Turning 100, yet reading newspapers without glasses and recounting history with a smile—Potashpur’s Prankrishna celebrates a heartwarming four-generation reunion on his birthday
Our Correspondent | Potashpur, East Medinipur | July 7, 2026: Prankrishna Das, a resident of Paniya Sardabari village in Potashpur-II block, East Medinipur, has once again proven that age is merely a number. He stepped into his 100th year on Monday. Remarkably, even at this age, he requires neither spectacles nor hearing aids. He manages all his daily activities—eating, bathing, dressing, and moving about—independently. His memory remains sharp; he fluently recounts stories spanning from the British era to the digital age. His centenary birthday was celebrated on Monday in a festive atmosphere, attended by over 40 family members across four generations.
Prankrishna: A Living Chronicle of a Century
Prankrishna Das was born on July 6, 1926. He has been a direct witness to it all—the final decade of pre-independence India, the turbulent freedom movement, the agony of Partition, multiple wars, and the transition from the Green Revolution to the era of mobile phones and the internet. In his youth, he worked for a long time at a rice mill in Pratapdighi. Although his wife has passed away, he has a thriving family comprising two sons—Prakash Das and Prabhat Das—and two daughters—Pratima Roy and Pratibha Das. His four-generation family now includes eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Sitting in the courtyard with the little ones, Prankrishna still shares stories of fleeing during the Partition and memories of hoisting the flag in the village on Independence Day.
100 Years Old, Yet Self-Reliant
Even at 100, Prankrishna Babu follows a disciplined routine. Waking up at 5 AM, going for a morning walk, performing prayers, and reading the newspaper—he does it all himself. Most astonishingly, he has never needed glasses; he reads the morning newspaper without them. His hearing is also sharp, requiring no one to speak loudly to him. Although his family notes that age has brought some minor issues with his eyesight and hearing, his mental strength and memory remain remarkably sharp. He knows every detail—from the location of old village roads and the dates specific ponds were dug to exactly who lived where. To this day, he requires no assistance with bathing, eating, or dressing.
Prankrishna shares the secret to longevity:—
“A disciplined lifestyle is the key to Father’s good health,” say his two sons, Prakash and Prabhat. They recall that their father has engaged in back-breaking hard work throughout his life. Even now, he rises at dawn and goes to bed by 9 PM. He has always preferred a simple, wholesome diet—favoring meals with minimal oil and spices, consisting mainly of vegetables, lentils, and rice. He never allowed worry to take hold of him; his mantra has always been to speak with everyone with a smile and find happiness in the little things.
His eldest daughter, Pratima Roy, says, “Father never quarreled with anyone. He loves his neighbors and relatives alike. It is this mental fortitude that has kept him alive for a hundred years. He often says that anger shortens one’s lifespan.” His younger daughter, Pratibha Das, echoes the sentiment: “We have never seen someone so fit at the age of a hundred. To us, Father is living history. The younger generation should look to him to learn how to live a healthy life and how to coexist harmoniously with others.”
A joyous gathering on his birthday; the family moved by emotion:—
From Monday morning, there was a festive buzz at the Das household in Paniya Sardabari. Children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren arrived from Kolkata, Haldia, Contai, and Egra. In the courtyard, Prankrishna cut a cake marked with the number ‘100’ on a stage decorated with balloons and flowers. He personally fed payesh (sweet rice pudding) to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The day was filled with music, recitations of old poems, and storytelling sessions led by the patriarch himself.
Everyone—from the oldest members of the family to the youngest—came to pay their respects to Prankrishna-babu and seek his blessings. A neighbor remarked, “Kaku is the guardian of our village. Even now, he offers guidance during times of trouble or need.” Soma Roy Maity—Prankrishna Babu’s granddaughter and a high school mathematics teacher—said, “Grandpa is like a living storybook to us. We hear stories from him about thousands fleeing by train during the Partition, marching in rallies amidst the fervor of the ‘Quit India’ movement, and the first time the Tricolour was hoisted in the village on Independence Day. Grandpa is our greatest source of inspiration.”
Prankrishna: The Pride of the Village—
According to the local residents, Prankrishna Das is the pride not just of one family, but of the entire Potashpur region. His grandson-in-law, poet and teacher Manas Kumar Maity, observed, “It is rare to see a centenarian in such good health. His way of life offers valuable lessons for the younger generation. This ‘Centenarian Honour’ bestowed by the family, in recognition of his healthy life, marks a new dawn—a fresh beginning!”
Even after crossing the century mark, Prankrishna Das demonstrates—through his indomitable spirit, cheerful demeanor, and sense of discipline—that age can be conquered only by willpower, a positive attitude, and a regulated lifestyle.
