Jodi tomar dekha na pai probhu , aar Bhabani Kakur kotha..

Jodi tomar dekha na pai probhu , aar Bhabani Kakur kotha..

(If I couldn’t see you, Lord- Bhabani Uncle’s tale)

For the last few days we are under home quarantine. Passing through an unprecedented experience, sometimes feeling very low , sometime rolling down my memory lane. And like all of you, it is really difficult to get rid of memories of my childhood days, and for no reasons they are haunting me  Actually the events and stories which are occupying my senses are of my childhood days, they are from my days when I was about 9 - 10 yrs old . Somehow, I am also enjoying these nostalgic memories.

The Sundays used to be very special days for me those days, no school, no private tuitions, no waking up early ,, There was a persons who used to make my Sundays even more precious, I used to eagerly wait for him every Sunday. He was none other than Bhabani Kaku ( Bhabani uncle). He used to be at the main door of our house very Sunday morning, with the clock striking 9 AM. He was a man from very well known family in our locality, but it is still a mystery why he used to beg for food. People around our place used call him a mad cap, but he was a big astonishment to me. I could see the depth of happiness in his eyes. It was all going like that. On one Sunday morning I found him a little unmindful , but he was humming a tune to himself. To my surprise i found it to be a song in Bangla. I got hooked to it immediately , because the lyrics appeared magical , "jodi tomar dekha na pai probhu , ebar e jibone  " I had never heard that song before. The tune and the melody were mesmerising. That day he was just sitting and singing the song, was not asking for the food. I was too young to understand the meaning of the song but I realised that the song was a conversation with the Lord, and I could see the very expression of surrender in Bhabani Kaku's glistening eyes. He was conversing with God and complaining why he did not appear for him. I was amazed  with the whole situation , the very ambience engulfed me thoroughly. 

Next week Bhabani Kaku did not turn up, I waited for him, the whole morning till the lunch time. I was sad, but the melody was rolling in my head.. the whole week passed, with home works , games and mischiefs. On the next  Sunday morning I got up early had my breakfast and started waiting for him. I was running to the door on every knock, expecting him to appear and sing the song again but he never turned up. My father observed me and understood what was bothering me. He called me and with his elderly calm and passion explained me the truth, "your Bhabani Kaku will not come any more. He has left us for his heavenly abode." I was shocked , I ran to the terrace and cried for long. It was a huge loss for me.

Now at this matured age of 56 , I can understand the real meaning of the song- It is one of the greatest creations of Rabindranath Tagore. That Sunday morning Bhabani Kaku was connected to the almighty and he was singing that song. I don't know how it got embedded in my mind that morning. Whenever I listen to that song I remember Bhabani kaku and tear drops trickle down from my eyes.