West Bengal: Nobel win extends festivity at Abhijit Banerjee's residence

KOLKATA: Situated off Ballygunge Circular Road and overlooking the verdant greens of the sprawling Army cantonment, one of the city’s oldest apartment blocks has shot into prominence. Since last Monday, there has been a steady stream of visitors, including politicians, state officials, policemen, journalists and curious passers-by keen to snatch a glance at the apartment where the latest Nobel prize winner lived.
Not just outsiders, even residents of Saptaparni Apartment — many among them elderly and leading rather humdrum lives — have suddenly discovered excitement afresh. With television cameras constantly trained on the building, residents have become conscious of the need to dress in the best attire when they step out. Also, many have stopped by the door of flat 86F on the eighth floor of east wing to congratulate Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee’s mother Nirmala, an unassuming woman who has been thrust into the limelight and bestowed VIP status.
“The door-bell hasn’t stopped ringing since last Monday afternoon. So much so, that we have been keeping the door ajar for most part of the day. From Abhijit’s friends and our relatives to neighbours, journalists, politicians and even state officials, so many people are coming in through the day,” said the 83-year-old woman who has herself been an economics professor as has been her illustrious late husband Dipak Banerjee.
The register at the entrance of the apartment says it all. Since Monday, 86F has had more than 500 visitors. Among them were CM Mamata Banerjee, police commissioner Anuj Sharma and state additional chief secretary (home and industry) Alapan Bandyopadhyay. In the week prior to that, there hadn’t been even 10.
Such has been the flow of visitors that the local police station has decided on a police posting outside the apartment to avoid any unforeseen incident. “Our apartment is mostly inhabited by senior citizens who are not used to so much of rush and activity at the complex. But we are all rejoicing the moment and are celebrating the glory of Abhijit Banerjee, who also happens to be our immediate neighbour,” said Aparna Ghosh, who lives next door to the Banerjees.
Psychologist Sudeshna Chatterjee, who also lives in the same complex spoke of how Banerjee’s glory has brought the fame back to the complex that it used to enjoy in the 70s. “Back then, it used to be the tallest apartment complex in this part of the country and was a talk of the town. Saptaparni has become more famous again thanks to our Abhijitda,” she said.
With seven towers, the tallest of which has 15 floors, Saptaparni used to be the tallest skyscraper in the city when it was built in 1975.
Actor Barun Chanda, who also lives in the apartment, said: “Last Monday, I was surprised with the sudden flurry of visitors at our complex. I didn’t know that Abhijit Banerjee had won Nobel. But after a few moments, when I came to know of the achievement, I felt really proud. My son Avik was once a student of his father Dipak Banerjee”
(With inputs from Basabdatta Sarkar)