LAKSHIMDRA KUMAR SARKAR--HIS LIFE AND ACTIVITIES BEFORE NGO

LAKSHIMDRA KUMAR SARKAR

Lakshimdra Kumar Sarkar was born on April 1, 1956.  He was born at Lohia Hospital in Kolkata. 

His mother is late Srimati Lakshmi Sarkar.  She was a housewife.  She was a social worker.  She loved to help poor people with food, clothes and money.  L.K. Sarkar was named by a reputed economist named Arun Ghosh. 

His father is  Manindra Kumar Sarkar and is now 82 years old.  He is working in the printing department in Aajkaal newspaper.  His father was a football player, singer and a fashionable person.  He had great aesthetic sense.  He had a good writing style.  He used to write the prefaces of books written by Bibhuti Chakraborty (DCDD) during the time of Siddhartha Shankar Roy. 

He received his primary education at Chittaranjan High School in Kasba.  He studied there upto class 12 and passed out higher secondary examination in 1974.  Then he studied Commerce at Charu Chandra College in 1976.  He did a diploma in journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Calcutta.  He was trained in photography from Subrata Patranabish, Chief Photographer of Statesman.  He went to Delhi in 1977 and stayed at Daryaganj.  He worked as a Stenographer in Eastern Law House for one year upto 1978.  Then he shifted to journalism in 1978. 

Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar worked as a freelance journalist in Sundarban.  During his travel to Sundarban, he got in touch with a large number of tribes living there and he was guided by Niranjan Haldar who was the assistant editor of the reputed newspaper called Ananda Bazaar.  He studied the tribes like Sardar, Oraon, Munda, Mahali, Santal, etc from close quarters.  During his stay in Sundarban, he wrote a novel “Jeevan Nadir Tirey.”  He studied the tribals of Bankura and Purulia from 1980. 

On March 25, 1981, he joined Aajkaal, a popular Bengali newspaper.  He wrote in a number of little magazines.  He organized rallies on different occasions during his service as a journalist from 1981 to 1990.  In 1993, he resigned from Aajkaal on October 1.  He fully devoted the rest of his life to the social welfare and upliftment of the tribals.  He started an organization for promoting the Bengali literature in Kolkata, which was named “The Progressive Federation of Bengali Literature and Culture.”  This organization was run for 10 years.  At present, he has an office of his NGO in Belghoria. 

BOOKS OF MR. LAKSHMINDRA KUMAR SARKAR AND THEIR REVIEWS IN BRIEF

ESSAY

SANTALI BHASHA LIPI O SAHITYACHARCHAR AETIBRITTO (THE ORIGIN OF SANTALI LANGUAGE ,SCRIPT AND LITERATURE)

Picture:  Debabrata Ghosh

Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged

The second edition of this book is filled with more facts than the first edition.  There are many biographies of poets and writers and their poetries.

_________________________________________ In Santali Language and their translation in Bengali

We will come to know the various journals on Indian tribes in different parts of India.  In the same way, you will be able to read and learn the Santali language.  Many pictures.  You will come to know the young and old poets as well as the young and old writers.  We will come to know the dispute over the script “Olchiki” through debate.  This book is an important document to those who  are linguist, writers and poets.  You will come to know the opinion of the experts regarding the script and future of the language.

This book discussed the different aspects of the life of the poets and writers.

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Paschim Simanta Anchaler Lokshilpo o Shilpi (Folk Culture and Artists of Western Frontier Region)

Picture:  Tapas Sarkar

The places in different districts that we have chosen in the western frontier region are as follows:

1.  West Bengal’s Bankura, Purulia, Medinipore.

2.  Different regions of Chotanagpur in Bihar.

3.  Mayurbhanj and Baripada of Orissa.

We have mentioned in detail the folk culture of the above-mentioned regions.  The present status of the regions, the description of their folk culture, their economic status, present status of their work of art, etc.  It is a very important collection of unknown facts and figures.

__________________________________________________________________________

Going to be published soon!

Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar’s

Revolutionary Poet

Saradaprasad Kisku

Picture:  Debabrata Ghosh

Saradaprasad Kisku is an important personality in the Santal society.  The President award winning poet has played an important role.

The present generations are inspired by the works of Saradaprasad Kisku.  There were many incidents of an attempt to murder Saradaprasad Kisku who is fighting against the problems of the tribal society.  He was luckily saved.  The biggest problem in the Santal society is the witch cult.  Saradababu acted as a leader in this problem.  It is very hard to find a person who is playing an active role against the fight of social evils like murder in the name of witch cult, torture.  The writer Lakshimdra Kumar Sarkar has studied Saradaprasad Kisku for 12 years.  The writer has played an active role in different protests along with the anti-witch movement.  From this book, you will be able to understand a rare personality.

The following personalities have watched Saradababu closely.  They are:

1.  Mahasweta Devi.

2.  Niranjan Haldar.

3.  Bikraman Nayar.

4.  Dhirendranath Baskey.

5.  Mahadeb Hansda.

6.  Maheswar Besra.

7.  Baleswar Soren.

8.  Gomosta Prasad Soren.

9.  Rupchand Hansda.

10.  Kalendranath Mandi.

11.  Chandranath Murmu.

12.  Domon Sahu etc.

They have expressed their opinions.

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LAKSHIMDRA KUMAR SARKAR’S

NIRAPARADH BANDINI (INNOCENT PRISONER)

Picture:  Debabrata Ghosh

Price:  Rs. 40/-

Many women were confined in different jails of West Bengal.  There were no accounts of them.  It tells us the inside story of how a young lawyer Shibshankar Chakraborty took them out of prison and there are many vital information packed into it.  The author Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar was present in the trials of the court in different times and in different places and compiled the facts and figures for writing this book.

LAKHSMINDRA KUMAR SARKAR’S

NIRJATITO SHISHURA (EXPLOITED CHILDREN)

Price:  Rs. 25/-

There was no other book like this before on child labor.  What are the laws directed to protect them?  How the Indian children are exploited though there is a law.  A detailed description of the exploited children in different areas of Kolkata.  The author went as far as Canning to collect the information on child labor.  Many unknown facts have been highlighted in this book.  Many pictures are there as evidence.

Novel

Jeevan Nadir Tirey (On The Banks of The River of Life)

Picture:  Abhijit Sarkar

Lakshmindra Sarkar is a young writer and journalist.  In “Jeevan Nadir Tirey,” the author has described an unusual background while writing about the life of an ambitious individual’s life.  In the work, the hard life of the minorities and the stories of the bright and dark sides of the tribal people’s life has been mentioned.  The life of the inhabitants of the Sundarban region has been beautifully described through the mouth of the protagonist of the novel, Shantanu who is a journalist.  The author has shown a spontaneous pace in the life of the people.  From this point of view, we can say the novel is worth reading.  But that way of thinking forces the readers to think.

We will be happy if the writer’s first novel is taken into the literary discussion of the readers.  We wish a continuous advancement of the author in the days to come.

Written by Rabidas Saha Roy.

On the Jamteria Adibasi of Tripura

A new type of story

Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar’s

SUKHARAMER JHUM CHASH (JHUM CULTIVATION OF SUKHARAM)

Picture:  Abhijit Sardar

“Sukharamer Jhum Chash” is a different kind of writing --- in this book, the daily life of Sukharam and simultaneously an interesting description of Jhum cultivation is given here.  The way in which the good and bad times of the tribes of Tripura have been mentioned shows the concern of the author about the tribal people’s life.  As he is concerned about the tribal people’s life and activities, so there is a great expectation of new information related to the tribe.  But while giving the information, he has not spoiled the main story line.  For this reason, we thank the author.  To the modern youth, it is an ideal example of a person who got engaged with the villagers leaving the city behind while working in a government job.  We hope he will write more novels on tribal life that is neglected by the Bengali literature.

Written by Barun Mondol

INAUGURATION FUNCTION OF ADIBASI SAMBAD

L.K. SARKAR FELICITATED “ROY MONGOL SRADHANJALI” TO THE FOLLOWING PERSONALITIES:

1.  MAHASWETA DEVI.

2.  SINDHUBALA DEVI.

3.  GAMBHIR SINGH MURA.

4.  SARADA PRASAD KISKU.

5.  RUPCHAND HEMBRAM.

6.  MOHAN KHERIA.

PEOPLE WHO HELPED MR. L.K. SARKAR

A REPORT OF VARIOUS PERSONALITIES OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES OF BENGAL AND BIHAR WHO HAVE BEEN CLOSE ASSOCIATES OF L.K. SARKAR APPRECIATING AND ALSO RENDERING A HELPING HAND IN HIS FIELD OF ACTIVITIES:

1.  Annada Sankar Roy.

2.  Nightingale of Chhotanagpur, Sindhubala Devi.

3.  Renowned Santali writer, editor and activist Mahadev Hansda.

4.  Sarada Prasad Kisku.

5.  Doman Sahu Samir.

6.  Gambhir Singh Mura (International Chhou Dancer).

7.  Dr. Srabani Sarkar (Chakraborty).

8.  Mahasweta Devi.

9.  Renowned singer Amar Pal.

10.  Film actor Anil Chatterjee (Anil Chatterjee read the book “Santali Bhasa-Lipi-O-Sahitya Charchar Eatibritta”).

11.  Renowned Santali author Basta Soren.

12.  Human activists of Bankura district.

13.  Journalists of Bankura district.

14.  Lok Kabi Adyaitta Kundu.

15.  Santali writer Gomosta Prasad Soren.

16.  Mahadev Hansda.

17.  Journalist Saghan Chattopadhyay.

18.  Pinaki Ranjan guha (journalist, Bartaman Patrika).

19.  Pannalal Ghosh (Editor, Saptahik Bartaman).

20.  Swadeshi Dakat Mohan Sabar (his age was 116).  In the year 1996, 28^th December, Mohan Sabar died.  His age was 121.

21.  Surya Sabar (eldest son of Mohan Sabar, near about 90 years old, living at Borda Sabar Colony near Mukutmanipur).

meeting japanese student in INDIA

AKINAVO KOYAI, a Japanese student, came to Kolkata in the year 1979 for PhD.  His subject was Zamindari System of West Bengal.  Mr. Koyai was closely associated with L.K. Sarkar.  Niranjan Haldar  is an eminent activist and veteran journalist of Ananda Bazar Patrika.  Mr. Haldar introduced L.K. Sarkar with Akinavo Koyai.  When Sri Haldar went to Sundarban, L.K. Sarkar and Akinavo Koyai accompanied him.  One day, there was a heavy rain.  The rain continued for 4 days.  The river Vidyadhari got flooded and the water entered into the Kumirmari village.  There was no way to return to Kolkata.  Sri Haldar, Akinavo Koyai and L.K. Sarkar took shelter in the roof of Kumirmary Girls School.

Picture shown from left one after journalist Niranjan Haldar (umbrella in hand), L.K. Sarkar, Akinavo Koyai, standing with Kumirmary villagers.  Now Akinavo koyai is a professor of Tokyo University.  Mr. Koyai got in touch with Mr. L.K. Sarkar through correspondence.

On the right Reverend Ernest Urban Trevor Huddleston or Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, he campaigned for apartheid strongly for which he was banished from South Africa for his whole life.  The Archbishop is presently in Calcutta to conduct a retreat by the community of Fathers at the Oxford Mission in Behala.  L.K. Sarkar with Ms. Lila Roy, Annadashankar Roy, Huddleston and Goutam Ranjan Basu at Calcutta Rowing Club on 15^th January, 1985.

In the year of 1982, advocate Sibsankar Chakraborty started movement to release Niraparadh Girl who spend a long term in jail.  L.K. Sarkar on behalf of Aajkal Patrika covered regular news from police court of Alipore.  Picture shown in Alipore Court compound.  L.K. Sarkar standing with lady journalist, advocate Sibshankar Chakraborty (backside from left) and Tapas Chakraborty, reporter of Telegraph.

At Khatra Kangsabati colony, quarter No. C-8, in the year 1998, July 27, a veteran journalist of Anandabazar Patrika, Mr. G.V. Nair with L.K. Sarkar and his sister Kabita are seeing in the picture.  For information, L.K. Sarkar is closely associated with G.V. Nair from the year 1984.

L.K. Sarkar with tribal personalities who are attended in All India Conference to revive Adibasi Sambad Patrika.  Conference held on Kangsaboty Tennis court on August 6, 1994.

The man who made the venture a reality, without whose unstinted financial support the newspaper might have remained a pipedream.  Mr. Ranjit Chatterjee, president of the association of the small industries, business and rural development, owner of a couple of foundries along Jessore Road provided financial support during those three issues.

The eight pages full size newspaper –Adibasi Sambad is the India’s first newspaper for tribals.  He believes that the business community owes it to larger society to share the birth-pangs of development.  L.K. Sarkar says that he is grateful to Mr. Ranjit Chatterjee.  He gave the financial support.  Mr. L.K. Sarkar believes that if Mr. Chatterjee continues his financial support at least once a year, tribals will be in a platform for which they could voice their opinion.  But due to funds crunch, Mr. Chatterjee stopped his support accidentally.  As a result, Mr. Sarkar had to close down the newpaper.  Picture shown inauguration function of Adibasi Sambad and lay down foundation ceremony of Culture Research Center at Khatra.  L.K. Sarkar described his plan to Mr. Chatterjee, standing on his purchase 9 kottahs land (which will be donated to L.K. Sarkar’s foundation at KACDC).  Mr. Chatterjee gave his mind to L.K. Sarkar’s idea.

For Lok Sanskriti and Adibasi Sanskriti Research Center, Sindhubala Devi, a nightingale of Chotanagpur laid down the foundation at Khatra in the year 1993 on 15^th August.

REMARKABLE SUCCESSFUL ACHIEVEMENTS

KABI SARADA PRASAD KISKU SMRITI PATHAGAR O GABESANA KENDRA

L.K. Sarkar starting a library in remote village Mosleha (far away from Khatra 7 km).  In this village, there are Santal communities.  About 56 to 60 houses are here, about 300 Santal peoples are living here.

In the memory National Award Winning teacher, an activist, a guide anti-witchcraft movement, a pioneer of Santali literature, writer of Santali Samaj late poet Sarada Prosad Kisu, personally wants to donate all books (about 4000), both Santali and Bengali magazines to the library of L.K. Sarkar.  The construction is going on.  Upto linton, the construction is completed.  But now the construction work has stopped.  Rs. 20,000 is needed to complete that building.

L.K. Sarkar appeal to the nation and state well-wishers for financial support to complete this library.

For this library purpose, Ms. Sushila Tudu, a tribal housewife of Mosleha village donated 3 kotahs land.

CULTURAL INTERACTION OF L.K. SARKAR

Rural –urban writer, poet, artist, singer, fair.

L.K. Sarkar or Sahitya Sanskriti Basar is the pioneer in felicitation system in Khatra.  Firstly the organization started in Khatra to felicitate the brilliant students.  In the year 1995, Mr. Sarkar from Sahitya Sanskriti-Basar felicitated 19 brilliant students who has achieved star marks in Madhyamik and Higher Secondary.

Upto 2000, Mr. L.K. Sarkar and his foundation Sahitya-Sanskriti-Basar continued this felicitation program to the students and other respectable person.

A fair was held at Kolkata Paschim Bangla Academy hall on November 20, 2000.  In this fair, Mr. L.K. Sarkar felicitated Bankura’s poet and writer Shakti Sengupta.  In this function, poet Siddheswar Sen inaugurated a book of Shakti Sengupta.  The name of that book is “Jabo Abhijit Mase.”

L.K.Sarkar distributed the prize to the winners.

International Bengali Language Movement Day observed at Khatra on 21st February

L.K. Sarkar is the first man at Khatra, who introduce and starting International Bengali Language Movement Day observed on 21^st February every year from 1996.  L.K. Sarkar through his foundation organization Sahitya-Sanskriti-Basar.  He organized a rally to communicate the Khatra Educated people about Bengali language movement in Bangladesh.  From that year, that particular date (21^st February) every year rally move Khatra area with floating mugic team lecture, etc. and banner with poster are performing.  Members’ of Sahitya-Sanskrity-Basar and Manimela Children also joint this venture.

LAKSHMINDRA KUMAR SARKAR

This is introduce that Sri Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar, son of Manindra Kumar Sarkar, at Khatra district, Bankura, Pin 722140 (West Bengal, India), is a distinguished Journalist,  Social Worker and the friend of Tribal Communities who fully devoted his life to uplift tribal populaces in different corners.

Since 1979 he visited several interior tribal villages of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Chotanagpur areas and from Khatra subdivision town of Bankura district.  He is trying with some Santal men and women to bring a radical change in tribal societies, socioeconomic and cultural structure.  He is the first man of tribes and nontribes, introduced ‘first full size tribal newspaper (for the adibasi and by the adibasi) “ADIBASI SAMBAD” under the editorship by him, “he felt, the city’s dailies were not doing justice to the tribals.”  Therefore this newspaper was called for whena people have not only something to say, but more so, when they have things to complain about, to denounce and to applaud.  By that yardstick, ADIBASI SAMBAD promises to become the articulate voice of a large section of indigenious people of our state, whom development seems to have bypassed, whose forest wealth has been plundered, all in the name of development.  He started a program initiating young boys and girls into journalism.  About 250 boys and girls have been taught the basic tenets.  Now they can run a newspaper on their own. 

Recently he formed ADIBASI PRESS CLUB with the help of ADIBASI YOUTH ASSOCIATION OF KOLKATA. Tribal people and also our organizations are so much impressed about L.K. Sarkar’s activities, they have started calling him “ADIBASI SARKAR”  as a mark of respect.  

I personally feel,  he is the REAL FRIEND AND HELPFUL MAN OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES to uplift tribal populace.  We, the tribal people, need his help and support.

I wish, all the concerned authorities ,as well as the donor funding agencies, well wishers are requested to render all help and cooperation to continue his moral endeavor.

FELICITATIONS RECEIVED BY LK SARKAR FROM VARIOUS AGENCIES AS APPRECIATION OF HIS WORK

1.   Social Service Award (1996) From Governor’s of West Peace for selfless services for the development tribal communities.  Mrs. Readdy giving award to L.K. Sarkar at Marble Hall, Raj Bhaban, Kolkata.

2.  Fellowship 1996-1997.  From management in development (Mind), Delhi, for PROMOTION OF DEVELOPMENT JOURNALISM among the Tribal and Rural Populace.    During the fellowship time, L.K. Sarkar giving Journalism training at Patamda block, Bihar.

3.  Lekhak Samman – 1999 by Ekaler Fashion Magazine.

4.  Abhimunnu Award – 2000.  Shelter Promotion council (India) and Bengal Engineering college jointly honored Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar with “ABHIMUNNU” award for his achievement in the field of journalism and social work.  Agriculture Minister of Government of West Bengal Mr. Biren Maitra giving Abhimunnu Award at Aikatan Auditorium at Salt Lake on 28^th April 2000. 

5.  Felicited  in 2002 for his 23 years of contribution for the tribal people, folk artists, upliftment, by a Rural Library, Rural Magazine and Monk Ashram.  Swami Nirmahanandaji Maharaj of Bharat Sevashram Sangha of Khatra giving “Uttaria” to L.K. Sarkar and Ashutosh Mahato also giving respect on behalf of organizer.

LAKSHMINDRA KUMAR SARKAR – THE CREATOR OF HIS OWN DESTINY

LAKSHMINDRA KUMAR SARKAR – THE CREATOR OF HIS OWN DESTINY

By Amrit Ghosh ( Freelance Journalist)

-Stand up, behold, be strong, take the whole responsibility on your shoulders and know you are the creator of your own destiny.  All strength and succor you want is within yourself.  Therefore make your own future.”    SWAMI VIVEKANANDA.

“I did not get down to this mission after going through there text of Swami Vivekananda.  Trudging through the forest, hills and crossing numerous rivers and streams  of Bengal andBihar.  I had the opportunity to see the shocking distress poverty, illiteracy and superstation among the tribal people.  The son of the soil are crying for succour instantly.  I decided to do something for these neglected people.  I want to lead them to a kind of life that is brightened with independence, freedom and happiness.  I may not get anybody in the noble endeavour.”  Yet I will march forward keeping in mind Rabindranath Tagore – “If nobody response to your summons move ahead alone.”

CONSCIOUSNESS WAVE AT THE FAR SOUTH OF BANKURA

 Crossing through the newspapers we frequently came to know the unprecedented success of left front government in its 24 years rule.  But monumental failure of the left government are swept under the earpet as no newspaper comes out with the truth.  People are kept in the Dark with all politeness.  I humbly want to drive home a few short coming of left government to chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee and his cabinet colleagues.

In the 24 years of left front rule ,the benefits of education,  health , electricity, irrigation and road communication, eludes thousands of villages living in hundreds  of villages.  Particularly the negligence of tribal areas are really eye soring.  The nontribals through their maneuvering capacity manage to get their demand fulfilled.  But who can fight for these poverty stricken, illiterate, depressed tribals? Who lend voice for these voiceless people.

Yet not only many nongovernment organizations but a few persons have already been working sincerely for the upliftment of these backward hopeless people setting aside their own career and personal comfort and pleasure.

Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar one of them who is born (01.04.1956) at Kolkata and brought up in Kolkata.  But the pitiable condition of the tribal people moved him so hard that he repeatedly reached the far flung areas of Rural Bengal and brought to the light the plight of these downtrodden people in different daily newspapers through his lively description and incisive criticism of the government.

Sometimes he had to walk 18 km at a stretch to reach one tribal village to another, swam across river only to reach and collect news about their culture, custom and literature and the eminent personalities among them.  Mr. Sarkar   did not wash his hands off on penning his experience in newspaper.  He has deeply involved himself with the Noble Task of usher in light of Development in tribal society.  Mr. Sarkar joined, the Bengal Daily.  “Aajkaal” in the year 1981 from it very inception.   Earlier he worked under a publication concern (name is Eastern Law House 54 Ganesh Chander Avenue, Kolkata -13).

He had the opportunity to spend a few months at the Law books publications, ‘Dariagunge’ office in Delhi.  During that time he developed a good relation with the Bengali Community of the area.  Basically relinquished the job fulfill his long cherished dream of becoming a journalist.

Finding no job at hard he started visiting the tribal areas of Bankura, Purulia, Sundarban and Chotanagpur district of Bihar.  Being a freelance journalist he wrote a series of report the exploitation of tribal in ‘Aajkaal’ patrika.  No other journalist in the history of journalism did so much for the downtrodden denying on his own personal life.  His parents (Mr. Manindra Kumar Sarkar and Srimati Laksmi Sarkar), and cousin sisters Miss Kabia Barai, Mrs. Dolan Mitra and renowned journalist Mr. G.V. Nair and brother ex-national football player,  Mr.  Bratin Sarkar encouraged him in this noble endeavour.

 Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar did research work on folklore and life of tribal.  He is 47.  Already four books, i.e.

1.        Santali Bhasha, Lipi O Sahitya Charchar Eatibritta.

2.       Puruliyar Daini Birodhi Andolan.

3.       Swadeshi  Dakat Mohan.

4.       Jiban Nadir Tirey.

These books are authored by Mr. Sarkar from his vast experience has created sensation.  Work on another 18 books on tribal life he completed.  Mr. Sarkar’s other books which are in great demand such as:

1.        Loko Silpa o Silpi.

2.       Niraparad Bandini.

3.       Sisu Niryatan.

4.       Left Front government and Adibasi Samaj