::: Star Insight :::

She

From Pabna

Suchitra's Hometown

Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu

Suchitra Sen, a screen legend of the subcontinent is originally from Pabna. She lived the first part of her life in the village of Gopalpur in the Pabna Municipality Area. April 6 this year was the 78th birth anniversary of legendary actress Suchitra Sen. A meeting was held in Pabna Press Club Auditorium about restoration work on her ancestral home.

Suchitra Sen was born on April 6, 1931 in the village Bhangabari, Belkuchi upazila, Sirajganj district. Her father's early residence was in Sujangar upazila under Pabna district. Later her father Karunamoy Dasgupto was Sanitary Inspector for Pabna Municipality. Her family started living at Gopalpur village in Pabna municipality area.

Suchitra passed her childhood at her father's residence in the village Gopalpur in Pabna town. Her name was Krishna Dasgupta. She was enrolled in Mahakali Pathshala. Later she was admitted to Pabna Girls' School which is now Pabna Govt. Girls High School.

Suchitra got married to Dibanath Sen after moving to Kolkata. She acted in the film Shesh Kothai in 1952. Later she went on to appear in 63 films including 7 Hindi films. She is most fondly remembered for her 32 screen roles opposite Uttam Kumar with who she had great on-screen chemistry.

People of the district want her house to be free from occupation. “We are fortunate that Suchitra Sen, legendary actress is from our district. But her residence has been occupied illegally. No steps have been taken to free the estate. This historical house must be freed,” said Md. Zakir Hossain, Secretary of Ekushey Book Fair Celebration Committee, Pabna. Zakir Hossain made this demand to the government.

Cultural activists have wanted the site to be freed for a long time, but nobody has listened to them. Suchitra Sen has made an unequalled contribution to Bengali cinema. Gopal Sannyal, President of Pabna Drama Circle told yesterday.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Land Md. Shah Jahan said they had been told that the place had been illegally occupied. He said, time was needed to clear up the matter.

At the meeting in the Pabna Press Club, veteran journalist and the noted columnist Ranish Maitra chaired the meeting while former Lawmaker Professor Jannatul Ferdous, elderly journalist Anwarul Haque, Suchitra Sen's childhood neighbour Milan, Advocate Shafiqul Islam Shibli, Advocate Murshed Subhani, cultural activist Sarwar Ullash spoke among others on the occasion.

The speakers on the occasion focused the work of Suchitra Sen. “Suchitra Sen is not just the pride of Pabna, she is the pride of Bengal,” speakers said.