All that one has to do, is to make a cup of filter coffee and start tapping on the keyboard.That is exactly what she is doing right now as a flood of thoughts inundates her mind. How does a Tambong woman who has spent her first twenty three years in the City of Joy feel ?
What was she upto, the same time that, day, that year ? Was she playing with paper boats during the KaalBoisakhi? No ! Though she did get a sense of being in Venice many times in those 23 years.Was she scared to go out ? Oh ! Yes you bet.! Those were the black out days, days of aggression and she recalls friends across the borders and the sound of war sirens.Was she playing para and gully cricket ? The tomboy did .Will the rains interrupt today's match ? she pauses to think.
What was she upto, the same time that, day, that year ? Was she playing with paper boats during the KaalBoisakhi? No ! Though she did get a sense of being in Venice many times in those 23 years.Was she scared to go out ? Oh ! Yes you bet.! Those were the black out days, days of aggression and she recalls friends across the borders and the sound of war sirens.Was she playing para and gully cricket ? The tomboy did .Will the rains interrupt today's match ? she pauses to think.
As she goes back on a flash back, she remembers the pujas, her school, the ice rink, her friends, her birthday bashes, her vacations, the picnics and the movies. She strains her grey cells a little more and vivid pictures of South India Club, Lake Gardens Ram temple, Hanuman Temple, Kali Bari, KC das and Mouchak appear in front of her eyes.A little more musing and her thoughts are in Dhakeswari, Traders Assembly and Tantuja. Just a little more and the birdie is travelling by a doubledecker bus or a tram all the way from Tollygunge to Lake market via Deshapriya park and Triangular Park upto Gariahat.
Just in case she forgets, she remembers the huge grey iron gate of the primary school that showed the way to freedom. On the way she stops by Asha Bros, Junior Bros,Gupta Bros, Southend stores, Dr Bolai Mitra's eye clinic and The Jebson's Watch Co. This is all happening on that day, that year on Rash Behari avenue.
Lined with trees on both sides, the arterial road of South Calcutta hold precious memories for her. She remembers fondly the water cleaned streets and the nine o clock siren. She clearly remembers Rani Rashmoni bungalow on RB avenue and wonders if the heritage structure is still in place. From Gariahat, where the tram turned towards Syed Amir Ali avenue, that day, that year, dressed in white and white, she gets down at Birla Temple and walks into another school. From there, a mini bus takes her to ParkStreet, enroute Gurusaday road and another day, another year, she has secured admission in a prestigious college on ParkStreet.
Friends are destined to meet they say and the fortunate are blessed to have childhood buddies as friends for life. She had an awesome childhood and youth in Kolkata. How can she ever forget the cha ghughni, puchka, jhaal muri, luchi, aloo dhom, rosogollas, chumchums, mohunbagan, mohammedans and the vegetable rolls.
Today, she has to meet an acquaintance or a stranger who knows Bengali and she will not stop chatting. The fifty year old becomes a teenager again.When she is down or feeling low she just has to go on a nostalgia trip. She converses in chaste Bengali, that is what she believes, her happy hormones are elevated and she is in a state of Euphoria. She impresses mute onlookers as she guides the young Bengali who is new to Chennai, Mumbai,Virginia, Jaffna, or Timbuktoo.
Now why is she saying all this? She is travelling on a memory trip. So if you happen to be a person with an oriental connection, you have played outdoor and indoor games every day, you drank water from the gushing spring on the road just outside your home, you had breakfast, lunch and dinner at a friend's house on a bandh or a holiday or because you simply wanted to, you were certainly in Kolkata, that day, that year and you will relate with equal nostalgia whatever she says today.
With neither television nor the internet to interfere, this day, that year, meant more interaction with friends and family. A visit to the Lily pool, lakes, Anderson club, Kali temple and the vegetable market was a daily routine. A trip to the Victoria memorial, Dolls Museum, Birla Planetarium, New Market, AC Market was a monthly affair. Dhakshineshwar and Belur Math was a must trip when relatives came visiting. The rest of the year, when she was not writing an exam, she was attending birthday parties, bengali weddings or simply admiring nature as she strolled on the banks of the Hooghly. When was she studying ? That is a million dollar question! Anyway! That was an awesome those days, those years indeed..
Well ! why is she saying all this ? The Tambong is just on a memory trip. Ignore and read on. She will tell you that Bengali women have a great sense of dressing up.You have to agree with her that Bengali women are very beautiful. It must be because of the fish and the mustard oil they consume.They have glowing skin and great hair. Now why would she say all this now? Simply because she has seen them this day that year, still seeing them this day this year and no ! she is not biased. Ask her and she will tell you a true story about their dreams and drapes, her love for the cotton and the sheer bliss in wearing the tangail and jamdani sarees. She will convince you that the Bengal cotton is the best and has no competitor.The grace in a Bengal cotton saree is unmatched to any other saree not even to the Kancheepurams and the Silkcottons. That is her strong opinion and you have no option but to agree.
Draped in a white starched Dhakai that day, that year she packed her lunch for the day. Her mother called out to her..."Hey girl come soon.We will miss the toss." Many a cricket crazy family lived in the city of joy who followed every single ball. One could identify a fan from his body language.
An ambassador was waiting for her and she stepped out in style in a grand Dhakai saree.......She was headed towards the Eden gardens.
An ambassador was waiting for her and she stepped out in style in a grand Dhakai saree.......She was headed towards the Eden gardens.
Playing outside the subcontinent this day, starting as favourites, India plays her neighbour and listens to Shoiab, Kapil and Ranbir in the studio .We care for our neighbours with whom we share a love hate story. Don't we truly find them to be inspiring also, they the people with whom we share common interests and love for sarees, food,music,movies and sport ? That day, that year and this day, this year why does religion and petty politics always have to play spoilsport ?
Baangla Players ! they are our neighbours, they are good too because they have made it to the quarter finals.They are our friends coz isnt that how we grew up, taught to "Love Thy Neighbours". They play against a formidable India today and I have mixed feelings,strong emotions of patriotism with a sincere prayer for peace to return in the subcontinent on this day The 19th march of 2015....
Baangla Players ! they are our neighbours, they are good too because they have made it to the quarter finals.They are our friends coz isnt that how we grew up, taught to "Love Thy Neighbours". They play against a formidable India today and I have mixed feelings,strong emotions of patriotism with a sincere prayer for peace to return in the subcontinent on this day The 19th march of 2015....
The Bangladesh National Anthem brings a lump in my throat and tears to my eyes. Leave the chokers for now. I am choking listening to AAmmmaar shonar Banglaaa!Aamee thomai Bhalobhasheee....Heavens ! Still ! I will bleed blue !
