A "NO" is a "NO" - even if it is from a sex worker -- How many Understand this? "PINK" has tried its best.

Watched "Pink" this afternoon - It was showed on Star Gold from 1 pm to 4 pm.. Right now, my mind is crowded with many thoughts.. too many thoughts.. How many Indian men get the concept that a "No" from a woman is a "No".. irrespective of whether the woman is his wife, his girlfriend, a sex worker, or someone he has just met at a party.. "Aisi ladkion ke saath aise hi hota hain".. How many times have we heard this? from aunts, uncles, mothers, neighbors, and everybody around us.. Which girls? Single girls, working girls living alone in cities, girls returning home late at night, girls going out with friends, girls wearing short dresses and makeup, girls laughing aloud, girls boarding cabs alone, girls roaming in streets alone.. I do many of these things, I fall in many of these categories.. and yet, that does not mean that I or any woman like me is crying out aloud that "I am cheap", "I am available"..
The girl Meenal had hit back.. A girl hitting back? Why? She was drinking, laughing, and she was not a virgin.. So why would she say "No" to me? Hit and fled? Wait till we get hold of her and show her what molestation and rape is! This is how the minds of these guys work.
I had heard about a guy who would never allow his wife to stay away from him, because he had sex (read he raped her) 365 nights of the year, on nights she menstruated, on nights she was physically ill, on nights she was tired, on nights she was depressed.. Of 5 -6 years of their married life that girl had never stayed at her parents' place, the girl had to have sex every night.. Telling "No" is out of the question. There are parts of India where the culture is such that men grow up with the idea that the moment they get married they are licensed to have sex with the wife any time and any moment and as many times as they want to. The wife's opinion does not matter. A woman's opinion or unwillingness does not matter. The man is entitled.

It is very difficult for these men of India to listen to a "No", to understand a "No", to accept a "No", to digest a "No".

You are roaming around in Park Street on the eve of Chirstmas, wearing a short skirt. You must be cheap. Why would you tell me "No"? You are surely not a "Sati", not a virgin.. When you have had it with others, why not me, Yaar? You do not want it? Why? Suddenly you are becoming a "Sati"?

PINK, as a movie, is good. Thoughtfully made with brilliants actors. But, I doubt whether the message that Pink wanted to convey would go into heads where it need to go.

Anyway, "WELL DONE" to everybody in the crew of Pink!

June 18, 2015

June 18, 2015 :: I was feeling a subtle happiness that I was going to spend some time with Baba the next day.. The next day, i.e. June 19th, Friday, was the day that had been fixed up to take Baba to Belle Vue for a checkup. Ma, Buro, and the nurse were to accompany Baba in the ambulance from South City Garden, and I were to reach Belle Vue straight from Kasba.. Just the fact that I would be able to spend some time with Baba without having to travel all the way to SCG was making me happy.. I never knew that it was the last time when I felt this way..

There would be Nothing called "Baba's car" in my life from today onward

Strange feelings of sadness and strange pains in the throat hit me whenever I open Baba's briefcase for searching anything.. A set of Duracell batteries whose expiry date is 2018.. He never knew that his life would end a few years before the batteries he was storing would expire.. A 10-rupee note that he might have felt lazy to keep in the purse on the night of April 29, 2014.. His life changed from the following morning.. and ours did too..
Whenever I open Baba's small cabinet in the computer room, my heart stops. A new shaving brush, a new bottle of after shave lotion, and a new shoehorn stare at me. The cash memo and guarantee card of the glucometer that was bought in 2010 after he was put on insulin stares at me.. the same glucometer that I have used to prick his finger day in and day out.. there were a very few occasions, when he would mumble "Ki jore laagiye dili".. :(

He had bought a car around two weeks before his accident. He was very excited about the car having a CD player, and while selecting CD-s that he would keep in the car, he asked my brother, "Would listening to these songs sitting beside Bablu (our driver then) be too much?" Eventually, he got to use the car for just 10 days or so.. and it was us who took long drives in the car to and from Apollo everyday, during his lengthy periods of hospitalization.. Bablu turned out to be an avid Rabindrasangeet listener and would listen to Shaan's "Khola Haawa" everyday.. he had all the songs memorized..

Baba remembered his new car.. I remember the afternoon of 15th August, 2014, when the physiotherapist took Baba down to the car parking of South City Garden, on the wheelchair.. He asked Baba, "Mr. Ray, which one is your car, here?" Baba pointed at the Liva and replied, "The blue one". Certain parts of his memory were so sharp, despite the disorders he was suffering from!

There came a period when we started thinking that the Liva was a very "Unlucky" car for all of us. Whenever we boarded the car, something bad would happen. Slowly, that phase passed, or we lost track and got used to the bad things.

Today, the Liva is being sold off. Although we do not have too many pleasant memories attached with the Liva, today I am feeling a strange ache that the last car purchased by Baba is being disposed off. There would not be anything called "Baba's car" in my life from today onward. It is a suffocating feeling.

As my brother cleared off the car a few days back, he found a CD that had been copied from the original CD "Khola Haawa" .. We guessed that it had been done by Bablu and it was the CD that he played on our journeys to and from Apollo..

We find old things at strange corners.. We come across pangs of sadness and grief.. We have heartaches letting go.. We, the emotional people..

Nirbaak - May 7, 2015

The head is empty. The heart is full. I am not qualified to write anything about this film. I am richer as the director reached deeper.

Another wondrous conception, this time of a higher level - The film has again shown the caliber of actors like Anjan Dutt and Ritwik Chakraborty. The sizzling chemistry between JISSHU SENGUPTA and Sushmita Sen got explored for the first time. The background score that Neel Dutt has created is a magical connecting string for the stories.A big Thumbs Up to Soumik Haldar for the camera-work. No. This film is not only about some good acting, some intelligent dialogues, some brilliant shots, or some good music. This film is.. Well, watch it! A special salute to Ritwik Chakraborty, yet again.

And .. Yeah, I kind of know this narcissistic man.

‪#‎Nirbaak‬ Nirbaak

Ma's 66th Birthday -- May 4, 2016

Ma's Birthday, 66th today.. Our first 4th May without the physical presence of Baba, our 3rd 4th May without Baba's "presence"..

On 4th May, 2014, then admitted in Ruby General Hospital, Baba first showed signs of neurological problems following his head injury.. that was the day when Ma first felt alarmed.. Still, I wanted to make her feel special and got her favorite Mango Ice-Cream for her..

On 4th, May 2015, post-debridement and unable to sit up even with support, Baba was totally unaware and oblivious of what was happening around him.. I took a cake and a nightdress for Ma.. It was my ardent wish that we take the cake to Baba's room, call him as many times needed, make him wake up and realize that it was Ma's Birthday and that we were cutting a cake, and feed him a piece.. (who would say he had himself cut his cake and had his piece just 2 months back).. But, the nurses opposed.. they said they did not have time and needed to do the dressing before one of them left.. Thus, Ma had to cut the cake in the drawing room, but she assured me later that she had fed Baba quite a few small pieces in the next few days..

Today, it is another year, another 4th May, a different year, a different time.. It is Ma's 66th Birthday today, and I am flooded with memories of the numerous dinners that Baba had treated us to at Kwality and Grain of Salt, at Sarson and Khandani Rajdhani.. happy evenings, happy times..

I have not been able to utter the words "Happy Birthday", today.. But, I have gifted her an attire that she wished to wear.. (last year, she had kept the nightdress aside, and could not wear it once, as after June 20, red became a prohibited color for her.. Stupid Indian Traditions! frown emoticon ) Today, I have insisted that she wears the dress, this evening only!

Baba, it is Ma's Birthday today.. without you around at all.. I can only imagine how she is feeling. I am feeling miserable, lumps in my throat now and then..

April 27, 2014

Watching Filmfare (Eastern India) Calcutta Awards -- Great to see (a) "Rupkotha Noy" winning the Critics Award for Best Film.. I had loved that film (It shared the award with Shabdo, which I havent watched yet).. (b) Soumitra Chattopadhyay winning the Critics Award for Bect Actor Male for "Rupkotha Noy"-- loved the speech that he delivered..indeed he has been working for more than 50 years, and (c) Rituporna Sengupta getting Critics Award for Best Actor Female- loved her reaction.. indeed it must have been so thrilling for the Tollywood veterans to get their hands on the craved Black Beauty... Great to see (d) Sohini Sarkar winning Best Debut Actress for both Phoring and Rupkotha Noy ..(e) Indranil Roychowdhury winning Best Debut Director for Phoring.. what a lovely movie that one is.. it indeed deserves loads of appreciation and awards (loved Indranil's speech too)... a heartwarming moment was created when Jaya Bachhan (who was 13 yrs old when Mahanagar was made) awarded Madhabi Mukhopadhyay with the "Lifetime Achievement" Award..

Siddhartha Wins Dadagiri Episode with a Century

Dadagiri was Baba's favorite Bangla program and he would watch every minute of every episode diligently. He would have loved yesterday's episode, Siddhartha Ray, as we all did!
It was an evening of excitement at our house, yesterday. My mother, who is quite lethargic these days in taking her evening shower and offering her evening prayers, completed everything as fast as she could and was ready for the episode to start.
As the show began, it was quite evident that you were going to be the star of the show. That is the "Siddhartha" effect. I vividly remember how the unruly traffic of a busy small town almost stopped when you crossed the road, while Ranabir and I lagged behind.
Each and every viewer of Dadagiri last evening got to know about the depth, profoundness, and thoroughness of your knowledge and the impeccability of your memory. The Addabaaj Baangali mejaj and your jovial nature must have won numerous hearts. You can very well imagine the pride, happiness, and affection that I was feeling throughout the show. There was non-stop clapping from Ma and me.
I just loved the way Anindita Chakravarti was blushing and how she uttered, "He is the perfect husband". Neel seemed to be understanding quite a few of Sourav's jokes.. growing up fast, is he not?
Baba would have been so proud of you, Siddhartha! We all are! I had no idea that you would be competing with Shubham who happens to be one of my favorites from a season of Saregamapa and he also did quite well in the last round. But, what you did over the last two rounds was Outstanding! And the deluge of details about the Boxing Day Test Match that you blurted out was awesome stuff! And I have never seen a participant select "Mythology" first up and follow it up with a correct answer. It showed your confidence and base of knowledge.
We all read, we all watch, but seldom do we remember or apply like you do!!
Really proud that I know you and have you as a brother!!

God Bless Anindita Chakravarti, Neel, your togetherness, and your family!! Lots of Love !<3 p="">

Wonder why Arshinagar was a flop?!

I started watching the movie around 10 pm, almost an hour after it had started.. As the movie progressed, I kept wondering why the movie had gone down as a flop! The dialogues are only in rhymes.. there is not a single dialogue in the movie that is not in rhyme with its previous or next line! I do not know whether the dialogues have all been written by the director Aparna Sen or by someone called Sayan Biswas.. but, whoever has written them has done a brilliant job!
The actors comprising Waheeda Rahman, Rupa Ganguly, Kaushik Sen, Jisshu Sengupta, Anindya, are all brilliant. Ritika does a good job, while Dev impresses as he had impressed in Buno Hnaash.

It is the same old story of Romeo Juliet on which films like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Ram Leela have been made. But, the movie never feels boring, mundane, or familiar. The songs and the dialogues make the movie so refreshing! A Big Thumbs Up to Debojyoti Mishra for the music.

Would like to watch the entire movie from start to finish, sometime soon 

aprill 13 th -- 2016 -- last day of the Bengali Year

The morning began with the happy news that the plants in our terrace garden, particularly the pink Ixora plant, that we thought had died in our absence (due to lack of water), are all showing signs of life... The Ixora which was in a pathetic state is giving birth to new leaves! We had taken it under a shade and been watering it profusely since the day we had returned.. seems the nursing is getting rewarded! The wonder called nature! Both Ma and I were elated!

Then I got the worrying news that my grand-nephew Rio is suffering from severe stomach upset over the last 9 days or so and is losing weight.. feeling really worried about the little kid, he is too small.. May he get well soon.

And then there was an earthquake around 7-35 pm in the evening.. measuring 7 in the Richter Scale.. the epicenter being at Mayanmar.. April, the scary month of earthquakes.. 

Jethu, a part of my father. Baba, a part of Jethu. (Jethu's Visit - March 1, 2016)

Those who have read "Muniya's Diary" know what Jethu and his visits mean to us.. Since 1986, which happened to be the first time when my brother and I consciously became aware of who Jethu was and what a visit from him meant, we have seen Baba bringing huge clay pots full of Rasogolla and MishTi doi from Ganguram for Jethu. The choicest things would be cooked in our kitchen along with the simplest things as Jethu is someone who loves everything. Ma would be a happy cook when she has Jethu to feed. The house would throb with happiness and excitement as Jethu's voice, as he spoke to Baba or Thamma or Ma or us would reverberate, and our hearts would jump in joy, trying to soak in every Jethu moment. Today, when Jethu reached our place, I needed to visit the market and Ma was still not out of her Puja room. I asked Jethu to sit in the drawing room where I had put the television on for him. As I entered the sweet shop, a few minutes later, the first thing, I found myself buying was MishTi doi. I uttered the words, and stood numb for a few minutes! Here I was getting MishTi doi for Jethu, as Jethu's dear brother, my Baba, would always get for him. I tried to focus and chose two other types of sweets, Chomchom, and another unknown one which I thought Jethu might love. I got Tok doi as Ma wanted to make doi maachh for Jethu, something which she remembered to make even when Baba was struggling at the Apollo Hospitals. I got a few things that would allow Ma to make a chutney, and all the other things that were needed and hurried home as I did not like the fact that Jethu was sitting alone.

By the time I reached home, Ma had started preparing in the kitchen and Jethu promptly joined her there! Jethu was the one who had for the first time made us realize in 1986 that what Ma does for us in the kitchen everyday is something special. We were surprised kids seeing "normal" things like Ma making fulko luchi being photographed by Jethu. Mundane things like Morich-er Jhol were adored by Jethu and still is! Today, it was no exception. Jethu stood with Ma in the kitchen the entire period, watching her and asking her innumerable questions about each and every recipe she was cooking. Jethu - the most ardent admirer of my mother's cooking and the most inquisitive audience that Ma has ever had in her life! It was from Jethu that we had learned that the kitchen and Ma's cooking was a thing of value and interest. Whenever Ma would be busy doing something else, Jethu would proceed to the oven and hold the ladle, stirring things as he himself is an expert chef. Jethu loved everything Ma had cooked today from Nim-Begun to Moricher Jhol, to Doi maachh, to thoR (banana stem), to Kool-er Tok, to Laal-aalur piThe. Sitting down to have lunch with Jethu, see him enjoy food cooked by Ma, and watching Ma smiling with satisfaction and glee, I felt thankful. For Jethu. For Ma. For one more visit from him. For this afternoon. For the food. For my will to get the mishTi doi. For the dining table made by my Grandfather, Jethu's Kakun. For the fact that some things do not change. I was full with emotions and food.

The highlight of the day - a spontaneous shoulder massage from Jethu that opened up all my knots reminding me of 1989 when Jethu had given me a wonderful massage on the back to release my gastric pain.

Jethu, a part of my father. Baba, a part of Jethu. Histories. Anecdotes. Bloodlines. Genes. Memories. Emotions. Changes. Constants. Time. Endless Love.

Jethu's Visit 2016 Feb-March :: Anecdotes Jethu shared on Saturday Feb 27th

When he was around 4 years of age, he used to stay at 33/2 Beadon Street (Bholanath Dham) with his parents. Mammusona (Jethu's great great grandmother and my great great great grandmother) used to fetch the little Jethu from school. Once they were back home, Mammusona would maker her great great grandson sit in the kitchen while she would peel ripe mangoes and make slices of them. Then she would sprinkle sugar on those slices generously and give them to the child to eat along with a glass of hot thick milk to drink. And, she would ask the child how school had been that day.

Years later, when Jethu had narrated this to some of his Hispanic friends, an elderly lady said that no where in the world will a woman serve a man like this, these days. tongue emoticon. According to Jethu, that was a pathetic thing to say about a 4-year-old getting pampered by his great great grandmother.

 smile emotic

Jethu has written a thorough list of what all he has eaten in Kolkata since Friday night, to the girls and to Dotti - to which Dotti has replied that "you will be waited upon in this way only in India"

FEB 15, 2014 -- post from FB

Well yesterday turned out to be moVie-Day for me.. back to back movies.. Aashiqui2 following the evening Raanjhaana.. and I did love Aashique 2. . I had never seen the previous aashiqui (I ws in class VIII , I hd the cassette.. bought it for Rs 18!.. and had listened to it maybe 1800 times.. but I never knew much abt the movie.. ) .. this one bears the typical Bhatt Banner pathos that lingers, intrigues and stays poignant.. similar kind of subject and storyline like Woh Lamhe, Daddy etc, but of course each film is different.. loved the newcomers, Shraddha is a beautiful actress.. and I dont knw why Aditya's face and expressions do stay in the mind.. beautiful songs, I wondered why only 2 of them hv become so popular! Shreya Ghosal , a melody queen, sings her part of Suna Raha hain na tu so beautifully that the male--voice-sung part seems drab.. good lyrics, Mithoon is someone whose name I find as the lyricist whenever I like lyrics of hindi songs these days.. Aashiqui2 has the same kind of Bhatt magic that makes a movie stay with me ..guess, Mohit Suri has become a pro at that magic now..

On a Valentine's Day .. 2 Years Back.. Baba was there as I watched the movie

"Rest in Peace, Kundan" .. this is what I felt at the end of "Raanjhaana" .. arent his last words exactly what we feel whn we have totally spent ourselves in our passion and enthusiasm of love.. dont we all lose the will to open our eyes or live ever again when we have drained our emotions out and life has made us lose all..

Such spontaneous, unpretentious, unassuming acting by Dhanush.. love his exaggerated comic acting with Swara Bhaskar.. the early Benaras part of the movie reminded me of some other movie which I cant remember.. loved my fav Abhay Deol.. engrossing and fast, I dont remember when i hv last watched such a well-paced Hindi movie .. apart from the Bollywoodic exaggerations, Raanjhaana won my heart.. Sonam Kapoor was so vibrant and dazzling in Benaras with her smile there! she indeed needs to improve her acting as far as serious emotions are concerned.. well-written, well-directed.. songs with soulful lyrics and A R Rahman's music standing out as almost another character in the movie.. Dhanush will keep flashing in my mind.. he is too too too good!

Aaj toh morey geleo kono dukkho nei

Thanks to Sreemoyee Piu Kundu for being kind enough to invite me to the launching of her 3rd baby "You've Got the Wrong Girl".. Thanks to Baba for the name "SheoRa-Gaachher Petni", and thanks to myself for introducing myself to the world with this name grin emoticon

After the beautiful readings by EKavali Khanna and Joy Sengupta got over, and Srijit Mukherji and Sreemoyee Piu Kundu's discussion got over, and after we were treated to two beautiful songs by Paroma Banerjee and Lagnajita Chakraborty, everybody present was ready to mingle. As I stretched my hand to Paroma and said "We talk on Facebook", she was instantly all-smiles and exclaimed. "I know you! Yes, I know you!" I asked, "naam-Ta balo toh?".. and she said mischievously "SeTa ki ekhane bola uchit habe?". I knew instantly that she indeed got who I was tongue emoticon

Well, the next person was Satrajit Sen smile emoticon.. I told him, "We speak on FB.. and err I have a rather strange name".. He asked the name and the moment I uttered the words SheoRa-Gaachher Petni, he smiled broadly and said "Yes. I know you" smile emoticon A similar kind of conversation followed with sweet little Lagnajita, who only yesterday has received some advice from me regarding applying a particular thing on her forehead smile emoticon Everybody seemed to know me by that pet name given by Baba!
It was also nice speaking to dancer Sudarshan Chakravorty, a warm and sweet person!

After having met and spoken to Sreemoyee and her warm, affectionate Mom, I tried to say a little "hello" to my fav film director Srijit Mukherji. He was surrounded by a crowd, as expected, and I felt crestfallen as I had missed the opportunity of speaking to him at the KLM as well. He almost brushed past my shoulder, and yet I could not mane an entry.

But, YAY!! A few minutes later, I again found him at the back of the hall, and mustered all my courage and raised my voice a little to utter his name. ANd he turned towards me smile emoticon .. I blurted out that "I watch almost all your movies and always try to write to you on FB messenger and on the timeline about how I liked it!" He kept saying, "Thank you so much".. then, I said, " I have a rather unfamiliar name on FB.. it is SheoRa-Gaachher Petni!" Srijit Mukherji nodded and gave the biggest and the most spontaneous smile, which again made it clear that the notoriety of my name is widespread smile emoticon

Now coming to Sreemoyee's book launch, I wish all the best to the book! The parts and snippets that were read out were quite fascinating, to say the least.

Our family has had a jinx with Sreemoyee's book launch, not that the poor writer or her books have anything to do with it. It was on the morning of the launch of Sreemoyee's second book "Sita's Curse" that my father had the accident from which he never recovered. That morning, when he was admitted at Ruby General Hospital, he vehemently refused and kept on saying that he had a book launch to attend in the evening. That was a time when I did not know Sreemoyee a bit. Only my father and brother, being the architects of her new home at Jodhpur Park, were known to her. Much later, when Baba was bedridden in his oblivious state, I had connected with Sreemoyee on FB. I had gone upstairs to Baba and said, "It was her first book launch that day, was it not, Baba?". He said, "No. Maybe, the second." - which, I found out later, was correct. Even when only 40% of his brain was working, he did not miss details..

Baba, I went to Sreemoyee's 3rd launch today, and you know what I spoke to Srijit Mukherji!

Aaj toh morey geleo kono dukkho nei grin emoticon

All humble, warm, down-to-earth people they are! Bengal's culture is in good hands..

A Wonderful Evening with Subhajit and Soumi !

It is hard to express yourself in words when you feel love, camaraderie, affection, contentment, friendship, joy packed in one evening.. in a session of around 3 lovable hours

It was a visit from my schoolmate Subhajit Biswas (We sat together in class for quite a few months when we were in Class VII, having studied in the same section in Classes VII, VIII. XI, and XII) and his wife Soumi Sukla who happens to be a very dear and close friend of mine (although we had just met physically once before today), along with their beautiful 4-year old son Samyak Bodhi (whom I saw today for the first time).

What an evening it was!! Remembrances, fun, banter, pulling each other's legs, reminiscing old anecdotes that are endless we being Pointers, stories, experiences, sharing of memories and what not! Subhajit has always been the simple boy next door despite being a Cambridge scholar, someone whom I have always found endearing and adorable! His innocence, candidness, unpretentious attitude, wonderful soul, and unassuming behavior have always made him very dear to friends. And, by God's grace, each of these attributes that I mentioned are also owned by his wife Soumi with whom I had shared my deepest secrets at a time when I had not been able to share things with my friends and family. She is an inspiration having made it to Cambridge from Mankar, Burdwan. The simplicity and humility of this wonderful girl is exemplary. She is so down to earth that she touches your heart straightaway. Having met her only on the night of Santanu Chakraborty's wedding in 2009 December, she was the one who had always taken the initiative to keep in touch with me through emails and social sites. This couple is indeed a match made in heaven, touch wood! heart emoticon

Meeting and spending time with school-friends again reassures me that these are the only people who do not care about your social, marital, financial, or academical status. They love you. Period.

One of the myriad moments of today's affectionate banter: When Subhajit asked Ma why she is not teaching me crochet so that I can help her, Ma said that I am not good with these things. To this, Subhajit said "tui jodi BaRo hotis tahole toke shekhano jeto hoytoh, kintu tui toh BaRoi holina grin emoticon " (Had you grown up, you could have been taught maybe, but you are one who never grew up). I do not remember when was the last time I have laughed so hard and felt so much of affection being poured on me. He made one observation after another, about me, and I kept saying, "Ebar prochonDo maar Khabi".. DO not remember when I have said something like this to someone smile emoticon

Soumi touched our hearts by bringing beautiful flowers for Baba's picture and she gifted me a cute diary for writing poems smile emoticon heart emoticon Love you, girl! You are special!

AN Evening with My First Playmate

The evening began with a perfect orange Sun that looked photoshop-ed. I was on a rickshaw on my way to Dhakuria.. A sudden look at the sky above the Dhakuria Railway Crossing presented me with a surreal view of an orange disk.. For a moment, I thought I was seeing one of those photoshop-ed images on Facebook that we get to see everyday.. Then I realized in a moment that this was for real.. The city sun, perfect, round, clear, orange, mellow, just before bidding adieu..

On reaching Dhakuria, I gave a call to BhuTani-didi Jayeeta Ganguly, (my first-ever playmate) whom I had met in December 2015 after a huge gap of 22 years.. She gave me the most detailed and accurate direction one can give and was waiting in front of her house, waving to attract my attention..

The evening that followed was a wonderful session of ADDA, remembrances, reminiscences, sharing, laughter, smiles, and giggles..Things we remember!! The smell inside Kim Wah, the Chinese gentleman at the reception (BhuTani-di and I, a 5-yr-old and a 4 yr-old maybe, had seen a Chinese person for the first time and were pretty distracted from the food )tongue emoticon), the beautiful terrace adjoining Ganguly-Jethu's Lake Gardens house, Thamma, Baba, uncanny and strange similarities between how BhuTani-di and I have grown up to be similar human beings, our Ranna-BaTi khela, Bhutani-di's warning that Jethima does not like little girls playing Bor-Bou.. What all we remember and shared last evening!

Jethima's company was also a lovely one.. I do not remember ever spending so much time with her, getting to know her and love her..

We do not know when time flew and 5-30 became 8! BhuTani-didi walked all the way with me from Jodhpr pArk to the Dhakuria rickshaw stand.. As I stood at the entrance of Maharaja Tagore Road, the road where we lived and where the earliest memories of us had budded, I told her, "Katodin por tumi ar aami eksaathe Dhakuria-te" ..

We touched hands as the rickshaw started, I feeling immensely thankful for re-connecting with my earliest playmate.. feeling thankful for Suchir Aabhushan as the pretext of the visit was to deliver a pair of earrings that BhuTani-didi had ordered when she had visited the Exhibition..

Bottomline: Adore you, my dear BhuTani-didi

A Lovely Date with Myself at the Kolkata Literary Meet and Forum

It was one of the most beautiful mornings that I have had in recent times .. undoubtedly the best after the ones at Shankarda..

Sharmila Tagore's session with Jai Arjun Singh and Balaji Vittal on the Babumoshai of Bombay was about to begin at 11 am and I started early from home keeping the rush-hour traffic in mind. .. This made sure that I reached the entry point of the Kolkata Lit Meet sharp at 10-05 am. It was almost empty and the subtle warmth of the sun felt beautiful in the comfortably cold morning. The flowers looked lovely, especially one large pink rose beside the photo booth. I had a pleasant walk around the gardens and even started writing a poem after ages!

The two sessions that followed would remain etched in my mind forever. Got to know so-o-o much about Hrishikesh Mukherjee and his films in the first session, with my favorite Anupama narrating anecdotes candidly! What a poised personality she is with amazing oration skills! The second session, "Ritu Utsab" was another beautiful one that allowed the audience to know a lot about our dear director whom we lost so prematurely! It was indeed an honor and privilege to hear about him from the people closest to him, namely, Sharmila Ji, Kaustav Bakshi, Sangeeta Dutta, and Darshan Ji. In fact, the entire Kolkata Lit Meet is a privilege! One does not need to buy a ticket, or make reservations! There are no VIP seats! I, having reached so early, could sit in the first row (as I did on the 22nd as well) and listen to the discussion and see the gorgeous Sharmila Tagore from an arm's distance! It is a wonderful opportunity being provided by Tata Steel, allowing us to create these priceless memories and make news friends like Tripti Jalan, while meeting old ones like Utsav Dan, Sujoy Prosad Chatterjee, and Chhordi! You do not see Javed Akhtar Saab walking past you in a hurry too often tongue emoticon

I had plans of taking a break somewhere like Forum Courtyard and go back for the 3-10 pm session that had Srijato, Anupam, Chandril, and stay back till the last session of the day with Anuvab Pal. But, it was a pretty tiring walk and I felt like returning home after having a Subway sandwich at @Burp! It was a pleasant surprise to me that my visit to Forum and to Burp! and my walk around the Pizza Hut corner did not bother me with too many memories. I realized that this is how new experiences suppress old ones.

Beautiful Evening with Ma at Victorial Memorial #Kolkata Lit Meet - Jan 24

Reached Victoria Memorial with the intention of attending Tabu's session at the Son-et-Lumiere area followed by Anita Ratnam's performance "A Million Sitas" at the Western Quadrangle. Jayram Ramesh's session was midway at Sonet Lumiere and it was an engaging discussion which gave listeners ample food for thought that need to be positively used. The session ran late, thanks to long questions asked by a few members of the audience. Tabu's session which was supposed to begin at 6-20 pm, started around 6-45 pm. Tabu looked gorgeous, but I was turned off the moment she said that she has neither read the Namesake nor the Shakespeare adaptations where she played pivotal roles.. I do not know whether I am being judgmental, but that was the moment I decided that I should start walking with Ma towards the Western Quadrangle where Anita Ratnam's performance was about to start at 7-20pm. Anita Ratnam mesmerized the audience with the beautiful combination of classical and contemporary dance forms and amazing theatrics accompanied by a wonderful script and text. Sharanya's singing beautifully complemented her performance and I got to know a lot about many facets of Ramayana and Sita's life that I really did not know..

It was a chilly evening today. Kolkata does not usually get this cold, that too as late as the Jan 24th. Although, we got to sit under a makeshift ceiling at Sonet Lumiere ground, the audience's spot at the Western Quadrangle was directly under the moonlit sky. It was an atmosphere to enjoy, an ambiance to soak in. Biting yet pleasant cold on our bare palms and glistening sweat on the dancer's face was a striking contrast.

When the performance got over and I walked out of the Western Quadrangle with Ma, the yellow marigolds formed a yellowish blanket on the dark green grass and the trees formed surreal canopies. As we walked around the Victorial Memorial towards our point of exit, the Memorial changed colors due to the changing lights, casting beautiful shadows all around. My mother, who pursued dance once, loves to watch dancers perform. I am happy tonight as I feel that I could gift her a evening that she enjoyed and would cherish. It was a long walk for Ma from Victoria Memorial to Rabindra Sadan where we managed to get a cab, but it was worth it.

Anita Ratnam's recorded voice that played in the background during the depiction of the Ahalya episode echoes in my ears.. "Stone.. Stoned for a Man who is a Stone" .. Hats off to the scriptwriter!

Immensely thankful for this evening with Ma.

visit by Moutusi, Jojo, and Kakima

It was lovely meeting Moutusi Anulekha Ghosh Bhattacharya today, after ages! She is a girl of whom I have always been fond.. She has innumerable adorable qualities that make her a beautiful person in and out! It was great to meet little Jojo for the first time! What a cute dude he is! And, I can never thank Kakima enough for always paying us lovely surprise visits.. I am blessed to have her affections heart emoticon .. It was a special morning as Jojo held my finger and tip-toed upstairs with me

The Last But One Movie that Baba had taken us out to watch

The Last But One Movie that Baba had taken us out to watch.. The Last but one movie that he himself watched before getting unwell-- He Loved watching movies!

My FB post from Jan 23, 2014.. (it was a movie that we watched just after Sejomasi left)

"Khoda-r kasam jaan aami bhalobesechhi tomaay"...

Kudos to Srijit Mukherji for making this elaborate and beautiful saga titled "Jatishwar".. the concept, story and screenplay is amazing... acting by Prosenjit Chatterjee, Swastika Mukherjee, JISSHU SENGUPTA, Srijit Mukherji himself, and the entire cast is wonderful to say the least (specly the first two).. they have given their v best of their acting careers..... music by our Gaanwaala Suman is going to make him immortal.. it is a movie on the reincarnation of the entire music fraternity of Bengal..and of course a beautiful movie portraying undying love..In fact, words cannot describe this film..

jan 23, 2013

Rest in Peace, Mamididu. Havent met you in years.. but whenever I have met you, the warmth and humor in your words touched me which made memories of you always so wonderful.. We had our little mihidana episode which you never forgor, neither did I.. and whenever I met you or my parents did, you used to share that anecdote and laugh your heart out.. You were one of the most jovial persons I had ever met.. I do not know whether my pronami saree reached you .. We always had your blessings.. and you were happy whenever good things happened to us.. I will always remember the ever-smiling and ever-jovial Mamididu.. May your soul has a restful slumber..
~Piyali

Attending the Kolkata Literary Meet -- Jan 22, 2016

Enjoyed the sessions that I attended at the Kolkata Literary Meet today!Ratnaboli Ray-di, you are a wonderful anchor! The Kolkata-r Indradhnush session participated by Sujoy Prosad Chatterjee, Manabi Bandopadhyay, and Sudarshan Chakrabarty was an immensely enjoyable one! Loved meeting Anuradha Sen-didi!

The second session that I attended had my favorite poems Mandakranta Sen and Srijato Bandyopadhyay in conversation with Angshuman Kar. Every statement they made was almost worth making a quotation.

Although I have never felt interested about AMish's trilogies and had no intention of attending his session, I caught quite a major part of it and God! I was intrigued! SUch awe-inspiring depth of knowledge about our mythology along with a surprising passion for science! My biggest discovery today has been AMish whom I wish to read.

Last, but not the least, today's ultimate session was on Her Story of Partition again anchored by Ratnaboli-di. The Panelists were our very own Srijit Mukherji, Anam Zakaria from Pakistan, and Farah Ghaznavi from Bangladesh! Hard-hitting and spine-chilling facts as those which have been shown in Rajkahini came up in Anam's compilation that she has put together after interviewing survivors of the Partition including cricketer Intekhab Alam .. facts that stunned the audience and made everybody numb for a few moments..

I have never been much of an autograph-hunter.. despite getting opportunities, I have not taken autographs from Gulzar Saab. Nabanita Dev sen, Sachin Tendulkar, Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Soumitra Chattopadhyay, or Hariprasad Chaurasia.. However, today I could not resist myself and asked Mandakranta and Srijato for autographs and they sweetly obliged.. tongue emoticon

If I am not wrong, the Kolkata Literary Meet had started five years back and I always knew that it was an elite affair where common people like us could not enter. This was the first time, courtesy my friend SUjoy, I got to know that it was open to all.. and then on visiting, I realised that everyone from the audience could participate in the Q&A sessions as well..

A bad miss for me today was missing Imtiaz Ali and Aditya Vikram Sengupta, two directors I love, in conversation. ANother miss was an autograph from the maker of "Autograph" smile emoticon

It was a cold day today, and it became more and more chilly after the sun set. The stunning Victorial Memorial, the beautiful gardens, the august ambiance, ensured that it was a day that would be remembered. Well.. days spent at that place are always remembered, irrespective of how old the memories are .. :)

How can you be unsafe, sad, lonely, worried, and unloved when you have such friends around and with you!!

Yesterday, around the beginning of noon, I received a call from my dear friend Sanjucta Ghose asking me whether I was free to go out for a movie in the evening. As I said, "Yes", she told me that I need to reach Priya by 7-25 pm for a show of "Monchora". I knew nothing about the movie and blindly agreed. It was a cold evening and I needed something to stay warm. I opened my wardrobe and took out the stole that dear Paromita Banerjee has gifted me for my birthday! As I unfolded the stole, it turned out to be the most gorgeous stole I have ever seen! With rich Kashmiri work at both ends, the beautiful blue stole has motifs of peacocks that look amazing! I have a history of being gifted stoles by her and this is a wonderful addition to my cherished collection. I chose the denim sling back gifted to me by Jayeeta Dutta and felt enveloped and cocooned by the love of my friends, one asking me out for a movie, and the other two wrapped around me and hanging by my shoulder!

I reached Priya around 6-35 pm and walked around almost the whole of Deshapriya Park in search of a Mobile recharging outlet as I needed to recharge Mom's phone who was alone at home. Disappointed at not finding any such outlet, I returned to Priya where I found Nandini Bhaduri(a wonderful person to whom Sanjucta has introduced me a few weeks back) and Sanjucta Ghose waiting for me.. I learnt that the movie is based on a story written by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, one of my favorite authors, and is directed by Sandip Ray, whose non-Feluda movies I like a lot. I also learnt that we were being accompanied by Sanjucta's Mom and Nandini's Pisima for this movie date. Dear Sanjucta had called me to see whether my Mom would feel comfortable to go out for such movie evenings in the future. Her thoughts touched me to the core and I felt thankful for such friends.. Meanwhile, Nandini sweetly recharged my Mom's phone through some app from her iPhone and relieved my tension.

The movie was a lovely one. Short, compact, and beautifully made. The movie is packed with brilliant performances by Raima Sen, Abir Chatterjee, Saswata, June Malia, and Paran Bandopadhyay. The background score oozed the Ray essence and evoked nostalgia of our favorite Ray movies.

Later, I was dropped by Nandini near my house which happens to be near her Pisima's place. It was great to meet Masi (Sanjucta's Mom), after ages, who said I must gain some weight and Pisima who is a wonderfully sweet person. After I reached home, I even got a call from Sanjucta Ghose who was inquiring whether I reached safely. smile emoticon How can you be unsafe, sad, lonely, worried, and unloved when you have such friends around and with you!! heart emoticon Love you all!!

Kaaj nei, tai etto BaRo post

Poush Sankranti, to me, is about memories of a biting cold night in a faraway town, the temperature dipping to 1.2 degree Celsius

Poush Sankranti is about Prosperity, Blessings, Contentment, Abundance, Prayers, Togetherness, and Enthusiasm.. Poush Sankranti is about farmers who celebrate their yield and dedicate it to Maa Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity.. Poush Sankranti, to me, is about memories of a biting cold night in a faraway town, the temperature dipping to 1.2 degree Celsius, I extracting coconut paste for the first time in my life sitting on a cold prayer room floor, learning to make "Puli"-s, and everybody participating in the joyous process, I enjoying thoroughly despite a few bitter worries.. Poush Sankranti to me is about Lohri the night before, stories I have heard about the custom, visuals I have seen in films, and my first-ever memories of experiencing Lohri..Poush Sankranti, to me, is about a number of customs that I got to learn through life.. It is about the memories of my Thamma's transparent white PaTisapTa-s.. It is about the memories of plate-full of PiThe-s made for us lovingly by our neighbors.. It is about the Laal-Aalu-r Puli and Maalpoya that my Maa makes, which she made even last year during our most testing time.. Poush Sankranti is about memories of paddy stems tied to almirah handles..
I love these customs and I want to learn to make PiThe-Puli-s.. I wish these traditions are nurtured and kept alive for generations to come..

Wishing All A Prosperous, Healthy, and Happy Lohri, Poush Sankranti, Poush Paarbon, Makar Sankranti, Bhogali Bihu, Pongal, and Uttarayan !

Kaal aamar Jammodin chhilo, Baba

Thanks to All those who have been wishing me since the 8th through phone texts, FB texts, Google chats, phone calls, Timeline messages.. and of course to my Mom for being the only one to wish me in person.. and for the only B-day gift, that too from her and Suchir Aabhushan.. smile emoticon .. and thanks to myself for treating me with a Chinese dinner from Chopsticks via foodpanda as requested by my dear Maasi Sima Sengupta heart emoticon.. I could not eat much as I was feeling a bit bloated.. So, I have food stacked up in the refrigerator.. for today and tomorrow I guess smile emoticon

It was my first B-day without Baba around.. I was constantly stung by painful memories, particularly those of 2013 and 2014 when I had tried to block away all his simple attempts to celebrate my birthday.. I was unwilling to cut cakes, accept gifts, and was even annoyed at the sight of birthday cakes that he had bought.. I kept telling him "Sorry" throughout the day yesterday.. I remember feeling repentant around my oblivious Baba last year also, but nothing can be compared to this year's guilt and pain, this year's void.. My only faith is that he understood how I felt, my only belief is that he knew my inner complexes..

Since the day Baba has left this mortal word, I have been flooded and overwhelmed with love.. All my blocked away friends have returned to my life.. and I have experienced and received love with open arms, I have felt blessed.. I have realized what Baba had done to me when he went away.. he had blessed me to receive love.. maybe that has been his birthday gift to me this year.. he knew what I needed, what I missed.. He knew .. always..

Both last year, and this year, I have missed hearing him say "Aaj ekjon-er Jammodin" heart emoticon .. Kaal aamar Jammodin chhilo, Baba <3 p="">

January 4, 2014

Going Back to School always feels like Going Back to Where I Belong.. Maybe that is the only place in this wide big world where I have ever actually belonged..Visiting each and every classroom of mine and Koyel's (except VII) as Annexe was closed, visiting my favorite place - the library which I still feel is the best one a school can have, the smell of the black-leather-bound golden-lettered books from where I first read Nancy Drew to Pride and Prejudice, the laboratories and the pungent smell of the Chemistry lab, meeting Kinkar-da at Bio-lab, visiting the seminar hall with memories of Mr I Guha's English Poem classes and dance practices of Class X) , all the stairs and corridors that have so many unforgettable memories and moments.. meeting favorite teachers like Anindita Aunty, Dipti Aunty, Romi Aunty, Sharmila Dey Sarkar, Sharmila Dutta Bose, Anuradha Aunty, Roma AUnty, Sukanya Burman .. meeting mates like Indraajit Roy (maybe after 21 years), Ritwik Ganguly(after 19 years), Krishnakoli Ray (after 10 yrs, met her last in 2004 during school's 50-yr celebrations), Rukma Basu (after 19 years, I dont think I v ever met her though we live nearby), and the celebrated Sujoy Prosad Chatterjee .. missed @Koyel,Sweta Bose, Jayeeta Dutta, and Paromita Banerjee badly..

Love you, South Point.. love the memories...

January 3, 2014

Had the privilege of attending the warm and beautiful memorial on the 3rd Death Anniversary of Smt Suchitra Mitra..arranged by her daughter Firaangi DesiSudeshna-di at her own cozy place..conducted by the veterans and prominent singers of Rabitirtha pRaktoni.. wonderful memories shared by people who had been the legendary singer's disciples since 1950-s and 1960-s!! @Agnibho Bandyopadhyay, Subeer Mitra (ABP), and Subrata Mukherkee were so eloquent and articulate in their narrations.. Songs were wonderful bearing the emphatic Suchitra Mitra lineage.. I dont know whether I would ever again get to hear Purba Dam on stage, age does take its toll..Memories shared by the veterans were oozing with emotions..the songs sung in reverse by Subrata are never to be forgotten.. Loved the young-age picture of my most favorite Rabindrasangeet singer Suchitra Mitra..She can go nowhere.. She, in her indomitable voice, has always urged me "Jodi tor Daak shune keu naa aase tabe eklaa chalo re.."

Meeting Ritu after 4 Years and 1.5 Months

A day spent with a 2.5-year-old and a 1.3 year-old.. I am a Masi to the first one and a Didimasi (Grand-aunt) to the latter.. It was my first meeting with my Naati Rio .. and a meeting after more than 4 long years with my dear NieceShahana Sen.. The last goodbye that we had waved each other was on a cold night at a small town, I standing on a hotel foyer and she waving me goodbye from the car that carried my family and relatives.. a lot has transpired since then, our lives changing in more ways than one.. a lot of previously close relationships have changed too.. hopefully, not the bond that Shahana and I shared.. I am sure Baba is very happy today from wherever He is, seeing his dear Naatini-Putini visit our place for the first time after her marriage, with her tiny son..