A historic Savoy community–Bengali, was formed as a group under the supervision and guidelines of an Association called as Bengali association of Bhopal. It is one of the oldest charitable, non-profit, tax-exempt voluntary organisations of Bhopal, dedicated to upholding and promotion of the rich socio-cultural heritage of Bengal among the Bengali community settled in and around Bhopal.
The Bengali Association came in existence in 1956 and since then this Association have made remarkable progress in the field of community development.
HISTORY
When the reorganisation of State took place in 1956 and Madhya Pradesh was formed with Bhopal as capital, as large number of Bengalis came here from Nagpur, Indore, Gwalior and Rewa—all State headquarters and Bengali Durga Puja started in 1957.
The Bengali Association which is celebrating its 50th year in 2006, started the first Bengali Durga Puja in Bhopal in front of Kwality Restaurant, New Market where the New Market Traders’ Association currently celebrates Navaratri. Later, the puja shifted to the ground where the present TT Nagar Kalibari stands.
There was no temple or stadium then. When Durga puja started in 1957, the first president was Dr. Saroj Kanti Bose.
Dr. S K Bose was among the first few Bengalis who came from Kolkata to reside in Bhopal. A gold medalist MBBS from Calcutta Medical College, he came here in 1938 as personal physician to Nawab Hamidullah Khan. At that time, there were just a few other Bengali families in Bhopal. They included chief engineer of Bhopal Electric Supply Ardhendu Dasgupta, a doctor of army hospital Dr. Sen, a homeopathic practitioner Dr. Banerjee, health officer Girija Shankar Chakraborty and Mr. Mukherjee, who was in charge of the sugar factory at Sehore.
These few families started puja activities in 1942 with celebration of Saraswati Puja in 1942 at 3, Civil Lines in the residence of Dr. Bose, the few Bengali families celebrated puja like an extended family and they always felt the Nawab’s silent assent in all social, cultural and religious activities of our community.
As Bengalis have an intrinsic love for drama, the advent of Bengali drama in Bhopal coincided with the beginning of puja activities. Again Dr. Bose was the inspiring figure. Ladies did not participate in plays at that time and men would shave their beards and mustachios to play female roles.
The first mixed drama staged during the first Durga Puja in 1957 in TT Nagar was ‘Kankabatir Ghat’ (a social play) in which ladies also participated. Eminent journalist and writer late Tarun Kumar Bhaduri’s wife Indira Bhaduri, Dr. Bose’s wife Beena Bose were among the first ladies who acted in dramas. Tarun Kumar Bhaduri, Secretary (public health) Mr. P D Chatterjee and TTTI principal N Sanyal were among the prominent active figures during Durga Puja of the time.
Since then drama has gone hand in hand with puja. Many well-known plays like Tagore’s comedy Chirokumar Sabha (Sabha for confirmed bachelors) and Tagore’s Dakghar (Post Office) have been staged along with modern plays like Banchharamer Bagan (Banchharam’s garden). Other personalities like Mr. Shashanka and his wife Pragnya Mukherjee have been the inspiration behind many plays.
From less than 100 families during the first Durga puja in 1957, the Bengali population in Bhopal has increased to more than 5,000 families.
Now each prominent residential locality like BHEL, Arera Colony, Shajahanabad and Kolar Road has also gradually started their own pujas-each in a big way.
ACTIVITIES
Offer all ritual of Bengali community and celebrate occasion together at Kali Bari.
- Extending Social help to community people by matrimonial communication and providing Kali Bari premises for marriage purpose.
- Act as a platform to raise fund for charitable purpose for community.
- To promote literary excellence through library facility.
- Inviting famous Bengali persona to encourage and guide the people.
- Organizing Bengali festive on grand scale.
- Regular Medical facilities at the Kali Bari premises with eminent doctors of Bhopal under the “Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Charitable Trust”. Also organize Blood Donation camp on Netaji’s Birthday on 23rd January every year.
- To provide special forum to women for women empowerment.
