Kaal shara raat load-shedding chilo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kono maney hoy?????????
Sharadin gelo, shara shondhye gelo……….think manushe shute jachhe, shei shomoy power-cut.
Besh khushi hoe uthlam jokhon chollish minute pore power eshe gelo………..kintu hay, shey shudhui bhuo asha. Tokhono WBSEB tar ashol uddyeshyo lukiye rekehchilo. Thik jemon golaap tar fool tai dekhei, kaanta noy.
Ar etai promanito holo jokhon - ( ami thik shomoy ta jani na coz ghori dekhini ) tobe andaaj 1am nagaad abar fan er hawa bondho hoe gelo abong ami realize korlam je abar power off hoe geche. Little did I know je this time it was for good.
To add to the woe of being power-less in a summer’s night, the weather was as grim as it could be. Ekta gacher ekta pata’o norchilo na – just bhebe dekhun bondhugon!!! Thhom-thhom korchilo akash, no hawa, no batash – mon ta amar hoe gelo bilkul hotash L
Tobe hyan, bhagwaan ke ghar me der hai, par andher nahin – no mosquitoes!!!! Ki Ashchorjjo!!!!! Ektao mosha chilo na, ektao mosha kamralo na. Kaner pashe ektao mosha bhon-bhon korlo na!!! kirom ekta odbhut kritogyota bodh holo amar – kar proti, ami tokhon thik realize korte parini. Ekhun bhabchi – bhogobaan na mosha – who should I be indebted to???? Ek kaj kori, ami dujon kei pronaam janai. Je kalker durbishoho raat ta ke ektu holeo ujjwal kore tolar jonne.
Raat egiye chollo tuk-tuk kore. Amio adha-ghum ebong adho-jagorone’er ek dolachole ghire roilum – kokhon gheme-neye, abar kokhon shojaag jege.
Sheshe alo fut te shuru korlo, pakhi rao eke-eke jege uthlo, akash ektu-ektu kore forsha hote laglo, ar ami shei shob drishya ebong shonbo ke anubhab korte thaklam ja aj obdhi amar ojana ochena chilo.Shesh’e ar thakte na pere janla gulo shotaan khule dilam raat 4 ter shomoy. Kintu nah, bhorer hawa bole je ekta bostu ghora-fera korar kotha, tar kono pattai pelam na L
Ogottya shei jegei shue roilam. Oi shomoye ar parchilam na. Shorir er shob shokti furiye esheche raatri jagoroner fole. Chokh chaiche pran-pon gobhir ghum e mogno hote, kintu uttapta deho – fan na ghorar jonne- takey allow korche na.Emon shomoy hothat!!!!!!! – fan ghurlo, hawa dilo, abaaaarrrrrrrr shob nishchup. Ghotona ta du-bar repeat holo. Arthaat du bar khoniker jonne power esheo chole gelo abar.
7AM e finally jokhon power on holo, tokhon na ache ghumonor time, na ache mood. Ei bhabei glanite, dukkhe, koshte katlo ekti binidro rajani!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Brishti pore Tapur-Tupur...
Ki gorom – ki gorom………pran’ta jay-jay pray
Obosheshe, elo desh’e, akash hote obiram dharay
Shei shudha jar jonne shorir-mon chilo opekkhay
Aj brishti mon bhejalo, bhijlo boshon, tanu-mon.
Aj mon shudhu tomake kache chay
Brishti jokhon mon ta ke dhoyay
Pashe jodi tumi nao thako, tobu theko amar moner anginay
Haat’ta amar jodi nao dhoro, chhnue jeo mon’ta.
Obosheshe, elo desh’e, akash hote obiram dharay
Shei shudha jar jonne shorir-mon chilo opekkhay
Aj brishti mon bhejalo, bhijlo boshon, tanu-mon.
Aj mon shudhu tomake kache chay
Brishti jokhon mon ta ke dhoyay
Pashe jodi tumi nao thako, tobu theko amar moner anginay
Haat’ta amar jodi nao dhoro, chhnue jeo mon’ta.
Hoyto tumi bhabcho na amar kotha temon kore ekhun
Je bhabe ami anubhab korchi tomay
Hoyto tomar moner alo-chhayay ami nei kothao
Tobe amar moner, alo o chhaya – dutoi tumi.
Jodi konodin, kokhono, emon ek badol mukhar shondhay
Tumi thako amar pashe,
Tobe moner kotha bolbo ami, shob bhule
Ar dekhbo, alo-chhaya’r khela, tomar mukhe’r ashe-pashe.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Dol dol duluni,Bor ashbe ekhuni
“Ei shon, porshu bikele ora toke dekhte ashbe”, office theke firtei maa bollen……..Shanghatik ekta sentence, jeta tomar jibon take puro-puri olot-palot kore rekhe debe. Tumi obaak hobe, sheta muhurter modhye panic e bodle jabe, jeta khub shiggiri birokti te porinoto hobe, ebong shob sheshe mukher bhetore ekta bhalo-na-laga taste.
Tomra nishchoi bujhecho etokkhone je ami kisher kotha bolchi. Hyan, biyer kotha. Ekta bishuddho Bangali motey’r arranged marriage. Er theke kono chharan-chhoron nei. Biye to kortei hobe. Tao chele hole na hoy mane chilo, biye na korleo chole. Kintu ekti bhodro-barir tanaya o-bibahito theke ajibon norok-jontrona o shomaaj’er bibhinno bipod-apod er shommukheen hobe, ta ki kore hoy!!! Meye’tar baba-maa je Shwarge giyeo shanti paben na!!! Ta hok na meye professionally qualified, MNC te chakurirota, othoba nijer cheshtay, nijer paye darano. Ekta meye’r jibone chakri kokhonoi pradhanyo pete pare na. Chele hole na hoy onno kotha chilo. Amar didi’ma pray’i bole thaken “byata chele sonar chaand khabe dudher shor,meye-chele mati’r dhela jabe porer ghor”. Shey kotha alada je dudher shor khete motei bhalo lage na amar, ba amar dada’r.
Ar arranged marriage! Amar ek mashtuto bon bolechilo ekbar, “college life e time ta constructive bhabe katale,ekhun eto jhamela hoto na”. Kintu ki ar kora, amader college e pod’er chele kom’I chilo. Ontoto amar chokhe to poreni. Tarpor post graduation, chakri – hoy amar takey pochondo hoyni, noy tar amake opochondo! Ei tana poren’e kete gelo koto-gulo bochor. Jiboner durmulyo basanta’r kichu bochor. Koto chatting, koto dating,bondhu’der through diye alaap – kintu na, bhobi bholar noy.
Ogotya ei lekhar prothom line’er srishti. – ora dekhte ashbe. Heshe dekhao, hete dekhao, boshe dekhao, bole dekhao, chokher drishti’te dekhao, hater bhongima’te dekhao. Ajkal abar hater kaj , gaan geye dekhanor jug chole geche. Je khabar gulo dekhne’wala’der poribeshon kora hoeche, sheta meye’r hater toiri kina, erom proshno to bhabai gorhito kaj. Eishob lokeder “insensitive” bole chihnito kora hoye thake. Etao ek obak kando je meye dekhte eshe cheler baba o maa shob shomoy asha koren je meye nishchoi randhan korme potiyoshi. Bhule jay je meye’ti’o tader chele’r moto’I ador-jotne lalito-palito. Tar baba-ma’o takey lekha-pora shikhiye manush korechen. Tar o ekti individuality ache. Takey tar maa temon’i jotno kore ranna kore khaiyechen, jotota chele’r maa. Kintu manob choritro boroi odbhut ebong jotil. Tai jokhon maa bollen je amay dekhte ashbe, ami thik I kore nilam je best policy holo keep the conversation simple and to the point.
Ebar dekhte eshe ki holo-na-holo, that is another story altogether. But ekhane we are only concerned with marriage – process of arranged marriage.
Prem jokhon korte paroni, bachha, tokhon meye dekhte to ashbei tomake. Proshno korbei. Jobab ta mono-moto na holei bipod. Maa bolben, chakri-bakri koro, ekta proshner intelligent uttar’o dite paro na! As if chakri kori bole ami shadharon ekta bhoy-pawa( dekhte esheche bole ) meye’r cheye alada. As if office e amader biyer interview’er training deoa hoy! Bojho byapar!!!
Chele jodi baba-maa’r shonge elo to bhalo. Noile abar tara bolben “amra to dekhlam,kintu bujhtei parchen, chele’r pochondo’i main”. Arre baba, tai jodi hoy to chele’ke niye elen na keno? Jar mot’ta important tar’i to asha uchit, naki?
On the whole, amar mone hoy,it is grossly unfair to blame any failure of this process on the girl. Taar motamot ebong preferences er upor shob cheye beshi nojor rakha uchit. Chele’r pochondo holei meye ke hyan bolte hobe, eta kono kotha noy. Meye’r pochondo hoeche kina, that is of utmost importance.
Tobe bondhugon, amar ei shob kotha shune bhebo na je amar barir lok dictatorship chalay amar opor. Onara besh liberal, ei ekta bishoye. Oboshyo amio besh tiara meye. Kono kothai shoja-shuji manyo kora amar dhatei shoy na :-) And I totally respect my family for respecting my likes and dislike in this arranged-marriage byapar.
Tomra nishchoi bujhecho etokkhone je ami kisher kotha bolchi. Hyan, biyer kotha. Ekta bishuddho Bangali motey’r arranged marriage. Er theke kono chharan-chhoron nei. Biye to kortei hobe. Tao chele hole na hoy mane chilo, biye na korleo chole. Kintu ekti bhodro-barir tanaya o-bibahito theke ajibon norok-jontrona o shomaaj’er bibhinno bipod-apod er shommukheen hobe, ta ki kore hoy!!! Meye’tar baba-maa je Shwarge giyeo shanti paben na!!! Ta hok na meye professionally qualified, MNC te chakurirota, othoba nijer cheshtay, nijer paye darano. Ekta meye’r jibone chakri kokhonoi pradhanyo pete pare na. Chele hole na hoy onno kotha chilo. Amar didi’ma pray’i bole thaken “byata chele sonar chaand khabe dudher shor,meye-chele mati’r dhela jabe porer ghor”. Shey kotha alada je dudher shor khete motei bhalo lage na amar, ba amar dada’r.
Ar arranged marriage! Amar ek mashtuto bon bolechilo ekbar, “college life e time ta constructive bhabe katale,ekhun eto jhamela hoto na”. Kintu ki ar kora, amader college e pod’er chele kom’I chilo. Ontoto amar chokhe to poreni. Tarpor post graduation, chakri – hoy amar takey pochondo hoyni, noy tar amake opochondo! Ei tana poren’e kete gelo koto-gulo bochor. Jiboner durmulyo basanta’r kichu bochor. Koto chatting, koto dating,bondhu’der through diye alaap – kintu na, bhobi bholar noy.
Ogotya ei lekhar prothom line’er srishti. – ora dekhte ashbe. Heshe dekhao, hete dekhao, boshe dekhao, bole dekhao, chokher drishti’te dekhao, hater bhongima’te dekhao. Ajkal abar hater kaj , gaan geye dekhanor jug chole geche. Je khabar gulo dekhne’wala’der poribeshon kora hoeche, sheta meye’r hater toiri kina, erom proshno to bhabai gorhito kaj. Eishob lokeder “insensitive” bole chihnito kora hoye thake. Etao ek obak kando je meye dekhte eshe cheler baba o maa shob shomoy asha koren je meye nishchoi randhan korme potiyoshi. Bhule jay je meye’ti’o tader chele’r moto’I ador-jotne lalito-palito. Tar baba-ma’o takey lekha-pora shikhiye manush korechen. Tar o ekti individuality ache. Takey tar maa temon’i jotno kore ranna kore khaiyechen, jotota chele’r maa. Kintu manob choritro boroi odbhut ebong jotil. Tai jokhon maa bollen je amay dekhte ashbe, ami thik I kore nilam je best policy holo keep the conversation simple and to the point.
Ebar dekhte eshe ki holo-na-holo, that is another story altogether. But ekhane we are only concerned with marriage – process of arranged marriage.
Prem jokhon korte paroni, bachha, tokhon meye dekhte to ashbei tomake. Proshno korbei. Jobab ta mono-moto na holei bipod. Maa bolben, chakri-bakri koro, ekta proshner intelligent uttar’o dite paro na! As if chakri kori bole ami shadharon ekta bhoy-pawa( dekhte esheche bole ) meye’r cheye alada. As if office e amader biyer interview’er training deoa hoy! Bojho byapar!!!
Chele jodi baba-maa’r shonge elo to bhalo. Noile abar tara bolben “amra to dekhlam,kintu bujhtei parchen, chele’r pochondo’i main”. Arre baba, tai jodi hoy to chele’ke niye elen na keno? Jar mot’ta important tar’i to asha uchit, naki?
On the whole, amar mone hoy,it is grossly unfair to blame any failure of this process on the girl. Taar motamot ebong preferences er upor shob cheye beshi nojor rakha uchit. Chele’r pochondo holei meye ke hyan bolte hobe, eta kono kotha noy. Meye’r pochondo hoeche kina, that is of utmost importance.
Tobe bondhugon, amar ei shob kotha shune bhebo na je amar barir lok dictatorship chalay amar opor. Onara besh liberal, ei ekta bishoye. Oboshyo amio besh tiara meye. Kono kothai shoja-shuji manyo kora amar dhatei shoy na :-) And I totally respect my family for respecting my likes and dislike in this arranged-marriage byapar.
But jai bolo,biye byapar ta kintu khub ekta kharap noy.Ar keu dekhte eshe ek chance'e pochondo korleo besh bhaloi lage :-D Ar hyan,love-marriage der bolbo,arranged marriage e besh ekta buk dhuk-puk kora bhalo laga joriye ache kintu.Ektu traditional,ektu formal,kintu ei realization je relationship ta prem'eri,er modhye ekta alada romancho'kor byapar ache.
Jani, khub joga-khichuri bhashay likhlam ei lekha’ta. But that’s how I am, bhashay jokhon bhebechi, shei bhasha tei likhechi. Kajei eta amar nijer mon’er lekha. Not influenced by any external forces of decorum.
Jai hok, mohila-pathok’ra, ebong purush-pathok’ra, tomader shobai kei welcome korchi to put in any comments on this you wish to.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Nomoshkaar!!!
Shubho Nabo Barsho 1416………..Agami bochhor bhalo katuk…….shukhe shochhonde thako………….ei kal’kei hoe gelo poila boishakh. Baap re, koto shuvechha je pelam. Jara shara bochor kothai bole na amar shonge, tara’o wish korlo! Badhyo hoe amakeo proti-shuvechha janate holo( khub je ichhe korchilo, ta noy motei, kintu bhodro’ta)! Amra bhodro Bangali. Shara bochor jader ke shaap-shaapanto kori, poila boishakhe kintu shobai amar shuvechha’r joggyo, ebong amio tader shuvechha hashi-hashi mukhe grohon kori.
Lok’e bole Bangali hujug’er jaat. Din din utsab er shonkhya ar hujjoti berei choleche. Hote pare. Kintu etao to bhebe dekho, je ei recession er bajare, Bangali’i kintu World economy te maximum contribution kore choleche. Shei ingriji nobo barshe cake-pastry ar ingriji shura’r fowara diye shuru hoeche......guti-guti paye egiye eshe poila boishakh’er jama-kapor, khawa-dawa, ghora-fera,ityadi,ityadi.
Ei je, kal ke amar maa mishti’r dokane giye,bela matro dosh’tay dekhlen je dokane ek tray laddu chara shob mishti bhno-bhna, bhabun to, mishti prostut-korta ebong bikreta der to ar recession cholche na. Tahole ki kore boli je recession shara biswa ke aghaat heneche? Moyra’ra to besh shnashe-jole’i achen! Ar mishti’r dokaner machhi’gulo! Ore babba, size’e din-din bere cholechhe. Ar amra manush’rao tar shonge palla dichhi(ami nije jolo-jyanto udahoron) – Christmas, English New Year, Valentine’s Day, Holi, Bangla Nabo Barsho, Father’s day, Mother’s day, Women’s day, Family day – ufffffff, gift je bilobar jinish, ta ei “day” gulo dekhei bojha jay. Ar temni byang’er chhata’r moto gift shop matha chara diye uthche. Tobe shotti kotha bolte ki amar besh bhaloi lagto gift pete, jodi keu dito. Kintu apnara etao bolte paren je ami hingshute, nije pai na bole shobai ke hingshe kore ei shob baje baje kotha likhchi. Tobe on a serious note, amar mone hoy, ei commercialization of emotions e ar jai hok na keno, prochur loker anna-shangsthan hoy. Kutir shilpa barche, sales barche, dokaan khulche, shei dokkane notun manob-shompod lagche, ar employment barche. Kajei bhebe dekhle, shob jinish er moto ei shob pal-parboner’o ekta positive side to nishchoi ache. Ei je maa amake nono Barsho upalakkhe Colours of India theke ekta chikan er kurta kine dilo, that was actually promoting hand-craft.
Jak ge, ki kotha theke kishe chole elam!! Shadhe bole, kothay kotha bare….ei jonnie parotpokkhe ami mukh khulina. Ar mukh kholar nomuna, bondhura, dekhtei pachho tomra!
Amar boktobyo holo, jotoi amra shilpa ke egiye niye jawar cheshta kori, totoi amader pocket gorer-maath hoe jay. Eta ekta vicious cycle. Ar shob cheye ashchorjjo holo ei je, shob jene-shune’o amra ei path’e paa barate badhyo hoi. Jeno ke ekta jor kore tene niye jay amake dokaan’gulor dike. Ar tar opore promotions-sms’e, email’e, mailers pathiye, leaflets & pamphlets…..ufffff……..there’s no end to it!!!
Ei re, kichutei point e kotha bolchi na.
Mot kotha, Poila Boishakh bangali’r onnyotomo anonder din. Ei din amra nutan jama pori, gurujon der paye haat diye aashirbaad ni ebong chotoder aashirbaad kori. Amra aatmiyo shajan
der bari jai, Rabindrasangeet shuni, probhaat feri’r gaan shuni. Shondesh,rosogolla, misti doi, ebong bibhinno bangali ranna diye bhuribhoj kori. Bangali’r shaj-poshaak pore berate beroi bikeler fur-fure hawa’te. Ebong ei bhabei amra amader sholo ana bangaliana ke bojay rathte shokkhom hoechi.
Nomoshkaar.
Lok’e bole Bangali hujug’er jaat. Din din utsab er shonkhya ar hujjoti berei choleche. Hote pare. Kintu etao to bhebe dekho, je ei recession er bajare, Bangali’i kintu World economy te maximum contribution kore choleche. Shei ingriji nobo barshe cake-pastry ar ingriji shura’r fowara diye shuru hoeche......guti-guti paye egiye eshe poila boishakh’er jama-kapor, khawa-dawa, ghora-fera,ityadi,ityadi.
Ei je, kal ke amar maa mishti’r dokane giye,bela matro dosh’tay dekhlen je dokane ek tray laddu chara shob mishti bhno-bhna, bhabun to, mishti prostut-korta ebong bikreta der to ar recession cholche na. Tahole ki kore boli je recession shara biswa ke aghaat heneche? Moyra’ra to besh shnashe-jole’i achen! Ar mishti’r dokaner machhi’gulo! Ore babba, size’e din-din bere cholechhe. Ar amra manush’rao tar shonge palla dichhi(ami nije jolo-jyanto udahoron) – Christmas, English New Year, Valentine’s Day, Holi, Bangla Nabo Barsho, Father’s day, Mother’s day, Women’s day, Family day – ufffffff, gift je bilobar jinish, ta ei “day” gulo dekhei bojha jay. Ar temni byang’er chhata’r moto gift shop matha chara diye uthche. Tobe shotti kotha bolte ki amar besh bhaloi lagto gift pete, jodi keu dito. Kintu apnara etao bolte paren je ami hingshute, nije pai na bole shobai ke hingshe kore ei shob baje baje kotha likhchi. Tobe on a serious note, amar mone hoy, ei commercialization of emotions e ar jai hok na keno, prochur loker anna-shangsthan hoy. Kutir shilpa barche, sales barche, dokaan khulche, shei dokkane notun manob-shompod lagche, ar employment barche. Kajei bhebe dekhle, shob jinish er moto ei shob pal-parboner’o ekta positive side to nishchoi ache. Ei je maa amake nono Barsho upalakkhe Colours of India theke ekta chikan er kurta kine dilo, that was actually promoting hand-craft.
Jak ge, ki kotha theke kishe chole elam!! Shadhe bole, kothay kotha bare….ei jonnie parotpokkhe ami mukh khulina. Ar mukh kholar nomuna, bondhura, dekhtei pachho tomra!
Amar boktobyo holo, jotoi amra shilpa ke egiye niye jawar cheshta kori, totoi amader pocket gorer-maath hoe jay. Eta ekta vicious cycle. Ar shob cheye ashchorjjo holo ei je, shob jene-shune’o amra ei path’e paa barate badhyo hoi. Jeno ke ekta jor kore tene niye jay amake dokaan’gulor dike. Ar tar opore promotions-sms’e, email’e, mailers pathiye, leaflets & pamphlets…..ufffff……..there’s no end to it!!!
Ei re, kichutei point e kotha bolchi na.
Mot kotha, Poila Boishakh bangali’r onnyotomo anonder din. Ei din amra nutan jama pori, gurujon der paye haat diye aashirbaad ni ebong chotoder aashirbaad kori. Amra aatmiyo shajan
der bari jai, Rabindrasangeet shuni, probhaat feri’r gaan shuni. Shondesh,rosogolla, misti doi, ebong bibhinno bangali ranna diye bhuribhoj kori. Bangali’r shaj-poshaak pore berate beroi bikeler fur-fure hawa’te. Ebong ei bhabei amra amader sholo ana bangaliana ke bojay rathte shokkhom hoechi.Nomoshkaar.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sea shells,She sells
Heat, Dust, Sea, Sand, Sun, Sambhar, Gold, Silk sarees, Temples & Gopurams – are the phenomenal objects that conjure in my mind whenever I think of the city of Chennai, formerly Madras. Very basic, very human.
Kamraj Domestic to Anna international to Egmore to Chennai Central – wherever it is you alight from, order of things is present. No pot-holes to hit you. It was always there, it is always there. Immaculate roads, highways, flyovers, bridges, street lamps, all reek of a well-maintained infrastructure. Something, we Kolkatans, can’t always boast of!
They may not conform to our notions of beauty, but most of the women are still refreshingly devoid of make-up and the Midas touch of beauty-parlours! But then, I find it absolutely relieving to be able to step out of my home there, without really fussing over my appearance. Even a touch of lipstick or a dash of eye-liner (without which many of Kolkata’s women can’t think of venturing amidst society), is hard to find!
Over the last 5 years that I have been frequenting the city, number of females wearing a pair of jeans or a kurta(minus dupatta) have increased significantly. And up has shot the number of beauty parlours. Of course I wasn’t taking a census of beauty parlours! But the change is so evident that one can’t help but notice!
The frequency of my exclamation marks should be enough, my friends, to make you understand the extent of evolution I have been witness to.
Chennai has etched in my memory some indelible visions which I will surely remember for a long long time to come. One, to start is, that of a lady of about
65 years, clad in a bright violet or yellow or orange nine yards of silk ( something a Bengali lady of same stature would only shiver to think of- “my God! Look at my white hair and the colour of that saree ! ), gajra in her hair, riding pillion in her son’s scooter(yes, scooter still runs rampant in Chennai), laden with gold wherever possible.
With the fast changing winds of Chennai, Dominos and Subway and McDonald’s are frequently seen replacing the age old healthy menu of idli, dosa, pongal and sambhar. But it is still with a lot of pride that a 27 year old Tamil is seen eating his curd-rice during lunch-time in a top corporate office( a bong 27 yr old with a lunch of bhaat,dal,macher jhol will only yuck!!!).
On the flip side though, bongs of Chennai are often heard sniggering “khay to sambhar-idli-dosa…..koto ar taka lage…..shob jomay ar shona kene ar real estate e invest kore.Amra Bangali ra valo kore khawa-dawa kori, oder moto noi”. Well, being a bong, can’t help but acknowledge the truth of it, even if only to a certain extent! After all how much could a veg meal cost on comparison to all the prawns, chicken, mutton, ilish maachh we consume like it is going out of fashion, or supply!!!!
Men – some of the most deliciously handsome men I have encountered on my trips to Chennai, and they are all distinctively tamils, or at least south Indians. They are gorgeous, self-assured, easy-going hunks, to say the least J If idli-sambhar is the secret behind such physique, my dear bong-men, rise, wake……..eat tons of idli and drown yourself in sambhar J
Is it mostly that we say that Mumbai is a good place to shop? Take a peek at the T Nagar stores of Sarees, Gold jewellery and utensils. I can vouch for Kolkata at least, that nothing of the magnitude can be seen here. Recently we have been feeling very proud of a 3 storey saree outlet near Triangular Park in Kolkata, but these shops of Chennai can give them a big run for their money. You’ll feel lost amidst the sarees, your eyes will take a minimum of half an hour to merely adjust to the glint and glitter of a gold shop, noticing the jewellery or the design of a bangle or necklace comes much much later! And don’t even dream of thinking that these sarees and jewellery are on show forever. For Chennai people invest heavily on these. Pieces of jewellery and 9 yards of silk fly off counters like hot cake. During one of my shopping sprees, I rather sheepishly held out my credit card to be swiped for the two sarees I had selected for my mother and me ( mind it, the amount was nearly a 9K…a Lot for me, in case you didn’t understand, given that the minimum number of packages people {men & women} were swerving onto the counter was around 8 to 10 ( $money$money$money$ )!!! I am starting to believe that it’s rather a good idea to marry a Tamil ( i.e., if anyone would have me! ) …… but instantly, my old bong soul shrieks “only idli-sambhar-pongal….chingri-maachh ar patha’r mangsho gulo’r ki hobe tahole?!” Way out could of course be a very non-vegetarian tamil guy ( like one of my friends have chosen ;-) ).
Talking of food, whoever said that Chennai is a land of idli-dosa coast-lined by a sea of sambhar!?! Variety of food is the spice of a foodie like me. Chennai serves to all kinds of palate – spicy, bland, sweet, sour – Mughlai, Chinese, Continental, Mongolian, Italian, Mexican, Bengali, Punjabi, Konkani, Chettinad – and lots more! Of course, the sea-food there needs no accolades from me as it speaks for itself, with some of the finest dishes of fish, crab, calamari, lobsters boasted of by restaurants (big & small alike). So next time you are visiting Chennai, just don’t feel scared about food. Go ahead, and explore to your heart’s content.
The sea is warm & the breeze is balmy. The beaches throng with men, women and children of all ages. The heat, dust and sun tantamount to a most tropical weather. And the ancient temples boasting huge Gopurams, stand mute spectator to the changes, transcending ages. As I fly off in an evening flight, the bird’s eye view of surf breaking on the sand makes an indelible impression on my mind which I’ll cherish for a long long time to come.
Kamraj Domestic to Anna international to Egmore to Chennai Central – wherever it is you alight from, order of things is present. No pot-holes to hit you. It was always there, it is always there. Immaculate roads, highways, flyovers, bridges, street lamps, all reek of a well-maintained infrastructure. Something, we Kolkatans, can’t always boast of!
They may not conform to our notions of beauty, but most of the women are still refreshingly devoid of make-up and the Midas touch of beauty-parlours! But then, I find it absolutely relieving to be able to step out of my home there, without really fussing over my appearance. Even a touch of lipstick or a dash of eye-liner (without which many of Kolkata’s women can’t think of venturing amidst society), is hard to find!
Over the last 5 years that I have been frequenting the city, number of females wearing a pair of jeans or a kurta(minus dupatta) have increased significantly. And up has shot the number of beauty parlours. Of course I wasn’t taking a census of beauty parlours! But the change is so evident that one can’t help but notice!
The frequency of my exclamation marks should be enough, my friends, to make you understand the extent of evolution I have been witness to.
Chennai has etched in my memory some indelible visions which I will surely remember for a long long time to come. One, to start is, that of a lady of about
65 years, clad in a bright violet or yellow or orange nine yards of silk ( something a Bengali lady of same stature would only shiver to think of- “my God! Look at my white hair and the colour of that saree ! ), gajra in her hair, riding pillion in her son’s scooter(yes, scooter still runs rampant in Chennai), laden with gold wherever possible.With the fast changing winds of Chennai, Dominos and Subway and McDonald’s are frequently seen replacing the age old healthy menu of idli, dosa, pongal and sambhar. But it is still with a lot of pride that a 27 year old Tamil is seen eating his curd-rice during lunch-time in a top corporate office( a bong 27 yr old with a lunch of bhaat,dal,macher jhol will only yuck!!!).
On the flip side though, bongs of Chennai are often heard sniggering “khay to sambhar-idli-dosa…..koto ar taka lage…..shob jomay ar shona kene ar real estate e invest kore.Amra Bangali ra valo kore khawa-dawa kori, oder moto noi”. Well, being a bong, can’t help but acknowledge the truth of it, even if only to a certain extent! After all how much could a veg meal cost on comparison to all the prawns, chicken, mutton, ilish maachh we consume like it is going out of fashion, or supply!!!!
Men – some of the most deliciously handsome men I have encountered on my trips to Chennai, and they are all distinctively tamils, or at least south Indians. They are gorgeous, self-assured, easy-going hunks, to say the least J If idli-sambhar is the secret behind such physique, my dear bong-men, rise, wake……..eat tons of idli and drown yourself in sambhar J
Is it mostly that we say that Mumbai is a good place to shop? Take a peek at the T Nagar stores of Sarees, Gold jewellery and utensils. I can vouch for Kolkata at least, that nothing of the magnitude can be seen here. Recently we have been feeling very proud of a 3 storey saree outlet near Triangular Park in Kolkata, but these shops of Chennai can give them a big run for their money. You’ll feel lost amidst the sarees, your eyes will take a minimum of half an hour to merely adjust to the glint and glitter of a gold shop, noticing the jewellery or the design of a bangle or necklace comes much much later! And don’t even dream of thinking that these sarees and jewellery are on show forever. For Chennai people invest heavily on these. Pieces of jewellery and 9 yards of silk fly off counters like hot cake. During one of my shopping sprees, I rather sheepishly held out my credit card to be swiped for the two sarees I had selected for my mother and me ( mind it, the amount was nearly a 9K…a Lot for me, in case you didn’t understand, given that the minimum number of packages people {men & women} were swerving onto the counter was around 8 to 10 ( $money$money$money$ )!!! I am starting to believe that it’s rather a good idea to marry a Tamil ( i.e., if anyone would have me! ) …… but instantly, my old bong soul shrieks “only idli-sambhar-pongal….chingri-maachh ar patha’r mangsho gulo’r ki hobe tahole?!” Way out could of course be a very non-vegetarian tamil guy ( like one of my friends have chosen ;-) ).
Talking of food, whoever said that Chennai is a land of idli-dosa coast-lined by a sea of sambhar!?! Variety of food is the spice of a foodie like me. Chennai serves to all kinds of palate – spicy, bland, sweet, sour – Mughlai, Chinese, Continental, Mongolian, Italian, Mexican, Bengali, Punjabi, Konkani, Chettinad – and lots more! Of course, the sea-food there needs no accolades from me as it speaks for itself, with some of the finest dishes of fish, crab, calamari, lobsters boasted of by restaurants (big & small alike). So next time you are visiting Chennai, just don’t feel scared about food. Go ahead, and explore to your heart’s content.
The sea is warm & the breeze is balmy. The beaches throng with men, women and children of all ages. The heat, dust and sun tantamount to a most tropical weather. And the ancient temples boasting huge Gopurams, stand mute spectator to the changes, transcending ages. As I fly off in an evening flight, the bird’s eye view of surf breaking on the sand makes an indelible impression on my mind which I’ll cherish for a long long time to come.
Monday, April 13, 2009
A Confused Monologue
Nothing prepares us for Death. Nothing prepares us for Love.
We may well take precautions against both, but both, in their due course of time will invade our physical and emotional entities.
Death and Love are different, but then again, similar. It becomes clear if you have faced both. If you have Lived both. Both are inevitable and invincible. They may be loved or despised, but cannot be ignored. You may seek the shelter of Lord to ease the pain, but you cannot escape it. You may read a lot of books on Love and Death and gain a philosophical stance. But then, even a saint, who has renounced the world cannot escape Love and Death.
See, how I started with the order of Death and Love, then re-ordered to Love and Death - unconsciously. Guess still Love in me is greater than Death in me!!!
Death, I understand, is decay. Which is unavoidable. Though un-timely death is another matter. But I also believe that there’s a logic behind untimely death. The three Fate sisters(Clotho,Lachesis,Atropos) sit spinning out, measuring and snapping the thread of life for all of us. They decide the time of our death!
Then again, I do believe that we are all born with a certain amount of energy. It is this Energy that we spend throughout out lives. You can spend a little miserly amount of energy everyday and live a Long life. Or, you can spend a lot of it at one go, live a marvelously thrilling life, and die sooner. Which method is better?? – now, we are not going to sit judge upon that!
I also have a thought that Death is death of one’s hopes, aspirations, dreams. But then, it is often noticed that a dying person still has dreams to live. Then this is a flawed notion???
Love on the other hand, is believed to be chosen by us. But is it also not believed that we Fall in Love, and not Decide to start Love!
So, we can say that Love and Death are matters of Fate. Human beings are only instrumental in personification of both! How rude is that!!! Is this the kind of respect God has towards His most precious creation!!! Shame Shame, Human Beings!! And you say God loves us so much and what all He does out of Love for us, and et cetera, et cetera…….
But some do say that Love is the result of certain chemical reactions within our mind and body. Suit yourself – say anything to make yourself believe that there’s nothing called Fate! Argue, present logics, dissect each aspect of human mind……….but, and it’s a Big But……nothing’s gonna change!
Enough now!! I am confused……why did I start this??? What did I achieve???
Anyways……..bye…..wait for my next outburst friends :-)
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Umm....Ahem........Lend me your (ears)eyes
Inspiration, they say ,is the essence of creation.
This blog of mine and everything in it to follow, are resultant of inspiration by someone I dearly adore and love.
Before I go any further, with much regret I must admit that my previous article on the same subject was heartlessly aborted by malfunctioning of internet.
Hence I have re-drawn inspiration from that loved person added to which is the inspiration from my aborted effort. So, I am expecting this to be far advanced than the previous one.
For readers who are looking for enlightening, awe-awakening, mind-blowing and knowledgeable write-ups on my blog, they could please excuse me. For I am one of the most uninspiring person known to myself. Anybody who thinks otherwise deserves my whole hearted gratitude for such faith in me.
“wishing n hoping n praying” is one of my favourite songs by Ani Difranco. The song depicts precisely what I love to do , wishing for something I would love to be mine, hoping and praying on the way – for those who are wondering, it could be a person, a thing, a thought, an ambition, a dream – anything.
Why I was inspired to write on a blog – its just that I like to talk to myself. In fact it’s a habit I have developed over time, as hardly there are willing people around me to lend me a ear. And even when they are there, I am left tongue-tied. Guess I am just not a very extrovert person.
My last sentence would have struck as strange to many of my friends and acquaintances. But yes, that’s true. Being one of those people who talk a lot, but little of themselves! So forgive me if I am all vocal about myself in what I write.
All my friends are welcome to pen down their views and opinions in my blog. I would really be eagerly looking forward to your comments and suggestions.
Wishing myself luck :-)
This blog of mine and everything in it to follow, are resultant of inspiration by someone I dearly adore and love.
Before I go any further, with much regret I must admit that my previous article on the same subject was heartlessly aborted by malfunctioning of internet.
Hence I have re-drawn inspiration from that loved person added to which is the inspiration from my aborted effort. So, I am expecting this to be far advanced than the previous one.
For readers who are looking for enlightening, awe-awakening, mind-blowing and knowledgeable write-ups on my blog, they could please excuse me. For I am one of the most uninspiring person known to myself. Anybody who thinks otherwise deserves my whole hearted gratitude for such faith in me.
“wishing n hoping n praying” is one of my favourite songs by Ani Difranco. The song depicts precisely what I love to do , wishing for something I would love to be mine, hoping and praying on the way – for those who are wondering, it could be a person, a thing, a thought, an ambition, a dream – anything.
Why I was inspired to write on a blog – its just that I like to talk to myself. In fact it’s a habit I have developed over time, as hardly there are willing people around me to lend me a ear. And even when they are there, I am left tongue-tied. Guess I am just not a very extrovert person.
My last sentence would have struck as strange to many of my friends and acquaintances. But yes, that’s true. Being one of those people who talk a lot, but little of themselves! So forgive me if I am all vocal about myself in what I write.
All my friends are welcome to pen down their views and opinions in my blog. I would really be eagerly looking forward to your comments and suggestions.
Wishing myself luck :-)
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