Showing posts with label kolkata boi mela. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kolkata boi mela. Show all posts

Monday, January 25, 2016

Didi and her books in Book Fair (satire)


#kolkatabookfair #boimela It was time for the annual Kolkata Book Fair, fondly known as Boi Mela. It is a reason for celebration and millions of people from all walks of life come to the venue to not just look at the books on display but, also to partake of the hundred and one outlets that invite them to taste the wide variety of food stuff.
‘I see tough times ahead,’ Abhi Shake said. He was closeted with Moo Cool, Patro Chatto, Dee Wreck, Fear Had and Omit Misra.
‘Our opponents are ganging up to dislodge us,’ Patro murmured. Of late, he was finding to speak clearly – he had put on weight and it affected his speech pattern. He was always out of breath.
‘We must put our heads together to arrange finances,’ Omit Misra wiped his glasses for the umpteenth time. He was finding it hard to balance his books. He was a man of finance and, even though it had been drilled into his mind that he must cut his coat according to his cloth, he had to cut corners to make both ends meet.
But Didi never understood him. She kept asking for more and more and he had to keep borrowing to satisfy the demands. ‘I think we can leave finance to Didi,’ Moo Cool said. ‘She knows best.’
‘Last time she sold her paintings for crores of rupees,’ Dee Wreck reminded.
‘But of late she hasn’t picked up the brush for a long time,’ Abhi Shake said. ‘When will she crate her masterpieces?’ ‘Don’t worry,’ Moo Cool smiled. ‘She has a powerful pen. It is more powerful than her voice and she knows just how to beat the odds.’
‘You mean her books will rake in the crores?’ there was disbelief in Omit Misra’s voice. ‘Those who love paintings may not love books.’
‘Just wait and watch,’ Moo Cool said. ‘Let the Book Fair open and you can see how her books fly off the shelves. They’ll sell like hot cakes. She loves to write as she loves to draw. Deep within her lies a dormant artist who rears its head when required especially to generate funds.’
‘She has the stamina,’ Dee Wreck added. ‘Drawing requires a studio but writing does not. She has been traveling a lot and, while on the move, she has been penning her thoughts. And – she will be releasing ten of her books in the fair.’ (to be continued …)

Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Monday, May 4, 2015

Zoom off from New Delhi to Kolkata by Rajdhani Express for Kolkata Boi Mela


My first working level meeting with the Russian delegation was in January 1995.
It was a new experience as well as a bit of a problem for me because I had to also attend the Kolkata Boi Mela and the dates clashed. The Boi Mela usually took place in the last week of January and went on till first week of February and the meeting was in the 2nd week of January.
My transfer had already affected the publication of Naba Nalanda. Moreover, along with my transfer, one of my partners became a patient of diabetes – therefore, our Sunday visits to the industrial hub of Nashik to collect ads took a beating. The publication was a sort of joint enterprise and, with me unable to devote time because of my new assignment and my partner unable to extend support because of restrictions imposed on him by the doctors, we realized that Naba Nalanda would die a natural death.
In spite of that, we had booked a stall in the Boi Mela of 1995 and my partner had gone on ahead to prepare the stalls. I was supposed to meet up with him directly from Delhi after the meeting with the Russian delegation.
Therefore, I took my boss into confidence and booked a ticket to Kolkata by the Rajdhani Express. My boss cautioned me to return back to Nashik at the earliest and, also suggested that I try to stay away from the publication business since it was impractical to devote equal attention to my profession and my hobby. I had to sacrifice one.
I also knew as much and, my participation in the 1995 Kolkata Boi Mela was our last one. (to be continued …)

A few more must reads -

Nashik Kumbhmela 2015 – a once in 12-years pilgrimage

Trip to Nashik should take in Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the epic Ramayana

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the Mahabharata

Kumbhmela 2015 in Nashik – guided tours to wineries and vineyards

Nashik transforms from a place of pilgrimage to an industrial hub


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‘Papri’ and ‘Barood’ - collection of Bengali short stories published from Nashik

British Army wants computer whizzkids to counter the growing menace of ISIS propaganda


Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

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Durga Puja - priest dancing with devotee (YouTube video)