Dr. Manju Nahata
As Brad Henry said -“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.”
I met Prof Bannerjee in August 1997. It turned out to be a turning point in my life. My painting series “Nirakar: Sakar” was ready to be exhibited at the “Birla Academy” in Kolkata, India and my eldest brother had recommended that I should first show these paintings to Prof Bannerjee to receive his feedback.
Prof Bannerjee, upon my request visited my studio and saw each of the 24 paintings thoroughly, questioning and observing each one with immaculate details. At the end, he thoughtfully uttered a few words in Bengali "Etaa tomar reasearch work hoe chhe" - which when translated to English meant –“this should be your research work”. I was bit taken aback and wondered if I had heard right. Prof Bannerjee calmly replied that all I needed to do was to add footnotes as proof and build on the theory and thesis. I was astonished at his words. As a teacher, he had sown the seeds of a multi- year fulfilling journey with these words. I promptly made up my mind and started on my Ph.D after finishing the masters in Jainology from Jain Vishwa Bharti University in India. During that time Prof Bannerjee was always a guiding light for my works and had always encouraged me.
Prof. Bannerjee was closely associated with Acharya Tulsi and Acharya Mahapragya and was an authority on Sanskrit and Prakrit languages. He was a member of the Asiatic Society and has served the literary community in many ways.
Teachers kindle minds. Prof. Satyaranjan Bannerjee was one to kindle my mind and enthuse me to publish my research. He stood as a pillar of strength. His continuous encouragement fuelled my motivation and inspired my endeavors.
It will not be possible to hear him quote scriptures verbatim or see him smile effortlessly, but he will remain the guiding light not just for me, but for all the lives he touched. The seeds of knowledge he sowed and nurtured will continue to blossom and spread his fragrance. May his soul rest in peace.
Dr. Satyaranjan Banarjee died on 10th December 2016 at age of 87