Bholanath Pal: A hidden changemaker, tirelessly working to uplift society - GetBengal Story

The society and the world run in collaboration with people and their actions towards each one. Each individual has the responsibility to their surroundings and society to lead them to a better place. The question is how many of us understand it and follow the norms? But the son of the land of East Midnapore has proved his existence as an ideal human in his every action, from planting 100 banyan trees to writing about local heroes.

Bholanath Pal, the resident of Shyampur Katak village, under Khejuri Police Station, is a farmer by profession and works at a ration shop. But by passion, he is a social worker, rhymester, lyricist, and writer on folk culture.

After passing his Matriculation exam, he took admission in Class 11. But due to poverty, he had to leave his studies and start working to support his family. He got a job as a security guard in a private company.

After some time, he went to Delhi to work in a zari (embroidery) workshop. But due to health problems, he had to return to Kolkata. He then started working at another zari factory in Metiabruz. From that time, he began helping people.

Since he knew the roads of Kolkata well, whenever someone from his village fell sick, he would take them to the Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Sometimes, he had to stay at the hospital for 2–3 days. Many times, he even spent his own money on travel and other needs.

How many of us are willing to help others, especially when it affects our own work? But Bholanath Pal is selfless and extends his arms for help. To fight global warming and make the Earth greener, he plants many trees. He even grows saplings in his own garden. Whenever guests visit his home, he gives them a sapling and explains the importance of planting trees.

Recently, he planted 70 palm seeds in the cremation ground of his village. He takes care of the young palm saplings all by himself. He also travels to different villages, answering the call of social workers, and has helped plant around 100 banyan trees with them.

When any researcher comes to study the local history of Khejuri, people send them straight to Bholanath Pal’s house. He then takes the researcher around different villages, helps them gather information, feeds them at his home, and even arranges for them to stay the night, all without taking any money.

Bholanath says, “Guests are like gods! When someone visits my home, I consider it my good fortune. It brings blessings to my family.” Since his house is right next to the Boga bus stand, many people from nearby villages used to leave their bicycles at his home while going far for work. At night, they would return by bus, take their bikes, and go back home.

But during stormy or rainy nights, it wasn’t always possible for them to ride home. Bholanath remembers, “As a child, I saw my grandmother feeding them, giving them a place to sleep, and saying, this is a family home. If we turn away people in trouble, it brings misfortune.”

Especially during the monsoon, there was hardly a night when someone didn’t stay at their house. Bholanath adds, “The goodwill of helping people in trouble is adapted from my grandma.”

Bholanath speaks in rhymes — almost every conversation turns into a verse. As a child, he used to watch his father write greetings on gift packets before going to weddings or rice ceremonies. Inspired by that, he started writing rhymes at the age of ten. And that pen has never stopped since.

Over the years, he has written many rhymes, poems, Jhumuṛ songs, and folk songs. Some of his lyrics have been used by well-known artists. He wrote the lyrics of the Jhumuṛ song “Morod amar gechhe Kolkata, aaina dibe nupur” sung by Jhuma Das and Songs sung by Bhaktadas Baul as well.

These brought him an invitation to perform at the famous Joydev Mela, where he got to meet renowned artists and creators like lyricist Shibdas Bandyopadhyay, music director Kalyan Sen Barat, composer Jayanta Dey, Sanjit Mandal, and the legendary Baul singer Purnadas Baul. 

In a nutshell, he has written 68 folk songs. But just as his songwriting journey was taking off, his father passed away suddenly, and consequently, his career as a lyricist got interrupted. That loss changed his path. He returned from Kolkata to Shyampur Katak village, and with that, he had to change his profession.

Now, Bholanath Pal works in farming and also as a ration shop employee. He has published a book of poems titled “Smriti Hoye Thak” (Let it Remain as a Memory). For many years, he has been writing about folk culture, and his work often appears in various magazines and newspapers. Through his writing, he brings out the struggles and sorrows of rural people, especially those whose stories are rarely told.

Bholanath was the first to write about the life struggles of two women fishers, Kalpana Bar and Alpana Bar. Thanks to his words, not only Khejuri, but people across West Bengal now know about these two women and their inspiring fight for survival. Today, they are invited to events and honored, all because of Bholanath Pal’s writing. Through his efforts, hidden and forgotten paths are being brought into the light.