In Memory of Asok Bandyopadhyay 2015

28.11.2015 - Saturday (5 pm)
Paschim Banga Bangla Academy
(Jibananda Sabhaghar - behind NANDAN) 

7th Asok Bandyopadhyay Memorial Lecture delivered
by Swapnamoy Chakraborty

Topic
Scientific Awareness and Bengali Mind

Audio
Song by Pratul Mukhopadya - Click here
Speech by Swapnamoy Chakraborty - Click here

Pictures
For the pictures of the day, click here

The programme started with the opening song by Pratul Mukhopadhyay, followed by two songs by Rajasree Bhattacharyya. She mesmerised the entire audience by her fine-tuned voice, which made the Speaker (Swapnamoy Chakraborty) sob. The DVD of Asok Bandopadhyay's 1995 interview by Rajagopal Chattopadhyay was released by Niranjan Biswas of Bara Jaguli by handing over the same to Asok's elder brothers Dr. Dwijadas Bandyopadhyay and Tapan Kumar Bandyopadhyay.

After a very brief introduction by Paromita, Swapnamoy Chakraborty started delivering his long 2-hour speech recollecting his cordial relationship with Asok, who left All India Radio to take up his new assignment at State Forensic Laboratory. He narrated lucidly how he was absorbed by AIR as a replacement of Asok. He even recollected the song sung by Misti (Asok's daughter) on his father's 1st memorial meeting at Students' Hall, College Street. He again bursted into tears and fumbled for a few moment. Emotional discharge writ large on his face.

The lecture started after informal talks and that style was followed throughout the entire course. The Speaker drew reference from different areas, the Vedas, old history on religious belief and his personal experience. The Hall (Jibananda Sabhaghar) was full to the capacity, many persons were seen standing behind. Nearly 80+ persons were there with 20+ floating listeners. As usual average age group was 50+ with significant number of female attendees.
Some new faces were seen in the audience. The day before was the birth day of noted rationalist M. M. Kalburgi (28.11.1938) who was murdered on 23.08.2015 in the outskirts of Bangalore. We kept two photographs of MMK to show our respect to this great man. As usual Asok's framed photograph was placed on the dais to make it visible from all sides. The entire speech was recorded and uploaded on this page.