A TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR D. BANERJEA

 

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.