A few days back while skimming through the Calcutta Times (the daily entertainment dose of Times Of India) my eyes stopped on something which was more than just entertainment. The section was basically aligned with an upcoming Bengali movie of Parambrata Chatterjee, but the person on whom the film was based is what interested me.
It’s more than a year that BARUN BISWAS was killed. But undoubtedly his flame lives on. Not only is he an inspiration for the movie but is also the same for millions who are supporting and striving for a better society. Barun Biswas’s life is worth knowing and revering. Following it to an extent which one can is the next great thing. Surely, being someone like Barun Biswas requires extreme selflessness and sacrifices. He was a true hero, a hero which the Indian society truly needs.
Barun Biswas, the youngest son of a farmer was a dauntless social crusader who feared none. As rightly described by his father, Barun had nerves of steel!! He had almost single-handedly raised voice against atrocities which the local goons had unleashed in his town –Sutia in North 24 Parganas. Rape had become an everyday thing in the town until he strengthened the people to take a brave stand against it. Not only this, Barun also ensured the social rehabilitation of the rape victims by fixing their marriages and helping them financially. He taught poor children, bought medicines for sick, coached job seekers and arranged money for many needy families. He even campaigned and prepared a blueprint for the dredging of a canal to prevent flooding in Sutia and nearby areas. This was later accepted by the Government. In his early life he had cracked the West Bengal Civil Service Examination but he eventually made up his mind to dedicate his life for service of the society.
Whatever he would earn at the end of the month, he would give it to poor families. He spent the least on himself and saved the maximum for the needy. He would even ask his family members to do the same. Barun would happily give his bed for someone to sleep and he would himself sleep on plastic sheets. Like any other unsung hero of our society Barun Biswas too, didn’t believe in advertising what he did.
But today’s dark society ruled by politics, money and muscle power had already marked Barun for death. But still, as his mother says, Barun never went to back foot despite knowing the threats lingering around him.
July 5th 2012- Barun Biswas was murdered by sanctioned goons of local MLAs who were badly affected by Barun’s work. A year later Barun’s family is still waiting for justice.
Who killed Barun Biswas?? – the title of the article in Calcutta Times looms in front of us.
Till the day Pratibadi Mancha (a social organization set up by Barun) raises its voice against all atrocities.Agreeing with what Barun Biswas’s mother said, I would quote her words -“Barun chilo, Barun ache, Barun thakbe”.
Can people like Barun Biswas blossom in our Indian society??
Surely, if political terror and its aided hooliganism is not stopped then one will be just left revering such great men rather than following them.
