Well defense industry and ship building could have been a saver for Kolkata area, but I guess it needs strong lobbying in the power corridors of Delhi! Had there been a influential minister from Bengal in with a related and relevant portfolio then we could have hoped for such good fortunes! Unfortunately there is none at present, I think. Hence, we get to see Navy contracts going to Vizag, Mumbai
... http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Biggest-military-deal-Six-subs-for-Rs-50000-crore/articleshow/6152862.cms

that reason for that is Garden Defence had their hands full with other navy projects.

Mazgaon docks too are heavily limited by area (just look at the map) while vizag and cochin dont have the sheer intellectual numbers and manpower. Hence a submarine which is 3000 tonnes under water was given to these ports. even though big ticket does not take up much space.

In the long run Garden Defence is going to be the premium ship builder for the Indian navy. cause its actually cheaper to build ships in Kolkata. vivag and Cochin dont have the infrastructural links to the hinterland.

For eg you still need to transport the steel and other stuff from parts of India to build a ship raw materials. Kolkata's nearness to mineral rich Jharkhand is also a boon.

Well defense industry and ship building could have been a saver for Kolkata area, but I guess it needs strong lobbying in the power corridors of Delhi! Had there been a influential minister from Bengal in with a related and relevant portfolio then we could have hoped for such good fortunes! Unfortunately there is none at present, I think. Hence, we get to see Navy contracts going to Vizag, Mumbai
... http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Biggest-military-deal-Six-subs-for-Rs-50000-crore/articleshow/6152862.cms

As long as politics of bengal is controled by lumpens (both left and rightist) a responsible lobying in power corridors of Delhi will not take place.Only if professional class take the initiative and actively participates in the well being of ( rather than immigrating to other states or country ) Bengal such a situation could be corrected !

that reason for that is Garden Defence had their hands full with other navy projects.

In the long run Garden Defence is going to be the premium ship builder for the Indian navy. cause its actually cheaper to build ships in Kolkata.

Thanks IchimaruGin1, I am not at all informed about this industry...but I sincerely hope your prediction comes true. Amen!

Let them eat as much fish fry and misty as they could for the time being! Perhaps they never had such luck in their entire life.Soon they will make a fool of themself and a large segment of population will laugh at them.

:rofl:

Thanks IchimaruGin1, I am not at all informed about this industry...but I sincerely hope your prediction comes true. Amen!

just have a look on google maps at Mazgaon docks. you will see the big space crunch....

while take a look at cochin and Vizag. then compare to Garden.....

Yet another Tagore song from the film Ekti Tarar Khonje starring Shayan Munshi and Arpita Chatterjee

uPs1fONKaeM

It was also sung by Lata Mangeshkar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3BvAIOfyJU) in Sriman Prithviraj (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shriman_Prithviraj)

Lyrics from here (http://www.mp3gf.com/2009/12/sokhi-bhabona-kahare-bole-instrumental.html)

Sakhi, bhabona kahare bole?
Sakhi, jatona kahare bole?
Tomra je bolo diboso-rajoni,
Bhalobasha, bhalobasha.
sakhi, bhalobasha kare koye?
Seki keboli jatona-moye?
Seki keboli chokher jal?
Seki keboli dukher saas?
Loke tobe kore ki sukheri tore,
Aemon dukhero aas?
Aamar chokhe to shokoli sobhon,
Shokoli nobeen, shokoli bimol.
Suneel akash, shyamolo kanon
Bishodo jochona, kusumo komol.
Shokol amari moton.
Tara keboli hanshe, keboli gaye,
Hanshiya, kheliya morite chaye.
Najane bedon, najane radon.
Najane shader jatona joton.
Phool se hanshite hanshite jhore,
Jochona hanshiya milaye jaye,
Hanshite hanshite alok sagore,
Akashero taara ke aage paye.
Aamar moton sukhi ke aache?
Aaye sakhi aaye, aamar kaache
Sukhi hridoyer sukher gaan
Suniya toder judaabe pran
Protidin jodi kandibi keno,
Ek din noye hanshibi tora,
Ek din noye bishado bhuliya,
Shokole miliya gahibo gaan.

Amrit Group rolls out processed meat products

http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/amrit-group-rolls-out-processed-meat-products-176

The Kolkata-headquartered Rs 850-crore Amrit Group, which operates in diverse verticals such as dairy products, animal feeds, breeding farms and hatcheries, is now foraying into the ready-to-eat segment. The company has begun rolling out products like chicken salami, sausages, seekh kabab, shammi kabab, roasted chicken among others under the brand name Fresco Pollo.

“In India, a meagre 2.2 per cent of the meat output is processed, even though consumption of processed meat products is growing at 150 per cent. Therefore, there is enormous potential for Fresco Pollo products. All the products will be positioned as fresh chicken and retailed through outlets of Spencer’s, Metro Cash & Carry, Reliance Fresh and other leading retail stores to start with,” Harish Bagla, managing director, Amrit Group said.

The company also plans to set up a few exclusive outlets to retail its processed meat products. The outlets may come up in 2011, Bagla indicated.

He said other players who operate in this segment include Arambagh in the eastern zone, Godrej Agrovet, Venkateshwara Hatcheries and Suguna.

Company officials informed that the products were already being test-marketed in Kolkata. They will also be test-marketed in Delhi and its neighbouring areas, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Jamshedpur, Siliguri, Bangalore and Darjeeling.

It’s not just the domestic market that the company is targeting. The group has chalked out plans to tap overseas markets—initially Asian countries like Japan, China, Malaysia, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangla*desh and Myanmar, and subsequently West Asia and Europe.

Fresco Pollo products are being made at the company’s new state-of-the-art abattoir in Durgapur, which has come up at an investment of Rs 40 crore. The plant and machinery have been imported from the UK, Germany and Spain and the products will meet global food safety standards, claimed Bagla.

it is beautiful.

Westbank hospital ties up with two heart centres

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/westbank-hospital-ties-up-with-two-heart-centres_100386518.html

Private healthcare provider Westbank Hospital Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two leading heart treatment centres for providing cardio thoracic services at its soon-to-be launched multi speciality hospital near here.
The tie-up with Narayana Hrudayala and Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS) would help the hospital to give quality cardiac care at affordable prices, Westbank Hospital chairman Bicky Chakraborty said.

While speaking to reporters about the shortage of doctors that the Indian health industry is facing, Devi Shetty, who is promoting the two heart centres said: “To cope with the shortage of doctors the best way is to build more medical colleges.”

Infra issues halt IT hub's progress in city (http://sify.com/finance/infra-issues-halt-it-hub-s-progress-in-city-news-news-khmaERfdbci.html)

The IT hub of Kolkata is yet to come to terms with patches of greeneries, empty offices and an errant public transport system.

Yet, these are not deterrents for realtors to buy land in Rajarhat and Sector V, the projected commercial centre of the city.

Land prices have gone up by 10-15 per cent in the last year at Sector V and Rajarhat, as realtors expect price further appreciation over the next one year.

Recently, city-based developer PS Group bought government-owned land, a part of land earmarked for IT park, at Sector V, for about Rs 18 crore an acre through bidding process. The deal is likely to kick off further land transactions in the area, although not many firms are likely to set up offices there in the near future.

"We bought the land keeping in mind the three-year time horizon. Over the next three years we expect the area to develop in a big way," said Pradip Chopra, chairman of PS Group.

However, most city-based developers feel that a price war in the upcoming IT hub of the city will only deter companies to set up offices in the city.

"In cities like Pune and Hyderabad, the commercial rentals are close to Rs 25 per square feet. If someone is buying land at Rs 18 crore and acre, then the rental should not be less than Rs 40 per square feet. In these rates, no company will come to Kolkata. In the short term, the government might have gained, but in long term this is a deterrent," said a city based real estate developer.

However, till about two years back, land prices in Rajarhat and Sector V had zoomed to unprecedented levels. It had gone up to close to Rs 30-33 crore per acre, only to fall at about Rs 10-15 crore an acre till about an year back.

"Infrastructure at Rajarhat has marginally improved, but unless there is a pick up in the economic activity, there will not be much activity at Rajarhat," said Pradeep Sureka of the Sureka Group. His company recently bought land at Rajarhat for a commercial development.

The difference in rentals in central business district of Kolkata and Sector V is still more than 50 per cent, according to developers.

"In the next three to six months, commercial real estate should develop. The areas of Rajarhat and Sector V are yet to develop to the extent central business district as yet," said Santosh Rungta, President, Credai.

But members of the city's IT industry are cognizant of a supply-demand mismatch if developers complete projects in tandem.

"A lot of projects may be completed at the same time, so it is a question of timing. There is a possibility of over-capacity (of space) in the next six months to a year. The action could start by the third quarter of next year. But nobody can ignore the city because of its business fundamentals," an industry source said.

^^The land parcel in question is the 2.77 acre land that was returned by Mahindra Satyam to the govt last year. With the likes of Infinity Benchmark, Omega & RDB in nearby plots , a tall sleek glassy structure will complete the picture. :)

The Telegraph, 11th July 2010

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6137/53617853.png

A famous dhaba at Kolaghat offers more than great food. Part of the spread is the menu, which is very thoughtfully written. It is a celebration of life and relationships, and it is laid out neatly, one could say in the chronological order of both meals and life’s great events. The headings are written in chaste Hindi, followed by English subtitles, if in somewhat unorthodox spelling.

For the carfuls and busloads of men and women and their families who get down to eat here on their way to Mandarmoni or Digha, the menu makes the spouse and the family look charming. Almost Bollywood. Though the spouse and the family look a little more charming anyway when you are on your way to a holiday.

The menu starts with “Mausam ka bahar (hot and cold drinks)”, which mean beverages and fruit juices. Then comes “Mulakat (breakfast)”, with its chart of toast, eggs, alu parathas. It is followed by “Biwi ka khuwoyees” (The wife’s desire).

It is quite wonderful, I am sure, for the tired and harassed wives who have packed the luggage from the previous night to suddenly find someone thinking of them. It can move some to tears even, perhaps. When was the last time someone tried to fulfil their “khuwoyees”, what if it only meant pakoras on the menu, chicken, paneer, egg, vegetable?

The wife’s desire is followed by “Roti ka silsila (tawa)” and “Roti ka silsila (tandoori)”. The word “silsila” can never be thought of without the delicious frisson between Amitabh and Rekha in the film of that same name, and it feels nice to think your bread has been touched with it.

Then comes “Chawal ki chal”, with its suggestion of a manipulative woman, for isn’t “chal” (strategy) a woman’s domain, from Manthara to Indian television? The presence of a female in-law becomes manifest with “Saas ho to aishe” (paneer), which is soft and fair, though one thought that these features were required in the bride only.

The female in-law, in fact, is a dominant presence. Towards the end of the menu appears “Jamai ka najar mithai ki aour (desserts)”, allowing the man his occasional dalliances. A flirtatious son-in-law is cute. It is followed by “Salika nut khut (ice-cream)”, which includes “Fruit and nut”.

Somewhere along the way, “Gaon ke bageeche se (vegetables)” and “Phool aur kaante (fish)” had also materialised as pastoral interludes, perhaps to balance the toxicity of the female relatives. Oh yes, Tandoori items were clubbed under “Jalte riste”. Fire and smoke and carbon footprints.

Though I am still wondering why the goat items were called “Bakre ke nakhre” (goats’ tantrums). How would one like the animals best? Unfussy? Even when they are dead? I am even more intrigued by name given to the chicken items: “Nasib apna apna” (To each his own fate). This is frankly philosophical, for I hope the maker of the menu was not sordid enough to refer to the fate of the birds.

Most profound, though perhaps touched with the scatological (the two go very well together), was the description of curd: “Sleeping in the night/ morning is the tight”.

At this point I switched on my camera and photographed every page of the menu. The music in my heart I bore.

Infra issues halt IT hub's progress in city (http://sify.com/finance/infra-issues-halt-it-hub-s-progress-in-city-news-news-khmaERfdbci.html)


^^The land parcel in question is the 2.77 acre land that was returned by Mahindra Satyam to the govt last year. With the likes of Infinity Benchmark, Omega & RDB in nearby plots , a tall sleek glassy structure will complete the picture. :)

The heading of the article seems to be disconnected from the article itself - another example of catchy (negative) headlines and not so catchy material.

The concerns are mostly about not enough economic activity in New Town or predicted oversupply.

Also just a few days ago the Telegraph reported that there were no takers for the Satyam land.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100706/jsp/business/story_12650355.jsp

And it got sold too?

The heading of the article seems to be disconnected from the article itself - another example of catchy (negative) headlines and not so catchy material.

The concerns are mostly about not enough economic activity in New Town or predicted oversupply.

Also just a few days ago the Telegraph reported that there were no takers for the Satyam land.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100706/jsp/business/story_12650355.jsp

And it got sold too?

^^yes, I agree and I have lost count of adjectives blaming the media for the goof ups they do most of the time.

It may seem a bit strange but there was a piece that was published in ET about a week ago where it stated that PS group paid 50 crore to buy the 2.77 acre land in one of the costliest deals in this part of the city. However I was never able to locate the internet link to this piece of news in ET.

Yet another Tagore song from the film Ekti Tarar Khonje starring Shayan Munshi and Arpita Chatterjee

uPs1fONKaeM

It was also sung by Lata Mangeshkar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3BvAIOfyJU) in Sriman Prithviraj (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shriman_Prithviraj)

Lyrics from here (http://www.mp3gf.com/2009/12/sokhi-bhabona-kahare-bole-instrumental.html)

Sakhi, bhabona kahare bole?
Sakhi, jatona kahare bole?
Tomra je bolo diboso-rajoni,
Bhalobasha, bhalobasha.
sakhi, bhalobasha kare koye?
Seki keboli jatona-moye?
Seki keboli chokher jal?
Seki keboli dukher saas?
Loke tobe kore ki sukheri tore,
Aemon dukhero aas?
Aamar chokhe to shokoli sobhon,
Shokoli nobeen, shokoli bimol.
Suneel akash, shyamolo kanon
Bishodo jochona, kusumo komol.
Shokol amari moton.
Tara keboli hanshe, keboli gaye,
Hanshiya, kheliya morite chaye.
Najane bedon, najane radon.
Najane shader jatona joton.
Phool se hanshite hanshite jhore,
Jochona hanshiya milaye jaye,
Hanshite hanshite alok sagore,
Akashero taara ke aage paye.
Aamar moton sukhi ke aache?
Aaye sakhi aaye, aamar kaache
Sukhi hridoyer sukher gaan
Suniya toder judaabe pran
Protidin jodi kandibi keno,
Ek din noye hanshibi tora,
Ek din noye bishado bhuliya,
Shokole miliya gahibo gaan.

Another sweet Rabindrasangeet originally popularized by late Chinmoy Chattopadhyay. SSC have bocome a sweet webpage indeed!:)

^^yes, I agree and I have lost count of adjectives blaming the media for the goof ups they do most of the time.

It may seem a bit strange but there was a piece that was published in ET about a week ago where it stated that PS group paid 50 crore to buy the 2.77 acre land in one of the costliest deals in this part of the city. However I was never able to locate the internet link to this piece of news in ET.

Think they get paid by negative news making.
The news was published on 7th july ET Kolkata.
The same i have pasted in Kolkata project update thread II.

Think they get paid by negative news making.
The news was published on 7th july ET Kolkata.
The same i have pasted in Kolkata project update thread II.

^^thanks for locating it, Samitb:)

^^thanks for locating it, Samitb:)

Looks like the reporter was unaware of the leasing and wrote up a whole report.

Great. Its done classical way. Here is the one from Sriman Prithviraj by Lata ji..:cheers:

3mJzCsrs9C0



Yet another Tagore song from the film Ekti Tarar Khonje starring Shayan Munshi and Arpita Chatterjee

uPs1fONKaeM

It was also sung by Lata Mangeshkar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3BvAIOfyJU) in Sriman Prithviraj (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shriman_Prithviraj)

Lyrics from here (http://www.mp3gf.com/2009/12/sokhi-bhabona-kahare-bole-instrumental.html)

Sakhi, bhabona kahare bole?
Sakhi, jatona kahare bole?
Tomra je bolo diboso-rajoni,
Bhalobasha, bhalobasha.
sakhi, bhalobasha kare koye?
Seki keboli jatona-moye?
Seki keboli chokher jal?
Seki keboli dukher saas?
Loke tobe kore ki sukheri tore,
Aemon dukhero aas?
Aamar chokhe to shokoli sobhon,
Shokoli nobeen, shokoli bimol.
Suneel akash, shyamolo kanon
Bishodo jochona, kusumo komol.
Shokol amari moton.
Tara keboli hanshe, keboli gaye,
Hanshiya, kheliya morite chaye.
Najane bedon, najane radon.
Najane shader jatona joton.
Phool se hanshite hanshite jhore,
Jochona hanshiya milaye jaye,
Hanshite hanshite alok sagore,
Akashero taara ke aage paye.
Aamar moton sukhi ke aache?
Aaye sakhi aaye, aamar kaache
Sukhi hridoyer sukher gaan
Suniya toder judaabe pran
Protidin jodi kandibi keno,
Ek din noye hanshibi tora,
Ek din noye bishado bhuliya,
Shokole miliya gahibo gaan.

Great. Its done classical way. Here is the one from Sriman Prithviraj by Lata ji..:cheers:

3mJzCsrs9C0

Thank you Sun & Saraf for posting this song..:cheers:

GREEN GOAL
Salt Lake bheris to be new eco-tourism hubs
TNN

Kolkata: After years of neglect,Salt Lakes 20 sq-km of bheris will be developed as an eco-tourism destination.Bidhannagar Municipalitys new Trinamool board has taken this initiative to protect the waterbodies from the clutches of unscrupulous promoters.
Eco-tourism is among the pilot projects the new board plans to take up.Bidhannagar Municipalitys chairperson and her chairman-in-council members will discuss the plan to develop Salt Lakes bheris with members of the advisory committee to the civic body.The bheris are part of the East Kolkata Wetlands.
Municipality vice-chairman Sabyasachi Dutta said it would take some time for the idea to become a reality,however.It is not going to happen immediately.We will have to discuss the issue, he said.
The previous Left-run civic board did have a plan on the bheris but never worked on it.Biswajiban Majumder,who was chairman of the previous board,had verbally proposed to state tourism minister Manabandra Mukherjee that the bheris be developed as an ecotourism centre.Mukherjee had asked the civic authorities to send him the proposal in writing so that his department could work on it.
Salt Lakes bheris are located adjoining Rajarhat and Sector V.Clashes between groups of criminals with backing from rival political parties have been commonplace in and around bheris like Sardar bheri and Mollar bheri.Civic officials concede that the area has been targeted by unscrupulous promoters for some time.Complaints about promoters filling smaller waterbodies kept pouring into the municipality office.
Only a small portion Nalban has been developed as a recreational spot by the fisheries department.The nature of the wetland area that was included in the municipality jurisdiction area in 1995 is changing fast.Unless monitored,promoters will continue trying to set up illegal structures and destroy its natural eco-system, an official said.
Officials of the East Kolkata Wetlands Management Authority (EKWMA) said that as the major part of the bheri areas fell under their jurisdiction,the civic authorities would also have to discuss with them and take their consent before implementing any plan.EKWMA has been facing problems in implementing plans as several illegal structures had come up before the authority was formed.It is not practically possible for us to monitor the entire wetland to check where such illegal structures are coming up, said an official.

GREEN GOAL
Salt Lake bheris to be new eco-tourism hubs
TNN

Kolkata: After years of neglect,Salt Lakes 20 sq-km of bheris will be developed as an eco-tourism destination.Bidhannagar Municipalitys new Trinamool board has taken this initiative to protect the waterbodies from the clutches of unscrupulous promoters.


Good initiative on paper. Let's see if they can implement it. Many of these so called propmoters also have political connections to Didi and Dada's parties.

India's Eastern green revolution: Will India adopt China's rice-farm model?

NDTV

dXsbp5XEEkI

2 boys out of 6 Indian representatives for 2010 International Math Olympiad competition in Kazakhstan, were from West Bengal. Both of them got awards..

http://a.imageshack.us/img686/4417/14bdesh31.jpg
Akashnil Dutta from Rahara Ramkrishna Mission won Silver.

http://a.imageshack.us/img192/5205/14bdesh32.jpg
Satyaki Mukherjee from Durgapur St Xaviers won Bronze.

Source: Anandabazar

Strange logic and quote: "Nightclubs in other metros are allowed to operate till 2am at most. Why does Kolkata have to be so progressive in this respect?"

:nuts:

Now, no more partying till dawn

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Now-no-more-partying-till-dawn/articleshow/6165165.cms

Party animals in the city will no longer set the dance floor on fire till the wee hours. Night life in Kolkata has come under curfew.

The Kolkata Police and the excise department have decided to strictly enforce the 2am deadline for nightclubs, pubs and discotheques. Till now, nightclubs attached to five-star hotels were allowed to remain open till 4am, while standalone ones remained open till 2am. Now, both will have to follow the 2am deadline three days a week, while bars will have to shut shop by midnight four days a week.

According to the police, the step was necessary to maintain law and order, though party-hoppers have not been a major cause of concern for law-enforcers so far.

“Nightclubs in other metros are allowed to operate till 2am at most. Why does Kolkata have to be so progressive in this respect? We have to keep in mind the law and order situation while setting the deadline for these nightclubs,” said joint CP (headquarters) Jawed Shamim.

Senior officers of Kolkata Police and the excise department have been holding meetings in the past few days to enforce the uniform deadline.

Sources said that though only the nightclubs attached to five-star hotels were allowed to operate beyond 2am, some standalone ones would violate the deadline and remained open way beyond the deadline.

“The decision to allow nightclubs in five-star hotels to remain open beyond 2am was taken after these hotels approached the government saying they had international guests. But now, all nightclubs will have the same deadline” said a finance department official.

^^ Bottom line is: follow the bad things of other metros..:lol:

No I mean seriously, Kolkata doesn't have any security issues at night neither it has RSS or bajrang dal so why the hell they need to do that?:bash:

^^^^if i am not mistaken they have 2 adhere to the rule only for three days...so at least they can keep it open till 4am on saturday nights as i guess that all the night clubs would be doing this on sats as on sats the crowd is the most at the pubs, ncs and discs, only a dumb a** would preffer it to close it on a Saturday! and then u have the 24hrs coffee shops to cater u for two more hours and then return at 6 in the morning to home...or wherever u want!!

what a stupid logic. 3 days its 2 Am and rest 4. How can the 3 days make a difference in enforcing law and order? these people I gone insane I tell you.

^^whether it wud mater any1 or not dntknow...bt yes it would be in the books that they have a law!!!...for us who have only saturday time to party properly it wouldn't matter as the case would be same!

Yet another foreign film with a Kolkata background

Charity tourists find god in India

http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=22398

The Waiting City (M). Director: Claire McCarthy. Starring: Radha Mitchell, Joel Edgerton. 103 minutes

A film about a young Australian couple who travel to India to collect their adopted a child.

Fiona (Mitchell) and Ben (Edgerton), like many Westerners who went before them with egalitarian pretensions, arrive in Calcutta bearing a tourist's naivety, and are expanded through lived encounter with the country and its people.

McCarthy is clearly in love with the people and place of Calcutta, often using a near cinéma vérité documentary approach, where discreet cameras capture the actors and action within real-world environments: the bustling jam of a streetscape; the sweat and colour of a rooftop dance party; the putrid-muddy banks of the Ganges.

This appealing naturalism grounds the film's mystical dimension. Ben is spiritually open, easily engaged by the ritualised reverence of a Hindu temple; in faith as in life, he wants to explore and experience. Fiona is an atheist who, over the course of the film, is awakened to the spiritual aspects of motherhood and of marriage itself. Hence her and Ben's journey of spiritual discovery is also a journey of rediscovering each other.

The film is at its most moving when Fiona and Ben finally meet their daughter-to-be.

Official Trailor

_3kEH2ITVdI

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/5631/riverf.png (http://img690.imageshack.us/i/riverf.png/)

The Statesman

Politics to decide fate of drainage upgrade project

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata: Alliance politics,rather than performance,is likely to determine the fate of the time overrun of the Kolkata Environment Improvement Project (KEIP),funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).Kolkata Municipal Corporation can only get a nod from the ADB authorities for the Rs 2,500-crore drainage upgrade project in the second phase if the Centre clears it.The only silver lining for mayor Sovan Chatterjee is his partys present equation with Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.
On Wednesday,a team of senior ADB officials,led by resident director Atshushi Kaneko,gave a piece of mind over the slow progress of the project in a meeting with the mayor.The visiting ADB team will send a detailed report on the KMCs demand for extension to the ADB headquarters at Manila.
KEIP sources said that apart from funds for the second phase,the mayor also has to explain the impediments to the desired pace of work to none other than the finance minister himself and convince him to take up the matter with ADB.
As proposed,the second phase of drainage upgrade will cover the added areas of Jadavpur,Behala,Tollygunge and some fringe areas of north Kolkata once the Centre agrees to share financial liability.ADB is not averse to the plan for the second phase,provided the Centre clears the proposal, a senior KMC official said on Wednesday.
A section of KEIP officials is,however,keeping fingers crossed.Despite the good political equation that the Trinamool-run KMC board enjoys with the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre,officials feared that the ADB might throw a spanner in the second phase of the KEIP scheme,given the slow pace of the first phase.
Work on laying sewerlines in added areas of Cossipore,Dum Dum,Behala,Jadavpur and Tollygunge and upgrade of the drainage and sewerage system started in 2000 and was supposed to be completed in 2007.The ADB authorities granted a three-year extension to the project in 2007,but not without charging a penalty.The new deadline is December 31 this year.We are worried over the extension of the ongoing project since we need more time to wrap up the sewerage upgrade project, said a KMC official.
The mayor will hold talks with senior ADB officials and the Centre in Delhi on Friday so that the KMC bags the second phase of the KEIP scheme.I will take up the matter with the Centre so that the proposal for the second phase gets the Centres nod, Chatterjee said.

This music video sums up Bengali notion on marriage and dating.
m7ALaWAGdLQ
for people who don't understand Bengali, the song pretty much says that "I won't marry unless I find a sexy girl."

This song portrays how slowly but maturely India welcomes the idea of western-style dating and opposes the notion of getting entangled into an arranged marriage(in which you could get married regardless of looks)

I have to say, unlike other parts of India Bengalis are well known for choosing their own life partners. I am very sure Bengalis do more love marriages than any other south asain. Even in rural west bengal we see inter-caste or inter-religious marriages are very very common. :)

I have to say, unlike other parts of India Bengalis are well known for choosing their own life partners. I am very sure Bengalis do more love marriages than any other south asain. Even in rural west bengal we see inter-caste or inter-religious marriages are very very common. :)

thanks for the info. i corrected it.

While we often criticize leftism for all that is wrong with West Bengal, I think leftism (not the opportunist kind) has also brought about many positive social changes. Intercaste marriages are very common, dowry is not something that is boasted about in public (if someone goes and complains to the parar dadas then the people demanding dowry will get a gonodholai). Even inter religion marriages are happening. The top leaders of various parties lead simple lifestyles and are not known to pocket public money (examples Buddhadeb and Mamata). Now only if the violent streak could be tamed, things would be a little better. But then Bengal has always been at the forefront of agitations and activism. Someone has to fight for your rights and Bengal has often done that and in the process has created many enemies. That's why you will find the national media always hyping about militant labour but usually keeping silent about corrupt businessmen who loot public money and pf, dont pay proper taxes etc.

^^ You will not believe me, in some of our socially "progressive states", even in engineering and medical colleges, higher caste boys "protect" the same caste girls from lower caste boys :lol:. In those "advanced states" girls working even in organization like oracle has to give 50 lakhs rupees dowry and media there proudly cheers about their women education. Thanks god "poor fish eating bengalis" neither have the money nor the mentality to give or take 50 lakhs dowry. Thing is we bengalis are not stupid and today or tomorrow we will regain our economic power. But we have to keep our simplicity and socially open mindless..

:lol:

While we often criticize leftism for all that is wrong with West Bengal, I think leftism (not the opportunist kind) has also brought about many positive social changes. Intercaste marriages are very common, dowry is not something that is boasted about in public (if someone goes and complains to the parar dadas then the people demanding dowry will get a gonodholai). Even inter religion marriages are happening. The top leaders of various parties lead simple lifestyles and are not known to pocket public money (examples Buddhadeb and Mamata). Now only if the violent streak could be tamed, things would be a little better. But then Bengal has always been at the forefront of agitations and activism. Someone has to fight for your rights and Bengal has often done that and in the process has created many enemies. That's why you will find the national media always hyping about militant labour but usually keeping silent about corrupt businessmen who loot public money and pf, dont pay proper taxes etc.

It is leftist influence as also strong European influence that has created such social environment. Also a series of Hindu reformed movement starting from bhakti cult to neowestern Ramakrishna cult has put a modern enlightened face on orthodox Hinduism as pacticed in Bengal today. This type of new class synthesis may benefit all of India down the road. In fact rest of India has lot to learn about social engineering from "poor fish eating bengalis".:)

Left unions rope in Intuc for strike
Saubhadra Chatterji / New Delhi July 16, 2010, 0:43 IST
This is Intuc’s first all-India strike since 1947

With Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (Intuc) joining them, the Left-backed trade unions plan to cripple all sectors, including the information technology (IT) hub in Kolkata, on September 7 with their favourite ‘sport’ — strike. After calling for a nationwide workers’ strike, a decision taken at the national convention of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (Citu), union president A K Padmanabhan told Business Standard: “A few months ago, there was a strike in Bangalore and IT companies including Infosys couldn’t operate. If this can happen in Bangalore, why it can’t be repeated in other parts of the country?”

Gurudas Dasgupta, another ‘strike specialist’ and the general secretary of the CPI-affiliated Aituc said with confidence: “Except essential services, no sector will be left out, including the IT sector in West Bengal.”
The Left trade unions are joyous as they have managed to rope in Intuc as this will be the latter’s maiden all-India strike after Independence.

Apart from the price rise issue, the trade unions want to protest against job losses and the decrease in wages because of the global meltdown, violation of labour laws, outsourcing and use of contract workers and government’s apathy towards creating a viable National Social Security Fund.

“This is not a political move. We are doing it for the unity of the workers. I have not spoken to Sonia Gandhi (Congress president). But I am sure she will not oppose our move,” Intuc head G Sanjeeva Reddy said.

For West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee — once considered the poster boy of Marxist governance — this will be another litmus test within three months. Bhattacharjee wanted his state to be exempt from the nationwide strike called by the Left parties on July 5. He failed even as the Tripura CM managed an expemtion from his party. Bhattacharjee, who had openly disapproved of the ‘bandh culture’ of his comrades a couple of years ago, will need to muster courage and tactics to save the treasured IT sector from the Red blockade.

For Citu Secretary Dipankar Mukherjee, Bhattacharjee seems to be a “no problem” area. When asked if the Bengal CM will support this strike, Mukherjee said: “That Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is opposed to our protest programmes is only in the imagination of the media.”

Dasgupta claimed, “our strike will be much bigger than the hartal of the political parties on July 5. Millions and millions of workers will come out on the streets to send a message to the central government. This United Progressive Alliance government is not listening to the voice of the people. It is not paying attention to our problems. During the last few months, the situation has deteriorated further. So, we are compelled to call a bandh.”

Padmanabhan pointed out, “this is not a stand-alone strike. This is a part of our ongoing struggle against the policies of the government.”

BMS, the trade union wing of the Sangh Parivar, has opted out of this strike as it wanted it to be called in November. But the Left hardliners didn’t have the patience to wait for the winter and wants to carry forward the current momentum.

The saffron brigade of BMS is out. Congress’ Intuc is in. Still Gurudas Dasgupta said, “BMS is not participating but we appeal to the BMS to cooperate. I want to make it clear that nobody is untouchable to us in the trade union movement. I don’t care if someone is carrying red flag or a saffron flag. If a worker is exploited, he is with us.”

BMS termed the current situation as “worst” and “complete failure” of the Centre. But it said, “Recently all-India bandh was observed by political parties. So, it would not be a wise step to go for a similar strike in September”. It also evoked the issue of “national prestige” and said, “Commonwealth Games are scheduled in October. Hence this is not the proper time to call a strike. Moreover, prestige of India is involved in such international games.”

Padmanabhan said, “BMS opted out just for the timing issue. Otherwise, they are with us.”

^^again a bandh??...and that too citu with intuc...?....eto chor-e chor-e mastoto bhai wala case!!:lol:

^^ You will not believe me, in some of our socially "progressive states", even in engineering and medical colleges, higher caste boys "protect" the same caste girls from lower caste boys :lol:. In those "advanced states" girls working even in organization like oracle has to give 50 lakhs rupees dowry and media there proudly cheers about their women education. Thanks god "poor fish eating bengalis" neither have the money nor the mentality to give or take 50 lakhs dowry. Thing is we bengalis are not stupid and today or tomorrow we will regain our economic power. But we have to keep our simplicity and socially open mindless..

yes saraf u as well as sun have said the right things...i would add that even NRIs in NCR is not shown mercy by khap panchayats...but still we have a low status..err backward state status..:ohno:

^^again a bandh??...and that too citu with intuc...?....eto chor-e chor-e mastoto bhai wala case!!:lol:

And BMS is distant khurtoto bhai? What about Trinamool's union? Are they in or out?

But what a waste of time and money by these unions. What will they get from a strike? Nothing. Did prices of petrol roll back with the previous two strikes?

Maybe these political parties should publish an annual calendar with 10 days of various kinds of strikes. That way everybody can plan ahead for the vacations. If we can have baromashe tero parbon, we can have baromashe chobbish parbon as well.

Relics of the past (and not yet sidelined) politicians like Gurdas Dasgupta have caused immense harm to West Bengal because of their obstinacy and opportunistic politics (case in point Kolkata airport not getting privatized and remaining in the hands of AAI). People need to vote them out by huge margins so that they know where they stand.

Relics of the past (and not yet sidelined) politicians like Gurdas Dasgupta have caused immense harm to West Bengal because of their obstinacy and opportunistic politics (case in point Kolkata airport not getting privatized and remaining in the hands of AAI). People need to vote them out by huge margins so that they know where they stand.
That is why I think it is better if Left is voted out. This politics of strike needs to go. Already Left has become immaterial in the national scene. When they will lose the seat in Bengal(a major state), it will be the obituary of the party and its failed ideologies in India.

I think atleast didi is making the right noises by saying "We will not call strikes"..

^^ You will not believe me, in some of our socially "progressive states", even in engineering and medical colleges, higher caste boys "protect" the same caste girls from lower caste boys :lol:. In those "advanced states" girls working even in organization like oracle has to give 50 lakhs rupees dowry and media there proudly cheers about their women education. Thanks god "poor fish eating bengalis" neither have the money nor the mentality to give or take 50 lakhs dowry. Thing is we bengalis are not stupid and today or tomorrow we will regain our economic power. But we have to keep our simplicity and socially open mindless..

The "progressive" or "advanced" states is often a media created hype. A lot of it is also based on politically biased and unchallenged statistical reports created by many "think tanks". I can bet you that withing one year of TMC coming to power the same think tanks will generate statistical reports singing praises of advancement of Bengal.

That is why I think it is better if Left is voted out. This politics of strike needs to go. Already Left has become immaterial in the national scene. When they will lose the seat in Bengal(a major state), it will be the obituary of the party and its failed ideologies in India.

I think atleast didi is making the right noises by saying "We will not call strikes"..

the culture of strikes is too deep rooted into Bengali society now. Thats not going to change even if the government changes.

While we often criticize leftism for all that is wrong with West Bengal, I think leftism (not the opportunist kind) has also brought about many positive social changes. Intercaste marriages are very common, dowry is not something that is boasted about in public (if someone goes and complains to the parar dadas then the people demanding dowry will get a gonodholai). Even inter religion marriages are happening. The top leaders of various parties lead simple lifestyles and are not known to pocket public money (examples Buddhadeb and Mamata). Now only if the violent streak could be tamed, things would be a little better. But then Bengal has always been at the forefront of agitations and activism. Someone has to fight for your rights and Bengal has often done that and in the process has created many enemies. That's why you will find the national media always hyping about militant labour but usually keeping silent about corrupt businessmen who loot public money and pf, dont pay proper taxes etc.
I will not give any credit to the Left for this, the social reforms were started by Ram mohan Roy to Vivekananda to Vidyasagar. To feel for the poor and downtrodden, you do not have to be a leftist.

The "progressive" or "advanced" states is often a media created hype. A lot of it is also based on politically biased and unchallenged statistical reports created by many "think tanks". I can bet you that withing one year of TMC coming to power the same think tanks will generate statistical reports singing praises of advancement of Bengal.

You do not have to believe any media, the indicators of progress may be

1. Percentage of Literates.
2. Penetration of Electricity in rural households.
3. Percentage of planned Irrigation

If you look at all these social/economic indicators bengal is going down by the day.

I will not give any credit to the Left for this, the social reforms were started by Ram mohan Roy to Vivekananda to Vidyasagar. To feel for the poor and downtrodden, you do not have to be a leftist.

You mean the Left Front? I didn't give them any credit either. I spoke of leftism not Left Front. If you think of it Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Vivekananda and Ram Mohan Roy were not conservative (right wing).

And BMS is distant khurtoto bhai? What about Trinamool's union? Are they in or out?

Relics of the past (and not yet sidelined) politicians like Gurdas Dasgupta have caused immense harm to West Bengal because of their obstinacy and opportunistic politics (case in point Kolkata airport not getting privatized and remaining in the hands of AAI). People need to vote them out by huge margins so that they know where they stand.

^^ Do we think if TMC were well in power, kolkata would have got a private airport? IMO, the biggest issue with AAI would be maintaining the new terminal and whole airport environment in the years to come. The problem may exist with Chennai airport also. RGIA Hyd today looks as much sleek today as it did 2.5 years back when it was opened. Unless we get AAI's hands off from NSCB airport, the sleek airport of 2011 will lose its sheen 5 years down the line.

^^ Do we think if TMC were well in power, kolkata would have got a private airport? IMO, the biggest issue with AAI would be maintaining the new terminal and whole airport environment in the years to come. The problem may exist with Chennai airport also. RGIA Hyd today looks as much sleek today as it did 2.5 years back when it was opened. Unless we get AAI's hands off from NSCB airport, the sleek airport of 2011 will lose its sheen 5 years down the line.

I am not sure if TMC would have opposed privatisation whole heartedly. See how they have kept mum on Coal India and Hindustan Copper. The Left Parties' ideology is by nature opposed to privatization. It's only because of short sighted people like Gurudas Dasgupta that lazy AAI continues to have a stanglehold on Kolkata airport.

You mean the Left Front? I didn't give them any credit either. I spoke of leftism not Left Front. If you think of it Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Vivekananda and Ram Mohan Roy were not conservative (right wing).

Oh ok, got your point and I agree with it. I would use the word liberal than left.

I recently visited Wikipedia Bangla language site. It is not impressive at all, lot of work needs to be done. Coverage is poor , displays are not very good. But I could find Mamota ‘s name here! I think encyclopedia should be in English only. Why drag Bangla here or rather if you need the knowledge of encyclopedia you must learn English!

Talking about bandhs. It seems bandh in not a problem only in west bengal now a days:lol:. During 70-80 many industries left bengal because other states portray themselves that they are living in heaven, showed many tax incentives and most importantly they portray that their workers will do whatever their Bosses want. That doesn't work any more. Workers problems and issues are in rise in many places there and strike is not a very uncommon things there and labor suppression happening everyday by corporate bosses. In past 5-10 years west bengal have done many good changes in labor laws and yes, more needs to be done. Investment and industrial output is not bad in bengal now a days.

You do not have to believe any media, the indicators of progress may be

1. Percentage of Literates.
2. Penetration of Electricity in rural households.
3. Percentage of planned Irrigation

If you look at all these social/economic indicators bengal is going down by the day.

Has the percentage of literates decreased in Bengal? Electricity penertration is bound to increase with 99% of villages electrified up from around 40% a few years ago. Irrigation data is pretty confusing for laymen like me (Is it 27% or 67%).

Whom should I trust?

For example a reputed "think tank" which started this white paper business on West Bengal claims that access to safe drinking water is only 27% households. It quotes NHFS3. I didn't find any such data in the public records of NHFS. All I see is that 93.7% of hosueholds have access to improved sources of drinking water. Another GOI report for 2001 says that the figure is 83%. 27%? 83% and 93.7%!

Yet the national media lapped up the think tank report as the bible.

There are many ways to analyze data and present learned facts. In India that is all submerged in dirty politicing and ideological warfare between different elite groups.

We have some cities in India which have average or extremely above average per capita incomes depending on the political leanings of the think tank/ agency.

Talking about bandhs. It seems bandh in not a problem only in west bengal now a days. During 70-80 many industries left bengal because other states portray themselves that they are living in heaven, showed many tax incentives and most importantly they portray that their workers will do whatever their Bosses want.
Please do not forget the freight equalization policy of Centre/ Congress Government. It made manufacturing unviable in Kolkata/ West Bengal. We have always had a "duorani" treatment from Centre although Pranab babu and many other Bengalis were in prominent positions..

Talking about bandhs. It seems bandh in not a problem only in west bengal now a days:lol:. During 70-80 many industries left bengal because other states portray themselves that they are living in heaven, showed many tax incentives and most importantly they portray that their workers will do whatever their Bosses want. That doesn't work any more. Workers problems and issues are in rise in many places there and strike is not a very uncommon things there and labor suppression happening everyday by corporate bosses. In past 5-10 years west bengal have done many good changes in labor laws and yes, more needs to be done. Investment and industrial output is not bad in bengal now a days.

I agree with SarafIndian..I think labor unrest is a byproduct of industrialization..more industrialization -> more labors -> more labor unrest. Case in point: Tamil Nadu (Plz. refer to the following report). But yes, it has been politicized (engendering a militant version) a lot too for vested interest, especially in West Bengal. The challenge is to strike a balance I guess - trade unions are there all over the world for the interest of the labors and there are strikes too...but the countries which are able to strike a balance and not possibly without too much of a vested interest, excel finally.

Labour problems dog multinationals in Tamil Nadu

June 28, 2010 – 11:22 am

Chennai, June 28 (IANS) All is not well on the industrial labour front in Tamil Nadu, with simmering discontent among workers in multinational companies leading to strikes and shutdowns, threatening the southern state’s reputation as an ideal investment destination.

Tyre-maker ATC Tires’ plant in Tirunelvelli has been closed down for more than a month. Japanese auto component vendor Yazaki Wiring Technologies’ facility near here has been served with a strike notice by its workers’ union.

Labour problems at Hyundai Motor India flare up at regular intervals. The newly-formed workers union at Ford Motor India has written to the state government to intervene on its behalf.

Non-recognition of unions by the companies and low wages are said to be the common reasons behind the labour unrest.

On the strike at ATC Tires, the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) State Secretary R. Karumalaiyan told IANS: ‘Initially workers were asked to work on a 12-hour shift. It was later reduced to nine hours. The wage per day is Rs.120 while wage rate under the rural employment guarantee scheme is Rs.100.’

The company does not have any permanent worker on its rolls though the total work force employed at its factory is around 700, he said over phone from Tirunelvelli.

Attempts by IANS to reach ATC Tires’ top officials for their reaction ended in vain.

At Yazaki Wiring Technologies, workers are agitating for the early conclusion of the wage agreement talks.

‘The company is in an expansion mode supplying to Ford India and others. There are around 700 workers out of whom only around 90 are permanent. A worker who has put in 12 years of service in the company will get a salary of around Rs.5,800. The company wants the worker to earn more through production incentives,’ union sources told IANS.

Yazaki Wiring officials were not available for comment on the issue.

Trade unionists said much of labour problems could have been avoided had the Tamil Nadu government passed a law making it compulsory for companies to recognise the majority trade union and pursued presidential approval for the amendment to the Industrial Standing Orders Act with the central government.

‘States like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Kerala have passed a law for companies to recognise trade unions. The amendment to the Industrial Standing Orders Act prescribes the ratio of permanent to contract workers in a factory,’ S. Kumarasami, state president of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), told IANS.

CITU’s state general secretary A. Soundararajan said ‘though MNCs have works committees to discuss issues pertaining to their workers, these do not have any legal standing.’

The state government in April announced the setting up of a committee to study the experiences of other states in passing a law to make trade union recognition compulsory by corporations. But trade unionists termed the move as an election gimmick.

The state goes to the polls next year.

Industry lobbies like the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) are not against the existence of unions.

‘Unions are a reality. While we can suggest to our members on having cordial relationship with the unions we cannot go beyond a certain limit,’ CII’s Southern Region head S. Gopalakrishnan told IANS.

Tamil Nadu has in recent years attracted a lot of investment, particularly in automobile and auto ancillaries manufacturing, and observers say continuing labour unrest could deter future investments in the state.

The CII’s southern chapter had organised meetings with trade unions and companies last year to foster better ties between the two in view of the worsening industrial relations and possible impact on fresh investments.

According to the state government, strikes and lockouts have come down during 2009 as compared to earlier years.

Figures released by the labour department show 2006 saw 51 strikes and lockouts which went up to 66 in 2007, 86 in 2008 and then came down to 49 in 2009.

Tamil Nadu claims to have the largest number of factories (around 43,000) and workers (around 1.4 million) in the country.

Meanwhile, the Coimbatore-based auto component maker Pricol is having informal talks with its work force though refusing to recognise the AICCTU-affiliated union.

‘The company has paid the workers pending wages and bonus and reinstated some dismissed workers,’ A.S. Bhuvaneswari, state deputy general secretary of AICCTU, told IANS.

Pricol hit the headlines last year when its HR (human resources) executive was killed by agitating workers.

And BMS is distant khurtoto bhai? What about Trinamool's union? Are they in or out?

But what a waste of time and money by these unions. What will they get from a strike? Nothing. Did prices of petrol roll back with the previous two strikes?

Maybe these political parties should publish an annual calendar with 10 days of various kinds of strikes. That way everybody can plan ahead for the vacations. If we can have baromashe tero parbon, we can have baromashe chobbish parbon as well.

Relics of the past (and not yet sidelined) politicians like Gurdas Dasgupta have caused immense harm to West Bengal because of their obstinacy and opportunistic politics (case in point Kolkata airport not getting privatized and remaining in the hands of AAI). People need to vote them out by huge margins so that they know where they stand.

add an extra 'T' and u will get INTTUC the trade union of TMC...so it could be that both inttucs will participate as they are in 'mahajot'...btw didi has her own plans to halt the city on wednesday the 21st by observing 'ma mati manus diwas'...and add to that its also 'ultorath' that day:bash:...so another evening to be wasted on streets!!!:ohno:

I agree with SarafIndian..I think labor unrest is a byproduct of industrialization..more industrialization -> more labors -> more labor unrest
Exactly my point, niljee. All over India there are protests agains land acquisition for industries. Just because the "advanced states" have good/strong lobbies that those issues will not be highlighted and you will only see "swarnim state x"..

Just recently, 1k crore power project investment was stalled in AP. Does that mean AP's future of industrialization is doomed?

Has the percentage of literates decreased in Bengal? Electricity penertration is bound to increase with 99% of villages electrified up from around 40% a few years ago. Irrigation data is pretty confusing for laymen like me (Is it 27% or 67%).

Whom should I trust?

For example a reputed "think tank" which started this white paper business on West Bengal claims that access to safe drinking water is only 27% households. It quotes NHFS3. I didn't find any such data in the public records of NHFS. All I see is that 93.7% of hosueholds have access to improved sources of drinking water. Another GOI report for 2001 says that the figure is 83%. 27%? 83% and 93.7%!

Yet the national media lapped up the think tank report as the bible.

There are many ways to analyze data and present learned facts. In India that is all submerged in dirty politicing and ideological warfare between different elite groups.

We have some cities in India which have average or extremely above average per capita incomes depending on the political leanings of the think tank/ agency.

I do not have enough research on that but I can quote some Wiki pages, (dont know how genuine they are)... I do not think they show a rosy picture for the state.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_states_ranking_by_literacy_rate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_states_ranking_by_households_having_electricity

TV ownership also is a good indicator,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_states_ranking_by_television_ownership

I believe the source of these are NFHS.

I do not have enough research on that but I can quote some Wiki pages, (dont know how genuine they are)... I do not think they show a rosy picture for the state.
Sorry to ask, but your point is?

I think nobody contends the fact that rural bengal is really undeveloped, especially the border districts. That is why our politicians have a field day in fooling/using them.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzTnk3hO8bo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-rBaq0dcfs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soCfzWZ1ao0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drhCPlWf7kA

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STAR Jalsha presents @bhalobasha.com

Premiering on May 31st, Monday-Saturday at 7:30 pm


Is this a new marketing strategy?

Sorry to ask, but your point is?

I think nobody contends the fact that rural bengal is really undeveloped, especially the border districts. That is why our politicians have a field day in fooling/using them.

The point is not only bengal has been doing pretty badly in Industries but in the social front also it has not done well. Though bengal was the cradle of social reform, it has stayed in an intellectual level in debates and discussion and there has not been much actual work. No govt left or right has done much to improve.

I do not have enough research on that but I can quote some Wiki pages, (dont know how genuine they are)... I do not think they show a rosy picture for the state.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_states_ranking_by_literacy_rate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_states_ranking_by_households_having_electricity

TV ownership also is a good indicator,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_states_ranking_by_television_ownership

I believe the source of these are NFHS.

Those are indeed NFHS estimates which came out in 2008 but based on 2005 (and sometimes 2001 data).

However let's look at some of those issues:

Literacy rate: A 70% literacy rate is not bad for a state with such a huge population and especially where a substantial section of the older population is illiterate. And just to confuse more, an IRS 2009 estimate claims 75.3% literacy rate (for ages 12+) placing it 7th amongst 20 surveyed states (Kerala 95, Delhi 88, Tamil Nadu 80, Maharashtra 78, Himachal 77, Uttarkhand 76).

From a practical point of view without adequate stress on adult literacy, that gap will never be covered. Of more concern is the education gap in the school going age population (the future). Drop out rates in West Bengal are not coming down as per estimates. Only about 1 million students sat for the 10th board exams. That is a concrete figure. What is missing is the actual number of missing students. Have 1 million been left behind or is it 800,000 or is it 400,000? There is also a big vacancy of teachers. Does any politician or political party or intellectual care? They are only interested in pushing their "own" members into the system.


Electrification: As per the wikipedia data - it is showing 66% of Households having electricity. But NFHS is showing only 52%. That's why its puzzling. Somebody may have inflated the data or maybe I am looking at the wrong NFHS report (http://www.nfhsindia.org/NFHS-3%20Data/wb_state_report_printed_version.pdf)available on the internet.

It is indeed true (at least from all the available data) that West Bengal has one of the worst rural electrification percentages. Indeed some people have pointed out the WB was a power surplus state by not giving power to its own people but exporting it for money. Things have certainly changed (again based on claims). Look at the pace of work in rural electrification - WBSEDCL figures (http://wbplan.gov.in/htm/ReportPub/EcoRev09-10/Econ_Review_2009-10.pdf) for the years show total number of rural household electrified -
333,641 (2005 - 2006)
351,562 (2006 - 2007)
732,866 (2007 - 2008)
4,272,736 (2008 - Nov 2009)
Total: 2005 - Nov 2009 - 5,160,421.

The percentage of Mouzas electrified was 99%.

Notice the quantum jump last financial year. The declared aim is to reach near 100%in the 2011-2012 financial year. The bigger challenge will be to increase power generation, improve PLF, cut distribution losses to provide power to this huge growth in consumer numbers.

Television: There are many reports floating in the internet which say that durable consumer numbers are low in West Bengal due to poor economic condition (many of these reports are based on old data). However as per one report West Bengal is the number two market for consumer durables after Maharashtra. But there is a catch. The state has 80% of Maha's population but a market size 52% of Maharashtra. So there is evidently catching up to do. But surely the market is big and companies have to pay attention to penetrate the market. When it comes to advertisement for consumer durables in regional media, WB comes after Maha and TN. So there is a slow recognition that companies are looking at potential market beyond estimated data. If you look at the mobile penetration, uptake in West Bengal had been pretty slow as companies didn't realize the potential. But as more companies are being forced to look into newer markets, the total number (http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/trai/upload/PressReleases/736/PressReleaseApril2010.pdf)has gone up to 42.6 million (Mar 2010) which is about 7% of the total India numbers. As the numbers are still low, obviously there is scope for growth.

The point is not only bengal has been doing pretty badly in Industries but in the social front also it has not done well. Though bengal was the cradle of social reform, it has stayed in an intellectual level in debates and discussion and there has not been much actual work. No govt left or right has done much to improve.

It depends how you look at it. There have been positives and negatives.

http://www.asianage.com/opinion/west-bengal%E2%80%99s-health-secret-727

Those are indeed NFHS estimates which came out in 2008 but based on 2005 (and sometimes 2001 data).

However let's look at some of those issues:

Literacy rate: A 70% literacy rate is not bad for a state with such a huge population and especially where a substantial section of the older population is illiterate. And just to confuse more, an IRS 2009 estimate claims 75.3% literacy rate (for ages 12+) placing it 7th amongst 20 surveyed states (Kerala 95, Delhi 88, Tamil Nadu 80, Maharashtra 78, Himachal 77, Uttarkhand 76).

From a practical point of view without adequate stress on adult literacy, that gap will never be covered. Of more concern is the education gap in the school going age population (the future). Drop out rates in West Bengal are not coming down as per estimates. Only about 1 million students sat for the 10th board exams. That is a concrete figure. What is missing is the actual number of missing students. Have 1 million been left behind or is it 800,000 or is it 400,000? There is also a big vacancy of teachers. Does any politician or political party or intellectual care? They are only interested in pushing their "own" members into the system.


Electrification: As per the wikipedia data - it is showing 66% of Households having electricity. But NFHS is showing only 52%. That's why its puzzling. Somebody may have inflated the data or maybe I am looking at the wrong NFHS report (http://www.nfhsindia.org/NFHS-3%20Data/wb_state_report_printed_version.pdf)available on the internet.

It is indeed true (at least from all the available data) that West Bengal has one of the worst rural electrification percentages. Indeed some people have pointed out the WB was a power surplus state by not giving power to its own people but exporting it for money. Things have certainly changed (again based on claims). Look at the pace of work in rural electrification - WBSEDCL figures (http://wbplan.gov.in/htm/ReportPub/EcoRev09-10/Econ_Review_2009-10.pdf) for the years show total number of rural household electrified -
333,641 (2005 - 2006)
351,562 (2006 - 2007)
732,866 (2007 - 2008)
4,272,736 (2008 - Nov 2009)
Total: 2005 - Nov 2009 - 5,160,421.

The percentage of Mouzas electrified was 99%.

Notice the quantum jump last financial year. The declared aim is to reach near 100%in the 2011-2012 financial year. The bigger challenge will be to increase power generation, improve PLF, cut distribution losses to provide power to this huge growth in consumer numbers.

Television: There are many reports floating in the internet which say that durable consumer numbers are low in West Bengal due to poor economic condition (many of these reports are based on old data). However as per one report West Bengal is the number two market for consumer durables after Maharashtra. But there is a catch. The state has 80% of Maha's population but a market size 52% of Maharashtra. So there is evidently catching up to do. But surely the market is big and companies have to pay attention to penetrate the market. When it comes to advertisement for consumer durables in regional media, WB comes after Maha and TN. So there is a slow recognition that companies are looking at potential market beyond estimated data. If you look at the mobile penetration, uptake in West Bengal had been pretty slow as companies didn't realize the potential. But as more companies are being forced to look into newer markets, the total number (http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/trai/upload/PressReleases/736/PressReleaseApril2010.pdf)has gone up to 42.6 million (Mar 2010) which is about 7% of the total India numbers. As the numbers are still low, obviously there is scope for growth.



It depends how you look at it. There have been positives and negatives.

http://www.asianage.com/opinion/west-bengal%E2%80%99s-health-secret-727

Wow ! Excellent analysis. Effort really appreciated.

Talking about bandhs. It seems bandh in not a problem only in west bengal now a days:lol:. During 70-80 many industries left bengal because other states portray themselves that they are living in heaven, showed many tax incentives and most importantly they portray that their workers will do whatever their Bosses want. That doesn't work any more. Workers problems and issues are in rise in many places there and strike is not a very uncommon things there and labor suppression happening everyday by corporate bosses. In past 5-10 years west bengal have done many good changes in labor laws and yes, more needs to be done. Investment and industrial output is not bad in bengal now a days.

But it is the only place on the globe where bandhs are 100% successful.

Mozambique, which is a poorer country compared to India, recently had about 50% increase in petrol prices and still there was no bandh or strike. Because the poorer people here know that if they go for a strike there will be no food for them for that particular day and strike will bring no good for them.

The early the poor Bengalis know this(not the netas) the better.

But it is the only place on the globe where bandhs are 100% successful.

Mozambique, which is a poorer country compared to India, recently had about 50% increase in petrol prices and still there was no bandh or strike. Because the poorer people here know that if they go for a strike there will be no food for them for that particular day and strike will bring no good for them.

The early the poor Bengalis know this(not the netas) the better.

Maybe then there is not that many poor in Bengal! They can afford to have bandhs.

:lol:

On a serious note, what is bothersome is that the mandarins of Left Front - especially the really useless leaders of the useless parties like CPI, RSS, FB... have not learnt the correct lessons from the series of electoral defeats. People are voting them out because there is a strong opposing alliance now and the people also want to give another incompetent alliance a chance. But some of these useless Left Leaders are thinking that the way to get back people's votes is to call more bandhs and make trade unions more militant. You will not see them trying to perform better. With thousands of cadres, why not take a broom every Saturday and clean up the streets of Kolkata rather than ugly up the walls of the city?

Thanks Suncity.

I like your way of thinking and speak out your mind by choosing right words in right place:)

People are doing this because there is no better option left for them

Few famous food places of Kolkata with Victor Banerjee..

Source: The Telegraph

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/4168/20072010526011.jpg
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/3728/20072010528009.jpg

Bipasha Basu launches Bengali entertainment channel

Kolkata: Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu launched Bengali general entertainment channel Mahuaa Bangla in Kolkata on Monday evening.

An initiative of Mahuaa Media Pvt Ltd, the channel was co-launched by PK Tewari, chairman and managing director of the Mahua group, and Brazilian football legends Romario and Branco at the ITC Sonar.

"Mahuaa Bangla will just not cater to entertainment but will strive to revive the heritage and value and at the same time bring newer thoughts and ideas to its viewers,” said Tewari.

The event unfolded with a traditional Durga Vandhana by Tanushree Shankar and her dance troupe, which was followed by a laser show. The dusky actress - wearing a red-bordered white embroidered sari and red bangles - arrived in a palanquin amidst Shankar’s second dance recital depicting Bengali culture and tradition.

Hosting the programme were Bollywood actress Konkana Sen Sharma and Tollywood superstar Jishu Sengupta.

Music composer Bappi Lahiri and singers Alka Yagnik and Debojit Saha made the audience swing to their tunes

source : IANS

Human milk bank in Kolkata hospital (http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=27952&sectionid=1)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 08:00 IST Our Bureau, Mumbai

For the first time, a human milk bank is coming up in Kolkata. The milk bank will be set up at the SSKM Hospital, the only super-speciality healthcare institution of the West Bengal government in collaboration with Norway. The aim of the project is to provide breast milk from the bank to newborns who do not get milk due to their mothers’ illness after delivery.

“The Norwegian government and some universities of that country will participate in the project to help us build the infrastructure for the preservation of breast milk,” said medical superintendent-cum-vice principal of the hospital, Dr Debasis Bhattacharya.

Another focus of the project will be on imparting knowledge to medical students on the preservation of human milk. “For this purpose medical students of our hospital will be involved in an exchange programme with Norway,” explained Dr Bhattacharya.

Source: The Telegraph

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/6259/22072010529003.jpg

I know this can create a lot of debate of traditionalism vs experimental still I couldn't resist myself posting this..

Another experiment with Tagore..

XKpLTUJ0bTY

Another sweet Rabindrasangeet originally popularized by late Chinmoy Chattopadhyay. SSC have bocome a sweet webpage indeed!:)
Here is another.... very latest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzTnk3hO8bo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzTnk3hO8bo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzTnk3hO8bo

Yes, you are right,it is a sweet song indeed. But I would like to listen this song in Chinmoy's voice only. May be I am old fashioned!:)

I am really amused with this kind of reverse engineering of rabindra sangeet. It fits well with the lyric. But again in my mind the old song by Chinmoy to too vivid, that memory will never go away. It was one of my parents most favourite song! I miss them now.

Thanks Saraf for the clip.

DGP clicks away in assembly, has cell confiscated



TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Just a month shy of retirement, Bengal director general of police Bhupinder Singh was caught allegedly breaking the rules in the assembly on Thursday. Congress MLAs accused Singh of taking pictures on his cellphone inside the House — an “unwitting” crime to which the top cop admitted.

The mobile phone of the state’s topmost police officer has been confiscated.

It’s perhaps a first for Bengal, which has had more than its share of controversies involving senior officers. And perhaps a first for the country as well. Cellphones are banned in the assembly and MLAs have often been fined for breaking the rule.

Singh was in the House along with home secretary Samar Ghosh and city police chief Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti on Thursday for the discussion on the state home (police) budget. They were in the visitors’ gallery behind the row where chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee sits.

Around 2.30pm, Kandi MLA Apurba Sarkar of the Congress was making his speech when some CPM MLAs tried to stop him. Naoda MLA Abu Taher Khan (Trinamool Congress) and Berhampore MLA Manoj Chakraborty (Congress) rushed the well, fingers raised towards the treasury benches. Deputy speaker Bhaktipada Ghosh was in the chair then.

When Khan and Chakraborty were still riling at the CPM benches, Congress MLA Rabi Chatterjee and his colleague from Shantipur Ajoy Dey claimed to have seen Singh’s mobile phone flash repeatedly. Accusing him of taking pictures inside the House, Congress MLAs rushed to the deputy speaker’s chamber and demanded that the DGP’s mobile phone be seized.

Singh was whisked out by a close aide of the chief minister. Neither the CM nor leader of opposition Partha Chatterjee or Congress legislature party leader Manas Bhunia were in the House when the furore broke out.

Bhunia rushed to the floor when he heard of the commotion. Within minutes, Speaker Hashim Abdul Halim took the chair. “Cellphones are banned in the House. When our MLAs were protesting, the state DGP was clicking pictures. How dare he does this? If the cellphone is not seized immediately, he will delete the images,” Bhunia said, demanding that Singh be suspended.

MOBILE FIASCO

DGP says sorry


Leader of opposition in the assembly Partha Chatterjee and his party colleague Ashok Deb rushed to the Speaker on hearing that DGP Bhupinder Singh had been seen clicking pictures inside the Assembly and demanded the top cop’s phone be seized. While attempts were being made to sort out the matter, parliamentary affairs minister Sailen Sarkar was summoned to the Speaker’s chamber and asked to get the cellphone from Singh.

A little later, the DGP himself walked into the chamber, handed over his cellphone and apologized for the incident. He explained that he was checking his messages when he unwittingly clicked the pictures. The Speaker has asked government chief whip Syed Mohammad Masih to submit a report by Friday morning. The DGP has been summoned to a hearing on Friday where the Speaker will decide on the charges. “We have been saying for a long time that the government is spying on important Opposition leaders, including Mamata Banerjee. The DGP was openly clicking pictures inside the assembly. How dare he do so?” Chatterjee said.

^^ Taking pictures in assembly means spying? WTH the ministers do there? And Some kind of space or nuclear research or what? :lol:

^^ Taking pictures in assembly means spying? WTH the ministers do there? And Some kind of space or nuclear research or what? :lol:

I guess u r not aware of the law. There are places where photography is prohibited by law, and Assembly is one such place. Being the DGP u got to abide by the law and lead by example.

DGP clicks away in assembly, has cell confiscated



TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Just a month shy of retirement, Bengal director general of police Bhupinder Singh was caught allegedly breaking the rules in the assembly on Thursday. Congress MLAs accused Singh of taking pictures on his cellphone inside the House — an “unwitting” crime to which the top cop admitted.

The mobile phone of the state’s topmost police officer has been confiscated.

It’s perhaps a first for Bengal, which has had more than its share of controversies involving senior officers. And perhaps a first for the country as well. Cellphones are banned in the assembly and MLAs have often been fined for breaking the rule.

Singh was in the House along with home secretary Samar Ghosh and city police chief Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti on Thursday for the discussion on the state home (police) budget. They were in the visitors’ gallery behind the row where chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee sits.

Around 2.30pm, Kandi MLA Apurba Sarkar of the Congress was making his speech when some CPM MLAs tried to stop him. Naoda MLA Abu Taher Khan (Trinamool Congress) and Berhampore MLA Manoj Chakraborty (Congress) rushed the well, fingers raised towards the treasury benches. Deputy speaker Bhaktipada Ghosh was in the chair then.

When Khan and Chakraborty were still riling at the CPM benches, Congress MLA Rabi Chatterjee and his colleague from Shantipur Ajoy Dey claimed to have seen Singh’s mobile phone flash repeatedly. Accusing him of taking pictures inside the House, Congress MLAs rushed to the deputy speaker’s chamber and demanded that the DGP’s mobile phone be seized.

Singh was whisked out by a close aide of the chief minister. Neither the CM nor leader of opposition Partha Chatterjee or Congress legislature party leader Manas Bhunia were in the House when the furore broke out.

Bhunia rushed to the floor when he heard of the commotion. Within minutes, Speaker Hashim Abdul Halim took the chair. “Cellphones are banned in the House. When our MLAs were protesting, the state DGP was clicking pictures. How dare he does this? If the cellphone is not seized immediately, he will delete the images,” Bhunia said, demanding that Singh be suspended.

MOBILE FIASCO

DGP says sorry


Leader of opposition in the assembly Partha Chatterjee and his party colleague Ashok Deb rushed to the Speaker on hearing that DGP Bhupinder Singh had been seen clicking pictures inside the Assembly and demanded the top cop’s phone be seized. While attempts were being made to sort out the matter, parliamentary affairs minister Sailen Sarkar was summoned to the Speaker’s chamber and asked to get the cellphone from Singh.

A little later, the DGP himself walked into the chamber, handed over his cellphone and apologized for the incident. He explained that he was checking his messages when he unwittingly clicked the pictures. The Speaker has asked government chief whip Syed Mohammad Masih to submit a report by Friday morning. The DGP has been summoned to a hearing on Friday where the Speaker will decide on the charges. “We have been saying for a long time that the government is spying on important Opposition leaders, including Mamata Banerjee. The DGP was openly clicking pictures inside the assembly. How dare he do so?” Chatterjee said.

@ what time did this happen???:lol:

^^

Much ado about nothing.

We all know who the main problem creators in the state are. You can see them leading political processions, enforcing bandhs and bringing sorrow to the common man.

:lol:

Taking pictures in the assembly is illegal. okay, fine.


Then what about videography?

We have seen ugly scene and events inside the Bihar assembly very recently.
Earlier we had witnessed total anarchy inside UP and AP assemblies. Even the Parliament House is not an exception.

Is there separate rule for still phototraphy and videography inside state assembly or Parliament House?

can someone enlighten on the matter?

Another romantic Rabindrasangeet. This one sung by Rupankar Bagchi.

WbIz4z5zdkM

Emono dine tare bola jay
Emono ghono ghoro borishay
Emono dine mono khola jay
Emono megho shore, badolo zhoro zhore
Topono hino ghono tomoshay
Emono dine tare bola jay

She kotha shunibe na, keho aar
Nivrito nirjono charidhar
Dujone mukho mukhi, gobhiro dukhe dukhi
Akashe jolo zhore onibar
Jogote keho jeno nahi aar

Shomaj shongsharo miche shob
Miche jibonero kolorob
Keboli akhi diye, akhiro shudha piye
Ridoyo diye ridhi onubhob
Adhare mishe geche aar shob

Tahate e jogote khoti kar
Namate pari jodi mono bhaar
Srabono borishone.. ekoda griho kone
Du kotha boli jodi, kache tar
Tahate ashe jabe ki ba kar

Bekulo bege aj bohe bay
Bijoli theke theke chomokay
Je kotha e jibone, rohia gelo mone
She kotha aji jeno bola jay

Emono ghono ghoro borishay
Emono dine tare bola jay
Emono ghono ghoro borishay
Emono dine mono khola jay ||


English Translation by Santanu in his blog (http://belamukherjee.blogspot.com/2010/03/emono-dine-tare-song-poem.html)

I could say it on a day like this,
on a stormy day such as today.
I could let the words slip out ...
amidst thundering clouds, ceaseless rain
and lightless dense shadows.

No one else need hear those words,
in this lonely secluded space.
The two of us, face to face, plunged in each other’s anguish,
the skies weep relentlessly ...
as if the living have left the earth.

Meaningless, the world and its ways,
meaningless, the clamor of the world.
Save our eyes locked in ecstasy
our hearts joined in feeling ...
in darkness lost, everything else.

Should it bother anyone
if the heart unburdens itself
in this season of storms, in one corner of my house
if I did speak a few words, then
should it matter again?

Today flows by swiftly, desperately,
sudden light flashes, shockingly.
What has always remained unsaid
I can, perhaps, speak this day ...
on a stormy day such as today.

I was browsing through the www.youtube.com. Surprisingly I found all the memorable Rabindrasangeets by Chinmoy, Debabrata, Sagar Sen, Hemanta, Suchitra and Kanika. Quality of sound is reasonable; music lovers could easily download or tape the songs. I want to thank those who helped to put a part of contemporary Bengali civilization in web pages for ever. These memorable songs are in safe hand now!:)

^^youtube is not a safe orgranization. its controlled by google who gathers information about you and distribute them to other third rate organizations.

^^youtube is not a safe orgranization. its controlled by google who gathers information about you and distribute them to other third rate organizations.

I am a humble NRI originally from Kolkata. I mean no harm to anybody in this world nor I have any secret information! ^^

^^pft.i love tagore..i dont know who chinmoy is though

^^pft.i love tagore..i dont know who chinmoy is though

Chinmoy Chattopadhyay was an well known rabindra sangeet (Tagore's songs ) artist and his career spans between late fifties to 1987. He was responsible for popularizing many memorable song of Tagore. You may not understand the lyric but will surely enjoy the melody. It will create a lasting impression of peace on you! Try it from you tube!

Another romantic Rabindrasangeet. This one sung by Rupankar Bagchi.

WbIz4z5zdkM

Emono dine tare bola jay
Emono ghono ghoro borishay
Emono dine mono khola jay
Emono megho shore, badolo zhoro zhore
Topono hino ghono tomoshay
Emono dine tare bola jay

She kotha shunibe na, keho aar
Nivrito nirjono charidhar
Dujone mukho mukhi, gobhiro dukhe dukhi
Akashe jolo zhore onibar
Jogote keho jeno nahi aar

Shomaj shongsharo miche shob
Miche jibonero kolorob
Keboli akhi diye, akhiro shudha piye
Ridoyo diye ridhi onubhob
Adhare mishe geche aar shob

Tahate e jogote khoti kar
Namate pari jodi mono bhaar
Srabono borishone.. ekoda griho kone
Du kotha boli jodi, kache tar
Tahate ashe jabe ki ba kar

Bekulo bege aj bohe bay
Bijoli theke theke chomokay
Je kotha e jibone, rohia gelo mone
She kotha aji jeno bola jay

Emono ghono ghoro borishay
Emono dine tare bola jay
Emono ghono ghoro borishay
Emono dine mono khola jay ||


English Translation by Santanu in his blog (http://belamukherjee.blogspot.com/2010/03/emono-dine-tare-song-poem.html)

Superb....fantastic rendition by Rupankar with full of emotion.....a singer has to put through his acting skill thru his singing

i agree... beautiful song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzTnk3hO8bo

How to post youtube videos

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=667104

How to post youtube videos

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=667104

Thanks for sharing

X-rBaq0dcfs&feature=related

X-rBaq0dcfs

DSiyZqaZZzg

drhCPlWf7kA&feature=related

soCfzWZ1ao0

ZzTnk3hO8bo

^^pls don't post bengali serials in this thread. just music by artists not local actors.

^^pls don't post bengali serials in this thread.

I think it is okay to post a couple at a time during the weekends, Or we could have a separate thread.

I think it is okay to post a couple at a time during the weekends, Or we could have a separate thread.

I tend to agree with jacob302 over here. If at all there should be a separate thread for serials (and even songs), otherwise if people starts posting their favorite music and serials then the thread will go out of control. This thread is meant for discussion about news and happenings in Kolkata, lets keep it that way.

I tend to agree with jacob302 over here. If at all there should be a separate thread for serials (and even songs), otherwise if people starts posting their favorite music and serials then the thread will go out of control. This thread is meant for discussion about news and happenings in Kolkata, lets keep it that way.

please refer to Jacob's comments....did he try to single out not to post bengali serials? I agree this thread is meant for Kolkata News & Discussions...but bengali sentiments do matter sometimes....please dont make bengalis minorities in every sphere.

I think it is okay to post a couple at a time during the weekends, Or we could have a separate thread.

I appreciate your flexible thinking point of views.

oh you guys wont like this:

good news: Both the Metropolitan Building(almost completed) and Park Mansion(completed) is being restored by the same company that is also engaged with the Great Eastern Hotel and the Mackinnon Mackenzie building. Sadly however, according to this article, the latter project(Mackenzie) has been halted. no more mall there.

bad news:Look at this article, it downright attacks their restoration process, which the critic says shouldn't be a beautification process with the "gaudy gold and red"

Kolkata is a city of buildings that are painted either yellow (ela mati in Bengali) with green doors and windows or in a white-and-light blue combination. Keeping this colour scheme in mind, the previous governor of West Bengal had repainted Raj Bhavan yellow and green. But the colour scheme does not seem to have found favour with many architects based in Kolkata, even when the buildings are of a certain age.

Two heritage buildings in Kolkata prominently located in Chowringhee and Park Street are being given a new look, tarted up rather, in a fashion that has little connection with the past. The two are Metropolitan Building and Park Mansion.

Marble out, mall in

The first, as is well known, used to be Whiteaway and Laidlaw, the famous department store. After it closed down, the property changed hands. The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) became its landlord, and gradually this grand building that defines the character of Chowringhee went to ruin like most good things in Kolkata.

Yielding to public pressure and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s (KMC) notices, the LIC undertook a project to restore it. But not before the structure was vandalised — its beautiful Italian marble floors were ripped off and a wealth of stained glass windows facing JL Nehru Road and SN Banerjee Road was smashed for the sake of a mall.

The building looked clean for a while, then began to look shabby once again. In spite of its “restoration” the roof is not waterproof and during heavy showers, the top floors become flooded. Water cascades down the grand staircases. This has not happened yet this time, but where is the monsoon this time?

Gaudy and golden

Now the building is being given another coat of paint. Good decision. But look at the shades being used. Metropolitan Building, even at its shabbiest, had not lost any of its dignity. Now it looks downright vulgar with that abundance of gold on its cupolas and the procession of urns on the terrace and the acanthus on top of each Corinthian column. Metropolitan Building, if memory serves and old photographs are anything to go by, never looked gaudy before.

Even if the architect responsible for this act is under the impression that he is actually beautifying the building, has he forgotten that restoration is far removed from beautification? The conservator’s task is to uncover the authenticity of the structure as far as possible. The architect has successfully eliminated all references to its past.

Park Mansion, “restored” by the same architect, wears the same look. A part of this building was gutted in a fire, and it is now off-white with bright red windows and dabs of glitter on strategic points like the cupolas. Perhaps it is not legally binding to paint a building the way it always used to be, but any self-respecting “conservator” would think twice before transforming it into a piece of kitsch.

On what basis does he do it? After painstaking research? One is sure he does not bother like most architects in Kolkata.

Colour code horror

Conservation architect Nilina Deb Lal stresses the importance of research before a restoration project is undertaken: “It is important to find out whether the process of decision-making is supported by rigorous research. Frequently intensive study is not undertaken. There has to be a statement.”

Churches in medieval times used to be gaudily painted, she says. Now there is a conscious decision to leave them stark — to understate the object. In the case of these buildings it is a reverse decision. “They should have been doubly careful,” feels Deb Lal.

The same architect, who has “restored” Metropolitan Building, Park Mansion and Queens Mansion has all but ruined Great Eastern Hotel and the Mackinnon Mackenzie building.

He has walked out of the latter project but not before destroying the stone-clad building. Why the CMC allowed him to tear down both these iconic structures remains a mystery.

With an unerring eye for the banal he is now meddling with the façade of Great Eastern Hotel, which he was supposed to keep intact. A palm tree has been planted on the pavement under the balcony, its trunk sprouts out of a huge gap in the balcony. How did the architect get away with it?

And now he is collaborating with a British architect to design the annexe of the Victoria Memorial Hall.

http://www.ilovekolkata.in/index.php/My-City/All-that-glitters.html

^^

I guess Soumitra Das doesn't like Dulal Mukherjee. She has been attacking DMA for a long time through her articles in The Telegraph. But let's just assume that her criticism is at a professional level.

I tend to agree with jacob302 over here. If at all there should be a separate thread for serials (and even songs), otherwise if people starts posting their favorite music and serials then the thread will go out of control. This thread is meant for discussion about news and happenings in Kolkata, lets keep it that way.

i agree with you. There should be a separate thread for songs and serials!

Bengali Pride
KQFrneTqeQs

Thanks for this wonderful clip

:hi:
Happy friendship Day to all of you. Love and bhalobasha to all my friends here.


PLFB1hp5Xd0

hi can anybody say how to upload image (not video ) here?

hi can anybody say how to upload image (not video ) here?


when u r posting ordinary comments,just click on the "insert image" icon ,a dialog box will open where you will have to enter the URL of the image.Thats it so simple:)

More experiment with Tagore..:cheers:

By famous Arnob from Bangladesh..

Ananda dhara
lCFzQAsIbhc

"Majhe Majhe Tobo"
qYQZcOyUg80

An amateur singer Neil Dutta have done a great job

Amar Hridoy..
mSPGWWhHNb0

Tui phele esechis kare..
W-BGhyjKEWg

when u r posting ordinary comments,just click on the "insert image" icon ,a dialog box will open where you will have to enter the URL of the image.Thats it so simple:)
well i meant uploading of saved images in my computer.:ohno:

upload them on imageshack or some other image hosting sites (which frankly I don't know :D thats why "other" ;)). and then put the url of the image between the [ img ] [ /img ] tags (remove the spaces in them)

I just cant resist to post this lovely piece by Tagore :



The Post Office

By Rabindranath Tagore



[Translated from Bengali to English by Devabrata Mukherjee]

[New York: The Macmillan Company, 1914
Copyright 1914, by Mitchell Kennerley;
Copyright, 1914 by The Macmillan Company]









DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

* MADHAV
* AMAL, his adopted child
* SUDHA, a little flower girl
* THE DOCTOR
* DAIRYMAN
* WATCHMAN
* GAFFER
* VILLAGE HEADMAN, a bully
* KING'S HERALD
* ROYAL PHYSICIAN









THE POST OFFICE
ACT I

[Madhav's House]

Madhav. What a state I am in! Before he came, nothing mattered; I felt so free. But now that he has come, goodness knows from where, my heart is filled with his dear self, and my home will be no home to me when he leaves. Doctor, do you think he--

Physician. If there's life in his fate, then he will live long. But what the medical scriptures say, it seems--

Madhav. Great heavens, what?

Physician. The scriptures have it: "Bile or palsey, cold or gout spring all alike."

Madhav. Oh, get along, don't fling your scriptures at me; you only make me more anxious; tell me what I can do.

Physician [Taking snuff] The patient needs the most scrupulous care.

Madhav. That's true; but tell me how.

Physician. I have already mentioned, on no account must he be let out of doors.

Madhav Poor child, it is very hard to keep him indoors all day long.

Physician. What else can you do? The autumn sun and the damp are both very bad for the little fellow--for the scriptures have it:

"In wheezing, swoon or in nervous fret,
In jaundice or leaden eyes--"

Madhav. Never mind the scriptures, please. Eh, then we must shut the poor thing up. Is there no other method?

Physician. None at all: for, "In the wind and in the sun--"

Madhav. What will your "in this and in that" do for me now? Why don't you let them alone and come straight to the point? What's to be done then? Your system is very, very hard for the poor boy; and he is so quiet too with all his pain and sickness. It tears my heart to see him wince, as he takes your medicine.

Physician. effect. That's why the sage Chyabana observes: "In medicine as in good advices, the least palatable ones are the truest." Ah, well! I must be trotting now. [Exit]

[Gaffer enters]

Madhav. Well, I'm jiggered, there's Gaffer now.

Gaffer. Why, why, I won't bite you.

Madhav. No, but you are a devil to send children off their heads.

Gaffer. But you aren't a child, and you've no child in the house; why worry then?

Madhav. Oh, but I have brought a child into the house.

Gaffer. Indeed, how so?

Madhav. You remember how my wife was dying to adopt a child?

Gaffer. Yes, but that's an old story; you didn't like the idea.

Madhav. You know, brother, how hard all this getting money in has been. That somebody else's child would sail in and waste all this money earned with so much trouble--Oh, I hated the idea. But this boy clings to my heart in such a queer sort of way--

Gaffer. So that's the trouble! and your money goes all for him and feels jolly lucky it does go at all.

Madhav. Formerly, earning was a sort of passion with me; I simply couldn't help working for money. Now, I make money and as I know it is all for this dear boy, earning becomes a joy to me.

Gaffer. Ah, well, and where did you pick him up?

Madhav. He is the son of a man who was a brother to my wife by village ties. He has had no mother since infancy; and now the other day he lost his father as well.

Gaffer. Poor thing: and so he needs me all the more.

Madhav. The doctor says all the organs of his little body are at loggerheads with each other, and there isn't much hope for his life. There is only one way to save him and that is to keep him out of this autumn wind and sun. But you are such a terror! What with this game of yours at your age, too, to get children out of doors!

Gaffer. God bless my soul! So I'm already as bad as autumn wind and sun, eh! But, friend, I know something, too, of the game of keeping them indoors. When my day's work is over I am coming in to make friends with this child of yours. [Exit]

[Amal enters]

Amal. Uncle, I say, Uncle!

Madhav. Hullo! Is that you, Amal?

Amal. Mayn't I be out of the courtyard at all?

Madhav. No, my dear, no.

Amal. See, there where Auntie grinds lentils in the quirn, the squirrel is sitting with his tail up and with his wee hands he's picking up the broken grains of lentils and crunching them. Can't I run up there?

Madhav. No, my darling, no.

Amal. Wish I were a squirrel!--it would be lovely. Uncle, why won't you let me go about?

Madhav. Doctor says it's bad for you to be out.

Amal. How can the doctor know?

Madhav. What a thing to say! The doctor can't know and he reads such huge books!

Amal. Does his book-learning tell him everything?

Madhav. Of course, don't you know!

Amal [With a sigh] Ah, I am so stupid! I don't read books.

Madhav. Now, think of it; very, very learned people are all like you; they are never out of doors.

Amal. Aren't they really?

Madhav. No, how can they? Early and late they toil and moil at their books, and they've eyes for nothing else. Now, my little man, you are going to be learned when you grow up; and then you will stay at home and read such big books, and people will notice you and say, "he's a wonder."

Amal. No, no, Uncle; I beg of you by your dear feet--I don't want to be learned, I won't.

Madhav. Dear, dear; it would have been my saving if I could have been learned.

Amal. No, I would rather go about and see everything that there is.

Madhav. Listen to that! See! What will you see, what is there so much to see?

Amal. See that far-away hill from our window--I often long to go beyond those hills and right away.

Madhav. Oh, you silly! As if there's nothing more to be done but just get up to the top of that hill and away! Eh! You don't talk sense, my boy. Now listen, since that hill stands there upright as a barrier, it means you can't get beyond it. Else, what was the use in heaping up so many large stones to make such a big affair of it, eh!

Amal. Uncle, do you think it is meant to prevent your crossing over? It seems to me because the earth can't speak it raises its hands into the sky and beckons. And those who live far and sit alone by their windows can see the signal. But I suppose the learned people--

Madhav. No, they don't have time for that sort of nonsense. They are not crazy like you.

Amal. Do you know, yesterday I met someone quite as crazy as I am.

Madhav. Gracious me, really, how so?

Amal. He had a bamboo staff on his shoulder with a small bundle at the top, and a brass pot in his left hand, and an old pair of shoes on; he was making for those hills straight across that meadow there. I called out to him and asked, "Where are you going?" He answered, "I don't know, anywhere!" I asked again, "Why are you going?" He said, "I'm going out to seek work." Say, Uncle, have you to seek work?

Madhav. Of course I have to. There's many about looking for jobs.

Amal. How lovely! I'll go about, like them too, finding things to do.

Madhav. Suppose you seek and don't find. Then--

Amal. Wouldn't that be jolly? Then I should go farther! I watched that man slowly walking on with his pair of worn out shoes. And when he got to where the water flows under the fig tree, he stopped and washed his feet in the stream. Then he took out from his bundle some gram-flour, moistened it with water and began to eat. Then he tied up his bundle and shouldered it again; tucked up his cloth above his knees and crossed the stream. I've asked Auntie to let me go up to the stream, and eat my gram-flour just like him.

Madhav. And what did your Auntie say to that?

Amal. Auntie said, "Get well and then I'll take you over there." Please, Uncle, when shall I get well?

Madhav. It won't be long, dear.

Amal. Really, but then I shall go right away the moment I'm well again.

Madhav. And where will you go?

Amal. Oh, I will walk on, crossing so many streams, wading through water. Everybody will be asleep with their doors shut in the heat of the day and I will tramp on and on seeking work far, very far.

Madhav. I see! I think you had better be getting well first; then--

Amal. But then you won't want me to be learned, will you, Uncle?

Madhav. What would you rather be then?

Amal. I can't think of anything just now; but I'll tell you later on.

Madhav. Very well. But mind you, you aren't to call out and talk to strangers again.

Amal. But I love to talk to strangers!

Madhav. Suppose they had kidnapped you?

Amal. That would have been splendid! But no one ever takes me away. They all want me to stay in here.

Madhav. I am off to my work--but, darling, you won't go out, will you?

Amal. No, I won't. But, Uncle, you'll let me be in this room by the roadside.

[Exit Madhav]

Dairyman. Curds, curds, good nice curds.

Amal. Curdseller, I say, Curdseller.

Dairyman. Why do you call me? Will you buy some curds?

Amal. How can I buy? I have no money.

Dairyman. What a boy! Why call out then? Ugh! What a waste of time.

Amal. I would go with you if I could.

Dairyman. With me?

Amal. Yes, I seem to feel homesick when I hear you call from far down the road.

Dairyman [Lowering his yoke-pole] Whatever are you doing here, my child?

Amal. The doctor says I'm not to be out, so I sit here all day long.

Dairyman. My poor child, whatever has happened to you?

Amal. I can't tell. You see I am not learned, so I don't know what's the matter with me. Say, Dairyman, where do you come from?

Dairyman. From our village.

Amal. Your village? Is it very far?

Dairyman. Our village lies on the river Shamli at the foot of the Panch-mura hills.

Amal. Panch-mura hills! Shamli river! I wonder. I may have seen your village. I can't think when though!

Dairyman. Have you seen it? Been to the foot of those hills?

Amal. Never. But I seem to remember having seen it. Your village is under some very old big trees, just by the side of the red road--isn't that so?

Dairyman. That's right, child.

Amal. And on the slope of the hill cattle grazing.

Dairyman. How wonderful! Aren't there cattle grazing in our village! Indeed, there are!

Amal. And your women with red sarees fill their pitchers from the river and carry them on their heads.

Dairyman. Good, that's right. Women from our dairy village do come and draw their water from the river; but then it isn't everyone who has a red saree to put on. But, my dear child, surely you must have been there for a walk some time.

Amal. Really, Dairyman, never been there at all. But the first day doctor lets me go out, you are going to take me to your village.

Dairyman. I will, my child, with pleasure.

Amal. And you'll teach me to cry curds and shoulder the yoke like you and walk the long, long road?

Dairyman. Dear, dear, did you ever? Why should you sell curds? No, you will read big books and be learned.

Amal. No, I never want to be learned--I'll be like you and take my curds from the village by the red road near the old banyan tree, and I will hawk it from cottage to cottage. Oh, how do you cry--"Curd, curd, good nice curd!" Teach me the tune, will you?

Dairyman. Dear, dear, teach you the tune; what an idea!

Amal. Please do. I love to hear it. I can't tell you how queer I feel when I hear you cry out from the bend of that road, through the line of those trees! Do you know I feel like that when I hear the shrill cry of kites from almost the end of the sky?

Dairyman. Dear child, will you have some curds? Yes, do.

Amal. But I have no money.

Dairyman. No, no, no, don't talk of money! You'll make me so happy if you have a little curds from me.

Amal. Say, have I kept you too long?

Dairyman. Not a bit; it has been no loss to me at all; you have taught me how to be happy selling curds. [Exit]

Amal [Intoning] Curds, curds, good nice curds--from the dairy village--from the country of the Panch-mura hills by the Shamli bank. Curds, good curds; in the early morning the women make the cows stand in a row under the trees and milk them, and in the evening they turn the milk into curds. Curds, good curds. Hello, there's the watchman on his rounds. Watchman, I say, come and have a word with me.

Watchman. What's all this row you are making? Aren't you afraid of the likes of me?

Amal. No, why should I be?

Watchman. Suppose I march you off then?

Amal. Where will you take me to? Is it very far, right beyond the hills?

Watchman. Suppose I march you straight to the King?

Amal. To the King! Do, will you? But the doctor won't let me go out. No one can ever take me away. I've got to stay here all day long.

Watchman. Doctor won't let you, poor fellow! So I see! Your face is pale and there are dark rings round your eyes. Your veins stick out from your poor thin hands.

Amal. Won't you sound the gong, Watchman?

Watchman. Time has not yet come.

Amal. How curious! Some say time has not yet come, and some say time has gone by! But surely your time will come the moment you strike the gong!

Watchman. That's not possible; I strike up the gong only when it is time.

Amal. Yes, I love to hear your gong. When it is midday and our meal is over, Uncle goes off to his work and Auntie falls asleep reading her Râmayana, and in the courtyard under the shadow of the wall our doggie sleeps with his nose in his curled up tail; then your gong strikes out, "Dong, dong, dong!" Tell me why does your gong sound?

Watchman. My gong sounds to tell the people, Time waits for none, but goes on forever.

Amal. Where, to what land?

Watchman. That none knows.

Amal. Then I suppose no one has ever been there! Oh, I do wish to fly with the time to that land of which no one knows anything.

Watchman. All of us have to get there one day, my child.

Amal. Have I too?

Watchman. Yes, you too!

Amal. But doctor won't let me out.

Watchman. One day the doctor himself may take you there by the hand.

Amal. He won't; you don't know him. He only keeps me in.

Watchman. One greater than he comes and lets us free.

Amal. When will this great doctor come for me? I can't stick in here any more.

Watchman. Shouldn't talk like that, my child.

Amal. No. I am here where they have left me--I never move a bit. But when your gong goes off, dong, dong, dong, it goes to my heart. Say, Watchman?

Watchman. Yes, my dear.

Amal. Say, what's going on there in that big house on the other side, where there is a flag flying high up and the people are always going in and out?

Watchman. Oh, there? That's our new Post Office.

Amal. Post Office? Whose?

Watchman. Whose? Why, the King's surely!

Amal. Do letters come from the King to his office here?

Watchman. Of course. One fine day there may be a letter for you in there.

Amal. A letter for me? But I am only a little boy.

Watchman. The King sends tiny notes to little boys.

Amal. Oh, how lovely! When shall I have my letter? How do you guess he'll write to me?

Watchman. Otherwise why should he set his Post Office here right in front of your open window, with the golden flag flying?

Amal. But who will fetch me my King's letter when it comes?

Watchman. The King has many postmen. Don't you see them run about with round gilt badges on their chests?

Amal. Well, where do they go?

Watchman. Oh, from door to door, all through the country.

Amal. I'll be the King's postman when I grow up.

Watchman. Ha! ha! Postman, indeed! Rain or shine, rich or poor, from house to house delivering letters--that's very great work!

Amal. That's what I'd like best. What makes you smile so? Oh, yes, your work is great too. When it is silent everywhere in the heat of the noonday, your gong sounds, Dong, dong, dong,-- and sometimes when I wake up at night all of a sudden and find our lamp blown out, I can hear through the darkness your gong slowly sounding, Dong, dong, dong!

Watchman. There's the village headman! I must be off. If he catches me gossiping with you there'll be a great to do.

Amal. The headman? Whereabouts is he?

Watchman. Right down the road there; see that huge palm-leaf umbrella hopping along? That's him!

Amal. I suppose the King's made him our headman here?

Watchman. Made him? Oh, no! A fussy busy-body! He knows so many ways of making himself unpleasant that everybody is afraid of him. It's just a game for the likes of him, making trouble for everybody. I must be off now! Mustn't keep work waiting, you know! I'll drop in again to-morrow morning and tell you all the news of the town. [Exit]

Amal. It would be splendid to have a letter from the King every day. I'll read them at the window. But, oh! I can't read writing. Who'll read them out to me, I wonder! Auntie reads her Râmayana; she may know the King's writing. If no one will, then I must keep them carefully and read them when I'm grown up. But if the postman can't find me? Headman, Mr. Headman, may I have a word with you?

Headman. Who is yelling after me on the highway? Oh, you wretched monkey!

Amal. You're the headman. Everybody minds you.

Headman [Looking pleased] Yes, oh yes, they do! They must!

Amal. Do the King's postmen listen to you?

Headman. They've got to. By Jove, I'd like to see--

Amal. Will you tell the postman it's Amal who sits by the window here?

Headman. What's the good of that?

Amal. In case there's a letter for me.

Headman. A letter for you! Whoever's going to write to you?

Amal. If the King does.

Headman. Ha! ha! What an uncommon little fellow you are! Ha! ha! the King indeed, aren't you his bosom friend, eh! You haven't met for a long while and the King is pining, I am sure. Wait till to-morrow and you'll have your letter.

Amal. Say, Headman, why do you speak to me in that tone of voice? Are you cross?

Headman. Upon my word! Cross, indeed! You write to the King! Madhav is devilish swell nowadays. He'd made a little pile; and so kings and padishahs are everyday talk with his people. Let me find him once and I'll make him dance. Oh, you snipper-snapper! I'll get the King's letter sent to your house--indeed I will!

Amal. No, no, please don't trouble yourself about it.

Headman. And why not, pray! I'll tell the King about you and he won't be very long. One of his footmen will come along presently for news of you. Madhav's impudence staggers me. If the King hears of this, that'll take some of his nonsense out of him. [Exit]

Amal. Who are you walking there? How your anklets tinkle! Do stop a while, dear, won't you?

[A Girl enters]

Girl. I haven't a moment to spare; it is already late!

Amal. I see, you don't wish to stop; I don't care to stay on here either.

Girl. You make me think of some late star of the morning! Whatever's the matter with you?

Amal. I don't know; the doctor won't let me out.

Girl. Ah me! Don't then! Should listen to the doctor. People'll be cross with you if you're naughty. I know, always looking out and watching must make you feel tired. Let me close the window a bit for you.

Amal. No, don't, only this one's open! All the others are shut. But will you tell me who you are? Don't seem to know you.

Girl. I am Sudha.

Amal. What Sudha?

Sudha. Don't you know? Daughter of the flower-seller here.

Amal. What do you do?

Sudha. I gather flowers in my basket.

Amal. Oh, flower gathering! That is why your feet seem so glad and your anklets jingle so merrily as you walk. Wish I could be out too. Then I would pick some flowers for you from the very topmost branches right out of sight.

Sudha. Would you really? Do you know more about flowers than I?

Amal. Yes, I do, quite as much. I know all about Champa of the fairy tale and his seven brothers. If only they let me, I'll go right into the dense forest where you can't find your way. And where the honey-sipping hummingbird rocks himself on the end of the thinnest branch, I will flower out as a champa. Would you be my sister Parul?

Sudha. You are silly! How can I be sister Parul when I am Sudha and my mother is Sasi, the flower-seller? I have to weave so many garlands a day. It would be jolly if I could lounge here like you!

Amal. What would you do then, all the day long?

Sudha. I could have great times with my doll Benay the bride, and Meni the pussycat and--but I say it is getting late and I mustn't stop, or I won't find a single flower.

Amal. Oh, wait a little longer; I do like it so!

Sudha. Ah, well--now don't you be naughty. Be good and sit still and on my way back home with the flowers I'll come and talk with you.

Amal. And you'll let me have a flower then?

Sudha. No, how can I? It has to be paid for.

Amal. I'll pay when I grow up--before I leave to look for work out on the other side of that stream there.

Sudha. Very well, then.

Amal. And you'll come back when you have your flowers?

Sudha. I will.

Amal. You will, really?

Sudha. Yes, I will.

Amal. You won't forget me? I am Amal, remember that.

Sudha. I won't forget you, you'll see. [Exit]

[A Troop of Boys enter]

Amal. Say, brothers, where are you all off to? Stop here a little.

Boys. We're off to play.

Amal. What will you play at, brothers?

Boys. We'll play at being ploughmen.

First Boy [Showing a stick] This is our ploughshare.

Second Boy. We two are the pair of oxen.

Amal. And you're going to play the whole day?

Boys. Yes, all day long.

Amal. And you'll come back home in the evening by the road along the river bank?

Boys. Yes.

Amal. Do you pass our house on your way home?

Boys. You come out to play with us, yes do.

Amal. Doctor won't let me out.

Boys. Doctor! Suppose the likes of you mind the doctor. Let's be off; it is getting late.

Amal. Don't. Why not play on the road near this window? I could watch you then.

Third Boy. What can we play at here?

Amal. With all these toys of mine lying about. Here you are, have them. I can't play alone. They are getting dirty and are of no use to me.

Boys. How jolly! What fine toys! Look, here's a ship. There's old mother Jatai; say, chaps, ain't he a gorgeous sepoy? And you'll let us have them all? You don't really mind?

Amal. No, not a bit; have them by all means.

Boys. You don't want them back?

Amal. Oh, no, I shan't want them.

Boys. Say, won't you get a scolding for this?

Amal. No one will scold me. But will you play with them in front of our door for a while every morning? I'll get you new ones when these are old.

Boys. Oh, yes, we will. Say, chaps, put these sepoys into a line. We'll play at war; where can we get a musket? Oh, look here, this bit of reed will do nicely. Say, but you're off to sleep already.

Amal. I'm afraid I'm sleepy. I don't know, I feel like it at times. I have been sitting a long while and I'm tired; my back aches.

Boys It's only early noon now. How is it you're sleepy? Listen! The gong's sounding the first watch.

Amal. Yes, dong, dong, dong, it tolls me to sleep.

Boys We had better go then. We'll come in again to-morrow morning.

Amal. I want to ask you something before you go. You are always out--do you know of the King's postmen?

Boys Yes, quite well.

Amal. Who are they? Tell me their names.

Boys One's Badal, another's Sarat. There's so many of them.

Amal. Do you think they will know me if there's a letter for me?

Boys Surely, if your name's on the letter they will find you out.

Amal. When you call in to-morrow morning, will you bring one of them along so that he'll know me?

Boys Yes, if you like.





CURTAIN









THE POST OFFICE
ACT II

[Amal in Bed]

Amal. Can't I go near the window to-day, Uncle? Would the doctor mind that too?

Madhav. Yes, darling, you see you've made yourself worse squatting there day after day.

Amal. Oh, no, I don't know if it's made me more ill, but I always feel well when I'm there.

Madhav. No, you don't; you squat there and make friends with the whole lot of people round here, old and young, as if they are holding a fair right under my eaves--flesh and blood won't stand that strain. Just see--your face is quite pale.

Amal. Uncle, I fear my fakir'll pass and not see me by the window.

Madhav. Your fakir, whoever's that?

Amal. He comes and chats to me of the many lands where he's been. I love to hear him.

Madhav. How's that? I don't know of any fakirs.

Amal. This is about the time he comes in. I beg of you, by your dear feet, ask him in for a moment to talk to me here.

[Gaffer Enters in a Fakir's Guise]

Amal. There you are. Come here, Fakir, by my bedside.

Madhav. Upon my word, but this is--

Gaffer [Winking hard] I am the fakir.

Madhav. It beats my reckoning what you're not.

Amal. Where have you been this time, Fakir?

Fakir To the Isle of Parrots. I am just back.

Madhav. The Parrots' Isle!

Fakir. Is it so very astonishing? Am I like you, man? A journey doesn't cost a thing. I tramp just where I like.

Amal [Clapping] How jolly for you! Remember your promise to take me with you as your follower when I'm well.

Fakir. Of course, and I'll teach you such secrets too of travelling that nothing in sea or forest or mountain can bar your way.

Madhav. What's all this rigmarole?

Gaffer. Amal, my dear, I bow to nothing in sea or mountain; but if the doctor joins in with this uncle of yours, then I with all my magic must own myself beaten.

Amal. No. Uncle shan't tell the doctor. And I promise to lie quiet; but the day I am well, off I go with the Fakir and nothing in sea or mountain or torrent shall stand in my way.

Madhav. Fie, dear child, don't keep on harping upon going! It makes me so sad to hear you talk so.

Amal. Tell me, Fakir, what the Parrots' Isle is like.

Gaffer. It's a land of wonders; it's a haunt of birds. There's no man; and they neither speak nor walk, they simply sing and they fly.

Amal. How glorious! And it's by some sea?

Gaffer. Of course. It's on the sea.

Amal. And green hills are there?

Gaffer. Indeed, they live among the green hills; and in the time of the sunset when there is a red glow on the hillside, all the birds with their green wings flock back to their nests.

Amal. And there are waterfalls!

Gaffer. Dear me, of course; you don't have a hill without its waterfalls. Oh, it's like molten diamonds; and, my dear, what dances they have! Don't they make the pebbles sing as they rush over them to the sea. No devil of a doctor can stop them for a moment. The birds looked upon me as nothing but a man, quite a trifling creature without wings--and they would have nothing to do with me. Were it not so I would build a small cabin for myself among their crowd of nests and pass my days counting the sea waves.

Amal. How I wish I were a bird! Then--

Gaffer. But that would have been a bit of a job; I hear you've fixed up with the dairyman to be a hawker of curds when you grow up; I'm afraid such business won't flourish among birds; you might land yourself into serious loss.

Madhav. Really this is too much. Between you two I shall turn crazy. Now, I'm off.

Amal. Has the dairyman been, Uncle?

Madhav. And why shouldn't he? He won't bother his head running errands for your pet fakir, in and out among the nests in his Parrots' Isle. But he has left a jar of curd for you saying that he is rather busy with his niece's wedding in the village, and he has got to order a band at Kamlipara.

Amal. But he is going to marry me to his little niece.

Gaffer. Dear me, we are in a fix now.

Amal. He said she would find me a lovely little bride with a pair of pearl drops in her ears and dressed in a lovely red sâree; and in the morning she would milk with her own hands the black cow and feed me with warm milk with foam on it from a brand new earthen cruse; and in the evenings she would carry the lamp round the cow-house, and then come and sit by me to tell me tales of Champa and his six brothers.

Gaffer. How delicious! The prospect tempts even me, a hermit! But never mind, dear, about this wedding. Let it be. I tell you when you wed there'll be no lack of nieces in his household.

Madhav. Shut up! This is more than I can stand. [Exit]

Amal. Fakir, now that Uncle's off, just tell me, has the King sent me a letter to the Post Office?

Gaffer. I gather that his letter has already started; but it's still on the way.

Amal. On the way? Where is it? Is it on that road winding through the trees which you can follow to the end of the forest when the sky is quite clear after rain?

Gaffer. That's so. You know all about it already.

Amal. I do, everything.

Gaffer. So I see, but how?

Amal. I can't say; but it's quite clear to me. I fancy I've seen it often in days long gone by. How long ago I can't tell. Do you know when? I can see it all: there, the King's postman coming down the hillside alone, a lantern in his left hand and on his back a bag of letters climbing down for ever so long, for days and nights, and where at the foot of the mountain the waterfall becomes a stream he takes to the footpath on the bank and walks on through the rye; then comes the sugarcane field and he disappears into the narrow lane cutting through the tall stems of sugarcanes; then he reaches the open meadow where the cricket chirps and where there is not a single man to be seen, only the snipe wagging their tails and poking at the mud with their bills. I can feel him coming nearer and nearer and my heart becomes glad.

Gaffer. My eyes aren't young; but you make me see all the same.

Amal. Say, Fakir, do you know the King who has this Post Office?

Gaffer. I do; I go to him for my alms every day.

Amal. Good! When I get well, I must have my alms too from him, mayn't I?

Gaffer. You won't need to ask, my dear, he'll give it to you of his own accord.

Amal. No, I would go to his gate and cry, "Victory to thee, O King!" and dancing to the tabor's sound, ask for alms. Won't it be nice?

Gaffer. It would be splendid, and if you're with me, I shall have my full share. But what'll you ask?

Amal. I shall say, "Make me your postman, that I may go about lantern in hand, delivering your letters from door to door. Don't let me stay at home all day!"

Gaffer. What is there to be sad for, my child, even were you to stay at home?

Amal. It isn't sad. When they shut me in here first I felt the day was so long. Since the King's Post Office I like it more and more being indoors, and as I think I shall get a letter one day, I feel quite happy and then I don't mind being quiet and alone. I wonder if I shall make out what'll be in the King's letter?

Gaffer. Even if you didn't wouldn't it be enough if it just bore your name?

[Madhav enters]

Madhav. Have you any idea of the trouble you've got me into, between you two?

Gaffer. What's the matter?

Madhav. I hear you've let it get rumored about that the King has planted his office here to send messages to both of you.

Gaffer. Well, what about it?

Madhav. Our headman Panchanan has had it told to the King anonymously.

Gaffer. Aren't we aware that everything reaches the King's ears?

Madhav. Then why don't you look out? Why take the King's name in vain? You'll bring me to ruin if you do.

Amal. Say, Fakir, will the King be cross?

Gaffer. Cross, nonsense! And with a child like you and a fakir such as I am. Let's see if the King be angry, and then won't I give him a piece of my mind.

Amal. Say, Fakir, I've been feeling a sort of darkness coming over my eyes since the morning. Everything seems like a dream. I long to be quiet. I don't feel like talking at all. Won't the King's letter come? Suppose this room melts away all on a sudden, suppose--

Gaffer [Fanning Amal] The letter's sure to come to-day, my boy.

[Doctor enters]

Doctor And how do you feel to-day?

Amal. Feel awfully well to-day, Doctor. All pain seems to have left me.

Doctor [Aside to Madhav] Don't quite like the look of that smile. Bad sign that, his feeling well! Chakradhan has observed--

Madhav. For goodness sake, Doctor, leave Chakradhan alone. Tell me what's going to happen?

Doctor. Can't hold him in much longer, I fear! I warned you before--This looks like a fresh exposure.

Madhav. No, I've used the utmost care, never let him out of doors; and the windows have been shut almost all the time.

Doctor. There's a peculiar quality in the air to-day. As I came in I found a fearful draught through your front door. That's most hurtful. Better lock it at once. Would it matter if this kept your visitors off for two or three days? If someone happens to call unexpectedly--there's the back door. You had better shut this window as well, it's letting in the sunset rays only to keep the patient awake.

Madhav. Amal has shut his eyes. I expect he is sleeping. His face tells me--Oh, Doctor, I bring in a child who is a stranger and love him as my own, and now I suppose I must lose him!

Doctor. What's that? There's your headman sailing in!--What a bother! I must be going, brother. You had better stir about and see to the doors being properly fastened. I will send on a strong dose directly I get home. Try it on him--it may save him at last, if he can be saved at all. [Exeunt Madhav and Doctor.]

[The Headman enters]

Headman. Hello, urchin!

Gaffer [Rising hastily] 'Sh, be quiet.

Amal. No, Fakir, did you think I was asleep? I wasn't. I can hear everything; yes, and voices far away. I feel that mother and father are sitting by my pillow and speaking to me.

[Madhav enters]

Headman. I say, Madhav, I hear you hobnob with bigwigs nowadays.

Madhav. Spare me your jests, Headman, we are but common people.

Headman. But your child here is expecting a letter from the King.

Madhav. Don't you take any notice of him, a mere foolish boy!

Headman. Indeed, why not! It'll beat the King hard to find a better family! Don't you see why the King plants his new Post Office right before your win- dow? Why there's a letter for you from the King, urchin.

Amal [Starting up] Indeed, really!

Headman. How can it be false? You're the King's chum. Here's your letter [showing a blank slip of paper]. Ha, ha, ha! This is the letter.

Amal. Please don't mock me. Say, Fakir, is it so?

Gaffer. Yes, my dear. I as Fakir tell you it is his letter.

Amal. How is it I can't see? It all looks so blank to me. What is there in the letter, Mr. Headman?

Headman. The King says, "I am calling on you shortly; you had better arrange puffed rice offerings for me.--Palace fare is quite tasteless to me now." Ha! ha! ha!

Madhav [With folded palms] I beseech you, headman, don't you joke about these things--

Gaffer. Cutting jokes indeed, dare he!

Madhav. Are you out of your mind too, Gaffer?

Gaffer. Out of my mind, well then I am; I can read plainly that the King writes he will come himself to see Amal, with the state physician.

Amal. Fakir, Fakir, 'sh, his trumpet! Can't you hear?

Headman. Ha! ha! ha! I fear he won't until he's a bit more off his head.

Amal. Mr. Headman, I thought you were cross with me and didn't love me. I never could think you would fetch me the King's letter. Let me wipe the dust off your feet.

Headman. This little child does have an instinct of reverence. Though a little silly, he has a good heart.

Amal. It's hard on the fourth watch now, I suppose--Hark the gong, "Dong, dong, ding," "Dong, dong, ding." Is the evening star up? How is it I can't see--

Gaffer. Oh, the windows are all shut, I'll open them.

[A knocking outside]

Madhav. What's that?--Who is it--what a bother!

Voice [From outside] Open the door.

Madhav Say, Headman--Hope they're not robbers.

Headman Who's there?--It's Panchanan, the headman, calls--Aren't you afraid of the like of me? Fancy! The noise has ceased! Panchanan's voice carries far.--Yes, show me the biggest robbers!

Madhav [Peering out of the window] I should think the noise has ceased. they've smashed the door.

[The King's Herald enters]

Herald. Our Sovereign King comes to-night!

Headman. My God!

Amal. At what hour of the night, Herald?

Herald. On the second watch.

Amal. When from the city gates my friend the watchman will strike his gong, "ding dong ding, ding dong ding"--then?

Herald. Yes, then. The King sends his greatest physician to attend on his young friend.

[State Physician enters]

State Physician. What's this? How close it is here! Open wide all the doors and windows. [Feeling Amal's body] How do you feel, my child?

Amal. I feel very well, Doctor, very well. All pain is gone. How fresh and open! I can see all the stars now twinkling from the other side of the dark.

Physician. Will you feel well enough to leave your bed with the King when he comes in the middle watches of the night?

Amal. Of course, I'm dying to be about for ever so long. I'll ask the King to find me the polar star.--I must have seen it often, but I don't know exactly which it is.

Physician. He will tell you everything. [To Madhav] Will you go about and arrange flowers through the room for the King's visit? [Indicating the Headman] We can't have that person in here.

Amal. No, let him be, Doctor. He is a friend. It was he who brought me the King's letter.

Physician. Very well, my child. He may remain if he is a friend of yours.

Madhav [Whispering into Amal's ear] My child, the King loves you. He is coming himself. Beg for a gift from him. You know our humble circumstances.

Amal. Don't you worry, Uncle.--I've made up my mind about it.

Madhav. What is it, my child?

Amal. I shall ask him to make me one of his postmen that I may wander far and wide, delivering his message from door to door.

Madhav [Slapping his forehead] Alas, is that all?

Amal. What'll be our offerings to the King, Uncle, when he comes?

Herald. He has commanded puffed rice.

Amal. Puffed rice! Say, Headman, you're right. You said so. You knew all we didn't.

Headman. If you send word to my house then I could manage for the King's advent really nice--

Physician. No need at all. Now be quiet all of you. Sleep is coming over him. I'll sit by his pillow; he's dropping into slumber. Blow out the oil-lamp. Only let the star-light stream in. Hush, he slumbers.

Madhav [Addressing Gaffer] What are you standing there for like a statue, folding your palms.--I am nervous.--Say, are they good omens? Why are they darkening the room? How will star-light help?

Gaffer. Silence, unbeliever.

[Sudha enters]

Sudha. Amal!

Physician. He's asleep.

Sudha. I have some flowers for him. Mayn't I give them into his own hand?

Physician. Yes, you may.

Sudha. When will he be awake?

Physician. Directly the King comes and calls him.

Sudha. Will you whisper a word for me in his ear?

Physician. What shall I say?

Sudha. Tell him Sudha has not forgotten him.









CURTAIN

bravo bravo :applause::applause::applause:

Maghe maghe tabo dekha pai.... should be taken out of you tube. It sounds horrible . The singer should practice how to speak clear Bangla bhasa first. Other three songs are OK for the time being!

I like the sincere attempts of bhalobasa to popularize classical bangla language ,music and drama through SSC forum. But is this the best way to propagate our beloved bangle culture? May be there should be a separate Bangla music/drama/culture forum here at SSC. But still the scope will not be as large as say you tube.com or bengalimusic.com or dishant.com. I think whatever is the best way will be decided by future and as the NRI population increases the thirst for this divine culture will keep on increasing.
A few years ago we went to watch the movie NAMESAKE ( Jhumpa Lahiri writer, Meera Nair director ) in a movie hall in Central Jersey. To my utter surprise we noticed that hall was full with say 80% NRI population rest Chinese ,American and other population. After the movie was over everybody with tears in their eye claimed that it is “My” life story including I myself. Since then I have noticed Namesake is being sold all around the book stores in this area. Even Jhumpa Lahiri visited once our township library for book signing ceremony.
There are high demand for good bangle culture in my area and city of Kolkata is not treated as a black hole any more!

Theatrical Trailer of AUTOGRAPH (2010)

Autograph. Made in collaboration with Cinergy Pictures, it marks the debut of Srijit Mukherji as a writer/director and stars the reigning matinee idol of the Bengali Film Industry, Prosenjit Chatterjee, the internationally acclaimed actress Nandana Sen and the emerging new face of Bengali parallel cinema, Indraneil Sengupta.
nWubjFn4ci4

I like the sincere attempts of bhalobasa to popularize classical bangla language ,music and drama through SSC forum. But is this the best way to propagate our beloved bangle culture? May be there should be a separate Bangla music/drama/culture forum here at SSC. But still the scope will not be as large as say you tube.com or bengalimusic.com or dishant.com. I think whatever is the best way will be decided by future and as the NRI population increases the thirst for this divine culture will keep on increasing.
A few years ago we went to watch the movie NAMESAKE ( Jhumpa Lahiri writer, Meera Nair director ) in a movie hall in Central Jersey. To my utter surprise we noticed that hall was full with say 80% NRI population rest Chinese ,American and other population. After the movie was over everybody with tears in their eye claimed that it is “My” life story including I myself. Since then I have noticed Namesake is being sold all around the book stores in this area. Even Jhumpa Lahiri visited once our township library for book signing ceremony.
There are high demand for good bangle culture in my area and city of Kolkata is not treated as a black hole any more!
when was it ever treated like that? you have the strangest memories.

arjeetb how old are u?

i am asking because i think this is you.
cda27NQ6cy8

btirthankar on youtube
has tons of great videos of driving in Kolkata's smooth roads.

arjeetb how old are u?

i am asking because i think this is you.
cda27NQ6cy8

btirthankar on youtube
has tons of great videos of driving in Kolkata's smooth roads.

you mean the guy in the red shirt? No thats not me:) I agree, btirthankar's blog is cool!!

CC: new.Kerala.com

Sony's Bengali Movie Channel 'AATH' Launched In North America

August 2, 2010: Sony Entertainment Network has launched its Bengali movie channel Aath in North America, which will be available on Dish Network. Now, the Bengali audience over there can enjoy their favorite Bengali movie sitting at home.

Channel Aath of Sony is the first and only dedicated Bengali movies channel in India. It has a collection of more than 1,000 contemporary and classic movies and telefilms of various genres such as romantic, action, crime, comedy, drama, horror, and literature.

Jaideep Janakiram, Vice President of International Business and Head of Operations for North America, said, "We are very happy to bring this premiere Bengali movie channel to our North American audience. It is a significant addition to SEN, which strengthens the position of it".

VP International Programming, DISH Network, Chris Kuelling said, "We are very happy to announce the introduction of the channel Aath on DISH. Its inclusion is a valuable part of our new Prabasi Bengali package offer".

Tata Realty targets Rs 30,000 crore projects by 2015

:cheers:...Tatas are investing and investing big on Bengal!!!

Mocha opens first outlet in Kolkata
05 Aug 2010
Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. has recently opened its acclaimed cafe Mocha at AJC Bose Road, Kolkata . With the addition of this outlet, Mocha is now present in 9 cities through 19 outlets. Says Riyaaz Amlani, CEO & MD, Impresario, “We had been eagerly looking for the right space in Kolkata to initiate it into the Mocha fold. Once we found that, we set about to recreate a complete retreat in the middle of the bustling metropolis. We have finally come up with something that is sure to appeal to all senses and redefine the coffee culture in Kolkata.” Shashank Arora and Nikhil Chawla of Karma Zone own the Mocha franchisee in Kolkata. Brainard Colaco, Corporate Executive Chef, Mocha has specially tailor made a menu for the Kolkata palate.

Following the Mocha philosophy of giving each outlet its own identity, the Kolkatta outlet is 4,000 sq feet and split into two floors. The setting is fun and adventurous with larger than life chandeliers hanging from the double height ceiling, two quirky tree shaped bookshelves and an assortment of funky furniture with easy chairs, swings and bold colonial chairs. Exposed brick walls and hand-painted walls with flowering creepers extending up to the mezzanine make for a quirky backdrop.
http://www.imagesfood.com/news.aspx?Id=2079&topic=1

SnapDeal launches in Kolkata
India Blooms News Service
Kolkata, Aug 5 (IBNS): SnapDeal, a web portal for discounted products and services, announced it will start its Kolkata operations from Sunday.

Billed as the country’s largest ‘deals site’, the website was launched by marketing solutions company Jasper in Delhi and later extended to Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Chandigarh and Jaipur.

According to the company, Unlike other shopping websites, SnapDeal focuses on one ‘deal’ each day and offers an ‘unbeatable price’ on a product or service payable via credit cards, debit cards, netbanking accounts and other payment channels on www.snapdeal.com.

SnapDeal also connects to its customers for concerns, queries or feedback via Facebook at www.facebook.com/SnapDeal.

The website claims to offer 50 to 90 per cent discounts at fine dining restaurants, movie tickets, shopping at the top brands, beauty and health packages, lifestyle products, travel, entertainment and more.

Kunal Bahl, CEO, Jasper Infotech said the website having received an ‘overwhelming response’ from rest of the cities in India, it was time now to bring the very best deals to consumers in Kolkata.
http://www.indiablooms.com/BusinessDetailsPage/businessDetails040810d.php

Mocha opens first outlet in Kolkata

^^I recall visiting Cafe Mocha in Chennai in 2005. The concept was quite unique for the time with open spaces, greenery and fountains, the hookah bar etc and set in a upscale residential cum commerical neighbourhood. I hope this one comes up as good.

Tata must wait and hope for better Bengal. Whats the point of hurrying now. They have burned their face once in Singur. Didi is now knocking on the door. Who knows what kind of anarchy is in store for Bengal. Unless people of Bengal clearly understand the blunders of Singur movement they should hold all investment now.

^^ more like will Bengal accept any Tata investment after they pulled out on NANO. TATA needs to earn our trust again before we let them back in.

^^I recall visiting Cafe Mocha in Chennai in 2005. The concept was quite unique for the time with open spaces, greenery and fountains, the hookah bar etc and set in a upscale residential cum commerical neighbourhood. I hope this one comes up as good.

Cafe Mocha is a great place to hang out with its unique decor and a wide exotic variety of coffee on offer. A very good addition to Kolkata's hangouts!

Tata must wait and hope for better Bengal. Whats the point of hurrying now. They have burned their face once in Singur. Didi is now knocking on the door. Who knows what kind of anarchy is in store for Bengal. Unless people of Bengal clearly understand the blunders of Singur movement they should hold all investment now.

For some who are waiting for Didi to take over, there is light at the end of tunnel after 30+ years of CPM rule. I say there may be light at the end of the tunnel, but it is that of an oncoming train. I shudder to think about the day when Didi rules the state and holds all development in the state to ransom.
Let us Wait, Watch, and Pray.

For some who are waiting for Didi to take over, there is light at the end of tunnel after 30+ years of CPM rule. I say there may be light at the end of the tunnel, but it is that of an oncoming train. I shudder to think about the day when Didi rules the state and holds all development in the state to ransom.
Let us Wait, Watch, and Pray.

A positive expectation gives positive results. Am optimistic about the light at the end of the tunnel.. Bengal is set to grow rapidly!

if balance of power is established, by change in goverment at optimal interval, things will turn positive after some time. the process of transition is difficult because of the fact that change hasn't happened for a long time - so it takes good amount of force to break the inertia, often leading to disruption. if change takes place at regular interval - things will be better in many ways - (1) parties will not have to cause disruption to mobilize people by exploiting their sentiments (ii) they will think twice before implementing stupid policies and accepting them as blunders.

So in my opinion (i am not an expert though :)) the precondition for good governance is - change of guard at regular interval. The change itself wil not be chaotic if happens at regular interval.

if balance of power is established, by change in goverment at optimal interval, things will turn positive after some time. the process of transition is difficult because of the fact that change hasn't happened for a long time - so it takes good amount of force to break the inertia, often leading to disruption. if change takes place at regular interval - things will be better in many ways - (1) parties will not have to cause disruption to mobilize people by exploiting their sentiments (ii) they will think twice before implementing stupid policies and accepting them as blunders.

So in my opinion (i am not an expert though :)) the precondition for good governance is - change of guard at regular interval. The change itself wil not be chaotic if happens at regular interval.

Very well said. Completely agree with u.

Among all the Indian industrialists TATA group employs highest number of Bengali techies all around INDIA. In New York I have seen large number of Kolkata techies working for TCS although it is a Tamil dominated organization. Most educated Bengalis have no bad feelings about TATA. But I don’t know of current generation of lumpens who are trying to hold the state as ransom. If Bengalis think that TATA has to get back to their confidence for further investment in Bengal then I would say they are the most ungrateful folks in this world. After all it is babus who need the jobs and not TATA or Birla. False pride will not take Bengal anywhere.

Among all the Indian industrialists TATA group employs highest number of Bengali techies all around INDIA. In New York I have seen large number of Kolkata techies working for TCS although it is a Tamil dominated organization. Most educated Bengalis have no bad feelings about TATA. But I don’t know of current generation of lumpens who are trying to hold the state as ransom. If Bengalis think that TATA has to get back to their confidence for further investment in Bengal then I would say they are the most ungrateful folks in this world. After all it is babus who need the jobs and not TATA or Birla. False pride will not take Bengal anywhere.

The way the Tatas were hounded out of Singur by a galaxy of shortsighted politicians and so called "social activists" and "intellectuals" will obviously remain part of Bengal's history. But it is not really a Bengali vs Tata or Bengal vs Tata issue.

The way the Tatas were hounded out of Singur by a galaxy of shortsighted politicians and so called "social activists" and "intellectuals" will obviously remain part of Bengal's history. But it is not really a Bengali vs Tata or Bengal vs Tata issue.

Actually the shortsighted politicians aren't that dumb ! But they will not stop at anything that comes in their way of acquiring power. And Didi's party really want their pound of flesh, their day in the sun; they are hungrier than hounds ! We just hope some good sense prevails once they are given the chair !

Actually the shortsighted politicians aren't that dumb ! But they will not stop at anything that comes in their way of acquiring power. And Didi's party really want their pound of flesh, their day in the sun; they are hungrier than hounds ! We just hope some good sense prevails once they are given the chair !

Suncity & Veneetarora I agree with both of you. But how good sense will prevail when society is so hyperpolarized? Are we dreaming for a prophet to streamline our political/social life?
I admit continuous rule by one party for 35 years will create a suffocating political and social condition. But who are responsible for this? Large number of proletariats have settled in Bengal for last 50-60 years. For these people political conscience is defined by finding a temporary prophet who will bring imaginary prosperity from heaven. Initially this prophet was Com. Jyoti Basu. But when this prosperity did not spread the entire land mass sufficiently,the same group of proletariats started to look for alternate political prophet. This time they found Didi who is far more confrontational, obscene, unruly and ready to do anything to achieve her ambition. In this political climate there are no place for visionary upper middle class which supplied so many politicians for last 150 years. Rather they are busy making their children a good NRI! I hope someday in near future these good NRI will sincerely do something for their beloved waste Bengal. Then only the total control of Bengal politics by proletariats will go away!

In this political climate there are no place for visionary upper middle class which supplied so many politicians for last 150 years. Rather they are busy making their children a good NRI! I hope someday in near future these good NRI will sincerely do something for their beloved waste Bengal. Then only the total control of Bengal politics by proletariats will go away!

sabya99,

i think we have had these conversations few times here on this forum. There's no need to think that bengal is in the hands of NRIs. Most NRI kids grow up hating their parents' country. when they visit for a few days they do nothing but complaining. we do not need these people. there are enough home grown hard working Indians who are making west bengal a better place right here right now. NRIs are not required indians. they should spend time mugging up the capitals of the 50 states of the USA and learn from the americans how to love and build one's own country instead of calling it "waste" from afar. many people on this forum have requested you not to refer to west bengal as waste bengal.

hey guys, please stop quarreling. Bengal will prosper with or without the help of NRIs. Though NRIs could significantly help the state, there is definitely talent within the some 80 million people at home. The only thing I don't like about some NRIs is that they complain about the condition of the state while staying abroad and visiting only once in a few years. What have they done for the state that gives them the right to criticize? Some NRIs have this mentality but I am sure the NRI forumers on this site don't. Just being a part of this shows that they care.

Most NRI kids grow up hating their parents' country. when they visit for a few days they do nothing but complaining. we do not need these people. there are enough home grown hard working Indians who are making west bengal a better place right here right now.
I think you would be really surprised. Bengali families in USA take pride in being bengali. Kids learn our rich culture and festivities such as Durga Puja happen year-round. Still, you cannot expect the NRI kids to have any special attachment to the motherland like we do because they are born and brought up there. Also, you cannot expect all NRIs to pack their bags and come home for good. They have chosen to settle there and will carry our heritage wherever they go.

many people on this forum have requested you not to refer to west bengal as waste bengal.
yes please, it really hurts to hear those words

NRI bashing in Kolkata forums:
I have noticed a profound antiNRI sentiment among some forum members. Please keep in mind NRIs are not---NOT REQUIRED INDIANS, although some of you may think that way. In the highest level of India Government they are welcomed and their advices are sought after. Most state governments have NRI cells to invite investments, technical knowhow and business ,education even medical related issues. Even Bengal govt. has a NRI page in its website! I live in New Jersey among a large NRI community. I have noticed that NRI from Gujrat ,Tamil, Punjab, Andhra are well entrenched in their respective homeland economy and culture. They invest handsomely in their home states and these states do not ignore their contribution. In Punjab villages with large NRI population are specially targeted during marriage negotiation! NRI dominated villages are the direct beneficiary of the investment of their long lost children and Govt. of India knows that well. As a result most upwardly moving and enterprising states of India will encourage interactions with NRIs with wide arms excepting probably the state of Bengal.
Babus of Bengal who pretend that they have all the solutions of the world in their hand are most vocal NRI bashers. Many of these people spend their entire life among four corners of Dalhousie Square, have no idea about the complexities of this Big Bad World. Perhaps they might think presence of large number of NRI in Kolkata society will make their existence useless! This is all a reflection of a stagnant mind; a society not capable of reaching forward; a society even incapable of propagating itself to next generation! Babus have institutionalized political anarchy as a result premier industrialized state Bengal is now in the same level of Bihar or Bangladesh.
This suffocating condition could be eliminated only by the direct assistance of visionary NRIs. Recent enterprises like Haldia Petrochemical ( Chatterjee Soros ), ASC Biochem, various housing projects and high-tech hospitals are prime example of that. I even know some of my friends have invested in small village level enterprises like cold storages, milk processing industry, food processing industry which have changed the economic landscape of rural Bengal in Hoogli/ Burdhaman, Midnapour districts. Remember Bengali NRIs talk about Kolkata, think about Bengal and dream about Kolkata airport not just for fun; it is because their investment is there! Money talks very loudly!
Time has come to embrace Bengali NRIs with wide arms.

CAI9-pSRCoQ

kYUMGCb9HNA

I think there has been already enough speculations about future of West Bengal post 2011 in this forum. Lets stop this. There is a bunch of people who think Bengal will be doomed once Didi comes to power while another group feels that Left did not do anything for 33 years and needs to go.
We will be able to see the results ourselves one year down the line. Lets stop forcasting. Enough of it.

About NRIs:

This is my personal opinion. Anybody may agree / disagree with it. I dont want to hurt anybody.
I think there is a significant difference between NRIs like Purnendu Chatterjee, Amartya Sen and other NRIs who keep on waiting there for decades at a stretch just to get a Green Card. You just cannot compare them. People like Pandit Nehru, Subhas Bose , Manmohan Singh, Chidambaram , Sam Pitroda all have been NRIs at some point of time in their lives. They also served the nation in their own way and created difference in lives to thousands if not millions of people. We definitely need to welcome them , take their opinion and respect them .
These people had the confidence that they can create difference to the lives of the people whether they are in India or abroad.

But Sabya, I really beg to differ with you about welcoming NRI population & specially targeting them during marriage negotiation, particularly for those people who hardly contributed anything to their homeland.

I really do not have much respect for people who wants to stay in first world nations because they know at the back of their minds that if they remain in India they do not have caliber to change their own lives significantly, forget changing the lives of other people.

PS: Purely my personal opinion.

NRBs or NRKs - be they be in Bangalore or Boston - and whatever their political leanings - do want Bengal and Kolkata to improve in real and perception terms.

There are a lot of people critical of Bengal, Kolkata, Buddha and Mamata. Some of the criticism is justified. Some of it is not.

Let's not get too emotional or personal in our arguments here.

NRI bashing in Kolkata forums:
I have noticed a profound antiNRI sentiment among some forum members. Please keep in mind NRIs are not---NOT REQUIRED INDIANS, although some of you may think that way. In the highest level of India Government they are welcomed and their advices are sought after. Most state governments have NRI cells to invite investments, technical knowhow and business ,education even medical related issues. Even Bengal govt. has a NRI page in its website! I live in New Jersey among a large NRI community. I have noticed that NRI from Gujrat ,Tamil, Punjab, Andhra are well entrenched in their respective homeland economy and culture. They invest handsomely in their home states and these states do not ignore their contribution. In Punjab villages with large NRI population are specially targeted during marriage negotiation! NRI dominated villages are the direct beneficiary of the investment of their long lost children and Govt. of India knows that well. As a result most upwardly moving and enterprising states of India will encourage interactions with NRIs with wide arms excepting probably the state of Bengal.
Babus of Bengal who pretend that they have all the solutions of the world in their hand are most vocal NRI bashers. Many of these people spend their entire life among four corners of Dalhousie Square, have no idea about the complexities of this Big Bad World. Perhaps they might think presence of large number of NRI in Kolkata society will make their existence useless! This is all a reflection of a stagnant mind; a society not capable of reaching forward; a society even incapable of propagating itself to next generation! Babus have institutionalized political anarchy as a result premier industrialized state Bengal is now in the same level of Bihar or Bangladesh.
This suffocating condition could be eliminated only by the direct assistance of visionary NRIs. Recent enterprises like Haldia Petrochemical ( Chatterjee Soros ), ASC Biochem, various housing projects and high-tech hospitals are prime example of that. I even know some of my friends have invested in small village level enterprises like cold storages, milk processing industry, food processing industry which have changed the economic landscape of rural Bengal in Hoogli/ Burdhaman, Midnapour districts. Remember Bengali NRIs talk about Kolkata, think about Bengal and dream about Kolkata airport not just for fun; it is because their investment is there! Money talks very loudly!
Time has come to embrace Bengali NRIs with wide arms.

then go and learn from your friends who have worked in rural bengal. you know some of them and your work is done?

the real stagnant mind is calling one's land of birth "waste" land. repeatedly. what are you trying to do? teaching us natives a lesson? what right do you have? there are plenty of bengalis who travel back and forth between foreign countries and bengal. no need to show us the new jersey ghettos.

look here: you seem to be very sensitive about "NRIs". you have made a new headline in bold and written a long rejoinder. show the same "sensitivity" to our birth place. stop your bad habits.

just so that you knew: the indian middle class is the most callous middle class in the entire world. people are dying out of hunger in chhattisgarh, lalgarh, jharkhand; no facilities, no food, no water, no education.. and the middle class shows no care at all. the middle class also does not care about the CRPF jawans. this class cares only about their own little groups. in any other civilized country the middle class would have come together with joined hands in support of our adivasis.

all that you talk about is "forced industrialization". only the one who is uprooted knows what it means. so stop your regular posts about use of force, NRIs will drop from the sky with solutions (what horrible idea; like Bush's thought of liberating Iraq), and doomsday predictions. no magic is going to happen. all change requires patient constructive work. why don't you start by putting together a group of your doctor friends, raising funds, and donating to your alma mater.

from now on everytime you badmouth bengal or kolkata, remember to see yourself in the mirror.

then go and learn from your friends who have worked in rural bengal. you know some of them and your work is done?

the real stagnant mind is calling one's land of birth "waste" land. repeatedly. what are you trying to do? teaching us natives a lesson? what right do you have? there are plenty of bengalis who travel back and forth between foreign countries and bengal. no need to show us the new jersey ghettos.

look here: you seem to be very sensitive about "NRIs". you have made a new headline in bold and written a long rejoinder. show the same "sensitivity" to our birth place. stop your bad habits.

just so that you knew: the indian middle class is the most callous middle class in the entire world. people are dying out of hunger in chhattisgarh, lalgarh, jharkhand; no facilities, no food, no water, no education.. and the middle class shows no care at all. the middle class also does not care about the CRPF jawans. this class cares only about their own little groups. in any other civilized country the middle class would have come together with joined hands in support of our adivasis.

all that you talk about is "forced industrialization". only the one who is uprooted knows what it means. so stop your regular posts about use of force, NRIs will drop from the sky with solutions (what horrible idea; like Bush's thought of liberating Iraq), and doomsday predictions. no magic is going to happen. all change requires patient constructive work. why don't you start by putting together a group of your doctor friends, raising funds, and donating to your alma mater.

from now on everytime you badmouth bengal or kolkata, remember to see yourself in the mirror.

Wow this is some scathing reply. Seems that of an angry person, frustrated with the system. I agree with you on certain counts regarding the let's move on attitude of the middle and upper middle class. It is important to have a conscience and listen to it, however you really cannot blame people who want to live their dream. I do get your point about MCA (Middle Class Apathy). For exactly that reason you have elected representatives, who's primary job responsibility is to look after the people provide them basic elements of rural and urban life. This may sound cliched, but can't deny it is true. How come you have left them out of your intellect ?

One thing that constantly ticks me, talking of the middle class, is the "litter culture" a.k.a "To litter is our birthright !" Charity begins at home we need to teach our kids not to. This may sound as a small fish in a big lake, when we clearly have bigger problems. But again - smaller problems need to be addressed to, don't we want out cities to be clean, inviting places as opposed to mounds of filth and irresponsible citizens !

Next, Bush's forced liberation of Iraq was a preposterous idea, and the current US administration is still paying for it, and will continue to do so. However using that an analogy for so-called forced industrialization is stretching it. Now coming to the "forced" aspect - in a democratic country the majority votes decide, so are you going to tell me for eg. the Tata Singur Nano project was opposed by MAJORITY or it was just a political game by a political party to win over hearts and votes in one shot !

Oh by the way I am not an NRI, used to be one but have relocated back. In my own small way I am doing what I can to change things around me and make a difference. This is not a forum to advertise this, but the reason I mentioned is to avoid your wrath for being just another in-sensitive NRI.

Now - regarding bad-mouthing. I agree people may not have a right to be arm-chair analysts, without knowing ground reality.
However some times reality is more pertinent than the sensitiveness of showing respect to birth-place et. al. Every day I get frustrated with things around me, I still bite my tongue, put my head down, and work along !

I completely agree, growth has to be inclusive and has to cascade downstream. Just building malls, sky scrapers, and five-star destinations is not growth. But does that mean - those should not be built ? Sure they should be built -it does offer employment to scores of people. However building manufacturing plants, health care centers and schools, etc. is growth indeed !

I firmly believe that is what Tata set out for, did it to Jamshedpur. Singur would have become another. Rest is history !

No matter what you do, a percentage of people will always oppose it. Isn't that true ?

Finally - let's argue, but not fight amongst each other. We certainly need - the conscientious NRI, the middle class, people willing to work for betterment of rural life, the businessman and the government.

My closing line - "All's the world's a stage and we are all actors" !

Peace.Pray.Work.
(

Peace.Pray.Work.
(

Hi Vineet,

I fully agree with you. I think this conversation does not belong here in this forum as it is for project updates. My request to other forumers is to criticize, find faults (maybe file some RTI applications if you can), compare Kolkata with other cities, but please do not use language that might offend others. I understand that taking offence can make us rigid and boring; but if you offend others, please know that others have the right to offend you.

As you said: peace. pray.work.

I have only objection with "waste bengal".
Because previously also,there was request not to use that word.
If u think this is "waste bengal" then what is there to visit "kolkata project update II"?

Since most of the forumers are here for quiet a long time, why cannot we accept that they must have some interest in the well being of West Bengal?

I don't see why we have to take so much offense at Sabya's Waste Bengal term. It's his personal opinion. And anyway many of you have replied to his comments.

Let's all work for a Best Bengal in SSC.

I think there has been already enough speculations about future of West Bengal post 2011 in this forum. Lets stop this. There is a bunch of people who think Bengal will be doomed once Didi comes to power while another group feels that Left did not do anything for 33 years and needs to go.
We will be able to see the results ourselves one year down the line. Lets stop forcasting. Enough of it.


The choice in 2011 for West Bengal electors is that between the Left (Marx-Karat-Yechuri-Buddha-Biman etc.) and the Ultra Left (Mao-Mamata-Mahasweta-Medha etc.). The Congress and the BJP have been dumped in Bengal. But you are right. What the ultra left delivers if it wins in 2011 is not known. So what a lot of us are saying is speculation based on the drama going on for the last couple of years. The only thing known (or on record) however is the so called poor performance of the Left for 34 years.

On a lighter note, how can you keep out the Didis and Dadas from this discussion? They are directly connected to the well being of the various projects - be it electricity supply to new town or sewerage connections in Kolkata.

:)

Maybe we can move some of these discussions to the Discussions thread.

On a lighter note, how can you keep out the Didis and Dadas from this discussion? They are directly connected to the well being of the various projects - be it electricity supply to new town or sewerage connections in Kolkata.

:)

Maybe we can move some of these discussions to the Discussions thread.

Hi Suncity,

Very good question.

I think we should not even think about Dadas and Didis. Whoever wins will further their career in politics. How does that matter to us? Nothing at all. We should worry about the quality of public services that the government must provide: health, education, infrastructure, water, sanitation, employment opportunities for all. At any rate, the political leaders spend far too much time in competitive streetshows rather than the work they should do quietly for our benefit. Instead of spending time on thinking about the leaders we should spend time thinking about the quality of services they are providing (the end result). If sufficient number of people do that we should be able to keep these leaders on their toes. We always make the mistake of thinking about the leaders but not about the services. The leaders love that and they divert our attention by talking about each other (the opponent) rather than the services.

The choice in 2011 for West Bengal electors is that between the Left (Marx-Karat-Yechuri-Buddha-Biman etc.) and the Ultra Left (Mao-Mamata-Mahasweta-Medha etc.). The Congress and the BJP have been dumped in Bengal. But you are right. What the ultra left delivers if it wins in 2011 is not known. So what a lot of us are saying is speculation based on the drama going on for the last couple of years. The only thing known (or on record) however is the so called poor performance of the Left for 34 years.

On a lighter note, how can you keep out the Didis and Dadas from this discussion? They are directly connected to the well being of the various projects - be it electricity supply to new town or sewerage connections in Kolkata.

:)

Maybe we can move some of these discussions to the Discussions thread.

I think let us have a Wishlist/Dreadlist for both the sides. What are the things you feel will improve/go down the drain if either AITC or Left come to power in 2011. I believe both have something to offer and rather than getting emotional, let us jot down who has what to offer, based on your understanding.

I think let us have a Wishlist/Dreadlist for both the sides. What are the things you feel will improve/go down the drain if either AITC or Left come to power in 2011. I believe both have something to offer and rather than getting emotional, let us jot down who has what to offer, based on your understanding.

I am not a political pundit but I am not apolitical. I am not a jyotish either who can predict the future. But I can probably say what I think may happen:

There may not much change in West Bengal whether the ultra Left (All India Trinamool Congress + Maos) or the Left (CPM, CPI etc.) come to or retain power respectively. Both combines are effectively goonda filled and are violence prone (despite the fake lectures of "peace"). So continue to expect more violence and killings of innocent as the two combines amass weapons and indulge in violent ways to uproot or consolidate as the case maybe. The last two years doesn't give me much confidence.

There will not be any dramatic changes to the current economic policy.

Wishlist:

1) Peace
2) Economic growth - industrialization + agriculture + services
3) Job creation
4) Stabilty
5) Better sharing of wealth; dramatic reduction in poverty; people get two full meals a day at least; housing for all
6) Upliftment of minorities, tribals, obcs, scs and sts
7) Improvement in education standards and opening up the education sector to more people; more universities; reduction in school dropout rates; universalization of education
8) Improvement in health care - especially in the moribund government hospitals. Increase of health services. More medical colleges, doctors and nurses
9) More planned townships across the state to speed up urbanization. Do not demonize urbanization.
10) Real stress on environment. Do not use environment as an excuse to curb development.
11) No false statistics from biased economists and statisticians painting rosy pictures or gloomy pictures. Give the facts.
12) Do not oppose development just for the sake of opposing

Dreadlist:

1) No improvement in any of the wishlist areas
2) Self declared intellectuals become string pullers
3) Maoists take control of the state
4) The state is divided again
5) Unending violence

I am not a political pundit but I am not apolitical. I am not a jyotish either who can predict the future. But I can probably say what I think may happen:

There may not much change in West Bengal whether the ultra Left (All India Trinamool Congress + Maos) or the Left (CPM, CPI etc.) come to or retain power respectively. Both combines are effectively goonda filled and are violence prone (despite the fake lectures of "peace"). So continue to expect more violence and killings of innocent as the two combines amass weapons and indulge in violent ways to uproot or consolidate as the case maybe. The last two years doesn't give me much confidence.

There will not be any dramatic changes to the current economic policy.

Wishlist:

1) Peace
2) Economic growth - industrialization + agriculture + services
3) Job creation
4) Stabilty
5) Better sharing of wealth; dramatic reduction in poverty; people get two full meals a day at least; housing for all
6) Upliftment of minorities, tribals, obcs, scs and sts
7) Improvement in education standards and opening up the education sector to more people; more universities; reduction in school dropout rates; universalization of education
8) Improvement in health care - especially in the moribund government hospitals. Increase of health services. More medical colleges, doctors and nurses
9) More planned townships across the state to speed up urbanization. Do not demonize urbanization.
10) Real stress on environment. Do not use environment as an excuse to curb development.
11) No false statistics from biased economists and statisticians painting rosy pictures or gloomy pictures. Give the facts.
12) Do not oppose development just for the sake of opposing

Dreadlist:

1) No improvement in any of the wishlist areas
2) Self declared intellectuals become string pullers
3) Maoists take control of the state
4) The state is divided again
5) Unending violence

I think I could not express myself, I was trying to say we have 2 lists, one for CPM and one for AITC, and rather than wishlist let us all put in what might actually improve if either comes to power, and what areas will actually detoriate. Sorry for the confusion !!:nuts:

I think I could not express myself, I was trying to say we have 2 lists, one for CPM and one for AITC, and rather than wishlist let us all put in what might actually improve if either comes to power, and what areas will actually detoriate. Sorry for the confusion !!:nuts:

Actually I did understand you. For me, the wishlist and dreadlist are same for both combines.

Golden oldies

Jhun Jhun Moyna Nachona - Mukesh

WhLM9rMbm04

WOW I am blown away by the anti-NRI rhetorics by some "mentally ill" locos on this site.
Funny how I don't see Bengali NRI's complaining about Locals despite their shortcomings and when they do they are mostly constructive criticism.

my take on this: don't bite the hand that feeds you.

CAI9-pSRCoQ

kYUMGCb9HNA

the girls are all hot..but the guys are all ugly. about time, you sign me up.

should just be called addaghar

Great find. The style of singing somehow reminds SD Burman's way of doing bangla folks. This is one of the best from Mukesh-sahab.

Sun, the thread name can be "SSC Kolkata Adda - discussions, news, music, videos". Just a suggestion.. :cheers:

Golden oldies

Jhun Jhun Moyna Nachona - Mukesh

WhLM9rMbm04

NRI bashing in Kolkata forums:
Remember Bengali NRIs talk about Kolkata, think about Bengal and dream about Kolkata airport not just for fun; it is because their investment is there! Money talks very loudly!
Time has come to embrace Bengali NRIs with wide arms.

Well NRIs should not suffer from superiority/inferiority complex....what all resident Indians want from them not money only but visions

Well NRIs should not suffer from superiority/inferiority complex....what all resident Indians want from them not money only but visions

yeah they do...but NRIs are better than that...which is why, bengali nris only help out Bengal with their vision. Everything progressive in bengal is mandated by Bengali NRIs, either because they demanded it for themselves or for the welfare of everyone.

WOW I am blown away by the anti-NRI rhetorics by some "mentally ill" locos on this site.[/B]

fully agree with you. some of these locos are sick and frustrated. the NRI will save them.

we need initiatives like this. i am out of India for the last 10 years. what i see in the US, france, singapore, canada, and eurpoean countries is that they are 50 years ahead of us in their expertise on managing urban spaces. it is high time we learnt from them.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/67446/singapore-kerala-ink-collaboration-deal.html

Singapore, Kerala ink collaboration deal on urban governance
Singapore, May 4 (PTI)

Singapore's environment and utilities experts and Kerala government officials will share their experience in urban governance under a programme largely sponsored by the city state's Temasek Foundation.

The Singapore Cooperation Council will be implementing the programme with USD 633,802 funding from the foundation and USD 90,656 from the Kerala government.

The programme would help 120 Kerala officials to draw up development and infrastructure plans to improve urban and waterfront planning, facilities, water management and deal with solid waste, according to a report in The Straits Times here on Tuesday.

Yesterday, a collaboration deal was signed here by Kerala government Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and the Singapore state-owned council's chief executive Alphonsus Chia.

At present, a 15-official Kerala delegation is in the city state to kick-start the programme with a five-day policy roundtable on the strategy and implementation for urban governance and management.

"The sharing of ideas and experiences in the programme's workshops would enable the urban managers and administrators to formulate action plans to meet the strategic goals," said Singh.

While Chia has expressed the hope that the programme would be a "long and fruitful exchange", not just between the two governments but between the private sectors.

wow never knew there was a bengali chaibar! hello from the main chaibar! :happy:

here is my favourite bengali song/prayer

g8R07HVpLgY

^^its not a chaibar..its an addaghar

wow never knew there was a bengali chaibar! hello from the main chaibar! :happy:

here is my favourite bengali song/prayer

g8R07HVpLgY

Wonderful, you have give hope, joy and enlightenment to all of us!. This particular song I played after I lost my father. Then when my new born son came home a few years later I played this song again. It gives me inner strength!
I remember vividly in 1971 December , when New nation Bangladesh was born after the surrender of Pakistani forces Mrs. Indira Gandhi requested Suchitra Mitra to sing this song from the central hall of Indian parliament. The news of independent Bangladesh was preceded by this song and it was broadcasted all over INDIA. We all listened to that monumental event with this memorable song.
I thank you again for this clip.

Since most of the forumers are here for quiet a long time, why cannot we accept that they must have some interest in the well being of West Bengal?

I don't see why we have to take so much offense at Sabya's Waste Bengal term. It's his personal opinion. And anyway many of you have replied to his comments.

Let's all work for a Best Bengal in SSC.

Picture exhibition of Kolkata NRI ladies in New Jersey :
Highland Park library recently organized oil painting exhibition of NRI ladies from Kolkata. We observed that most of the paintings have Kolkata street scenes like tram car by Victoria, maniktola bazaar, north Kolkata bylanes, rickshaw pullars running by Kalighat etc. I asked the painter why you picked up only Kolkata street scenes although you have been to USA more than 30 years ? She replied I spend my childhood in Kolkata. When I close my eyes and look for oil painting objects its all Kolkata comes up. In fact for long time Maniktola bazaar was the tallest building I ever knew.
That’s how long lost children of Kolkata are attached to their birth place. I hope this will explain why I participate in Kolkata forums, think of Kolkata and its economic well being seating 10000 miles away. No law could infringe on birth rights no matter where you live in later life!

Wonderful, you have give hope, joy and enlightenment to all of us!. This particular song I played after I lost my father. Then when my new born son came home a few years later I played this song again. It gives me inner strength!
I remember vividly in 1971 December , when New nation Bangladesh was born after the surrender of Pakistani forces Mrs. Indira Gandhi requested Suchitra Mitra to sing this song from the central hall of Indian parliament. The news of independent Bangladesh was preceded by this song and it was broadcasted all over INDIA. We all listened to that monumental event with this memorable song.
I thank you again for this clip.


Hey thanks for explaining all the history behind it! It's really interesting! I am one of those people who likes to know about different cultures, languages and arts and a year or two ago my fascination was with bengali culture and then I came across this song. It is absolutely amazing and really calm and the lyrics are so deep. Currently my fascination is with the north east so if you have any good music from their then do tell me!

Great find. The style of singing somehow reminds SD Burman's way of doing bangla folks. This is one of the best from Mukesh-sahab.

Sun, the thread name can be "SSC Kolkata Adda - discussions, news, music, videos". Just a suggestion.. :cheers:

Done.

Two more superhit Moyna (maina) related songs from the past

One from Lata Mangeshkar

lhHW0cLnx08

and the other from Asha Bhosle

Smln-WXTxfM

Source (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKM/2010/08/11&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00402&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T)

Self-taught botanist grows exotic herbs in Howrah garden
Pinaki Das | TNN

Howrah: Sourendu Shekhar Biswas ambles across his unique garden, proudly surveying the plants he has been tending to for the last eight years. He waters the saplings, digs around the roots of an Indian goosebury (amlaki) plant and gently touches the leaves of a roshunlata that he has imported from Brazil.
Biswas’s 6-acre garden at Hijlok Paschimpara in Howrah’s Bagnan is his laboratory. An amateur homoeopath, Biswas has been successfully growing more than 200 species of exotic and indigenous herbs and plants, some of which have never taken roots in Indian soil before.
The self-taught botanist had even managed to grow several varieties of tea in his garden two years ago. The plants survived for several months till the summer temperature reached 42 degrees. He has also grown alphonso, camping under the tree for days to watch the fruits appear.
“I can go to any extent to collect plants for my garden. And I love to experiment. I wish I could have all the rare plants of this world in my garden,” says Biswas. He had once even gone to the extent of stealing a keya plant — a herb — from a government nursery in Bishnupur, for he could not procure it from any other source.
Biswas fell in love with herbs as a child, watching his mother collect them to treat his ailing father Snehamoy, a school teacher who suffered from cancer. “We couldn’t afford allopathic treatment. So the only option left for my mother was to try herbal medicines. He did survive for quite a few years, thanks to the herbal drugs. This inspired me to study herbs and the interest soon turned into a passion. I also started collecting rare plants from across the world,” says the 62-year-old.
Even though he studied zoology at Vidyasagar University, Biswas made sure he had botany as a paper. Armed with the training, he plunged headlong into the world of rare herbs. Starting off in his own backyard way back in 1974, Biswas had collected several rare species in his little garden. Sripati Ray, a herbal doctor, joined hands with him. But the garden got washed away in the devastating floods of 1978.
Disheartened, Biswas began collecting plants all over again. This time, he selected a bigger space and bought a six-bigha plot that was to be his nursery. In 2002, he could finally step into it and called it the Snehanjali Prakritik Bhesaj Udyan.
Apart from regular herbs like kuchila, sweet sandalwood, nim, bhringaraj, ghritakumari, nilkanta, bohera, amlaki, kalmegh and briddhadarak, Biswas has some rare and exotic herbs from across the world. In a corner, he has grown stevia rebaudiana (madhupatri) that he imported from Paraguay. One leaf of the plant can sweeten 30 cups of tea. Onions from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have made their way to his nursery along with 11 varieties of tulsi. He has even got papyrus from Egypt.
Biswas gives them away to villagers for free. “I want to collect more herbs and help the poor get treated,” he signs off.

Kolkata's Amby to be revamped..and become all stylish new car.

Kolkata's Amby to be revamped..and become all stylish new car.

Amby looks ugly since it was designed in a commie. dominated era when consumers had little to say. But it is most effective as taxi cab. Indiam army still purchases 5000 amby a year. It is far ahead of tiny marutis.

Hey thanks for explaining all the history behind it! It's really interesting! I am one of those people who likes to know about different cultures, languages and arts and a year or two ago my fascination was with bengali culture and then I came across this song. It is absolutely amazing and really calm and the lyrics are so deep. Currently my fascination is with the north east so if you have any good music from their then do tell me!

I am glad to see some one in Delhi listening to Rabindrasangeet!

rabindrasangeet should be the only thing one listens to


should be made mandatory in all indian schools and madrassas and catholic schools.

I am glad to see some one in Delhi listening to Rabindrasangeet!


he he he I'm not in delhi. I am actually from Jodhpur, Rajasthan and I'm currently living in the UK.

I am glad to see some one in Delhi listening to Rabindrasangeet!

hey I do.

PS: Jacob aka whatever, I don't have it with me though

1jKdp4fa7P4&feature=related

Cutest documentary ever of the Capital
eRFEkVfnP2I

funniest thing i have heard: "I am really happy that the British left, but I am even more happy that they left behind such cute things as the Raj Bhavan"

LMAO priceless

www.daylife.com

A trader displays a fish to customers at a wholesale fish market in Kolkata August 5, 2010. India's food price index rose 9.53 percent in the year to July 24, while the fuel price index climbed 14.26 percent, government data on Thursday showed.
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/3248/610xff.jpg

An Indian man of ethnic Chinese descent eats momos (dumplings) at a roadside breakfast stall in Territi Bazaar in Kolkata on July 26, 2010. Steamed and fried dumplings are a traditional breakfast meal among the Chinese community in the eastern Indian city.
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/2369/610xt.jpg

OMG the fish looks so delicious.

i want someone to cook it for me

Its confusing which part comes under south and which one under central or north Kolkata.

For instance, some people think ideal heights near Sealdah is in north Kolkata and if its like that then Acharya J.C.Bose road(earlier known as lower circular road) which starts just after N.R.S.Hospital near sealdah should be either north Kolkata or central Kolkata

Kolkata has not grown(as also not in the mind of many people). Syambazar is still at the end of north Kolkata and Tallygunj is at the end of south kolkata.

The geography books in schools in the 1960's mentioned the area of Kolkata(proper) as 43 square miles and even now the area has not changed(the same, if you exclude the added area from the current area of 185 km or 187 sq. km(?)

Similarly, I remember when Kolkata had 33 lakh population, Bangalore had 8 lakh and the scenario for Kolkata has not yet changed but Bangalore has grown 10 folds since then.

In other cities, the added area comes under the city proper but here in Kolkata every thing added comes under another municipality or panchayets. That's why it has not grown for the last many many years.(take the instance of Salt Lake and now Rajarhat, which do not come under KMC)

Salt Lake which is barely a few kilometres from the centre of the city(in the east) comes under another municipality. likewise, if you go 2 Kms from the city centre(say park street) west wards you land in another city(in Howrah)

one can't find this strange or peculiar situation in other cities.

IMO Taj Bengal is in South Kolkata like the zoo

Fish looks delicious. Save some of it for me!

poor fish :ohno:

[QUOTE=Samrat;61855831]Its confusing which part comes under south and which one under central or north Kolkata.For instance, some people think ideal heights near Sealdah is in north Kolkata and if its like that then Acharya J.C.Bose road(earlier known as lower circular road) which starts just after N.R.S.Hospital near sealdah should be either north Kolkata or central Kolkata


What you have said is true,but there is an other side too...Like many other Indian cities,in Kolkata also many added areas have been included under the span of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. If you check the status barely 30-35years back,areas beyond Prince Anwarshah Road in South & Sinthi crossing in North were not considered to be under the jurisdiction of KMC,but now the scenario has changed and we see large areas in Jadavpur/Tollygunge/Garia in south, areas adjacent to BT Road in North and large stretch along EM Bypass from north to south--all have been brought under KMC and Kolkata police in many cases.Now,these added areas very much deserve to be called the major locations of modern day Kolkata.

If we further consider the areas under KMDA,then the boundary of the city would extend further till Barrackpore in North and Baruipur in South.

Regarding Saltlake,it was always meant to be the satellite township of Kolkata and built with that purpose. May be because of that and in order to better manage it,the township has got its separate corporation.

Well,the confusion regarding North and South Kolkata is also not that deep,if we see it properly. Sealdah always used to be part of Central Kolkata,so are Bowbazar,College Street,Dalhousie,Dharmatalla,Moulali,Entally etc. Proper north is considered to be starting from Rajabazar/Manicktalla and extend till Sinthi. The areas beyond that have been added afterwards and now also belong to North Kolkata.

South of Park Street is considered to be the exact place from where the boundary of South Kolkata starts(you can see this reference in any official map of Kolkata Police/KMC/any write up/news article),although these areas of South are very much centrally located and close to Central Kolkata.The stretch of AJC Bose passing by PG Hospital,Rabindrasadan,then the Exide crosssing till the Theatre Road petrol pump crossing (near Beckbagan) belong to this part of South Kolkata.Some of these areas near AJC Bose Rd in this part,either belong to Bhowanipore (Lee Rd/Elgin Rd/Woodburn Prk) or Lansdowne or Ballygunge (Bally.Cir Rd/Karaya Rd etc) or Park Circus.

As AJC Bose Rd is a long road,a better part of it also belongs to Central Kol (near Sealdah/Moulali). APC Road mainly passes by North Kolkata.

Unlike Bangalore or any other relatively modern/better planned city,Kolkata has mainly grown on its own in many parts and thus overall management of this megapolis still calls for improvement in many cases.But,as can be seen in the recent years,initiatives have been taken to spread the development in the fringes. Although Saltlake/Rajarhat/Baruipur may be having separate municipalies/corpoaration,utlimately they come under the pincode of Kolkata and form part of greater Kolkata.

^^wow great read.

but Kolkata should do what NYC did, create official Burroughs rather than expanding an already frail municipality.

btw, it great to see that such places as Nabidiganta(Sector V) becoming its own municipality and breaking off of Salt Lake City.

KMC is a very small place and according to Kolkata Police comprises of the North, South, Central, Port, and ESD(?)

Kolkata police website has a good map showing KMC areas.
http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in/images/Kokata-City-Map-PS-wise.jpg
http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in/

^^we have a fish sympathizer here. Get him...we can burn him on the pyres.

poor fish :ohno:


Veggies Untied! :happy:

OMG the fish looks so delicious.

i want someone to cook it for me

Why can you not cook yourself. Cooking is a great entertainment and I love to cook. For some reason in Indian culture serious cooking is left to wemen's domain. I should say all SSC members must cook and enjoy good food with music!

Why can you not cook yourself. Cooking is a great entertainment and I love to cook. For some reason in Indian culture serious cooking is left to wemen's domain. I should say all SSC members must cook and enjoy good food with music!
i can't cook neither do i have any vested interest in cooking. I would much rather bring home the catch from the lake, and have you cook it for me.

If we further consider the areas under KMDA,then the boundary of the city would extend further till Barrackpore in North and Baruipur in South.

Although Saltlake/Rajarhat/Baruipur may be having separate municipalies/corpoaration,utlimately they come under the pincode of Kolkata and form part of greater Kolkata.

The northern boundary of Kolkata as defined under KMDA starts from Kalyani and not Barrackpore. The entire KMDA region is huge and includes Howrah and parts of Howrah suburb. However, presently Barrackpore in the north enjoys Kolkata PIN code, beyond which it is West Bengal PIN codes. Eventually till Kalyani, we will have Kolkata PIN codes.

However, its not the Municipality or the PIN code that matters! It is development that counts. Today we dont have proper concrete roads in Kolkata, leave aside KMDA region! What we call Kalyani express way is just a two way undivided lane with no lights and u will find cycle, rickshaw, giving u a chase! The extension of the Kalyani expressway till the airport is taking ages.. at the speed that it is progressing, dont know if my grandchildren can even see them.. :ohno:

Delhi NCR has different PIN codes as it is made up of different States.. but its developed! So its not always the municipal regions, or the PIN codes.. its basic infrastructure and ammenities that make a city grow!

I believe West Bengal still has a lot of potential for growth.. its our politicians who need to realise this and PERFORM!!!

^^we have a fish sympathizer here. Get him...we can burn him on the pyres.

You have tiger sympathiser, panda sympathisier, pea cock..... and numerous likewise, and then why not fish?

You may not have noticed or realised that many fish species like Koi, pabda, magur(fish names in Bengali) to name a few are almost extinct. and if it goes this way you will not find many of your delicious fishes on your menu in near future

so pl do not abhor the veggies and try to respect others views.

^^when did i attack a veggie?

but i avoid ppl who don't look, dress, and talk like me.

However, its not the Municipality or the PIN code that matters! It is development that counts. Today we dont have proper concrete roads in Kolkata, leave aside KMDA region! What we call Kalyani express way is just a two way undivided lane with no lights and u will find cycle, rickshaw, giving u a chase! The extension of the Kalyani expressway till the airport is taking ages.. at the speed that it is progressing, dont know if my grandchildren can even see them.. :ohno:

Delhi NCR has different PIN codes as it is made up of different States.. but its developed! So its not always the municipal regions, or the PIN codes.. its basic infrastructure and ammenities that make a city grow!

I believe West Bengal still has a lot of potential for growth.. its our politicians who need to realise this and PERFORM!!!

Very true..completely agree with you..just by adding the pincode of Kolkata to an otherwise undeveloped place,would not add any value. Unless the infrastructure of that place is properly developed,there is no use of having the pincode of Kolkata alone to add any glitter to the place! For ages,these basic things have been neglected. Now,whats required is an extensive initiative to properly develop the road and other infrastructure in the city proper and suburbs of Kolkata,very much in line with Delhi/Mumbai...

i can't cook neither do i have any vested interest in cooking. I would much rather bring home the catch from the lake, and have you cook it for me.

^^^^ I wish I could help you!

The northern boundary of Kolkata as defined under KMDA starts from Kalyani and not Barrackpore. The entire KMDA region is huge and includes Howrah and parts of Howrah suburb. However, presently Barrackpore in the north enjoys Kolkata PIN code, beyond which it is West Bengal PIN codes. Eventually till Kalyani, we will have Kolkata PIN codes.

However, its not the Municipality or the PIN code that matters! It is development that counts. Today we dont have proper concrete roads in Kolkata, leave aside KMDA region! What we call Kalyani express way is just a two way undivided lane with no lights and u will find cycle, rickshaw, giving u a chase! The extension of the Kalyani expressway till the airport is taking ages.. at the speed that it is progressing, dont know if my grandchildren can even see them.. :ohno:

Delhi NCR has different PIN codes as it is made up of different States.. but its developed! So its not always the municipal regions, or the PIN codes.. its basic infrastructure and ammenities that make a city grow!

I believe West Bengal still has a lot of potential for growth.. its our politicians who need to realise this and PERFORM!!!

Politicians wont perform because they think maintaining status quo in WB wins elections. That has been so true for the last three decades. As long as JB maintained status quo (no or little development) people voted for him. As soon as BB started going beyond status quo people got really angry.

Amra jemon achi temni bhalo achi (we are happy as we are), eto unnatir ki dorkar? (why do we need so much development?), tirish bochor ghumiye ekhon hothat kaaj dekhacche (suddenly showing work after thirty years), Karkhana diye ki hobe? Karkhana te ki chaal hobe? (Why do we need factories? Will they produce rice?), Ahare garib chasi der opor onnaye hocche, chashi boro na karkhana boro? (Poor famers are getting the stick, is the farmer more important or is the factory more important?), Tata gelo to ki holo, Birla ashbe (tatas went - so what? Birlas will come) - these are the standard things I hear in my family/friends' circle. Poribortner hawa boiche (Winds of change are blowing) they tell me - but not sure if those winds are blowing in the reverse direction of going back to the good old status quo days of JB. After all JB's mantra of status quo can give you thirty years of rule!

There is a lot of fear of urbanization in West Bengal. Intellectuals have demonized urbanization - as something that grabs land, pollutes environment and uses up more resources than others. For the politcians urban voters are smaller in size. So they really don't care. That is one of the reasons why urban affairs have been ignored. Plus they don't seem to be able to look beyond master plans on paper. Development in urban areas has always been piece meal and half hearted.

Except for voting, people really don't seem to care about this lack of development. For example why not collect all the garbage and dump in front of Writers' building or KMC or the houses of the politicians? That would be a good agitation instead of the drama of bandhs and blocking roads. The stink would really make these people wake up.

The neglect of urban areas is the reason why Kalyani Expressway remains a two lane strip (it will supposedly get upgraded to 4 lane).

A government that cannot maintain a few thousand kilometers of roads in proper shape or cannot supply 24/7 power or cannot enforce the rule of law, has given in to mob culture has no business to remain in power. But while the political heads may change, the lazy brass which make up most of the government wont. It will be a really tough job for Didi to whip the lazy babus into shape and make them work for their pay. Plus most of her co-politcians are of the same brand as the ones they will replace and their track record is unimpressive.

Amra jemon achi temni bhalo achi (we are happy as we are), eto unnatir ki dorkar? (why do we need so much development?), tirish bochor ghumiye ekhon hothat kaaj dekhacche (suddenly showing work after thirty years), Karkhana diye ki hobe? Karkhana te ki chaal hobe? (Why do we need factories? Will they produce rice?), Ahare garib chasi der opor onnaye hocche, chashi boro na karkhana boro? (Poor famers are getting the stick, is the farmer more important or is the factory more important?), Tata gelo to ki holo, Birla ashbe (tatas went - so what? Birlas will come) - these are the standard things I hear in my family/friends' circle. Poribortner hawa boiche (Winds of change are blowing) they tell me - but not sure if those winds are blowing in the reverse direction of going back to the good old status quo days of JB. After all JB's mantra of status quo can give you thirty years of rule!

I always thought.....Bengal glorified poverty and was always revolutionary in promoting 'romantic' ideals.

JB never took strong action against illegal immigrants...so every illegal immigrant got ration card and border districts are paying the price today.

He never did anything for industrialization......tomorrow Rajarhat will be named after him.

Also the babus at Writers/ all other offices are so habituated to not working....no party can and will make them work. I once visitied Writers this year and I felt the insides were horrible with Posters, banners but stinking toilets..

:banana::banana::banana:PICTURE OF THE CENTURY.http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/1300/79659069.png (http://img718.imageshack.us/i/79659069.png/)

^^OMG i knew this would happen..called it...they are highschool sweethearts...mamata was mad at him..because he got married off to someone else when she remained a bachelor for him.

after all this time, their love is blooming again...i feel sorry for Mrs. Buddhadev whos stuck in between. For the welfare of the state, she should move aside and let her hubby marry mamata.

yiipie

I always thought.....Bengal glorified poverty and was always revolutionary in promoting 'romantic' ideals. [/B]

I don't know if it glorified poverty. People are sympathetic to the poor which is a good thing. But people don't seem to have a solution as to how to eradicate poverty. Unfortunately the leaders/intelletcuals are clueless too as they are too attached to wrong policies of the past. Plus critics say that no political leader wants to remove poverty in India. Without poor people, without the insecurity of poor people - how will our great leaders survive? Whom are they going to promise things as gifts - things in the first place which should actually be rights? That's what they exploit - the insecurities of the poor. They don't want factories where poor can work and come up with strange slogans to fool the masses. They want the poor to work in the hot sun and get not more than one meal a day.

JB never took strong action against illegal immigrants...so every illegal immigrant got ration card and border districts are paying the price today.

Forget JB. We all know about him. But what about the others? BB has expressed some concerns of late regarding the threat to India's security. MB has not said anything of consequence. For these politicians - it is mum is the word because they think this will affect their vote banks. They are all the same. did you see any opposition party (except Bhajapa) opposing this policy "strongly". Maybe just for lip service and tokenism. What about our great intellectuals and social activists who weep for everyone? What is their stance?

He never did anything for industrialization

That's not completely true. He did try but in an era where licensing policy was in place. He never could get anything approved by the centre thanks to the stupid left front policy of opposing and not cooperating with the central govt. Remember he came up with the idea of Electronics complex long before any city in India had such a proposal. Haldia took ages to get approval.

......tomorrow Rajarhat will be named after him.

Not the best choice. But doesn't really matter. How many people know about Abanindranath Sarani. People prefer Salt Lake over Bidhan Nagar. Rajarhat will still be rajarhat or New Town.

Also the babus at Writers/ all other offices are so habituated to not working....no party can and will make them work. I once visitied Writers this year and I felt the insides were horrible with Posters, banners but stinking toilets..

Almost every government office I have visited is like narak kunda. You will even find employees illegally tapping into free electricity and running illegal food canteens in some of these offices. The government office buildings are representative of the quality of the people working in those buildings. Many of the government run hospitals are like that too.

I don't know if it glorified poverty. People are sympathetic to the poor which is a good thing. But people don't seem to have a solution as to how to eradicate poverty. Unfortunately the leaders/intelletcuals are clueless too as they are too attached to wrong policies of the past. Plus critics say that no political leader wants to remove poverty in India. Without poor people, without the insecurity of poor people - how will our great leaders survive? Whom are they going to promise things as gifts - things in the first place which should actually be rights? That's what they exploit - the insecurities of the poor. They don't want factories where poor can work and come up with strange slogans to fool the masses. They want the poor to work in the hot sun and get not more than one meal a day.



Forget JB. We all know about him. But what about the others? BB has expressed some concerns of late regarding the threat to India's security. MB has not said anything of consequence. For these politicians - it is mum is the word because they think this will affect their vote banks. They are all the same. did you see any opposition party (except Bhajapa) opposing this policy "strongly". Maybe just for lip service and tokenism. What about our great intellectuals and social activists who weep for everyone? What is their stance?



That's not completely true. He did try but in an era where licensing policy was in place. He never could get anything approved by the centre thanks to the stupid left front policy of opposing and not cooperating with the central govt. Remember he came up with the idea of Electronics complex long before any city in India had such a proposal. Haldia took ages to get approval.



Not the best choice. But doesn't really matter. How many people know about Abanindranath Sarani. People prefer Salt Lake over Bidhan Nagar. Rajarhat will still be rajarhat or New Town.



Almost every government office I have visited is like narak kunda. You will even find employees illegally tapping into free electricity and running illegal food canteens in some of these offices. The government office buildings are representative of the quality of the people working in those buildings. Many of the government run hospitals are like that too.



Yup agree 2 most of it........wud lyk to mention....he even had the idea of bringing disney land in the place where todays nicco park exists........bt failed coz the party didn't allow....
I thnk its the party politburo that acts more stupid than the individual in the left.....even BB once frustratingly said he is rtunately against bandhs....bt he unfortunately he belongs 2 the party famous for that.....!

Suncity, that narak kunda to you is my office. i would appreciate you more if you respected my workplace.

I don't know if it glorified poverty. People are sympathetic to the poor which is a good thing.
Sympathy to poor is good....not apathy to Rich/Business/industry. In Bengal one thing leads to another. I heard one ideologist say when TATA's left Singur "Bhaloi to holo. Amra Gujrati noi."

If I had a rupee for everytime I heard "Oh the boy could have become so rich...but he chose not to" I would have become an Ambani. Why do you think all radical ideals like Naxalism,Marxism etc were born/adored in Bengal? Nobody in whole India today gives a damn about Marxism so they exploit the only 2 states they have any grasp on.

I maintain.....Marxism is a policy which encourages mediocracy.

Oliver Cromwell once said, "A nation deserves the politician it gets". Maybe that is why we are going from BB to MB.


Forget JB. We all know about him. But what about the others?
Forget JB? Sorry Sun, very hard to forgive/forget him. I saw the whole generation of Bengali youths(my friends, batchmates, seniors) suffer when he removed English from primary school. . Heard from my parents that CPIM cadre ransacked HSBC when they installed computers in the 1980's. They called it a "historic blunder" in 1995-97. And today they utter he was a national hero. I think he was the biggest opportunist. That is why he stayed CM for so many years when BB will probably go after 2 terms. BB did the mistake which JB mastered,

a) Never mess with numbers.
b) Play with Bengal's emotion for poverty/peasants.

That is why, MB is like JB reborn(more unruly, violent). She has the acumen to use the numbers to her advantage, whatever may be the cost(even if Maoists come to Writers).

God Help Bengal.....

Almost every government office I have visited is like narak kunda.
Sorry to differ......but not always. I saw Mantralaya in Mumbai when in India, it was heaven compared to Writers.

And it did not contain so many "Cholchhe na Cholbe na"...the main reason of downfall for Bengal. When will we start to say ...."Cholchhe cholbe"??

Unknown kolkatan and Suncity both have initiated the most pressing debate of our time: who is a bigger evil JB or MB? BB in his early days correctly understood the shortcomings of JB and he initiated Dr.B.C Roy type of rapid industrialization policy ( rather forced industrialization ). But lumpens of Bengal did not understand that ,humiliated him and about to come to power. There is a strong possibility anarchists coming in state govt., much more chaos and blood bath. It is like replacing one evil by anther evil.
Perhaps people of Bengal are truly confused, don’t know which evil to support and are toying with the idea of change without knowing what is that. Passivity of upper middle class have compounded this situation even worse! Perhaps no ray of hope is in sight. I pray for my birthplace : Lord let there be peace in Bengal

Sorry to differ......but not always. I saw Mantralaya in Mumbai when in India, it was heaven compared to Writers.

And it did not contain so many "Cholchhe na Cholbe na"...the main reason of downfall for Bengal. When will we start to say ...."Cholchhe cholbe"??

I was only referring to the Govt offices I have visited in Salt Lake, Kolkata and Howrah. Maybe the new office on Camac Street is much nicer.

I haven't been inside Mantralaya. So I cannot comment. But when I lived in Mumbai, overall I felt that Mumbaikars were much more professional and more dynamic than traditional Kolkatans. However I think younger Kolkatans of today are smarter and more dynamic compared to status quo JB times. So there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

Sympathy to poor is good....not apathy to Rich/Business/industry. In Bengal one thing leads to another. I heard one ideologist say when TATA's left Singur "Bhaloi to holo. Amra Gujrati noi."

If I had a rupee for everytime I heard "Oh the boy could have become so rich...but he chose not to" I would have become an Ambani.

I think the disdain for money is changing. The faster we dump the self declared "intellectuals" and the false pride about being poor - the better economic progress will be made.

Why do you think all radical ideals like Naxalism,Marxism etc were born/adored in Bengal? Nobody in whole India today gives a damn about Marxism so they exploit the only 2 states they have any grasp on. I maintain.....Marxism is a policy which encourages mediocracy.

Leftism and Rightism in Indian subcontinent have their roots in Bengal. Just as the communist parties gained strength here, the right wing parties like BJP and Muslim League also have their roots in Bengal. Colonialism, Communalism, Communism - West Bengal has experienced all of them with bitter consequences. So it would be wrong to say that only commie type ideologies have thrived here or have roots here.

The big question though is whether the Left Front has won for three decades because of its marxist or communist idealogy. I am very doubtful. I see a lot of very religious people who go to Kali temple and also vote for Left Front.

Oliver Cromwell once said, "A nation deserves the politician it gets". Maybe that is why we are going from BB to MB.

We are stuck in the B grade in WB. That's why JB, BB, MB.

:lol:

Forget JB? Sorry Sun, very hard to forgive/forget him. I saw the whole generation of Bengali youths(my friends, batchmates, seniors) suffer when he removed English from primary school. . Heard from my parents that CPIM cadre ransacked HSBC when they installed computers in the 1980's. They called it a "historic blunder" in 1995-97. And today they utter he was a national hero. I think he was the biggest opportunist. That is why he stayed CM for so many years when BB will probably go after 2 terms. BB did the mistake which JB mastered,

a) Never mess with numbers.
b) Play with Bengal's emotion for poverty/peasants.

JB probably had little control over party policies initially. There are many who say that JB was pretty comfortable with the business class in Bengal.


God Help Bengal.....

Even God must be saying "Someone please help Bengal".

^^I think i hear god saying, that I should save Bengal.

Unknown kolkatan and Suncity both have initiated the most pressing debate of our time: who is a bigger evil JB or MB? BB in his early days correctly understood the shortcomings of JB and he initiated Dr.B.C Roy type of rapid industrialization policy ( rather forced industrialization ). But lumpens of Bengal did not understand that ,humiliated him and about to come to power. There is a strong possibility anarchists coming in state govt., much more chaos and blood bath. It is like replacing one evil by anther evil.
Perhaps people of Bengal are truly confused, don’t know which evil to support and are toying with the idea of change without knowing what is that. Passivity of upper middle class have compounded this situation even worse! Perhaps no ray of hope is in sight. I pray for my birthplace : Lord let there be peace in Bengal

You are thinking of the worst case scenario.

There are better options:

WB can be like Kerala. Both TMC and CPM get to loot the state for five years at a turn. That way all these hungry leaders will be happy and will not bother the common man.

Or WB can be like TN. They have the batte royal between shoe Queen and Rama hater. Here we have MB and BB - both great patrons of art and culture and passionate about "drama".

P.S. - I don't like comparing states or cities. But this is adda and just for fun.

Mr Kalmadi's (fake) statement
Alok Tiwari, 14 August 2010, 02:53 PM IST

Last night I dreamt I was appointed the speechwriter and propagandist for Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi. The appointment happened through a dubious process the details of which I shall not bore you with. It was for an obscene amount of money paid into my numbered Swiss bank account. As one of my first assignments, I wrote the following statement for Mr Kalmadi:

My fellow citizens,



Over the last few weeks, I have read and watched a series of reports about corruption in the organizing of Commonwealth Games. It has pained me no end. Some of those things I have tried to explain but what has shocked me is the demand for my exit. Each day there is a new disclosure and the chorus begins again. Therefore, I decided to confront the question head on.

Yes, corruption has taken place in holding of the games. Trails of quite a few scandals lead right up to my door. So I will not deny it. But what is so surprising about it? What did I do that had not been done before? To see the outpourings of outrage everywhere, it would appear Indians are seeing corruption happen for the first time. Come on, let us shed that garb of innocence.

Please come with me to the collectorate of any of our nearly 450 districts. Each one presided over by an IAS officer, the best and the brightest among us. Here you find people in their thousands waiting for such commonplace things as domicile and caste certificates. There are contractors waiting for permits to mine materials such as boulders and gravel. My contractor friend tells me it takes 18 approvals to get one permit. Please try to get just one of them without giving a bribe or using a big name. The same goes for each certificate.

I could take you to the secretariat of each of our 30-odd states. Or to ministries in New Delhi where even bigger deals are made. The story will be repeated on a progressively larger scale. Let us travel to any of the RTO offices. I dare you to have a vehicle registered or transferred, or just pay your tax without going through a tout or paying someone. Why, most of us have driving licences. I ask each one of you to keep your hand on your heart and ask whether you got it by honestly appearing for a test or gave a small fee to someone to get it for you.

I also want you remember the last time you were booked for jumping a traffic signal or wrongly parking your car. Did you quietly pay your fine or tried to settle the matter with the cop for a lower amount? Please get me a birth certificate from your local municipal office in a straightforward manner. I could say the same about courts but for the risk of being hauled up for contempt. I shall still suggest that you spend a day in the court complex of any district and check out the exemplary honesty and integrity with which everybody from peon to lawyers to judges work there. Let us then go to a PWD or an irrigation department office of your choice and try to find a road or a dam built with complete honesty. I could go on. But you get the drift, right?

Somebody has thrown a CAG report on my face. Poor CAG has been writing such reports by the dozens about every department of every government at every level. I am yet to discover their utility other than providing particularly untalented reporters a means to live another day. The toilet paper in my bathroom finds better use than those reports. It is the same with CVC.

And, ah, the media… How can I forget my friends there? Please ask them about the increasingly blurred line between advertising and commercials so that readers do not know what is paid for and what is not. What editorial integrity do we see when interviews and features on movies appear sweetly timed with their release? We had the scandal of paid political news during elections. I am yet to see an editor or an owner hauled over the coals for that or being asked to demit office.

No, my compatriots, it is not corruption in CWG that bothers you. If that were the case, you would have lynched every district collector and every RTO in the country by now. You have long made peace with corruption. You have become part of it when you could. It is brazenness and scale of my corruption that concerns you. That is the novelty element. If my team had kept itself limited to taking 10 or 20 per cent cut, you would be looking the other way. The media would find it boring to report that. What shocks you is that I paid Rs 9 lakh for hiring a treadmill that could be had for Rs 45,000. If I had done the deal at Rs 50,000 you would be OK with it. You do not mind people crossing the line. You mind them crossing it too openly. But you forget, friends, that once you allow crossing of lines you cannot set the rules for it. Also, I have only raised the bar here. Citius, Altius, Fortius. Isn't that what having games is all about? Give me credit for at least that (though I'd prefer cash!).



With all sincerity (or what is left of it amongst us),
Suresh Kalmadi

Now, if only I could get Mr Kalmadi to sign it…

Perhaps people of Bengal are truly confused, don’t know which evil to support and are toying with the idea of change without knowing what is that. Passivity of upper middle class have compounded this situation even worse!
I can understand your frustration sabya.....you are very right.

But what can we do.....the middle class educated bengalis are today minority in their own birthplace.....and they do not have any certificates to get any preferential treatment anywhere.

I just hope, some of our discussions wake up the Bengalis from their slumber....so that they can finally identify right from wrong.

Happy Independence day to The bengali chaibar people! Since most of you don't visit the main chiabar I though I'll wish you here:

http://a.imageshack.us/img829/3629/51746597.jpg

:cheers::cheers:Happy Independence day to The bengali chaibar people! Since most of you don't visit the main chiabar I though I'll wish you here:

http://a.imageshack.us/img829/3629/51746597.jpg

:cheers::cheers:

Joy HIND

I can understand your frustration sabya.....you are very right.

But what can we do.....the middle class educated bengalis are today minority in their own birthplace.....and they do not have any certificates to get any preferential treatment anywhere.

I just hope, some of our discussions wake up the Bengalis from their slumber....so that they can finally identify right from wrong.

I think one thing Bengalis should understand that Government is for governance and not for development. They can be a catalyst in development, all right.

Gujarat has flourished because of the business class, Bangalore is what it is today because of the likes of Infosys and Wipro. Until and unless Bengal can produce high quality entrenpreneurship Bengal can never match up with them, one Tata here or a Jindal there can not do it. People from outside will never have the total understanding of the ethos and culture of the locality, have you ever heard with land acquisition for "Aamar PC" brand ?

I believe once the current phase of mediocrity fades away Bengal will once again breed some good entrepreneurs. I am optimist with the new generation.

Happy Independence day to The bengali chaibar people! Since most of you don't visit the main chiabar I though I'll wish you here:

http://a.imageshack.us/img829/3629/51746597.jpg

aww did you draw that urself? cute, btw, how are we celebrating tonight?

The Telegraph

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/7046/15082010001008002.jpg

^^ To all the interesting bong discussions above.. :laugh:

8eq3QLWFbRQ

^^^wtf, that isn't bengali...i hated that.

On I-Day 1947, Gandhi fasted here
courtesy: www.thehindu.com

Gandhi Bhavan in Beliaghata, Kolkata. Formerly known as Hydari Mansion, Mahatma Gandhi stayed here on the day the country got its Independence.

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00161/INDEPENDENT_DAY_OF__161879g.jpg

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00161/INDEPENDENT_DAY_OF__161880g.jpg

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00161/INDEPENDENT_DAY_OF__161885g.jpg

^^ To all the interesting bong discussions above.. :laugh:

8eq3QLWFbRQ

no offence bt i believe we need 2 enrich our taste.........more.......dis is not at all very decent.....

aww did you draw that urself? cute, btw, how are we celebrating tonight?


huh?


The Telegraph

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/7046/15082010001008002.jpg


Ahhh Sabyasachi mukherjee! clearly the best indian designer....

Kolkata Overview

Founded in 1690, Kolkata is the capital city of the state of West Bengal. Arthur D. Little of Global Management Consulting considers West Bengal to be “India's most favourable state for domestic and foreign industrial investment" and Kolkata, which is the state capital, is to lead the way. Since 2000, the state government has taken initiatives to transform Kolkata into a business-friendly city, which have resulted in a growing number of companies being attracted to its largely untapped consumer base, with a high and growing spending capacity and a large skilled labour pool. There has been a spurt of real estate development in recent years as a roll on effect of increased economic activities in the city region. The city skyline has undergone transformations with flyovers, malls, multiplexes, departmental stores making a foray into the most docile of metros in the country. Most significant is the thriving commercial scenario acting as testimony to the current growth scenario. West Bengal and specifically Kolkata has appeared as a prospective destination for industrial investments, with a focus on commercial developments. Residential Market Overview Traditionally, Northern Kolkata has been the stronghold of the Bengali hereditary upper-class. Areas such as Shovabazar, Shyambazar, Creek Row, parts of Central Avenue, Beadon Street and Tala were the prime residential area of the city prior to independence. Central part of Kolkata comprising of Park Street, Loudon Street, Free-school Street, and to areas south of it, upto Alipore, was inhabited primarily by the British and the Anglo-Indian community. Presently, the main theme in creating the residential pockets at the outskirts is to decentralize and decongest the city. Salt Lake City came up in 70s, Garia / Patuli in late 80s and Rajarhat New Township in early 21st century. Though growth of the city has been in all possible directions, the New Town – Rajarhat, being planned as an organized township on more than 7,000 acres, is attracting bulk of the real estate investments. The major developers in residential segment of the city today include the Bengal-Unitech Universal, DLF, Keppeland, South City developers, Bengal Ambuja, Bengal United Credit Belani Group, etc.

Retail Market Overview
The retail market in Kolkata has had a makeover over the last four years through development of shopping malls and shopping centres like Forum, Metropolis, 22 Camac Street, South City Mall, Mani Square and City Centre (Salt Lake and New Town).
Success stories of West side, Shopper’s Stop, Pantaloons, Music World, Sony World have attracted other major national and international brands like McDonalds, K.F.C, Marks & Spencer’s, Pyramid, Globus, AdLabs, Inox, Fame etc. to have signed properties in up coming retail developments. Presently, there are nine malls operating in Kolkata, together offering a total of about 2.0 million sq.ft of retail space.
The burgeoning development of all sectors of the real-estate industry is also reflected in the retail segment. Within the next two-three years, Kolkata would witness some 25 – 30 malls which are scheduled all across the city. This would further add about 6.0 – 7.5 million sq. ft. of retail space to the city. This would lead to many of the national and international brands having a presence in the city.

The interesting fact is that the above comes from the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA), a statutory Authority, under the Ministry of Railways. Link here (http://www.rlda.in/Project%20Information%20Memorandum_Masterda%20Surya%20Sen.pdf).

:banana:

The interesting fact is that the above comes from the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA), a statutory Authority, under the Ministry of Railways. Link here (http://www.rlda.in/Project%20Information%20Memorandum_Masterda%20Surya%20Sen.pdf).

:banana:

well....well....u just wrapped the whole thng in an excellent surprised......!so didi started promoting, marketing WB n Kolkata in media as well....(n she doesn't mind acknowledging BB govt a little 4 dat,.....eh ;p)

No offense, but the words are not very untrue.. :tongue3:


no offence bt i believe we need 2 enrich our taste.........more.......dis is not at all very decent.....

And those who offended by the "quality" , another from the same "Chandrabindu"..

PFt_aer7epg

:cheers:

Anyone willing to explain me what the song says?

I think one thing Bengalis should understand that Government is for governance and not for development. They can be a catalyst in development, all right.

Gujarat has flourished because of the business class, Bangalore is what it is today because of the likes of Infosys and Wipro. Until and unless Bengal can produce high quality entrenpreneurship Bengal can never match up with them, one Tata here or a Jindal there can not do it. People from outside will never have the total understanding of the ethos and culture of the locality, have you ever heard with land acquisition for "Aamar PC" brand ?

I believe once the current phase of mediocrity fades away Bengal will once again breed some good entrepreneurs. I am optimist with the new generation.

Once upon a time there was flourishing entrepreneurship in Bengal. We still see the legacy of that in the form of Borolene, Keo-Karpin oil, Jabakusum taila, Moloy soap, Neem toothpaste – all shining example of Bengal’s entrepreneurship skill. Living in New Jersey 10,000 miles away we enjoy these little things which any Bengalee family would love to enjoy in Bengal! I thank those visionary business leaders who created such organization in twenties and thirties of last century. Even university professors like Dr.P.C Roy ( author of Hindu Chemistry) established Bengal Chemical in 1920s , long before Ambanies came into picture , is still a premier chemical manufacturing company in India . But today’s university Professors are busy writing JB’s autobiograpgy!
That’s how our society has slide down ward.
As you have mentioned about Amar PC—I would love to see amar Amby or Nano. Perhaps current lupenocray will not let that happen. There are abundant technical skill but people are afraid to invest. Trade unions are organized well before a company is organized! In fact trade unions are biggest growth factor in the society and who knows how much fortune their leaders have accumulated in the name of poor. Unless these people are socially isolated Capitalism will not flourish again in the land and Bengal will be a society of street hawkers

^^amby belongs to HM, which is ours.

No offense, but the words are not very untrue.. :tongue3:




And those who offended by the "quality" , another from the same "Chandrabindu"..

PFt_aer7epg

:cheers:

i think we were criticizing his voice more than his choice of subject matter. His voice is deplorable because it lacks the Bengali touch which is eloquence.

well....well....u just wrapped the whole thng in an excellent surprised......!so didi started promoting, marketing WB n Kolkata in media as well....(n she doesn't mind acknowledging BB govt a little 4 dat,.....eh ;p)

Didi is probably unaware.

:)

I think one thing Bengalis should understand that Government is for governance and not for development. They can be a catalyst in development, all right.

Gujarat has flourished because of the business class, Bangalore is what it is today because of the likes of Infosys and Wipro. Until and unless Bengal can produce high quality entrenpreneurship Bengal can never match up with them, one Tata here or a Jindal there can not do it. People from outside will never have the total understanding of the ethos and culture of the locality, have you ever heard with land acquisition for "Aamar PC" brand ?

I believe once the current phase of mediocrity fades away Bengal will once again breed some good entrepreneurs. I am optimist with the new generation.

Government has to do development in some ways - like building infrastructcure, education and health care etc. That will catalyze further growth.

West Bengal is part of India and Tatas and Jindals are Indian companies. So there is no reason why they should not be encouraged to invest in West Bengal.

One way to stimulate growth is to get big companies to invest in big factories and let local entepreneurs thrive in downstream industries at the beginning. As they gain more expertise they can ramp up their growth and expand.

Also a question about mediocre values (not really related to your post but a question that often comes to my mind). JB, BB, MB got their education and political bindings from pre 1977 when Bengal supposedly was a land of milk and honey with great educational standards. But pray how come these folks are so mediocre in so many ways (not necessarily academic performance)? In fact most of that generation of politcians is so mediocre?

^^ To all the interesting bong discussions above.. :laugh:

8eq3QLWFbRQ

Funny.

hey guys..i need so entertainment..good ones.pls upload..thanks

hey guys..i need so entertainment..good ones.pls upload..thanks

Go visit Youtube.com and play all the memorable song of Geeta Dutt as I am doing now!:)

^^ i did i didn't like her

and she was singing in hindi.

Who else were not singing in Hindi..... from Pankaj Mullick to Kumar Shanu..Shan...Shreya Ghosal and forget Kishore Kumar, Hemant Kumar(Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay), Manna Dey, and even Arati Mukherjee(though a lesser number).

and see it the opposite way .. K.L.Saigal to Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Mohd. Rafi, Jagjit Singh, Anurada Poudwal.... et all (all non-Bengalis) sang a number of beautiful and eternal Bangla songs:)

A good music is a good music, no matter in which language you sing. Hindi translation of rabindrasangeets are as good as original one as long as you sing well!

The Telegraph

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/1631/18082010001064.jpg

^^cool..i like that

BENGALI SWEETS Gaining international flavor

August 17, Kolkata (Calcutta Tube/IBNS): Bengal is known for its delectable sweets. Now it is going global in taste and marketing, keeping with the times, finds Baishali Mukherjee.


Bengali Sweets
Reshmi Singh, a doctor, was attending a marriage party of her colleague. It was an elaborate affair consisting of delicacies from all over India. Being a foodie she was enjoying every bit of her gastronomical experience. “But what came as a surprise was the dessert: traditional Bengali sweet Malpoa served with Brandy sauce! Though I knew about Bengali sweets gaining international flavour lately- but Brandy sauce! Simply out of the world,” she enthuses.

This kind of happy surprise is becoming common these days at opulent parties. With increasing overseas travel by Indians, food- along with many other things, are acquiring an international aura. Bengal sweet is not lagging behind.


From the archaic to the ultra modern, from the rich to the plebs- and from the veggies to the non-veg, sweets- typical Bengali sweets have successfully wooed them all. That includes celebrities, Bollywood stars to international sportspersons visiting Kolkata. Few can withstand the temptation of savouring a hot rosogolla or a Nalen Gurer sandesh (with a jaggary made from date palm). This item hits the menu during winter when this jaggery makes its appearance.


Rosogolla is believed to have been first made by Nabin Chandra Das, father of Krishna Chandra Das (The original owner of the famous sweet joint K C Das) in 1868, though some say that the rosogolla actually originated in Orissa and is as old as the Ratha Yatra in Puri. But sandesh was in vogue even before that. Though it is hard to determine exactly when the term ‘sandesh’ came to indicate a sweet made of chhana (sweetened cottage cheese) rather than kheer (thickened milk), it is reasonable to assume that the term became quite common by the later half of the 19th century.



Sanjay Budhia, managing director, Patton Group, is a self confessed sweet lover. “I must confess I have a sweet tooth. In spite of restrictions – self imposed or otherwise, I take full advantage of the special occasions and gorge on sweets on special days like– Raksha Bandhan, Diwali etc. when you get an official license to indulge in.” Though he has tasted some of the new innovative sweets like the Black Current sandesh and liked it too, he confesses that “I prefer to stick to the traditional stuff when it comes to sweets.”

Indrani Mukherjee, a young entrepreneur who runs a boutique, loves sweet in any form. “I have tasted the strawberry and papaya flavored sandesh and loved it. But the mere mention of Bhim Nag’s (a famous sweetmeat shop in Bowbazar area) Abar Khabo sandesh or the Jawl Bhora sandesh of Surya Modak of Chandannagar, makes my mouth water. Still I feel that the experimentations are good, especially the recent innovation of low-calorie ‘Diabetic sandesh.” This sweet was born out of both necessity and demand by diabetic patients who love sweets but are forbidden to take them. With India arguably the Diabetes capital of the world, the reason is not difficult to find.

However, for the renowned writer Mani Shanker Mukherjee of Chowringhee fame, experimentation with Bengali sweets is a no-no. He believes that there are certain things in this world like the classical music, where there isn’t any scope for experimentation, Bengali sweets should stand firm against the tide of interference. He insists that nothing can substitute a rosogolla or a Nalen gurer sandesh. “Traditional Bengali Sweets”, Shankar says, “are so rich and satisfying in taste that they don’t need to be changed in any way.”

Nevertheless, Bengali sweet is now spreading its wings to woo the new generation with its many variations. Savour these mouth-watering items: Parijat (a mix of pista, nuts and kheer), Moushumi (sandesh stuffed with nuts and coconut), Golapi Pera (pure chhena rolled in rose water), Dilkhush (kheer, chhena and pista) and Sourabh (chhena with sugar globules and pista).


Maestro Satyajit Ray was a frequenter at Nokur, so now are his son Sandip Ray and Tollywood director Rituparno Ghosh, often billed as Ray’s protégé,. Singer Manna Dey has a sweet tooth; so do actors Vidya Balan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai who try out the Bengali goodies when in Kolkata. “Bengali sweets are now travelling beyond Bengal. This recent gourmet trend is aimed at keeping sweets of Bengal contemporary and relevant to younger people,” says Prashanta Nundy of Nokur. Therefore, to tempt the new palate, the 165-year old Nokur is adding new flavours—orange, pineapple, mango lichi, black currant and kiwi—to its sandesh. Nokur already ‘exports’ its sweets to various parts of the country and abroad, from its base in North Kolkata.

What used to be a mere family-based industry is now looking beyond the horizon and talking of export markets and patents, terms unthinkable in the past. But their primary focus is to strengthen their footing to the other parts of India.

Globalization together with the new market reality has resulted in a change in the character of Bengali sweets which now come with a blend of nuts, pistachio, rose water and cardamom. The enterprising confectioners are honing the desi spread with some internationally preferred flavours like black current, kiwi and strawberry. So you have Alphanso Dahi from Balaram; Black currant sandesh/ Kiwi sandesh/ Strawberry Rabri from Nokur; Strawberry Rosogolla from Gupta’s; Tulsi Doi and Tulsi sandesh from Hindustan Sweets and Soya Roll, Rose-cream Peshwari, Orange Dahi from K.C. Das.

Says Rabindra Kumar Paul, general secretary of West Bengal Sweetmeat Makers’ Association and director of Hindustan Sweets: “ Though people of Asian origin are our primary customers, Americans and Europeans are increasingly taking interest in this delicacy. They are gradually getting aware that where a pastry is full empty calories, a sandesh or rosogulla have some nutritional value. However, compared to the Indian customers who often ask for the international flavours, the foreigners and the NRIs prefer the traditional flavours.”

K.C. Das, arguably the most popular brand of Bengali sweets (particularly for its canned rosogollas), is also gearing up to go global, albeit more aggressively as is clear from its retail spread—five shops in Kolkata, as many as nine in Bangalore and one shop in Mysore. What was a shanty shop at corner of Baghbazar in North Kolkata way back in 1866, is now Boasting of items like many innovative sweets.

Hemen Das, one of the proprietors of K.C. Das, is excited about their Bangalore outlet. “We are having 1.5 times more sale there than in Kolkata. Most of our customers there are non-Bengalis,” he says. The popularity of Bengali sweets among the non-Bengalis can also be made out from the fact that Haldiram’s which mainly cater to the non-Bengali customers are now coming up with sweets like rosogolla giving steep competition to the traditional outlets.

So, would the fusion sweets mark the end of the good ol’ mishti? A vehement no comes from Amor Bhattacharya, an NRI living in Dallas: “Traditional Bengali sweets are inimitable and have proved their worth. They are part of history now. Let them come up with items like Carrot rosogolla, Soya rosogolla, Tulsi rosogolla, but nothing can take the place of a plain hot Rosogolla”. But Atalanta Banerjee of Bangalore seems quite happy with the fusion sweets, “I just love to savour a Rosecream Peshwari. It melts in your mouth and the flavour is just awesome. I often visit the K.C. Das outlet on my way back from office.”

The next course? Sweet makers are now taking steps to integrate traditional and modern methods of production. K.C. Das is carrying on research at its southern unit in Bangalore to improve the flavour of its prime product, the rosogolla.

Aiding these efforts is Jadavpur University, where scientists are trying to evolve standardized procedures to be followed by the sweet makers. “Since health and fitness have become important now-a-days, Kalyani University, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology and IIT-Kharagpur are coming up with new ideas to help us develop new sweets that are healthy,” says Paul.

Ranging from traditional to international, Bengal’s repertoire of sweets is getting more and more colourful and exotic thus making its birth place the dessert capital of India.

NB: The webpage below with the article above is worth a visit for the mouth-watering pics!

http://calcuttatube.com/bengali-sweets-gaining-international-flavor/113969/

Smart video clip

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Royal Bengal Rassogolla!
Rassogolla and its derivatives are slowly emerging as universal dessert of Indian subcontinent. I have not visited a single marriage/birthday party in New Jersey/ New York area without Rassogolla. Here in USA we get abundant supply of canned Rassogolla imported from India made by Haldiram,Amul,Bikano etc. These Rassogollas are made in places like Nagpour,Nasik,Mumbai, Varanasi perhaps with technicians imported from Kolkata or trained by them. About five years ago I used to find Rassogolla made in Kolkata by Haldiram but not any more. Perhaps casualty of British airways flight cancellation ? I have never seen canned Rassogolla made by the great K,C Das,Bhim Nag, Ganguram and other heavy weight sweet makers of Kolkata in USA. Perhaps they have forgotten The NRI market and happy with Kolkata market. In the mean time NRIs of New Jersey have their own Bengali Sweet House , who are making delicious Rassogolla and Sandesh in central Jersey with outstanding Jersey milk. Rumor says cooks are from Kolkata or trained by them and these Bengali styled sweets end up in Indian embassy parties. Even state dinner at Rastrapati Bhaban have Rassogolla as dessert and ex-President Bill Clinton enjoyed it. Perhaps in near future Bengali dessert will find a permanent place in restaurants menus world wide! Long live Royal Bengal Rassogolla!

Source (http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/two-prime-bands-from-kolkata-to-perform-here/199200.html)

Two prime bands from Kolkata to perform here

BANGALORE: This weekend, get ready to witness two of the best known musical acts by bands from Kolkata.
The Kolkata-based experimental band Pink Noise, was formed in 2006, has been prolific with releasing music over the last few months and this uber talented family is all set to take Bangalore by storm with their album, the Dance of the Diaspora.
This albun by Jivraj Singh, Jayashree Singh, Amyt Datta and Gyan Singh is an exemption from categorisation blended in with a bit of experimental, electronica, indi and jazz-rock.
Pink Noise will perform at the B Flat Bar on 100 feet Road in Indiranagar on August 20 while Skinny Alley will play a mix of retro blues, rock, funk, jazz as well as originals on August 21.
Pink noise was born in 2006 to address an urgent hunger for fearlessness in the contemporary Indian music scene.
These songs are a reflection of things which can happen only in India, where the culture is ancient and the attitude is future. Where the state of peace is an unlikely mix of madness and calm. They are interfaces between temple dance and electro beats; between lullaby and rap; between elephant gods and grimy thugs. This music is exempted from categorisation. Catch them performing on Friday at 8.30 pm. Skinny Alley is a songwriting collective, which has been in existence since the 90’s, although the band members have been playing together in various combinations since the 70’s.
These are veterans comprising some of the country’s most versatile and experienced musicians.
Skinny Alley released their first album Escape the Roar in 2003. Their second CD, Songs From the Moony Boom represents a distinct change in sound from Skinny Alley’s first effort. They will play a mix of retro blues, rock, funk, jazz as well as originals at Fresh Vintage. Experience the spicy stew of funk, dance and rock on Saturday at 8.30 pm.

LnAVroHAwHE

^^WOW!!...i really love this song...:<3:

^^now thats a brilliant song..but then again she is a talented actor

was this recorded recently..because the song is old but the video looks new

she hasnt sung it. Asha Bhonsle has

Le Paglu dance

MIMFDibKTCA

Byomkesh Bakshi, Bengal's famous detective comes back to the silver screen. The film Adim Ripu is directed by Anjan Dutta.

Washington Bangla Radio (http://www.washingtonbanglaradio.com/content/7933610-adim-ripu-2010-bengali-stills-byomkesh-bakshi-film-abir-chatterjee-swastika-mukherje) has a synopsis

The story Adim Ripu starts off with local goon Bantul Sardar offering firearms left behind by departed American WW-II soldiers to Byomkesh and Ajit in their Harrison Road, Kolkata residence. Sardar's departure is quickly followed by the arrival of Miss Nanibala Roy, who is a lady of alternative lifestyle. Ms Roy has an adopted son Prabhat Roy, who is also the foster-son of rich businessman Anadi Halder. Halder being single lets Ms Nanibala Roy manage his household. Halder has two nephews Nimai and Nitai who obviously have ill feelings towards Prabhat in the context of inheritance of Halder's riches. Additionally, Halder had recently blocked Prabhat from marrying a girl he likes, and it is suspected Nimai and Nitai have something to do with this. Ms Nanibala Roy is apprehensive about her adopted son's safety.

Anadi Halder is murdered, and the story takes a fascinating turn with an extremely surprising ending!

TOI has a review here (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/bengali/Byomkesh-Bakshi/moviereview/6319962.cms). The film has been drawing pretty good crowds as per the Telegraph.

1
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Byomkesh Bokshi is the Shatlok Holmes of Bangla literature. I have read his stories in my college days. Author Saradindu Bando. should be considered as Art.ConanDoyal of Bengal. I think he is even more talented since he has written so many short stories about ghost, reincarnation and life after death! In fact Saradindu's stories have been quite popular in Australia! But transforming these stories into movie is a entirely different story in deed.

EnXU5ESZ2Bs

Byomkesh Bokshi is the Shatlok Holmes of Bangla literature. I have read his stories in my college days. Author Saradindu Bando. should be considered as Art.ConanDoyal of Bengal. I think he is even more talented since he has written so many short stories about ghost, reincarnation and life after death! In fact Saradindu's stories have been quite popular in Australia! But transforming these stories into movie is a entirely different story in deed.

Byomkesh Bokhsi series is undoubtedly the best detective stories ever written in India. Only comparison comes in my mind is Satyajit Ray's Feluda. Nothing else :)