In this blog i will try to give a brief feature of Bengal and its food habits along with some famous recipes in my next blog. Let us start with bazaars for whole food cycle.The Bengali bazaar or market can be classified into two groups viz. Vegetable Bazaar & Fish Bazaar. It is a common scene a Bengali babu holding a pair of fish with pride. The vegetable market is generally an open air market and its a known fact Bengal has lot to offer in terms of vegetables and fruits. Sealdah market, Gariahat Market etc. of Kolkata and Polton Bazaar of Dhaka can be seen as the busiest markets. A host of gourds, roots & tubers, leafy greens, succulent stalks, lemons & limes, green and purple eggplants, red onions, plantain, broad beens, okra, banana tree stems and flowers, green jack fruit and red pumpkins are just some of what you’ll see if you visit!

Fish Market which is referred as ‘Macher Bazaar’ in Bengali has also lot to offer.No state in India can offer you so many Fish options.It is very intersting to know visitors from outside Kolkata visit Fish Markets as a tourist spot.They are fascinated by the lively koi (climbing perch), the wriggling catfish family of tangra, magur, shingi and the pink-bellied Indian butter fish, the pabda. Among the larger fish, rui (rohu) and bhetki weigh upto eight kilograms. Baskets of pink and silvery ilish (hilsa) match the shine on the glistening blade of the fishmonger’s boti. And the fish itself is eaten from top to tail!

No straight from the market the Bengali Babus hand over all the shopping items to their wives called “Ginni’ and his duty is over. Now Ginni Maa will move to kitchen for the preparation. If we have a close look inside a Bengali Kitchen we can find so many special Utensils and Masalas that are unique only to Bengal.The kitchen also called ‘ranna Ghor’ or ‘Ranna Bari’ was used as a purpose of cooking. However storage and Eatery areas were different. Its quite intersting to know that separate Charcoal and woods were used to cook Vegetables, Rice,Fish or Mutton.But now Electric Gas is very commonly used.Among the cooking vessels that include are the karais (woks) where most of the cooking and frying is done, the tawa (griddle) on which rotis and parathas are made, the handi – a special large pot for cooking rice and the handleless modification of the sauce pan – the rimmed, deep, flat-bottomed dekchi are all hallmarks of the Bengali kitchen. And of course you will also find the pressure cooker which is indispensable to any Indian kitchen. As for the other utensils you absolutely can’t do without the hatha (ladle), the khunti (metal spatula), the jhanjri (perforated spoon), the sharashi (pincers to remove vessels from the fire), the ghuntni (wooden hand blender) for pureing dal and the old wooden chaki belon (round pastry board and rolling pin).The action in the kitchen begins with the cutting of fish and vegetables and the grinding of spices. And this is when the two star attractions of the Bengali kitchen – the sil nora (grinding stone) and the boti (a cutting tool) appear. The items to be ground are put on the heavy sil, a pentagonal slab of stone and are crushed over and over by its moving partner the nora, a smooth black stone you hold with your hands. This inseperable pair lasts longer than a lifetime and is usually handed down from mother-in-law to daughter-in-law.

Common Bengali Style Cooking :
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1. Ambal : A sour dish either made by vegetables or fish.The Ambal is preapared with the pulp of Tamarind.
2. Bhaja : Fried items.Aloo Bhaja, Potol (Parwaal) Bhaja, Begun Bhaja (baingan) or Fish (Maach Bhaja) are famous.
3. Bhapa : Steamed vegetables and Fish.Ilish Bhappa is a world famous dish from Bengal.
4. Bhuna : An Urdu term used for fried items, fried for long time along with spices.Meats are used to bhoona items.
5. Chachari : A Vegetable item with varities of vegetables cut into pieces,sometimes with the stalks of leafy greens added, all lightly seasoned with spices like mustard or poppy seeds and flavoured with a phoron. The skin and bone of large fish like bhetki or chitol can be made into a chachchari called kanta-chachchari, kanta, meaning fish-bone.
6. Chanchra : A mixed vegetable item.Fish head is also used.
7. Dalna : Mixed vegetable or eggs are used to make dalna.Spices are added and the preparation is little thick pulpy.
8. Dam : Vegetables and specially meat cooked in a covered pot and cooked slowly over a low heat.
9. Ghonto : A mixed vegetable item, vegetables grounded finely and cooked with both a phoron and ground spices.
10. Jhal : Literally, hot. A great favorite in West Bengali households, this is made with fish or shrimp or crab, first lightly fried and then cooked in a light sauce of ground red chilli or ground mustard and a flavoring of panch-phoron or kala jeera. Being dryish it is often eaten with a little bit of dal pored over the rice.
11. A light fish or vegetable stew seasoned with ground spices like ginger, cumin, coriander, chili and turmeric with pieces of fish and longitudinal slices of vegetables floating in it. The gravy is thin yet extremely flavorful. Whole green chillies are usually added at the end and green corriander leaves are used to season for extra taste.
12. Kalia : A rich preparation of Fish, Meat or Vegetables along with Ghee and garam masala.
13. Koftas : It is also called Boras in Bengali.Prepared with vegetables and minced meat. It is served with thick Gravies.
14. Korma : Another term of Urdu origin, meaning meat or chicken cooked in a mild yogurt based sauce with ghee instead of oil.
15. Pora : It is an item usually burnt over furnaces (Unun-In Bengali).Brinjal, Parwaal Tomatoe are famous Poras. It is a custom to take Pora at the begining of Meal.”Porar Mukhe Sob Bhalo” (Taking Pora will make your Tongue taste better) is a famous saying.
16. Tarkari : A general term often used in Bengal the way `curry’ is used in English. Originally from Persian, the word first meant uncooked garden vegetables. From this it was a natural extension to mean cooked vegetables or even fish and vegetables cooked together.

Serving Bengali Foods:
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Traditional way to serve Bengali foods is something like this: Separate Small Carpets also called ‘Asans’ are arranged for each individual.In front of Asan large platter made of bell metal/steel or on a large piece of fresh cut banana leaf is placed.In arround the platter there will be an array of Bowls called ‘Bati’ in Bengali are arranged which contains Chicken,Mutton,Fish,Dal,Tarkari,Shukto,Chutney,Deserts.In the centre of the platter hot Rice is served along with a slice of lime and salt allong with green chillies.Fried items are kept at one side.At the centre of the rice fresh pure Ghee is poured.

In Bengal people use their hands to eat food,otherwise how it is possible to eat the fish Like Ilish or Koi that contains Hectic bones.Also scientifically eating with hands gives a separte taste to foods and a great satisfaction.The other peculiarity about the Bengali eating scene is the unashamed accululation of remnants. Since succulent vegetable stalks, fish bones and fish heads, meat and chicken bones are all meticulously chewed until not a drop of juice is left inside, heaps of chewed remnants beside each plate are an inevitable part of a meal. Wether you have one or twenty dishes,in Bengal the eating style is to have each dish separetly with rice n order to savour its individual bouquet.Vegetables, especially the bitter ones, are the first item followed by dal, perhaps accompanied by fries or fritters of fish and vegetables. After this comes any of the complex vegetable dishes like ghanto or chachchari, followed by the important fish jhol as well as other fish preparations. Meat will always follow fish, and chutneys and ambals will provide the refreshing touch of tartness to make the tongue anticipate the sweet dishes.

How Bengali food differs with any other food culture in India?
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Bengal has innumerable lakes and ponds and the availability of fishes are countless.The preaparation of fishes are different from rest of India.The style you will never find else where in India.Fishes are steamed or braised and also they are prepared with vegetables and usage of mustard paste is seen commonly. Poppyseeds are very famous and used in varieties of fish preparation.Not only fish ‘Posto’ is a very famous food for all Bengali.

Bengali master in Vegetable cooking. They prepare varieties of dishes out of the vegetables that grow here.Not only this various ‘Ambroisal’ foods are prepared from left overs like ejected peels, stalks and leaves of vegetables.They use fuel-efficient methods, such as steaming fish or vegetables in a small covered bowl nestled at the top of the rice cooker.

The usage of spices both for Fish dishes and vegetable dishes are unique and this combination cannot be found in Rest of India.Example can be Kalonji (Kalo Jeere) and pach phoron. Panch phoron is a five-spice (a mixture of cumin, fennel, fenugreek, kalonji, and black mustard). The trump card card of Bengali cooking probably is the addition of this phoran, a combination of whole spices, fried and added at the start or finish of cooking as a flavouring special to each dish.Black Mustard are very famous among Bengali cuisines and is highly used as paste.

Bengali sweets are really unique not over in India but also over the world. Rassgollas, Kheer Kodom, Malai Chop, Sor Bhaja, Rajbhog, Sita Bhog, Mihidana, Doi and lots and lots to name.

Edward VIII was born on 23rd June 1884 at White Lodge, Richmond in England. He was the eldest son of King George V and the Duchess of York. He was under the care of his misters and nanny until a certain age. He was formally educated at his home by Helen Bricka and studied in various colleges like Osborne Naval College, Royal Naval College at Dartmouth and Magdalene College, Oxford. He served for a brief period in British army during the First World War and also performed his specific Royal duties.

Meeting and Relationship with Mrs. Simpson:

In 1930 his father King George V gifted him a mansion Fort Belvedere, near Sunningdale, England. There he had relationship with several married women like American Textile heiress Freda Dudley Ward, American Film actress Mildred Harris, Lady Furness. Lady Furness for the first time introduced Mrs. Wallis Simpson (Future wife of the prince). Mrs. Simpson at that time had already divorced her first husband and was married to Mr. Ernest Simpson. It was a known fact Mrs. Simpson and the prince had fallen in love with each other when Lady Furness was on tour, though he adamantly told his father The King that he is not having any intimate relationship with Mrs. Simpson. On his accession to the Throne of the British Empire on 20th January 1936, he broke the royal rule by watching the proclamation of his own accession to the throne from a window of St. James’s Palace in the company of the then still-married Mrs. Simpson.

On 16th November 1936, he called his Prime Minister Mr. Stanley Baldwin at Buckingham palace and expressed his desire to marry Mrs. Simpson. Baldwin informed him that there will be huge chaos among his subject if he marries Mrs. Simpson as the Church of England doesn’t permits to marry a divorcee. People will not tolerate Mrs. Simpson as their new queen. Edward proposed a morganatic marriage in which Edward will remain a King but Wallis Simpson will not be a queen and she will enjoy less titles and status. Any children born to them will not be in line of succession to the throne. This was also overthrown by the British Cabinet and other Dominion Governments as stated by the Statue of Westminster, 1931 which states

“Any alteration in the law touching the Succession to the Throne or the Royal Style and Titles shall hereafter require the assent as well of the Parliaments of all the Dominions as of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.”

The Prime Minister of Australia, Canada and South Africa made clear that they are against the marriage of the king with a divorcee and the Irish Dominion remained neutral while the Prime Minister of New Zealand, having never even heard of Mrs. Simpson before, vacillated in disbelief. With lot of opposition from every where king first responded that “there are not many people in Australia, so their decision doesn’t matter”. Edward told Baldwin that he will abduct his throne for Mrs. Simpson. Baldwin gave him three options: give up the idea of marriage; marry against his ministers’ wishes; or abdicate. Edward can’t live without Mrs. Simpson and he also knew that if he marries against the advice of his ministers then there can be a resignation from minister’s side and can create a constitutional crisis. He opted for abduction.

Edward duly signed the abduction instruments at Fort Belvedere on 10 December 1936, in the presence of his three surviving brothers The Duke of York, The Duke of Gloucester and The Duke of Kent.

At the night of 11 December 1936, who is now remained with a title of Prince Edward, broadcasted to the nation, his all explanations of abdication. In his famous quotes he said

“I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.”

At that night Edward departed United Kingdom for Austria and waited for several months for Mrs. Simpson over there until she was ready to get married.

Life after the abduction:

As soon as his brother Duke of York (George VI) came to throne he immediately announced his decision to make his brother Edward as the Duke of Windsor and awarded him highest degree of the British Empire. By making Edward as the Duke of Windsor George VI made sure that he could neither stand for election to the House of Commons nor speak on political subjects in the House of Lords.

The letters patent dated 27 May 1937, which re-conferred upon the Duke of Windsor, the “title, style, or attribute of Royal Highness”, specifically stated that “his wife and if any children cannot hold this title”. Many minister suggested his title cannot be conferred since he is not related to royal duties in any case. On the other hand some insisted marrying a prince will automatically have “Her Highness” title for Mrs. Simpson. On 14th April 1937, a memorandum submitted by Attorney General Sir Donald Somervell submitted to Home Secretary Sir John Simon which summarizes the view of Lord Advocate T. M. Cooper, Parliamentary Counsel Sir Granville Ram and himself, to the effect that:

· We incline to the view that on his abdication the Duke of Windsor could not have claimed the right to be described as a Royal Highness. In other words, no reasonable objection could have been taken if the King had decided that his exclusion from the lineal succession excluded him from the right to this title as conferred by the existing Letters Patent.

· The question however has to be considered on the basis of the fact that, for reasons which are readily understandable, he with the express approval of His Majesty enjoys this title and has been referred to as a Royal Highness on a formal occasion and in formal documents. In the light of precedent it seems clear that the wife of a Royal Highness enjoys the same title unless some appropriate express step can be and is taken to deprive her of it.

· We came to the conclusion that the wife could not claim this right on any legal basis. The right to use this style or title, in our view, is within the prerogative of His Majesty and he has the power to regulate it by Letters Patent generally or in particular circumstances.

Edward married Simpson on 3rd June 1937 at Château de Candé, near Tours, France, without the consent of Church of England. George VI, his brother ordered every family member not to attend the marriage but Edward wished the presence of his brothers the Dukes of Gloucester and Kent and his second cousin Lord Louis Mountbatten. After the marriage there was a huge conflict for not granting the status of “Her Royal Highness” to Duchess of Windsor (Mrs. Simpson acquired this title by default after getting married to Edward, Duke of Windsor. Also after marriage she changed her name to Wallis Warfield). Also there were a lot of financial settlements with the allowance that the new king was supposed to pay him. Also the Government refused to include him in the civil list. Edward possessed all his wealth from Duchy of Cornwall and the new King and Queen was forced to give him Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle. These properties were Edward’s personal property, inherited from his father, King George V, and thus did not automatically pass to George VI on his accession. Relation went bitter and bitter with his family and Edward once have written to his Mother Mary of Teck that

“Your last letter destroyed the last vestige of feeling I had left for you … and has made further normal correspondence between us impossible.”

The Duke(Edward ) was in a hope that he would return to England after a year or two of exile in France, but his brother George VI (the new king) with the support from their mother Queen Mary and his wife Queen Elizabeth threatened Edward that if he comes to England without any invitation, then his allowance can be stopped.

In his last days….

The couple settled in France. The French government provided them with a house in Paris with a nominal rent. French Government also exempted him from paying any taxes. In his last days he authored many books including the famous “A King’s Story” and “A family Album” that stated the style of the royal family starting from Queen Victoria.

He was paid for writing in Sunday Express and Women’s Home Companion, as well as a short book, The Crown and the People. He visited USA on the invitation of President Eisenhower and President Nixon invited the couple as a special guest of honor.

The Royal family never fully accepted the duchess and Queen Mary (mother of Edward) refused her to be a part. However, Duke sometimes met his mother (Queen Mary) and his brother King George VI. He also attended the funeral of the King. In 1965, the couple returned to London and attended various family gatherings.

In the late 1960s health of Duke deteriorated. Queen Elizabeth (Daughter of George VI and the new ruler of England) visited him on a state visit to France in 1972. On that year, May 28 Edward passed away peacefully from throat cancer. He was a smoker from an early age. His body was returned to Britain, lying in state at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The funeral service was held in the chapel on 5 June in the presence of the Queen, the Royal Family, and the Duchess of Windsor, and the coffin was buried in the Royal Burial Ground behind the Royal Mausoleum of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at Frogmore. The Duchess stayed at Buckingham Palace during her visit. Increasingly senile and frail, the Duchess died 14 years later, and was buried alongside her husband simply as “Wallis, Duchess of Windsor”.

With all this tremendous situation love for each other never deceased. They loved each other at any conditions. For Love the King became a beggar. This is what a true love is. May god bless every couple with this kind of feeling. Long Live the King!!!

Satyajit was born in the famous family of Roy Chowdhury originally a zamindar(LandLords) family from Mymensingh district in East-Bengal. He was born on 2nd May, 1921, in Kolkata to Suprabha Ray and Sukumar Ray , a great writer and creator of “Abol Tabol” (Nonsense Rhymes) and various other children stories. His Grandfather was Upendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury a great writer, illustrator, philosopher, publisher, amateur astronomer and a leader of the Brahmo Samaj, a religious and social movement in nineteenth century Bengal. Satyajit studied in Presidency College and at Santiniketan (Viswa-Bharati University). Satyajit initially started his career as a commercial artist and then he finally shifted his career to film making after meeting French filmmaker Jean Renoir and viewing the Italian neorealist film Bicycle Thieves during a visit to London.

Achievements:

Ray directed over 32 films, including various documentaries, short films and feature films. He was not only a great director but he was also a great film critic like his father. He was also a fiction writer, publisher, illustrator, graphic designer. Ray’s first film was Pather Pachali, a legend in Bengali film industry. It won eleven international prizes, including Best Human Document at the Cannes film festival. The Apu trilogy includes

• Pather Pachali,
• Apu’s Sansar and
• Aparajito.

Ray did the

1. scripting,
2. casting,
3. scoring,
4. cinematography,
5. art direction,
6. editing and
7. designed his own credit titles and publicity material.

Awards

To his credit, Ray won many national and international awards and prizes that includes 32 National Film Awards, a number of international awards, and an Academy Honorary Award in 1992.

His Films

Some of the greatest films ever produced in Bengali Film industry were directed b him, however not only Bengali but Indian film industry took benefit out of his qualities directed.

• Pather Pachali,
• Apu’r Sansar,
• Aparajito, Charulata (The Lonely Wife),
• Devi, Kanchanjungha,
• Nayak are his some of the greatest works.

Children stories

• Joy Baba Felunath(The Elephant God),
• Sonar Kella (The Golden Fort),
• Gupi Gayen-Bagha Bayen,
• Hirok Raja’r Desh e,
• Gupi Bagha Fire Elo are a few name to mention.

On his later creation, he created

• Aguntuk,
• Shakha Proshaka,
• Ganashutru,
• Ghaire Baire.

Ray has made various literary works for children. Feluda (A fictional Detective named Pradosh C. Mitter) is a very popular character among children. Various films like Sonar Kella, Joy Baba Felunath was made by him. There are lots of stories published on Feluda like:

• Bombay er Bombette (The Buccaneers of Bombay),
• Gorosthane Sabdhan (Beware In Graveyard),
• Chhinnamastar Abhishap (The Curse of Goddess),

and many many others. His Son Sandip Ray has made films based on some of the Feluda Story like

1. Bombay er Bombette (The Buccaneers of Bombay),
2. Kailash e Kelenkari (A Killer in Kailash).

His Characters:

• Other characters Like Professor Shanku (Scientist) is pretty famous among children.
• Tarini Khuro (Uncle Tarini ), a character not very famous is also awesome.

His AutoBiography

He has also written an auto biography of himself “Jokhon Choto Chilam” (When i was a kid) and and essays on film: Our Films, Their Films (1976), along with Bishoy Chalachchitra (1976), Ekei Bole Shooting (1979). Our Films, Their Films is an anthology of film criticism by Ray. The book contains articles and personal journal excerpts. His book Bishoy Chalachchitra was translated in 2006 as Speaking of Films, and contains a compact description of his philosophy of different aspects of the cinema. Ray also wrote a collection of nonsense verse named Today Bandha Ghorar Dim, which includes a translation of Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky”. He also authored a collection of humorous stories of Mullah Nasiruddin in Bengali.

Ray’s work is often described as full of universality and humanism and always underlying great and complex thinking. The great and legendary Akira Kurosawa, who declared,

“Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon.”But his detractors find his films glacially slow, moving like a “majestic snail.

Ray’s work has highly appreciated by legendaries like Jean-Luc Godard, V.S Naipaul,Stanley Kauffman,Mrinal Sen. Though once V.S Naipaul had criticized his movie “Shatraanj Ke Khilari” with a Shakespeare play.

Ray has always been bestowed with great awards through out his life. He has been awarded with 32 National Film Awards by the Government of India. He was only among the three to win Silver Bear for Best Director twice in Berlin Film Festival and holds the record for the most Golden Bear nominations (seven times). Venice Film Festival, where he had previously won a Golden Lion for Aparajito (1956), he was awarded the Golden Lion Honorary Award in 1982.That same year, he also received an honorary “Hommage à Satyajit Ray” award at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival. Ray is only after Chaplin to receive Honorary Doctorate degree from Oxford University. He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1985 and the Legion of Honor by the President of France in 1987.The Government of India awarded him the highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna shortly before his death. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded Ray an honorary Oscar in 1992 for Lifetime Achievement.In 1992 he received posthumously Akira Kurosawa Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing at the San Francisco International Film Festival, it was received by Sharmila Tagore. Entertainment Weekly magazine, In 1996,ranked Satyajit Ray at #25 in its “50 Greatest Directors” list. The Sight & Sound critics’ and directors’ poll ranked Ray at #22 in its list of all-time greatest directors in 2002.Total Film magazine included Ray in its “100 Greatest Film Directors Ever” list in the year 2007.

Satyajit Ray passed away peacefully on 23 April 1992 in Kolkata. He lives in the heart of every Indians specially all Bengalis across the border along with his wife Bijoya Das, his son Sandip Ray and Grandson. The Legend of the Indian Film Industry can never be forgotten and we remember him on this Birthday with great respect.

Gaither Stewart Says in his note that : “Though Communism always proclaimed itself godless and anti-religious, its adherents have been compared to Jesuits as a result of the rigorous dogma of their faith, the iron discipline, their passionate loyalty and confidence in the future. Therefore the historical tendency, especially among ex-Communists, to label Communism a religion and the Manifesto a holy book.”

Great English Historian R.N. Carew Hunt in his Theory and Practice of Communism labeled Communism ?the largest mass movement since the rise of Christianity.? Historians has always tried to put a bogus tag on communism that it is a religion and stated a striking dogma about it.But,Communists believe communism can be seen in many religion,many of its ideas can be seen in Islam,Hinduism and Christanity, but as a whole it is not a religion.Communism is not even an ideal.Marx and Engels wrote that Communism was ?a movement which abolishes the present state of things.?

A scholastic approach and investigation says communism emerged from religious movement in Germany.It emerged as a way to replace modern Christianity with Humanism.Marx?s forerunners, the Young Hegelians of the early Nineteenth century, believed in the imminent fall of Christianity, to be replaced by a new humanist faith. Christianity that transformed the natural communal character of man into a union of each individual with a personal God was responsible for the individualism of modern society. Young Hegelian and other philosophers claimed that Communism rested on the religious conception of the essence of man.

Thus Communism can be based on the belief of humanity.If forced,communism can be considered as a religion based on human values.Its a movement for the people and of the people.If a movement can be tagged with some religion then that’s fine!Critics can question about the economic performance of communist principle against market based economies,their principles against religion is the only way that can protect this world from burning against terrorism.State Atheism is a very good phenomenon that must be imposed if we really want to save our “GOD created earth”.

“Religious distress is at the same time the expression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions.”

(Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right ).

Lenin the other face of communism in USSR also qouted

“Atheism is a natural and inseperable part of Marxism, of the theory and practice of scientific socialism”

The term Religion is important for the majority sect of people in all over the world, but it raise a question “wether religion is really necessary to lead a peaceful life?”. It will be decided by the people of the world when the time will come. There are some communists although, who has termed a new name for communism called “Religious Communism”.

Let us take in depth with this religious communism. Religious communism is based actually on some religious principles and its followers merge with secular communists in abolitionism of capitalism. It is based on the principle that some people volunteer themselves their personal belongings so that each and every people can have a little share and miserable condition of people can get a little reduced. The main motto of this principle is that “Let people work according to their ability”.

In religious communism the ideology is that to apply religion in the field of communism. Here some criticism can be done like how can an intellectual apply religion to communism is a good question and great food for thought. Religious communism is advocated by great philosophers like Fran-ois Babeuf who coined a great term

“Society must be made to operate in such a way that it eradicates once and for all the desire of a man to become richer, or wiser, or more powerful than others.”

Various religion like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christians support to this ideas.

Islam directly does not have any fundas of ‘Religious Communism’. But to some extent Zakat and Riba are in favour of Religious Communism, in the sense that zakat refers to the system of donating some of a personals income to some one and that is what religious communism supports. Riba is a system for usury and is totally forbidden in Islam as stated in Quran. Verses like

“That they took riba, though they were forbidden and that they devoured men’s substance wrongfully? We have prepared for those among men who reject faith a grievous punishment (Qur’an 4:161)”

and

“O you who believe, you shall not take riba, compounded over and over. Observe God, that you may succeed. (Qur’an 3:130)”

clearly states how Islam does not allow Riba.The same principles appears for Religious Communism.

According to christian beliefs that supports the view of “christian communism” states that after a year of death and resurrection of Jesus Christ a little group including the apostles formed a small group of christian communists. To some extent according to many Christians The Holy Bible compels them to follow communism. Some biblical verses like ACT 2 and 4 states that Christians lived in communist society.There are numerous other quotes that are taken from ‘Synoptic Gospel’ that defines the life and ministry of Jesus.There are various quotes that suggests the idea. An example can be

“49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.” (Gospel of Luke (1:49-53), Mary delivered the following description of the works of God).

The above statement clearly shows the idea of Religious Communism.

I met this person in Facebook (Thanks Facebook). I remembered the date. It was December 15th,2008 and the exact time was 7:36 PM. I found him commenting about some controversial topic. He was continuously fighting with some Pakistanis, who were saying something really bad about his country, Bangladesh. I supported his views and i sent him a message on Facebook. He replied me with a happy message and we became friends.We started becoming closer to each other sharing various view points about our Bengal. I used to tell him about Kolkata and he used to tell me about his motherland Dhaka.

Our relation was only based on social networking through facebook not more than that, but still this person became my friend, mentor and guide. Delwar Hossain Khan, the name that brings smile and happiness on everyone’s face, was a great person as far as i have analyzed him. He possessed immense knowledge on every subject regardless of history, medicine or religion…you name it and Delwaar Da was always there to give you an idea about the topic. A great entrepreneur with a great vision for Bangladesh and its people.

Within a short time of period he became really close to me. He used to get worried when i fall sick some time and was hospitalized. He even told my friend Dr. Maqbool Hussain that he is going to pray (Dua) for me so that i can recover soon. Dada was so conscious about my health that he once asked Maqbool to give the number of the doctor, so that he can directly ask doctor about my health. I can say only one thing that people can become so close to each other, even they don’t know each other, they became so close that it really hurts if he or she leaves us suddenly.

Delwaar Da, you are a great person. I will never forget you.You are my dada, you are my guide to show me correct path. Dada, wherever you are please bless me with your love and remember you didn’t keep your promise to meet me. Why you left us alone to cry? Dada…may God bless you with His choicest blessings. Joy Bangla…Joy Bangali was your favorite qoute. Joy Bangla dada..for you….Love you Mr.Khan!

Editor’s Note: Delwaar Hossain Khan was a common friend on Facebook. He was a kind heart man and always helped everyone understand what are the actual facts on several things. He passed away with Cardiac Arrest.

Readers of Pakistan Time along with Team of Pakistan Times pray for him that May Allah bless his soul and award higher levels in Heaven. And give patience to the family of bereaved; bear this loss. Ameen

Bengali New Year is generally celebrated on 14th of April in Bangladesh as decided by the Bangla Academy and on 15th April it is celebrated in India. History reveals that Bengal, a land whose sons have always struggled for their language against imposition of any other language, is really proud to celebrate this festival. With new clothes and smiles Bengalis distribute sweets among each other and go to Temples and Mosques for prayers. A typical Bengali Babu dresses for poila baisakh in “dhooti & panjabi” or “loongi and panjabi”. Kids generally wear kurta and payjamas and ladies like to take “lal paar sari”. Pohela Boishakh( New Year) joins all ethnic Bengalis irrespective of religious and regional differences.

History of Bengali Calendar :
The Bengali calendar or Bangabda is used in West Bengal, Bangladesh, Assam and Tripura.The Hindu solar calendar based on the Surya Siddhanta that commences in mid-April of the Gregorian year. The first day of this calendar is celebrated as the traditional New Year. It is according to the Bhaskar (Sun) Era, pioneered by Emperor Akbar in 1584 AD.

The calendar was initially named as Tarikh-e-Elahi. The months of the Bengali year(or Tarikh-e-Elahi) were primarily recognized as Karwadin, Ardi, ‘Vihisu, Khordad, Teer, Amardad, Shahriar, Aban, Azur, Dai, Baham and Iskander Miz. It is assumed that the present names of months are kept before the names of the stars. This is introduced from the Shakabda in 78 A.D. to honor the sovereignty of the Shaka.

THE NAMES OF THE MONTHS DERIVING FROM STARS—
1. Baishakh from the star Bishakha
2. Jiashthya from Jaishtha
3. Ashara from Shar
4. Sraban from Srabani
5. Bhadra from Bhadrapada
6. Ashwin from Aswaini
7. Kartik from Kartika
8. Agrahayon from Agraihon
9. Poush from Poushya
10. Magh from Magha
11. Falgun from Falguni, and
12. Chaitra from Chitra stars.

Some argue that, Shashanka, king of Bengal, introduced Bengali calendar to memorialize his invasion of Assam.

It is said that under the Mughal era taxes were collected according to the ‘hijri’ calendar. But since it is a total lunatic calendar so it doesn’t coincide with harvest time. So, in order to maintain; Emperor Akbar tried to formulate a new calendar with the help of Fatehullah Shirazi, the great astronomer from Bengal. He organized the Bengali year on the basis of the Hijri lunar and Hindu solar calendars. The new agricultural year was introduced on 11 March 1584.The new year subsequently became known as Bonggabdo or Bengali year.

Tradition is to clear up all dues on the last day of Choitro. On the first day of the new year, landlords would distribute sweets among tenants. On this occasion fairs are organized. The occasion has became a part of domestic and social life. The main event of the day is to open a halkhata or new book of accounts. This was wholly a financial affair. In villages, towns and cities, traders and businessmen closed their old account books and opened new ones. They used to invite their customers to share sweets and renew their business relationship with them. This tradition is still practiced, especially by jewelers.

Celebrations In Kolkata :
Baisakh is considered as a very pious time to conduct marriages and other productive activities. On this day people wear new clothes and decorates their house with ‘rangoli’ which is called ‘alpana’ in Bengali. Choitra the end month of the year is generally a very hectic month and garment dealers give clothes at heavy discount popularly called choitra sale in Kolkata. Cultural programs are organized and prayers are offered with families. Ladies wear white sarees with Red Border and men Dhooti Panjabi and take part in ‘probhat pheri’ procession to welcome the new year.

This day being auspicious, new businesses and new ventures are started. The Mahurat is performed, marking the beginning of new ventures.Traders go to ganga ghat (babu ghat) and open new account books called halkhata. Priests enchant mantras and draws shostik (“Hindu swastika”). Long queues of devotees are seen in front of the Kalighat temple from late night. Devotees offer puja(worship) to receive the blessings of the almighty. On Poila Boishakh various fairs are held in West Bengal. The most famous of these is Bangla Sangit Mela, held at Nandan-Rabindra Sadan ground. This fair is conducted by the Government of West Bengal. People visit their relative’s place and have typical bengali ‘addas’.

Clebration in Dhaka:
Dhaka and all parts of Bangladesh celebrate this festival by their heart. They clean up their homes and take bath early.They visit their friends and relatives and have typical addas. On poila baisakh whole of Dhaka gets colored.

Boisakhi fairs are very famous in all over Bangladesh and handicrafts and toys, clothes etc are exhibited. Also varieties of sweet are and foods are prepared in these fairs.The fairs also provide entertainment, with singers and dancers staging jatra (traditional plays), pala gan, kobigan, jarigan, gambhira gan, gazir gan and alkap gan. They present folk songs as well as baul, marfati, murshidi and bhatiali songs.

Traditional folk plays like Laila-Majnu,Yusuf-Zulekha and Radha-Krishna are staged. Among other attractions of these fairs are the puppet shows and merry-go-rounds.The most colorful new year’s day festival takes place in Dhaka. Large numbers of people gather early in the morning under the banyan tree at Ramna Park where Chhayanat artists open the day with Rabindranath Tagore’s famous song, Esho,he Boishakh, Esho Esho (Come, O Boishakh, Come, Come).

A similar ceremony welcoming the new year is also held at the Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. Students and teachers of the institute take out a colorful procession and parade round the campus. Social and cultural organizations celebrate the day with cultural programs. Newspapers bring out special supplements. There are also special programs on radio and television.

The historical importance of Poiela Boishakh in the Bangladeshi context may be dated from the observance of the day by Chhayanat in 1965. In an attempt to suppress Bengali culture, the Pakistani Government had banned poems written by Rabindranath Tagore, the most famous poet and writer in Bengali literature. Protesting this move, Chhayanat opened their Pohela Boishakh celebrations at Ramna Park with Tagore’s song welcoming the month. The day continued to be celebrated in East Pakistan as a symbol of Bengali culture. After 1972 it became a national festival, a symbol of the Bangladesh nationalist movement and an integral part of the people’s cultural heritage. Later, in the mid- 1980s the Institute of Fine Arts added color to the day by initiating the Boishakhi parade, which is much like a carnival parade.

However, Bengalis are the people who enjoys their life at best forgetting all grievances and forgiving every one.The grass, the skies, trees ? every natural object seems beautiful and glows with delight and cheerfulness. To each and every Bengali, it is an occasion of joviality to enjoy with immense merriment, in all possible way. Special dishes are prepared on this day. I would like to invite every one to visit the Bengal at this day and see how Bengalis welcome you with their wide open smiley hearts.Visit Kolkata or Dhaka the zeal is same. No border can break the unity of Bengalis.
Happy new year to all.

Some of the prominent Bhoot famous in Bengal are as follows:

* Shankchunni: A female ghost. Usually married women who dies prematurely and unsatisfied with her married life. According to other view a women during her married life if having an extra marital affair and dies prematurely becomes a Shankchunni. Danger: It is said that they stay in trees and whenever they see a young attractive young man she immediately catch him ups and don’t leave him till he dies.Wow! What a love!

* Petni: Another version of beautiful lady ghost. A story is regarding petnis like this, once a zamindar Babu (LandLord) named Prafulla Kumar Ghosh from Faridpur (Now in Bangladesh) was roaming in the field at night. He suddenly noticed a very beautiful lady was sitting on a tree. She was wearing a red saree (tradition Indian dress) along with a red Bindi (Part of Benagli Makeup put on forehead) and all her hairs were waving in air. Zamindar Babu immediately fell in love and she was also smiling at him. Zamindar asked her who is she and what she is doing on the top of the tree at late night. She said she is a simple girl, since her father was forcing her to get married with an old man she ran away from home and hidden in the branches of this tree. Zamindar babu immediately asked her to get married with him. She replied that she can marry on a condition. The condition was that zamindar will have to take a dive in water pond and fetch fish for her. His success was guarantee to marriage. The tragedy was that when Zamindar dived in the pond he never came out and nor the fish. On the next day his body was found in pond. People beleived that Yamini Petni has killed him who has died 90 years ago. She was an unsatisfied woman and committed suicide.

* Chorachunni: They are mischievous ghosts and usually are the ghosts of Thieves. They come out in the night of “Purnima” (Full Moon Night) and break into homes of peoples. It is interesting question that How people can protect their homes from them? Commonly believed that an iron nail purified with Ganga Jal nailed in in the door is effective remedy to keep these ghosts away from home. Also “Satyanarayan Katha” Can be help full.

* PenchPenchi: They look like owls and exist in form of couples as one is female and other is male. They keep following people to jungle and kill them and eat them up.

* Nishi : These are supposed really dangerous. They call people by their names at night. People get hypnotized and go with them and never return. Interestingly few tantrics (magicians) keep Nishi as their pets and use these to take revenges from people.

* Mamdo Bhoot: These are ghost of Muslims according to Hindus.

* Brahmadaitto or Brahmodatti: They are spirits of Brahmins. They generally appear in a white dhoti (Traditional dress in form of a loose fabric tied on waist) with a sacred thread on this body. It is said that when a Brahmin dies and if they die prematurely they become Brahmadaitto or Brahmodatti. Also if a Brahmin dies without his threads then also he can become a Brahmadaitto or Brahmodatti. They are sacred ghost. It is believed that if they bless someone; one can achieve goals. But annoying or irritating them make them dangerous. They live in Banyan tree or Apple tree. They also live in open terrace. They sometime look like Hindu deity Shiva.

* Aleya: Marsh gas apparitions that confuse fishermen, make them lose their bearings and eventually drown. They are generally the ghosts of fisherman who died during their work. Some time they confuse the fishermen and some time they help them in knowing the future dangers.

* Skondhokata or Kondhokata: A headless ghost. They are ferocious and kill humans once they feel them. They are generally the ghosts of people whose head has cut off may be in Train Accidents. But it is also easy to fool them since they don’t have heads!

These are some of the ghosts popular in Bengal. But according to my personal belief these ghosts are less dangerous than humans. Ghost in the form of Politicians, Ghosts in the form of Sadhus and Maulvis are very dangerous. Instead of looking for these stupid ghosts we should find and get rid of these socialites ghosts who has made our societies full of horror due to their wrong deeds.

““all i do is shred holepunch n scan paper!!! omg!‘” … “im so totally bord!!!”

Her former boss Steve Ivell justified the sacking as Swann ‘publicly’ posted comments and shared them with coworkers. UK Tabloids such as The Sun placed in newspaper as “Social No-Working”. Also most recently same incident occurred for Virgin Airlines as well as British Airways for calling its passengers as “Smelling & Annoying” in Facebook.

Essex BBC got a few quotes:

Her mother, Janette, 41, said: “I think she’s been treated totally unfairly. She didn’t mention the company’s name. “This is a 16-year-old child we’re talking about. She says Clacton is boring but we’re not going to throw her out of the house for it.”

Mr Ivell said: “Ivell Marketing is a small, close-knit family company and it is very important that all the staff work together in harmony. “Had Miss Swann put up a poster on the staff notice board making the same comments and invited other staff to read it there would have been the same result.”
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said employers needed “thicker skins” in relation to social networking websites.
She said: “Most employers wouldn’t dream of following their staff down the pub to see if they were sounding off about work to their friends.”

Now a few things according to me:

1) What Miss Swann has said is wrong. It definitely hampers a companies’ Pride. But on careful study of the statement it is clear that she has not mentioned any name. Then how can her boss fire her?
2) If someday a person is kicked for this reason he can also say that now a days hacking a Facebook account is not a big deal. Then what is the proof that his or her account was not hacked and somebody else has not written the abusing statement?
In this recession market none of the job is stable. The Big Boss searches for a little reason and if they found it, it takes not even a minute for him or her to become an adamant boss like that of Peter parker’s boss in his Daily Bugle newspaper. In my personal experience I have seen how people are loosing their jobs in a moment without any reason. How their bonuses are cut down and how they are treated in their workplace. Its really feels bad to sign a Pink Letter for someone whereas it is of great pride for some people to do the same.

Facebook is site where people can share their views and comments and it’s a social right for a person to speak against something they don’t like. If I were the boss of Miss Swann then really I would have called her asked her what was the reason to say such things instead of sacking her. It should be remembered critics are the person who make us better.

Here I will demonstrate two messengers: Gtalk and Yahoo Messenger.

Gtalk:

1. Select the person whom u doubt to be invisible.
2. Open the chat window. (See the screen Shot)

3.Now find the drop down at the extreme right of the window. Use the drop down and check the option “Go off the Record”.

4. Now the message comes in the Chat window as seen in Screen Shot.

5. Now send a message. If he or she is really offline a message appears: xyz@gmail.com is offline and can’t receive messages right now.

6. If he or she is invisible you will not receive this message.

Explanation:
Point 1: When a chat is set off the record, it will no longer get stored in your Gmail account.
Point 2: When you send a chat message to offline or invisible user, it gets delivered by default. At receiving end if user is online, a chat screen pops up showing him your message.
If he/she is offline, your chat message will go to inbox as a mail.

Now if you put together above points then you will notice that, when you set chat off the record it can’t be delivered to inbox as mail, so it will be delivered only if user is online (no matter if he/she is invisible).

How to know if somebody has blocked you in GTALK:

For this you need to install Pidgin.

Steps to Follow:

1. Download Pidgin free from Internet and install the same.
2. Next open it up.
3. Go to Buddies->Show->Offline Buddies.
4. Now select the person you doubt.
5. Right Click on the name and select Get Info.
6. If he or she has blocked you, you will never see the Information details. Else Details are available. Try it out!!!!

Easy right!!! So go ahead and chase your love.

Yahoo Messenger:

There are really lots of ways to see this. Here I will state two ways:

1. It is really very simple. Go to the link and enter the ID you want to see. Just enter the ID and you will see whether he or she is offline or invisible.
2. Else download Buddy Spy. It is free of cost. You can download it from net.

1. In Buddy Spy first go to Configure section. Give your ID and password. Don’t touch the connection settings. Let it be default settings.

2. Now go to the Buddy Spy section. Give the ID you doubt to be invisible and give a cool search. Here the advantage is that it shows details of the buddy like Status, Chat Room, Webcam details, Primary ID etc.

I am little researching on MSN as well as Facebook. By the way if any one knows the trick get back to me!!! Dear don’t give the advice MSNSpyMonitor; I don’t like that…because it is not free!!!! However for MSN I can suggest you a site that shows the real status of the person as well as if you are blocked. Try it buddy here it goes:

msnfanatic

It was a fine evening and pleasant cold wind was blowing through the streets of Kolkata. I reached Park Street around 5 PM and found every body was waiting for me. After a long time we met so we were all very happy. We decided to celebrate our evening in a fine Restaurant. We reached an Italian Restaurant and enjoyed Pizza, Lasagnia and Risottos. We also enjoyed Chivas Regal and lots of drinks. We have a long chat. It was so pleasing moment that I didn’t noticed it was almost 9 PM and my mom is waiting for me. We paid the bill and left the place.

Outside the restaurant I saw lots of people standing wearing dress of Santa Claus. Some were even dressed like Charlie Chaplin and Mickey Donald. The owner of the hotel has recruited them for the entertainment of guests and kids. I was about to leave the place when one of the Santa Claus came to me and wished me saying Merry Christmas my son. I also greeted him. Then he asked me to give some tips to him. I laughed and tried to crack a joke saying “Santa you are asking for something from me!!!…???. It is expected that you are going to gift me what I need.” He laughed. He told me “Sir I am the poorest Santa of this world who can’t even feed his own child properly”. I asked him his name. He replied as Robert Gomes. He was a tall man in his early thirties. From his name appeared that he is a Christian.

For Christian, Christmas is the most important festival. I asked him dear instead of enjoying the day with your family what you are doing here. He told me that he used to work in a jute mill. But now since the mill is closed he had to do this type of job to feed his family. Christmas is the day when he is going to earn maximum amount. On this day how can he afford to be at home? His little girl has wished for a doll in this Christmas but he can’t afford it to buy. Robert told me that if every thing works fine then he can get a doll for her by Easter. His wife works as ladies tailor and earn 20 rupees per day. His little child Sara has never seen a good cake. The couple is trying hard to educate her.

I was thinking “Robert! My dear friend there is lot of people like you in this world. Christmas brings joy for every one. Jesus blesses every one with his blessings. But dear in every Christmas you are gifted with a new dress. A Santa dress.

You are the real Santa who gifts happiness to all guests’ children. But on the other hand you are the most unlucky Santa who cannot even gift a small piece of cake to your own daughter. Jesus you died for humanity for human cause. Is this the world you wanted to be?…

Jute mills are daily shunted down and lots of Roberts lost in the midst of happiness in the light of Christmas and masses of Park Street.”

I was just listening to him. I can’t even utter a word. My friends called me and asked me to move. Robert told me “Sir your friends are calling you. Enjoy Christmas. Blessings from Santa…. HoHoHo…. Jingle Bell Jingle Bell…” I know that mere 100 rupees cant bring happiness in his life but a piece of cake can bring a little smile on little Sara’s face. Love you Daughter….may Jesus Love you like me…Amen!!!. I got hurt by heart and told my friends I will go to my home alone. But I didn’t go immediately. I moved to a bar got some drinks and moved to nearby Christian Graveyard and sat on grave and puffed some cigarettes. I was sitting quietly when I saw a mass of people along with a dead body came mourning and crying. It was a hell day for me. I left that place and moved to my home.

My advice to kids and their parents all around the world “Before throwing a piece of cake just because it has less cream or less raisins or before smashing a doll because it had became old…think twice. There are lots of Saras around you …who can get delighted on your thrown items.”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Naresh is special. His parents are illiterate. He has no legs and moves around in his powered wheel chair. (In fact, when I could not locate his lab, he told me over the mobile phone, ‘I will come and pick you up’. And in no time, he was there to guide me) Ever smiling, optimistic and full of spirit; that is Naresh. He says, ‘God has always been planning things for me. That is why I feel I am lucky.’
Read why Naresh feels he is lucky.

Childhood in a village
I spent the first seven years of my life in Teeparru, a small village in Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of the river Godavari. My father Prasad was a lorry driver and my mother Kumari, a house wife. Though they were illiterate, my parents instilled in me and my elder sister (Sirisha) the importance of studying.
Looking back, one thing that surprises me now is the way my father taught me when I was in the 1st and 2nd standards. My father would ask me questions from the text book, and I would answer them. At that time, I didn’t know he could not read or write but to make me happy, he helped me in my studies!

Another memory that doesn’t go away is the floods in the village and how I was carried on top of a buffalo by my uncle. I also remember plucking fruits from a tree that was full of thorns.
I used to be very naughty, running around and playing all the time with my friends. I used to get a lot of scolding for disturbing the elders who slept in the afternoon. The moment they started scolding, I would run away to the fields! I also remember finishing my school work fast in class and sleeping on the teacher’s lap!

January 11, 1993, the fateful day. On the January 11, 1993 when we had the sankranti holidays, my mother took my sister and me to a nearby village for a family function. From there we were to go with our grandmother to our native place. But my grandmother did not come there. As there were no buses that day, my mother took a lift in my father’s friend’s lorry. As there were many people in the lorry, he made me sit next to him, close to the door.

It was my fault; I fiddled with the door latch and it opened wide throwing me out. As I fell, my legs got cut by the iron rods protruding from the lorry. Nothing happened to me except scratches on my legs.

The accident had happened just in front of a big private hospital but they refused to treat me saying it was an accident case. Then a police constable who was passing by took us to a government hospital.

First I underwent an operation as my small intestine got twisted. The doctors also bandaged my legs. I was there for a week. When the doctors found that gangrene had developed and it had reached up to my knees, they asked my father to take me to a district hospital. There, the doctors scolded my parents a lot for neglecting the wounds and allowing the gangrene to develop. But what could my ignorant parents do?

In no time, both my legs were amputated up to the hips. I remember waking up and asking my mother, where are my legs? I also remember that my mother cried when I asked the question. I was in the hospital for three months.

Life without legs
I don’t think my life changed dramatically after I lost both my legs. Because all at home were doting on me, I was enjoying all the attention rather than pitying myself. I was happy that I got a lot of fruits and biscuits.

The day I reached my village, my house was flooded with curious people; all of them wanted to know how a boy without legs looked. But I was not bothered; I was happy to see so many of them coming to see me, especially my friends! All my friends saw to it that I was part of all the games they played; they carried me everywhere.

God’s hand
I believe in God. I believe in destiny. I feel he plans everything for you. If not for the accident, we would not have moved from the village to Tanuku, a town. There I joined a missionary school, and my father built a house next to the school. Till the tenth standard, I studied in that school. If I had continued in Teeparu, I may not have studied after the 10th. I may have started working as a farmer or someone like that after my studies. I am sure God had other plans for me.

My sister, my friend
When the school was about to reopen, my parents moved from Teeparu to Tanuku, a town, and admitted both of us in a Missionary school. They decided to put my sister also in the same class though she is two years older. They thought she could take care of me if both of us were in the same class. My sister never complained.

She would be there for everything. Many of my friends used to tell me, you are so lucky to have such a loving sister. There are many who do not care for their siblings. She carried me in the school for a few years and after a while, my friends took over the task. When I got the tricycle, my sister used to push me around in the school.

My life, I would say, was normal, as everyone treated me like a normal kid. I never wallowed in self-pity. I was a happy boy and competed with others to be on top and the others also looked at me as a competitor.

Inspiration
I was inspired by two people when in school; my Maths teacher Pramod Lal who encouraged me to participate in various local talent tests, and a brilliant boy called Chowdhary, who was my senior.
When I came to know that he had joined Gowtham Junior College to prepare for IIT-JEE, it became my dream too. I was school first in 10th scoring 542/600. Because I topped in the state exams, Gowtham Junior College waived the fee for me. Pramod Sir’s recommendation also helped. The fee was around Rs 50,000 per year, which my parents could never afford.

Moving to a residential school
Living in a residential school was a big change for me because till then my life centred around home and school and I had my parents and sister to take care of all my needs. It was the first time that I was interacting with society. It took one year for me to adjust to the new life.
There, my inspiration was a boy called K K S Bhaskar who was in the top 10 in IIT-JEE exams. He used to come to our school to encourage us. Though my parents didn’t know anything about Gowtham Junior School or IIT, they always saw to it that I was encouraged in whatever I wanted to do. If the results were good, they would praise me to the skies and if bad, they would try to see something good in that. They did not want me to feel bad. They are such wonderful supportive parents.

Life at IIT- Madras
Though my overall rank in the IIT-JEE was not that great (992), I was 4th in the physically handicapped category. So, I joined IIT, Madras to study Computer Science. Here, my role model was Karthik who was also my senior in school. I looked up to him during my years at IIT- Madras..
He had asked for attached bathrooms for those with special needs before I came here itself. So, when I came here, the room had attached bath. He used to help me and guide me a lot when I was here.
I evolved as a person in these four years, both academically and personally. It has been a great experience studying here. The people I was interacting with were so brilliant that I felt privileged to sit along with them in the class. Just by speaking to my lab mates, I gained a lot.

Words are inadequate to express my gratitude to Prof Pandurangan and all my lab mates; all were simply great. I was sent to Boston along with four others for our internship by Prof Pandurangan. It was a great experience.

Joining Google R&D
I did not want to pursue PhD as I wanted my parents to take rest now. Morgan Stanley selected me first but I preferred Google because I wanted to work in pure computer science, algorithms and game theory.

I am lucky
Do you know why I say I am lucky?
I get help from total strangers without me asking for it. Once after my second year at IIT, I with some of my friends was travelling in a train for a conference. We met a kind gentleman called Sundar in the train, and he has been taking care of my hostel fees from then on.

I have to mention about Jaipur foot. I had Jaipur foot when I was in 3rd standard. After two years, I stopped using them. As I had almost no stems on my legs, it was very tough to tie them to the body. I found walking with Jaipur foot very, very slow. Sitting also was a problem. I found my tricycle faster because I am one guy who wants to do things faster..

One great thing about the hospital is, they don’t think their role ends by just fixing the Jaipur foot; they arrange for livelihood for all. They asked me what help I needed from them. I told them at that time, if I got into an IIT, I needed financial help from them. So, from the day I joined IIT, Madras, my fees were taken care of by them. So, my education at the IIT was never a burden on my parents and they could take care of my sister’s Nursing studies.

Surprise awaited me at IIT
After my first year, when I went home, two things happened here at the Institute without my knowledge. I got a letter from my department that they had arranged a lift and ramps at the department for me. It also said that if I came a bit early and checked whether it met with my requirements, it would be good.

Second surprise was, the Dean, Prof Idichandy and the Students General Secretary, Prasad had located a place that sold powered wheel chairs. The cost was Rs 55,000. What they did was, they did not buy the wheel chair; they gave me the money so that the wheel chair belonged to me and not the institute. My life changed after that. I felt free and independent. That’s why I say I am lucky. God has planned things for me and takes care of me at every step.

The world is full of good people
I also feel if you are motivated and show some initiative, people around you will always help you. I also feel there are more good people in society than bad ones.

Apart from Bengali foods people can try North Indian foods like Punjabi foods or Mughlai even frontier foods are also available. Some famous restaurants include Azad Hind Dhaba at Ballygunje circular road (Punjabi foods), Dum Pakht at ITC Sonar Bangla (Punjabi), Guchi (Punjabi) at Hyatt Regency, Saffron at the Park Hotel in Park Street (Punjabi), Sonargaon at Taj. Frontier foods are available in Kafila at City Center and at Sigree in Silver Arcade EM Bypass Lane. Some dishes that can be tried out here are Biriyanis, Chaps, Kababs, Kormas and Firni. Apart from these big ones a very famous hotel named Royal Indian Hotel is there in Chitpur. It is famous for its Tikiyas, Biriyanis, and chaps. Also similarly Sabir in Ganesh Chandra Avenue is famous for its Rezala. Aminia is famous for its Biriyani.

Chinese food destination includes the famous Park Street. In this place some good Chinese restaurant like Bar-B-Q, Tung-Fong, Peiping, Beijing, Marco Polo In China, Japanese foods at Jongs, Jimmy’s Kitchen at C.I.T road. All types of Chinese foods are available here but if you are really experimental with Chinese food then a good destination will be at Mainland China in Gurusaday Road or at Hakka in City Centre.

There is an area in Kolkata called China Para. In this place you can have the most elegant Chinese food cheap and best in quality, although it is not very safe to go that place.

Multicuisine restaurants include Amber at Waterloo Street, Caught n Bowled in City Center, Sourav’s at Park Street, Charnock City at Salt Lake, sizzlers at Mocambo, Peter Cat in Park Street and continental at Hush and Kobe’s in City Center is also very famous. Other famous restaurants include Floriana at Russell Street, Trincas at Park Street, Kurry Klub at Sarat Bose Road and many more.

There are lots of small hotels like Randu Babu Shop Famous for its Mutton Kasa, Monohar Agor which is famous for its Chops, Aileen is famous for its Prawn Cutlet, Mitra Café is famous for its Kabiraji (A mutton Chop)., Chacha’s Ghoogni (A recipe prepared from Grams and Mutton). Also in Esplanade you can find lots of chat shops. In Anglo Indian Area (Para) you can have Beef Steak from Braganza’s. Even Olly Pub makes good Beef Steak.

Vegetarians are also having good scope for having nice food here. Vegetarian Restaurants Include Rajasthani food delicacy at Teej and Gangaur in Park Street, Haveli at Salt Lake, Haldirams in Rabindra Saranani, ISKON sponsored Gokul, Gupta Brothers, and lots of more including South Indian foods at Raj, Chennai Kitchen and lots more.

Coffee House….Its a status of Kolkata. Big minds like Acharya Jagadish Chandra Basu (Scientist), Satyendra Nath Bose (Scientist), Muzzaffar Ahmed (Affectionately called Kaka Babu, politician), Satyajit Ray (Director), Netaji (No introduction needed), and lots of great mind have tasted its coffee and puffed packets of cigarettes here. From this place great ideas born. Although now smoking is banned, but still coffee house preserves its status and glory. A whole blog can be written on coffee house. It is located in just opposite to Presidency College at College Street an area famous for books and Bengalis called this area as “Boi Para” (Area of Books).

Apart from these things there are MacDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Barista, and CCD. Modern Bengalis go to these places where as oldies like me prefer Sharbat from Kaplia Ashram.

Sweets are the most valuable food in a Bengali thali. Rassgulla, Gulapjamun, Sondesh, Rabri, Cham Cham, Doi (Dahi), Ladoo to name a few. Sweet culture in Kolkata can be divided in two categories. One Bengali sweets and other Non-Bengali sweets.

Bengali sweets include Rassgulla (Mascot of Kolkata), Cham Cham, Monohora, Malpoa, Chanar Jalebi, Doi, Nikhuti, Jora Mundi, Sor Bhaja, verities of Sandesh, Ladicanni, Langcha, Kalo Jam, Dorbesh, Danadar, Ladoo, Rabri, RasMundi, Chana pora to name a few. Famous Bengali shops include Bheem Nag, Nabin Chandra Moira, Bancharam, Ganguram, Gobindo, Satyanarayan, K.C Das, Balaram, Girish Nakur, to name a few.

Non Bengali sweets are from north India. It is available at Haldiram’s, Chappan Bhog, Bhikaram, Bikaner Bhujiawala and lots more.

Some famous confectionary includes Flurys, Nahoms, Cakes, Kookie Jar, Candy Treats. Ice cream can be available at Baskin Robbins Outlets, Mamma Mia at Ballygunje Circular Road, Xrong Place etc. Try Lemon Tart at Kookie Jar.

Pan is the end touch to Bengali Thali. Lots of Pan shops are there in Kolkata.Famous is Dutta Babur Paan in college street where a single pan can give you a pinch of 5000 Rupees.

At the end we will come to Bars. Famous bars include Chowringhee Bar (Excellent Vodka are available), Cloud Nine at Astor, Polo Club at Hotel Hindustan International, The Bar at Hyatt Regency (Lovely Cocktails), The Junction at Taj (best Ambience), Trincas and many more.

The Report is very disappointing in all sense and it is a step for remake of Pakistan Part-2. There are lots of facts and figures on which the report has been prepared are baseless. I am not here to criticize this report but I would like to draw some basic flaw of this report:

1. A point in the report states that Muslims are very less in number in the government jobs. An answer to this may be drawn out as follow: Almost 95% of the elite Muslim group who were largely dependent on Jobs left India at the time of partition and those who were left are mostly rural and they are self-employed and self service providers. A great majority of them, under the influence of powerful mullahs, kept away from modern education and, in consequence, modern jobs and professions. Thus, the figures for Muslim percentage in government jobs practically started from a zero base. This point should have been mentioned in the report’s overall analysis. Its omission is a serious statistical error. It is same case as that of small numbers of Hindus that stayed backed in Pakistan.

2. The Sachar committee report totally ignored the fact that there is a large number of Muslims who are self-employed people, tradesmen and service providers and who do not feel the need to secure a government job. Also, the social and economic position of a community does not necessarily depend on the jobs that its members hold in the government or the organized sector. If that had been the case, I am afraid the position of Parsees, to take one example, would be extremely backward.

3. Another area where it has gone completely wrong is in creating an impression that India’s entire educational and economic system has gone out of its way to exclude Muslims. Whereas, in actual fact, we have all gone out of our way to give placement to them wherever they merit selection. There are indeed, some very serious errors, on the statistical front.

4. According to Prof. Imtiaz Hussain, who thrashed the report on the ground that the report has ignored the status of Muslims in terms of jobs held in all the South Indian states and others like Gujarat and West Bengal. He pointed out that the Muslims in this states are in much better condition than reported in the Sachar Report. He questioned the statistics presented by the Sachar Committee in relation to the Census data which shows that the Muslims are better off in several states.

5. Muslim Scholar Prof. A.R. Hashim, also criticized the report saying that the report has compared the Muslim Community with Hindu community, after removing the Schedule Caste and Tribes from the Hindu Community. Removing this bulk of Peoples who are in terms of Data will give an obvious statistical error.

6. The Chief Minister of West-Bengal Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had also criticized this report. He said the report totally ignored the Muslim peasantry who benefited from the state’s land reforms programme. Also, our business organizations are still dominated by the caste system. Consequently, a company dominated by banias generally looks out for banias. In that process too Muslims and minorities suffer as much as people belonging to other Hindu castes. This need not necessarily be an anti-Muslim bias.

7. Justice Sachar has clearly ignored the fact that Muslims are doing well in many areas. Like take the example of Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro, the richest corporate Indian, Habib Rahman, chairman ITC Hotels, Habil Khorakiwala of Wockhardt, the Cipla group, Israt Hussain, a top associate of Ratan Tata, and many others.

8. The Sachar Committee didn’t taken into account the glass workers of Ferozabad, brass manufacturers and traders of Moradabad, the textile operators of Bhiwandi, the carpet makers of Kashmir and the Zari workers of Varanasi. Sadly, these people do not find any mention in the Sachar Report which chose to concentrate only on certain levels of government jobs and worked out the position of Muslims only on that account.

9. The Committee has not taken into account the overwhelming eminent position occupied by Muslims in Bollywood, including the fact that almost 50 per cent of top actors and actresses are Muslims, if not more.

It remains a mystery why the government had not assign this work to its own minority affairs divisions or at least to National Minorities Commission, instead why they have chosen a third party for this analysis. It is also a big mystery that why did the government accepted the Sachar Committee Report without discussing it in Parliament or at least an informal debate.

Government and Indian National cannot be at a large basis be accused by the Sachar Committee report as a whole. Indian Muslims occupy a pride of place in our democracy, and Gujarat (2002) and Babri Masjid (1992) are exceptions, not the rule.

Summarizing the whole discussion only one point can be drawn and that is Sachar Committee has failed both in analysis and conclusions.

I remembered the day when a fierce riot broke out in our college related to the issue regarding beating and insulting one of our fellow comrade, Comrade Asif Ali Peerzaada. He was beaten by the opponents so severely that as a General Secretary of the Union I was not able to sit back. I along with my fellow comrades started a riot in or college and we started to blow down the windows and set fire at corridor. Police approached and they arrested me along with eight other members. The police van took us to the police station and we reached there by 8:00 PM. I don’t know the reason but the police separated me and my friends. They kept me in a separate cell along with an inmate. The police were laughing at me after putting me in the cell and their caricature was really bothering me.

The cell was hardly 10 feet by 7 feet dark room with full of mosquitoes and bad odors. In that cell along with me there was another inmate who was sitting in one corner of the room and was continuously staring at me. His eyes were really bothering me, so to make myself comfortable I sat on the other corner of the cell. I continually kept a watch on that mysterious person; he was still staring at me with red eyes. The man was in his early forties wearing a dirty shirt and torned pajamas. His hair has turned almost white and he had not shaven for long time. He was smoking a biri and was staring at me. I was very much afraid of him and I was cursing myself from the bottom of my heart that why I had joined the politics. Time was flying by when suddenly that mysterious person came to me and sat beside me. Trust me my heart almost stopped beating. He suddenly started to laugh at me. Then he asked me in Bengali that what I have done…is it a murder or a rape? I felt really ashamed that now everyone is thinking that I am a hard core criminal. I told him angrily that I have got arrested on a minor issue regarding college and will be released by tomorrow morning. He offered me a Biri and I also took it since I was very tired and need some puffs.

Puffing the Biri, I asked that person his name. He told me his name as Rabi Das and he is from Barasat, a distant place from Kolkata. He also told me that he is a regular visitor in Lock Up since he is a professional criminal. He is having hundreds of theft charges, pick pocketing and extortions. But this time he is in Lock Up for a murder charge. His trial will be tomorrow. To make a point clear to readers, this is India and anything is possible a political minor can also be kept with murderers. I asked him whether he had really murdered. He shouted with joy and replied “Yes… I have murdered a devil.” Then he started crying. I soothed him and then he started his very extraordinary and sad story.

I referred the person as Rabi Da (Da means brother in Bengali). Rabi Da don’t know when and where he born. But when he opened his eyes he was in a dustbin. He was an orphan. A well to do scavenger found him and surrendered him to e station. The police done their duties by sending the baby to an abusive orphanage. Rabi Da recalled his childhood how he was beaten severely with belts and sticks how he was given electric shocks for not doing works how his soft skin was tortured with cigarette burns and how they kept him hungry day after days. His small little hands were used for cleaning the floors. He had never known what is mothers love what is a family what are festivals and what is love.

When Rabi Da was 11 years old he along with one of his inmates ran away from this abusive world and yeas they were really successful to ran. After running away from the orphanage they make up their minds that they will work hard and earn and live peacefully. They started to work in a tea stall. Time was flying peacefully when suddenly god smiled on their happiness. Rabi Da’s friend suddenly died at the age of 12 due to cholera. Rabi Da broke up and left alone. He asked his master to pay some rupees so that he can at least cremate the body of his friend. But the shop owner refused to pay the amount and instead he instructed to throw the body in “Shamsan Ghat”. Rabi Da was crying and was thinking what to do next. Then, he quickly stealed some money, but was caught and fired from job and his friend’s body was thrown in dustbin.

After this incidence Rabi Da left that place and he moved to a distant place. To earn he started Pick pocketing at the age of 14. Then on mastering on this art he started extortion and robbery. Rabi Da told me that he is having severe hatrism for those rude persons who has no heart and treat little Childrens as dogs. He started extorting riches and started earning. By the age of 20 he was a hard core criminal. He told me that by the age of 25 he has visited jail at least five times. He started taking alcohol and marijuana to sooth his pains.

A time came when Rabi Da also started to dream a normal life. A woman came to his life, and he dream to marry her and be settled. But here also god played his game. The woman was actually playing with him and she looted everything from him and ran away leaving him alone in distress. From this stage a hatrism developed in him for women and Rabi Da started visiting brothels and believed that it is the only place a woman can deserve, although I don’t agree with his view but I kept listening him.

I was listening to him minutely when suddenly a police shouted and my concentration broke. I looked at the watch; it was 3:30 AM. He offered me another biri ad we started puffing and he continued his story.

I asked Rabi Da whether he believes in God or not. He laughed and told me “Yes it is there. But you know he is my biggest enemy, if I have a chance to meet him or her I will take my revenge.” I was thinking whether he was correct or not. What has god given to him? No parents No Family No love! No one has ever cared about him, but in spite of being so untouched he had a big heart.

One day he pick pocketed a person. After stealing he ran to a safe distance and opened the purse. He found five five hundred rupees note, a card mentioning his name and address and a letter addressed to his sister. The letter was actually a suicidal note. In the letter that person had mentioned that he is going to suicide since he has no desire to live. He is leaving this money for his sister. That person has asked his sister to get a new sari on her birthday with this money. After reading this letter Rabi Da hurried his way to the spot where he had pick pocketed but it’s of no use. The person was not there. He tried to find him but failed. He was left with no other choice other than to go that place. So he moved to that person’s house by looking at the address in the card. But when he reached that place it was so late. The person had already committed suicide and his sister was crying holding her brother bitterly. There were police, relatives and friends. Rabi Da know, that if he returned the Purse he can be arrested, but this great man without any fear returned the purse and proudly went to jail. In this way Rabi Da entered left and reentered the jail. Everyone knows him including police, lawyers and judges. After saying this Rabi Da paused for a moment.

I asked Rabi Da whom he murdered. He stared at me and told me that he had murdered a father of a baby girl. I got red after hearing this and shouted upon him “why you have done so?” He smiled at me and replied that day he was drunken and was walking through road in mid night when suddenly he noticed a person throwing something wrapped in blanket in dust bin. He chased that person and found that he was throwing a 2 day old baby girl in dustbin. Rabi Da asked him why he is doing so. The man replied since he doesn’t want a girl. Rabi Da started to bargain and this bargain ended up in killing of the person by thrashing. People gathered and took him to police station.

I didn’t ask him why he had done so because I can understand his pain. One day he was also thrown in dustbin. Rabi Da was laughing bitterly madly and then started crying. I hold him in my arms I was feeling heaven to give love to someone who had so much pain.

Our conversation was so long that when it ended I saw the day light. My mother was standing outside with lawyer. Her face was red. Lawyer was talking to police. When suddenly a police came and released me. When I was leaving the cell Rabi Da told me not to do any misdeeds again since I have a bright future. His eyes were saying “Don’t leave me brother alone” but his mouth was saying “Best of Luck for your future.” I was leaving the cell forever but Rabi Da was entering the cell forever, since today morning he is having his trial.

I reached home my mother shouted upon me and even slapped me. I was felling sad not for my mom but for Rabi Da. I left politics and joined Engineering College. I topped. But in spite of so many happiness I never forget Rabi Da. One day I decided to meet him. I went to central Jail. But, sadly he was no more. Rabi Da expired only a month ago.

I thought yes, Thanks god for being so good to a son of yours. Rally Thanks! I accept and testify your presence. You could do anything you like.

In the darkness of hatrism and negligence our children are just going to be like Rabi Da. My request to the readers is to try to love children and orphans who has no one other than you. Try to look at their innocent eyes, whether they are girl boy or anything. Give love to every child and if possible stop throwing them in dustbin and also stop abusing them. By spreading love, joy and creating smile in their faces you are actually worshiping your god. It has more goodness than to visit Kashi or Kaba. Instead of visiting temples or Mosques or Church go to an orphanage and spread love, education and humanism which is the biggest religion.

Durga Puja is widely celebrated in all over India. But it takes the greatest form in West-Bengal and Tripura where a five day Holiday is observed. In north India Durga Puja is referred as Navratri. Navratri is the celebration of 9 nights dedicated to nine forms of Durga. Each night is dedicated to each form.

The nine forms of Devi Durga are as follows:

1. Shailaputri
2. Brahmacharini
3. Chandraghanta
4. Kushmanda
5. Skandamaata
6. Kaatyayani
7. Kaalratri
8. Mahagauri
9. Siddhidaatri

Navratri is widely celebrated in Punjab, Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and some states in South India.

In Bengal and Tripura Navratri is not celebrated widely but in place of Navratri Durga Puja is celebrated. Durga Puja starts from Mahalaya (Devi’r Agomon). The First day is known as Prothoma, Second day is known as Dwitiya, Third day is known as Tritiya, Fourth day is known as Chaturthi, Fifth day is known as Maha Panchami, Sixth day is known as Maha Soshthi, Seventh day is known as Maha Saptami, Eight day is known Maha Ashthami, Ninth day is known as Maha Navmi. The Tenth day marks the end of the festival and is known as Vijya Dashami. The Eleventh day is celebrated by Fasting usually kept by married women with Children and is known as Ekadoshi.

Durga Puja is not only the greatest festival of Bengalis but also it marks the culture of Bengal. Durga Puja apart from India is celebrated widely in Nepal and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh according to 2007 census there were 27000 Puja held over. Alone in Dhaka there is 470 Puja Pandals. The prominence of Durga Puja increased gradually during the British Raj in Bengal. After the Hindu reformists resemble Durga with India, she had become an icon for the Indian independence movement. On the first quarter of 20th Century, the tradition of Baroyari or Community Puja was popularized due to this. After independence, Durga Puja became one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world.

Durga Puja includes the worships of Shiva, Lakhshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati, Kartikeya and Mahishasura also. Modern tradition have come to include the display of decorated Pandals and artistically depicted idols of Durga, exchange of Bijoya Greetings and publication of Puja Annuals.

Durga Puja is known by various names in Bengal like Akal Bodhon (Untimely Awakening of Durga), Sharodiya Puja (autumnal worship), Sharodotsab (festival of autumn), Baro Puja (Grand Puja), Maayer Puja (Mother’s Puja) or just by Puja or Pujo. In East Bengal (Bangladesh) it is known as Bhagabati Pujo.

Durga Puja:
Durga Puja is the largest festival celebrated by not only the Hindus but also by Muslims and Christians. The word Puja means Worship and Durga Puja means worship of Devi Durga. It is generally celebrated in the month of Ashwin which is the sixth month according to the Bengali calendar. However due to Lunatic systems it may be celebrated in the month of Kartik. According to the Gregorian calendar it is celebrated in the month of September or October. Since it is celebrated in the Kaal (Time) of Shorot (autumn) it is also known as Sharodiya. The main Puja starts from Maha Saptami and continues till Maha Dashami. The Puja starts with bathing of Kola Bou (Banana tree) in the dawn of Maha Saptami. Kola Bou is considered as wife of Lord Ganesha. In Maha Saptami people use to give Tilaks or Photas in there important places like main door and almirahs.The traditional dhunuchi Naach is observed in Maha Ashthami.

During Ashthami Bhog (Khichri) is prepared in Various Pandals and whole area enjoys them. It’s a really good experience to have Bhogs with known and unknown people. It is said during this 9 days the peak time actually Devi Durga appears is in the Time which is called Sandhi Khon (Sandhi Puja). Durga Puja is also incomplete without Dhak (Dhols or Drums). The Dhakis (People who play Drums) usually comes from far villages from Bengal usually from a place called Basirhat. At the end day of celebration Vijaya Dashami is observed. Married Women plays with Sindurs and is also known as sindoor khela (Play with Sindur). After this Mother is worshipped for the last time and then the idol is immersed in the Ganga. The people can be seen crying and crying since the mother has gone and she will come only after next year.

There are many sayings regarding the Puja. According to Krittibas Ramayana, Rama invokes the goddess Durga in his battle against Ravana. Although she was traditionally worshipped in the spring, due to contingencies of battle, Rama had to invoke her in the autumn akaal bodhan. Today it is this Rama’s date for the Puja that has gained ascendancy, although the spring Puja, known as Basanti Puja [One of the oldest ‘sabeki’ Basanti Puja held every year at spring in Barddhaman Pal Bari is also present in the Hindu almanac.

According to Bengali culture sayings Mahishasura started to kill Devtas and he continued his misdeeds. Devtas began to think how to get rid of this demon. They went to Brahma who advised them to go to Shiva. When Devtas gone to Mahadeva (Shiva) he was busy in his Tapasayas (Meditations). The Devtas started shouting “Trahi Maang …Trahi Mang” (Save us…Save us). Shiva waked up and he created Devi Durga a woman who is the ultimate source of power. She was awakened untimely so this festival is also known as Akalbodhon. Durga was given Astra-Shastra (Weapons) by Devtas like Brahma, Shiva, Narayana, Vishwakarma, Barun Dev etc. With these weapons she went to the battle field and successfully killed the demon. At the time of his death Mahishasura repented and cried a lot. Mother forgives him and he is blessed by her blessings. From here started the acceptance of truth that every woman is the ultimate source of power. They are forms of Durga.

This incident took place in Mahalaya and in Mahalaya Devi Mantras is enchanted in the Dawn. It is usually enchanted by Famous artist Binoy Krishno Bhadra. It’s a great experience to listen to these Mantras that starts from 4 AM in Mahalaya. It is known as “Agomonir Aohan” (Welcoming of Mother)

Durga Puja marks the coming of Durga at her Father’s house Himalaya. It has a saying that Uma (Another Name of Durga) takes a break from her family life and with the permission of her Husband Shiva she comes to her father’s home along with her children Lakhshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati, Kartikeya. It is said that she first comes and stays for a day in the house of a Bagdi (a backward class) and have her breakfast there. The breakfast includes “Panta Bhat” (A rice preparation). After having her breakfast she moves to different places.

The Pujas are held over a ten-day period, which is traditionally viewed as the coming of the married daughter, Durga, to her father, Himalaya’s home. It is the most important festival in Bengal, and Bengalis celebrate with new clothes and other gifts, which are worn on the evenings when the family goes out to see the ‘Pandals’ (temporary structures set up to venerate the goddess). Although it is a Hindu festival, religion takes a backseat on these five days: Durga Puja in Bengal is a carnival, where people from all backgrounds, regardless of their religious beliefs, participate and enjoy themselves to the hilt.

History of Durga Puja:
According to some sayings Puja was first celebrated by the Maharaja of Taherpur in Bangladesh. Some says Raja Sool has started or other says it is started by Sasanka. Various literatures exist regarding Durga in the Bengali language and its early forms, including Avnirnaya (11th century), Durgabhaktitarangini by Vidyapati (14th century), etc. In the medieval period Durga Puja was popular in Bengal and records says that it is being held in the courts of Rajshahi (16th century) and Nadia district (18th century). In the 18th century, however, that the worship of Durga came to its peak among the elite society of Bengal, Zamindars. The most Prominent Pujas were conducted by the landed zamindars and jagirdars, enriched by British rule, including Raja Nabakrishna Deb, of Shobhabajar, who initiated an elaborate Puja at his residence. Many of these old Pujas exist to this day. Today, the culture of Durga Puja has shifted from the princely houses to Sarbojanin (literally, “involving all”) forms. The first such Puja was held Guptipara – it was called barowari (baro meaning twelve and yar meaning friends).

The mood starts off with the Mahishasuramardini’ – a famous radio programme that has been popular with the community since the 1950s. Earlier it used to be conducted live, later a recorded version began to be broadcast. Bengalis traditionally wake up at 4 in the morning on Mahalaya day to listen to the enchanting voice of the late Birendra Krishna Bhadra and the late Pankaj Kumar Mullick on All India Radio. As they recite hymns from the scriptures from the Devi Mahatmyam or Chandi.

During the Puja week, the entire state of West Bengal as well as in large societies of Bengalis everywhere, life comes to a complete standstill. In traffic circles, playgrounds, ponds, wherever space is available — elaborate structures called Pandals ‘are set up, many with nearly a year’s worth of planning behind them. The word Pandal means a temporary structure, made of bamboo and cloth, which is used as a temporary temple for the purpose of the Puja. While some of the Pandal are simple structures, others are often elaborate works of art with themes that rely heavily on history, current affairs and sometimes pure imagination.

Somewhere inside these complex edifices is a stage on which Durga reigns, standing on her lion mount, wielding ten weapons in her ten hands. This is the religious center of the festivities, and the crowds gather to offer flower worship or pushpanjali on the mornings, of the sixth to ninth days of the waxing moon fortnight known as Devi Pakshya (lit. Devi = goddess; Pakshya = period; Devi Pakshya meaning the period of the goddess). Ritual drummers – Dhakis, carrying large leather-strung Dhak –– show off their skills during ritual dance worships called aarati. On the tenth day, Durga the mother returns to her husband, Shiva, ritualized through her immersion into the waters ––

Bishorjon also known as Bhaashan and Niranjan. Today’s Puja, however, goes far beyond religion. In fact, visiting the Pandals recent years, one can only say that Durgapuja is the largest outdoor art festival on earth. In the 1990s, a preponderance of architectural models came up on the Pandal exteriors, but today the art motif extends to elaborate interiors, executed by trained artists, with consistent stylistic elements, carefully executed and bearing the name of the artist. The sculpture of the idol itself has evolved. The worship always depicts Durga with her four children, and occasionally two attendant deities and some banana-tree figures. In the olden days, all five idols would be depicted in a single frame, traditionally called pata. Since the 1980s however, the trend is to depict each idol separately. At the end of six days, the idol is taken for immersion in a procession amid loud chants of ‘Bolo Durga mai-ki jai’ (glory be to Mother Durga’) and ‘aashchhe bochhor abar hobe’ (‘it will happen again next year’) and drumbeats to the river or other water body. It is cast in the waters symbolic of the departure of the deity to her home with her husband in the Himalayas. After this, in a tradition called Vijaya Dashami, families visits each other and sweetmeats are offered to visitors (Dashami is literally “tenth day” and Vijay is “victory”). Durga Puja is also a festivity of Good (Ma Durga) winning over the evil (Mahishasura the demon). It is a worship of power of Good which always wins over the bad.

Creation of Sarbojanin Puja:
Initially the Puja was organized by rich families since they had the money to organize the festival. During the late 19th and early 20th century, a middle class, in Calcutta, wished to celebrate the Puja. They created the community or Sarbojanin Pujas.

These Pujas are organized by a committee which represents a locality or neighborhood. They collect funds called “chaanda” through door-to-door subscriptions, lotteries, concerts etc. These funds are pooled and used for the expenses of Pandal construction, idol construction, ceremonies etc. The balance of the fund is generally donated to a charitable cause, as decided by the committee. Corporate sponsorships of the Pujas have gained momentum since the late 1990s. Major Pujas in Calcutta and in major metro areas such as Delhi and Chennai now derive almost all of their funds from corporate sponsorships. Community fund drives have become a formality.

Despite the resources used to organize a Puja, entry of visitors into the Pandal is generally free. A few Puja conducted in Gurgaon by wealthy Bengalis charge a fee. Pujas in Calcutta and elsewhere experiment with innovative concepts every year. Communities have created prizes for Best Pandal, Best Puja, and other categories. When you do Puja you get blessed.

Idol Creation:
The entire process of creation of the idols from the collection of clay to the ornamentation is a holy process, supervised by rites and other rituals. On the Hindu date of Akshaya Tritiya when the Ratha Yatra is held, clay for the idols is collected from the banks of a river, preferably the Ganges. After the required rites, the clay is transported from which the idols are fashioned. An important event is ‘Chakkhu Daan’, literally donation of the eyes. Starting with Devi Durga, the eyes of the idols are painted on Mahalaya or the first day of the Pujas. Before painting on the eyes, the artisans fast for a day and eat only vegetarian food.

Many Pujas in and around Calcutta buy their idols from Kumartuli (also Kumortuli), an artisans’ town in north Calcutta.

Celebration in Kolkata:
Apart from whole of the Bengal (including Bangladesh) and Tripura special incidences take place in Kolkata. This festival is the greatest festival in this city. The season the winds the water the sky says “yes mother is coming”. The whole city is decorated with lights. Crore of rupees are spent on Pandals. The Pandals are a temporary structures used for keeping the idols of Durga. People spend crore of money on this Pandals and their decorations are really worth to see. People from far apart even from US, UK, Europe etc come to Kolkata to see these decorations. During the Pujas the roads are full of Panipuri walas, Bhel Puri Walas and lots and lots of stalls are launched. Some of the famous landmark Puja include: Telengana Bagan, Irritolla Sarbojonin, Iritolla Sitola Madir, Mohammed Ali Park Pujo, Santosh Mitra Square, Sealdah Lebo Park, Forward Club, Mudiyali, are very few to name.

People wear new clothes and this Puja shopping starts before a month of Pujas. Children have real fun and Bengali Babu continues with their Addas (Gossips). Sweets are distributed. Some of the famous Puja sweets include “Rossogolla”, “Chom Chom”, “Kheer Kodom”, “Malai Chop”, “Parijat”, “Gulab Papri”, “Choclate sondesh”, etc are very few names and the list continues. Some of famous sweet makers in Kolkata are Nabin Chandra Moira, Balaram, Sen Mahasay, Nakur, Satyanarayan etc.

In traditional Bengali family women wear Red Bordered white sari (Lal Pere Sari) with lots of Jwellery and with An Arti Thali she along with her Husband and Children goes for the Pushpanjali (Worship with Flowers –Pushp). With a long red Sindur on her head and traditional Sankha Pola (A type of Bangles usually from Dhaka, married women wears) she looks beautiful. She cooks for the whole family with lots of delicious dishes.

Celebration in Dhaka and other places in Bangladesh:
In Dhaka, according to 2007 census there were 947 Pujas held in this year it has rises up to 1200. It’s a very big festival for everyone in Dhaka. People from all religions come to Goddess Durga for her blessings. One of the biggest Puja is held in Dhakeshwari Mandir Complex. Another Puja is held in Telengi para, one in Buriganga, one in Naba Krishna Halder Street to name a few.

In Chittagong (ChottoGram) Devi Chotteshwari, Chatgan Kali Bari, Raja Bhudev Sarkar Er Pujo (Raja Bhudev Sarkar’s Puja) is very important.

In Jessore Durga is worshipped as Maa Joshoreshwari. In Narayangunj there are more than 1300 Puja held. Overall in all Bangladesh it is celebrated with great zeal. Muslims and Christians even pray to Durga for her blessings. In Bangladesh there is even an official holiday in Vijaya Dashami.

Celebration outside India or Bangladesh:

Durga Puja is organized by communities comprising of Indians in the US, Europe and Australia. Although Pandals are not constructed, the idols are flown in from Kumartuli in Bengal. The desire by the Diasporas peoples to keep in touch with their cultural ties has led to a boom in religious tourism, as well as learning from priests or purohits versed in the rites. Also recently, the immersion of the Durga idol has been allowed in the Thames river for the festival which is held in London. In the United States the Puja are often hosted during weekends with very few exceptions. The Puja weekends are time for Bengal friends and family to gather together to spend the weekend savoring Bengali culture. Cultural programs are Helds; there is food; stalls selling ethnic clothes/Jwellery/books/music/dvds – there is a general atmosphere of festivity.

Environmental Impact:
There are lots of controversies regarding the immersion of Durga idols in Ganga. According to Ramapati Kumar, a toxics campaigner for Greenpeace “Commercialization of Hindu festivals like Durga Puja in the last quarter of 20th century have become a major environmental concern as devout Hindus want bigger and brighter idols and are no longer happy with the ones made from eco-friendly materials”

Environmentalists say the idols are often made from non-biodegradable materials such as plastic, cement and plaster of Paris, and are painted using toxic dyes. This can be really harmfull to drinking waters.

Some specific cultures related to Puja:
Durga Puja is one of the most important events in the Bengali society’s calendar. Many Bengali films, albums and books are released to coincide with the Puja. The West Bengal government gives a fortnight of holidays for the Pujas. This time is used in various ways. Many people travel in India or abroad. Gatherings of friends called “Aadda” in Bengali is common in many homes and restaurants. A lot of shopping is done, and retailers cash in on this opportunity with special offers.

Visiting Pandals with friends and family, talking and sampling the food sold near them is known as Pandal Hopping. Young people embrace this activity. TV and Radio channels telecast Puja celebrations. Many Bengali channels devote whole days to the Pujas.

Bengali and Oriya weekly magazines bring out special issues for the Puja known as “Pujobaarshiki” or “Sharadiya Sankhya”. These contain the works of many writers both established and upcoming and are thus much bigger than the regular issues. Some notable examples are Anandamela and Shuktara.

Durga Puja marks the beginning of new life in every Bengalis heart. It gives us a moral that women are the form of Durga or Shakti. They are not for the desires of men. It is always to be remembered that a women has saved this world from the Demon Mahishasura.

Durga Puja is such a festival that every Bengali apart from their religion really enjoys this time with their family and friends. Muslims of Bengal also worships Maa Durga. An example of it is Kazi Nazrul Islam who is one of the greatest poets of Bengal. He has written lots of Shyama Sangeet (Songs dedicated to Durga) in Bengali. Some of his famous song dedicated to Durga are: “Bol Re Jaba Bol”,” amar Mayer paa e joba hoye oth re fute mon”,”Bol re joba bol kon sadhanae peli re tui Shyama ma er charan tol”..to name a few.

It is my request to the readers that they if possible visit any part of Bengal (Including Bangladesh and Tripura) to see how this celebration occurs. It is my challenge to all states in India “Celebrate an occasion like we celebrate”. So, whether you are Hindu or Muslim or Christian or any one even Atheist you are always welcome in Maa’s Court. Happy Durga Puja to all!!!

Analysts feel South Asian nations cannot be isolated from the globalization process and economic integration among them is necessary. However, Mr. Ramesh also informed that trade between India and Pakistan across Line of Control will begin by October 21st.

After an analysis around 20 crore will be invested in the next 12 months to create a trade infrastructure. Additionally, around 5 crore has been sanctioned. Trade is also scheduled to start by October 21st on Srinagar-Muzzafarabad route and on October 28th on the Poonch-Rawalkot route. Also India will sign a free trade agreement with Asean (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) around December 18th, Ramesh said. Talks on investments will soon begin once the deal has been signed, he said.

They have a history wrought with difficulties and distrust and a future which threatens far worse. The worst fear, not just of residents of the two countries but of the region and the world, is that irresponsible governments in both, or either country, could resort to the extreme measure of using nuclear weapons against one another.

Lehman Brothers and Merill, the proud of America’s financial symbol which had attracted best minds from all over the world, have seen a great loss in this week. It had attracted and developed great ideas ever implemented in the social and economic life of a Layman. Philip Kotler, Mark Collins and lot of other great minds has worked in these great firms.
Lehman, the 158 years investment bank is filling a bankruptcy file; Merill has agreed to subsumed into Bank of America. Merill is going to sell itself just for $50 billion; it was $100 worth last year. This is not the end of storm. It had swallowed AIG also; the leading Insurance firm has asked the US Federal Reserve for an emergency loan of $40 billion over the weekend. If the appealed is turned down, AIG will have just a few days fund to run itself. It is really very kind of New York state officials have offered AIG a lifeline of $20 billion.
The face of the Wall Street has changed in such a short period of time that the world was shocked till response. Mr. Peter G. Peterson who was the chief of the Lehman in the 1970s quoted “My Goodness! I have been in business 35 years, and these are the most extraordinary events I have ever seen”.

To add fuel to the fire the Federal Reserve – America’s monitory authority – said that in its history it is going to accept the stocks in exchange for cash loans. Also on the other hand more than 10 leading banks of the world have set up an emergency $70 billion. US stock exchange has fallen sharply unexpectedly, adding fuel to the fire there was also a fall in oil price. The humbling moves has marked this tumultuous year in which once proud institutions like Lehman had fallen into its knees with a loss of thousands of billions of Dollars.

It is really uncertain what will happen to Merill’s employees, more than 60,000 worldwide and 25,000 for Lehman, but its Mumbai office is in its way to shut, employees can be seen cleaning their desks and polishing their CVs. Lehman said it had filed for bankruptcy protection, becoming Wall Street’s highest profile causality since junk bond specialist Drexel Burnham Lambert succumbed in 1990.

The bankruptcy filing puts an end to a great firm which has started a cotton trader in 1850. Lehman was known as a great achiever rather gritty overachiever which had survived when its office in WTC was crashed in 9/11 incident. It still survived at that time operating in other places.

Barclays are thinking to acquire its North America operation and Asia while Bank of America will acquire Merill. By this BankAm will become one of the greatest banks in the world.
So describing in short Lehman for a Layman, the main points that can be drawn out for its downfall may be as:
1. Lehman Brothers is a victim of the housing loan crisis that erupted in the US a year ago.
2. The crisis arose because small banks had lent money to borrowers with dubious credit histories.
3. The small banks sold their loans (repacking them as tradable securities) to investment banks like Lehman Brothers and Merill Lynch.
4. When the borrowers defaulted, the market for these securities collapsed like a house of cards.
5. Lehman also invested heavily in property but the housing market collapse added to the losses.
6. In March, US government helped rescue Bear Stearns, another investment bank.
7. Last week, it bailed out two state-funded mortgage houses popularly known as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
8. But, worried about infuriating voters in an election year by using public funds, the US refused to absorb a part of Lehman’s Losses.
9. With $613 billion debt on Lehman’s book, this is the biggest bankruptcy filing ever.

Can another person be blamed for the downfall for Lehman? Yes! Mr. Gordon Brown, the British Prime minister. The “Brown Jinx” Theory states that: “Whatever Brown has a hand in invariably goes kaput and any sport person or team he cheers end up in loosing”.
When Leman set up its office in London Brown was then the Exchequer. He was responsible for its set up and he inevitably wished the luck to the company. His statements were “I would like to pay tribute to the contribution you and your company make to the prosperity of Britain. During the 150 years of regime, Lehman brother has always been an innovator, financing new ideas and inventions before many others even began to realize their potentials. And it is part of the greatness not just of Lehman Brothers but of the city of London that, as the world economy has opened up, you have succeeded not by sheltering your share of a small protected national market but always by striving for a greater and greater share of the growing global market.”

So was it Mr. Brown’s curse and the effect of the above theory? He is clearly having his hand in the firms set up in London. The Daily telegraph and followed by The New York Times is asking with alacrity “Gordon Brown’s curse: Did the Prime Minister killed Lehman Bros?”.

The Brown Jinx theory is also proved in another instance when he wished Andy Murray did his best in 2008 US open after Mr. Brown sent him “our best wishes”!
Let the theory be proved false or true and jokes apart, but it’s a fact that a great institution dissolved in front of US Govt. and it’s a shame no one came forward to save it.

After a long and hectic journey of about 10 hours, I finally reached Islampur. Shibu was waiting for me on the station. He welcomed me with a great smile and a big hug. After all we are meeting after 8 years. From station we catch up a “Tanga” (Horse Cart) and moved towards his house. He had a very traditional styled Bengali Haveli(house) and also he belonged to a very noble family of Landlords.
Within 15 minutes we reached his house. We just started our gossips when suddenly the phone buzzed. Shibu attended the call and then suddenly he became apologetic. I asked him what happened. He told me that he had to go for an emergency operation in Mumbai. He was feeling very sorry but I asked him to leave because it was more important because it was about life and death. With all this huffs and puffs he finally left.

Now, I was alone in his house. His mother asked me to take a quick shower to get fresh since I was very tired. After a cool shower she offered me the traditional Bengali breakfast “Loochi Aloor Dum” and “Rasgoolas”. I enjoyed the delicious food very much. But happy times don’t last for long. After taking breakfast I was thinking what to do next. I thought of taking a nap or what…I finally make up my mind to visit the nearby villages to explore Islampur.

I started wandering to and fro, since this place was not very familiar to me. I lit up a cigarette and started roaming. Suddenly, I heard a sound, a voice….coming from a very distant place. I could easily make up that it’s a voice of a boy hardly 9 or 10 years of age. He was shouting “10 minute er khela Babu 10 minute er khela” (In English: 10 minutes Game…Oh sir! It’s just a 10 minutes Game”). I thought that it was probably or for sure another case of child labor. Since I was left with no other option to move towards that place.

It was not very far placing. Just a few minute walk and I reached that fellow. I saw that boy was showing some magic games and was entertaining people with his circus shows. He was also having a pair of monkeys. One was a child and other was an adult female monkey. He was entertaining people with his magic shows and circus acts like walking on head or balance games. Children were really enjoying as it was evident by their smiles and claps. He also managed to play a show in which he was showing the female monkey as a teacher and the baby monkey as her student. Seeing this shows, reminded me of my childhood. I was feeling so nostalgic that that I didn’t even noticed that his 10 minutes had extended to 1 long hour.

At the end of the show when everybody was leaving, I was also about to leave when he shouted upon me. “Oh Babu…..Tumi to kichu poisa na diyei chole jacho…?” (In English: Oh Sir!! You are leaving without giving me a single paisa”). I laughed and called the boy. I asked his name. His name was Anwar. I paid him 10 rupees. I also asked him with whom and where he is living. He told me that he is staying in a nearby village with his mother. I enquired whether he is going to school or not. I was shocked to hear his answer. He answered me with a pale face that “Pora shone kore ki hobe…..Asol hoche Taka babu” (In English: What to do with studies….the real thing is money”). I got very much annoyed and he is just a bogus fellow. I paid him 10 rupees and left immediately.
I returned to Shibu’s house. His mother was very congenial towards me. They served me the best Bengali food I have ever taken. After having the lunch, I was thinking about Anwar. A face full of innocence was just a show? Or maybe there is some other naked truth that he was trying to hide. With all this thought process I could never know when I fall asleep. I wake up after 5:30 in evening when Samina (Shibu’s sister) waked me up for a cup of tea.

With the end of the last sip in the cup of tea I went for an evening walk, when I saw Anwar again. I called him. He hurriedly stepped towards me. I asked him how much he had earned in the morning. With a jolly smile he replied 35 rupees. With a bit of little interference in his personal life I asked him what the hell he was going to do with the money. He replied with a sad expression that he would buy foods and medicines. I recalled the word “Medicine”. I curiously asked him in details. He told me that he was going to buy some medicines for his mother who was suffering from cancer. His father expired when he was 1 year of age. He was the only earning source in his house. After hearing these facts I was feeling very sad and I was cursing myself, that without knowing the real fact how I could blame the boy. His family load was so huge that money has replaced his all happiness his joy his sorrow…..his education his childhood…his everything. I could do nothing but at least to satisfy my cursed soul I gave him 50 rupees.

I requested Anwar to take me to his house. He welcomed my wish with a joy. I reached his village within 5 minutes. As soon as I was entering their house a crowd of Hindu mass ordered me not to enter the house because those people were Muslims. They told me “Bauner er beta, Bacha, jeo na oder ghore…jaat jaabe…” (In English: You are a Brahmin, please don’t enter their house…Else you will lose your religion and cast). I was very much disheartened and got really red faced on hearing these words. In India and especially in communist states like Bengal people are still like this? I wondered. I didn’t care about them and just by ignoring these nuts I entered the house. Let I lose my religion and cast, no problem but humanity was my preferred religion.

I entered the house and saw a lady in her mid-thirties was lying in bed. Sickness had made her very much dependable to her bed. Her face turned pale and she was crying bitterly. I hold her in my arms and asked not to cry. I asked her not to cry but I could not know the way how I could sooth her for not crying. There was no one to help them as it was very apparent from the neighbor’s attitude. I learnt from Anwar’s mother that Anwar’s father was in army and was martyred in the borders of Kashmir. Also I came to know that no pension is provided by the government to them. I wondered how people could have a great family like Anwar’s whose father had sacrificed his life just for our happiness. “Just because they are minority?” I didn’t have my answer…so I came back to Shibu’s house.

The night was normal and I took my dinner then slept. But I was thinking and thinking…and I was not able to sleep for whole night. I puffed of a pack of cigarettes but it’s of no use. Next day after my breakfast I again reached that place where I had met Anwar first time. I waited a long but Anwar didn’t come. Finally I decided to go to his house. When I reached his house his house, I saw him playing with other boys. He was playing as if he had no burden in his life. I enquired why he didn’t come to show his game. He told me yesterday his full money got saved since I brought him food and medicines. Additionally I had given him 50 rupees. So he had lot of money for the day. I asked him what he was planning to do with this money. He answered a very infuriating answer. He said he would buy some foods and toys and a Blanket for himself.

I gave him a bad look to this rascal saying “Your mother is lying on the death bed and you are planning for yourself”. I was about to leave when suddenly another boy shouted to Anwar. I was listening to the conversation. That boy was saying to Anwar “Dekh amar kache Bat ache Ball ache tor kache kichu nei…tui Bhikhari” (In English: See Anwar! I have got a Bat, Ball but you have nothing you are just a beggar). Everyone was laughing at him. He was crying. Suddenly he replied ” Na amar kache onek taka ache ami kaal I sob kinbo..tokhon tora dekhbi…..” (In English: No I have got lot of money …and I will buy all the toys by tomorrow…..then you people will see…Who am i? …I will buy blanket for my maa(mother) and I will share with her. I will buy good foods for her).

After listening this conversation I realized, that Anwar was also a child. A normal and usual child with childish sentiments. He can also have wish to buy Bat and Ball..Because his age does not permit him to take the family load. He is also having a soul to have good foods. If my kind reader carefully observes his conversation, he can find that Anwar always tries to full fill his mother as well as his needs. Just think a child thinking this complex world’s truth. My God! He is also a kid his childish mentality had stopped him to work for the day. I can realize that in this age I myself sometimes bunk the office just to take rest.

I was worried about the condition of Children in India and also I feel for the minorities. I went to the DM but of no use. He was absent. He also bunked a day just like Anwar. On the third day, again I reached the same place where Anwar show his plays. Today he was there with a good crowd surrounding him. He was showing Magic Tricks etc but I was waiting for the monkey play. At last it started and today’s played featured the female monkey as mother and baby monkey as her child. Anwar asked the female monkey to hold the baby monkey in her arms and also asked her to help the baby to take bath, get him ready for school and serve him foods. The Monkeys were really smart. They played well. It was a show that touched my heart.

At the end of the show I asked Anwar about his mother. He replied that “she died in the early morning”. I angrily told him that your mother died and you are here. I shouted a lot. He left sobbing and crying.

I felt bad after some time. I make up my way towards his house. When I reached his house I saw him sitting on the floor like a statue with no emotions. He was not crying. Everybody was saying if Anwar had not gone in the morning to play the show, the last funeral of his mother was not possible.
I was feeling guilty now. I left that place. I hurried to a nearby field and sat calmly. I puffed a cigarette and was thinking; imagine a boy hardly 10 years of age. His mother died in front of him. But he was so unlucky that he had to go out for earnings for his mother’s funeral. He didn’t even have the chance to hold his mother on his chest and cry. I asked to myself “In today’s circus, Anwar why? Why Anwar…….you have shown the love between mother and son. When the play was going on what was going on in your mind Anwar? Your mother had died long before the play started….what would have been your feelings?”

On the 4th day I was planning to leave Islampur. I thought before leaving I should make a last visit to Anwar. But when I reached his house no one was there. The door was locked and no one was able to say where he had gone. I searched for him a lot. Finally I was getting late so I catch up the train to Kolkata.

I remembered that day was Maa Saraswati Puja in Bengal (Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of Education and knowledge). It is celebrated with great zeal in Bengal. I asked to Maa “Why Maa …why can’t u bless that child with your blessings? Why? What fault he has done?” But no answer came.

I thought and kept on thinking about Anwar. He was not getting out of my mind. In mean time I reached Kolkata. I didn’t celebrate the occasion and locked myself in my room.

I haven’t forgotten Anwar till day. I don’t know where he is…where he is showing his “10 Minute er khela”. But I wish for that child that wherever you are be happy for ever.

I don’t know when people will help others, love others, be unbiased to religion and biased to humanity. I don’t know when our government will pay the deserved Pensions. But till then thousands of Anwar will suffer. An innocent childhood will fade up on the Magic shows or in mechanic garage or in civil sites. And thousands of helpless mothers will die in the darkness of poverty and helplessness.

Sonagachi is located in North-Kolkata at near the intersection of Chittaranjan Avenue, Sova Bazar and Beadon Street, just north of the Marble Palace. This Red Light District accommodates more than 10,000 prostitutes and so it is one the biggest Red Light Area in South Asia. The area was used by the Bengali Babus for maintaining concubines and mistresses in the 1700s and 1800s. Several mansions in this district have their roots in history in the early days of British Raj. Legends say that even the famous courtesans and patrons of Paris knew of the fame of the Golden district of Kolkata.

There are lots of organizational efforts, made to improve the day-to-day life of these prostitutes. Personally I am associated with the welfare of these women and associated with lots of prestigious organizations who are working for their rehabilitation. We as a group use to visit them to organize various awareness camps like AIDS awareness camp, basic education and physical health etc.

I can still recollect the memories of the day when I first visited that place. I can still remember those innocent faces that were ready to tell their stories. Number of women was just trapped in that hell and few of them are there because of their family lineage. Whatever would have been the reason for those women to be there something was common and that was every woman wanted ….”FREEDOM”. Freedom from Pimps who sell them to dirty Harsh Clients, freedom from an unscure and unsafe life.

During my visit I meet lots of women. I meet Putul, I met Rani I met Laila, Farha, Gauri, Shakeela….to name a few. Putul or Putul Masi (Masi…..in Bengali means Mother’s Sister); she was in her mid fifties. I visited her in her room. There was nothing special except one thing i noticed. I saw a big picture of Goddess Kali (Kali is the most respected goddess in Bengal) with a big Garland of Jaba Flower (Hibicus) over the photo frame. She cordially invited me in her room. I entered and touched her feet. She offered me a cup of tea and some sweets. She is known as Putul Masi to all women over there. Masi Maa doesn’t practice prostitution recently. She is now associated with the welfare of these girls. I heard about the dark part of our city from her mainly. How the poor innocent girls in this profession of prostitution are being treated…how much they are restricted and forced to do these filthy things they perform…I heard everything from her and was bewildered to know the plight of these deprived women. I was startled to hear that forced prostitution is encouraged by the Police, Politicians, Industrialists, Players and all upper level people.

She told me her own story. She bore in a poor village of Dhaka district to a farmer family. Her father expired when she was 6 years old. Her mother was working as maid in houses to rear her children respectfully. Putul masi was the eldest child of her mother and she had six other siblings including four brothers and two sisters. Maasi grew up in very poor and miserable condition. When she was 16 years of age a boy came to her life. He assured her to marry and told her to move to Kolkata from Dhaka. But she told that guy that if she moved from Dhaka…there will be no one to look after her family. But the boy allured her with job offer and a improved lifestyle where she would be in position to look after her family in better manner. With lots and lots of assurances she moved to kolkata. On her very first day in the City Of Joy (Kolkata is also known by this name)…that guy took her to a person and introduced him as his Uncle. This Fake uncle took her to a house and she was told her that guy would be visiting her in an hour. But that hour never came and she was forced to prostitution. She tried to escape from that mess but it was not that easy. She cried but no one came. After hearing her story; I felt really bad by my heart and told her “Kedo Na Maa…..aaj theke ami tomar pola”. (Don’t Cry Mother…..from today consider me as your son”). I was thinking that she probably would have dreamt for a family; a house; a husband who pampered her cared her and loved her. But this cruel world never allowed her dreams come true. She has been sleeping with her clients instead of her husband. What would have been her emotional plight where she was forced to sleep with unwanted people and raped by people whom she never thought of even meeting.

During my visit; I was also introduced to Shakeela Bano. She came from Murshidabad district of West-Bengal. Shakeela came to Kolkata for studies. Back in home she had an Alcoholic father. One day a guy came to her hostel and told her that her father was waiting for her. She went with him and she saw her father was there waiting for her with the drastic news of selling her; he disclosed that he has sold her in the hands of Dalal just for 10,000 rupees. This is how she was trapped and forced to be a prostitute. She was crying… and begging.. I was thinking this cruel world has deprived a doctor or engineer or may be a pilot who could have served nation.. She was sold just for a bottle of whisky.. I was helpless. I disappointed her by telling that her brother was helpless. She then took me to her house and served Fish and rice. She also tied me a Rakhi(thin thread sisters tie to the wrists of their brothers in Hindus and brothers owe them their security). I felt she was very nice and decent girl. But no one came to help her… and there is not a single guy to marry this 24 year old girl.

I was just about to leave that Hell when I noticed a girl playing with her dolls. She was barely 14 years old. I heard that she came here a few days ago. Her mother sold her. She hardly knew what prostitution is. She innocently kept on playing with her dolls, without knowing the fact that her life is going to be a hell. I called her and asked her name. She told me her name is Rupa. I asked about her family; she told me that her father was expired. But she is having a very “Loveable” mother. She was expecting her mother in few days to take her away to her home. I asked her whether she is studying or not. She nodded her head positively saying that she wanted to be a doctor in future. Just imagine a 14 years old girl in brothel; playing with her dolls and never knows what prostitution is?

Usually I never cry. But on that day I rush to a bathroom a cried severely …and questioned myself is this the world we made it and is this what we expect from it? Gautam Buddha left his empire and became a sanyasi (ascetic). I always laughed over his decision that he just left a lavished life but now I can empathize with him; I am sure he would have visited one of the brothels like this or may be something less then this.

Woman was eve hence respectful and belong some man either as a mother or sister. They are someone’s wife or some ones love. They are the version of Power or “Shakti”(strength)
Maa Kali the most Respectable goddess in Bengal is also a female. She is considered the source of Power. In Hindu mythology every girl is considered as Version of Kali. I was wondering is this the way we worship our Kalis?

Every women over that place dreams of a family of their own. Their desire to have their own children is very high. It is very much visible when they offer Pujas to “God Kartik” considering him as their own son. They take the idol to their home. They bath the idol, changes clothes and offer chocolates….They treat Kartike as their own son. These were the signs showing their strong desire to have their own children.

Social taboos do not allow people to like these prostitutes and
In Kolkata people use to hate these prostitutes considering them malicious and stigma on society without knowing the fact what and why they are prostitutes and who has compelled them to be in this profession. Everybody has abhorrence in their hearts for them even in my house. When I came back from there my mother scolded me badly and ordered me to
take bath with “Ganga Jal”. How lots and lots of families are broken in this way no one ever thought about it. Did anyone ever pay attention towards this grave issue; who is responsible for their conditions? Answer echoed within me …

We; and we are responsible; who else can be other than us. They fulfill the greed and desires of people and in this service they are infected with AIDS. They die in pain and even destiny gives them bad names. But no one is there to help them. They are “Dayan”(witches) in people’s eyes…but when it comes to bloody desire fulfillment …they make them their victim. Their pseudo omens are left far behind when they knock at their doors to satisfy their hunger.

Today several government organizations and NGOs operate here for preventing Sexually Transmitted Disease(STD) and AIDS. Local NGO like Sanlaap etc are working towards the betterment of these prostitues lives. The “Sonagachi Project” is responsible for keeping 5% AIDS rates among the prostitutes. This is the most promising figure as compared to other Red Light Districts in India. Organization like “Durbar Mahila Samanwaya” currently runs this project along with some 65,000 prostitutes and children. They work for the legalization of this profession calling it as “Sex Work is Real Work: We Demand Workers Rights”. The documentary Born into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids won the Oscar for best documentary feature in the year 2005. It depicts the lives of children born to prostitutes in Sonagachi.

Coming to the solution and its effects on the society; AIDS is spreading rapidly; there are people who encourage this profession and make hell out of heavens. These hells in return are destroying them also because this disease is increasing in India and reaching to neighboring countries also. On governmental level a campaign is needed to diffuse he image about these women who are spending their lives in extreme misery. Public awareness programs to create understanding about these women is very important.. At this very time; if we are unable to understand the situation and its outcome…… our generations probably would never forgive us for leaving them in hells.