Thursday, October 18, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
দুর্গাপূজা is here again!
I don't think there is any other region in this world that can claim to possess such a rich heritage and culture as Bengali culture. It is the world's greatest culture. And I, having emerged from a pre-dominantly Bengali neighbourhood of Rabindra Sangeet, smell of fish curry and the sweet taste of rosshogolla, can vouch for this.
The best thing about our culture is its association with festivals — Saraswati Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Dol, Kali Puja, Bhai Phota and the greatest of them all — the Durga Puja. Durga Puja is the greatest social and religious event of the Bengali calendar. It means the convergence of the Bengali's emotion, culture, love of life, warmth of being together, joy of celebration and the pride of artistic expression.
Durga Puja is much more than just worship… It makes me proud to be a Bengali, proud to be a part of the greatest culture on Earth - the Bengali culture.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Bangla bands: Striking a chord
I was never a fan of any Bengali rock group or ‘Bangla bands’ as they are called. Whenever I was told about them, I used to have a disgusted look on my face. I always thought whatever songs they sang were either translations or adaptations and their audiences were restricted within the college campus and youth circuits. However, that was till the time I was in Calcutta.
Now, it has been more two and half years that I have been away from the city. For the first time after leaving the city, I realised my true love for Calcutta and everything with a Bengali flavour, and that includes Bangla bands as well.
I realised, their songs were not mere adaptations and their popularity was not just with youngsters, but with a wide cross section of people. With the growing popularity of Bangla rock and fusion bands, it is very difficult to ignore them.
Bands like Parosh Pathor, Lakkhichhara, Fossils, Cactus, Chandrabindoo, Krosswindz and Bhoomi have carved a niche for themselves globally. While Cactus, Bhoomi and Chandrabindoo have performed in the US, the Krosswindz song Tangra Tobu Katon Jaye was nominated for Best Indian Classical/Traditional Song in 2006 at Just Plain Folks, a music awards in the US parallel to the Grammy.
Apart from this, now even prestigious music companies and websites from America such as ‘Apple’ and ‘Broadjam’ are selling Bangla music in the West.
What I like the most about their songs is that they are Calcutta-like, with lyrics that speak about the ordinariness of everyman, daily battles won and lost, self disgust, concern for youth or the rebellion against authority, among others.
Be it the anthemic hit Bhebe Dekhecho Ki by Mohiner Ghoraguli, who are touted as the first Indian rock band, the unforgetable Ami Shudhu Cheychhi Tomay by Cactus from the soundtrack of the Bengali film Nil Nirjane or the haunting tunes of Adorer Nouko by Chandrabindoo, I get a nostalgic feel every time I listen to them.
Bangla bands are just rocking. They strike an instant chord with the listener as they speak the language of the Bengalis. Their music has attained a new avatar. It is going places, with a new look and feel. With more international shows and collaborations in the offing, the guys and girls wearing white kurtas with namaboli prints, blue jeans and red dupattas are sure to attain even greater heights in the days to come.
And that is something that I am proud of.
Now, it has been more two and half years that I have been away from the city. For the first time after leaving the city, I realised my true love for Calcutta and everything with a Bengali flavour, and that includes Bangla bands as well.
I realised, their songs were not mere adaptations and their popularity was not just with youngsters, but with a wide cross section of people. With the growing popularity of Bangla rock and fusion bands, it is very difficult to ignore them.
Bands like Parosh Pathor, Lakkhichhara, Fossils, Cactus, Chandrabindoo, Krosswindz and Bhoomi have carved a niche for themselves globally. While Cactus, Bhoomi and Chandrabindoo have performed in the US, the Krosswindz song Tangra Tobu Katon Jaye was nominated for Best Indian Classical/Traditional Song in 2006 at Just Plain Folks, a music awards in the US parallel to the Grammy.
Apart from this, now even prestigious music companies and websites from America such as ‘Apple’ and ‘Broadjam’ are selling Bangla music in the West.
What I like the most about their songs is that they are Calcutta-like, with lyrics that speak about the ordinariness of everyman, daily battles won and lost, self disgust, concern for youth or the rebellion against authority, among others.
Be it the anthemic hit Bhebe Dekhecho Ki by Mohiner Ghoraguli, who are touted as the first Indian rock band, the unforgetable Ami Shudhu Cheychhi Tomay by Cactus from the soundtrack of the Bengali film Nil Nirjane or the haunting tunes of Adorer Nouko by Chandrabindoo, I get a nostalgic feel every time I listen to them.
Bangla bands are just rocking. They strike an instant chord with the listener as they speak the language of the Bengalis. Their music has attained a new avatar. It is going places, with a new look and feel. With more international shows and collaborations in the offing, the guys and girls wearing white kurtas with namaboli prints, blue jeans and red dupattas are sure to attain even greater heights in the days to come.
And that is something that I am proud of.
A peculiar paradox...
“...Durga Puja, at the onset of autumn, articulates a most peculiar paradox. In a purely physical and material sense, the city comes to a standstill. Traffic becomes even slower, walking becomes impossible with millions of people out on the streets, and business comes to a halt. But in another sense, the city comes alive. Calcutta, despite its poverty, its deprivation and its lack of certain amenities, is suddenly gripped by a new spirit of joy, gaiety and abandon...”
This is how a certain newspaper described the biggest festival of the Bengalis.
Maa Durga’s homecoming is a unique experience which Bengalis all over the world cherish. The eager wait before the pujo, the zest for enjoyment and then finally the sense of involvement can find no parallel.
This is the only time of the year when impoverished families forget their worries and celebrate, when the rich and the poor divide goes for a toss and everyone is out there to celebrate the homecoming of Maa Durga.
Durga Pujo is important not just as a religious occasion, but for the enduring tradition it symbolises.
Durga Pujo is very close to my heart. It reminds me of my childhood, the days that I spent in Calcutta simply enjoying the entire occasion and the experience as a whole.
For me, it is the best time of the year. These five days make up for the rest of the year.
However, the only sad thing about it is that it is too short...why can’t Maa Durga be here for 365 days?
This is how a certain newspaper described the biggest festival of the Bengalis.
Maa Durga’s homecoming is a unique experience which Bengalis all over the world cherish. The eager wait before the pujo, the zest for enjoyment and then finally the sense of involvement can find no parallel.
This is the only time of the year when impoverished families forget their worries and celebrate, when the rich and the poor divide goes for a toss and everyone is out there to celebrate the homecoming of Maa Durga.
Durga Pujo is important not just as a religious occasion, but for the enduring tradition it symbolises.
Durga Pujo is very close to my heart. It reminds me of my childhood, the days that I spent in Calcutta simply enjoying the entire occasion and the experience as a whole.
For me, it is the best time of the year. These five days make up for the rest of the year.
However, the only sad thing about it is that it is too short...why can’t Maa Durga be here for 365 days?
Durga Puja and a deep regard for nature!
Durga Puja is all set to go eco-friendly this year.
A prominent body of the priests has ordered its members to perform the rituals sans plastic. The organisation issued a diktat to all its members in West Bengal, urging them not to use plastic in any form while performing the prayer rituals. According to the diktat, no devotee can offer garlands, flowers or fruits in polythene carry bags. Plastic flowers used for decorating idols and plastic pouches for distributing bhog (food of the goddess) would also be barred.
This is really a novel idea considering that apart from environmental pollution, the huge quantity of plastic used during the five days of festivities could lead to disaster if a fire broke out.
Apart from placing a ban on the use of plastic, the member priests have also been asked to discourage the use of candles and wax during the festival as these are made of paraffin, which is injurious to health. Instead, the priests have been asked to promote diyas that are filled with ghee or oil.
This effort by the organisation is really heartening… So get set to get engulfed in a medley of ornamentation, illumination, the aroma of mouth-watering delicacies and the sweet aroma of the diyas.
A prominent body of the priests has ordered its members to perform the rituals sans plastic. The organisation issued a diktat to all its members in West Bengal, urging them not to use plastic in any form while performing the prayer rituals. According to the diktat, no devotee can offer garlands, flowers or fruits in polythene carry bags. Plastic flowers used for decorating idols and plastic pouches for distributing bhog (food of the goddess) would also be barred.
This is really a novel idea considering that apart from environmental pollution, the huge quantity of plastic used during the five days of festivities could lead to disaster if a fire broke out.
Apart from placing a ban on the use of plastic, the member priests have also been asked to discourage the use of candles and wax during the festival as these are made of paraffin, which is injurious to health. Instead, the priests have been asked to promote diyas that are filled with ghee or oil.
This effort by the organisation is really heartening… So get set to get engulfed in a medley of ornamentation, illumination, the aroma of mouth-watering delicacies and the sweet aroma of the diyas.
Get set to welcome Maa Durga!
The monsoon rains have withdrawn... there is freshness in the autumn air which is augmented by the clear sunshine. The beautiful sights of kaash flowers swaying under deep blue skies and sweet scent of shiuli all remind us of the fact that Maa Durga’s homecoming is just a few days away.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
A hat-trick of successes for Indian sports, post-Chak De India!
It has been a great two months for Indian sports. For the third time, sports lovers in this country have been treated to, what I call is the Chak De India magic. I call it the Chak De India magic as there has been a resurgence in Indian sports in the two and half months so far after the release of the SRK-starrer on August 10, 2007.
First, the Indian football team created history by lifting the Nehru Cup international football trophy for the first time with a 1-0 victory over Syria in a tough final played in Delhi on August 29, 2007. The victory spurred a resurgence of football in India.
Then came the turn of hockey on September 9, 2007! Amidst a roaring crowd, the Indian hockey team won the Asia Cup after beating South Korea 7-2 in a hard fought final in Chennai. Not just the convincing win, but the Indian hockey team also added another feather to its cap. Its tally of 57 goals in the event became the highest for any team. Truely, a Chak De performance.
Finally, it was the turn of cricket. The Men in Blue rocked the shores of South Africa in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship. India beat Pakistan in the grand finale at Wanderers, Johannesburg, on September 24, 2007 and that too without the presence of its major stars. This day will be remembered in cricketing history.
And, what’s ironical was the presence of the man himself – Shah Rukh Khan – who played the inspirational coach in Chak De India at the Wanderers to cheer the Indian cricket team.
The match winning performances of India’s sporting sensations have taken the nation by storm. The title song of Chak De India has become an anthem of sorts. It has spread magic across all sports in India.
As the adrenaline is running high with India’s successes in sports, it’s time to say Chak De India again and again.
First, the Indian football team created history by lifting the Nehru Cup international football trophy for the first time with a 1-0 victory over Syria in a tough final played in Delhi on August 29, 2007. The victory spurred a resurgence of football in India.
Then came the turn of hockey on September 9, 2007! Amidst a roaring crowd, the Indian hockey team won the Asia Cup after beating South Korea 7-2 in a hard fought final in Chennai. Not just the convincing win, but the Indian hockey team also added another feather to its cap. Its tally of 57 goals in the event became the highest for any team. Truely, a Chak De performance.
Finally, it was the turn of cricket. The Men in Blue rocked the shores of South Africa in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship. India beat Pakistan in the grand finale at Wanderers, Johannesburg, on September 24, 2007 and that too without the presence of its major stars. This day will be remembered in cricketing history.
And, what’s ironical was the presence of the man himself – Shah Rukh Khan – who played the inspirational coach in Chak De India at the Wanderers to cheer the Indian cricket team.
The match winning performances of India’s sporting sensations have taken the nation by storm. The title song of Chak De India has become an anthem of sorts. It has spread magic across all sports in India.
As the adrenaline is running high with India’s successes in sports, it’s time to say Chak De India again and again.
Chak Diya India
“The only time that a World Cup was held in South Africa, Team India made it to the finals though the whole nation had written them off after a defeat in the group stages to Australia… and cricket is a funny game. So who knows (what's may happen this time)…”
This is what I had written in my post on September 11 - the day the Twenty20 World Cup began. A fortnight later Mahi and his boys have proved me right by pulling off a remarkable and almost unbelievable victory in the first Twenty20 World Cup.
What a moment for Indian cricket! Who would have dreamt of this victory? A young and enterprising team, led from the front by a great captain, winning the tournament in which the pundits had written us off. Without Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, the result was against all expectations.
This no-fear cricket has not only warmed all Indian hearts but instilled tremendous belief in India’s new-generation team. Above all, the win has, as Dhoni said, done the “repair work” that was necessary after India’s disastrous exit from the World Cup earlier this year. This is really looking good for the future of Indian cricket.
India beat the biggest teams in international cricket, Australia, South Africa, England and Pakistan (twice). The team batted like lions, bowled like tigers and fielded like leopards. In a tournament that was supposed to give nothing but trouble to the bowlers, the opposition never got on top of our attack, and don’t forget we did not have Zaheer Khan. Bowlers like RP Singh, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Sreesanth and Joginder Singh did it for us.
This win celebrates youth. Yuvraj Singh hitting six sixes in an over, Robin Uthappa, who can come in at any situation and make his mark, Rohit Sharma, not intimidated by the opposition even on debut, Irfan Pathan, once the blue-eyed boy of Indian cricket who came back the hard way after being sent home in the middle of a tour. And a special mention to Gautam Gambhir whose quiet but effective contribution laid the foundations for Yuvraj’s heroics.
Age is on their side as it is for the captain who led from the front. MS Dhoni has shown that he has the capabilities of being a true leader, one who can lead from the front and inspire his team. His appointment as ODI skipper is probably one of best things to have happened to Indian cricket in a long time.
All the best to Dhoni and his boys! Hope you give us many more such reasons to rejoice in future.
This is what I had written in my post on September 11 - the day the Twenty20 World Cup began. A fortnight later Mahi and his boys have proved me right by pulling off a remarkable and almost unbelievable victory in the first Twenty20 World Cup.
What a moment for Indian cricket! Who would have dreamt of this victory? A young and enterprising team, led from the front by a great captain, winning the tournament in which the pundits had written us off. Without Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, the result was against all expectations.
This no-fear cricket has not only warmed all Indian hearts but instilled tremendous belief in India’s new-generation team. Above all, the win has, as Dhoni said, done the “repair work” that was necessary after India’s disastrous exit from the World Cup earlier this year. This is really looking good for the future of Indian cricket.
India beat the biggest teams in international cricket, Australia, South Africa, England and Pakistan (twice). The team batted like lions, bowled like tigers and fielded like leopards. In a tournament that was supposed to give nothing but trouble to the bowlers, the opposition never got on top of our attack, and don’t forget we did not have Zaheer Khan. Bowlers like RP Singh, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Sreesanth and Joginder Singh did it for us.
This win celebrates youth. Yuvraj Singh hitting six sixes in an over, Robin Uthappa, who can come in at any situation and make his mark, Rohit Sharma, not intimidated by the opposition even on debut, Irfan Pathan, once the blue-eyed boy of Indian cricket who came back the hard way after being sent home in the middle of a tour. And a special mention to Gautam Gambhir whose quiet but effective contribution laid the foundations for Yuvraj’s heroics.
Age is on their side as it is for the captain who led from the front. MS Dhoni has shown that he has the capabilities of being a true leader, one who can lead from the front and inspire his team. His appointment as ODI skipper is probably one of best things to have happened to Indian cricket in a long time.
All the best to Dhoni and his boys! Hope you give us many more such reasons to rejoice in future.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
C'mon India... do it... one last time!
YES! We’ve done it... we’ve avenged the defeat in the 2003 World Cup finals. Kingsmead came to resemble Little India as thousands of Indian flags were waved with abandon. And what more...we ourselves are now in a final... a dream final... an India vs Pakistan final in a World Cup. So what’s if it is a Twenty20 World Cup. A World Cup is a World Cup after all.
In my post on September 11 (Cricket’s latest avatar: Can Team India adapt?), I had mentioned that “The only time that a World Cup was held in South Africa, Team India made it to the finals though the whole nation had written them off after a defeat in the group stages to Australia… and cricket is a funny game. So who knows…”
So far my prediction, or should I say my wish, has come true... Let’s hope this time we go one step further and get back the cup...the cup that matters.
What’s notable about this Indian team is its self belief and fearless attitude. Be it the eccentric Sreesanth, the cool Irfan Pathan, the intense Dinesh Karthik, the calm and responsible Mahendra Singh Dhoni, composed Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh and Joginder Sharma, flashy Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma, or the crown prince Yuvraj Singh... every member in this team has played their part and played it to the best of their abilities so far.
Now they have just one more game to go... perhaps the most important game of their lives as no one had given them a chance in this tournament. It’s time to prove all those critics wrong.
It’s time for the team that made an early exit in the 50-over format of the World Cup in humiliating circumstances just six months ago, to throw everything into the game on Monday afternoon at the Wanderers as they have done so far in this tournament. Nothing short of over 200% intensity would do.
C’mon India... you can do it... one last time.
It will surprise no one if the DJ decides to kick off the festivities with Redemption Song.
In my post on September 11 (Cricket’s latest avatar: Can Team India adapt?), I had mentioned that “The only time that a World Cup was held in South Africa, Team India made it to the finals though the whole nation had written them off after a defeat in the group stages to Australia… and cricket is a funny game. So who knows…”
So far my prediction, or should I say my wish, has come true... Let’s hope this time we go one step further and get back the cup...the cup that matters.
What’s notable about this Indian team is its self belief and fearless attitude. Be it the eccentric Sreesanth, the cool Irfan Pathan, the intense Dinesh Karthik, the calm and responsible Mahendra Singh Dhoni, composed Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh and Joginder Sharma, flashy Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma, or the crown prince Yuvraj Singh... every member in this team has played their part and played it to the best of their abilities so far.
Now they have just one more game to go... perhaps the most important game of their lives as no one had given them a chance in this tournament. It’s time to prove all those critics wrong.
It’s time for the team that made an early exit in the 50-over format of the World Cup in humiliating circumstances just six months ago, to throw everything into the game on Monday afternoon at the Wanderers as they have done so far in this tournament. Nothing short of over 200% intensity would do.
C’mon India... you can do it... one last time.
It will surprise no one if the DJ decides to kick off the festivities with Redemption Song.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Underdogs India knocks 'chokers' South Africa out of Twenty20 World Cup
When a young Indian team under the captainship of Mahendra Singh Dhoni landed in South Africa about 10 days ago for the Twenty20 cricket world cup, nobody gave them any chance. They were the “underdogs”. However, people have now started taking the “underdogs” seriously when, in two successive days, they put it across two teams with the most experience in this version of cricket.
The hero of the match against South Africa was a 20-year-old making his debut. Rohit Sharma played with the poise, composure and temperament of an experienced professional. And if we add his exceptional fielding abilities to his batting, we can say that India has found a long-term middle-order batsman who should eventually make a mark in all forms of the game.
India, who is all of one game old in this format when the Twenty20 WC started, has shut many critics with their awesome performance. While we got to see some awesome batting display in the match against England, the victory against “chokers” South Africa — one of the best teams in cricket that has failed to go past the semi-final stage of a major tournament since being readmitted to the international fold in 1991 — saw significant performances in batting and a sensational display of fielding skills — Dinesh Karthik’s sensational catch to dismiss Graeme Smith, and Rohit Sharma’s Jonty Rhodes-like dive to run out Justin Kemp.
The only area that India needs to keep a watch on is the indiscipline in bowling. They gave away a handful in wides. Their excellence in other areas along with South Africa’s uncanny ability to play their worst cricket at the biggest stages allowed India to get away with it, but on Saturday against Australia such profligacy might cost them dear.
The hero of the match against South Africa was a 20-year-old making his debut. Rohit Sharma played with the poise, composure and temperament of an experienced professional. And if we add his exceptional fielding abilities to his batting, we can say that India has found a long-term middle-order batsman who should eventually make a mark in all forms of the game.
India, who is all of one game old in this format when the Twenty20 WC started, has shut many critics with their awesome performance. While we got to see some awesome batting display in the match against England, the victory against “chokers” South Africa — one of the best teams in cricket that has failed to go past the semi-final stage of a major tournament since being readmitted to the international fold in 1991 — saw significant performances in batting and a sensational display of fielding skills — Dinesh Karthik’s sensational catch to dismiss Graeme Smith, and Rohit Sharma’s Jonty Rhodes-like dive to run out Justin Kemp.
The only area that India needs to keep a watch on is the indiscipline in bowling. They gave away a handful in wides. Their excellence in other areas along with South Africa’s uncanny ability to play their worst cricket at the biggest stages allowed India to get away with it, but on Saturday against Australia such profligacy might cost them dear.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Indian cinema has not seen anything like Pather Panchali!
Last week I saw Pather Panchali (Song Of The Road) for the nth time… I sat down and wondered about all that had been said and written about the film over the years and then felt like doing something to pay tribute to one of the most astonishing films in the history of cinema. I decided to make a collage of a few stills from the films that I could say was my way of paying tribute to this amazing film, even if it was in a very small way.
Along with this I also ended up paying tribute to the man who made this wonderful film.
The man who started off as a visualiser in an ad agency in Calcutta… the man who made 35 feature films and five documentaries… the man who won practically every award in filmmaking… the man whom both the British Federation of Film Societies and the Moscow Film Festival Committee named one of the greatest directors of the second half of the 20th century… the man who received the Oscar for Lifetime Achievement as well as the Bharat Ratna - Satyajit Ray.
Ray caught the attention of cinema connoisseurs worldwide with the release of Pather Panchali in 1955 after about three years of unceasing financial difficulties.
Ray never wrote a complete screenplay for Pather Panchali… he sketched most of it. Some of those sketches - series of wash paintings in the manner of comics - are displayed in the Cinematheque Francaise in Paris.
The film - first in the Apu trilogy - mirrors the life in rural Bengal seen through the eyes of two children - Apu and his sister Durga - born in an impoverished family.
Pather Panchali has some of the most visually stunning scenes I have ever seen... the first raindrops on the bald pate of an angler, the water hyacinths in the pond, Durga and Apu spellbound by a humming telegraph pole, the siblings running through the kash (white cotton flower) fields at the sight of an approaching train, Durga developing pneumonia and dying or the scene after Durga’s death when Apu on discovering the necklace that she had actually stolen, throws it into the pond so that it remains a secret forever that his sister was the thief she was said to be … I can just go on and on.
Along with this I also ended up paying tribute to the man who made this wonderful film.
The man who started off as a visualiser in an ad agency in Calcutta… the man who made 35 feature films and five documentaries… the man who won practically every award in filmmaking… the man whom both the British Federation of Film Societies and the Moscow Film Festival Committee named one of the greatest directors of the second half of the 20th century… the man who received the Oscar for Lifetime Achievement as well as the Bharat Ratna - Satyajit Ray.
Ray caught the attention of cinema connoisseurs worldwide with the release of Pather Panchali in 1955 after about three years of unceasing financial difficulties.
Ray never wrote a complete screenplay for Pather Panchali… he sketched most of it. Some of those sketches - series of wash paintings in the manner of comics - are displayed in the Cinematheque Francaise in Paris.
The film - first in the Apu trilogy - mirrors the life in rural Bengal seen through the eyes of two children - Apu and his sister Durga - born in an impoverished family.
Pather Panchali has some of the most visually stunning scenes I have ever seen... the first raindrops on the bald pate of an angler, the water hyacinths in the pond, Durga and Apu spellbound by a humming telegraph pole, the siblings running through the kash (white cotton flower) fields at the sight of an approaching train, Durga developing pneumonia and dying or the scene after Durga’s death when Apu on discovering the necklace that she had actually stolen, throws it into the pond so that it remains a secret forever that his sister was the thief she was said to be … I can just go on and on.
However, two scenes in the film have left the maximum impact on me.
One is the scene when the monsoon arrives and Durga dances exultantly in the rain while, the less-adventurous Apu, watches her admiringly, huddled under a tree in the distance. Soon Durga joins her brother and they huddle together.
And the second one is the scene of Durga’s death. Apu summons a neighbour saying his mother has called her as Durga’s condition has deteriorated. The woman comes to Apu’s house. Inside, Durga’s mother Sarbojaya is sitting, unnaturally still, staring with unseeing eyes holding Durga’s lifeless head on her lap. The neighbour picks up Durga’s hand, but finds no pulse. She sits down near Sarbojaya and then embraces her, stroking her hair in a gesture of compassion, sharing her grief. To me this is one of the most saddest scenes ever filmed in Indian cinema... unspoken, silent and yet everytime I see it I get a lump in my throat.
A critic had once said about Pather Panchali: “The images speak and we listen with our eyes.”
This is my tribute to the some of the most enduring images on Indian screen and the man who created them. Indian cinema has not and will never ever see anything like Pather Panchali.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Way to go Zimbawbe
Cricket fans all over the world, except Australia, will not forget last night in a hurry. It was a night to remember as Zimbabwe inflicted the mother of all upsets in their Twenty-20 game against Australia. They outplayed the best team in the world... a team that looked overconfident right from the word go.
What an embarrassment for the men in skin-tight yellow and grey lycra.
And lest anyone think this was a fluke, it was not. For almost the entire game Zimbabwe were, almost unbelievably, on top. They bowled sensibly, fielded like demons and, finally, batted with the kind of wisdom that any top team would be proud of. They made the world champions look like no-hopers.
The Aussie batting lacked fluency, their bowlers were too wayward and their fielders fumbled and gave away overthrows. On the other hand, Zimbabwe threw themselves wholeheartedly into everything.
A great lesson for all those teams out there looking for ways and means to defeat the Aussies... put them under pressure... they will crumble.
What an embarrassment for the men in skin-tight yellow and grey lycra.
And lest anyone think this was a fluke, it was not. For almost the entire game Zimbabwe were, almost unbelievably, on top. They bowled sensibly, fielded like demons and, finally, batted with the kind of wisdom that any top team would be proud of. They made the world champions look like no-hopers.
The Aussie batting lacked fluency, their bowlers were too wayward and their fielders fumbled and gave away overthrows. On the other hand, Zimbabwe threw themselves wholeheartedly into everything.
A great lesson for all those teams out there looking for ways and means to defeat the Aussies... put them under pressure... they will crumble.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Cricket’s latest avatar: Can Team India adapt?
It’s just a couple of hours before the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup kicks off in South Africa. The Proteas are virtually living on a prayer… that’s the only way they can hope to break the World Cup jinx and not let it again be a case of “so near yet so far”.
On the other hand, the Aussies look all set to continue their domination and add another World Cup to their enviable kitty.
That brings us to the question “Where does Team India stand?”
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has already asked fans back home not to expect too much. Does that mean he is giving it up even before the tournament gets underway?
I would say “no”. On the contrary, I feel Dhoni is being practical.
First of all, India has very little experience in this format of the game. Secondly, without the presence of Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan and with Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh under pressure to perform, it won’t be cakewalk for India. That’s the reason I say Dhoni is being practical and not raising false hopes.
So let’s sit back, relax and enjoy the newest avatar of cricket for the next fortnight… let the game win.
AN AFTERTHOUGHT:
The only time that a World Cup was held in South Africa, Team India made it to the finals though the whole nation had written them off after a defeat in the group stages to Australia… and cricket is a funny game.
So who knows…
On the other hand, the Aussies look all set to continue their domination and add another World Cup to their enviable kitty.
That brings us to the question “Where does Team India stand?”
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has already asked fans back home not to expect too much. Does that mean he is giving it up even before the tournament gets underway?
I would say “no”. On the contrary, I feel Dhoni is being practical.
First of all, India has very little experience in this format of the game. Secondly, without the presence of Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan and with Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh under pressure to perform, it won’t be cakewalk for India. That’s the reason I say Dhoni is being practical and not raising false hopes.
So let’s sit back, relax and enjoy the newest avatar of cricket for the next fortnight… let the game win.
AN AFTERTHOUGHT:
The only time that a World Cup was held in South Africa, Team India made it to the finals though the whole nation had written them off after a defeat in the group stages to Australia… and cricket is a funny game.
So who knows…
Saturday, August 18, 2007
The Don… the country’s national game… and a dash of patriotism… Can’t ask for more
“Play for India first, then play for the team and, finally, if you have any strength left, then play for yourself…”
These words may sound philosophical, but when I heard them for the first time, my instant reaction was WOW! Because it came from none other than Shah Rukh Khan, who plays the coach of the “Indian National Women’s Hockey Team” in the movie Chak De! India.
Chak De… is the story of Kabir Khan, a hockey player, who is labeled a “gaddaar” because he fails to score a crucial goal, costing India the men’s hockey World Cup finals. For seven long years, Kabir has to bear the humiliation and insult. Finally, he gets a chance to prove to the world that he was not a traitor when he is hired to coach the Indian women’s hockey team that needed a coach but had no takers. Kabir fights against all odds and makes the unthinkable happen when the team wins the World Cup, and, in the process, he gets back his lost pride.
Chak De! India is a special film. It is one of best sports films I have ever seen.
The movie highlights, or rather, revives a sport, which is supposedly the national game of our country. It breaks all stereotypes and touches on issues like male chauvinism, racial discrimination, gender bias and lack of unity to name a few. It is one of he most thought-provoking movies I have seen.
Chak De! India is all about hope. It is all about keeping the country first and then your self. It is all about playing together as Team India and not members of individual states. Above all, Chak De! India is about pursuing a dream and believing that it can become a reality.
This is one of Shah Rukh’s most subdued performances till date. He lets his co-stars’ youthful charisma carry the movie, while portraying a character that vigorously and unabashedly advocates the advancement of women.
In short, Shah Rukh, the star, pulled audiences into the theatres and thereafter for the next 150-odd minutes Shah Rukh, the actor, keeps them enthralled.
The performance of the man can be best gauged by one newspaper review that says, “…even if you're a non-SRK fan, you gotta go 'n see him perform. And if you still remain unconvinced, just tell me one actor who would have dared to risk a script, which has no usual bollywood masala. The man knows his job and understands his strength!”
This film is the best I-Day gift for all Indians. It couldn’t have come at a better time than on the eve of the 60th Independence Day of India. The film surely strikes the goal… SPOT ON 10 TIMES OUT OF 10!!!
Chak De! Shah Rukh
These words may sound philosophical, but when I heard them for the first time, my instant reaction was WOW! Because it came from none other than Shah Rukh Khan, who plays the coach of the “Indian National Women’s Hockey Team” in the movie Chak De! India.
Chak De… is the story of Kabir Khan, a hockey player, who is labeled a “gaddaar” because he fails to score a crucial goal, costing India the men’s hockey World Cup finals. For seven long years, Kabir has to bear the humiliation and insult. Finally, he gets a chance to prove to the world that he was not a traitor when he is hired to coach the Indian women’s hockey team that needed a coach but had no takers. Kabir fights against all odds and makes the unthinkable happen when the team wins the World Cup, and, in the process, he gets back his lost pride.
Chak De! India is a special film. It is one of best sports films I have ever seen.
The movie highlights, or rather, revives a sport, which is supposedly the national game of our country. It breaks all stereotypes and touches on issues like male chauvinism, racial discrimination, gender bias and lack of unity to name a few. It is one of he most thought-provoking movies I have seen.
Chak De! India is all about hope. It is all about keeping the country first and then your self. It is all about playing together as Team India and not members of individual states. Above all, Chak De! India is about pursuing a dream and believing that it can become a reality.
This is one of Shah Rukh’s most subdued performances till date. He lets his co-stars’ youthful charisma carry the movie, while portraying a character that vigorously and unabashedly advocates the advancement of women.
In short, Shah Rukh, the star, pulled audiences into the theatres and thereafter for the next 150-odd minutes Shah Rukh, the actor, keeps them enthralled.
The performance of the man can be best gauged by one newspaper review that says, “…even if you're a non-SRK fan, you gotta go 'n see him perform. And if you still remain unconvinced, just tell me one actor who would have dared to risk a script, which has no usual bollywood masala. The man knows his job and understands his strength!”
This film is the best I-Day gift for all Indians. It couldn’t have come at a better time than on the eve of the 60th Independence Day of India. The film surely strikes the goal… SPOT ON 10 TIMES OUT OF 10!!!
Chak De! Shah Rukh
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
The 30-minute 'crap-athon'
“From the dusty playgrounds of Ranchi, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has made it as the Captain of the Indian team, for the inaugural Twenty-20 World Cup” — screamed one of reporters of a news channel last night while trying to prove that India’s future lay outside metros, in small towns.
Further, the channel also went to the extent of talking to a so-called “panel of experts” that used heavy-duty quotes/words like “alternative culture”, “metropolitan culture” and “India versus Bharat divide...” to prove their point.
However, mid-way through the “Special” I reached a saturation point and could absorb nothing more when the reporter started a debate on “...has our system been unjust for many decades and only a thin elite has been ruling all fields, leaving out a vast majority?”
I mean, it was hilarious. I still can’t fathom the fact that what made the channel feel that “the Buntys and Bablis of small towns are all set to conquer, while the babalog of the big cities are fading away”. People from small and lesser known towns have been making it big for years now.
Virender Sehwag, who made his ODI debut for India in 1999 against Pakistan, is the son of a grain hawker, who lived in a house stuffed with siblings, uncles, aunts and 16 cousins in Najafgarh, on the outskirts of New Delhi.
His teammates, fast bowler Munaf Patel and left-arm seamer R P Singh, hail from Bahruch in Gujarat and Rae Bareily in Uttar Pradesh, respectively.
Irfan Pathan, who made his India debut in 2003, grew up in a mosque in Baroda, Gujarat, in an impoverished family. His father served as the muezzin. Now, even his brother Yusuf has made it to the Twenty-20 squad.
Current bollywood queen Priyanka Chopra, who won the Miss World title in 2000, completed high school at Army Public School in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.
Then there is Govinda who was born and brought up in Virar, a far-flung outpost of Mumbai. “Chi chi”, as he is popularly known as, made his Hindi film debut in 1986, and has since acted in over 120 films with some of the biggest names in Bollywood.
About 5-6 finalists in each of the three editions of Indian Idol, a talent hunt show, were from places such as Jharkhand, Shillong, Uttaranchal etc.
So from where did this utter crap debate on “…the future of India lie outside the big cities” creep up?
I am not trying to take anything away from the people mentioned above and many others who have made it big from humble beginnings. All that I am trying to say is that why sensationalise such a fact which is not new, which has been happening for years? Why can’t the media curb its instinct for sensationalism for anything and everything? After all those patronizing teasers of the so-called “big story of the day”, the much-hyped story turned out to be a 30-minute “crap-athon”.
All that I can think of now is something that I had read in another blog — “The Indian media is full of vested interests, idiots who pontificate knowledge and predators preying on the infirm and intellectually challenged...”
How true!
Further, the channel also went to the extent of talking to a so-called “panel of experts” that used heavy-duty quotes/words like “alternative culture”, “metropolitan culture” and “India versus Bharat divide...” to prove their point.
However, mid-way through the “Special” I reached a saturation point and could absorb nothing more when the reporter started a debate on “...has our system been unjust for many decades and only a thin elite has been ruling all fields, leaving out a vast majority?”
I mean, it was hilarious. I still can’t fathom the fact that what made the channel feel that “the Buntys and Bablis of small towns are all set to conquer, while the babalog of the big cities are fading away”. People from small and lesser known towns have been making it big for years now.
Virender Sehwag, who made his ODI debut for India in 1999 against Pakistan, is the son of a grain hawker, who lived in a house stuffed with siblings, uncles, aunts and 16 cousins in Najafgarh, on the outskirts of New Delhi.
His teammates, fast bowler Munaf Patel and left-arm seamer R P Singh, hail from Bahruch in Gujarat and Rae Bareily in Uttar Pradesh, respectively.
Irfan Pathan, who made his India debut in 2003, grew up in a mosque in Baroda, Gujarat, in an impoverished family. His father served as the muezzin. Now, even his brother Yusuf has made it to the Twenty-20 squad.
Current bollywood queen Priyanka Chopra, who won the Miss World title in 2000, completed high school at Army Public School in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.
Then there is Govinda who was born and brought up in Virar, a far-flung outpost of Mumbai. “Chi chi”, as he is popularly known as, made his Hindi film debut in 1986, and has since acted in over 120 films with some of the biggest names in Bollywood.
About 5-6 finalists in each of the three editions of Indian Idol, a talent hunt show, were from places such as Jharkhand, Shillong, Uttaranchal etc.
So from where did this utter crap debate on “…the future of India lie outside the big cities” creep up?
I am not trying to take anything away from the people mentioned above and many others who have made it big from humble beginnings. All that I am trying to say is that why sensationalise such a fact which is not new, which has been happening for years? Why can’t the media curb its instinct for sensationalism for anything and everything? After all those patronizing teasers of the so-called “big story of the day”, the much-hyped story turned out to be a 30-minute “crap-athon”.
All that I can think of now is something that I had read in another blog — “The Indian media is full of vested interests, idiots who pontificate knowledge and predators preying on the infirm and intellectually challenged...”
How true!
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
ICL juggernaut is all set to crush BCCI
Poaching is the name of the game. Well... that is the message the new Twenty20 Indian Cricket League, better known as ICL, seems to be conveying to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The Indian Cricket League, which is set to debut in October 2007, has hired ex-international cricketers like Kapil Dev, Tony Greig, Dean Jones and Kiran More as its board members.
A few days ago, it signed up Brian Lara by offering him a contract reportedly far more lucrative than the sum he earned while playing international cricket for the West Indies.
And now with other big names like Australian greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, the “sleeping Pakistani giant” Inzamam-ul-Haq, the greatest New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and “the master blaster” from Sri Lanka Sanath Jayasuriya on the verge of signing contracts, the cricket world is finally paying attention to the Zee Group’s venture.
Feeling the heat the most is BCCI because ICL is well on its way to pursue a form of the game that the governing body was not interested in. For long, BCCI had maintained that the Twenty20 version was a “handy tool to revive the game only in places where it had lost appeal”. The board was not even in favour of the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, but had to embrace the format after it was outvoted 10-1 at an ICC meeting in Dubai few months ago (which means except BCCI, every other member was in favour of the Twenty20 World Championship).
Now, I guess, BCCI wants to admonish ICL as it realises that ICL has already got some ace its sleeve... or maybe they are worried that the argument they had put forward in the court a few years ago that “the Indian team does not play for India, but for BCCI”, may not hold good anymore.
We have seen for years the cricket run by BCCI. Now, it is time to give a chance to ICL.
The way ICL has gone about its task so far, I have no doubt that once it takes off, Subhash Chandra’s enterprise will not just run parallel to the existing cricket league managed by BCCI, but will overtake it.
In 1977, when Australian media baron Kerry Packer launched World Series Cricket, purists and even the Australian Cricket Board had derided his tournament as “Kerry Packer’s Cricket Circus”. Looks like this time it is going to be the other way round—people may soon start referring to BCCI as the Board of Control for “Circus” in India.
The Indian Cricket League, which is set to debut in October 2007, has hired ex-international cricketers like Kapil Dev, Tony Greig, Dean Jones and Kiran More as its board members.
A few days ago, it signed up Brian Lara by offering him a contract reportedly far more lucrative than the sum he earned while playing international cricket for the West Indies.
And now with other big names like Australian greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, the “sleeping Pakistani giant” Inzamam-ul-Haq, the greatest New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and “the master blaster” from Sri Lanka Sanath Jayasuriya on the verge of signing contracts, the cricket world is finally paying attention to the Zee Group’s venture.
Feeling the heat the most is BCCI because ICL is well on its way to pursue a form of the game that the governing body was not interested in. For long, BCCI had maintained that the Twenty20 version was a “handy tool to revive the game only in places where it had lost appeal”. The board was not even in favour of the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, but had to embrace the format after it was outvoted 10-1 at an ICC meeting in Dubai few months ago (which means except BCCI, every other member was in favour of the Twenty20 World Championship).
Now, I guess, BCCI wants to admonish ICL as it realises that ICL has already got some ace its sleeve... or maybe they are worried that the argument they had put forward in the court a few years ago that “the Indian team does not play for India, but for BCCI”, may not hold good anymore.
We have seen for years the cricket run by BCCI. Now, it is time to give a chance to ICL.
The way ICL has gone about its task so far, I have no doubt that once it takes off, Subhash Chandra’s enterprise will not just run parallel to the existing cricket league managed by BCCI, but will overtake it.
In 1977, when Australian media baron Kerry Packer launched World Series Cricket, purists and even the Australian Cricket Board had derided his tournament as “Kerry Packer’s Cricket Circus”. Looks like this time it is going to be the other way round—people may soon start referring to BCCI as the Board of Control for “Circus” in India.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Dribble in the rain
It's been two years now that I have been shifted from the “city of joy” — Kolkata — to the “city of dreams” — Mumbai. I have realised in this period that monsoon is a big thing in this city. Apart from the cooling showers, which bring a respite from months of the gruelling heat, this season is characterised by diseases and death, stories of neglect by the municipal authorities, open gutters, discussions on the substandard quality of roadwork resulting in potholes and, above all, flooding. And it’s been the same year after year.
However, for me, there is one thing about the monsoons that bring back fond memories of childhood... fond memories of those days that I spent in Kolkata... fond memories of some serious football action in the slush.
This used to be the beginning of a “new season” for us when we all geared up for football matches played solely in mud and slush after months of playing cricket in dry and humid conditions.
I get nostalgic about those days in Kolkata when we (I and my friends) used to rush out of our houses the moment we used to hear the first clap of thunder. Even though there were 3 large grounds close to my house, none of them used to have even an inch of space with 5-6 parallel “matches” going on.
Soon, even our “team” used to make a grand entry into the ground. For no reason, we used to dive in all parts of the ground. Football skills used to take a backseat. We used to slip and fall (deliberately), laugh and in between also score some goals.
Even the timing of the monsoons couldn’t have been better — just after the beginning of a new academic year when there used to be no exam tension. None of us were ever worried about falling sick or missing school.
What followed after the “match” used to be even more interesting. All charged up, we used to jump into this nearby old swimming pool of green slime and have the time of our lives on the pretext of trying to clean ourselves up before heading home. We were told that this pool, which had been lying unused for a while, used to be pristine clear in its heydays. That was our only consolation before jumping into the “dark green” water body.
Looking back, I miss those days a lot. It feels worse every time I visit Kolkata, for all that I see is a new building that has sprung up in those places that used to be our playground.
When I see the children in my locality playing in the “gulli”, I wonder, will any of them ever experience the fun of getting wet in the rains and rolling in the slush... will they ever experience the feeling of being in a winning team... a team that has won by an insane scoreline of 17-0 or 25-0 in a “para” football match in the rain?
However, for me, there is one thing about the monsoons that bring back fond memories of childhood... fond memories of those days that I spent in Kolkata... fond memories of some serious football action in the slush.
This used to be the beginning of a “new season” for us when we all geared up for football matches played solely in mud and slush after months of playing cricket in dry and humid conditions.
I get nostalgic about those days in Kolkata when we (I and my friends) used to rush out of our houses the moment we used to hear the first clap of thunder. Even though there were 3 large grounds close to my house, none of them used to have even an inch of space with 5-6 parallel “matches” going on.
Soon, even our “team” used to make a grand entry into the ground. For no reason, we used to dive in all parts of the ground. Football skills used to take a backseat. We used to slip and fall (deliberately), laugh and in between also score some goals.
Even the timing of the monsoons couldn’t have been better — just after the beginning of a new academic year when there used to be no exam tension. None of us were ever worried about falling sick or missing school.
What followed after the “match” used to be even more interesting. All charged up, we used to jump into this nearby old swimming pool of green slime and have the time of our lives on the pretext of trying to clean ourselves up before heading home. We were told that this pool, which had been lying unused for a while, used to be pristine clear in its heydays. That was our only consolation before jumping into the “dark green” water body.
Looking back, I miss those days a lot. It feels worse every time I visit Kolkata, for all that I see is a new building that has sprung up in those places that used to be our playground.
When I see the children in my locality playing in the “gulli”, I wonder, will any of them ever experience the fun of getting wet in the rains and rolling in the slush... will they ever experience the feeling of being in a winning team... a team that has won by an insane scoreline of 17-0 or 25-0 in a “para” football match in the rain?
Friday, November 17, 2006
A new milestone... a new beginning
November 16, 2006 – Just another day, or was it… Not for me at least…
It was my 30th birthday…
For the first time I felt that I had become old… for the first time I felt that I had reached a new milestone in my life and for the first time I felt that I would no more be as fortunate to find young and beautiful women to flirt with ;-)
I also felt that I had become old enough to avoid making the dumb mistakes of my 20s (I really hope they are behind me), and yet young enough to take risks with confidence so that even if they do fall apart, I would have plenty of time to bounce back.
However, when I sat down to think of the years that had gone by, 30 seemed like an unfathomably distant milestone. I had travelled so much in all these years…30 sure seemed old! A part of me felt nostalgic (and a little sad) remembering the years that had gone by… when anything was possible and my whole future was ahead of me.
At the same time, I feel incredibly lucky to have had the past decade.
I graduated, despite my terrible grasp of accountancy and economics nearly causing me to flunk the B.Com exams.
I have had a bunch of great friends — friends who've been by my side at some of the toughest times of my life.
I have also met some of the most amazing people at my workplace (workplaces to be precise...I've changed 4 jobs in 6 years). They have gone on to become an integral part of my life... They are the people whom I can trust, with whom I can be myself... and above all whom I can call friends, not colleagues.
However, the best part of the last decade was meeting the most amazing woman who is part of my life today. She inspires me to be a better person in every facet of my life. I am so lucky to have found her.
Though there are so many things I didn't do or so many things that I won't get a chance to do again, I am still proud of my 20s. The one thing that I have realised is that there is so little time in life, no matter how long a life you have. There's so much more I want to accomplish in my life and in my career that I feel I am already behind. A decade ago thinking 30 was old. However, now that I am 30, I am ready to take on the next decade full-throttle.
It was my 30th birthday…
For the first time I felt that I had become old… for the first time I felt that I had reached a new milestone in my life and for the first time I felt that I would no more be as fortunate to find young and beautiful women to flirt with ;-)
I also felt that I had become old enough to avoid making the dumb mistakes of my 20s (I really hope they are behind me), and yet young enough to take risks with confidence so that even if they do fall apart, I would have plenty of time to bounce back.
However, when I sat down to think of the years that had gone by, 30 seemed like an unfathomably distant milestone. I had travelled so much in all these years…30 sure seemed old! A part of me felt nostalgic (and a little sad) remembering the years that had gone by… when anything was possible and my whole future was ahead of me.
At the same time, I feel incredibly lucky to have had the past decade.
I graduated, despite my terrible grasp of accountancy and economics nearly causing me to flunk the B.Com exams.
I have had a bunch of great friends — friends who've been by my side at some of the toughest times of my life.
I have also met some of the most amazing people at my workplace (workplaces to be precise...I've changed 4 jobs in 6 years). They have gone on to become an integral part of my life... They are the people whom I can trust, with whom I can be myself... and above all whom I can call friends, not colleagues.
However, the best part of the last decade was meeting the most amazing woman who is part of my life today. She inspires me to be a better person in every facet of my life. I am so lucky to have found her.
Though there are so many things I didn't do or so many things that I won't get a chance to do again, I am still proud of my 20s. The one thing that I have realised is that there is so little time in life, no matter how long a life you have. There's so much more I want to accomplish in my life and in my career that I feel I am already behind. A decade ago thinking 30 was old. However, now that I am 30, I am ready to take on the next decade full-throttle.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Again away from home, during Durga Pujo...
Durga Puja starts today. And even this year I would miss Kolkata the most during these five days.
The sound of the dhakis, the fragrance of the dhup and dhunuchi (coconut hair burning with an incense-like powder in an earthen hand held pot that looks like a very fat wine glass - couldn't think of anything else), the chant of the mantras in the pandals, spending the evenings at Maddox Square (ask a Bengali what being at Maddox Square means during Durga Puja), pandal hopping and of course moving from one roadside stall to another, following the nose as it trails the smells of food as oily, greasy, and over priced as ever, but nonetheless adding to the spirit – that’s how all my Durga Pujas, or Pujo as it is referred to in Bengali, have been since 1992, the year that I started staying in Kolkata.
Though this is the second consecutive year that I am away from home during Pujo, but I know I carry a bit of Kolkata with me wherever I go. I can feel it. What else could be the reason that every Pujo I am overcome by emotions that I never feel throughout the year, emotions that only a Bengali could relate to, emotions that I’ve always felt during Pujo when I used to stay in Kolkata. They keep coming back to me year after year during Pujo.
Pujo is much more than just worship. I would miss it all.
The sound of the dhakis, the fragrance of the dhup and dhunuchi (coconut hair burning with an incense-like powder in an earthen hand held pot that looks like a very fat wine glass - couldn't think of anything else), the chant of the mantras in the pandals, spending the evenings at Maddox Square (ask a Bengali what being at Maddox Square means during Durga Puja), pandal hopping and of course moving from one roadside stall to another, following the nose as it trails the smells of food as oily, greasy, and over priced as ever, but nonetheless adding to the spirit – that’s how all my Durga Pujas, or Pujo as it is referred to in Bengali, have been since 1992, the year that I started staying in Kolkata.
Though this is the second consecutive year that I am away from home during Pujo, but I know I carry a bit of Kolkata with me wherever I go. I can feel it. What else could be the reason that every Pujo I am overcome by emotions that I never feel throughout the year, emotions that only a Bengali could relate to, emotions that I’ve always felt during Pujo when I used to stay in Kolkata. They keep coming back to me year after year during Pujo.
Pujo is much more than just worship. I would miss it all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)