The Big City (1963)

Haren Chatterjee: Priyogopal (Subrata's father)

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Quotes 

• Priyogopal (Subrata's father) : That's the schoolmaster's lot, I suppose. That's the way it is. All your life you sweat, trying to educate children, sowing the seeds of knowledge in their minds. Then they go trotting off to become judges and magistrates, leaving you like an ox yoked to the mill. So on one level - I'm proud of my students, but I'm jealous too. There's an injustice in it somewhere. The Almighty's accounts are out of balance somewhere.

• Priyogopal (Subrata's father) : If I get lucky just once, we'll leave all this behind and go to Cape Comorin. There's a bridge there that monkeys built. We'll go see it with our own eyes.

• Subrata Mazumdar : I suppose you'll say you supported a large family all by yourself and that Ma never had to go out an work. I'm not denying that. But times have changed. It's a new day and we have to change. We have to accept it. Change comes by necessity. We have no choice but to take this step.

  Priyogopal (Subrata's father) : What does Arati say?

  Subrata Mazumdar : She took the job of her own free will. It wasn't a whim.

• Priyogopal (Subrata's father) : My generation is no more. We are dead, crushed into dust like reptiles. The backbone's broken, my boy. If we're still here today, it's only due to our mental strength. It's very hard.

• Priyogopal (Subrata's father) : This age belongs to all of you. It's you who work and make our country's future bright. When I see your achievements, the heart under this old bag of bones rejoices.

• Arati : Good heavens! How are you now, Baba?

  Priyogopal (Subrata's father) : I've sinned too much to die just yet.

• Priyogopal (Subrata's father) : You're too lenient, daughter-in-law. You will never make a good teacher.