FREEDOM, FREEDOM IS THE SONG OF THE SOUL

It is heartening to see new faces freshening up the group even as some members choose for whatever compulsions of their own to leave. A very hearty welcome to all those who have lately joined for they are as much a part of the group as any of the old guards. My thankfulness in especial to those members who have taken up this group as part and parcel of their being and, absorbing its true spirit, have infused life into it. For example, @Bhaskar Mukherjee, who has been committed to the cause of upholding the highest principles of participation, treating this group as if it were the very element of his being. His constant infusion of energy into the deliberations replete with sublime rendition of the English language which he wields with effortless ease and with such lucidity of expression, has made for the flow of this group even as a cataract in the high Himalayas. There are others who find time and opportunity to quip in hither and post in thither but who for circumstantial compulsions, perhaps, do not find time enough to contribute more than what they manage to do. There are some young people like @Wordsmith Rana, @Abhishek Kumar Jha, @Avisek Banerjee,@Jukta Basu Mallik, Abhishikta Anushka Mukherjee who are talented individuals, committed to their respective professions, arts and crafts, who make valuable contributions from time to time, and more have recently joined in the form of @Nivedita Sarkar, @Juthika Sarkar, @Kaveri Niyogi, and @Sumanta Datta who may in future light up this group with their effective contributions as well. I am writing with neither note nor list of members at hand and, therefore, am culpable to missing names by way of mention. I beg in advance forgiveness for such a lapse. However, all things said and done, there are some silent members also who prefer to read and absorb rather than enter into open discussion and they are welcome hither too. @Diptaroop Saha, @Mousumi Guha,@Nandini Biswas,Pradipa Mukherjee are four others that come to mind who have deliberated well in the past to keep the discussions vibrant. @Satyendra Singh and @Susanta Mullick are two other stalwarts who have been there ever with us displaying consummate skill in argumentation and articulation of thoughts. @Satyendra Singhji has been in a way a pathfinder for some of us with his synthetic views, large liberalism and broad sympathies. In the depth of the night when the world sleeps and I write on, musing in my mind alone, ruminating thoughts of yesteryears when the forces of freedom rolled on in collision course with the Crown, I see a light from distant Germany glimmer, peering in across the parchment of my soul lost in reflection. He often darts in to rectify our course when we go astray in fact on Netaji. I am speaking of @Surya Kumar Bose who has been a constant companion in communion but in silence save when he chooses to give utterance to his thoughts. @Kanchan Ghosh was a vibrant member, articulate and direct, with superior dexterity in the English language and great scholarship in diverse disciplines at that till he went into self-exile, paralysing the poetic element of the group significantly. We await his return soon. The alternative view is now being heard from @Narayanan Gandhi and @Avisek Banerjee also may join in to bolster the effect of dramatic contrast to the deliberations which ought to be welcomed by members and not in any way denigrated. Let reason, facts and analysis find their due place in this group to make it a truly rational platform where civility of discussion allows unearthing of hitherto unknown facts, the discovery of new data, the reorientation of historical narratives and the reshaping of perspectives. In this regard the young brigade led by @Justin Li and @Prithvi Moondra may do yeoman's service in due course of time if their efforts do not wane with advancing years owing to the profanities of the times. This very day we have had very lively participation from @Utpal Aich and he seems to be erudite as well who could be of vital moment to the well-being of the group. There are so many others, @DrSuvam Chatterjee,@Krishnakanta Das, @Pranjal Mallick,@Pritha Chakrabarty,@Rajesh Ghosh,@Swami Sampurnananda, @Swami Bhavatmananda, @Bhaskar Sen Sharma,@Abhijit Ray,@Debaprasad Bhattacharya,@Pradipa Mukherjee,@Abhishikta Anuska Mukherjee,@Prithwiraj Sarkar(a rare literary talent),@Rohini Jalan, @Parnika Bubna,@Utsav Banerjee,@Sayak Sen,@Shailesh Misra,@Purabi Roy,@Poulome Mitra Shaw,@Nisanka Sekhar Sahoo,@Nandita Halder,@Nandini Mukhopadhyay,@Nandan Dutt Chaudhury,@Mohit Kumar De,@Manan Ganeriwala,@Kasturi Chakrabarty,@Madhuri Bose,@Kakali Chatterjee,@Jayanta Loha Chaudhury,@Debjit Banerjee,@Chandra Kumar Bose,@Maj Gen Gagandeep Bakshi,@Arunangshu Mandal,@Arnab Kumar DE and @Abhijit Ray, about whom I could not write much for which I accept sole responsibility. But they are all invaluable members of our common family and are integral to the life of the group. In case I have missed out on any name, forgive the inadvertent lapse please. Vande Mataram ! Jai Hind!

P.S. @Ruma Chaudhurii I had missed out but she is the architect of our Bengali Section, writing fluid prose to depict the lives of the patriots.