North Kolkata Calling !!

I usually don't prefer to live on past.Yet,I believe, one could't live without being haunted by that very past ! So here I am .... We had long holidays in our school during Christmas and it was our father's wish to send us to Deoghar where we had a beautiful house surrounded by garden. De- oghar was a much much quieter place during those days with few houses scattered  here and there.Dhuki Mali -the caretaker of the property-took good care of the house including the beautiful garden-full of trees and flowers.The house -then known as Sripatinath Deb's House-was just at the corner of Bompas Town and not far from the station.  Among other things I particularly remember of an afternoon when I was sitting near the  window watching lines of trees just outside the boundary wall of our house.A madding wind was steadily and slowly blowing throughout the day.I was around 10 to 12 years  of age-the perfect age for day dreaming. Sudd

It was an experience that still haunts me!  I was probably 22/ 23 years old when I was passing through a North Calcutta gulee- not exactly a gulee-which had its own character, usually seen and felt during those days. It was around 8pm and quietness descended the place with only a solo female voice  coming from the first floor of a house. During those days flat culture was unknown or little known. The place was peaceful - in fact too peaceful except the voice which poured  into my ears and compelled me to stand still !I stood there motionlessly for nearly an hour listening to that gentle and melodious voice. I presumed the singer to be of my age or proba- bly more. She was a Classical singer absorbed in her Alap along with the accompaniment of her Tanpura ! Little did she felt my lone presence on the street below.I quietly walked away and felt the haunting voice pursuing me throughout the night in my sleep !  The voice melted away in the morni

At present we are all going through some financial problem.  People who have always managed to jump the queue are compelled to do exactly that rather unwillingly. We are particularly aware about the plight of the senior citizens. And let us not talk about the poor daily bread owners, farmers etc.Besides these ..what happens to GDP ,inflation, food production and consumers demand are other areas of concern. However let us see - finally what good does it do !

Katthak Dance Sitar

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I am from Kolkata but at present in Bangalore for sometime. Today I woke up early and was enjoying the morning sitting at the balcony of our flat. For no reason at all it occurred to me that I have failed in my life completely and the reason- I thought-  was perhaps of finding no one to guide me in my  early life. It was then-that I thought of the film 'Black' and wondered how nice it would have been had I been fortunate enough to get a teacher like the role played by Mr.Bachchan. That particular movie (I think the best of Mr.Bachchan & Rani) have touched my heart to a large extent!

I have been watching some TV Serials.Frankly speaking after  watching some- I got bored !All serials seem to have- more or less- same situations- same predicaments, and almost same  stratagies ! What may be the reason ? Want of ideas ? Probably the producers would be able to know better. But couldn't these serials be cut short-maybe for a month or so !!  Most serials seem to be interesting for a month -after which the same boring formula begins !    

The very name "Chatu Babu Latu Babu"   is well known  in Bengal if not in India. Chatu Babu was a musician and  probably the first Bengali Sitarist. His Guru in Sitar was probably Reza Khan- the man most  responsible for building  up the musical instrument. Ustd. Ali Akbar Khan &Pdt.Samta Prashad at Chatu Babu Latu Babus Thakurbari

It was on the 70s when Aranyer Din Ratri was released.During that  period we were restless young men -looking out for adventures like  all other young rascals of similar age.Sorry to use the word 'rascal'  but to some extent this is true for young men round the world ! We  were curious & inquisitive to know whatever was happening far and  near or to say- in a simple manner-under the sky. We used to spend most of our time in Madan Cabin-a local tea shop run by an ever smiling Madan Babu. This was the place where every kind of gossips got their priority accordingly. It was probably a Sunday morning adda that we were having at the  cabin when suddenly Bhoja (a local) came rushing towards us. He  seemed quite exited and within few minutes gave us the information  that he was dying to give ! The information- in short- was that police raided a nearby Company and sealed it. The company was probably dealing with illegal baby

Perhaps Calcutta's oldest Gajan Festival is still held at  Chatu Babu's Bazar in North Kolkata.                                         Program 8th April 20016-Ghot Sthapon & Puja. 9th  "        "    -8am: Puja of Mahadev. 7.30pm: Puja & Jhul Jhanp. 10th "       "   -8am:     "         "          .    "           "     & Kanta Jhanp. 11th"        "  -8am:       "        "                "          "     & Bonti Jhanp.t12th"                         (Sanyasis will eat fruits & go to Kalighat) 12th"        "  -8.30am Puja of Neel begins. In the evening the Charak Tree is planted.                     & at night Leelaboti's marriage. 13th "      "  8am: Charak Puja.In the evening the Charak Tree goes round & round                   with Sanyasis. An old Charak Mela from morning till night is held here. 14th "      " 8a

It was a surprising moment ! I mean a day !! Yes-it was a Sunday morning -as far as I could remember. I was always an early riser, in fact not such an early riser as  one might think. To be more precise I usually  got out of my bed within 6.30am. So-as I was saying -it was a Sunday morning when I , surprisingly awoke at about 3am. I am not sure whether somebody or something shook me or-maybe it was ....as you know ...ahem !! just a moment of apprehension ! Or was it an earthquake after all ? Well -nothing of that sort. Then it must be a hallucination, I thought. Well the entire thing began in such a way . Now here I will relate the entire episode that unfolded before me. I was always an introvert and- try as I would - I remained the same. I still remember the day when I went to a certain place (  can't remember) where I had a strange experience! It was in a certain house situated at the bank of Ganges. The house was probably known as

 Kolkata Shivaly. Varanasi Chatu Babu's Shivalay Varanasi Main Shivalay