ফিরে দেখা/Glimpses of memories
1.When did you come to Halifax and how was Halifax back then?
Answer:- I came to Halifax in 1980 with my husband Arun Dastidar and my sons Roni and Anil.
At that time Halifax was different from now. The number of Indian people was much lower than today. Any Individual from India was much sought after. Often the ship would land in the harbor and the Indian staff onboard would give us a call and we used to go and spend time with them. Sometimes we brought them home. We would often stop and say hello whenever we saw Indian people.
2.How was the Bengali community at that time?
Answer:-Bengali people at that time were very welcoming. They always tried to help new people. They used to meet the new people and invite them to their house and spend time with Bengali adda and food. We revived the feeling of Durga Puja here with our friends and community people. We were actively involved in Durga Puja and we felt the joy of being a Sharodia member. There are so many precious memories through all these years.
3.What are the changes you find in the present day Bengali community from the time you came?
Answer:-The changes are huge. When we came we did not join the workforce instantly although most of us had a university degree as we were from that generation where we were taught to stay home and hold the fort. I joined the job later when I got a call from the immigration office for an English interpreter.
Today I find the newcomers come here with a strong positive outlook to take the world and the future as a challenge. They come with a mind to stay unlike our generation whose mindset was to stay for some years, earn money and go back to India, Life is much faster now here.
In our time we used to mingle up with everyone as there were not many Bengali people here but now people have a choice to pick their group from similar interests as now there are many Bengali people in Halifax.
4.What are the things that you wish you had before?
Answer:-The 70’s,80’s and until mid 90’s was a more idealist time. There was less technology, slower communication and the world was less connected, so making a call to India was so expensive. There was no cell phone.no internet, no face time at that time. we could not see our family members as we can see them frequently now through the internet. I love this change over the era of technology. If we had this technological development before in our time, life would be different.
5.one suggestion you want to give our present day community people.
Answer:-Really nothing much to say. The new generation has a positive and strong mind. Just one thing to say that always remember your heritage, culture and your family back home.