Personal Life and Family

Raktima was born in a middle class Bengali family on the 2nd June 1967 to Samaresh Chandra and Mira Mukhopadhyay in the suburban town of Bally in the neighborhood of Kolkata. Her father was an empanelled Valuer and Assessor of Insurance Regulatory Authority of India and her mother is a homemaker. Rajat Subhra, brother of Raktima is seven years younger to her but always assumed the role of a caring big brother since his childhood days. He is a HR professional and is holding the position of Dy General Manager in a Multi National Company. His wife Shakuntala is an Assistant Professor of English in Amity University and their only son Himaghna is pursuing his Engineering course in Computer Sciences.

Raktima married Dr. Sandip Banerjee, a Physician by profession in 1995. Dr. Banerjee is serving as a Medical Officer under West Bengal Health Services and is presently posted in one of the renowned Medical Colleges of the country in Kolkata. He is entirely committed to his profession to serve for the cause of humanity.

Raktima was a small town girl who had a modest childhood. She was grown up in a typical Bengali joint family set up. Her grandmother, Asha Lata Devi was a hard core disciplinarian and the matriarch of the family. Asha Lata was a protagonist of her time. She had a fierce ambition for higher studies and to have an identity of her won. She stood first in the final examination in the fifth standard and received a prize in the annual function. But that turned out differently. She belonged to a conservative Brahmin family of those days and her family considered it as a shame that a girl of the family received the accolade from stage amidst a wider audience and such exposure can only be compared to that of a “Baiji (courtesan)” and she had to quit her study. And that was the day when she promised to herself that she would make her daughters able to lead a different life. The promise was well kept. All her five daughters received higher education. The eldest Pratima was the most brilliant and stood first among the girls in the district with a distinction (popularly known as letter marks in those days) in mathematics during her matriculation examination. She was a very popular and respected High School Teacher. The second one, Shelly is a retired Central Government Officer. The third one, Jolly was a good singer and was trained in classical music. Anati, the fourth one, was a professor at Rishi Bankim College and a trained dancer. The youngest one, Mitali after completing her Masters in Anthropology served as a Scientific Officer in Anthropological Survey of India. She later pursued her Higher Studies in Gender issues from USA and was involved in conducting training for the government officers and published number of research papers. Even after her untimely sad demise in the year 2012 she is still remembered with great respect by many in the circle. Raktima’s mother has dedicated her entire life to extend self less support to the greater family and is the life line to keep the family well knit. She is an epitome of love, care and empathy. All these ladies in the family, particularly Mitali who was like the adopted mother had a very strong influence in molding Raktima as she is today.

Compared to her strong Grandma her grandfather Souresh Chandra was a very soft and kind hearted person. And so were her maternal grandparents Sarat and Labanya Banerjee. Her father though was very hot headed but was always very soft towards her.

All these people with their unique and contrasting personalities have had deep marks in shaping the thought process of Raktima and developing her value system.

Raktima grew up with her 10 cousin sisters and brothers as her own siblings. Her cousin sisters Manabi, Mousumi and Moumita are all very talented and creative and have contributed immensely in maintaining their own families. Anindita, the other one is a psycho therapist and Shramana a scientist in Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology. Her cousin brother Mrinmoy is an engineer and management professional. Shamik, an IIT Graduate is a Vice President in a Multi National Company, Arjun and Ambar both are software engineers holding Senior Management responsibilities. Raktima lost one of her cousin brother Soumya at the age of 22 only. Raktima shares a very strong bonding with her cousins.

While Raktima had to follow a much disciplined and somewhat regimented routine controlled by her grandmother all through her childhood, her family from the dawn of her memory had nurtured her to grow as a liberal, independent individual with the strongest faith in humanity and core human values. She was exposed to the rich literary culture of Bengal from the early childhood. Though the family was very disciplined but used to follow a very open and liberal way of dealing with people and breaking gender stereotypes. She was a party to witness how the ladies of her family used to enjoy their freedom of expression. She has also seen how fiercely independent was her grandmother and how there was no compromise in upholding the value of mutual respect and dignity among the members of the family. She has seen her family to stand against all sorts of superstitions and supporting scientific temperament and logical thinking. She was never encouraged to assume the stereotyped roles of managing household chores. Rather was encouraged to think differently and nurture dreams to follow beyond the traditional boundaries. All these have had a strong mark in developing her mind sets towards the world view.

Raktima came to IBRAD to pursue a kind of internship for few months during August 1991and her life has changed forever since then. She had met Professor S. B. Roy, the Chairman of IBRAD. In IBRAD under the guidance of Professor Roy Raktima has started her professional journey towards making a world of optimism, hope and mutual understanding. He has been the mentor, coach, friend, philosopher and guide to Raktima in its true spirit.

Raktima considers herself very lucky to come across people from all spheres of her life who are very supportive and encouraging, be it her teachers in the schools, colleges and universities, her colleagues at office, her clients, her friends and family. Her teachers at all levels have always been very encouraging and have always helped her in understanding her core strengths and identities. Her greater family always ushered their unconditional love and support that had helped her immensely to grow as a sensitive person, help her to grow and keep her rooted.