ABSTRACT
One year the floods had been particularly bad and food, clothing and shelters were urgently needed for the flood victims. Mother decided to stage a play in order to raise money. My cousin Umadi 28 , (my eldest aunt, Kamala, Mrs. P.N. Bose’s 29 youngest daughter), Sejomashi’s (Mrs. K.B. Dutt) daughters, Indudi, Hashidi, Buri and Shanti all came to Dacca, to take part in the play. It was a wonderful family gathering and we had a riotous time. Umadi decided to stage Dhruva 30 and she was well suited to be the director and master of ceremonies. She herself had a most beautiful, pure and flute–like voice and as she, her elder sisters and brothers — one of them being Modhu Bose 31 — were always staging plays, generally Tagore’s dance dramas, during family weddings or Durga Puja festivities, it was not difficult for her to coach us. Rehearsals were held every evening at our house for about two months and later at the Town Hall where the play was to be staged. A young boy called Sushil Dey took the part of Dhruva. He had the faultless, 65 66pure, sweet voice that only a young boy has, and his singing was greatly appreciated. Later on in life, if I remember correctly, he became a member of the ICS.
