Tiger - http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071220/jsp/frontpage/story_8690576.jsp
Elephant - http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071220/jsp/calcutta/story_8688595.jsp
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sunday, November 4, 2007
America's answer to Ek Choti Si Love Story!
Here is real-life American version of Ek Choti Si Love Story. Lets hope this incident inspires Hollywood's Shashilal Nair to make a movie.
What would be the title? Bolo-bolo, tell-tell?
What would be the title? Bolo-bolo, tell-tell?
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Jhulan Goswami - Chak-da India girl!
Ok-ok, this is not a typo. When the entire nation mesmerized by this song, I can’t simply ignore it. :)
So this lanky, 6-feet world's fastest bowler from Chakda (80-odd km away from Kolkata, West Bengal, India), has made us proud by winning Women's Player of 2007 at the ICC Awards.
This is an iconic achievement by a woman cricketer. She represents a country, where the men cricketers are worshipped like god, and catches media attention even after a meager win against minnows. On the contrary, when our women cricket team beats England in their backyard, the news is only mentioned in a corner of the sports page.
I am glad to see Jhulan appearing in the front page of the newspapers. She may lack the glam factor like over-hyped Sania, but she's fast, furious, and an ultimate champion.
Chak de Jhulan!
So this lanky, 6-feet world's fastest bowler from Chakda (80-odd km away from Kolkata, West Bengal, India), has made us proud by winning Women's Player of 2007 at the ICC Awards.
This is an iconic achievement by a woman cricketer. She represents a country, where the men cricketers are worshipped like god, and catches media attention even after a meager win against minnows. On the contrary, when our women cricket team beats England in their backyard, the news is only mentioned in a corner of the sports page.
I am glad to see Jhulan appearing in the front page of the newspapers. She may lack the glam factor like over-hyped Sania, but she's fast, furious, and an ultimate champion.
Chak de Jhulan!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Messidona = Messi + Maradona
| Lionel Messi | Diego Maradona |
 |  |
Lionel Messi is coming up with a Maradona-act every now and then!
Initially, it was his great solo run against Getafe that reminded everyone of Maradona's goal against England in the 86’ World Cup:
And now, a replica of Maradona's Hand of God goal...
is here:
Long live Messidona!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
About Art and Politics
The art of bringing people together is sheer politics.
URBAN JUNGLE: Thousands of people pose in the nude for an installation by US photographer Spencer Tunick at the Zocalo square in Mexico City on Sunday. Tunick is known for his photographs that feature large numbers of nude people posed in artistic formations, often situated in urban locations.Source: May 8, TOI.
The politics of bringing people together is an art.
OPTIMUM UTILITY: The Shiv Sena found an unusual spot — the Mutha riverbed near Bhide bridge — for a rally on the occasion of the inauguration of its Pulachiwadi office in the city on Tuesday. Speaking at the rally, Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray chose to slam the government over James Laine’s controversial book on Shivaji.
Source: May 9, TOI.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Aussies are the best - Analysis by an Indian
Trust (or lack of it) within the team:
- The batsmen dont trust the bowlers, so they play all big shots to win;
- The bowlers dont trust their batting, so they bowl with a fire in their belly; but finally
- The captain trusts the entire team;
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Hinglish Chinglish bhai-bhai
You have heard of Hinglish, here is Chinglish for you:
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-beijing-chinglish&prov=ap&type=lgns
Little baffled, well that's Chinglish - a blend of the Chinese and English words, and it's just like you saying:
- A store selling tobacco products advertises: “An Excellent Winding Smoke.”
- A sign on the floor at Beijing's Capital Airport reads: “Careful Landslip Attention Security.”
- A mysterious message on the billboard displays: “Shangri-La is in you mind, but your Buffalo is not.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-beijing-chinglish&prov=ap&type=lgns
Little baffled, well that's Chinglish - a blend of the Chinese and English words, and it's just like you saying:
- Hey, time kya hua hai?
- Kiss my hote!
- Darling, slowly chal naa.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Cars, cars, and more cars!
Certainly, swanky imported cars are making news this week.
February 5
: Lil Abhisekh Bachhan got the Bently car as a gift from his big dad Amitabh Bachhan on his 31st birthday.February 7: Just two days after Abhishek Bachchan got his Bentley, came his dad’s turn – a sparking silver Rolls Royce gifted from director Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Seems Chopra got awestruck after watching Bachhan’s acting in his latest film Eklavya and so is this Rolls Royce.
People started rumoring how rich has Big B become, who once
could not afford to pay income tax can now actually afford to gift a Bently car
to his son!
February 8: You know what, actually people were right - Amitabh didn't gift Bentley to his son, it was a rumor!
Then who gifted the Bently car to lil Abhisekh?
Bolo-bolo, tell-tell!
I am sorry, no heads-up on this.
What is found is that Amar Chote-Bhaiya Singh claiming to be the owner of the Bentley car.
Confusion, confusion, and more confusion.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Orissa, Slap Chap(pel), and the Budhiya story
Friday, January 19, 2007
Rock bands and their names
Q: Have you ever heard of the following names?
- Pin Drop Violence
- Nursery Crimes
A: They are musical rock bands.
Wish you a rock, rock, rocking weekend!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Racial attack and the Shetty girl
Shilpa Shetty might not be a box-office queen, but she is making news, again!
Last week she created ruckus once she entered into the Big Brother’s house and this week for some alleged racist comments.
Big Brother is the Britain’s popular reality television show, which is aired on Channel4. This reality show has huge UK-based Indian viewers. The producers were smart, to keep the TRP ratings high they roped an Indian celebrity, and in comes the Shetty girl.
However, the Indian government has not taken the racist comments lightly and also this issue was raised in the British House of Commons.
This just reminds me of the mid-nineties, actually 12 years to be specific, when Shilpa was in the limelight. She was excited when she found much-needed admirer in the form of an Election Commissioner and a Supercop.
Former Chief Election Commissioner TN Seshan maybe serious and honest in his job, but he made no pretension when he said that he loved to see Shilpa in the song Chura ke dil mera goriya chali. Ditto with the former Supercop KPS Gill. You may always blame him for the current state of affairs of the Indian Hockey. But hey, he was a great admirer of Shilpa Shetty.
Now what? I am sure she will find few admirers this time. British MP Keith Vaz and PM Tony Blair are my guesses. What’s yours?
Last week she created ruckus once she entered into the Big Brother’s house and this week for some alleged racist comments.
Big Brother is the Britain’s popular reality television show, which is aired on Channel4. This reality show has huge UK-based Indian viewers. The producers were smart, to keep the TRP ratings high they roped an Indian celebrity, and in comes the Shetty girl.
However, the Indian government has not taken the racist comments lightly and also this issue was raised in the British House of Commons.
This just reminds me of the mid-nineties, actually 12 years to be specific, when Shilpa was in the limelight. She was excited when she found much-needed admirer in the form of an Election Commissioner and a Supercop.
Former Chief Election Commissioner TN Seshan maybe serious and honest in his job, but he made no pretension when he said that he loved to see Shilpa in the song Chura ke dil mera goriya chali. Ditto with the former Supercop KPS Gill. You may always blame him for the current state of affairs of the Indian Hockey. But hey, he was a great admirer of Shilpa Shetty.
Now what? I am sure she will find few admirers this time. British MP Keith Vaz and PM Tony Blair are my guesses. What’s yours?
Monday, January 15, 2007
Café Mondegar: Salaam Bombay
Nope, this is not a typo, I mean Bombay not Mumbai. Die hard Mumbaikar’s who swear by the name of Mumbai, no offence meant, please!Café Mondegar is the place that truly lives up to the spirit of the Bombay city - Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan!
Café Mondegar is popularly known as Mondys, is located at Colaba, next to the Reagal theatre.
Beer with garlic chicken is an absolute combination!
Cartoonist Mario Miranda lives in the wall of Mondys
Friday, January 12, 2007
Is your neighbor a cannibal?
If you are keeping a tab on the recent Noida serial killings then you must know by now that the co-accused Surendra Koli consumed human flesh, couldn’t digest it, and finally vomited.
Source: http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/09noida2.htm
Have you ever wondered why?
Bolo-bolo, tell-tell.
Because he is a Koli. Surendra belongs to the fishermen community!
How could you expect a Koli to eat human flesh? He’s so bloody used to eat raw fishes.
I am speaking gibberish, sorry.
I am shocked, the recent expose of the Noida serial killings has left me stupefied with disbelief.
Are we living in the era of cannibalism? Do you think your middle-aged sober looking neighbor as a cannibal?
Gosh, I don’t know, I don’t know!
Source: http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jan/09noida2.htm
Have you ever wondered why?
Bolo-bolo, tell-tell.
Because he is a Koli. Surendra belongs to the fishermen community!
How could you expect a Koli to eat human flesh? He’s so bloody used to eat raw fishes.
I am speaking gibberish, sorry.
I am shocked, the recent expose of the Noida serial killings has left me stupefied with disbelief.
Are we living in the era of cannibalism? Do you think your middle-aged sober looking neighbor as a cannibal?
Gosh, I don’t know, I don’t know!
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Khalasitola: Story of a country spirit bar in Calcutta
Excerpts of the feature Khalasitola: Story of a country spirit bar in Calcutta written by Amit Ranjan Basu.
In 19th century Calcutta there were bars for country spirit, which only catered to people from the lower orders of the society. Sometimes Babus in dire economic crisis, visited such bars covering them well with a chaddar and quickly gulped down a pint while standing. This style of drinking became known as Darabhog as in Bengali Darano means to stand.
The culture of drinking in a bar had become popular in the city besides great parties stuffed with varieties of alcoholic beverages, opium and ganja, thrown by the Babus in their mansions. But the country spirit culture was mainly limited to the urban subalterns. Prepared from paddy (Dhan in Bengali), this was popularly known as Dheno and sometimes called Dhanyeswari with special affection and regard. According to its potency, country spirit was classified into three categories. To assure the customer of its spirit content of the No.1 variety (which arguably contained 90% of alcohol), even during 1950s, the bar manager used to burn some sample from the bottle and the blue flame of alcohol made the customer sure of buying good stuff!
It is important to note that, drinking country spirit (Karan Bari in chaste Bengali) was strongly associated with the Sakta cult of Kali worshippers. Even the women from Tagore family at Jorasanko drank country spirit during Kali puja. One must remember that, Kali puja is performed around the year on various auspicious nights. Perhaps this association of popular goddess Kali with Karan Bari could be the source of inspiration to print goddess Kali’s image on a red label on the bottles of country spirit produced by the colonial government. It was thus also called Kali marka mod.
There are many books published during the middle of 19th century till early 20th century that bore elaborate descriptions of the urban culture of country spirit drinking, though not much of these bars. However, presence of middle class educated drinkers in the country spirit bars was a rare phenomenon. But from 1950s onwards a visible and daunted presence of educated middle class can be noticed in the country spirit bars (Bangla moder thek)! I suspect it was more an effect of a new culture practiced by poets and other creative personalities, who questioned the existing norms of being a Bhadralok. One of these bars, known as Khalasitola had become a talk of the town as many such people started gathering there over glasses of Bangla mod.
Kamal Kumar Majumdar, the famous writer whose style of Bengali prose-writing was not only full of experiments with the language, but also captured the complexities of modern life in a poetic prose, and it was very distinct from all his contemporaries. Around him this adda or regular meetings at Khalasitola grew up and we have a strong presence of this group for two decades. Majumdar taught art in a school and visited this bar from morning (it used to open at 11 am) in between his classes and continued till it closed in the night. It is said that Majumdar, after getting attracted to Ramkrishna’s philosophy not only changed his attitude to literature but also gave up drinking foreign liquour - Whisky, Rum, Gin, Vodka, Wine etc., and took to the desi - Bangla mod. Many non-drinkers came to meet him here for professional purposes. In the literary history of Bengali from 1950-1970 the contextual space provided by Khalasitola remains crucial. Many great poetries were written, famous little magazines like Krittibas and Kaurab came out, many anthologies of poetry were published with screenplays, and other creative products generated from this Bangla moder thek.
Khalasitola and later on some other country spirit bars in the city became a symbol of anti-establishment culture and a pilgrimage for many avant-garde writers who affectionately described themselves as Khalasis! Kamal Kumar Majumdar used to say that, Khalasitola started somewhere around the II World War and it probably has derived its name for being frequented by the loaders from the nearby port.
Many memoirs and anecdotes talk about an environment, which acknowledged the difference with the majority of the Khalsitola drinkers. But this difference never came in the way of negotiating two cultures. Many listened to poetries, songs presented by the Khalasis and yes, appreciated them. Conviction of the poets grew strong that good poetry indeed has a universal appeal. Besides Khalasitola two other Bangla moder thek had also seen this sort of gathering taking place:
In 19th century Calcutta there were bars for country spirit, which only catered to people from the lower orders of the society. Sometimes Babus in dire economic crisis, visited such bars covering them well with a chaddar and quickly gulped down a pint while standing. This style of drinking became known as Darabhog as in Bengali Darano means to stand.
The culture of drinking in a bar had become popular in the city besides great parties stuffed with varieties of alcoholic beverages, opium and ganja, thrown by the Babus in their mansions. But the country spirit culture was mainly limited to the urban subalterns. Prepared from paddy (Dhan in Bengali), this was popularly known as Dheno and sometimes called Dhanyeswari with special affection and regard. According to its potency, country spirit was classified into three categories. To assure the customer of its spirit content of the No.1 variety (which arguably contained 90% of alcohol), even during 1950s, the bar manager used to burn some sample from the bottle and the blue flame of alcohol made the customer sure of buying good stuff!
It is important to note that, drinking country spirit (Karan Bari in chaste Bengali) was strongly associated with the Sakta cult of Kali worshippers. Even the women from Tagore family at Jorasanko drank country spirit during Kali puja. One must remember that, Kali puja is performed around the year on various auspicious nights. Perhaps this association of popular goddess Kali with Karan Bari could be the source of inspiration to print goddess Kali’s image on a red label on the bottles of country spirit produced by the colonial government. It was thus also called Kali marka mod.
There are many books published during the middle of 19th century till early 20th century that bore elaborate descriptions of the urban culture of country spirit drinking, though not much of these bars. However, presence of middle class educated drinkers in the country spirit bars was a rare phenomenon. But from 1950s onwards a visible and daunted presence of educated middle class can be noticed in the country spirit bars (Bangla moder thek)! I suspect it was more an effect of a new culture practiced by poets and other creative personalities, who questioned the existing norms of being a Bhadralok. One of these bars, known as Khalasitola had become a talk of the town as many such people started gathering there over glasses of Bangla mod.
Kamal Kumar Majumdar, the famous writer whose style of Bengali prose-writing was not only full of experiments with the language, but also captured the complexities of modern life in a poetic prose, and it was very distinct from all his contemporaries. Around him this adda or regular meetings at Khalasitola grew up and we have a strong presence of this group for two decades. Majumdar taught art in a school and visited this bar from morning (it used to open at 11 am) in between his classes and continued till it closed in the night. It is said that Majumdar, after getting attracted to Ramkrishna’s philosophy not only changed his attitude to literature but also gave up drinking foreign liquour - Whisky, Rum, Gin, Vodka, Wine etc., and took to the desi - Bangla mod. Many non-drinkers came to meet him here for professional purposes. In the literary history of Bengali from 1950-1970 the contextual space provided by Khalasitola remains crucial. Many great poetries were written, famous little magazines like Krittibas and Kaurab came out, many anthologies of poetry were published with screenplays, and other creative products generated from this Bangla moder thek.
Khalasitola and later on some other country spirit bars in the city became a symbol of anti-establishment culture and a pilgrimage for many avant-garde writers who affectionately described themselves as Khalasis! Kamal Kumar Majumdar used to say that, Khalasitola started somewhere around the II World War and it probably has derived its name for being frequented by the loaders from the nearby port.
Many memoirs and anecdotes talk about an environment, which acknowledged the difference with the majority of the Khalsitola drinkers. But this difference never came in the way of negotiating two cultures. Many listened to poetries, songs presented by the Khalasis and yes, appreciated them. Conviction of the poets grew strong that good poetry indeed has a universal appeal. Besides Khalasitola two other Bangla moder thek had also seen this sort of gathering taking place:
- Baroduari at Rani Rashmoni Road and not very far from Khalsitola. This is a double storied old house, which probably derived its name for having twelve doors
- Ganja Park in Bhawanipore, South Calcutta, near Jadu Babur Bazar.
Not much of these great Khalasis are alive now. A significant number of them have even given up drinking! Still every one of them, when talked about Khalsitola asserted that more than a drinking joint it was a space of creative inspiration for them. Defying norms and giving birth to new urban expressions in poetry, prose, painting, and film - Khalasitola is beyond history. It is a myth of our new urbanity, timeless in its creative context, and rapturous in its radical implosion.
Yet this culture is seen to be fading by late seventies. It can be a research agenda to explore how it happened, but what seems obvious is Kamal Kumar Majumdar’s death followed by a spreading decentralized gathering in other joints including foreign liquor bars could be a factor. Also much of the famous Khalasis had died or became too old by late seventies, and a section of Khalasis had identified themselves with the elite and established literary institutions. By eighties only curious, rebellious youngsters dropped in to cherish their senior poets’ nostalgia and in general young middle class educated showed more attraction toward addas that happened in the foreign liquour joints. Also, the air of defiance that the seventies had brought were no more.
What remains still unexplored is the culture of the subaltern customers in these urban country spirit bars. This perhaps may take us to the world of a different urbanity experienced by the city subalterns, and their history of altered consciousness.
This story is extensively based on following sources:
- Arun Nag (1999) Sekaler Nesha in CHITRITA PADME, Calcutta: Subarnarekha, pp.14-462.
- Khalasitola Special Issue, KAURAB 92, Nov.2002, Pp.280, paperback, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.Kaurab@email.com
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Happy New Year 2007!
Hola!
Wish you all a rocking and kick ass New Year!
Opps, ignore those adjectives, simply ignore it, and “Wish you and your family a peaceful and fruitful New Year!”
Last Saturday, December 31, 2006 was an inspirational day for me - did not consume a drop of alcohol on that day. Though, never a regular drinker, I like to drink on the social gatherings - New Year party, birthday bash, bachelor party, office party, you name it!
What did I do on that evening? Took out Sonia and Diego for a small drive, ate the delicious Mughlai Parathas and Egg Rolls prepared by my mom, plunged into a tub of pineapple-flavored ice-cream, watched television till 12, and then wished everyone HNY.
On January 1, 2007, 12.05 am, went to my friends place, which is like 30 minutes drive from my home, drank a nip of Bacardi White Rum and two pegs of Smirinoff Vodka, and returned home around 5 am.
Wish you a very happy 2007!!
Wish you all a rocking and kick ass New Year!
Opps, ignore those adjectives, simply ignore it, and “Wish you and your family a peaceful and fruitful New Year!”
Last Saturday, December 31, 2006 was an inspirational day for me - did not consume a drop of alcohol on that day. Though, never a regular drinker, I like to drink on the social gatherings - New Year party, birthday bash, bachelor party, office party, you name it!
What did I do on that evening? Took out Sonia and Diego for a small drive, ate the delicious Mughlai Parathas and Egg Rolls prepared by my mom, plunged into a tub of pineapple-flavored ice-cream, watched television till 12, and then wished everyone HNY.
On January 1, 2007, 12.05 am, went to my friends place, which is like 30 minutes drive from my home, drank a nip of Bacardi White Rum and two pegs of Smirinoff Vodka, and returned home around 5 am.
Wish you a very happy 2007!!
New age of Bengali cinema
This is definitely for the Bengali viewers.
Saw the promo of a bangla movie named Aamra, here's a hilarious one-on-one between two very popular actors Parambrata and Rudranil:
R: Kotodin eksonge sush-ni bol to?
P: Taa pray 6 months hobe.
R: Ohhh, tahole eto din-e Chitkini-te jong dhore geche aar Lyangcha-gulo shukiye bNode hoye geche!
Ufff, that’s too much for a language, which always boasted of transpiring literary subjects in the movies. But, in the era of crossover films, I think such raunchy double meaning dialogs are the order of the day, and perhaps this is the dawning of a new age of Bengali cinema.
url: http://banglatalkies.net/film.html
I was nearly rolling in the floor laughing and it took some time for my wife to understand. Later
she uttered only one word, “Oshovvo”.
It took no time for me to mail few *highly eligible* bachelor friends about this promo and also wickedly questioned about how appropriately applicable are these terms Jong and Shukiye jaoya in their life.
Reply from a friend was very quick, “No worries. Bachelor or married, *those* are always juicy; Langcha and Pantua both are healthy. Chitkini-s opening is also intact, no Jong out there.”
Saw the promo of a bangla movie named Aamra, here's a hilarious one-on-one between two very popular actors Parambrata and Rudranil:
R: Kotodin eksonge sush-ni bol to?
P: Taa pray 6 months hobe.
R: Ohhh, tahole eto din-e Chitkini-te jong dhore geche aar Lyangcha-gulo shukiye bNode hoye geche!
Ufff, that’s too much for a language, which always boasted of transpiring literary subjects in the movies. But, in the era of crossover films, I think such raunchy double meaning dialogs are the order of the day, and perhaps this is the dawning of a new age of Bengali cinema.
url: http://banglatalkies.net/film.html
I was nearly rolling in the floor laughing and it took some time for my wife to understand. Later
she uttered only one word, “Oshovvo”.
It took no time for me to mail few *highly eligible* bachelor friends about this promo and also wickedly questioned about how appropriately applicable are these terms Jong and Shukiye jaoya in their life.
Reply from a friend was very quick, “No worries. Bachelor or married, *those* are always juicy; Langcha and Pantua both are healthy. Chitkini-s opening is also intact, no Jong out there.”
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