Letter to Rantuda...wherever he is

Dear Rantuda,

            It's been such a long time that I do not know where to start, but it is only appropriate that I start by asking you about the general welbeing of your family and yourself. Hope you are doing well.
            I am a bit old fashioned when it comes to communication. I believe in writing long letters rather than communicating through emotionless, mechanical scraps on facebook !! Ideally I would have loved to send you a hand written letter by post..maybe someday I will ( it is a dying art you will agree). I am not against technology, just that I feel we dont use technolgy for the right reasons.

           I had desperately tried to get in touch with you over the last so many years but in vain. Looking back at the time we spent together in Konnagar, I am amazed at how ignorant and novice I was back then. I could not understand half the things you used to discuss with me. It was years later that I realised what a profound influence you had on my life and the way I today look at this world. Over the years I have come to appreciate and understand Suman Chatterjee, Pratul, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Pete Seger Bob marley, Che Guevara and others. In many ways you planted the seeds of my political, economic and social consciousness. I remember the free school you and Bappada used to run along with your other friends....  

          I want you to know that you taught me really well. Even though I went on to study Commerce, I fell in love with Maths and Physics and still today whenever I see a book on Physics I do pick it up. What is more important Rantuda, you taught me how to think logically and systematically.

          You will agree that we discussed much more than Physics and Maths. I would like to remember those days like that in ancient Greece, where education was imparted by philosophers to students through series of discussions. I am curious to know what your thoughts are in today's backdrop. Do you still believe in Marx and Lenin and the possibility and efficacy of a classless society? Do you still have faith in the wisdom of the common people to rise in revolt? Does your blood boil when you see injustice? Or have you compromised and given up on the dream as just a campus romance of an intellectually fertile mind?..... Do you still play bridge? Do you still write poetry Rantuda?   

           There are so many things that we need to catch up on. I will eagerly wait for your response and your mail. Till then...

Regards,

Neelav