North Kolkata Calling !!

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.