It's that time of the year again....

It’s that time of the year again, when for every Bengali the countdown begins…

It’s that time of the year again, when every Bengali settled outside craves to be back in town…

It's that time of the year again, when there is Kashful in the field and shiuli in the air...

It's that time of the year again, when the potter’s colony of Kumortili is the busiest place...

It's that time of the year again, when a simple clay figure comes to life so easily...

It's that time of the year again, when every Bengali saves each penny for those four days…

It's that time of the year again, when every small wish is fulfilled by parents...

It's that time of the year again, when the otherwise 'lyadhkhor' Bengali will be out for shopping on weekends...

It’s that time of the year again, when elders ask you “Kota jama holo”-no matter how old you are…

It’s that time of the year again, when the streets are dug and roads are in mess for the pandals decorations…

It’s that time of the year again, when the pujo committee guys are done with their collections…

It's that time of the year again, when every Bengali prays to the Rain God and asks him not to shower during those four days....

It’s that time of the year again, when every Bengali says "Jaa Sorir Kharap Howar Aaage Hoye Jaag baba"

It’s that time of the year again, when every TV channel starts reminding you of the Mahalaya telecast… 

It’s that time of the year again, when every Bengali asks “Eibaare Maa aschen kise?”

It’s that time of the year again, when maar agominir ashaye che boshaa…

It’s that time of the year again, which we Bengalis treasure forever

Octogenarian Shila grandma and her 'Never say Die attitude'

“I don’t go to bed without watching my favourite television serial at night every day”, smiles the beautiful octogenarian Shila Ghosh.

If you stay in Kolkata and frequently happen to pass the Exide, Haldiram area, you obviously wouldn't have missed noticing this old, feeble woman selling savouries on the streets of Kolkata. And, yes she is also quite popular on Facebook; by popular, I don’t mean she has an account there. But few posts written about her on this social networking site have gone viral and this is how most of us have known her.

I cross Exide every day because my office is located nearby and I also frequently purchase few packets of papad from her.  However, I never got an opportunity to chit chat with this old woman. Last Friday was different, I left office early and just before getting on to the metro, I decided to relish some roadside steamed momos to satiate my evening hunger pangs.  While I was delving deep into my chicken momo, I chanced to have a glance on the other side of the road and noticed that ‘Exide er Dida’ or grandma was sitting at her usual place but she had her left foot bandaged. I quickly finished my momo and crossed the street to purchase few packets of colourful papad from her. Little grandma smiled at me and said “I don’t have anything left; all the packets have been sold off".

I didn't know what to do, I wanted to help her out by purchasing few packets of papad, but now I was clueless. I had earlier read that she doesn't accept donations, so I was bit wary of offering her any kind of financial help.  So I decided to spend some time with her, I asked her if I could sit next to her, she gleamed with joy and welcomed me “You will sit here? Please come na”. Grandma in her white sari looked divine as the street light fell on her and then I instantly realized what it is in her which attracts everyone, including me. 

For those who are not aware, grandma commutes daily from Bali in West Bengal and changes two local buses to reach the Exide More. Yes, unlike others, she doesn't have the luxury or the comfort of enjoying her old age in peace. As life for her almost came to a standstill, when her son was paralyzed and he lost his job. In order to meet his medical expenses, grandma started commuting daily and earning her daily wage by selling papads on the pavement. Hope life would have been less harsh on her, but as she says " I came to this world with this destiny and I don't repent it. " It became impossible for her to manage the household expenses, when her ailing son left for heavenly abode and her daughter-in-law got bedridden few years back.However Shila Grandma like always with her grit and determination successfully crossed every hurdle in her life with her never say die attitude.

She always wanted to live a life with dignity and that is the reason she knew she would never beg on the streets. She braved all odds to run her family and even made her grandson learn driving who today earns his living as a driver.Grandma says that owing to the inflation in price of all the items and the unending medical expenses which her family has to bear, it is not possible for her to sit at home even.

Last week, her leg got sprained after she met with a bus accident, but things haven't changed for her, as you will still find her seated in her usual place every evening.

While conversing with her, I realized that she might be hungry; to which she politely refused and said she hardly manages to eat anything these days. I was quite amazed to hear her schedule after she reaches home daily. “I have only tea and paan and yes I watch Television before I hit the bed every day."  While this tête-à-tête was going on, there were several inquisitive people gaping at us trying to figure out what was going on, some even came and inquired about her health and the rest came to purchase papad from her, who had to return empty handed. While I was engrossed in the conversation, her attention diverted and she started fidgeting with her faded bag. She took out a Rs 10 note from a worn out purse and requested me if I could get her two zarda paan from the shop nearby. I didn't know what to say, simply looked at her in awe, refused to take the money and got her two zarda paan. I realized that the more time I was spending with her, it was getting more difficult for me to leave her and go.

Before leaving I gave her some money and to my surprise, she counted the notes, smiled at me and said "Today I will use this money while returning home.” I bade her goodbye, asked her to take care of her health and headed straight to the metro station. 

It’s my humble request to all of you, if you are in Kolkata, please do find some time and at least go and meet her once, she loves to have people around her. In case you plan to offer her any kind of financial help, please go ahead with it, as she is in dire need of money, more so owing to her deteriorating health condition and the rising medical expenses of her daughter-in-law. If you stay outside Kolkata and still wish to help her financially do let me know, we can surely work out something. J

A silent hope…

I remember the day when this political party came to power; I heaved a sigh of great relief not because of the similarities in our political ideologies but because like the others, even I desired to witness some change or ‘poriborton’ in the real sense.

However as the days passed, I gradually realized what this poriborton was, and how and why people of the other states actually get a reason to make fun of us. Be it the buffoonery, mudslinging and all the other idiosyncrasies of our politicians, the dismal job prospects or talk about the lack of security given to women, we are always the butt of jokes.

I am writing this not out of sheer frustration looking at the state of affairs, I am writing it because I am sad and I seriously wish my city really stood for the name ‘City of Joy’.   

I have been born and brought up in Calcutta and yes this is the place where I have actually transformed from a young girl to a woman. So this place has not only given shape to my body, but also to my beliefs.

As a student, I have never felt my city to be this unsafe as it is today, yes of course there has always been some weird uncle ogling at me, or a brat trying to elbow me in a crowded bus or someone pinching my bottom. But I guess all of us have been ingrained in such a way to believe that these unwanted freebies will always be there because you are a 'GIRL'.
Being a girl, I am always expected to stay prim and proper, and for e.g. even if my bra strap gets visible or if I am wearing something body hugging, then some guy can get aroused which actually makes this otherwise godly person to behave in this wild way.  I know, I am digressing from the subject, but is it possible to separate the two,-safety of women and the dominance of the prevalent patriarchy in our society? 

Hope the level of  harassment could have been restricted to the above mentioned bars. As with every passing day, various new forms of perversion are being invented, applied and experimented on women. 

Today morning, my parents had a very serious discussion with me about their concern that I am returning home late (which is 10 PM) every day because of my office. I couldn't understand why all of a sudden this curfew was being set for me that I need to leave office by 6:30 PM.  I got agitated, lest realizing the reason for their berserk behaviour. It’s only when I glanced at today’s paper that things fell into place.  

Today I feel crippled in my city, because I can’t do things which my heart desires for, I can’t wear clothes which I want to wear, because there will be someone salivating mere looking at my breasts, I can’t write or speak freely, because I can be termed as a Maoist. I can’t use the social networking sites or share or tag my friends there, because there is someone for whom tracking my social activity is more grave an issue than tracking or trying to curb the crime on women.

Yes I am sad, in my own city, the city where I was born 26 years back, the city where I have spent the best days of my life, the city which has moulded me and is responsible for who I am today.

Dear Calcutta, we are all waiting to breathe that fresh bout of air if not today, but tomorrow for sure. 

Fraudsters go door to door in the name of Big Bazaar

Below is a very common conversation which actually happened between my mom and a salesman yesterday.
It’s a very common sight especially during noon when these salesmen go door to door to sell their product.

With so many fraudsters in the market, it is next to impossible to trust these people.

Door Bell rings.....

Mom- yes who is it?
Salesman: Madam Can you please open the door?)
Mom:  What is it for?
Salesman: Mam, I have come from Big Bazaar- we are issuing discount cards to senior citizen members. Is there any senior citizen member in your family?
Mom: Yes. What is the card about and what benefits will I get?
Salesman: See Mam as you know Big Bazaar is having this Maha sasta offer from 23th-27th January. With this card you can avail 5% special discount over the existing offer. Then every Sunday, we will get our vehicle down to your building and will provide with fresh vegetables. All you have to do this get down to your building and we will swipe the amount from your card with some bonus points being added to your card.
Mom: So what are the documents you need for issuing this card?
Salesman: Mam as I have mentioned, this card is free of cost. All we need is a xerox copy of the senior citizen's pancard. Mam there is also a special free gift offer for today.
Me: My ears got alert at the mention of the word FREE..I shouted from the other room.." Maa please ask him what is the free gift"
Salesman: Only for today, along with this free card. Big Bazaar is offering a 75% discount on this micro-oven. The refrigerator was also on offer, but it is out of stock now.
Mom: No thank you..I have enough electronic products and we don't require any
Salesman: Mam, imagine it’s a 75% offer, which you won't get anywhere. He then sees a glimpse of me. Mam you can also gift it to didi for her wedding.
Mom: No we don't need this product. But come after 5 minutes, I will get the xerox copy of the pancard and other things for the issuance of the card
Salesman: Sure Mam. I will come in 5 minutes.

Mom was quite skeptical as she said, if Big Bazaar comes in every locality with their car and sells vegetables door to door. They will obviously face opposition from the local vendors. I don't how they will do it.
The salesman never turned up after that. The form is still lying as it is on our table.
Today morning I decided to call Big Bazaar and know if they are actually having such special offers for the senior members.

Me: Are you having any special offers for the senior citizen members by issuing them some Big Bazaar cards?
Big Bazaar employee: No mam, Big Bazaar is not having any such offers and it is anyways our ‘maha sasta’ offer going on and we don't offer door to door delivery of vegetables. These are a bunch of fraudsters in the market cheating people in the name of our company.
 Mam you tell me something- 75% discount on micro-oven is it even possible? By giving this attractive offer, they will lure those customers who are planning to change their micro oven (As the offer sounds great-Imagine you will get a Rs 5,000 oven for Rs 1,250). We have already informed our local police about this fraud.

It’s a request to you to please spread awareness among your neighbourhood and friends that actually no such offer is going on in the market. I don’t know about any other city, however if you come across such offers- please don’t fall for the trap and take them to the local police station if necessary.

Bong Connection

Two years ago, when I first came to Mumbai, life was not simple as it used to be in my hometown. I had to cope with many things at the same time --terribly fast life, work pressure and finally staying away from family, which amounted to loneliness. It was then that my colleague-cum-college senior came to my rescue and he introduced me to my college alumni group, ‘Presidency College (Calcutta) Alumni Association Mumbai (PCAAM)'.

This weekend, the association celebrated its annual cultural festival, the 14th Banga Sanskriti Samelan. This is a three-day-long festival, which is celebrated each year at Rabindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi. Renowned artistes from Kolkata and Bangladesh fly down to perform at this cultural programme. Wide varieties of programmes are placed on the palette, from dances to songs, dramatics to band performances, which are mainly kept to cater to the taste of the youth.

Going back to the history, Presidency College was established in 1817 in Calcutta. It is the oldest institution founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy. PCAAM was established in 1992 with a membership of 20 and over the years, the numbers have increased by leaps and bounds.

The best part about this association is that it attempts to bring together the entire alumni who are settled in Mumbai. The camaraderie is something worth noticing and people in the age group of 20-80 can be seen sharing light moments and pulling each other’s leg often. The General Secretary of this Association is a 63-year-old man who prefers to be referred as ‘dada’ (brother) and not ‘kaku’ (uncle) by youngsters.

The main purpose of arranging the cultural function here in Mumbai is to keep up the name and the rich heritage of the premier institute. It is also an initiative to enable people take time out of their busy schedules and socialize with people who share the same roots.

For the success of such a grand function, general body meetings take place where roles are assigned to those members who are willing to contribute their time and effort. All the members are informed about the event through emails and personal calls. Each member is made special by making him or her contribute in a small way, be it the duty at the reception or at the backstage. Huge sponsorships are arranged for the funding of the function.

Some of the other programmes that are organized for the members are yearly picnics, Bengali Naboborsho (14th April, Bengali New Year), Bijaya Samelan (after Durga puja), and the frequent get-togethers at each other’s place.

Being the youngest member in this association, I personally enjoy a lot of attention and love. It’s like my first family here in Mumbai as I can reach and discuss my professional and personal problems with them any time. There is so much of warmth inside the group which can be felt even by outsiders. All I can say is that now I realise why we used to say 'Once a Presidencian, always a Presidencian'.

Some of the famous alumni of Presidency College are:

Swami Vivekananda

Henry Louis Vivian Derozio

Rabindranath Tagore

Dr Rajendra Prasad

Subhash Chandra Bose

Jagdish Chandra Bose

MJ Akbar

Satyajit Ray

Amartya Sen

Aparna Sen

Ashok Kumar

Buddhadeb Bhattacharya

Jyoti Basu

Somenath Chatterjee