Puja Special issues of Bengali magazines

Durga Pujas comes but once a year and, on this occasion, the Bengali magazines publish special issues – these are specially designed and created and those who contribute towards its success are well known authors and poets and essayists. Once in a while, there would be a newcomer and, his acceptance for seeing his name alongside the stalwarts means he has arrived. His path might have been a long and troubled one but – seeing one’s name in print in the Puja Special issue is proof of his abilities.
Incidentally, the creation of this special edition is a time consuming affair. The process begins quite early – at least six months early. The publication house decides which authors to be contacted depending on his salability.

There could be other considerations like his political inclinations. Whatever it be, the publication contacts him and mutually acceptable contracts are drawn up – the subject is also finalized as is the remuneration. And, care has to be taken to ensure that the same subject matter does not get repeated.
The general tendency is to choose a subject that would be the hottest subject of the time – like a gruesome murder or a spate of kidnappings or robberies. Then there are the politically hot topics or topics on religion or adventure or even disasters.
The permutations and combinations are mind boggling is mind boggling and, with several magazines, it becomes a near impossible task to ensure that duplication of ideas are avoided, if that is not assured, the charm of the novel would be lost.
Incidentally, there are writers who would pick a topic that no one would ever think of – he would pick a historical subject and would slog day and night in libraries digging into the past. When the novel finally makes its appearance it becomes an instant hit.
Whatever it be, getting to see one’s novels in the Puja Special issues is an achievement for any author. When I got such a chance in one of the small time magazines, I was elated. The complimentary copy that came by post went from hand to hand among my friends and they discussed its plus and minuses. (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

Worsening quality of air forces shutdown of Singapore schools

Giant laddoo weighing 11,111Kg offered to Goddess Ambaji at Ambaji temple

Israeli armed Heron drones to be inducted into the Indian arsenal


Bay City Rollers, the Scottish band, to hold a reunion gig in Glasgow

Richa Chadha opens her mind – says, she wants to do ‘candy-floss’ roles

Chris Brown, the American singer, may be denied entry into Australia


Gunmen abduct foreigners from a Philippine island resort, an American and a Japanese jump to safety

Huge rat-size spiders invade Cheshire – residents in panic

Ukraine imposes sanctions on Moscow - bans Aeroflot and Transaero flights into the country


36-days for Durga Puja and the dhakis get ready

Durga Puja is the busiest time of the year for Kumortuli

Bengalis and the hawkers’ corners in Kolkata

Detective Nero Mullick enters the Puja special edition

As requested by the Editor of Mashik Rahasya, I returned back to Deolali and created the character of Nero Mullick and he made his entry into the world of criminal investigation in a prestigious Puja Special edition. He was a retired officer of the Indian Railways and had the traits in him that singled him out from others. He was a strict disciplinarian and was hurt when anything happened that should not have happened.
He had a dedicated assistant in the form of a police inspector who would drop in on him whenever any out-of-the-way crime took place. The crimes were usually of murders.
One such story was about a dead body found in the boot of a taxi at Howrah station. In fact, such an incident actually took place and my pen wove an imaginary story around it and it became a novelette. I realized that penning a novel was not an easy task and one had to be careful to ensure that continuity was maintained and that the characters did not get mixed up.
In order to do this in a systematic way, I would jot down the important points like names of characters, location of incidents, timings etcetera on a separate sheet of paper so that I did not lose track of the important aspects. There would be times when I would need to refer to some documents like a road map or a railway timetable to ensure accuracy of facts.
And, I always kept a note book near my bed – to jot down sudden inspirational items like a newly coined word or the name of a character that would sound most appropriate in the particular situation. (to be continued …)


Another interesting blog - Violence and atrocities

Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist


Links to some more interesting stories –


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


First Russian woman cosmonaut returns to Earth after six-month stay in ISS


My Boss wanted me to become a detective


My job interview over a cup of coffee


Train travel to and from Kanpur to Kolkata