Face to Face with “Jewel” and “Diamond” : Mani Bhaumik and Hillol Ray
----- Seema Banerjee-Ray
On this auspicious occasion of Bengali Language Day, I am so blessed to tell a short story about two well
known Bengalees. They have been residing in USA after leaving their motherland many years ago.
Dreaming the dreams is my childhood passion;
Chasing the impossible to make it possible
Revolves around my fashion!
The friends circle from my formative years refer my explorations to a comet search in the pursuit of
mental happiness. At times, I have been successful and sometimes a failure. It has eluded my thought
processes. Well, with a mixed bless ing of success and failure, a rare opportunity appeared on the
doorstep of my residence ; I would like to share that fable with you today.
I was taken on a journey to the Wonderland in 2006.
This time, I was accompanied by my Husband, Hillol Ray, who was invited to attend the Award
Ceremony, hosted by NFIA (National Federation of Indian – American Associations). 14th Bienneial
Convention, November 17 to 19, 2006. Convention was held in the Westin Long Beach Hotel in Long
Beach, California, USA. NFIA's National Award Ceremony was the main attraction for the evening of
November 18, 2006. More than 4000 people attended this Convention. This award ceremony brought
me the biggest surprise of my life. Among the five (5) award recipients in various fields (e.g. Science,
Liberal and Fine Arts, Engineering, Community Service, and Culture). Oh My God! What a Surprise! Two
Bengalees?-Yes, they are “MANI” in English means “JEWEL” and “HIRAY” (spelled as “HEERAY” from the
name initials of Hillol Ray) in English means “DIAMOND”. Dr. Mani Bhaumik (for Physics), and Hillol Ray
(Liberal and Fine Arts). I was so excited to see the Bengalees where I was feeling so proud to be a
Bengalee. Another surprise was The Award Winners were selected out of 2.5 million Indian- Americans
who traced their roots to India. The awards were given away by Mr. Vyalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas
Indian Affairs (MOIA), who specifically came from India to grace this Convention.
I was given the honor of sitting on the dinner table with Dr. Mani Bhaumik and Hillol Ray, sitting face to
face. I had no previous knowledge about him. My Husband, Hillol Ray introduced me to Dr. Bhoumik.
Upon my introduction to him, he started hymning Rabindranth Tagor's song- “Seemar majhe Oseem
Tumi bajao apon sur” -(You, the end of endless, play your own tune.) I was startled, and asked him: “ are
you a Japanese? How do you know the Bengali words”.
With a chuckled, He replied: " Ami khanti Bangalee- Tamluk, Medinipur-er. ( I am a pure Bengalee from
Tamluk, Midnapur, India.)
I was able to carry out the conversations in Bengali with both. As you all know, Dr. Bhaumik, the CoInventor of Excimer Lasik Eye Surgery procedure that brought him the financial fortune and international
fame.
The poem “Earth Day” brought national and international recognitions for Hillol Ray, from personalities,
like former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former Vice President and Nobel Peace Laureate Al Gore, Jr., and
many others, as such.
Our initial discussions revealed the parallel paths walked on and lived through by both personalities
(Mani Bhaumik and Hillol Ray) during their childhood through formative years. Both were born in