I first visited New Delhi at the age of 20 years, a college student my railway journey was reimbursed by the recruiting agency. It was extremely cold, I reached Old Delhi Railway station by Howrah Delhi express, it took 36 hrs. I reached my uncle's house, Naroji Nagar, by auto. I was not able to hold the luggage.
My further destination was Meerut Cantonment. I had to get down at Tundla and catch the train for Meerut. The return journey was much more difficult for people who were coming to New Delhi to watch the Republic Day Parade. I had watched the final rehearsal at Janpath.
A file photograph during his last Centenary birthday in New Delhi.
Next year, in 1970 I took part in the Republic Day parade at New Delhi, I was selected from NCC West Bengal, Sikkim & Andaman Nicobar. Our contingent was Boys, Senior Division Army wing. We marched with .303 Rifle. Our right hand was holding the Rifle and our left hand was swinging. We started from outside the President House complex and finished at Red Fort.
My visit to New Delhi several times since then was for mountaineering, NCC, Army, Civil Society activities.
Staying at my uncle's house I got to have a chance to know my cousin's brother Deepak, an electrical engineer from IIT Varanasi. He is now retired from Indian Railway Service.
My cousin's sister Deepanita, supervising the staff of Syndicate Bank. We enjoyed Durgapuja in 1974 in New Delhi. I had to give my shoe size of mine for mountain climbing with the Japanese team, Deepanita helped me to take an outline of my feet.
Sri Dulal Chandra De, a graduate in Commerce from the University of Calcutta. He had 4 brothers and 3 sisters, nobody living in 2020. His father Late Amrita Lal De expired in 1962. He was then working at New Delhi.
My uncle's dress code was only traditional Bengalee even in extreme cold. He worked as a Senior Accountant and retired from the National Research Development Corporation. He was active in social work. I heard after our Independence a team from Kolkata reached Delhi by train playing band.
My aunty was a housewife and her school was Sister Nivedita Girls School. She had a dream to return back to Kolkata, her family members reside in North Kolkata.
He had his last breath on 12th January 2022 at about 1. 35 pm at his New Delhi residence. The last right was carried on the same evening. The rituals of 'Shardha' will be held on 24th January 2022 at his New Delhi house.
