My name is Steven Derby and I had the privilege of knowing Madhu Basu for more than 20 years. I first met Madhu when he came to stay in my home in London. Having welcomed him, he immediately said I must come and stay with him in Boral. This was my introduction to Madhu, to his kindness and to his generosity, from which I have greatly benefited for more than two decades. Madhu may best be known as a social worker and for his life-long commitment to humanitarian work. This is certainly the case but I was privilege to know him in other ways too.
Madhu was a man of faith and spirituality: from the very beginning I was touched by Madhu’s spiritual associations and practices. On the way back from Madhu’s city office near the High Court, we often stopped at Rina’s flower stall near Garia so that Laxmi puja could be properly observed. We never left Malda District without first visiting and taking darshan at the Manaskamana Kali Temple. When we travelled to Varanasi the highlights were visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and joining in the night time Ganga arati. While all these are very special, there was nothing that could surpass the observance and celebration of Durga Puja. It has been my delight and privilege, beyond imagination, to attend Durga Puja at Basu Bari twice. However, may I also add that Madhu’s understanding of, and sensitivity to, others’ faiths was as impressive as it has been touching. It is no surprise that we spent time in Sarnath, the place of the Buddha’s first teachings. It was similarly no surprise that we spent time at the Baháʼí Lotus Temple in Delhi. More personal to me, Madhu visited at least two synagogues, which are Jewish mandirs, in London. Above all, I recall how Madhu was a generous host to Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, among the most senior priests in all of the Jewish world, when he visited Boral in 2015.
Madhu was a musician, lyricist and author: rarely did a day pass when staying at Basu Bari when I did not hear Madhu playing a devotional song or Tagore poem on his harmonium. Or, being so creative, one of Madhu’s own compositions. In addition to poetry and music, Madhu was a published author. Of course this covered his humanitarian work but I have in mind a lovely publication about Rishi Rajnarayan Basu, the Grandfather of Indian Nationalism. Albeit a modest booklet, it illustrates perfectly the breadth of Madhu’s interests, knowledge and pride in Indian history. It was my good fortune to hear Madhu play the harmonium and I am fortunate to have a copy of this special publication.
Listen to and enjoy Madhu Basu singing a Bengali song here, performed at the Indumati Sabha Griha (Auditorium) in Kolkata
Madhu was a man of family and friendship: it would be remiss not to mention Madhu’s immediate and extended family to which he was devoted and from which he took a great deal of pride and joy. Is not Madhu’s beautiful family and home a testament to his model marriage to Swapna? And are not their sons’ remarkable achievements a credit to Madhu and his wife? Above all, most personally and beyond words, I have been fortunate to be welcomed into their home and family. It is no exaggeration to relate how Madhu, his family and Basu Bari have been treasured blessings in my life.
Madhu was a humanitarian: Madhu might be best known and remembered for founding Economic Rural Development Society and his life-long commitment to the uplift of the downtrodden. The achievements are too many to relate but some were tangible like the construction of low-cost latrines or the installation of a tube wells. Other achievements were sometimes less tangible or visible, but possibly more impactful, like distributing microfinance loans. Madhu not only gave economic benefit to many but bestowed on them their dignity, and this is beyond measure. In my religion, Judaism, we learn that the highest form of charity is to help sustain a poor person. How many poor people did Madhu sustain? In my religion, we are taught that, “whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world”. How many lives and worlds did Madhu save?
To end: Madhu’s life cannot be summed up in a few words. My recollections and reflections are selective and inadequate. However, please may I end by saying that through Madhu, my life was greatly enriched. May I also add, and suggest, that with Madhu’s passing, the world has been greatly diminished.
Thank you for allowing me to share these recollections and reflections.
Steven Derby
London
5 April 2025
