Context : Written Riya Banerjee, Christ University, Certificate Course History of Scientific Discoveries -2013
I am going to tell you all I got to know about the life of my paternal grandfather, Mr. Kamal Kant Banerjee. I will be referring to him as Dadu throughout. Although we wish him on the 25th of December every year, he stated his official birthday as 2nd January, 1925. The reason for this remains a mystery. He had three older sisters and two older brothers. That makes him the sixth child. He has one younger brother and one younger sister. On the delivery of the ninth child, his mother passed away along with the newborn. They were a wealthy family with a huge house and a zoo-like garden consisting of birds and dogs from various places. Dadu’s father owned a stevedore and shipping agency. After this tragic incident, the family left Bankura and shifted to Bagbazar in Kolkata. Soon afterwards, Dadu’s father disappeared without any warning.
With little support, Dadu and his siblings had to face a lot of hardships. Despite these circumstances, Dadu did very well in his school. He got good results and won many prizes. When he was in class 4 or 5, his father suddenly returned and took Dadu and his younger siblings to a new place (his older ones were all married by then). When they reached, they saw the blue sea, which was the Bay of Bengal. They had come to the enlightened village of Vishakhapatnam. But Dadu felt that it was in their best interest to go study in Kolkata. So the three siblings went back to live in Bagbazar and complete their education in the Shyambazar Anglo Vernacular School.
In 1942, Dadu passed his class 10 (called matriculation at that time). At this time, the independence movement and the Second World War was going on. So Dadu ran away to Bankura to study in the Bankura Christian College. He did his intermediate (11 and 12) in Science there. Once again, without anyone’s help, he passed with distinction (80%+). This was a big deal as even people with a 60% would rejoice at that time. Then he returned to Kolkata and completed his BSc. in 1946. During this time, West Bengal was going through a lot of problems with the British rule and the partition of Bengal. So from 1946 to 1947, Dadu worked for the Union Council of Relief and Rehabilitation in Delhi. There he was working alongside eminent personalities such as Jawaharlal Nehru.
On 15th August, 1947, India got its independence. Then Dadu got enrolled in Jadavpur Engineering College to study production engineering. His was the first batch. This was the first time this course was being offered in any college in India. In 1951 he passed this course with honours. After that, he had a one year training session in a steel plant from 1951 to 1952. 1952 was also the year he got married to Manjula Banerjee (my Thakuma). She was the daughter of an IAS officer who was the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation. Their marriage was on 29th February and hence their anniversary is celebrated very well as it only comes once in four years.
After that, Dadu went to England in the same year in October for an eighteen month training program at Glasgow where he did his specialization in marine engineering. There the chairman of one of the world’s biggest companies at that time, noticed how bright and promising Dadu was and suggested that he continue his studies in Sheffield University offering him a fee concession. There he studied Master of Engineering which was very rare at that time. Only about five people in the whole of India would have had that degree. He specialized in Servo Mechanism.
At the end of 1955, after finishing his M.E., Dadu returned to Kolkata. He took up a job with Shalimar Industries which dealt with textile equipment, but did not enjoy it. So in August, 1956, he joined Hindustan Shipyard in Vishakhapatnam despite his boss’ fervent requests not to leave. Dadu started out as one of the lowest grade of officers – a junior/assistant engineer. Within 2 years, he made 12 jumps and ended up being the chief manager. Life became hectic then as he had to spend around twenty days a month out of town buying shipping equipment and smaller shipping businesses. He made the Central Design Office for his company. For this he had travelled all over the world gathering information before preparing a final report which the government approved.
Dadu helped out the Admiral of the Indian Navy with their requirements. He did not like the fact that he was working for a company which had to submit its reports to foreigners. He proposed the establishment of an Indian ship registered company and wrote a memorandum of what should to be done. Thus came into existence the Indian Register of Shipping. The government appointed Dadu (being a marine engineer) as one of the three directors of recruitment and training of men for the Dredging Corporation of India. He is the founder member of the Institute of Marine Engineering (India). Andhra University appointed him in the Board of Studies for mechanical and marine engineering from 1970 to 1984.
In 1983, Dadu retired voluntarily. He is one of the most senior members of the organization called Free Masons of India. He has two sons. The elder one is Niloy Banerjee, an electrical engineer and the younger one is my father, Alok Banerjee, a Chartered Accountant. Currently they are both married and very successful with a pair of kids each. The former is a contractor, while the latter is the CEO of a huge company. Nowadays, my grandparents spend most of their time watching TV or talking to each other and those around them. Thus, in my opinion, Dadu’s life has been extremely effective. He has achieved a lot in his life through his hard work and sincerity. He has been successful in all his endeavors and has earned a comfortable living. He is a well respected person in society who has been invited as a chief guest to many events. He is currently living with his wife and elder son’s family. He has a good relation with each one of us. He gets along very well with his wife and is lucky to have found someone so well suited to him. I can tell that he is proud of his children and grandchildren and is satisfied with his life.
I am going to tell you all I got to know about the life of my paternal grandfather, Mr. Kamal Kant Banerjee. I will be referring to him as Dadu throughout. Although we wish him on the 25th of December every year, he stated his official birthday as 2nd January, 1925. The reason for this remains a mystery. He had three older sisters and two older brothers. That makes him the sixth child. He has one younger brother and one younger sister. On the delivery of the ninth child, his mother passed away along with the newborn. They were a wealthy family with a huge house and a zoo-like garden consisting of birds and dogs from various places. Dadu’s father owned a stevedore and shipping agency. After this tragic incident, the family left Bankura and shifted to Bagbazar in Kolkata. Soon afterwards, Dadu’s father disappeared without any warning.
With little support, Dadu and his siblings had to face a lot of hardships. Despite these circumstances, Dadu did very well in his school. He got good results and won many prizes. When he was in class 4 or 5, his father suddenly returned and took Dadu and his younger siblings to a new place (his older ones were all married by then). When they reached, they saw the blue sea, which was the Bay of Bengal. They had come to the enlightened village of Vishakhapatnam. But Dadu felt that it was in their best interest to go study in Kolkata. So the three siblings went back to live in Bagbazar and complete their education in the Shyambazar Anglo Vernacular School.
In 1942, Dadu passed his class 10 (called matriculation at that time). At this time, the independence movement and the Second World War was going on. So Dadu ran away to Bankura to study in the Bankura Christian College. He did his intermediate (11 and 12) in Science there. Once again, without anyone’s help, he passed with distinction (80%+). This was a big deal as even people with a 60% would rejoice at that time. Then he returned to Kolkata and completed his BSc. in 1946. During this time, West Bengal was going through a lot of problems with the British rule and the partition of Bengal. So from 1946 to 1947, Dadu worked for the Union Council of Relief and Rehabilitation in Delhi. There he was working alongside eminent personalities such as Jawaharlal Nehru.
On 15th August, 1947, India got its independence. Then Dadu got enrolled in Jadavpur Engineering College to study production engineering. His was the first batch. This was the first time this course was being offered in any college in India. In 1951 he passed this course with honours. After that, he had a one year training session in a steel plant from 1951 to 1952. 1952 was also the year he got married to Manjula Banerjee (my Thakuma). She was the daughter of an IAS officer who was the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation. Their marriage was on 29th February and hence their anniversary is celebrated very well as it only comes once in four years.
After that, Dadu went to England in the same year in October for an eighteen month training program at Glasgow where he did his specialization in marine engineering. There the chairman of one of the world’s biggest companies at that time, noticed how bright and promising Dadu was and suggested that he continue his studies in Sheffield University offering him a fee concession. There he studied Master of Engineering which was very rare at that time. Only about five people in the whole of India would have had that degree. He specialized in Servo Mechanism.
At the end of 1955, after finishing his M.E., Dadu returned to Kolkata. He took up a job with Shalimar Industries which dealt with textile equipment, but did not enjoy it. So in August, 1956, he joined Hindustan Shipyard in Vishakhapatnam despite his boss’ fervent requests not to leave. Dadu started out as one of the lowest grade of officers – a junior/assistant engineer. Within 2 years, he made 12 jumps and ended up being the chief manager. Life became hectic then as he had to spend around twenty days a month out of town buying shipping equipment and smaller shipping businesses. He made the Central Design Office for his company. For this he had travelled all over the world gathering information before preparing a final report which the government approved.
Dadu helped out the Admiral of the Indian Navy with their requirements. He did not like the fact that he was working for a company which had to submit its reports to foreigners. He proposed the establishment of an Indian ship registered company and wrote a memorandum of what should to be done. Thus came into existence the Indian Register of Shipping. The government appointed Dadu (being a marine engineer) as one of the three directors of recruitment and training of men for the Dredging Corporation of India. He is the founder member of the Institute of Marine Engineering (India). Andhra University appointed him in the Board of Studies for mechanical and marine engineering from 1970 to 1984.
In 1983, Dadu retired voluntarily. He is one of the most senior members of the organization called Free Masons of India. He has two sons. The elder one is Niloy Banerjee, an electrical engineer and the younger one is my father, Alok Banerjee, a Chartered Accountant. Currently they are both married and very successful with a pair of kids each. The former is a contractor, while the latter is the CEO of a huge company. Nowadays, my grandparents spend most of their time watching TV or talking to each other and those around them. Thus, in my opinion, Dadu’s life has been extremely effective. He has achieved a lot in his life through his hard work and sincerity. He has been successful in all his endeavors and has earned a comfortable living. He is a well respected person in society who has been invited as a chief guest to many events. He is currently living with his wife and elder son’s family. He has a good relation with each one of us. He gets along very well with his wife and is lucky to have found someone so well suited to him. I can tell that he is proud of his children and grandchildren and is satisfied with his life.
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