institution. Just as Visva Bharati’s former vice-chancellor Vidyut Chakraborty used to say regularly against his activities. Recently there was talk about Paush Mela. The attraction of fairs seen in his childhood returned to his memory.
‘Gave 2 rupees to Rabindranath…’
Father lived in Dhaka. Vishwakabi came to his father’s college to seek help during the establishment of Shantiniketan. In Subalakshmi’s words, ‘My father was a professor of botany. He used to teach at Jagannath College in Dhaka. Incidentally, father studied botany there. One day the principal came to the class and said that Rabindranath would come. He is going to set up a school at Bolpur in Birbhum. Help him as much as you can. My father paid 2 rupees in those days. Since then a connection has been formed with Santiniketan. Then when the riot broke out, Vidhusekhar Shastri called Baba. Baba took us to Santiniketan. We were very young then.’
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“Fair in front of the temple then”
How to get acquainted with Poush Mela? Praveena Ashramik of Santinikaten says, ‘Since joining the school, I have been slowly talking to Poush Mela. I didn’t understand anything at first. Teachers held hands and recognized. Our quarters in Ratnapalli. There was a fair in front of the temple. Rabindranath wanted the village to meet the city in the fair. That was actually implemented. Wooden Bangles, Krishnanagar Dolls, Iron Kadai, Hari, Jilipi Shop, Panparbhaja. Sawtans of nearby villages used to bring earthen pots and pitchers by bullock carts. He would take the car to a canal-like place opposite Ratanpally and spread straw under it. There they stay and eat for a few days of the fair.’
‘Poush Mela is our Durga Puja’
The importance of Poush Mela to Subhalakshmi was revealed in the next words. He said, ‘As Durga Puja is to the people of Calcutta, Poush Mela is to our Shantiniketan Ashrams. We had 7 Paush Saptami, 8 Paush Ashtami, 10 Paush Dashami like this. As guests come to your house during puja. Similarly, people gather in our Santiniketan Paush Mela. Now there are many hotels. There were not so many hotels then. In the throne room, straw was spread over a large area and allowed to sit on it. The people who came to the fair used to stay there.’
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Nehru, Indira came
The day of Nehru’s arrival is still remembered by hermit Subhalakshmi. ‘We saw Nehru and Indira also come during Poush Mela. At that time there was a convocation festival in Amrakunj. Nehru and Indira Gandhi used to hand over seven-page certificates and certificates to every student. I also got that certificate as a student of Kalabhavan.’
Battle of ship fortress by burning stake
When asked about one of the attractions of the fair, he said, about betting. ‘Then the game of burning stakes was the big attraction of the fair. We old people will never forget that scene. As the old fairgrounds were small, bets were made in the Purvapalli field. The people of Surul used to make bets then. Battle of ship fort was shown by burning stakes. It’s hard to imagine without seeing it with your own eyes. ‘Vishva Bharati’ would have been written in the sky. Again some bajis are drawing pictures of Gurudev. They still float like dreams in the eyes.’
The character of the fair has changed
What changes can be seen in the current fair compared to then? Shubalakshmi said, ‘Four years after overcoming various complications, the fair is finally taking place. But the fair that is held now is different from before. There was a sincerity among those who came to the fair then. Rabindranath had a good feeling, a hidden pride, that he was coming to Santiniketan. Now mostly business. Moreover, the fair is now bustling with stalls of various branded companies, motorcycles, bank stalls, stalls of political parties. They don’t fit well with Poush Mela.’
