Durga Puja in Nashik

Durga Puja is a festival of Bengalis and, wherever they have settled, they have joined together to have their own pujas. Every Bengali longs to be in his home town to celebrate but, the employment and education of their children does not allow them such liberties – the only practical solution is to shift the venue. Therefore, we find them in Delhi, in Mumbai and also in Nashik. And, the celebrations can, at times, be on a grander scale than those back home in Kolkata because while in Delhi, the Bengalis are mostly linked to central government agencies, in Mumbai it is all about the stars of the silver screen.

The situation in Nashik was a bit different. Bengalis had arrived in Nashik along with some prestigious central government institutions like the Government of India Press, the Currency Note Press and the India Security Press. The venues were quite near each other and the employees stayed in quarters. It was but natural that they one day decided to have their own Durga Puja.
Later, another major engineering unit came up in Nashik – it was the aircraft manufacturing factory located nearly 20-Km away from the city. Here also there were Bengalis who had come from vastly different backgrounds. Some came from Indian Air Force, others from the Indian Navy and also from other divisions of HAL. And, there were fresh engineering graduates who joined as Management Trainees. In the initial stages, these Bengalis tried to adjust with the existing lot but that was not a practical solution. Hence, another Durga Puja began.
And, with the passage of time and with more induction of Bengalis in organizations like MICO, VIP, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Victor Gaskets etcetera the celebrations began to fan out. Each new group had their own justifiable reasons and today the numbers of pujas can be seen when the idols come for immersion in the Godavari.
The message is ‘live and let live’. (to be continued …) (Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)
Some more interesting links -

Fossils and eggshells of baby dinosaurs found in Gobi Desert

Parama Island flyover adds to traffic jams in Kolkata – made one-way

Future of street foods in Delhi bleak - Delhi bans cooking on roads


Arnold Schwarzenegger could play in Rajinikanth-starrer 'Enthiran 2'

Emma Roberts and her horror-comedy series "Scream Queens"

India is one of 81 countries vying for Best Foreign Film in the 88th Academy Awards


Despite US airstrikes, ISIS still makes £300-million a year from oil

Syrian gang caught trying to smuggle 20-tonnes of cannabis worth £150million into Europe

US airdrops 50-tons of ammunition for M-16s and AK-47 to Syrian fighters


Durga Puja in Kolkata housing complexes

Durga Puja and cultural programs

The pandal hoppers of Kolkata

Durga Puja in Kolkata housing complexes

Durga Puja is a four day affair with hundreds of rituals that need to be followed meticulously and, it used to be an annual festival of the landlords or zamindars. They stayed in huge palatial buildings and the whole village would be invited to join in the prayers. There would also be associated festivities comprising lunch in the afternoon and entertainment in the evening that would be presented by troupes from Kolkata. The total cost would be borne by the landlord himself.
Some of these landlords stayed in Kolkata itself and the festivities here was one of showing off their assets and the invitees used to be British nationals who were employed in different levels of the government. Then there were Bengali businessmen who mattered. Here also, the total cost was met by the landlord himself – it was his method of remaining in the good books of the British rulers.

However, once the British left and the Bengalis began to move out of villages and settle in cities, they missed the annual festivities – and, in order to revive the culture, they began to pool their resources in the form on money and manpower and perform the Durga Puja in their communities. These came to be known as ‘baroari pujas’ – or pujas conducted by twelve friends. The figure twelve is a figurative one – it could be any number of families who join to participate in the festivities.
Suddenly one day, the scenario changed and multistory buildings began to come up in the city of Kolkata. There emerged a new breed of businessmen who were after land. They would pounce on any vacant land, coerce the owners to sell it and offer them ready cash plus a flat in the proposed housing complex. Such an offer was not easy to turn down and, soon, there mushroomed innumerable housing complexes. Along with them came a new set of culture and values. It was the period of changes in all walks of life and Durga Puja was no exception.
Thus it came to pass that housing complexes decided to join hands and perform the pujas. All the residents pool their resources, the women take over the religious rituals of the pujas, the young boys and girls perform song and dance programs while the men gather to play cards or go vocal on political topics. They have lunch together and even dinner. And, these pujas bring back the village culture and one wonders – the wheels have turned a full cycle! (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-
Online buyers beware: Flipkart in trouble – is it handling stolen goods?

Ramdev graduates from yoga-guru to marketing guru to capture Maggi’s market

Pepsi to withdraw from sponsorship of IPL because of spot fixing scandal


Shabana Azmi, Cate Blanchett, Freida Pinto to share their thoughts at Women in the World India Summit in Delhi

Sidharth Malhotra to be first Indian ambassador for Tourism New Zealand

Selena Gomez says her absence was not due to drugs but chemotherapy for lupus


Life imprisonment for 15-year-old British boy who plotted Anzac Day massacre in Melbourne

France joins the fight against the ISIS – bombs targets in Raqqa

Double suicide bombing in Turkish peace rally leaves 97 dead, more than 400 injured


Foodies build-up tempo to the Durga Pujas

Durga Puja today is a commercial venture

Durga Puja provides thousands of jobs for months

Foodies build-up tempo to the Durga Pujas

With hardly a few days left for the annual celebrations of Bengalis, the TV channels have begun to give teaser trailers on food joints in the city and how they are readying themselves to pamper to the taste buds of the Bengalis.
The days of Basanta Cabin, Ralli’s and Aminia are now history. There was this snap of Peter Cat a couple days back on a TV channel and then there was Tamarind. Others in the list of favorites are joints like Bhajohari Manna, Mainland China, 6 Chowringhee Place, Aheli – The Peerless Inn, ‘Oh! Calcutta’.

For those who are far away from Kolkata, the brief reports on restaurants that dish out really mouthwatering Bengali dishes is a treat for not just tired eyes but for any eye. The dishes laid out on the table makes one wish that he could have been there physically on the spot to taste the true Bengali cuisines. If wishes were horses …
Usually the menu is attractive to bowl anyone over. There are the near spherical luchis and a mound of rice in the center of the plate surrounded by chholar dal, begun bhaja, fish fry, paturis (steamed fish in plantain leaves), bowls of kasha mangsho, chingri malai curry and some exotic preparation of ilish, Then comes the sweets – not just rosogollahs and sandesh but twist of taste in the form of unheard of combinations to titillate the sweet tooth.
The restaurants usually offer buffets and one can choose what he wants to and enjoy his meal – there is no restriction and it is up to the diner to be aware of his limitations. A word of caution – one has to leave behind at home his worries about calories, cholesterol and the likes – Durga Puja is an annual event. It comes but once a year and must be given its due respect. (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)
Some more interesting 'must reads'-
Skywalk planned by UP tourism department to connect Taj Mahal with Agra Fort

Undaunted by a target of 200, South Africa romp home in Dharamsala with two balls to spare

After yoga, central government promotes outdoor sports like jungle safari, rafting


Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan to promote tourism in Bengal

Sunny Leone is a guest at the PETA US’ 35th anniversary gala at the Hollywood Palladium

X-Files, Scully and Mulder to return on January 24th after a 13-year-break


ISIS harvesting organs of healthy individuals to treat the injured jihadists

US airstrike targets a hospital in Kunduz instead of Taliban outposts – 9 Doctors Without Borders members killed

Russia carries out airstrikes in Syria – targets CIA-backed rebels instead of ISIS


Durga Puja is the busiest time of the year for Kumortuli

Puja Special issues of Bengali magazines

Durga Puja today is a commercial venture

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

Durga Puja shopping and the associated madness

Durga Puja is the biggest festival of Bengalis. It is an occasion when families go out to buy new clothes and the latest trends in fashion come into view – the fashion is not restricted to the fairer sex but is equally applicable to the males. As has been the tradition for ages, the fashion style is dictated by screen stars. And, there are any number of outlets in the form of malls where one can get lost in the varieties on offer – if the credit card is handy, no one will return disappointed.

It is generally believed that shopping malls and credit cards are associated with the rich and the nouveau riche and, for the others, the shops scattered all over the city are the answers. These shops are generally localized in the Hatibagan area of the north, and the Gariahat area in the south apart from the famous Hogg Market (or New Market) in the center of the city on Chowringhee Road.
The marketing strategy in all shops is more or less the same – in malls it is the ‘buy one, get one free’ culture and in the shops, it is all about discounts and, in some cases, a bottle of cold drink is thrown in for good measure to influence one’s buying decision.
The annual buying spree does not end with clothes but spills over to accessories – this is especially true for the women and girls but, the men also edge their way into the slot. While the women go in for artificial jewelry, the men opt for more masculine accessories – like belts and goggles.
And – at the end of the day, there is always the inevitable stopover in some restaurant to take the weight off the tired legs and enjoy some delicious mouth-watering snacks.
However, with the advent of online shopping, much of the excitement and charm of Durga Puja shopping would vanish. (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

Bengalis rolled out the egg-roll culture

If I remember correctly, the egg-roll culture rolled out sometime in the mid-1960s and it caught the fancy of Kolkattans like wild fire. It must have been some bright eyed Bengali who discovered this method of keeping himself gainfully employed and earn a decent living. All it needed was the willingness to toil for six to seven hours in front the oven – and dish out egg rolls by the dozens to everyone from a school child to the grandmother.
It was a time when these trollies could be seen at eve street corner and the trollies would be stocked with trays of eggs, cans of cooking oil and ready-made paratha-like stuff made of a dough of maida. Plus, of course, the chopped onions, and chilies for the omelet.

There would be a huge frying pan placed on top of the stove and, once a customer arrives, one paratha would be placed on the frying pan and a little bit of oil would be applied at the edges. Then the beaten egg mixed with chopped onions would be poured over it. The combination would be rolled, wrapped in a paper and served- ready to munch.
It was a good and honest business and once the fad caught on, the demands branched out to mutton roll, and, occasionally, chicken roll – these depended on clientele.
Anyway, as long as these were individual initiatives, they went along fine until local goons descended on the scene. They began to demand a cut of the profits and followed up with threats to create problem if they were not kept happy. Needless to say – they had the backing of local political leaders.
Still – the enterprising individuals carried on and, over a period of time, they formed small groups and added other fast foods to their menu – fast foods of Chinese origin like chow mein, noodles, chili chicken, momo etcetera. And, began to operate all through the day – in shifts. They had a huge task to keep feeding the Kolkattans. (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

ASI hikes entry fees to Taj Mahal by 200%

Heavy rains lash Pune, trains cancelled, passengers stranded for hours in trains

Bangalore does not want people to feed pigeons in Cubbon Park


NBA Superstar 7ft 2in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to publish novel on Mycroft Holmes, elder brother of Sherlock Holmes

Priyanka Chopra and Monica Dogra nominated by VH1for Europe Music Awards 2015

John Abraham and Sonakshi Sinha shoot ‘Force 2’ in Ethnographic Museum Budapest


Death toll rises to 193 in fuel tanker explosion in South Sudan

Taliban attacks mosque in Peshawar Air Force base and leaves 20 dead

Russia sends fighter jets to Syria to bolster Assad’s defenses


36-days for Durga Puja and the dhakis get ready

Industries just do not gel with West Bengal

Bengalis are daydreamers tied to mothers’ apron strings

Industries just do not gel with West Bengal

Bengalis love poetry and it is difficult to imagine one who loves his pen to take up cudgels of machines – the two just not gel and, as experience has shown, the results are not what one would have liked.
Bengal is basically an agriculture based area where paddy fields swaying in the breeze are what one wants to see.
Therefore, when one wants to change track, one has to go in for some sort of sacrifice. One cannot get something from nothing. Unfortunately, the leaders have forgotten that simple basic.

The conflict surrounding the industrialization on West Bengal hinges on availability of land – the state keeps on talking about a sort of land bank but the investors appear to be a confused lot just like the administrators. There are vague ideas about the land scattered in small pockets and that does not appeal to the investors.
Mamata did not want industries to come up on agricultural land. Her agitation, on behalf of a section of farmers, was a big gain for her and her Trinamool Congress TMC because it led to the fall of the Left Front government and she came to power. She promised to ensure return of land to the unwilling owners but, that was, practically, a pipe dream because Tata Motors had constructed their workshops and the land was unsuitable for agriculture.
Mamata Banerjee’s land policy is now her Achilles’ heel because, when industries are categorically advised to procure land on their own by interacting directly with the landowners, it opens up the doors of corruption. Her land policy has still not changed even after being four years in power and, the net result is disappointment on the industrial front in spite of putting up a brave front.
It has been reported that she has now roped in Sourav Ganguli, the cricketer, to promote industries in her state through a reality show. Reality shows of songs, dance and even laughter do have audiences but, how far it will help the state to improve its image and raise its head is a matter of debate. Yes, Sourav Ganguli does have an enormous fan following and it remains to be seen how far he can influence industrialists to invest in West Bengal. (to be continued …)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

City of Jinan to eliminate all dogs even if they are registered pets and vaccinated

Two foreign tourists killed as Kalka-Shimla toy train derails

Molesters flee bleeding from the clutches of a karate girl in Barasat, West Bengal


Ringo Starr, Beatles drummer, bemoans the decline in the music industry

Lindsay Lohan fails to keep her date with Toronto Film Festival

Kangana Ranaut in Paris for ‘Queen’ hates actors endorsing fairness creams


This is the age of drone warfare - pick and eliminate the jihadists from miles away

RAF readies to strike ISIS in Syria to check flow of refugees into Europe

Russia’s game plan not clear – it sends Pantsir-S missile system to Syria


Bengalis are a politically conscious lot

Rasgulla, the juice-dripping sweet that Bengalis swear by

Bengalis are daydreamers tied to mothers’ apron strings

Durga Puja is the busiest time of the year for Kumortuli

Durga Puja is the greatest festival of Bengalis and the artisans who create the idols of Goddess Durga and her retinue of four children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh use this opportunity to earn their year’s income.
In Kolkata, they work in the locality known as Kumortuli – kumor means one who works with clay and tuli is a locality. Their work is a long drawn, painstaking one and since most of the idols are made of eco-friendly material like straw, bamboo, clay and jute threads, the artisans have to be wary of the sudden rains that can spoil their works.

The size and style varies from one idol to another and the idol makers are contacted very much in advance by the authorities of the clubs who specify their requirements. Once a contract is arrived at, the work begins in full swing and club committee members maintain a regular follow-up to ensure that nothing goes wrong.
It is a busy time for not only the artisans but also for those who make the frills like the weapons, the artificial jewelry, and the trinkets that go to make the complete Durga.
Then there are some idol makers who go in for using alternate material like fiberglass – these are usually small in size and meant for overseas markets. Yes, Bengalis who have settled in foreign countries do arrange the celebrations there and, for this, they obtain fiberglass idols which are easy to transport and handle.
And, in villages in Bengal, the making of the idol is held in a central place and people from nearby places flock to see as the idol takes shape step by step from the straw skeleton till the application of paint and final decoration. There is much enthusiasm among especially the children who spend hours watching the complete process. (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

City of Jinan to eliminate all dogs even if they are registered pets and vaccinated

Two foreign tourists killed as Kalka-Shimla toy train derails

Molesters flee bleeding from the clutches of a karate girl in Barasat, West Bengal


Ringo Starr, Beatles drummer, bemoans the decline in the music industry

Lindsay Lohan fails to keep her date with Toronto Film Festival

Kangana Ranaut in Paris for ‘Queen’ hates actors endorsing fairness creams


This is the age of drone warfare - pick and eliminate the jihadists from miles away

RAF readies to strike ISIS in Syria to check flow of refugees into Europe

Russia’s game plan not clear – it sends Pantsir-S missile system to Syria


Bengalis are a politically conscious lot

Rasgulla, the juice-dripping sweet that Bengalis swear by

Bengalis are daydreamers tied to mothers’ apron strings

Bengalis are daydreamers tied to mothers’ apron strings

Believe it or not, it is true that Bengalis are basically daydreamers – they love their addas where they can theorize and tear to pieces all prevalent thoughts and explain how the country can progress but, when it comes to real action, they hide behind the pallu of their mothers and shy away from hard work.
Bengalis are a homesick lot and, tied to the apron strings, never want to leave the shelter and comfort of the home, the locality and the local tea shops. For them, love blossoms in the lanes and by lanes and bear fruit amidst munching of peanuts in the Maidan or idly staring into the muddy waters of the Ganges hoping for a miracle to happen and sigh.
They are not geared up to the philosophy of ‘do not wait for things to happen but make them happen’.

Bengalis love white collar jobs and, since two major railway headquarters of Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railways are located in the city, a majority of Bengali old-timers were employees of the railways. Then there were the banks - a clerical job in any bank meant assurance of a stable life. The money may not be much, but was sufficient. Of course, these were days when computers had not invaded our lives. This new technology spawned a whole new generation of youngsters whose demands were sky high. They earned in dollars and nurtured visions of one day owning one of those pent house flats.
But, Bengal kept losing out on industries and these are necessary to sustain growth – Bengal was known for its jute industries but, with the entry of polythene and plastics, jute bags went out of fashion and the jute mills closed down. There were many other industries and a whole lot of well-known factories and establishments that began to close down due to labor unrest. Names like Bengal Lamps, Hindustan Motors, Dunlop Tyres and Jessops and more recently Tata Motors at Singur, beat a hasty retreat.
And, politicians seized the opportunity to exploit the group of unemployed masses by offering them money in exchange of services, services that included violence and bloodshed to strike terror in the minds of the opponents.
A new order was created and the unemployed realized that education does not pay as does cozying up to the leaders – that is the sure path to prosperity. The leaders created a Frankenstein and, as expected, it has gradually gone out of control. (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

Animals in Green Island private zoo in Russia die in sudden floods

CIA and Special Operations forces targeting high value ISIS operatives

Toilets hog the limelight in New Delhi – men to women ratio would be 50-50


Antonio Banderas gifted a pair of monkeys to Salma Hayek on her birthday

Elijah Wood of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ fame is in India on a music tour

SpongeBob musical in the offing – David Bowie to provide music


US warns Russia about it setting up a ‘forward operating base’ in war torn Syria

Robber gang in Paris blows Devil’s Breath on people to rob them

Man follows wife to Shanghai to chop off her hands suspecting infidelity


Bengalis and their ‘dada-giri’ lifestyle

Rasgulla, the juice-dripping sweet that Bengalis swear by

Bengalis are a politically conscious lot

Bengalis are a politically conscious lot

Bengal is probably the only state in India where politics begins literally from the cradles – at the grassroots level of schools and colleges. Bengalis mature very fast in this field and the training begins early because Kolkata is the only city where school going children have to grow up facing the wrath of political parties and politicians.
Their training begins with bandhs and rallies on any subject under the Sun – the children gradually get used to be sitting it out in the traffic jams as the protesters shout slogans and march on the streets. Obviously, the message goes out clear and loud to the kids that might is right and, if you want something, demand it as a right and take to the streets.

Once the Bengali children move on to the next level of education namely, college, they really get into the thick of things. They have to align themselves to some political party because politicians are firm believers in the logic that the college is the nurturing ground of future leaders. Naturally, the students step into a new world where a general feeling is that the party in power can dictate terms and others have to follow, else face the consequences which could be death.
It was there earlier and is still in vogue – only, earlier it used to be on a selective basis, and today it is free for all.
Believe it or not, one of my nieces passed out from a reputed school and got admission in the prestigious St Xavier’s College but she elected to in City College because Xavier’s was not politically oriented and she wanted to see action first hand!! (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

(Image curtesy ikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

Qatar Airways changes its policy of sacking cabin crew for getting pregnant or getting married

Women’s hockey team into 2016 Rio Olympics after 36-years on Dhyan Chand’s birthday

Mumbai’s 9000-tonnes of daily plastic waste a major environment issue


Tila Tequila evicted from Celebrity Big Brother because of her praise of Hitler

‘Phantom’ – a Saif Ali Khan Katrina Kaif starrer with Mumbai 26/11 as backdrop

Cate Blanchett to be honored with BFI Fellowship at London Film Festival


Foolish robbers caught in London - they wore burqas but did not walk like women!!

Horror of free access to firearms – West Virginia 14-year-old takes 27 classmates hostage at gunpoint

Trained jihadists from Iraq and Syria returning to Europe to strike terror


A street food named jhal muri
A tribute to Kishore Kumar, the legend, on his 86th birthday

Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

Bengalis and their ‘dada-giri’ lifestyle

Bengalis have always been very much ahead of other communities because, as the famous saying goes ‘what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow’. These famous words were uttered by none other than Gopal Krishna Gokhale and, appears to be valid even today – may not be in the way Gokhale had envisaged but Bengal does take the lead in all fields that require less of brawn and more of brain.
Bengalis love to write poems and have invented a concept called ‘little magazine’ – some of these are ‘little’ in size as far as the number of pages go. When these little mags came on the scene in the 1960s, it was the age of letter press printing. And, sometimes a couple of individuals, caught by the writing bug, would pool their financial resources to get a little mag printed. The contents would be poems dedicated to the girl who remains in their imagination.
The little mag would be a method to get it out of the system and, the novelty would wear off once he young man got hold of a job.

Another proof of Bengalis are the innumerable tea stalls at every street corner – the owner opens the shutters at daybreak and shuts down at night. And, as long as he is awake, he is kept busy serving out tea to his clientele.
Usually, most of them are locals and known faces. They will drop in, snatch the day’s newspaper, glance through the headlines, select a topic and proceed to create a storm in the teacup.
The topics could be anything from Tasleema Nasreen to Narendra Modi, from football to tennis, from the rising prices of onions to the murder of a local ‘dada’. ‘Dada’ means ‘big brother’ and, Bengalis all over the country are known as ‘dada’. It is believed to be a respectable address unlike in some parts of the country where ‘dada’ means a rowdy character.
Of course, ‘dada-giri’ is a different kettle of fish altogether – especially, after the popularity it has gained as a gameshow on a TV channel, thanks to Bengal’s blue-eyed boy Saurav Ganguli. (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

Qatar Airways changes its policy of sacking cabin crew for getting pregnant or getting married

Women’s hockey team into 2016 Rio Olympics after 36-years on Dhyan Chand’s birthday

Mumbai’s 9000-tonnes of daily plastic waste a major environment issue


Tila Tequila evicted from Celebrity Big Brother because of her praise of Hitler

‘Phantom’ – a Saif Ali Khan Katrina Kaif starrer with Mumbai 26/11 as backdrop

Cate Blanchett to be honored with BFI Fellowship at London Film Festival


Foolish robbers caught in London - they wore burqas but did not walk like women!!

Horror of free access to firearms – West Virginia 14-year-old takes 27 classmates hostage at gunpoint

Trained jihadists from Iraq and Syria returning to Europe to strike terror


A street food named jhal muri
A tribute to Kishore Kumar, the legend, on his 86th birthday

Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

A look at the fish crazy Bengalis

It is a well-known fact that Bengalis are crazy about fish but, somewhere down the line, they have had to change their tastes from the small size tasty fish to larger fish that do have their values but do not taste like the ones fifty years back.
The main problem with the small size fish was its preparation prior to frying and cooking. These fishes had plenty of scales and getting rid of these annoying externals was a major headache for the mothers of yore. Usually the task would be assigned to elderly women in the family who had plenty of spare time or to the maid servants. It was the days prior to the arrival of LPGs on the scene and when the ovens would be coal fired. The ash that was left over at the end of the day would be carefully preserved and would be used in descaling the fish.

Yes, the women had a tact – they would hold the fish in between the fingers, dip it in the ash and then proceed to remove the scales. After that was doe, they would clean the internals and pick up the next one. Obviously, it was a time consuming affair but, once these small size fish went through the cleaning process and was coked and served, the dish would leave its taste in the mouth long after the meal was over.
Unfortunately, such women are nowhere around. They have vanished like the coal fired ovens and fish lovers have to now depend on the fish seller to clean and cut the fish to size. As a result, the attraction of small size fish have been lost. The craze is now for large size fish like rohu, katla, bhetki, prawns etcetera – these are easy to handle. Same goes for the ones that do not have the annoying scales – fish like pabda or tangra.
Of course, exceptions will always be there – and, the exception is the hilsa. It has scales but no one is much bothered because, beneath those scales lies a fish that tastes divine. It may be sourced from the Padma River in Bangladesh or from our very own River Ganges but, it is certainly the Lord of the Rings. (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

Qatar Airways changes its policy of sacking cabin crew for getting pregnant or getting married

Women’s hockey team into 2016 Rio Olympics after 36-years on Dhyan Chand’s birthday

Mumbai’s 9000-tonnes of daily plastic waste a major environment issue


Tila Tequila evicted from Celebrity Big Brother because of her praise of Hitler

‘Phantom’ – a Saif Ali Khan Katrina Kaif starrer with Mumbai 26/11 as backdrop

Cate Blanchett to be honored with BFI Fellowship at London Film Festival


Foolish robbers caught in London - they wore burqas but did not walk like women!!

Horror of free access to firearms – West Virginia 14-year-old takes 27 classmates hostage at gunpoint

Trained jihadists from Iraq and Syria returning to Europe to strike terror


A street food named jhal muri
A tribute to Kishore Kumar, the legend, on his 86th birthday

Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

Bengalis love hinger kachuri and chholar dal

Chana or gram or chick peas can be used to create the beautiful dish of chana dal. It is made all over the country but, the Bengalis have perfected the art and any girl can win over any boy if she is adept at kneading the flour into a dough and stuffing it suitably with a concoction that has the pungent hing or asafoetida mixed into the filling.
The filling is usually of boiled biuli or udad dal that is dried in a pan and spices added to enhance the taste and flavor. Once fried, these tiny balls of flattened dough swell up and attract the food lovers.

Bengalis refer to chana dal as chholar dal – it can be cooked as ordinary dal and garnished with coconut cubes and red chili fried in mustard oil. This out-of-this-world stuff when poured in the container of the cooked dal spreads a heavenly aroma that is difficult to resist.
Such chholar dal tastes great with hinger kachuri – in some parts of Kolkata, locals depend on this combination for breakfast and the shopkeepers have a hard time to cater to the demands. The hinger kachuri gets its name from hing or asafoetida which is a must that is added to the dough. Once the kachuris are deep fried and served with the accompanying chhoar dal, it transforms into a feast meant for the King.
Of course, the unique taste that one would relish in the shops can never be replicated in the kitchen – the environment has a major role to play. Many might scoff at the surroundings and harbor fears of falling sick, but, there are many ardent followers who would travel miles to get to the outlet of his choice and eat his favorite hinger kachuri with chholar dal. (to be continued …)


Some more interesting 'must reads'-

Anaconda in a pothole of Bengaluru to galvanize the authorities to act

Cochin airport goes ecofriendly – to become only solar powered airport in the world

V Festival in Chelmsford could face tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms


Ice Cube would love to have dinner with Barack Obama once he leaves White House

Indian names of Pallavi Sharda and Dev Patel in Hollywood film ‘Lion’

Hugh Jackman of Wolverine fame could portray the role of Greek hero Odysseus


White House discloses – 2nd in command of ISIS killed in drone strike in Mosul

Bomb blast outside temple of Lord Brahma in Bangkok leaves at least 27 dead

Scuba diver smuggles cocaine across US-Mexico border via underwater tunnel


Indian kitchens must have ‘besan’

The lost world of ‘kabiraji cutlets’

Growing up days – I begin to go to the daily market

The world of fuchka, golgappa and panipuri

Fuchka, golgappa and panipuri all mean the same – an exotic street food that falls in the category of ‘you cannot be happy with one’. It is loved by not only Bengalis but by people of North India a well as western India – they love it by its other names like golgappa and pani puri. Golgappa because it is round in shape, like a ball. And pani puri, as its name implies, means puri filled with pani or water.
For some strange reason, it is not very popular down south - they have their own version of fast foods like idli and wada that have penetrated into other parts of the country but they have yet to embrace the wonder fuchkas that must, necessarily, be taken in one motion – directly popped from the plate into the mouth.

Whatever be the name, these wonder balls are in a class by themselves. Shaped like half-inch diameter brittle balls made out of flour, these are stuffed with a heady mix of mashed potato into which go some powdered spices.
The process of preparing these delicious quick-fixes is simple – the seller picks up one of the balls in the fingers of his left hand, pierces it with his left thumb and inserts the mashed potato mix with his right fingers.
Simultaneously, he transfers the ball to his right hand, dips it into a jar that contains tamarind water and serves it on the plate usually made of leaves (shalpata). One fuchka is never enough, it cannot satisfy. Hence these are sold in lots – each lot contains five or six of the fuchkas or golgappas or pani puris.
The patrons never come in singles - there is always a crowd of fans, either giggling girls or serious looking boys or bunch of friends out to enjoy freedom.
I have seen these being served in restaurants – but, they never taste the same. Served on plates, there are usually four to six of the balls with small containers containing tamarind water and the filling of mashed potato. A spoon is given to help in filling and then dipping into the tamarind water. Unfortunately, such fuchkas never taste like the ones served in street corners.
Wonder whether anyone has ever thought of patenting fuchkas, including the process of manufacture. (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

Gold smuggling route to India via London - courtesy airline staff

Rat inside Air India’s Dreamliner forces it to abort flight to Milan and return to Delhi

How to improve digestion through proper food items


Ajay Devgn - new look in Drishyam

Salman Khan’s ‘Bajrangi Bhaijan’ is the talk of the town – the cash box is ringing

Jena Malone to appear in the role of Batgirl in Batman v Superman


Gun battle in Multan – Pakistan police eliminate Sunni militant leader and 13 others

Man of Agra kills four minor girls to cure his mentally ill wife on advice of tantrik

ISIS targets Indians in Libya – four teachers returning to India kidnapped


Influence of Bengali culture on Hindi movies

Prawns are the prized catch of the kitchen

How green is our Indian food menu

Fishy tales about Bengali fish lovers

Bengalis love fish – it is immaterial whether the fish are tiny kucho chingri or huge rohu or katla meant for marriage celebrations. The fact is that the menu of Bengalis are incomplete unless there is at least one item related to fish in it. Given the scarcity of this all important food item and sky rocketing price of whatever is available, Bengalis have to not just innovate but also go in for economy measures to the extent possible.
Of course, when one hears about Ilish festivals and when the cooking reality shows on TV make it a point to showcase different preparations of this wonder fish called Ilish, one wonders how many Bengalis can really afford to go in for such luxurious food items – it was rumored that Ilish from Bangladesh was selling for up to Rs 1500 per Kg and the fish on show weighed at least 2-Kg which translates into Rs 3000 for one fish!!

Obviously, there are Bengalis who can afford such luxuries and that the cry about unemployment and poor Bengalis are far removed from reality.
I stay in Nashik and there are fish but, not the wide variety that is available in Bengal. I get rui, katla, pabda, tangra and, of course, prawns that come from the Arabian Sea. Of late, lobsters are also seen – these are being cultivated locally in the Gangapur Dam that supplies water to the city. Ilish does come once in a while but these are again the Arabian Sea variety and size is never more than one Kg. Hence, the taste of Ilish of Bengal never comes through.
However, in Bangalore or in Pune, the varieties of fish are much more and, in fact, the fishmongers arrange to airlift the fish directly from Kolkata – the fish are fresh but the cost is more due to the air freight charges.
One thing I have noticed – nowadays, the fishmongers have a system to descale and cut the fish to size as per your requirements. The reason is that the housewives of today do not know just how to go about this work. They just store the fish in separate packets and put in the freezer – to be removed and cooked on as and when required basis. (to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

CBSE to check cheating in AIPMT exams – examinees can wear only T-shirt and jeans

Mamata’s TMC received hate mail before her tour of UK to woo investors

Vallauris beach closed to tourists because Saudi King Salman will holiday there in private

Good news keep pouring in – major uranium reserve found in Srisailam

Uttar Pradesh repents and repeals ban on screening of films in luxury buses


Britain’s MI6 joins Turkey to fight ISIS

Gang of 80 suspected Boko Haram men attack village in Cameroon and kill 23

Father of two, living in Liverpool, tries to buy deadly ricin powder – then, a pet to test it on


Some live years after retirement, others do not

No escape from the jaws of death

Kolkata mango festival delights young and old alike

Kolkata is crazy for festivals and it is immaterial whether it is for books or movies or music or fish or food. There was a hilsa festival and now, the recently concluded Amantran festival (27th and 28th June 2015) was another example – it was a festival of mangoes or ‘aam’ – hence, the name ‘Amantran’. Actually, the word also means invitation.
Anyway, I was not there in person but enjoyed watching bits of it on TV and it appeared to be yet another proof of the innovate character of Bengalis. A video report on the festival is here.

The event was held in a park called the Taltala Math – and mango lovers had come to watch the innovations and taste the beautiful preparations – the mango-fuchka really bowled over the public. There is hardly any Bengali who is not a fan of the fast food known as fuchka (or gol-gappas as the North Indians call them) and, in the Amantran festival the delightful concoction was mango all the way. Then there were the sweets made of mangoes. In our childhood we loved the taste of mango sandesh – its color was green, its shape was like a mango (thanks to special clay or wooden molds) and there was the distinct flavor of mango. Other well-known and popular products of mango were the mango lassi and ice-cream. And, of course, in the festival there were mangoes of many varieties – both ripe and raw. I remember a mango festival that I had seen in Bangalore. It was held in the Glass House at Lalbag and there was a large variety of mangoes. But – no eatable products of mangoes. It was only mangoes – full, ripe and charming to just look at. (to be continued …)

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)
A few more must reads -
Skinny jeans a health hazard as an Adelaide woman found out in the park

Good news from the Cold War front – Putin rings up Obama in the White House

Agra Railway Police sends 109 persons to jail for committing nuisance on railway property

Thieves in UP steal nine buffaloes from BJP MLA’s farmhouse

No more cold drinks or junk food for Amarnath Yatra


Six women vanish from Ohio – suspected to be victims of serial killing

France paralyzed by taxi drivers strike – grouse against Uber cabs lead to chaos

Two girl suicide bombers kill at least 30 in Nigerian market


Disguises in Indian movies and TV

Movies on rebirth – hot favorites of Bollywood

The search spreads out from Nashik to other cities

When Bengalis reside in West Bengal, it is convenient for them to pursue alliances that would finally get two pair of hands joined together in a holy and everlasting alliance called matrimony. This is probably because distance is not a deterrent.
Weather permitting, the interactions between the two parties can be arranged conveniently on weekends. Relatives and friends can and usually do accompany. In fact they readily agree because of the possibility of being a part of the decision making process. An added attraction is of getting to taste some varieties of sweets – that is a must for all Bengali functions. A variety of sweets arranged on a plate is a must. It is immaterial whether an alliance gets finalized or not, but a plate of delicious sweets is a must.

Anyway, we resided in Nashik and, in order to move to Mumbai or Bangalore or Kolkata in order to check out a prospective bride meant a lot of advance planning, especially for railway reservations and leave.
Therefore, based on responses that we received, my wife and I had to go around the country to try and create an opportunity to meet the families and get to know them better. This is a major problem of today. Most of the families are nuclear families and live far away from close relatives – therefore on occasions like marriage, one has to move on one’s own steam rather than depend on the propulsion of others.
And, that is what we did.
The process was, naturally, a time consuming affair and, believe it or not, it added up to nearly 5-years from the day we had begun our hunt till we managed to capture the treasure. And, the best part of it was that the treasure had been unearthed by my son himself - thanks to a matrimonial website. (to be continued …)
Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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


Activists on kayaks protest against drilling for oil in Alaska

Disenchanted with rosy promises of a life with the ISIS, three British girls escape

Over 600 stranded migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar rescued by local fishermen

British spy chiefs recruiting computer geeks for £27,913 to help fight terrorists, criminal gangs and hackers

Ancient 2000-year-old city of Palmyra in Syria targeted for destruction by ISIS

I become a detective to trace a missing consignment


Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

Another interesting blog - Violence and atrocities

Relation with my bosses sour and I lose interest in my job

It was in 1992 that we attended the Kolkata Book Fair. It was a sort of honor for us because we had managed to get a tiny 100sq foot of space allotted in our name – this was in spite of many reputed publishers of Bengal not getting allotment. The plus point in our favor was that we would be showcasing books and magazines printed in Bengali from Maharashtra. In those days, it was a novelty. Bengalis were used to little magazines and, most of them would be accommodated in a separate enclosure reserved exclusively for them.

The Fair was scheduled towards end of January and, accordingly, the three of us packed the books and magazines along with promotion leaflets for distribution at the fairgrounds. The duration of the fair was nearly a fortnight and we booked our train reservations accordingly.
Obviously, I would have to apply for leave of about three weeks and, my bosses did not want me to be away at that time of the year for such a long duration. Especially my Bengali boss who knew the reason of my going to Kolkata. That hurt. I realized that the time had come when I would have to take some harsh and unpleasant decisions.
Anyway, once in Kolkata, we got busy in arranging for setting up our stall – we had been given only the 10-foot by 10-foot space and had to arrange for its covering, decorations, lighting. My friends had local contacts and they struggled throughout the night. They disregarded the bitter cold of the Maidan, which was the venue where over 500 book stalls would be in business for the fortnight, to create our stall.
And, once the fairgrounds opened up, we felt on top of the world. Word soon got around about our innovative measures and every day, there was a regular stream of visitors and well-wishers. Some of them bought our books, others subscribed to our magazine while others submitted their short stories and poems for inclusion in our magazine. (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

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

IPL8 – Mumbai Indians break the jinx with first win against Royal Challengers Bangalore

Pattern of death changing in India – heart and lung related diseases are top killers

Stray dogs attend funeral of Mexican woman who fed them

Health tips – lose weight without dieting

Anchovies can boost good cholesterol and reduce risk factors of the heart

Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

Another interesting blog - Violence and atrocities

Publishing business – an escape route from the dull routine

Three of us had taken the initiative to start printing of magazines because we loved writing and wanted to encourage other like-minded Bengalis from all over the country to become a part of our community. We wanted to break the on-going tradition that only the well-connected can see their name in print. My friend and I have had not-too happy experiences with editors of Bengali magazines based in Kolkata – they all had their own groups and it was next to impossible for others to get a toehold in their well protected domain.

This was the main reason for us to move away from the beaten track and do something that would appeal to the masses. Of course, for me, there was another reason – I was gradually getting disillusioned with my job. I wanted an escape route from the dull routine. No, there was no fear of losing my job but, the nature of work had become boring. And, added to that was the denial of my rightful promotion for three years continuously. Every year, my boss would put up some reason or the other and smile an apology of sorts.
The worst part was that he also was a Bengali. That really hurt.
When I joined HAL Nashik, the General Manager was a Malayalee and, the majority of work force was from Kerala. After him, the General Manager was a Punjabi – and people from the northern states increased. Then came the Marathi regime with Marathis getting preference. In between there was a General Manager from UP – obviously, people from those areas got benefits. And then there was the Orissa reign with Oriyas getting into the limelight.
But, when it came to Bengalis, due to some unknown reason, they hesitated to back their own men – and, I had become a victim of my Bengali boss’s indecision. (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

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

IPL8 – Mumbai Indians break the jinx with first win against Royal Challengers Bangalore

Pattern of death changing in India – heart and lung related diseases are top killers

Stray dogs attend funeral of Mexican woman who fed them

Health tips – lose weight without dieting

Anchovies can boost good cholesterol and reduce risk factors of the heart

Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist

Another interesting blog - Violence and atrocities

Creating a Bengali magazine in Nashik

As I have mentioned earlier, there were a few Bengalis who could write – maybe their creations would never have got any award but, they knew their limitations and restricted their literary pursuits to penning a poem once in a while or a write a short story or travelogue.
Those were the days when mobile phones had not invaded out lives and e-mail and SMSes were unknown – therefore, people had to write at least the letters to their families back home. Therefore, they did have the knack of penning their thoughts in the form of sentences. And, when peppered with a few quotes or two liners from Tagore, the end products could pass off as original literary creations.

A handful of writers would assemble once a month for a literary session where the participants would read out their poems or stories and others would applaud them and offer their criticisms. These monthly get-togethers would be held on someone’s roof subject to weather conditions. These were occasions to encourage would-be writers to emerge into the open.
In one such gathering, a proposal was put up to create a magazine of our own – to begin with, it would be cyclostyled and the periodicity would be three-monthly because writing on stencils which had to be cyclostyled was a long drawn process. Moreover, writing on a stencil was the work of an expert and such experts were not very many.
Anyway, putting aside all fears, our Bengali magazine from Nashik finally saw the light of day – it was named ‘Nalanda’ and it contained a number of poems, a couple of short stories and a couple of essays. Obviously, the number of poems was more because these occupy less space and more poets can be accommodated. The more the participation, the better would be the reach of the magazine. 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

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

Contract bridge is a good option on Sundays

Pattern of death changing in India – heart and lung related diseases are top killers

Stray dogs attend funeral of Mexican woman who fed them

Health tips – lose weight without dieting

Anchovies can boost good cholesterol and reduce risk factors of the heart


Another interesting blog - Violence and atrocities

Another interesting blog - Citizen Journalist