Sunday, November 22, 2009

Just one of those tryin times...

Writing after a long hiatus of nearly 4 months...
My only excuse was sheer mental fatigue!!
Trying to divide time, working on, several projects at one go...
Desperately need a vacation to regroup... no one is listening...
Have been living out of a suitcase for the past week!!!
Came to Asansol for an event…
Event over… but still stuck in this godforsaken place…
Woke up early in the morning today… to catch the 7am Volvo service to Kolkata… only to be informed that due to a stupid phenomenon called “Bangla Bandh”, the bus will not ply… there were blockades at various places on the main arterial road and buses were being burnt!!!
I mean, why burn buses? How will that solve the problem of ever-rising prices of vegetables, I wonder?
A work day… the first day of the week…a month-end, goes waste…
30th of a month is a payday for most people…
There was a group of Japanese, who had boarded the bus, they had a flight to catch from Kolkata airport…!!! What must these poor guys be thinking?
I felt ashamed to be a denizen of this state…!!!
In the current scenario… the Indian industrialists, themselves, won’t venture into any investments in this state… so we can forget about foreign investments!!!
A bunch of jokers, who fancy themselves as politicians don’t bother to think along these lines… & the future of our country, depends on them…!!!
The egocentric morons, who do the frontline execution of the vandalism, fail to realize that they are mere pawns in the whole scheme of things… and will be sacrificed in the chequered board of dirty politics… once their need is over!!
And this phenomenon will never stop till the nexus between the police & politicians is axed…
Bandh has become, so much a part & parcel of our lives in Kolkata, that we often fail to react to it…
Today, however as I sit all alone in our office bunglow in Asansol…with a plate of cold… badly made chowmein… I can feel the level of frustration rising in me…. AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHH!!
I am missing home… especially my beloved Bala… who waits for me every day at the door, with a wet nose… grinning face… wagging tail… and love in his warm brown eyes…

Monday, August 24, 2009

Sakura...

Really dont know where this bout of artistry came from....
Well.. I guess it could be worse.... :)
This is my take on the famous Cherry Blossoms of Japan....

Monday, July 27, 2009

Chick Meet

It was just one of those days...
I spent the whole day running helter- skelter, trying to be on time for a barrage of meetings...
Getting wet in the rain... being refused by cab drivers for upteenth number of times...
Wading in stubborn, cold, murky water... which refused to go down our beloved city's superior drainage system...!!! (YUCKKK! dont even want to think about what the water contained... SHUDDERRRRRR!!!) Thank god... for my CROCS!!!
And ofcource, ended up being late for the meetings due to downpour which as usual threw the city's traffic system out of kelter...
But what made me go through the whole gamut of the day's activity was, my friend Pragya's hurricane visit to the city...

I received an SMS early in the morning saying "Lets meet at Flurys, 6:30pm"... I was elated...
However as the day wore on.. I became a bit skeptical... the sky was overcast... it rained quite hard... the drizzle didnt let up...
But when I called to ask.. I was strongly reassured that we were meeting...
I just about wrapped up work and ran out of office... knowing that it wiuld be an uphill task getting a cab in this weather...
Strangely... I got a cab from inside the building... and made it quite quickly to Flurys on Park St.

Pragya was aready there with Kasturi... I joined in...
I had skipped lunch and was quite hungry... so was Kasturi... Pragy had had a heavy lunch... so she was not keen on food...

What followed was a hilarious episode of us ordering food...
The whole day I had been wanting to have freshly made pancakes with icecream and maple syrup.... waiter who came to serve us, took kasturi's order for toast and omlette... but there was no pancakes... (Sighhhhhhh!!)
I ordered for a chicken mushroom quiche after a lot of consideration... that too was not available...
totally fed up... I asked for the Manager... who happened to be an ex- colleague of mine...
On learning about my predicament... he asked for something... that too was unavaiable...!!! (LOL)
At last we unanimously decided on chicken wings in barbeque sauce...
All the while... my friends were laughing!!!
The food arrived... (pretty fast... by Flurys standard...)
We happily dug in... while Pragy sagely enjoyed her cuppa...
The current went off.... and we decided that it was the best time to take a few photographs...
Tomali joined us just then... perfect timing... we said...
The waiter, Abhishek very sweetly took our photos....
We had already finished our food by then...
Good in a way as Tomali was on a diet... (Tomali's diet- 'TD', Kasturi named it...)
She ordered for tea and cookies...
We ate... chatted... bitched...talked a lot of nonsense.... discussed the 'Swine -flu'... & laughed a rather too loudly...(who cares..)
We were a happy bunch of like-minded Gals....
Tomali's "Taxi Khabo..." had us into fits of laughter as we left Flury's to go back home...
A total stress buster...!!!
I believe Chick Meets like these are very refershing... and we should do it more often...!!
What says?

Friday, July 24, 2009

Khola janala...

Akasher rong kalo hoyechey
Ghoniye aelo bayla,
Brishti bheja, phooler tora
Dichchey hawaye dola...

Mishti shure pakhir daakey
Hotchey kichi-michii...
Itchey holo, tari shathey
Amio kitchu shikhii.

Hothat aloye uthlo joley
Drisheyr chari deek...
Gorjey awaj korlo pheley
Ghono meghta, thik.

Shroter joley nauka choley
Kagoch diye gora,
Sheyi khushitey shishura nachey
Haanshite mukh bhora.

Shonda matir ghondho bheshey,
Elo chupi sharey
Bhoriye dilo pran o mon,
Anando bhicharey...

Khola janalar paney cheye
dekhilaam eyi chobi,
Shudhu tumi nai, pashey amar
Naholey, petaam shobi...

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Ice Age 3 - My favourite characters

Ice Age has always been one of my favourite animation movies, and I have seen all the parts...
Each of them cleverly conveys a set of different messages...
The much awaited Ice age 3, though not as brilliant as its predecessors, has its moments of sheer mirth....
As has been the modus operandi... this edition also introduces many new characters, while uniting us with the old ones....
The movie on a heavier note deals with hardships of single parenting, when Sid finds 3 egges and tries to build a family of his own....
I simply fell in love with the dino babies - "Rex, Sera & Chomper" from the moment they said "MAMMA" in chorus & rushed to hug Sid....

The playground scene was hilarious... where poor Sid, tries his best to control the naughty, hungry Dino hatchlings... who go around swallowing all the other babies...
Another scene which is a laugh riot is the one in which Sid, goes upto a bull and tries to milk it...
The angry bull charges at him... and Sid runs away screaming "I thought you were a woman!!!"
The woolley Mammoths also gave birth to their first baby- "Peaches" ... I could only say.... AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW...... sooooo cute... I wanted to cuddle her...
The first time Sid saw Peaches he exclaimed "It's a Boy!" Only to be interrupted by Diego, "That's her tail." Sid then says "It's a Girl!" (LOL!!!)
Another message comes through.... parents always try to do the best for their children, trying to give it all kinds of comfort... and cushioning its fall... but as Elle rightly says,"This is the world our baby's gonna grow up in, you can't change that..."
While children can just enjoy the wonderfully animated characters... Adults can dwell upon the the more serious undertones...

Friendship, is the string that binds the trilogy beautifully... Its about trust, sharing, space and being together through thick and thin... a point that today's generation often misses out on, while chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow....!!

On the whole its funny and thought provoking, the movie has something for everyone...

Thursday, July 9, 2009

My Parent's Anniversary - 16th June 2009

Being an Event manager by profession, I love creating special themes and color codes for Birthday & anniversary celebrations at home.
Since my work schedule is hectic, my planning starts a month before the date of the event, as I shop in bits and peices, quite the jig-saw puzzle... (LOL!!!)
And I am quite finicky about the finesse with which the ultimate scenerio is presented. This often makes me go to great lengths to find 'The Perfect thing'.
  • I chose a mix of pink and mauve this year for My Parent's anniversary celebrations.
  • The card I created echoed the same color-mix

Creating the card:

  1. I chose a mauve colour for the card paper.
  2. Pulled out a leaf of self adhesive, solid golden polkas from my sticker file.
  3. Scouted for the perfect faux Orchids to be inserted into the card (which I managed to find at last at Nik-Nish!!)
  4. Used self adhesive silver alphabets for the lettering on the card.

The Set up:

  • I ordered a special bouquet from the florist at New Market with a mix of mauve Orchids, baby-pink Lilies & Gerberas.
  • On one of the shopping sprees, I bought a big, baby-pink spiral candle.
  • And strangely on one of my official trips to Duragpur, I actually found a bottle of pink cider. Perfect for my theme... I carried it back home!!
  • I raided New Market again to find a perfect set of champagne flutes...
  • Last but not the least... the fresh cream- pinnaple cake from Cakes... (yummmm...) completed the table.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Weekend Rocks @ Durgapur City Centre

My first series of events after joining Bengal Shristi was titled "Weekend Rocks!!" out of sheer lack of inspiration!!! (LOL!!!)
Getting sponsors onboard was not a song... and there was hardly anyone who would come forward for the same...
I am extremely thankful to Debopriyo Ghoshal, Head Marketing, Reliance Mobile, who liked the concept and agreed to become a sponsor....
The First Weekend - 13th June 09, the Band, 'Shorojontro' was sponsored by Purple Music, for this I am extremely thankful to my friend & ex-colleague - Roopal Kabiraj, Managing Partner- Purple Music!!!
Band: Shrojontro, performing @ Kalangan, Durgapur City Centre
The Second Weekend - 20th June 09, the Band, 'Sandhan' was sponsored by Karma Events, thanks to my friend & ex-colleague - Satadru Sarkar, Proprietor, Karma Events!!!
Band: Sandhan, after the event @ Kalangan, Durgapur City Centre
Standing on the bridge to watch the setup from above....
The Third Weekend - 27th June 09, their were two Bands, both sponsored by Big Music, thanks to my friend & ex-colleague - Shouvik Dutta, Manager Content, Big Music & Video!!!
1st Band: Comus @ the Odyssey Club, Durgapur City Centre
2nd Band: Samik & troupe @ the Odessey Club, Durgapur City Centre

With only the final show to go... taking a breather with Hritik... (RODL)!!!

Friday, July 3, 2009

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Cheating husbands & forgiving wives...

This subject spans generations... covers history... mythology…
The sheer male hunting instinct, or just plain polygamy... has always been, as much, a part of life as perhaps, Oxygen...

India is a country where we worship, Lord Krishna, who had innumerous wives… So how can we expect the male progeny to be far behind???
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At the time when kings were rich, they maintained innumerous wives & concubines, sex slaves in their harems... (wonder what their diet was like… that gave them such hyper libido, today, men plead of headache…, over-work and even blame the weather… LOL!!!)
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The kings picked up any girl they liked to satisfy their lust… satiate their carnal pleasures… The law then was meant for the rich & powerful, and the women had no chance to protest… The queens just looked away, and rarely voiced their disapproval…

Then came the Zamindars and their nautch-girls. They patronized these very talented ladies… often squandering their wealth and property in a typical male show of one man up ship… while their wives spent their lives lamenting their husbands disinterest and weeping silent tears… some gutsy wives protested… which led them to fall from their husbands’ favor…

The Hindu marriage act 1955, prohibits a second marriage, while the 1st spouse is still living… so…the mistresses, one night stands and extra marital relationships followed…

Throughout the ages, it has always been the women who have suffered great emotional losses due to their husband’s infidelity and roving eye… However they have always forgiven and accepted their men back with pious open arms, into their lives and bed… (as a proverb in hindi goes “agar subha ka bhula, sham ko ghar wapas aye… use bhula nahi kehten”…)
But I truly wonder, would men be as forgiving if women commited adultry? How tolerant are they?

Hillary Clinton stood by her husband’s side like a sentinel all through the media circus during the Monica Lewinsky case… She held on to her man, her marriage, her family… and emerged a winner… setting an example of a perfect wife… the point here is… is she really happy…? Has she really managed to forgive her husband as a woman… and not as political contender for the presidential seat, who wants to portray the image of a perfect American family?

In the recent running case of the handsome, debonair Shiney Ahuja, a very talented actor… he could have perhaps had any woman he wanted… and what does he do?? He rapes his maid servant… in his wife’s absence!!! (lack of taste… I swear, LOL!!!) Once again it is left to his poor wife, to stand by and defend a husband, who can’t think beyond his satisfied cock!!!
Whether it is rape or consensual sex… it all surmounts to adultery!!! Either way, the wife is wronged… The tension, heartbreak, loss of faith… the ultimate nightmarish hell that the poor lady is going through, is inhuman…

If it has indeed been consensual sex… then the maid servant needs to be flogged!! She is simply out to make a quick buck…
But if it is really rape… my heart goes out to the teenager… no woman should go through this humiliation… this scar will never heal…

A relationship takes a long time to build up… with love, respect & trust being the main pillars on which it rests… a scenario like this shatters all this in a second… like a twister, leaving behind mass scale destruction in its wake… all that remains is a farce called marriage… and more often than not the reason for sticking together is the child who is caught up in the mess. A dysfunctional family like this is the worse place for a child to grow up in…
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Scenarios are however changing… today’s women also seek emotional and sexual satisfaction well outside the bonds of marriage… office affairs are the order of the day… This can be simply termed as a ‘lifestyle disease’…
Most women are working now… stepping into places which till very recently had been a preferred male domain… they sit astride both the worlds, juggling home & career fronts with equal aplomb…

Their new found identity and independence have led them to become more open towards having friends and confidants of the opposite sex. This leads to an emotional dependence and often culminates into a clandestine affair…
While men have affairs just to satisfy their lust, most of the women indulging in affairs have hidden agendas... and make proper use of the saying, ‘Men are hard when they are soft and soft when they are hard…LOL!!! They either use men as stepping stones to climb the ladders of success or for monetary gains.

But let’s not generalize… there are women, who unwittingly gets pulled into affairs because of their romantic & emotional bent of mind… they just need to feel cherished, understood & supported by someone special…someone to whom they can pour their hearts out… share the joy & sorrow… walk in the rain… stay up at night and talk… (yeah… I know, I know… sounds like a girlie paradise…!! Sigh…!!!)
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And, there are women who happily manage to maintain platonic relationships as well…

While I dont disagree with the fact that married women also have affairs, especially whose husbands are so busy making money that they don't have the time to satisfy their wives' physical & emotional needs...

It is very true that 'it takes two to tango'... and that every affair will have a man and a woman involved,(unless its a homosexual affair... ugh... lets not even get there!!!) it is mostly the married men, who draw unmarried younger women into the emotinal web, by making up stories about their uncaring wives... and how misunderstood he is at home...!!! They are often heard using cliched lines like.."why didn't I meet you before, we would have been so happily married by now...", "I am so lonely...", "I really love you... but what to do... I am caught in this bad marriage...", "My parents will never understand...", "My wife is never interested in what I do...", "You know, we dont even have sex...", " havent said this to anyone all these years... just you..." All this is said just to garner sympathy from the a lady...

If we really do a study… even today the comparative numbers for cheating husband will be more than the cheating wives… because women still think twice about having an affair... and jeopardizing the lives of their loved ones... even with temptations galore... and this cuts across all stratas of society...

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Antoheen...

Bhalobasha maney… Prothom aaloye, ekti shishir phoonta
Bhalobasha maney… Neel aakashey, Ram-dhanu ti ootha.

Bhalobasha maney… Brishti beja, shonda maatir rong
Bhalobasha maney… Halka hawaye, nana phuler shong.

Bhalobasha maney… Chokha-chuki, r mishti muchki haanshi
Bhalobasha maney… Krishna amar, Gokuley bajaye baanshi.

Bhalobasha maney… Ektu dekha, ektuku looko-churi
Bhalobasha maney… Ektu chonwa, r onek ta durri.

Bhalobasha maney… Gobhir raatey, phoner oopeckkha
Bhalobasha maney… Maan-abhimaan, r premer porikkha.

Bhalobasha maney… shopno shagorey bheshe jawa, ek tori
Bhalobasha maney… tumi ja bolo, ami shudhui tai kori.

Bhalobasha maney… Haanshir moddhey, lukono koshto
Bhalobasha maney… Asha r chintaye, shomoy noshto.

Bhalobasha maney… joar-bhataye eki sathey chola
Bhalobasha maney… pran khule moner kotha bola.

Bhalobasha maney… Mone-mone, ami tomakei chai
Bhalobasha maney… Tumi chara, amar keho nai.

Bhalobasha maney.... choto-boro oonek kichu pawa
Bhalobasha maney.... Amar tomaye Antoheen chawa....

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Vote Pujo

The City of Joy voted today...
Yesss... we did!!
"Baro Mashey Tero Paarbon..." thats the good old Kolkata for you... and if thats not enough... add VOTE PUJO.... whenever it comes... people celebrate in style....!!!
And why not? its a bonus holiday after all...
Regular office goers take a break from their regular 9 to 5 schedule and rise late...
I have been voting in the South Kolkata ever since I turned 18 yrs....
And in this Part of the city.. its almost like a social occassion.
The whole family goes out together....
Most of them dress up as if they are going out for a pre- wedding lunch....!!! (for heaven's sake!!)
They catch up at the polling centre with friends & neighbours, whom they had not met for quite some time... (damn.. )
Discussion place: outside the building... under the trees... on the stairs while standing in que... and for people who are not afraid to show their party inclinations- the party office booths!!!
Topic of discussion: As varied as, " Votey ke Jeetbe mone hoy?" / "tomar sari ta bhari shundor..!!" / Anjali Jewellers ey gechile?" / "Recession time... chakrir bazaar khub kharaap..." / "KKR ja khelchey... amader parar chele gulo aro bhalo khele...SRK khub bhul korlo!!!!" / "Vodafone advt gulo dekhecis, ki cute!!!"
Some even venture out to play cricket... (in this heat.. can u believe it...!! There is no dirth of enthusiasm...)
OR, simply like us....
We waited for friends to meet... went to the polling centre.. caste our votes... & then one of my friend's said....
" Aaj bikele 7pm .. bhabchi maal khete jabo... ke ke jabi bol..."
So, We too celebrated VOTE PUJO..., with vodka & beer...
And by the time we left the restaurant... the place had filled up with like minded people (LOL!!!)
So there.... Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeers!!! (HIC!!)

Saturday, April 25, 2009

The Crab Mentality...

"Horatio Thelonious Ignacious Crustaceous Sebastian" better known as King Triton's right hand man... eeerr... Crab and Ariel's appointed overseer... his theory is never let children get out of hand... "give dem an inch and dey swim all over you" he says...
He tries his best to follow his King's orders and keep Ariel safe and away from everything foreign... but when all fails.. he grudgingly follows the princess on her adventures above the sea... and slowly becomes Ariel's lovable guide & wellwisher....
However not all crabs can boast of this attitude... in fact have you ever noticed crabs which have been caught and put together in a large wicker basket? Probably they all know that they are going to die... But when one of them refuses to accept his impending fate and makes an effort to get out of this deathtrap... the others carefully watch it try to escape and just at the point when it is about to scale the top, they quickly grab his last leg and pull him back in. If they cant have their freedon to live... they all have to die together!!
That my friends is called the 'crab mentality'... something I am very sorry to say that middle class bangalis excercise with utmost precision, especially at workplace...
I say 'middle class bangalis' because the SEG lower than that is too tired, fighting their odds in life to have any interest in all these issues... and the upper echelon of bangalis have their hands full with their lifes upkeeps to bother their well-coiffured heads with such petty issues...
While, the middle class snubs the ones below them and tries to ape all they can from the lives of those above them in the society...
They while away their precious time in vicious gossip... scheming... and harmful mechanisations.
I am really appalled at the current nauseating odor of crab mentality that has seeped into the corporate culture of a workplace...
Any other caste would love to have more people of the same caste working with them... (which is understandable & acceptable...) But NOT the MCBs (Middle class Bangali). They will never be happy to see someone of their caste climb the ladders and do well for themselves... NO Sir... no way!! You have to be like them... stay like them... miserably satisfied with their lot...!!!
The snickers, the looks, the whisperings, the exchange of hurried glances... the gossip mill runs over time till the object of discussion... furious, frustrated, disheartehed, demoralized decides to call it a day... then there is a sudden lull... one can almost fell touch of the mental high fives & the silent jubilations that runs through... Yess... the MCBs have done it again...
The company loses a good manpower to Crab mentality!!!
(My heart felt apologies to all my friends & some people I now who may be middle class Bangalis, but does not give in to the provocation of following this mentality.... Sorry guys.. but I think you know the point I am trying to make here.... Cheers!!!)

Friday, March 27, 2009

Flora & Fauna ~ Shantiniketan

Living in a mega city, makes you forget the touch of nature... unless you have a garden in your house..

Which is an immposibility, unless you are stinking rich..!!!
All the beautiful 'bagan-baris' with greenary all around are just vanishing....
Some due to the fact that people simply dont have the resourses to maintain such big properties...
Some due to the greed of the 'land sharks' who dangle the carrot of a huge amount of money infront of the owners...
The swiftly changing skyline of Kolkata is playing havoc to the environment...
As the hig-rises apire to meet the sky... the vast, green, fertile cultivable lands vanish...
The trees which provided shade to the weary travellers... home to the birds are felled...
We dont see birds... butterflies...
Our only glimpse of flowers is when we go to a flower shop to buy a bouquet....!!!!
Sad.... But true...

That is why... my trip to Shantiniketan was very rewarding... I lived in the lap of nature... away from the hustle-bustle of a city life.... far from the maddning, cacophonic, existence... I was quite overwhelmed at the profuse riot of colours that welcomed my advent...







Rudra Palash...
Being extremely partial to the colour RED... the bright crimson hue captured my senses...







Hibiscus...
The delicate frilly petals look lovely....






Wild Flowers...
The wild red profusion formed a lacey border






Purple Joy Dahlia...
The pinkish -purple gaint with the yellow centre







Bleeding Heart...
This small delicte concocsion is a perfect creation....







Found this cluster of beauties climbing a broken wall....








Butterfly & the bristles






Rose Bridal Pink...
Utterly girlishly romantic...






Marigold...





Duel toned Dahlia...
Reminded me of the story Snow-white & Rose-red






Dahlia Apricot...




Orange Flames...
I dont know wht flower this was but I liked the bright colour...






Karma Choc Dahlia...





A stripped butterfly...






Carolina Wagemans Dahlia...
Peaches n cream






Checkers Dahlia...
A white tipped Gaint







White & red flowers make a nice picture...







Bonfire Salvia..
Indeed a very firey colour..





Dandelion...





Tiny Blue flowers...





Red Gerbera...
Bold & beautiful






Crysanthimum...
Soft & romantic






Impatiens...
A glorious fusion





A spotted butterfly on cosmos







Pink Whorls...







White edged purple whorls..







Kenora Valentine Dahlia...
Peachish red Gaint







Carmine Gladiolus...







Orange beaked Gladiolus...







Yellow Gladiolus...






A Sweetheart...







Chitals @ deer Park, Ballavpur




Coleus Kong...
Sunlight on leaves






Coleus Kong...
These colours are synonimus with the Football Gaint, Mohan Bagan.






Coleus Kong...
The dotted outlines reminded me of a painting, by Rembrandt Van Rijn that I saw at Rex Museum years back....






Coleus Kong...
Colourful leaves.





Night Dream Dahlia...
A brilliant pink Gaint





Palash...
These delicate red flowers, herald the advent of Spring








A flower that looks like a corn ...





Sunlight filtering through the trees...




A barren tree trunk





Cosmos...
Orange butterfly on a cosmos





Daisy Rudbeckia/Black-Eyed Susan..
The flower, looks glorious even as its days end.
The VIBGYOR-ish hue of God's own creation... touching all the colours of the rainbow, made me feel happy & satisfied that I took this break... thanks to my dearest friend Pragy......