VOL - I I
NOVEMBER 2021
ISSUE - 06
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
October, the Puja month, is usually a lean period at 19, a fallow month for most of the Lodges and Chapters. But while the premises wore a somewhat deserted look, just outside, Park Street had been illuminated with fairy lights by the municipal authorities signalling the festive mood.
Brethren, you will recall that at our Initiation, the Master had dwelt on the excellences of charity, “which may justly be denominated the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason’s heart”. That virtue had been exercised in ample measure by, among others, Bros Gyanendra Narain Singh, Nauzer Batlivala and Carl Fowler, during the pandemic ravaging across the globe. GN, as he is popularly known, has been particularly outstanding in this effort. While we all sought refuge in the safe cocoon of the lockdown, he ventured out virtually everyday, with scant regard for his own well-being, arranging rations, sanitizers and masks for the underprivileged. To make the exercise more effective, he coordinated with five police stations, no less; constabularies had been designated the nodal agencies by the state government for the optimal disbursement of charity. Nauzer and Carl, if you recall, had been, again along with GN, instrumental in clearing the premises of the tress uprooted by the devastating cyclone, Amphan, that had torn through south Bengal on the 16th of May last year. In recognition, MW the Grand Master conferred on them Certificates of Commendation.
While we congratulate the three brethren for their exemplary work, Bro Rajarshi Nag, who has been just as active during these trying times, observes benevolence through a different prism altogether. A student of human nature, Bro Nag portrays what, at first sight, might appear somewhat cynical, but a candid portrayal of human frailties, nevertheless. He ends on a note of optimism, though.
Brethren, in all the preceding issues we had been treated to pieces of some excellent prose by our contributors. In a refreshing departure, Bro Kaushik Chowdhury employs metric verse – a dextrous jugglery of the dactyl and the iambic — to render a rythmic portrayal of what constitute our Temples. Does one detect a similarity, if general, to the depictions by a more illustrious and long gone brother? Savour the ode, brethren.
Editor
MY EXPERIMENTS WITH COVID – 19
By Bro Rajarshi Nag, PM, The Federation Lodge
“Feeling Helpless” I believe is the worst thing that can happen to an animal including the homo sapiens – commonly referred to as human beings.
Covid-19 has exposed me to this sensation of feeling helpless. Not that I have not been involved in social work before but Covid-19 pushed the frontiers to its improbable extremes. An approach to social work or charity can be tricky, since more than the help the person in need has to feel better and realise he can overcome his helplessness.
To explain the overall scenario, let me share my experiences with Covid in the last one year.
Somewhere early into the lockdown last year, our association decided to raise funds within our members and distribute masks and sanitizers. This exercise seemed easier than it actually was. Our operational base was an area in Central Kolkata close to Sealdah Station, which has a fair amount of people in need amidst their regular thoroughfare. We had volunteers distributing sanitiser kits to people commuting around. To our surprise, the impoverished and underprivileged did not even bother. It was the office-goers, who took off their masks, hid them in their pockets or bags and queued up for our masks. Our initiative took a huge jolt, since the entire purpose was lost. We literally had to force the needy to take the masks and sanitisers and had a tough time warding off people who already had them and were hoarding them again and again.
Another involvement was distributing food to the poor. Again this was deep into the lockdown, when offices and markets were closed down completely. It was not a lavish affair but a few of us led by a friend of mine managed to feed around 300 people everyday for 6 days. Khichdi with omelette was carried in a van and distributed among the poor. Interestingly people from all strata of life collected the food, such was the situation. Those days were tough, when we had finished our stock within an hour and there were still so many to feed. So many who would literally stop our vehicle to confirm that we had actually exhausted our stock. The fight was not to feed the helpless but to realise how many were still hungry, how many who did not look like they needed help and yet were hungry.
Panic is a state of sheer fright. It was deep into the second wave of Covid. Our association had set up a small camp to administer oxygen to the needy. Again nothing elaborate but a few beds with oxygen support system on the first floor of a house that had been turned into a hospital. Initially people came in through known sources, so people who knew us and called us for help. Later it developed into a state of panic when the message spread. We received phone calls throughout the night and people lined up to administer oxygen. We insisted on prescriptions but anyone who felt sick or had fever lined up, fought others to get a bed with oxygen, such was the panic. The worst fear was when we saw that many patients’ condition had become worse even after administering oxygen. We even arranged for Remdesivir for critical patients. That was a nightmare since the injection was only available in the black market but no dispensary or hospital could provide the medicine. We used some of our corporate sources and helpful souls to source quite a few injections. The biggest challenge was to fight peoples’ panic. We fought off letters from local politicians, people who insisted on borrowing cylinders and even booking a bed in advance in case there are symptoms. Such is panic when the world around you makes you helpless.
More than the virus, the utter misery and helplessness of people is the concern in this pandemic. Anything so devastating is a first time witness for our generation and it points out or rather ridicules us, stating that one is too tiny to be of any help in a pandemic of such magnitude. Still being a part of these insignificant efforts has radically changed my outlook on life. Now I realise how vulnerable and helpless we are and yet how magnificently strong to fight all this to survive.
The pandemic has shattered the vanity and hope of survival for humans. But we are humans, the greatest creation of God and nature, we are vulnerable and afraid and still we know how to survive. My efforts (my apologies)…our efforts seemed helpless, valueless at times in this phase of panic and crisis, yet it taught me that every effort contributes to our survival. The belief that yes we are helpless to a minute virus BUT for a small period of time, since humans are here to stay in this world for another billion years.
THE TEMPLE
By Bro Kaushik Chowdhury, PM, Lodge True Freemasonry
You knock on our doors and gain entry.
But first you must pass our sentry
The Brother True who stands without
And guards our secrets while standing out.
His drawn sword will not let you convert,
His ears sharp and eyes alert.
You cannot possibly give him the dodge
He is the Brother Tyler of our Lodge.
Those who pass are the chosen few
They pass after giving the Brother his due.
Within the doors lie beyond compare
A place where brethren meet on the level and the square.
The Master and his Wardens true
Open and close our Lodge they do.
And in between some workings are there
The degrees of Masonry taught with care.
The Master he takes the Lodge ahead
And hold the members in good stead.
The Master and his Wardens are
The three Great Lights that take the Lodge afar.
The Deacons there are to assist the Wardens
The Wardens to assist in the Master’s garden.
Secretary, Treasurer, Almoner all do
Work and labour in our Temples too.
We rise to salute the Architect High
And speak of the Grand Lodge in the sky,
Where one day shall we eventually find our way
To stand before the Architect and have our say.
Yet the most important lesson of all
Is to answer when you receive a call,
To stand beside a brother in need
And there can be no better deed.
Life they say is better if you join
We are paid our dues in better coin.
Our dues are all properly netted
To live respected and die regretted.
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EDITOR: Amit Dutt
Mobile: +91 98312 23230, E-mail : a_k_dutt_06@yahoo.com
DISTRICT GRAND SECRETARY: Gyanendra Narain Singh
Mobile: +919230613338, 9903033599, E-mail : dgsofbengalfm@gmail.com
Freemasons’ Hall, 19, Park Street, Kolkata – 700 016, West Bengal, India.