North Kolkata Calling !!

                                           At Chatu Babu Latu Babu's Natmandir.                                            On 29th December 2013.

                                               FAR   FROM  THE MADDING  CROWD                                                               

Where is Park Street ???????

In a recent debate in Calcutta ,Andrew Connery & Ben Kornfeld  of University Of Yale expressed their views negatively.They believe that the developing countries were unable to get the rewards.Talented minds were absorbed by the westernized and rich countries.Had it been otherwise these countries (having proper resources) could have developed more rapidly. Points to ponder !!  

              Enjoying phuchkas after watching a film at Star Theatre ?                 

It was interesting to learn how Sudha Shah finally tracked  down the descendants of King Thibaw -the last ruler of Burma. One could not help but congratulate her for her effort and passion -regarding the subject-which finally helped her to produce a book (fact of fiction).

Like many other shows-Jatras too are waiting for the final nail in the coffin.It was once patronized by the Rajbaris of North Calcutta & elsewhere and gained popularity among the towns and villages of Bengal. The Chitpur Jatra para in North Calcutta have seen better days. Later artists like Shanti Gopal & other extremely bright personalities made the Natta Companies prosper & reach a certain peak. The big placards and buzz in that area seems to be diminishing and with it -we are fast losing a long cherished tradition.The Natta Co- mpanies figure came down from 140 to around 30 within ten years !

Bengali films took a backseat for a long time. However men like Rituparno Ghosh &Othrs have somewhat brought back its lost glory. Got a sudden opportunity to watch a film by Anik Dutta in a not- too- good North Calcutta cinema hall. The very first impression was that (maybe the sound system) it  was a test to ears. In fact it was quite difficult to follow what the characters were saying. The story which unfolded- in the midst of confusion- was not very unusual -although Mr.Dutta sincerely tried  to thrust his points-which  somehow came through ! The Rag To Riches ( within a short span) and its frustration was impressive. In between-the fast changing language  problem too was a point to be noted ! Mr. Dutta however was successful in saying whatever he had to say !!

Shastriya Sangeet / Hidustani Sangeet or Indian Classical Music was previously patronized by  Maharajas ,Rajas & Zamindars. Artists came from far and wide to perform and those who showed excellence in their fields were fabulously rewarded.With the advent of time things have now changed and we are aware of the present state of affairs.                            Roshan Kumari performs at Chatu Babu Latu Babu's Thakurbari with Samta Prashad (Tabla) Fakir Mohammed (Pakwaj). On stage : Bade Gulam Ali Khan,Vilayet & Imrat Khan. On front row: Ali Akbar Khan, Karamutallah Khan,Amanath & Fathe Ali.                                                      The tradition continues at Chatu Babu Latu Babu's Thakurbari !         ...

The 233 years old puja began by Ramdulal De (Deb) still continues !

Manna De lived in North Calcutta. It was a five minutes walk from our house. During those days he spent most of his time in Bombay but used to visit his home in Simla Street.There was a day when we saw him with Md Rafi , like commoners, buying  cigarettes from Ganga's Pan shop.It was not an every day sight. We were probably in our College days when we used to have regular music addas in our house.Many of us were serious about music. One among us was a die hard fan of Manna De. He was so bent upon taking music lessons from Manna De that, one day, he picked up enough courage to call at his house at Simla Street. When , in the evening , he related his experience - it was a kind of shock & awe situation for us. Manna De was in  relaxed mood when he revealed his intention. De quickly reacted " Do you know wrestling ?"My friend was simply bowled out-what a question !! When he finally replied, Manna De said" Go an...

A Sadhu's dream to solve India's economics problem !! Archaeological Survey Of India is about to uncover 1000 to 5000 tonnes of gold from a village in Uttar Pradesh. It could be around 9 times that of India's gold reserve of 557 tonnes-And sufficient to solve India"s economics problem. The gold reserve was left behind by Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh who appeared in Swami Bhaskarananda's dream and gave the information. He was directed to inform the Government which he did ! ASOI will take a week to a month's time to do the job.

Drama: Judhistir Porbo. Wrt.& Dr.-Saibal Deb. Only for Deb family members.

Last moment preparation !  

One couldn't help but wonder why the Jewish community of Calcutta drastically dwindled to only 25 as mentioned in a popular Newspaper !  There was a time when their presence and contribution was felt in various fields. Who could forget the Jewish confectionery Nahoum's in New Market which has stolen our hearts from as early as 1916. The Star Of David-synagogue was built in 1884 by E.David Ezra which still stands. It is indeed the finest synagogue in  the world-as Ambassador Alon Ushpiz mentions. We Calcuttans too are proud that it is still here and well  maintained !

Cities like Rome,Florence,Pisa,Naples,Paris etc enjoys the Unesco's World Heritage tag. If winter comes can spring be far behind !Hence Delhi,Mumbai and Ahmedabad will not be lagging behind,should India  forward nomination to the UN body. Is there any chance for Calcutta? A point to ponder ! 

Thoughts came rushing towards me and jeopardized my rational thinking. A far voice-rather voices ALL AT ONCE overpowered me and I was left without any defence ! Was it a passing mood ? Was it a vision ? WHAT WAS IT ? I heard many voices -calling, beckoning ,imploring , tantalizing  and what not ! I heard my son Mausam , ready with his Tabla , insisting me to sing my my favourite raga Ramkali. I heard my daughter Surela imploring me to  recite "The Soldier's Dream" once more. I heard my favourite student (who recently left for Canada for his PhD) apologizing for his inevitable absence on "Teacher's Day". Sorry for unleashing myself ! I picked up my Sitar and shared my feelings with Bhairavi for few moments. My thoughts receded and things became normal. What was it? A HALLUCINATION ?  

 Probably no one will disagree that a debate on the above  subject was inevitable. In fact those who seldom bothers to give a serious thought to such issues -too might be tempted to vent out their anger and frustration-given the opportunity ! Of course some might think otherwise. Sutanuti Parishad has provided that opportunity! Speakers :  For :Suman Chaterjee,Kunal Sarkar, K. Mukherjee.                   Against: Subhaprasana, Dr. Bula Bhadra,Kaushik Sen. Moderator: Anindya Mitra.  What : A debate on the mentioned subject. Where: At Sovabazar Nat Mandir. When : 30th August'13  at 6pm.

                   Old Calcutta Musical Society organised its next session on Classical Music                   &  Dance on 13th July 2013 at Chatu Babu Latu Babu's Natmandir.

It was an experience ! An experience to witness how a brand was  being artificially built within a short span. Here is the story.... It was a wedding house and the host was, of course , a very rich  person. Through his influence he successfully invited few dignitaries who were supposed to enlighten the occasion. Nothing unusual, of course, as these things have become quite normal and nobody bothers to dig deeper. Things were going in the right direction when something unusual happened.... (to continue)   

                                       WHAT :  MITALI SENGUPTA-THUMRI                                                     Accompaniment:                                                   BIVASH SANGHAI-TABLA                                                   DEBASHIS HALDER-SARENGHI                                                             ...

Biryani is perhaps the most popular dish in India.One can believe Pista House of Hyderabad if they claim that they are selling more than 7/8 Lak plates per day. But that cannot be a reasonable excuse for claiming a patient.Both the Muglai and Andhra Pradeshi influence played  important role in producing  Hyderabadi biryani which is considered the best in our country.One,however cannot deny that various forms of biryani exists. This could easily be detected  if one travels from place to place while tasting the variety !   

Let us not take any name-we could call him ram shyam or rahim. He was a happy go lucky man in the truest sense.Sometimes,though, he felt an urge to peep a little further from the laxman rekha, that he himself has built around him. This time he, unfortunately, peeped a  little too further-just, maybe to have a little more fun out of his daily round the clock life. Sorry-got himself into trouble! A trouble that took his life !! A chit fund victim ? Maybe.     

In a report by Abhinanda Datta (The Telegraph, Metro Dt.6th May 2013) it is stated" Chatubabu Latubabur Bari, now known for the family's annual Durga and Kali Puja." It is to be noted that the word 'now known' is perhaps incorrect.If one cares to search history (or the Net) one could easily find the importance of the house in various fields for centuries.Apart from Durga, Jaggadharti,Saraswati,Kali and even Kartik Puja -the Jhulan & Charak Utsab too is celebrated till now.The house is equally well known for its patronage towards Indian Classical Music ! Chatubabu himself was a musician and perhaps the first Bengali Sitarist. Eminent artists like Bade Gulam Ali Khan,Amir Khan,Udayshankar, Ravishankar, Vilayat  Khan,Roshan Kumari,Allarakha, Karamutalla etc. performed in this house. This tradition is still maintained by mainly Saibal & Mausam Deb.                        

We came to know from The Hindu (17th April 2013) that an exhibition will be held in Washington DC in December 2013.Expectation is that it will attract more than 7 million visitors. Object is to highlight the Indian- American story. As claimed by Lavina Melwani the early Indian presence dates back to 1790. Heartiest congratulations to the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History for the endeavor !

Sanyasis dancing with fire at  Chatu Babu's Bari ! Beadon Street.                 

There was tremendous optimism that India would grow quite rapidly. Some even believed that it won't be long when the country would touch and might even surpass China. This expectation grew when our growth  touched 8 per cent and our finance minister expected it to go on..adding more percentages as years passes. Finally there was a bubble bursting effect when it fell all the way to 5%. The industrial growth, especially seems to tumble to its lowest. Will FDI help? Will tourism industry bring in some respite? OR will....will will..will and a lot of wills etc.do the needful ? In the mean while Institutions, producing large numbers of educated youths, are unable to provide satisfying jobs or explanations !! Any more optimism left ?? YES I HOPE SO !!

Basanta Utsab organizer     Mausam Deb says a few words !

An event -to take place at a Heritage building of Kolkata-could attract foreign tourists visiting the city. The event name is Basant Utsab and the venue is Chatu Babu Latu Babu's Natmandir at Beadon Street.  What : A program in Indian Classical Music. When: 16th March 2013 at 6pm. Who: Mausam Deb & Saibal Kr. Deb. Contact:- debsaibal.ocms@gmail.com                                        

Yes- the air seems to be whispering and encouraging us to welcome the  coming of Vasant. In fact it has already come rather rather quietly ! So it is time to organize an event to welcome it full hearttedly . Like every year -Saibal & Mausam Deb are busy selecting artists from the Indian Classical Music world to glorify the season of spring.So here comes the Vasant Utsav -to be held soon at our venue !! Keep your eyes open for the coming event !!

Indian Classical Music, which had been the taste of Mughals,Maharajas, Rajas & Zamindars -has probably lost its flavors with lesser forms of music !!  Times have changed and hence the craving for modern forms of music.  Should we take it- that Indian Classical Music has no takers ?  

Most of us have stopped dreaming ! In fact it has become next to impossible to dream- perhaps! Except FEW ! Very FEW ! Hence the only way left  is to watch these dreams being fulfilled in TV Serials & Reality Shows ! Wonder if these  shows, at all ,care to  present these DREAMS  with minimum respect to the helpless viewers along with its  future  consequences !!!  There is also a better side to these shows. It is providing opportunity  to a large number of  artists & otrs. ! Hence-the show must go on !

It cannot be denied that growth achieved by the Asian countries (especially China & India) during the last two decades -has also  raised serious questions.Perhaps the most important area of concern encompasses around global shortage of petroleum and natural gas. Pollution, climate change etc are other fields of concern.Let us expect this growth continues but along with it rapid development of Technology to sustain it is equally essential !   

By Saibal Kr. Deb                                                    

In Indian Classical Music Tabla plays a very very important part. In fact it is considered as THE SALT which , if mixed in a rational manner, produces unique result. Wonder, if we go on spreading too much salt in a well cooked food what result could we expect !!

They were once..sorry still is..a pride of this city.Probably from the late 60s most of them left maybe for greener pastures or for reasons of their own. It is great to see them back for such gatherings where we might unexpectedly find an old pal -henceforth thought-lost forever. Welcome to the city Carvey..Malcolm..Fernandez..D'Souza and all !  Wonder if anyone remembers the Music Teacher Mr.Ludwig who was an enthusiastic pianist. 

Wonder if someone from the past suddenly appears and does the same thing which he or she had done a hundred years ago-and got recognition, perhaps, worldwide -would at present get  the slightest  of it !! It was very unfortunate for the author to listen to a legendary musician's recording which proved very common in comparison to what he often hears from nowadays musicians !! Recording & feedback system has changed ? What else has changed?

It is said that the present catch of hilsas have become poorer by at least 50,000 tonnes within 40 years.Interestingly Bangladesh's  yield has shown a reversed curve.  Among other reasons the construction of the Farakka Barrage in 1971 is perhaps the most important one -held responsible for the dwindling production. Let us, however, expect that the research programme of Indian Council Of Agricultural Research(ICAR) will give us hope and help to raise the hilsa production in the near future!

One really cannot help but wonder how publishers tackle their bottom line -given the present situation where individual buyers seems to be dwindling with every passing days. It is perhaps true that majority publishers depend too much on various libraries to absorb their out put-but it is equally true that libraries too need  avid readers to upkeep their expenses. We could already see and feel how electronics age is fast becoming irresistible for publishers but the question -Is publishing just like any other kind of so called  business where profit is the main driving force! Will  there be adequate scope for Art to survive in future ?  

There was a time when various agency houses like John Palmer, John Ferguson,William Fairlie etc were doing brisk business in Calcutta ! An urge was felt to set up a ship building dockyard at Khiddirpur. Hence came the first dockyard of Calcutta which was  built by Col Henry Watson, the Chief Engineer of the Company.