The missing aim

Those who remember the early morning shootout on Jan 22, 2002 in front of Kolkata's American Center, would recall how the cops posted there went into prompt hiding in the face of raining bullets. The reason was obvious. None could muster sufficient courage and alertness to counter the attackers, let alone taking a good aim at them. One hoped that things would thereupon improve in the days to come.

A recent report card from the Police Training School (TT, June 29, 2006) however tells an alarming tale. TT's news says that none of the 12 personnel from Rapid Action Force, Special Action Force and commandos fared any better in a 5-day shooting exercise that ended on June 9.

According to the news, police personnel barely find time to practice shooting after attending to routine jobs at police stations. What's more, most even do not visit a gym to maintain fitness. No surprise that many lawkeepers sport bulging waistline, succinctly reflecting the ground reality.

3 decades too late, yet hope springs

Come July 1 and St. Xavier’s College will start functioning as an autonomous institution. Just how euphoric is the college to be freed from government clutches can be gauged from the unbridled enthusiasm with which it plans to forthwith start new courses. Plans are afoot to offer unique courses in mass communication and film studies, in addition to post-graduate courses in bioscience and physics starting from undergraduate levels.

St. Xavier’s has 6-acres land on the eastern fringes of the city which will be developed into a new campus by 2010. Father Mathew, the Principal, is upbeat. Not without reason. For the first time in nearly 3 decades, the shackles which had bound Bengal’s higher education to utter mediocrity and chaotic misjudgment is finally being loosened.

It goes to St. Xavier’s credit that it’s loosing no time to leapfrog into an institute of reckoning. There is no doubt that this glorious seat of education will churn out students of merit in times to come.

Japan's help for Tagore's paintings

Thakurbari and Japan is the name given to the new art gallery at Rabindra Bharati University's Jorasanko campus. The gallery will house over 100 priceless paintings by Rabindranath and Abanindranath Tagore. The irony is that while we bask in the glory of our past maestros, we care very little for the upkeep of their creations. If not, couldn't RBU preserve them? After all, the only USP of an institution like RBU is its tutelage over everything Tagore in Kolkata. The same goes for Viswa Bharati University, Tagore's one-time abode, where not long back Tagore's Nobel Prize medal went missing.

This is not to belittle Japanese help in restoring our heritage. It goes to show how they value Tagore's relationship with Japan. Why only Tagore? At a time when we're busy debating the reasons behind Netaji's disappearance, the 400-year old Renkoji Temple in Tokyo has dedicatedly preserved the great leader's ashes.

Sometimes it feels we are yet to grow as a nation. We are still to figure out how we wish to value our past, let alone learn from them.

176-year-old tortoise dies

An 176-year-old tortoise has died on June 23 in an Australian zoo. The giant tortoise, named Harriet, weighing 150 kgs, was believed to have been owned by none other than Charles Darwin, died of heart attack. She was recorded as the second-oldest tortoise by Guiness Book of World Records, the prized first-place belonging to Tui Malila, a Madagascar creature, who died in 1965 at an age of 188 years.

Now, this one punctures a 3-month old collective belief of ours, Kolkattans. When Adwita, the grand old tortoise brought from Aldebra Island in Indian Ocean died on March 22 this year in Calcutta Zoo, his age was pegged at about 250 years. No one knew his actual age, though it was believed that he was already 120 years old in 1875 when Calcutta Zoo became his permanent residence.

In fact Adwita resided at Barrackpore’s Latbagan from 1837 before moving to Calcutta Zoo. So even if he was only a few years old when he came to Latbagan, his age would still be nearing Harriet’s age, if not some years more. Pity he was not accorded a pride of place in Guiness Book of World Records. Nonetheless, we Kolkattans are happy that Adwita’s shell will be preserved with care at either Calcutta Zoo or Indian Museum.

National Library's online venture and Google

When Google launched its Library Project in end-2004, there was furore everywhere. Publishers and authors were apprehensive that Google's book search program would gatecrash into their territory. At that time there was no clear indication or guideline as to how Google's Library Project would shape up. This added to more confusion.

In any case, Google remained undeterred and continued working on the project. It proclaimed that the aim of the project is simply to create a comprehensive database of all books in all languages. Oh my! Pause awhile and imagine – of all Google search projects – how massive would that be! And indeed so it was. No wonder, when it got off ground, John Wilkin of University of Michigan supposedly exclaimed, “This is the day the world changes”.

Today, Google's Book Search is inching toward success. No, it does not overstep into publishers' or writers' domains. All it does is listing (upon your querying) relevant books and other resources, so that you now have a one-stop platform looking for all your ‘bookish’ requirements.

Since a project of such gigantic proportion needs an ongoing liaison with publishers and libraries, Google is open to chalk out partnership with them. Something of that sort seems to be happening with our very own National Library. Yesterday's The Telegraph reports that the library will shortly start 'retro-conversion, digitization and CD conversion and cataloguing' of more than 3 million publications that it has, including 'books, magazines, journals, maps and Indian and foreign documents'. There is urgency for digitization, and it may just be that there is a plan to tie up with Google.

If it turns out to be so, Google must be pretty happy to connect with the enviable treasure of the National Library, said to be the largest public library in greater part of Asia. That its treasure is likely to come out of closet to be available online is a great news. In the process, National Library too can hope to earn a tidy sum. Who knows one day it'll become independent of govt help.

Controlling CAB

A storm is slowly brewing in the famed corridors of CAB, the Cricket Association of Bengal. Jagmohan Dalmiya, who has presided over its affairs for more than a decade, is now being shown the door by Bengal’s political leadership. The Chief Minister who weighs words before letting them out, is decidedly against Dalmiya’s continuation.

There is an irony here. The CM apparently believes that Dalmiya is the main obstacle on the path of Sourav Ganguly’s return to the national side. It’s a different matter that Sourav’s return is clouded by many factors beyond CM’s control.

What is striking is CM’s more-than-necessary interest in a sports body that can easily do without his nosing. What also irks is that an over-bloated concern for cricket, a nondescript game played only in handful countries, continues to put dark shadow over all other competitive games in India. It’s indeed a surprise that all this comes at a time when the greatest sports spectacle on earth, the football World Cup holds sway over everything else.

Mahanagar

When I selected 'mahanagar' to re-locate Kolkata-Musing, I was a bit sceptical. Will the name suit this great metropolis? After all, don't we refer Kolkata as 'mahanagari'? To my relief, the overwhelming opinion favored 'mahanagar'. So there I was, settling with 'mahanagar'.

Surprise awaited me. The domain 'mahanagar.com' was already taken. I rushed to book its not-so-famous twin, 'mahanagar.net'. A tinge of disappointment persisted, but not for long. In time I became used to 'mahanagar.net'.

Now that Google has consented at last to spider 'mahanagar.net' into its fold, I thought it's time to find out whether it shows my site for the term 'mahanagar'. No luck. Well okay, it takes time, I know. Who else comes for 'mahanagar'? Many do (like Mahanagar Telephone Nigam, Mahanagar Gas and what not!), among which there's a page from Wikipedia.

I proceed to Wikipedia posthaste, curiosity nudging ahead. The page speaks about the great film Mahanagar, a 1963 masterpiece from the late maestro Satyajit Ray. It starred Anil Chatterjee, Madhabi Mukherjee and Jaya Bhaduri among others and went on to win Silver Bear award at the 1964 Berlin Film Festival.

I feel humbled in such an illustrious company.

Father’s day

Who would know the third Sunday every June is the international father’s day! Not me, the least of all. Concerned mostly with how the next penny will come from writing, I’m decidedly not the candidate to remain abreast of occasions such as this. But could I overstep what had to happen this Sunday? No luck.

The day started as it should – a late-morning cup of tea with the day’s papers alongside. Leisurely pace notwithstanding, I soon came across Ananda Bazar Patrika’s lead story in its Sunday pullout. There it proclaimed that today was father’s day. Indeed! And then commenced the chain of events I wasn’t prepared for.

First, it was my moody daughter who wanted to celebrate the day, emerging briefly from fresh exchange of congratulations with her friend on account of father’s day. What does that mean, I charged. I didn’t know her friend’s father, nor did he know me. Why bother, she inquired calmly. But in case I felt I must know him, she might ask her friend to dispatch her father to me. Oh no, not at all, I got alarmed at the prospect. At this, my daughter smiled assuredly while gently relieving me of a tidy sum.

If didi showed the way, why should he be left behind? My son took in the scent with effortless ease. Soon it was his turn to further lighten my already-slim purse. That wasn’t all. On came the demand to dine out, which, I was told, was awaiting a suitable occasion for long.

Capping them all was the late-night disappointing game Brazil played. What a father’s day it was! In my childhood, every Sunday used to be a spine-chilling father’s day, what with no liberty to do things own way. This Sunday was no different. Sigh..

The ET-drama

It’s not often that The Economic Times (ET to many) sings paeans to something good happening in Bengal. One suspects couple of reasons there. For one, most of India’s mainstream media (ET included) and the hallowed persons manning them have historically treated Bengal with more than a tinge of contempt, just as they routinely do in case of North-East with greater fervor. Among older generation, Bengal’s pre-independence eminence felt like a bitter pill. And for new generation, Bengal is a ‘gone’ case. That perception is changing. And changing fast.

The second reason of ET’s nonchalance is its right-of-center ideological slant that is so apparent in its daily columns. It therefore comes as a small surprise to see the front page of ET’s June 16 issue dedicating good amount of space to deal benevolently on Bengal’s industrial rejuvenation.

A smile escapes as I go through the news items. The underlying tone subscribes to the ground reality of Bengal’s reawakening. Better shape up than stay intransigent.

The football tragedy

Everyone agrees football is a nice game. It’s an embodiment of speed, skill and stamina and above all a perfect harmony of playing eleven. It’s thus no wonder that Argentina’s drubbing of Serbia by six goals to nil was a toast to watch and hailed as the finest game so far in the present edition of the World Cup finals.

Not everyone however could enjoy the game. In the village Chhatna in Bankura district – a good 5 hours’ journeying from Kolkata – six young enthusiasts met an untimely end to their lives while listening to radio news that was extolling the high points of the game just played. Why radio? Because there is no electricity in the village, there is no TV either.

That didn’t stop the Argentine ‘fans’ to crowd around the radio to get the latest about their favorite team. It was then that the lightning struck amid heavy thundershower. And before anyone could react to what happened, the six youths were no more.

Bengal’s love for football is endemic and therefore it’s all the more painful that there would be such a tragic end to an unbridled joy of partaking in the monumental event. May their souls rest in peace.

Shashi Tharoor for UNSG

Shashi Tharoor’s candidature for UN Secretary General isn’t a surprise, though it took awhile for Indian Govt. to announce it. Shashi Tharoor is a prolific writer turned quintessential international civil servant cum diplomat, who presently serves as an under-secretary general to the UN.

Shashi’s nomination comes at a time when it’s supposed to be the turn for a candidate from Asia to head the UN from next year, the last being U Thant from erstwhile Burma (now Myanmar) in the sixties. To be sure, Shashi has formidable company as contenders for the top post, not to mention names like Tony Blair and Bill Clinton floating around. There also was a talk of BJP’s Jaswant Singh to be nominated by India, but that has not occurred.

I happened to listen to Shashi Tharoor being interviewed on Times Now couple of days back. He comes across as an authority on world affairs having solid grasp of how the UN must function. His is an embodiment of subtle talent, sincerity and a charming persona, who has that rare ability of always remaining abreast of priorities from amongst complex issues plaguing the world body.

The UN is perhaps the only international body where the deprived and less-developed nations are heard and one is sure that Shashi Tharoor will be an effective bridge between them and the developed nations.

Apart from his wholesome skill, knowledge, dexterity and capacity to be the right person to head the UN, I’ve another reason to hail his candidacy. Shashi spent a better part of his student days in Kolkata, and it is a matter of great pride for Kolkata’s St. Xavier’s School that yet another of its alumni has risen to such a glorious height.

I wish Shashi Tharoor all the success. For discerning readers, here's the link to UNSG selection.

The perils of driving right

As such driving on Kolkata roads is nothing short of nightmare. Roads are narrow, traffic uncompromising. Potholes and bumps figure prominently in long list of woes, jaywalking is another hurdle to negotiate. Since road space is pathetically small (only about 6% of total city area) and therefore traffic density alarmingly high, there is always a great hurry to forge ahead.

Despite obvious problems, the hazard would perhaps be less if there is some order in movement of traffic. That unfortunately is not to be. Anyone who visits Kolkata first time would be immediately put off by mind-boggling chaos on the road. Push-carts to marauding buses, bicycles to luxury sedans, 3-wheeler autos to giant concrete mixtures, everything that moves is out on the street. At all time, in all hours. Little wonder therefore that to be on road is nothing short of encountering lurking danger every moment.

A perfect example of ‘mayhem’ that Kolkata traffic is can be seen in arterial thoroughfares like EM Bypass. While the left lane is taken over by van-rickshaws, 3-wheeler autos and bicycles, the rightmost lane is owned solely by slow-moving vehicles and slow-movers of fast vehicles, who would never move to left for that would mean frequent shifting of gears. If you want to move ahead, you’ll be forced to maneuver in the middle of the road. Getting past is almost always from left which is contrary to driving rules. But then who cares!

Moving around, it’ll be obvious before long that the authorities whose job it is to control road traffic are criminally negligent of their responsibility. With Kolkata now on growth path after long hiatus, there’s an urgent need for an all-out effort. Else, things may spin out of control sooner than thought of.

That's all

I've fished out 25 blogposts from my earstwhile blog of same name. No more fishing now. My invisible readers -> thanks for patience. Perhaps you'd like to read this entry as to why I reproduced so many of my earlier posts.

Time to move on...

Kolkata is hot!

[First posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006]

It reminds me of a tv ad that shows an egg accidentally dropped, turning into an instant omelet on the bonnet of a car stranded in a Mumbai thoroughfare on a sizzling afternoon. Kolkata isn’t that hot yet, but uncomfortably warm for February.

Sunday’s temperature climbed to 38.1 degrees, supposed to be warmest in this time of year since metrological records being kept. The reason is said to be absence of sufficient moisture in air. According to pundits, since there’s no moist shield, sun rays are ‘directly hitting’, hence the unusual rise in temperature.

In metrological parlance, there has to occur ‘western disturbance’ that should create moisture in air, which in this year is conspicuously absent thus far. Ironically, a higher humidity not only makes heat less bearable, it also makes you sweat more. Before onset of summer, heavy moisture content in these parts often convert to sporadic showers bringing relief.

The fact is there’s perceptible concern that frequent climatic changes are indicative of global warming. Which is why, one argues, there have been cataclysmic nature’s fury over the past year all over the globe.

Many scientists opine the scale has forever tilted toward permanent climatic changes and that can result into unimaginable events leading to disastrous consequences. One only prays this is not so!

A bizarre story

[First appeared on Monday, February 20, 2006]

If anything can be truly grotesque, then this must be it. It all started when one Abhijit Lahiri applied for advance bail at the High Court that came up for hearing recently. His crime was simple enough, he had 2 years back ‘lived together’ with his wife who was at that time only ‘a year old’, therefore a minor in the eyes of law.

Must be a joke you’d say. Not really. What actually happened was that the woman in question was a man for all of 37 years before he (or is it ‘she’) underwent change of sex. After being a woman for just a year, she married Abhijit. Things started turning sour soon, and fearing worse, Abhijit scurried for advance bail.

But bail was not to be. Hon’ble Judge, unable to ignore public prosecutor’s plea that Abhijit committed a crime on a minor, rejected his bail application, though the reason for doing so hasn’t been clarified.

Matter for grey cells? You bet.

Football House of India

[First posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006]

Unknown to many, a brand new HQ of All India Football Federation (AIFF) has sprung up at Dwarka in West Delhi. A 3-storey structure on a modest 2000 sft, AIFF’s head office will cater to many needs rolled in one destination.

To start with, it’ll house the inevitable administrative setup on the ground floor. Next up will see offices of national coach, referees and support staff. A conference room is located too. The top floor has 14 rooms of double-occupancy to accommodate players. If and when there’s selection camp in Delhi for the national team, the players, coach and other concerned officials will stay here.

Besides accommodation, the football house will also have its own dedicated restaurant, and an air-conditioned gym to complete the list of necessities. The grand edifice will sport a replica of football at one corner on the top to proclaim its identity.

That the building could come up with FIFA’s donation is small consolation. Yet a little jubilation is in order, what with AIFF’s purse fatting by 2.7 billion rupees selling tv rights to the Zee group.

If the AIFF succeeds to promote football the way cricket has been done in our sports-starved country, it would indeed be a great boost to overall advancement of Indian sports.

For, football is not only a very popular game world over, it’s money-spinner too on a scale unimaginable in India. High time we put our money on football. Let’s wish AIFF all success.

Rabindra Sadan

[First published on Friday, February 10, 2006]

Whenever I set foot on Rabindra Sadan metro station, my eyes wander off to either side of the platform. On the walls across railway track, big white panels display Tagore’s writings in both Bengali and English. Immaculate and soul-searching, the writings let you discover the exceptional creative power and intellect of the great poet.

Even while you marvel at Tagore’s creative talent, trains pass at regular interval, devouring and disgorging mass of people. Looking around, it wouldn’t surprise that amid the rush to and fro, none would probably be remotely aware of what exists across the railway tracks.

There’s din everywhere. TVs’, perched high, entertain with high-pitched programs that ricochet off every nook and corner. You suddenly start ruing if it was the right place for those panels. Look closely, and your fear comes true. The panels are not clean, they sport layers of dust like an unshaven face.

And there lies the irony. We worship icons, but do not know how to take good care.

Swirling angel

[First posted on Wednesday, February 08, 2006]

Who would have thought that restoring a 3-tonne bronze angel atop Victoria Memorial, one of the finest monuments of Kolkata, to its former glory would need a court reprimand? Yet, such was the apathy that until the court intervened (thanks to Subhas Datta of Howrah Democratic Citizen's Forum), no one held any hope for early restoration.

If not for Subhas Datta, who filed a petition in the court, many of present generation and those of recent past would never have known that the angel, situated on a complicated mechanism of ball-bearings, used to rotate in tandem with strong breeze till only a couple of decades back.

When the angel stopped swirling in 1980 presumably because of malfunctioning of bearings, there was some effort to correct the fault. Unfortunately however, not much later, the angel altogether stopped moving. Kolkattans being dreary keepers of the city’s past, there was less of a lament for the loss, virtually no tears to shed. Life moved on, sans a glory that was all ours.

Thus when Subhas Datta took up crusade for restoration, it was time to sit up and applaud his efforts. A vigorous campaign is now on, and the honorable High Court has also lent its hand for the cause. Surprisingly, Victoria Memorial authorities, whose job it is to oversee the restoration work, has been lukewarm in putting out best efforts.

Not one to wait idly, Subhas Datta, inferring quickly that rectifying the fault may probably be beyond local engineers, has sent out an appeal to British Prime Minister, Tony Blair for help. It’s hoped suitable assistance may soon be on the way.

For many oldtimers like my septuagenarian uncle, it’s a wait with bated breath. Let’s pray the angel swirls, and soon.

Cradling New Town

[First appeared on Sunday, February 05, 2006]

New Town, to the east of Kolkata, is where the city is headed in its eastward drive. Action Area II & III of New Town need land development before amenities are built, and handed over later to prospective owners. The task of filling low-lying lands is mammoth and is expected to take more than 2 years.

The job itself is simple – that of fetching silt from banks of river Hooghly in trucks traversing nearly 16 km of central Kolkata’s tortuous roads. What though is not simple is how to manage all of 29 million cubic meters of soil needed for completing the work. According to estimates, about 1.5 million truck-trips, each laden with about 20 cubic meters of silt, will be required to fill in over 1165 hectares of land, so earmarked in New Town.

Going by above estimate, around 1875 one-way trips must be done everyday over about 2-year period which translates to not less than 75 trips per hour. A daunting task, to say the least. Anyone who is even cursorily acquainted with central Kolkata’s roads would immediately know what a hellish nightmare awaits.

Such was not the problem when Salt Lake was developed three and a half decades back. Silt was then transported through pipeline from Hooghly. But that was then. Now the story is more murkier. It would presumably cost upward of 3.5 billion rupees for pipeline transport. Should it be a ropeway then? No chance, says officials, for there too the cost is prohibitively high.

If there’s any silver lining in all this, it's just plain hope that post New Town Kolkata may after all be a better place to live. Till then Kolkatans will have to bear the pain of growth, high hopes notwithstanding.

Ways of almanacs

[First published on Friday, February 03, 2006]

Going by two prominent Bengali almanacs (panjika), Saraswati Puja falls on 2 days this year. Today (Feb 3) is second day, being followed by most. A holiday today, it’s convenient too. One gets to enjoy 3 days off. Plus the ambience lingers longer. Not that school-goers have any reason to complain, rather it adds to more merriment.

Delving a bit deep, this clash of which day is the right one is not new. On one hand you’ve scientific calculation based on the positions of the moon and the sun. This is done by none other than the government’s Positional Astronomy Center. According to them, Saraswati Puja falls on Feb 2. The popular almanac, Bisudhha Sidhhanta Panjika, too agrees.

The other almanac by Gupta Press claims the puja must be on Feb 3. Their calculation is based on the old way of simply adding on time which may be at variance with actual positions of the moon and the sun. Curiously, the local government run by Marxists prefers Gupta Press’ ‘non-scientific’ analysis.

Coming to think of it, community pujas now-a-days are more of social enjoyment and extended merry-making than any serious soul-searching. That being so, change in auspicious time doesn’t ruffle many a feather.

Usually, Saraswati Puja marks end of year’s festivities. Do we have to wait one more year for the next round? Not really. The next round starts barely 8 months hence. Another almanac problem? May be. Meanwhile, let’s look forward to the next round of merry-making.

Festival of Bengali sweets

[Posted first on Wednesday, January 11, 2006]

At the crossing of AJC Bose Road and Chowringhee Road, across glass façade of Exide’s corporate office, beckons Haldirams’, a popular destination of sweet lovers. As you step inside, door opened for you by a guard in uniform, the din outside fades and a world of spaciousness greets you.

Food counters lay on one side, and along glass panes that separate chaos outside, one can sit and eat while gazing at the bustle on the road that seems surreal. Rows of sumptuous fares await favor, some by their looks need no introduction. There are others which are known when you read the names attached to the trays.

Business proceeds at brisk pace, and I admit to being smitten by overall ambience. A glance around, and one reckons here’s a shop that knows how to reach out.

However, the event that shook me with surprise happened at Olpadwala Hall, not far from Haldirams’. There, at ‘Ananda Madhura’ on 5th, 6th and 7th, one saw unrestrained partaking of Bengali sweets. It felt wonderful to see overflowing congregation of lovers of Lengcha and Mihidana from Burdwan, Chhanapora from Medinipur, Sarpuria from Krishnanagar, Talshansh (aka Jalbhora) from Chandannagore, even Kolkata’s Rosogolla.

Long queues snaked in front of counters, passion often giving in to frustration as the stocks finished many times over. Never before could one imagine that such an event would indeed be thought of – let alone organized - and so it was no wonder that people came only to eat sweets from as far as Kharagpur, Diamond Harbour, Srirampur, Kalyani, you name it.

Coming to think of it, as I headed home after a ‘heady’ experience, I realized that despite my none-too-infrequent trips, I’ve rarely longed for any of those sweets that Haldirams’ sells. To me, most of them taste nearly same, though ingredients vary. I don’t remember having ever taken some home. I suspect it’s just the prospect of whiling away a little time that fetches me there. That the shop falls on the road I travel often is another reason.

I may sound a tad parochial, but the overwhelming success of Bengali sweet festival goes to prove that Bengali sweets far outclass other sweets so far popularity and culinary skills go. That Haldirams’ and others of its ilk too flourish is just a measure of Bengalis’ love for food in general.

Bizarre happenings of 2005

[The first post of 2006, Sunday, January 01, 2006]

If a 41-year old British millionaire’s marriage with her long-time beau, a 35-year old dolphin doesn’t wonder you, then the change in name of Clark, a Texan city, to ‘Dish’ in November, so that all residents would receive free cable connection for 10 years should.

These and more are some such bizarre happenings in 2005. Consider for that matter the findings of Britain’s Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals that say that most household pets are abandoned because their colors do not match with those of carpets or sofas. And while love for pet takes backseat for want of color-matching, students of Japan’s Kanagawa Institute of Technology have shown that no matter what the reason, they can never sever company of their cellphones. Indeed the authorities have decided to print their identity cards on cellphones, ‘cause this is the only thing that students do not forget to carry to classes.

However, cream of all things bizarre must belong to a flop bank dacoity in India. Out of over-eagerness perhaps, the group of looters arrived a trifle early, and though they succeeded to overpower bank personnel and the guard, they couldn’t force open the lockers since the cashier who had the second key reached late. They had to be content with just Rs.40 that was there in the cashbox.

If you felt sad for the Indian bank looters, take heart, for their tribe in Brazil pulled off a spectacular heist in a bank in Fortaleza in August. The effort was breathtaking not because it was the largest ever cash robbery (nearly $70 million). The scale of operation was awesome as the robbers dug a 13-feet deep, 262-feet long tunnel from a house near the bank to the vault, and ultimately broke through 6-feet concrete wall to reach the cash.

As we hail 2006, bidding adieu to 2005 will surely fetch many a memory. Let’s make some accommodation for the bizarre happenings that add spice now and then to our otherwise routine life. Goodbye 2005.

Kolkata 2005

[Appeared on the last day of 2005, Saturday, December 31, 2005]

As 2005 draws to a close, here’s an opportunity to mull over issues that affected Kolkata most in the past year. Opinions would vary, but perhaps few will disagree that Sourav’s unceremonious omission from both captainship and playing eleven should rank at the top. It touched a rare chord of camaraderie among all sports lovers in the city. And indeed elsewhere.

The second most important issue could be brouhaha over Salim group’s plans to set up a mammoth township in southern suburbs of Kolkata. The government seems committed to pull it through, though presently there’s an uneasy calm in view of coming elections. Third rank ought to go to the strident campaigns in favor of cleaner and greener Kolkata. Only days back, the shanties along railway tracks near Lake Gardens station have been cleared. This is a monumental event for the reason that these shanties have been in existence for not less than 4 decades, if not more.

Kudos also goes to the activists who have made the government realize that the maidan must be preserved in its pristine glory, and not be trampled by allowing frivolous events. This task is not finished yet. Hopefully, we’ll see a new dawn in near future.

What to me comes next is an all-round enthusiasm that at last things are happening in Bengal. People are very hopeful that Kolkata will very soon regain its pride of place among the most interesting cities east of Suez. There hangs an air of expectation, and each event that epitomizes an enhancement of prestige for the city is welcomed with unbridled jubilation.

I count myself among those whose love for Kolkata knows no bounds. My heart fills with joy seeing doomsayers eating humble pie as Kolkata wakes up from prolonged slumber to slowly yet unfalteringly position itself as the most sought-after city in India.

Early barley

[First appeared on Tuesday, December 27, 2005]

At the risk of venturing on non-Kolkata subjects once too often (that’s what a few viewers told me), I want to share a piece of good news that appeared in today’s newspaper (The Economic Times, Kolkata, Dec 27).

The FDA of US has in a communiqué informed that barley products help reduce the risk of heart disease. It wants food makers who deal in barley items to start advertising the benefit on their food packages.

The reason I’m enthused is because a friend of mine who underwent mastectomy of her right breast was advised ‘barley-water’, specially so since she also has high cholesterol. Barley doesn’t taste great. In fact to make barley-water ‘drinkable’, a small addition of lemon, salt and sugar is more than usual.

There’s a palpable lack of health awareness among Indians. Though nutrition and fitness experts are found all too readily these days, most of them simply do not make the mark. Modern life being what it is, the need for proper advice on food is on the rise. The choice narrows to either going by what the product ads say or referring to newspaper columns of so-called fitness experts, many of which often running contrary to one another. Adding to confusion is a constant debate on relative merits (and demerits!) of ‘veg’ and ‘non-veg’ foods.

Yet such was not the case even a few decades back. Home-grown remedies were able to counter many common ailments. And we all felt there was wisdom in granny’s advice. Barley-water was one such ‘pearl’ that overcame many a sickness. Tinned pack of Robinson’s barley could be seen in most households. It’s another matter that we now start to understand its great virtues all over again.

The lucrative trap of ITES

[First written on Monday, December 26, 2005]

On Dec 24, the VC of Jadavpur University said the mushrooming of call-centers and BPO outfits representing big transnational companies do not augur well for aspiring candidates in the long run. Speaking at the 50th convocation of the university, he cautioned that in return for handsome salary and associated perks, these transnational companies are virtually turning the young minds into what he termed ‘back-office coolies’. Harsh words may be, but there is a ring of truth in what he said.

It’s common knowledge that in nearly 5 decades of last century, India lost much of its brain-power to the west, where these minds flourished to the benefit of host countries. The logic that India didn’t offer hope held ground.

Of late, things have started to change. Advent of internet and the like has dramatically bolstered job prospects of millions of English-speaking Indians, who are no less capable than their counterparts in rich countries, available all the same at fraction of cost. Soon followed a mad rush to locate back-offices in India, first in large cities, and now even in smaller cities. Lure of fat income and ‘western’ office environ have been able to draw droves of just pass-outs to work for them.

Reports emanate now and then that many companies are misusing Indian talents in the name of research activities, which in effect are nothing but dull repetitive works disguised in technical jargons. This is worrisome, and seen in this backdrop, the VC’s remarks must be paid due attention, else India’s skilled workforce would rapidly degenerate into vast pool of mediocrity, capable only of aping masters.

Schools extraordinaire?

[First posted on Sunday, December 25, 2005]

Some time back I was called upon to design the website of an upcoming elite school. The businessman-owner I spoke to had earlier run a computer institute. To give an essence of what the website should be like, he explained that ‘his’ school would be a ‘center of excellence’, and a day would soon there be when parents make a beeline to have their wards admitted to his school.

I lauded the businessman’s efforts, and coming back impressed, designed the website so as to portray the virtues of proper education (as I understand) and what the institute would offer in terms of nurturing ‘noble values’ of life. To my surprise, not many days later, the website I designed was pulled down.

What came up instead was a gung-ho description of amenities the school offered, like swimming pool, air-conditioned gym, karate classes, tennis court, and what have you. The motto seemed to be ‘you want it, we have it’. Crass consumerism, did you say!

I resigned believing the time of tide is no one’s doing. A recent nondescript happening however came to claim my attention, and I was not thrilled. My neighbor’s son who studied in standard eight in a similar elite school was a busy guy. Scurrying from swimming class to scoring a ton in cricket to a brief workout at gym, his time was precious while in school. When the holidays came he was lulled into inactivity which he abhorred.

Stories of his achievement were many, and so when he came round to seek my advice on ‘search engines’, I was a little wary about how much of my help would be of any worth to him. I decided to probe a little deep.

His was a holiday project which he chose along with another from among a list of five. Why the topic on search engines? Because this was the ‘hottest’ in the list, and if you knew none about the topic, you would have slim chance to score marks. Not bad, I thought, but what about the other ones! The next topic on popularity chart was ‘Indian Cricket’, which he chose (no surprise there!). Then came ‘How you spent your holiday’, the same old also-ran. The remaining two? He took time to recall because he felt no sane student would do them. Why, even the teachers were not enthused to ask for those topics.

Of the ‘other’ two, one was ‘Preserving water-lands for greater benefit’, and the other ‘Friendship among communities bring lasting peace’. I was shocked to find that no student opted these topics. Who would tell them targeting sky is alright, but it’s worth taking care to see the ground is not littered? This I believe is a telling example of times to come. An aspiring for high-life, sans concern for others.

The groping tale

[First posted on Sunday, December 25, 2005]

This story is about a ‘groper’ in a crowded Osaka-bound train in Japan who eventually died after being chased by a group of co-passengers. Lest there be any ooh-aahs, let it be said that this problem is not theirs alone. Feeling about the contours of woman passengers has been a favorite game of male goers in crowded journey in many places. In Delhi buses, such harassments are pretty common, so much so that members of fairer sex virtually loathe to travel in them. In Kolkata, the problem is much less, though not absent altogether.

Despite what for many is a routine aberration, the incident in Osaka train depicts an alarming dimension to the problem, as brought out in the article by Leo Lewis in The Telegraph, Dec 23 (original reporting at The Times, London edition, Dec 22). What indeed is amazing is how the much-reviled ‘railway gropers’ in Japan, referred to as chikan, use the internet to organize themselves into efficient “groper’s guilds”. Leo’s account further reveals that “Chikan exchange tips on the best times and commuter lines to target, and even run interference for each other so that guild members can undertake a particularly brazen attack..”.

Not that the authorities have slept over these sex crimes. But their best efforts haven’t been able to yield results that matter. Polls among women passengers showed that at least two-thirds of the younger lot have suffered groping on trains at some time. This incident may now prove a turning point, for it demonstrates a certain willingness to counter the problem head-on.

The game of abarodh

[First posted on Thursday, December 22, 2005]

Not a single day passes when you don’t hear tales of abarodh. If you’re a frequent traveler on local trains, you would’ve never missed being a party to abarodhs, mostly on losers’ side. The game of abarodh has been perfected to such a finesse that in most cases it doesn’t take more than 10 people to bring traffic to standstill.

Political parties, specially the present rulers, can rightly claim its invention. Any reason, supposedly concerning ‘larger interests’, would justify laying siege to thoroughfares, suffering of others be damned. Though of late better sense has prevailed over political class, the damage is already telling.

So long we’ve known that bandhs and processions for no apparent rhyme or reason are meant to cripple normal life. Because large masses of people who silently stand by, must be made to understand ‘issues’ that allegedly affect those who participate. These days, issues do not seem to matter. Rather whims do. Witness the recent spell of abarodhs all over the state for the simple reason that Sourav wasn’t included in national side. At one place I could see a local lad, having led a band of traffic-stoppers, jumping in joy for being ‘cynosure of all eyes’.

Then again, there can be stoppage on a trunk route because the water-main in the vicinity has developed leakage. Why, I’ve faced an abarodh to ‘mourn’ the expiry of an aged local politician, and another to ‘protest’ against occupation of a playing field by a real-estate developer, and many other for equally flimsy reasons!

Stuck there, what immediately strikes you is complete lack of sensibility on the part of these so-called protesters. If you dare raise your voice, you’re held in utter contempt, and be told in no uncertain terms to mind your business. Pray what business, if any, may I mind, if I’m held hostage to the whims of others? Any answer there?

The cauliflower story

[First appeared on Thursday, December 22, 2005]

Ferrying of cauliflowers is a common sight these days near any big market. Heaps of them come and go in all kinds of movers, be it a matador van or poor man’s van-rickshaw. Cauliflower tastes good and can make sumptuous fare. That is the reason we love to include cauliflower in a wide gamut of preparations, like curry or pakoras, not to mention everybody’s favorite syrupy khitchdi.

Earlier, we used to hear good cauliflowers grow in Dhapa. Indeed, when EM Bypass was still a big no-no, people who occasionally ventured there in winter, would invariably bring back ‘necklace’ of cauliflowers sporting proud smile. Over the years, Dhapa has come closer as the city expanded to the east. Now, a trip along the Bypass would easily fetch glimpses of farmlands growing cauliflowers and myriad other vegetables.

Steady supply notwithstanding, cauliflowers do not come as cheap as they used to even a few years back. The trend indicates people have more money than earlier, and are willing to pay extra. If that translates to better income for the growers, it’s a welcome sign. For, a good economy is one that allows rising income all the way down to grassroots.

Multiplex vs single-screen

[First appeared on Saturday, December 10, 2005]

After ‘Fame’ at Hiland Park, the latest to join multiplex bandwagon is the proposed ‘Hind Plaza’, which will be a makeover for the Hind Cinema, located at Ganesh Avenue – Nirmal Chandra Street junction. In fact, Hind Plaza will have 2-screens, each sitting 400 viewers, plus add-ons like food court and shopping mall.

Movie-going is no longer a simple no-frill entertainment, ever since the first multiplex, Forum, on Elgin Road, opened its doors 2 years back. Apart from watching movies, the thrill of hanging out in lobby and eateries without spilling onto the road, has attracted youngsters in hordes. The other inevitable must-visit is the shopping mall, which is a part of every multiplex.

That the multiplex would become ‘rage’ was noticeable right from beginning. Yet the single-screen owners fervently opined that multiplexes are for rich people. Who else would pay exorbitant price for tickets? They missed the point that multiplexes are more than just watching movies.

And look what happened! Famous cinema halls of yesteryears – Globe, Lighthouse, Metro …- have closed down. Similar fate awaits many other single-screen halls in not-so-distant future. Unless they change over to what today’s people want.

She is chimtiing me!

[First appeared on Tuesday, December 06, 2005]

Here then is a round or two of mothers’ chat on a mini-bus early afternoon. Daily chores half-attended at home, the mothers can barely conceal irritation of journeying on a rickety bus. But duty it is, to fetch their young ones from school. Dressed in matter-of-fact way, this set of mothers belongs to boys of an elite school. Boarding the bus, a brief melee ensues in order to occupy seats, while adjusting to the sway of the vehicle.

Mother 1: What the heck, one never knows when the bus comes! Hey you (beckoning the conductor), take the fare.

Mother 2 (continuing an earlier conversation): Know that clown, that Tutu’s father? See how he dresses? Has no control on his son.

Mother 1 (agitated): Right you are. Haven’t seen such a rowdy boy. Beats everyone. Look at him (her son, who sports a tinge of blue on the cheek). This beast (bichchhu), he’s some sort of beast if you ask me.

Mother 3 (agitated too): Topping that, watch his father’s audacity! Says he would stop the school working if anything happens to the boy. Stop, huh! A joke, that.

The talks veer away to discuss a crowd that stood on the road close to an apartment building. The bus slows down to find way. ‘Accident, is that?’, commented one. ‘No, no..’, mother 3 exclaimed. ‘Suicide tuicide may be!’. The bus gathers speed, and the ominous thoughts vanish quickly.

Settling down, mother 1 wouldn’t let go her anguish of son beaten in school.

Mother 1: Give me a day. Just one day. I will teach him (the bichchhu) such a lesson, he will never dare do any wrong!

Mother 3: Know what, girls are much better.

Mother 2: Oh, don’t tell me. You have no idea. They pinch so hard… Why, Pampa’s (a neighborhood mother) daughter often complains to the teacher, ‘Sweta is chimtiing me’.

Now that is really something to ponder, don’t you agree!

Winter calling..

[First posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005]

The chill is never a threat in this part of world. To most, the cold is rather tame. Except for that cocktail of fog and pollutants that hang heavy every morning, winter in Kolkata is eminently enjoyable. Temperature hovers in teens during nights, and a colorful evening is always in order. An occasional soiree late in the night is a perfect icing on the cake. Talking of cake, X’mas and new year eve present grand opportunity to hoodwink calorie-saving advices.

Yet nothing carries more enthusiasm than the picnics and outings in the winter. Bengalis have infinite love for food and travel. And travel they do, to places far and near in summer and puja holidays. How can winter be different? It’s now time for short sojourn amid fun and fiesta and lots of soaking in the sun. The city heads toward that ‘little-known patch of green beside a rivulet’ one spoke about, while people from suburbs rush to fill the headcount in Kolkata.

For the academic, Kolkata was never cooler than 6.7 degrees, recorded in the winter of 1899. According to stats, Jan 15 of 2003 was the coldest at 9.4 degrees in the last decade and half. ‘Officially’, winter is said to have set in Kolkata when the temperature drops below 17 degrees.

As if it matters..! It does, but only when the chill is rather warm. If not, why bother what the met office says? Really so, why bother? My fun is mine, and yours is yours. Let’s enjoy.

It cost Rs.462695 to build Howrah station

[First posted on Monday, November 21, 2005]

A grand edifice on the banks of Hooghly, the Howrah station is but a poor cousin of Howrah Bridge that stands close by. Chronicles of Howrah bridge (a.k.a. Rabindra Setu) are many, quite a few of which have been made in to films. Howrah station isn’t that revered, though its grandeur can easily rival the other great station building, the Victoria Terminus of Mumbai (now called Chhatrapati Sivaji Terminus).

East India Railway Company was responsible for the construction of the Howrah station building that was designed by Halsey Ralph Ricardo, a British architect. It took nearly 10 years to complete the construction from 1901 to 1911, though the station itself was commissioned for public use on December 1, 1905. The cost was a tidy sum of Rs.462695.

All these and more, including architectural drawings, have been narrated in a forthcoming 130-page book, Vibrant Edifice: The Saga of Howrah Station, spread over seven chapters, slated to debut on December 1, to mark the centenary of the building’s commissioning. Kolkata lovers would surely find the book invigorating. Here’s wishing a happy reading.

The changing of hands at Great Eastern

[First appearance of this post on Sunday, November 20, 2005]

In 1840, built by David Wilson, Great Eastern came into being, about the time when Kolkata was being hailed as a great business destination, east of Suez. The view before the hotel was an unbridled landscape up to river Hooghly, dotted occasionally by equally majestic buildings. Horse-drawn carriages would speed up on the roads bearing persons of importance.

The hotel itself was a place of regale. People who visited, prided for having set foot on the premises. Not without reasons. For, Great Eastern truly was a grand affair, and Englishmen from far and near loved every occasion to be part of it.

The eclipse came about in late sixties last century. Government took over the reins in 1975, but the glorious days remained lost. Great Eastern bled and continued to suffer from ignominy, till at last it could no more.

After prolonged dithering, Great Eastern is now sold to Lalit Suri, a hotelier of some fame. Suri is savvy and assures Great Eastern will shortly become a happening address in the city. May that happen, and in no time. I eagerly look forward to see more of Great Eastern with same pomp and splendor it could once boast of 100 years back.

The unwelcome guest

[First posted on Tuesday, November 15, 2005]

The visitor that came calling in that early November night had a hungry stomach, having reportedly traveled great distance. But none in the village Hemnagar would oblige. Not surprising, since the visitor was none other than a ravenous tigress, suspected to be carrying would-be-kids in her belly.

Perhaps someone in her fraternity told her of easy availability of prey, or may be she was looking for a ‘safe’ place to breed, but what was obvious was Hemnagar residents’ great reluctance to extend any welcome.

She arrived at Hemnagar, a small locale in South 24 Parganas, at night and moved about quite a bit before being sighted. It didn’t take long for panic to set in, though no harm was caused on her. The unseemly chase ended when the bigpaw decided to land in a kitchen, the door of which was promptly locked from outside. To bolster her trap, the small room was further wrapped around with fishing net.

Then onward it was a smooth affair. Experts from Tiger Reserve Project office in Canning came without delay, armed with tranquilizer guns. Soon after, it was return journey for the tigress to where she belongs, this time with man’s help.

The (in)famous canals of Kolkata

[First appeared on Sunday, October 30, 2005]

Q: Who are those generous souls who give you more than they receive?
A: The Kolkata canals.

Their bellies are full and they have no place to consume any more. No wonder, the earliest sign of deluge send shivers down the spine of canal-side residents. And who do you think should apportion the blame? Anyone but the Government, if you hear some of their saying.

Kolkata is blessed with about 12 interconnected canals. Good thing about them is they remain filled with water all year long. Enter Government apathy. Armed with enviable lack of foresight, it allowed settlers on the banks. And since the gaze stopped at their hutments, it became easier to altogether forget what lay beyond.

Filth and dirt, meanwhile, filled in year after year, even while hutments inched further into water-body. The canals turned into eyesores, and people thought why they were there in the first place. Such was the anathema that one felt cursed to even look at them.

The day of reckoning came soon. Parts of Kolkata would remain flooded for several days after heavy rains. The canals wouldn’t take in anymore.

Decades later, luck is now smiling on us. Plans are afoot to clean the canals and restore original glory. But, it’s easier said than done. For, though money is now there, efforts clash. Let’s see how long this takes. Or will this be another wait for eternity..!

Dada, come back..

[First appeared on Sunday, October 23, 2005]

So went the chant after Sourav’s scintillating century at Rajkot. His is a great effort, what with scathing attack on his performance for quite some time. Sourav is a team-man and a sound leader, who has gone extra length to prove his worth.

Critics say he’s no longer useful to team. Some bear grudge toward him for their own selfish reasons. Others strongly feel Dravid must now get a chance. To add to Sourav’s woes, here’s a coach, who is hell-bent to see him go.

Cricket in India isn't a simple game any longer. It's more a money-spinning machine today. Lot many people have their fingers dipped in cricket-pie, and would stop at nothing to protect their turf. No wonder, there is too much of cross-connections.

To me, the solution lies bone-deep. Mere scratching the surface, like removing Sourav, wouldn’t help. For, the danger is, if Dravid fails too, the claws would come out again. This time with double vengeance.

Hellish roads..

[First appeared on Wednesday, October 19, 2005]

Stories abound about life in heaven. Scenes of Indralok were pretty common in old Bengali movies. Tips on heavenly life come free in places of worship along with saintly advice on truthfulness in life.

But, what about life in hell! A new experience for many, perhaps. Not for gallant Kolkattans.

If you’re craving for hellish experience, spend few hours on Kolkata roads. You’ll not be disappointed, that is if Yama doesn’t beckon you. And if you want to play safe, yet interested, refer to any newspaper of any day. No wonder, someone said you’d quickly learn a lesson or 2 in dancing if you ride on Kolkata roads.

Coming to more mundane, our mayor seems to have grown a strange habit of injuring his feet more often than he’d have liked. Not content with a fractured right ankle some time back, he now has an unfaithful left knee. All the more painful, for he’s forced to cut short his foreign jaunt and return forthwith.

The first stage of autumn festivities are just over. Diwali comes next, and people are hoping to have gala time yet again. After Diwali, there’s a brief lull. And then, the Kolkattans would step out to enjoy the balmy winter. About that, later.

< - - Looking back

Many people think it is fashionable to feel nostalgic. After all, what is past is past. True, but I cannot afford to let go all that is past for me. At least, not some of the posts I made in my erstwhile blog. Those bore some sweet moments, some bitter and some both bitter and sweet.

Readers, who now see this blog may please bear with me awhile. I'm going to reproduce a few of my earlier blogposts, some older by as much as 6 months. The old posts will have captions at the top to inform you that they're vintage stuff.

Meanwhile, freshly baked posts will be served in between. As usual.

Football plan of India

I usually start from the back page of newspaper after briefly scanning frontpage headlines. The frontpage stories are often predictable, specially if you've seen late night news on the TV. More so now since the World Cup is on in right earnest.

Not the back page. The back page smells of an unknown quest like the cleavage of a woman.

Today was no different, and so when I spread out the back page of The Telegraph this morning, my eyes stuck at the left-most column. There lay a maze of football plans of different playing teams, 8 of them. Brazil's was there, so was Italy's and Germany's and host of others.

At the bottom was India's. India's? Must be a joke. India haven't started dreaming yet to play in the finals. But yes, India does have a plan after all. The great Indian plan continues to be to 'stay at home and watch the others on TV'! At least something.

Ah, at last!

Lest you feel what's on, let me share a piece of my mind. I'm not a new blogger, so to say. In fact Kolkata Musing (KM) debuted late last year just after Durga Puja. It was part of prioriti.in, that website of mine that dealt on web marketing. 50 odd posts later, KM matured so much that it demanded space of its own.

That sealed its fate for awhile as I just couldn't manage enough slot in my leisurely schedule to lend a helping hand. Exciting events passed by, still not a stir. I started having doubt if KM would ever see the light of day. But then my wish survived at long last. Relief..

Things now look better. Seems KM is poised to commence a robust journey. I'm hopeful.

Meanwhile, June 13 will go down as the turning point in Bengal's rejuvenation as an industrial destination. After decades of moribund state of affairs that owes it to Bengal's peremptory ruling class, there is this hope of turnaround in the offing. Today's refusal to join protest strike is a pointer in that direction.

May we start hoping for better times? Perhaps.