Mr. Gauranga Saha Roy

Gouranga Saha Roy is one of the founder members of the Association and also the second oldest member which, he claims, entitles him to call himself as one of the 'Wise Old men'. He is also affectionately called Pishu, Meshu, Jhetu and Gourangada. These terms add very little to raise his profile, he says, but what it does is tell you that they all have a profound sense of love, affection and respect for each other in this organisation as you would find in any family. Theirs is a family organisation; it belongs to all of them; they work together as a team to achieve its aims and objectives.

Having graduated from Dacca University in the then East Pakistan, now called Bangladesh, Gourangada came to the UK in the early sixties as a first generation immigrant. The Early days, he recalls, were extremely hard and difficult, unlike now. He had to endure a long and hard struggle trying to establish himself in this foreign land in an environment which was quite literally hostile to his culture and way of life, but he survived despite these difficulties.

Gourangada spent the early years of his life in London and then in the mid Seventies moved to Peterborough to set up home with his beautiful wife Chandanadi. He was an Accountant by profession (he is now retired) and enjoyed certain amount of success in his professional life which lasted almost 45 years. 

They now have a wonderful family of three grown up sons, one daughter-in-law and one grandson. The sons and daughter-in-law are well established in their own lives doing professionally very well indeed. Looking back the struggle Gourangada and Chandani went through and the pain and suffering they endured were well worth it, because they now have a wonderful legacy they can be proud of and one which they will leave behind as their gift to their future generation. 

Sports played an important part in Gourangada’s life. He played competitive cricket in the South-Lincolnshire Cricket League and badminton in the Peterborough and Hunts Badminton League. He excelled in both. Gourangada also took part in many half-marathons and countless charity runs raising funds for good causes. He also served as a Treasurer, Secretary and Fixture Secretary for his club – Thomas Cook. One of the highlights of his sporting feats was when he won the ‘Super-Star’ competition in 1982 beating many contestants many years younger than him.

Of the many eventful years of his life 1971 ranks quite high on the list. It was the year of Bangladesh’s Independence struggle. Gourangada along with like-minded fellow Bangladeshis in the UK got involved in the struggle. He participated in fund-raising, rallies, lobbying MPs, organizing meetings, making speeches, publishing papers and writing Editorials and a host of other activities designed to support the cause of Independence. After 8 months of long and hard struggle they won Independence. Bangladesh was born. 

Gourangada’s involvement with BCA goes back a long way. He is one of the original members who helped set up this organisation. Gourangada recalls, it started as no more than a small social club providing a forum for the Bengali families in Peterborough to socially interact with each other, seek each others advice and company, provide help and support when needed and finally and importantly to promote Bengali culture and traditions amongst the second generation Bengalis, i.e. their children. They realised at the time how important it was for their children to know the history, roots and the cultural heritage of their parents and if ever faced with any identity crisis of their own, this knowledge coupled with a strong sense of their traditional values and belief system would certainly lessen the impact and hopefully act as a source of strength to deal with such emotional turmoil and conflict. 

Gourangada also served as a treasurer of EEnAM (East Eagland Anand Mela), a well known cultural organization, set up in 2001 to promote Indian culture amongst Peterborough’s diverse ethnic communities.

In keeping with the demographic change the Association’s membership had increased over the years and this enabled them to formally set up what is to-day's Bengali Cultural Association (BCA) with its first formal Constitution setting out its main aims and objectives. You will find in the Introduction ‘About Us’ more information about the Association, its achievements to date and its plan for the future. 

Gourangada was the first treasurer of the association and remained so for many years. He participated in many of the early Fund-raising campaigns needed to ensure that they have sufficient funds available for the Association to maintain its progress and move forward unimpeded. The passion, devotion, commitment and sacrifice that the membership showed in these and later in many other activities has been truly inspirational, he stresses. To-day’s BCA is only the results of the hard work put in by the membership both past and present, he declares. 


Finally, he says, the Association’s current management is young, dynamic, enthusiastic and ambitious. They are responsible, progressive and forward-looking. Their commitment to take the Association forward is just as strong and powerful as their predecessors. He feels the Association’s future is safe and secure in their hands.