SCIENCE AS WELL AS RElIGION

Service to the Bengali and Nepalese communities

"I have retired, but am still connected co CSIRO in other capacities", said Dr Bandopadhayay cold Indian Link.

"The hardesr thing about the notification from the Governor General's office was to keep ic all a secret rill the official ruinouncement" , confessed Di:

Pratish Chandra Bandopadhayay with a s1nile, while sharing his reaction co the news chat be had been honoured with an Order of Australia medal (OAM) during this year's Australia Day roll of honours.

Dr Bandopadhayay was recognised for his service to tbe Bengali and Nepalese communicies in Mdbourne, and shared his journey from migrant to 0 1\.l\lI in Australia.

Dr Bandopadhayay is a distinguished, well-published scientist who has worked for CSIRO (Commonweallb Scientific Industrial Research Organisation) for over 30 years.

"As che Senior Principal Research Scientist, m y forte was mainly in Renewable Energy and Heat Transfer. My most defining moments professionally, were when l was involved in a project to run a diesd engine on brown coal oil mixmres, and also the project where CSIRO produced a cooling system for HJ\ZtvL\T suits for soldiers in the Australian Army".

According to Dr Bandopadhayay, his most successful personal ad1ievement was raising his three children Pramita, Pratiti and Prated:, all of who are docmrs. His wife Cbhandashi, his children and grandchildren were delighted wi.tb the news that chis in.spirarional mru.1 bad deservedly been recognised with an Oeder Of Australia meda l.

Dr Bandopadbayay first came to Australia from Nepal at 16, after receiving a United ations Colombo Plan Scholarship in 1961. He went to Trinity Gran1mar Schoo l and then to the University of Me:lboume, where be rook a degree in Engineering. He continued bis academic pursuits b y receiving Monash Graduate scholarships char enabled him to complete first his J\fasters, and then a PhD. ln 1975 Dr Bandopadhayay was awarded the Mahendra Vidya Bbusan Medal by the late King Bitenclra of Nepal, for being d1e first Nepalese citizen co achieve a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. He then went on co work for the University of Queensland in Brisbane, before joining CSIRO in 1978. ln the early sixties there were not many Bengali migrants in Melbourne, nor priests (pttrfJhits) who could conduct religious ceremonies. Undet the tutelage of priest Sri Chimaman Darnr, Dr Bandopadhayay learnt co conduct various ceremonies and Hindu m arriage ceremonies. He also gained formal training and registered as a civil marriage celebrant. Dr Bandopadhayay was appointed as the first p11rohit (priest) for rhe Durga Pooja conducted b y the Bengali Association. Since then, he has conducted innumerable Hindu riruals and blessed thousands of devotees

J\s one of the first few Bengali migrants tel Australia, Dr Bandopadhayay soon was actively involved with the local India Oub and orher student activities.

''.As a community priest, one tends ~o become a counsdlor cum confidante for many restless souls. A considerable chunk of my ro le is co offer advice to people who are desperate for soJace and wane answers. This can be most challenging, but also most rewarding and as a result, I continue to ex-pand my knowledge of the human psyche", said Dr Bandopaclhayay.

\'{'hat gives him enorrnous pleasure is to teach children and adults how co p lay lndian musical instruments like rbe £lute as well as tl1e guitar. He has taught music for neatly 15 years on a vo lumat-y basis.

Dr Bandopadharay also voluntarily n·anslares literary material from Sanskrit, co English and Bengali.

"1 strongly be lieve children should be exposed co many musical instruments as it is very beneficial co their development. The young ones should be proud of their heritage and be sensitive to ocher cultures", he stated.

Amongst his many purst1its, Dr Bandopadhayay is also associated with a band called Teen Pago/where he pl ay s the Ante for Bengali folk songs along with two other artists Any dakshi11a (donation) d1at he receives as a priest goes towards NGOs and charities char be supports in Kol kata.

"I value d,is honour and am humb led at being chosen for ic, however it does noc change anytliing for me. 1 will continue my work as long as l am able to. M)' reward is the pleasure I gee from contributing cowards my culmre and cowards the community", said Dr Bandopadhayay with conviction.

«We are l ucky m be living in multiculmral Australia and if 1 ,vas to get a second cbanee co settle anywhere in rhc world, Australia would still be my first d1oice", be concluded proudly;