Japanee Babu

Long ago, when I was in Ahmedabad, around the time when Ahmedabad was a very vast and clean place (its still clean, but full of cement and concrete), I knew a gentleman called 'Japanee Babu'. This terminology was used to describe a Bengali person, meaning Mr. Japan. This particular gentleman, whose actual name was Mr. Bhattacharya, used to visit Japan very frequently for his office work and loved talking about Japan. It was very obvious that Japan impressed him very, especially as during the early 80's, India just started surging forward, and Japan was looking like a picture perfect technological giant. Suzuki Motors from Japan had just invaded India, with its lone crusader, Maruti Fronti. So all of us used to discuss 'Japan' with great respect. And in that, when we found that Mr. Bhattachary was visiting Japan very frequently, we named him 'Japanee Babu'.

Many years went by. I was settled in Zambia, Africa and slowly advanced in my years through many interesting happenings. I have been a very frequent visitor to India to attend to various family matters. In 2008, about 25 years after I met Mr. Bhattacharya for the last time, I was in Ahmedabad, visiting my mother and my eldest brother. Incidentally I asked my brother about Japanee babu. My brother gave me the sad news of his wife's passing away and the good news of how his son was now settled in US and was doing very well. Japanee Babu had retired and was doing some private research work. We also discussed Japanee Babu's fondness about Japan and his frequent visits to that country. But that was 25 years ago.

During this particular trip in 2008, and a few days stay in Ahmedabad, I suddenly decided to visit Kolkata and made my plans to fly from Ahmedabad. My brother came to drop me at the airport and we said bye to each other. As I slowly walked into the check-in area, I noticed a known face. It was Japanee Babu. I went to him and greeted him. I also touched his feet, as he was my elder brother's friend and was much elder to me. He was very happy to see me and asked about my work. After a cup of coffee, we sat down and started to talk about how nice things were about 25 years ago. I told him that I was going to Kolkata to visit some relatives and my friends. I also asked him about his journey and wanted to know where he was going. Japanee babu said "Japan".

I quickly stood up and looked at him. Yes. He was the same man, as he was 25 years ago. And he was going to the same destination, 25 years later. "Japan".


'Japanee Babu' was still doing justice to his name. He was going to Japan.