Messiah of Indian Seamen is no more

Mr Ashutosh Banerji, the Founder Member and the President of Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) expired at Woodlands Hospital in Kolkata on July 30, 2008, after a prolonged illness. The funeral was held on July 31, 2008 at South Kolkata Electric Crematorium in the presence of hundreds of grief-stricken Indian Seamen, company representatives, union leaders and well wishers who paid their last tribute to the legend, who relentlessly breathed, lived and fought for the Seamen for more than 54 years. He did not have any other agenda, other than 'Seamen's welfare'.

Mr Banerji, who was born in 1931, was a staunch follower of Leftist values. After the partition of India in 1947, 'the Chittagong (Bangladesh)-born' young Ashutosh came to Kolkata and after a small stint in the Indian Postal Department, he joined 'Prince Line Shipping' as a Rating. Soon Mr Bannerji became Banerjida for the Seamen of his company and always remained a protector of human values and a fighter against injustice. He fought tooth and nail against exploitation of Seamen. In a few days, he became a popular figure amongst the Indian Seamen in Kolkata and emerged as their beloved leader. He, with some likeminded friends formed 'Forward Seamen's Union of India' in 1954 to fight against injustice and to look after the welfare of Seamen in an organized way. He was rightly appointed as General Secretary of the union from the year 1966.
Mr Banerji quit his shipping job (as a Rating) in 1962 and became a full-time union worker. By then, he has already become a 'messiah' of the suffering Seamen by reaching out to them in their hours of need.

Banerjida on his mission to help suffering Seamen remained a bachelor for his entire life and led a very simple life. His life revolved around the docks of Kolkata and he lived in the premises of the union office to make himself available round the clock to the affected Seamen. He remained the undisputed leader of the masses, and in the year 1993, he was elevated to the post of President of the union. He shouldered that responsibility with all sincerity and dedication until he breathed his last on July 30, 2008. He widely travelled across the subcontinent for the development of the branches of the FSUI in all Indian ports. Mr Banerji, who was a good orator and proficient in the English language, was a master of correspondence. He almost single-handedly managed all official correspondence of the union till recently. His favourite tool against the management of the company was an old type-writer and some papers, through which he spit fire on the managements for each and every injustice done to Seamen. A fast learner as he was always, he was computer-savvy too. He always had progressive thoughts about the industry and welcomed changes for the benefit of the seafaring community.

He frequented to Mumbai for the NMB wage negotiations and remained an uncompromising force for the benefit of Seamen (working with Indian Flagships) and led his team with superb spirit and humour. The last function he attended in Mumbai was on June 16, 2007, when the catering staff felicitated leaders of Forward Seamen's Union of India on the achievement of Seamen after announcement of the famous Pratima Umarji Award popularly called as 'OPT Award'. It was a great achievement under his leadership.

But in spite of his immense popularity among Seamen as a 'messiah', late Mr Banerji unfortunately did not have much contact with his relatives, though some of them are learnt to be staying in Kolkata. However, when he was ill prior to his demise, Forward Seamen's Union of India came across one of his nephews, Mr Biswanath Banerji. The nephew attended, witnessed and remained a mute spectator to the last journey of his uncle, who in turn accepted the entire Seamen community as his relatives, but remained unknown to his own nephew all his life. After realizing the truth, Mr Biswanath Banerji exclaimed, “I am proud and fortunate to be nephew of such a noble man and happy that at least at the last moment I could meet him.” Mr Biswanath also attended the last rites of his uncle in Kolkata. In fact, he was the only relative to have attended the last rites of the departed soul.
Prior to his last journey, Banerjida was ill for some period and the FSUI tried its level best to provide him the best available treatment and care. But finally, he left for the heavenly abode, leaving behind an example for everybody with his commitment and relentless fight for the mariners. Indian Semen along with Forward Seamen's Union of India mourn his untimely demise.

Mr Naresh Birwadkar, Secretary, Forward Seamen's Union of India, Mumbai condoling his leader's loss said, “It is a great loss not only for me or FSUI, but for the entire Seamen fraternity, who lost a father-figure and a noble soul, who always stood like a rock in the hours of trouble. It's rare to find a leader, who willfully sacrifices his family life for the sake of service to the seamen community, and never asks for anything in return other than more responsibility. Banerjida set an example for the entire shipping industry with his selfless service and unimaginable degree of humanity. His death is a permanent loss for FSUI & in fact for the entire industry.”

The FSUI, Mumbai also organized a prayer meeting for the departed soul on August 14, 2008. THE MARITIME WORLD too salutes the noble mariner and prays, “May his soul rest in peace.”