Rituparno and I

Dear Rituparno-da,

I did not know you unless everyone started to talk about your films. I did not even know about Hirer Angti! One of my close friends Santanu used to watch one movie every week during my college days. But I had an understanding with him. The movies that I will watch with him had to be in Bengali. In mid-nineties, middle class bengali people started to be back at the movie theaters, so did we! And you indeed started to play some instrumental roles in this regard. So we watched Unishe April and Dohon. You received many national and international accolades. I liked those movies, but honestly, not that great! Still the fact that we used to go to the theatres for Bengali movies was somewhat exciting for me in those days.

Time passed by .. I saw few of your subsequent movies like Raincoat and Antarmahal. I liked those, but I skipped most of your other movies! Many of my friends and relatives kept me updated; they mostly commented that you are doing movies on unnecessarily complicated topics. I refrained myself from commenting. In the mean time, even though I did not follow your movies, I tried to follow your changes in personal life (as much as I could from the media), and sincerely read your interviews. You started to be vocal about the voices of 'those people'. In cinematic form, it culminated by doing movies like  Arekti Premer Golpo and Chitrangada.

By now, in many conversations and chat shows you started to put emphatic stress on how we should not worry, and thus making judgements, too much about a person's sexual behavior or preferences. You kept repeating how we better focus only on human values. I was learning. Over the years, you became the voice of  a large section of people you are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). In last years, you practiced the lifestyle of LGBT communities, thus giving them a strong platform to speak out. Common people on the other hand started to bring the topic at the breakfast table to the adda at the tea-stall. It was no longer an issue that we always wanted to put under the carpet and pretend of not knowing it. This was particularly important  with the Indian mind-set. At the same time, the Indian court dismissed the criminal charges for homosexuality. It was a tremendous progress from the institutional side.  

But, why am I telling you all these? I also have a personal story to share with you! Few months back, I was staying at Bhopal for over an year. I was at home alone one morning as my wife had gone for the computer class. Someone knocked on the door. Once I opened the door, the person clapped his/her hands and asked for some money. Looking at him/her I had an wonderful feeling deep down my heart for the first time in my life. From my early childhood, I have seen people saying many wrong words about them. But, there I was standing in front him/her with a blissful feeling, something that we all look for! I took fifty rupees out of my wallet and in passing said "Khush rohiye(Be happy)". Both of us had the eye contact briefly, and I saw tears in the eyes! He/she knew, I knew, it was not the money! It was that moment, the eternal connection between two human being makes us moving. He/she put his/her hands on my head and blessed. Immediately, I bowed down to you with the offering of my regards. I had never seen you in person, but I felt very close to you at that moment. For me, it is you only who taught me to change my notion and perspective.

I was in my office at Kolkata when I got the news of your death. I was shocked, and during lunch, people talked about your movies, and I kept myself quiet remembering few little things. My sister called me in the evening with a shattering voice that she can not imagine herself not reading the First person anymore in Pratidin-Robbar. Next day morning, we all saw your calm face in the glass box. I was happy! You had put the candle on in many people's mind. Now it is our collective responsibilities to keep the candle burning brighter. All human being are the same and everyone deserves dignified treatment from the society irrespective of anyone's personal attachment to color, creed, religion etc, including sexual behavior or status.  

I do not know where are you resting! Wherever it is is, I am sure you are in peace. My sincere regards to you as a super-human-being. You are the real superman of this time. You looked further, far ahead of your time. 

Best,

Koushik