Bankubabu
By this time
readers might have understood that I have varied interest and don’t hesitate to
start conversation with anyone of any social strata. The morning walk around
the lake gives me enough opportunity to strike a conversation. It is like this
after completing a round I would often sit down near that historic cannon and
then whoever comes and sits I would start conversation. At this place only I
met my sidekick Babulal. The latest to add to my chain of acquaintances is
Bankubabu.
It happened
last week. I was having this toothache but I still kept up my routine of
morning walk. I was sitting on that appointed concrete bench, rubbing the
right side of my jaw, uneasiness was still there. I felt someone come and sit by my side, from the corner
of my eyes I could see a middle aged man in loose pair of trousers, shirt out, disheveled
hair, big round rimmed glasses , curiously looking at me. I turned my head and
grimaced as the toothache was not subsiding.
“Toothache?”
He asked with a smile.
“Yes! Since
last two days I am having this intermittent ache on my right molar. I bit a
gram the other day then suddenly I got this shooting pain!”
"I know how it feels, going to dentist is the only option now but some better option may come up in future." with a mysterious smile he said.
I raised my eyebrows and asked ,'What is that option?"
He was
carrying a jute bag, he dipped his hand inside the bag and with lot of care
pulled out a sealed container. He carefully opened the lid and asked me to look
inside. I leaned towards him and peeped in, I could see some white enameled
things looking like teeth.
“Are those
extracted teeth?” I asked cautiously thinking that somehow that day I had stuck
conversation with some eccentric character.
‘Yes, I am a
biologist and my subject of research is stem cell. I have collected these teeth
for my research. My assistants are collecting baby teeth.’
“I did not
follow. I have heard of stem cell research and all that but where these teeth
fit in?”’ I was bewildered.
“This time I
can’t help you with your toothache but soon I will be able to help you with my
new invention!”He repeated.
I was still
not clear what was he trying to communicate.
“How can you
help; you are not a dentist. From your talk I can make out that you are a
scientist.”
“I told you
my area of specialization is stem cell; now I am researching on growing tooth.
From these teeth and baby teeth I will extract stems cells which I will first try on
mice.’’
“You mean
like that group of scientist in Tokyo University who have grown a human ear on
the back of a rat in 2016 by using human stem cell.”
With a
twinkle in his eyes Bankubabu said, “Yes, now you know the drift.”
“But that’s
a pretty advanced technology and you require a modern laboratory to carry out
such research.” I said doubtfully.
He laughed
out loud and said, “That’s not a problem, I know how to get hold of a research
lab in the city, I work in the night, a handsome tip to the night guards does
the trick.”
I started
believing him as I read a doctor called Barua in Assam tried transplanting a pig’s
heart in a human body. There are many such eccentric scientists in India who in make
shift laboratories do wonder. With cheap Chinese DNA splitter equipment or with
some such lab instrument he may be able to grow tooth on a rat’s back to begin
with.
“I wish you
would have been successful in growing tooth then I could have lent my jaw to
you as first patient. Now I don’t know what the dentist will do. It will be
either extraction or root canal of that molar tooth.”
“Yes I know
the ordeal, look at my teeth.” He opened his mouth wide. I could see he is
having denture.
“”Yes at a
very early age I had tooth , gum problem and then on I was obsessed in
resolving this issue once for all. So once I develop the proper DNA then I will
experiment on myself first and if successful then I will attempt on those
bridged teeth of yours.”
That was
smart, he had noticed my bridged teeth where I had extractions done.
“I have to
go and organize some chemicals for my research in the night, I generally use
herbs which one of my friends grow in his kitchen garden.”
He got up
and offered his visiting card to me.
Banku Sen
Innovator
A logo (of a
laughing skull with all teeth in place, a 2D digital x ray image)
I gave my
visiting card to him, wished him luck in his endeavor, we parted.
After the above incident i went to a dentist and started my root canal ordeal.
