A Tribute to Professor D. Banerjea
One of the greatest teachers,
whom I had the privilege of meeting, Prof. D. Banerjea is no more with us. I am one
of few fortunate, who got opportunity to work with him very closely as a student,
a colleague, and someone whom I considered
to be my real Guru.
Sir joined the NUJS shortly after I enrolled
at the University as an LL.M student in the year 2000. Thanks to Prof. Dr.
Madhava Menon, Prof. Banerjea came to NUJS with decades of experience at two of the most important administrative academies,
namely Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration and Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy. His teaching in those two academies
greatly influenced some of our top most bureaucrats and senior police officials.
His popularity among IAS and IPS is reflected from the fact that even now they
enquire about Prof. Banerjea and express their gratitude. I recollect that in
the year 2002, I had an opportunity of going with him to Writers Building on
University work (For those of you who are not from West Bengal, Writers
Building is the head quarters of the West Bengal State Government). The message that Dada Banerjea (as
he was fondly called) was in the Building spread like fire and Chief Secretaries
and Secretaries of almost all departments came out from their chambers and
offered Pranaam to Him, (Paying respect to elders by touching their feet). Never
have I seen such respect for a teachers and such respect from powerful
officials who run the government. Every teacher like me would hope that someday they can inspire such
respect from their students.
The
first assignment Prof. Banerjea undertook at NUJS, was to trained the newly
recruited Judges of West Bengal. This was the beginning of similar projects to
be undertaken by NUJS to trained Police Officers, Prosecutors, Magistrates and
other Governmental Officers. During his tenure as Principal Coordinator and
Head of School of Criminal Justice and Administration, he always engaged himself in some work or
other. It was solely due to him that the
Bureau of Police Research and Development assigned several projects to NUJS.
One of the most prestigious projects was the Vertical Interaction Course for
senior police officers. Once he left NUJS, we gradually started losing all such
projects. Though all the projects were assigned to NUJS because of him, he
never took credit for the same. He always worked and believed in team work. The
amount of literature he has produced in form of Criminal Justice India Series
(more than twenty volumes), Supreme Court on Criminal Justice is unimaginable
and he will always be remembered for contribution. In fact we had failed to
continue with his legacy.
I was the biggest beneficiary of
his presence at NUJS and got opportunity to enjoy the maximum time with him.
While I was his co-teacher, I never found him going to class unpreparation. He used to make most complex
issues seem simple and explain them in a way that most students have not
forgotten it to date. This was the reason for the student evaluation of Prof.
D. Banerjea to be an example for all of us. It was my biggest challenge to cope with the his
students’ demand when I wassuddenly forced
to teach them. This forced me to prepare for even those classes which were supposed
to be taken by him as I was always uncertain when he will ask me to take class.
At first I felt annoyed but gradually I realized that this was the best
training I could get in my teaching career. The way I teach in the class at
NUJS, I learnt from Prof. Banerjea and I am highly indebted to him.
Prof. Banerjea was father figure
to all of us at NUJS. Everyone would go to him for advice. He was very friendly
with everyone, from the Vice-Chancellor to the security guards at the
University. He would ensure that the guards and cleaning staff got sufficient
food during any SCJA conference or training. It was his greatness that during
lunch session he would personally invite any such staff who appeared in front of him
for lunch.
His
presence at NUJS has benefited every one. If any of us had any difficulty, be
it for passport or contacting police or any administration issue, he was always
be there to help us. The thing for which we had to run from pillar to post was
resolved by a mere his phone call. Once
when we were doing research on a West Bengal Report of Criminal Justice
Administration and we needed some statistics from police department. After our
all efforts to get the information failed, we asked Sir for his help. He immediately called the Commissioner of Police, who
happened to be his old student and he ensured that the information reached us
in the next few days. His room was always open for everyone.
Prof. Banerjea was like a saint to
me and always blessed me for my endeavor. I remember when I appeared for my
interview for Lectureship at NUJS in 2004, I had just been awarded the British Chevening Scholarship to
study at Essex University. One of the panelist in my interview started
questioning me on how I can appointed when I was leaving for UK in the next two
months. I was trying hard to convince them that I would return after my studies and
continue at NUJS. Professor Banerjea intervened in a strong tone and reminded
the panelist that their duty was to
select an eligible candidate and any future course of action should be decided
by the University. Because of his intervention I was selected by the committee. Even after
selection there were challenges, whether
NUJS would grant me leave to go for my studies or should I leave for U.K. without joining. I
decided to go to U.K. leaving things uncertain at the University. At that time,
Professor Banerjea was my only hope and I eventually returned to join NUJS
Professor Banerjea was a perfectionist.
He could not tolerate any minor mistake. He was extremely hard working and
though I always tried to fulfill his expectations, in reality I failed him many
times.
Sir,
you were and will always be a guiding force for me and for thousands of
students whose lives your touched. I
always tried hard to fulfill your expectations but failed miserably. Sir, I
still I work hard hoping that you would be happy with my work. I will always
endeavor to be a teacher like you and even if I have a fraction of your
qualities, I will feel like my life is complete. You will forever be remembered
by all of us. God give peace to your soul.
