It’s been 37 years of companionship, of love and undaunted faith for Department of Public Enterprise Secretary Bhaskar Chatterjee and his wonderful wife Rupa Chatterjee. Not only their house has a tastefully done decor but Chatterjee’s life, his family has been nurtured and anchored strong by wife Rupa. Chatterjee admits that marriage is the best thing happened in his life.
So how did the chapter begin? Chatterjee, son of National Insurance Comapany CMD SC Chatterjee was still working for the state bank as a probationer while Rupa, a daughter of an ICS officer and then Lt Governor, Goa SK Banerji, was pursuing her higher studies. To our surprise they first met at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Bhaskar reminisces and has a hearty laugh, “Those days governors were official guests to the President so they used to put up in the Presidential Complex. My father particularly asked to keep up my table manners as Rupa’s father was also the Chief of Protocol.”
It was an out-an-out Bengali Brahmin setting that brought this perfect alliance for Bhaskar and Rupa, “my father was very particular that I must marry a guy from the community. Hence I had communicated my priorities to my mom,” quips Rupa. She further adds, “I was always looking for a companion, a person with whom I could share everything, a person who is head strong but humble. But the first time he came to see me, I could hardly take a notice of him because I was not wearing my power glasses considering the arrange marriage setting it was.” Bhaskar smiles as he recalls a vivid memoir of their first meet. Bhaskar adds, “I had no fault in my eye sight and I could see Rupa who came across as a very pleasant and graceful lady to me.”
In a lack of a set up where you could go around with your fiancé, the next meeting was in a family restaurant. “I saw him for the first time, thanks to the power sunglasses I was wearing. I saw a tall and handsome guy”, rouges Rupa. Rest as you say is history.
Civil Services came calling Bhaskar as the couple got married. “Rupa came as a lucky mascot”, chuckles Bhaskar. “She came from the most sought after lifestyles of Raj Bhawan to my world of bare minimums. If you compare the life today and tomorrow for an IAS officer, things were very difficult years ago. No connectivity, no communication with the most difficult life settings”, adds he. Rupa has no regrets and gracefully accepts that she was very well prepared for all that, “except the snakes and the rats falling through the thatched roof,” she recalls.
Bhaskhar and Rupa got married in their early 20s and hence admit that they learned as they transcended through every stage of their marriage. Rupa admits, “He has always been more mature in our relationship, caring and been there for me and for our children. Never ever have I and children felt his absence, he has been there in most of the important occasions of our family. I can still recall when he painted our house to welcome our new born baby with green at one wall and purple at another but he did take pains in these and many other ways to keep the family happy.”
Bhaskar explains, “There is nothing called quality time. Either you spend time or you don’t. I made a point that I teach my children, help them out with their subjects, as this gave me an opportunity to connect with them.”
As the discussion reached it last leg we could see a thread of unspoken consent and respect that they share in their thoughts. It is something that is outstanding and makes this lovely couple look so much together and so much in love. Only a few manage to live up to that understanding in marriages today.
