Letter to Plath

Dear Plath,

My younger soul was fascinated by your courage to express and I was intrigued by your story. I could feel the fire in you through your poetry. I have learnt to hate with a passion and to not fear death. For when it doesn't come, I can still crave for it. Now when I am a few years older, I have started thinking about you again. In my lonely hours under the shower I chant in whispers, "Dying; Is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well." I have died several deaths. One time with a broken heart and all other times I have done it myself. But I left no visible scars. No one knew. I stare at glittering waters of the river shining gold during the sunset. My mind feels like diving in. Not because I love water or swimming. But because I can't swim. I imagine how would it be to have a watery grave. But I realize they would take me away and put me elsewhere. People would be scared and unknown people would hold my wet body. Children would be scarred for life. So I only stare.

Plath, I wish to be like you. When heartbreaks don't feel like anything to me and my thoughts fade with my unfocused gaze. When blood becomes a mere colour and a burn, a wound that leaves a mark. When pain and ache are not sensible anymore. When my mind calculates years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds and breaths. Till I take my last. Honestly, I do it now. Not all the time but very frequently. Those who hurt me, I look at them and say in my mind, "I'll be gone. I'll be gone soon and you'll not find me to hurt me again." It's thrilling to understand how one day I'll be an empty space in someone's life. Some will remember me with love and some with hate. Those who won't remember with either of the two will still remember me. And there'll be someone like me, who will want to be me like I wanted to be you. Till then it is a long way to walk on pebbles barefeet. A path sometimes laid with thorns. The thorns that came with the roses I once craved for. The thorns that prick and bring blood yet make me more adamant to keep walking. I'll walk till I reach the edge from where I'll fly down to hell if there's no place in paradise for me with you.

Wait for me, Plath. Till then wait.

Deulti- Abode of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay

“Shongshare jara sudhu dile, kintu pele na kichui jara durbol, utpirito, manush hoye o manush jader chokher joler kokhon o hishab nilen na, nirupay dukkho moy jibon e jara konodin bhebei pelen na. Shomostho thekei o keno tader kichu tei odhikar nei, tader bedonai dilo. Amar mukh khule tarai pathalo manusher kache manusher nalish janate. “

― Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay

River Rupnarayan

With this quote written on the left side of the gate still stands proud the beautiful house of the great Bengali novelist Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay known as Sarat Chandra Kuthi. Sarat Kuthi is located in Samta in Deulti, Howrah about 50 km drive from Kolkata. Deulti is a small village located towards the west part of Bagnan. One can visit the land of Sarat Chandra in one day. It takes only one and a half hour to reach from Kolkata. The bank of River Rupnarayan is a famous picnic spot.

About the Author 

Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay was born on 15^th September, 1876 in Debanandapur, Hoogly. He started his career as an Author with the story ‘Mandir’. He received the Kuntolin award for his first masterpiece- Mandir.  He also gained popularity with his pseudonym Anila Devi, the real name of his elder sister. He Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s first wife was Shanti Devi who died in Burma due to Plague. His boy child from the first wife also died from the same sickness. 

After the death of his first wife, he got married to Hironmoyee Devi who was previously known as 

Mokkhoda. He was also a homeopath and was therefore known as Dr. Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The author composed popular novels like Palli Samajh, Parineeti, Mahesh, Shubodha, Srikanto, Devdas etc. Sarat Chandra died on 16^th January, 1938 at the age of 61.

About the house

Sarat Smriti Mandir is written in Bengali on the right side of the gate and followed by this there is a quote from the popular novel Mahesh written below. The house is two storied and has been built in Burmese-style. Sarat Kuthi was built on the bank of River Rupnarayan, which still flows by but the river has moved far away in the due course of time due to excessive silting. It is said that the author has penned down some of his famous novels and stories in the study of this house. It is known that the author spent the last twelve years of his life in this house. The study and other rooms along with its furniture are still preserved with great care for more than a century now. This house was once the home of Sarat Chandra’s brother Swami Vivekananda also. There are many things of interest still preserved in the house which, according to the sources, draws the tourist from abroad. The building is now a museum containing various articles used by the author in his daily life. Let’s together explore the abode of the great Bengali Novelist.

The Garden

As one enters the compound of Sarat Chandra Kuthi, one can see the huge house standing in front

among the beautiful garden. Towards the left of the garden a statue of the author stands. One can also spot the Guava tree mention in the novel Palli Samajh. The samadhis of Sarat Chandra

Chattopadhyay, his wife Hironmoyee Devi and brother Bedananda lie in the end of the garden. The puja mandap is also in the same garden.

The Bust
The marble bust of the author is situated at the left side of the garden, among some beautiful plantations. The statue was erected by Dr. Ashim Dasgupta, former Finance Minister of West Bengal in 2010.

The Guava Tree

The author during his stay in this compound planted various trees in the garden. Among them were some bamboo trees and Galoncho with guava trees. One guava tree has grown up exactly in front of the main house. According to the sources, it is said that this tree is more than 90 years old. The same tree is said to be mentioned in the author’s masterpiece Ramer Sumati. The trees are still an attraction to the tourists.

The Samadhis

In the memorial of the great novelist, Sarat Chandra and his beloved wife and brother three stones have been laid in the compound of the Sarat Chandra Kuthi. Initially, the three samadhis used to be on the road outside the compound. Later it was brought under the same compound by extending the boundary walls of the garden.

Samadhi of Sarat Chandra's second wife Hironmoyee (left); The samadhi of brother Debananda (left) & Sarat Chandra Bose (right)

The Ground Floor

The ground floor has a front veranda with three rooms. The first one is the study of Sarat Chandra. Beside it is a bedroom and then is the homeopathy chamber. After the chamber, there is a small corridor leading to the stairwell of the first floor. On the front right-side of the house, there is a huge cage. It is said that the author loved animals so he kept peacocks. The kitchen and dining hall is also down but is under construction.

The Study Room

1- Bookshelf; 2- Arm chair; 3- Chappal worn by Sarat Chandra, 4- Study table

The study room is quite small. It has a writing desk, an arm chair and a bookshelf. Some shelves are made on the walls. They still have some books and old pictures. In the same room one can see Sarat Chandra’s walking stick & chappals preserved in a box. The arm chair has his framed photo and a picture of his dead body adorned with flowers and garlands. The guide will narrate to you stories of the past. According to him, Sarat Chandra used the room as the study because the huge window used to give him the view of the river. The river was very near to the house that time. The author composed great stories like Abhagir Swargo, Bamuner Meye, Mahesh, Ramer Shumoti, Palli Shomaj, Srikanta fourth part and last he wrote Bipradas in this room.

The Bedroom

Just next to the study room is a bedroom. It is quite spacious. The bed is kept on the left side of the room. A white bedcover is laid white two pillows. There is a huge cupboard with some medical books in it. There is a star shaped hanger on the wall. The same room has a door that leads to the next room. At the end of the room, an old radio system and a hookah is kept. The walls of the room have some old framed pictures. There is also a made in Japan wall clock that draws attention of the visitors. The care taker says that he, for the past 40 years did not allow it to stop. There is a key that needs to be turned every week for it to keep working.

1- Star shaped Hanger, 2- Wall clock, 3- Old radio system and Hookah, 4- Caretaker of the house

The Homeopathy Chamber

The bedroom connects to the homeopathy chamber. The room is quite big and has a big arm chair at the side of the door that connects to the bedroom. There is a cupboard that has glass frames on door. One can spot some old glass vials still kept intact inside. Just opposite to the cupboard there is a single bed kept at the side with a chair at its head. Both are kept near a huge door that opens to the front entrance. According to the guide, Dr. Sarat Chandra used to visit patients here and treated them for free. At the end of the room there is a small altar. The altar has two stone idols of Lord Krishna and Radha. According to the sources they were gifted by C.R. Das to the author. A small red bulb is fitted in, that is kept on 24 hours. There are two different kinds of Charkkha miniatures kept for show. The guide says that they were gifted by Gandhiji.

1- Old homeopathy vials, 2- Patients' bed in the chamber, 3- Charkha said to be gifted by Gandhiji, 4- Statue of Radha Krishna

The First Floor

The first floor is under construction. It has two rooms. The guide says that Sarat Chandra used to stay down in the daytime and only came up in the night to sleep. The bedrooms have beds, chairs, some side tables and cupboards. There is a small open latrine is the corridor. The corridor is spacious and is in good condition. Though a side is being renovated and access to the part is not allowed for the timing.  There are a few cages kept upstairs that had rabbits in them. A few pigeons were also kept. The cages are empty now.

The Courtyard

The courtyard is big and it has a small storehouse for grains. There is a rusted hand pump. The courtyard is half cemented yet well maintained.

The Pond

There is a pond just opposite to the house. The guide says that the pond had two pet fishes in them. One Rohu and another was Katla. Sarat Chandra’s wife had named them Kartik and Ganesh. This pond and the fishes were mentioned in the author’s masterpiece Ramer Sumati.

The house and its compound are well-maintained by the care-taker. He has been employed by the author’s Grandson. The best time to visit Deulti, Sarat Chandra Kuthi is during the winter and spring. National Holidays should be avoided. The heritage house is open all throughout the year. It is suggested that one must visit Deulti during the Sarat fair that is held during September-October. 

Good to Know

• Samta, Deulti is approximately 50 km from Kolkata. It takes one and a half hour to reach.
• There are a few temples that can be visited too.
• The Sarat Mela is very famous. Every year many food stalls are set up in this fair.
• Nirala Resorts & SonarBangla are two very good hotels.
• There are quite a few eating outlets, dhabas and restaurants on the Highway.

Jaismita Alexander

The same was published by TTIS- The Telegraph In Schools