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Though not a historical narrative, the book traces the roots of Singh Deos of Chhotanagpur to Porahat, adjoining Chakradharpur. It particularly focuses on the reign of Maharaja Udit Narain Singh Deo and Aditya Pratap Singh Deo.  

Just a 30-minute drive from Jamshedpur, Seraikella appears in stark contrast with the modern steel city. “Seraikella cannot be judged by its skyline and civic infrastructure on the ground. A small town on India’s map, it is a repository of history and art and culture,” says Bagchi who spent nearly 50 years at the Seraikella Bar before shifting to Dhanbad where he practised for another 12 years.

The book chronicles life and times in Seraikella since the beginning of the 20th century when the author’s father, Dr Jogesh Chandra Bagchi, joined as the chief medical officer of the princely state in 1902 during the reign of Maharaja Udit Narain Singh Deo and later Aditya Narain Singh Deo after whom Adityapur (the industrial belt adjacent to Jamshedpur) is named.

“My father was not impressed with the hospital of the Tatas which was in thatched roof those days with TISCO still in gestation. So he chose Seraikella while inviting his friend to Jamshedpur for what is now known as Tata Main Hospital,” says Bagchi. 

In his book, Bagchi recollects how there was no unfurling of the tri-colour in Seraikella on August 15, 1947 as it was not part of the Indian Union at the time of Independence. “The Indian flag was unfurled on January 1, 1948 when its merger came into effect. Initially it was merged with Orissa before its transfer to undivided Bihar,” he recalls.  

The author, who was also an accredited journalist of Ananda Bazar Group for 12 years from 1952, including its then English daily Hindustan Standard, covered extensively the campaign for Seraikella’s transfer to Orissa when six former kingdoms extended support in 1954.

The book captures the social equations and some unique customs of the closely-knit society of Seraikella which “always gives the impression of one large family” with everybody addressing the other in kinship terms.

In his book, Bagchi highlights Chhau, Seraikella’s contribution to India’s cultural mosaic. In Seraikella Chhau, themes are drawn from mythology and set to sonorous music with all dancers wearing masks. 

 

"It’s sobre, lyrical and romantic as compared to the other two variants in Purulia (West Bengal) and Mayurbhanj (Odisha) which are marked by an accent on acrobatics," writes Bagchi, who was the first Hony Administrator of the Government Chhau Dance Centre, a position he held till 2000 before leaving Seraikella lock, stock and barrel.  

Bagchi was deeply associated with promotion of Chhau dance and assisted many outsiders, including foreigners, who visited Seraikella to research and learn the unique dance form. As an impresario, he toured with the Chhau troupes to various places. In 1961, he presented Seraikella Chhau before visiting US President Eisenhower in New Delhi in the presence of then President Dr Rajendra Prasad, Vice President Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

In a narrative, replete with anecdotes and humour, Bagchi mentions how he along with some friends from Ravenshaw College (Cuttack), were able to meet Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 after shaving their head and donning the khadi. Presumed to be associates of the Mahatma, the organisers virtually led him and three of his friends to the stage in Ganjam where Gandhiji held the prayer meeting, he recalls.

In the book, the author mentions his experiences from a few legal cases to stress how gauging the psyche of clients (human behaviour) is as important for a lawyer as his knowledge of the nuances of law. “Knowing the nature of the witness comes in handy during cross-examination,” he says.

“Dibyendu Gopal Bagchi is an insitution by himself. He has detailed storied in the book which is not known to even the present-day royals," said 'Raja' Pratap Aditya Singh Deo, descendent of Seraikella's royal family, after jointly unveiling the book along with Secretary of Seraikella Bar Association Debashish Jyotishi and veteran lawyer Golak Pati.

In an emotionally surcharged speech at the release of the book, senior lawyer Golak Pati pointed to how Bagchi elevated the standard of legal arguments at the Bar and hailed his contribution to other aspects of life in Seraikella.

Bagchi is now looking forward to the next milestone, the 60th marriage anniversary that falls on May 7 this year.  

 

He recalls his toughest phase was when wife Kumkum (80) underwent surgery for breast cancer in 1971 with his two sons and daughter very young. "Lawyers are virtually like daily wage earners. So I had to attend court every day and went through the case brief during my daily commute from Jamshedpur where Kumkum was undergoing treatment," he says. 

"I have always loved to live in present with no expectations from future. I have no more claims from life ... I asked for a foot and got a yard," says Bagchi. 
 
'Seraikella Musings' was a '90 years in 90 days' project. Prompted by his two sons, Dibyendu Gopal started at the beginning of August 2015 and by mid-November, the manuscript had gone to the press.

After his schooling in Seraikella, Bagchi graduated from Ravenshaw College (Cuttack) in pre-Independence India, and later completed his law degree from Patna Law College.

He joined Seraikella Bar in 1951 and practised there till 2000 before shifting to Dhanbad where he pursued the legal profession till 2013. During his nearly 62 years of legal practice, one of the longest by any lawyer not only in Bihar/Jharkhand but also India, he mostly appeared in courts in Purulia, Jamshedpur, Chaibasa and the then Ranchi Bench ofPatna High Court (in undivided Bihar).

Now he lives mostly in Dhanbad with wife Kumkum (80) under the care of elder son Anutosh and occasionally visits younger son Pradip, a journalist with Times of India, in Delhi. His daughter Sharmila lives in Kolkata.  


Captions of pics
 
Snap 1 Seraikella Musings unveiled: Author D G Bagchi (in tie), On his right: 'Raja' Pratap Aditya Singh Deo, decendent of royal family, and Debasish Jyotishi , Secretary Seraikella Bar Assoc; On his right: Senior lawyer Golak Pati, Prof K C Sharma and Tapan Bagchi