Godhuli

About the Book

In 1918, Mrs. Bina Mukherjee was born in Rangoon, Burma to Jnan Ranjan and Biroja Bala Chowdhury. Jnan Ranjan was a successful corporate lawyer in Rangoon at a time when the British Empire ruled all of India. The Chowdhurys lived in a splendid house and were one of the first in the neighborhood to own an automobile. Jnan Ranjan’s wife, Biroja Bala, was a homemaker who quietly raised funds for the Indian independence movement. Both Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru visited the Chowdhury’s Rangoon estate to accept donations toward the drive for Indian freedom. By the late 1930’s, Bina Chowdhury’s marriage had been arranged and she had moved to Calcutta with her husband Jatindranath Mukherjee. Together they faced great challenges during the 1940’s- World War II, Indian independence, Hindu-Muslim riots, and the Partition. During the war, Bina’s parents were forced to abandon their Rangoon life, while Jatindranath’s family lost their ancestral home to East Pakistan. Throughout these challenging times and others that lay ahead, the Mukherjees were a stabilizing force for their extended families. Bina always maintained her sense of duty, honor, and dignity. She believed in a life of sacrifice for others. A Bengali woman through and through, Bina wore an elegant sari each day, cooked exquisite meals, and followed the spirituality of Hinduism, Sri Ramakrishna, and Swami Vivekananda. As the elder sister or “Didi,” she imparted these beliefs to her five younger siblings. As a mother, she inspired her own children and grand children. Here, the story of Mrs. Bina Mukherjee is told. Generations of family celebrate her life and the power of her spirit. **All author royalities for this book are donated to Empower the Children, a charity that offers food, housing, and education to children and young adults in Calcutta.

About the Author

not provided.