Today is 25th April. 3 years back Hungryalist poet Pradip Chowdhury passed on to the other room on this very day. It was sudden shock for all of us. A few months beforethat we were chatting over phone... his problems with his eyes... what new books he is reading even about the plant in my balcony. Before putting down the phone he said let this lock down days of Corona be over then we must meet. I have a project on my mind. Of course we will, I replied. Now I have only memories to hold on to.
Once in mid nineties we were in Shantiniketan Poush Mela. In the fairground we had a book stall. That was the only book stall I believe in the huge fair ground. A wild idea of course to have a book stall in midst of people selling clothes, utensils, knives etc. Shantiniketan usually is very crowded during this festival time. Somehow we arranged for a stay with a few bedsteads without bedrolls. I tried hiring but the person who gives bedrolls on rent was out of stock. Finally Chacha the cyclerikshaw puller our Herbert Huncke came to our rescue. Ah yes he supplied marijuana too. He arranged for stacks of straw which we spread on the bedstead and covered it up with a bed sheet. It was winter and cold. But those days were days that will stay always in my memory. After coming back to Kolkata Pradip Chowdhury wrote- These nights together sleeping on straw beds will help us to stay out of the establishment for many days.
