twelve letters

Bakkhali: Little Escape

2011-12-24T04:30:00.000+05:30

First things first

Wahida, Sunny, Hitesh, Poonam, Amlan, Masood, Reema, Kiran, Brijesh, Ankush, Swati, Shilpi, Nagarjuna, Kasturiah, Anjali, Kunal, Poulami, Santanu, Shyam, Ashish, Richa, Aneesh... Thanks a ton for letting me join the party and bearing me through out the trip. Needless to say it was one of my most fun outings till date. I felt a lot more welcome in the party than I had initially expected and a company of a few more made it worth remembering :) I had no idea that I will get to meet so many wonderful people at one go. You guys rock! ALL OF YOU!! \m/

Well... hello!

This year January, Bishan, Deepak and I were there at a place called Bakkhali, a beach nearby Kolkata. But we were there only for a couple of hours (detailed in the post Kakdwip, Bakkhali and Us) and were regretting the shortness of the span we got to spend. But a few days back, a whole battaleon from my office planned an entire day there and didnt mind counting me in. And about this post... well, this is my very own personal account of the outing.

To avoid being stuck behind at the queue at the NH-117 Namkhana ferry jetty, we started at the ungodly hour of 1 in the morning. 23 people, one minibus. It took us two and a half hours to cover the distance from Salt Lake to Namkhana. The empty roads helped us speed up but the sudden and frequent zero-visibility fog at made us slow down as compensation. Masood and I were in the front seats, he hammering the Kolavari di song on my eardrums and I giving him my shut-up gazes but at the same time we both were enjoying the opaque fog which would suddenly appear from absolute nowhere at regular intervals.

After many such ups and downs in our speedometer, we finally reached the Ferry ghat at 330 in the morning and to our surprize, we got to know that the ferry service starts at 7am and not a minute before. My camera performs remarkably poor in the night shots. Among the some dozing some loitering co-passengers, I had to wait for some natural lights to show up.

After it was 5 in the morning, I came out with my camera. This place you see above is the Namkhana Ferry Ghat. And the colour that you see here is close to the original colour that was there. I knew what was coming with some more light.

I waited over the jetty...

The small harbour comes to life even before the sun rays touches it. It gets filled with fish traders and their trawlers.

But as a single-day tourist (that I was that day), I could afford to overlook the daily hardships and concentrate on the scenic offerings. (Is anyone of you able to see the horizon?) Well... After a wait of three and half hours we were on the other side of the canal. The soothing sun from the window was doing a marvelous job in putting my night long awake eyes to sleep. I have never experienced this: Dragged to a comfortable sleep with the sun flashing on your eyes. Wow!

Aaa... I will shrink down the majority of our stay at the Bakkhali beach to just a summary. I wont detail much on how we were shocked to see the sea in its most tourist-repelling state (absolutely no waves, a visible piece of land after some distance in water and nearly a 6-8 minute walk on the sand to touch that waveless water) or on how the battalion of 23 accommodated in a single (15 x 20 ft) room or how we all took our beach-look avatars and first headed for breakfast and then hit the waves. I wont even start on how "yukk" it was to taste the first mili-litre of natually saline water after nineteen years or how devilish freezing the wind felt when we stood up in the water in wet clothes (and how damn good it was to just sit neck deep inside the relatively hot water). I wont try to recollect how badly I was hurting my own throat trying to shout in the water along with a few of those who feature in the first paragraph of this post. No doubt it was crrrrazy but I will tell you about them later... But what I will never tell you about is how cruelly funny the sea can become when it comes to someones favorite sunglasses...

Anyway, after the beach adventure and a good lunch, I headed for the beach again to capture something more. I had no clear idea what I wanted to shoot but I started.

They don't put small umbrellas in your drink but surely a lazy and relaxing evening at a beach goes hardly towards perfection without a Daab paani (tender coconut water). Although I didn't have one myself, but I found his silhouette speaking of the essence.

I don't know fortunately or unfortunately, I was alone with my camera (and the mp3s in my phone) when I was in the beach. While taking a short stroll and looking around to see things that wont be visible after its dark, I found these two little girls.

It is probably in human nature that nothing gives him more happiness than the belief that he is free. The very first look at a beach stretching from the left most corner of your eyesight to the rightmost itself implants that sense. People become poets, lovers, believers. And I guess, nothing matches the limits of happiness when a bucket full of uncorrupt imagination is thrown in the midst of a beach full of sand. Yes... he thinks, he creates, he is happy, he is free.

Ahhmm! :) I guess the beach does have a little magic... I don't think anything else made me (me!) write down the above paragraph. And just like the way I have told it a numerous times... You have to BE there to feel it. No way else you will know what exactly this blogger is trying hard to describe.

And once you are there, you wont need words to feel it...

Huh! :)

Till next time,

Cheers :)

P.S.: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year :)

Photographer: Satyajit Ray

2011-11-27T14:38:00.001+05:30

Hey Guys...

This is one of those posts where the plan is something but the result is something else. Well, the entire Nissan account from my office was out for a day off at Nirala Resort, Deulti on the 16th of Nov, 2011. [please Google the words which are bouncing by]. And summarizing the trip, I would say it was fun and my camera sat happily in its little bag the whole time we were there. But I had to take it out on our way back.

Nilanjan, Riyanka, Ritabrata and I were the only ones from South Kolkata. leaving our picnic bus at Rabindra Sadan, we started walking to take the metros. Rito, although, preferred a cab and left. While crossing the Nandan area, the rest of the three realized that the place was exceptionally crowded. That day was the second to last of the Kolkata Film Festival this year. Naah, none of us went inside to watch any of the 'world movies'. A few more steps and we were in front of the Gaganendra Shilpa Pradarshanshala [Gaganendra Art Exhibition Gallery]. Above its entry gates the banner read "Photographer: Satyajit Ray". You don't get points to guess what we did next :)

To my surprise, using cameras inside the gallery was not prohibited. Although I personally feel that camera should ideally not be used in such exhibitions, but the 'blogger' part of me was happy to be able to click so that he could share those photographs by Mr. Ray which were not seen till now. Below are a few of them. [No jabbering here, just imagine a slow and quiet walk in the gallery. See you near the exit :)]

For a versatile personality like that of Mr. Satyajit Ray, it is not at all surprising that he will be roaming over the entire globe in search for 'something better'. I cant dare comment on what he looked for in anything, but as an avid fan of his creations, I can say that the way he has portrayed human and human conditions in his films, it touches you somewhere or the other or at least makes you compare your own conditions with the scene going on the big screen.

The photographs on the display were taken from a wide range of places. From Vienna to Darjelling. From Rajasthan to Rome. From Calcutta to Paris to America. From Sikkim to London. There was poverty, there was glamour. There was street, there was supermall. There were sketches, there were doodles. Although the world knows him as a film maker, we here, have known Satyajit Ray as a story writer, photographer, lyricist, music director, painter, biographer. He was the complete artist for me.

There were some photographs of the legendary face of Bengali cinema, Uttam Kumar too. Unfortunately, I could not get a presentable shot of him but Nilanjan sure did. By the excitement I could see in him (and also in me) when we were leaving the gallery, I was convinced that the debate-loving, art-critic race of ours still hold an unconditional respect for those icons who have defined the whole culture in their times, in their own ways.

Huh... That's all I have got.

Till next time,

Cheers :)

Stockholm Diary: Weekend #1 - Hmmm...

2011-11-14T01:30:00.000+05:30

Long story short: I was at Sweden, the country. From Mahalaya (Sept 27th, 2011) to Diwali (26th October, 2011). But the catch here is, I was on what they call a 'Business Visa', so I had to do more of 'business' stuff than something we all are more interested in.

Anyway, Hi :)
Honestly, I have decided not to jam pack my posts with huge number of photographs anymore. As a feedback from Shubhadipa, keeping it short helps the readers. I have broken down the whole trip in four weekends and have created separate posts for every weekend. This, here, is for weekend number 1.

When you are in your own city, you are cautious about the places you go, the mode of transportation you take, the kind of people you ask directions for, but when you are in a completely different land, you just don't care. You are simply out there to soak in the city as much as possible. I and Afsar went out on the first Saturday after our arrival and went straight to Gamla Stan, a place topping the list of 'places to see in Stockholm' over the internet.

The place has a German church that is also as old as the neighborhood. Regular masses are still held in it but it is also open for tourists. When we reached this place, the church was closed. Trust me when I say, I tried. I tried a lot to get the whole church in one single shot but it was so ungodly tall, that I had to settle for some suggestive clicks only.

The brick streets, the facades of half the millennium old structures are so well maintained plus the buildings being used for new restaurants and gift shops in a such a nice way, that a casual roam is worth the time. After about more than 45 minutes in the old town, we came out to the edge of the water front.

On a walkway over the water, its blueness in the sun and the signature European pattern of the buildings by it, were presenting a nutritious salad for my camera. Few of my friends have suspected that I have increased the saturation of this picture to make it dazzle than it actually might have. Guys, I have not.

On the ferry, from Gamla Stan we got to know that the Vasa Museum is a place where an old warship is put on display. That ship sank in its early days and remained in the floor of the Baltic sea for 300 long years. Recently it has been recovered and has been put on display with 95% of its structure intact. We both were planning to get inside the museum, but we didn't. But yes, as a thin consolation, I got this horizontal baby from the ferry.

There were two seniors from my office who, at the very beginning of my stay showed me the ways and the ways of the city. One Thursday evening after work, we all went out to find a Chinese eatery. We didn't get the place, but I got a setting sun from the seaside.

Although this was a totally loose shot with absolutely no attention to the details, but the sunset, as I have always believed, is something no one needs to take extra care to make beautiful. Its an entirely self help entity.

A trademark feature of we sofos (a short, I heard somewhere, for software engineers) is we like to spend our weekends compensating the correct amount of sleep we were deprived of the whole week. The first Sunday had no difference (a sofo is a sofo, INdia or OUTdia). Had a brunch when i first opened my eyes that day then again tried to get to some sleep. But when I finally 'woke' up and looked outside the huge glass window, I saw this.

Yes, I know. Sunset again. But could not help. The tall building you see (yes... that one) is the Kista Science Tower. The two most important thing about this tower are: 1. It is the tallest structure in the whole Stockholm (the height includes that antenna) and 2. It was visible from my hotel apartment with just the curtains out of the way. Another trivia about this tower can be: Even though I was only about a 1000m away from it the whole time, I didn't get inside the tower.

The following Monday was the Saptami and the entire rest of the week was packed with the celebrations of Durga Puja in India, with me not in being a part of it.

Well... see you in the weekend following this one (below).

Stockholm Diary: Weekend #2 - Kaknastornet

2011-11-14T01:00:00.000+05:30

The next weekend was with Vipin.

But before I get on with the pictures, I would like to mention something that I actually felt. When we are in the country, we create differences on so many grounds. Religion, language, region, political views (read petty support), ancestry and things like these. One such strong ground is Food. Here, we call food as Bengali, Punjabi, South Indian, Rajasthani etc. But, when, on the second Saturday of my stay, I went to Vipin's place, I saw people busy in the kitchen. The dishes which were getting ready were Rasam, Sambhar, Vadaa, Papad, Rice and also some ready made pickle. When I saw these things on the table, I just saw it as food, Indian food. Although I had left my hotel after my own sweet lunch but there I was more than happy to have a fantastic second innings. (Thanks Karthik!).

We were actually planning to visit the Kaknas Tower (yes, Kaknastornet). It was formerly the tallest building in Stockholm till 2005 and a place which offers a complete 360 degree view of the entire city. But we somehow dropped the idea for that day. Had some window shopping and.... well... nothing much.

But, on Sunday, we made it. Thanks to Google and www.sl.se, I was half way successful in finding our way to the tower. But for the rest of the half, we needed help. Bamm!! in came Stefanie. Lost, we were outside the Karlaplan tunnel and were looking for some helpful direction. Stefanie, must be a real patriot from heart, did all she could. [although, this has already been my facebook update, I would still repeat]. She used her own memory first, then her iphone to get some info, then called up a friend (in the meantime, she let her bus go without boarding it as "it was okay, coz she was not in a hurry"), then finally called up a city helpline number, took the directions and wrote it down in my little writing pad herself. As I said in FB already, we sure have a lot to learn from such strangers.I am sure many of us would be glad to make sure a tourist gets the correct directions but I am also sure that many more wont care that much.

Anyway, following the directions, we were finally below the Kaknas Tower. They charged us 45 SEK to use the elevator once. At the 32nd floor, it felt good.

I don't have any idea if it is the north or south or what. I was just up there and was clicking. This one up here is the packed of all the photographs and if I leave out the 'ports and cruise ships' degrees of the 360, this was closest to civilization. The next one...

had this fantastic open area. It probably isn't a place that is used for any particular sport, but who cares as long as there is an open place and kids playful enough to make some use of it. By the way, I know you have already noticed, the colours of the season on a few trees in the first picture. Beautiful, aren't they?

The last one here is (probably) towards the Baltic sea. [I had some data to produce regarding the direction only after the third weekend though].

This scene was more than just for a shot. It was to be seen. The trees, the water and finally the horizon. Does get you. Unfortunately, the Nordic autumn wind in the 32nd floor isn't something very good for a gloveless pair of hands. Upon encircling the complete balcony twice, we finally decided to get down and return back to our bases. Had another Monday coming but the me in me had started to plan something already for the third weekend...

Stockholm Diary: Weekend #3 - Skargard

2011-11-14T00:30:00.000+05:30

... But even if I had the idea of what I wanted to do on the third weekend, I didn't get the gap to put the idea in front of anyone. The week was crazy at work. And to add to the task, my previous project affairs were still being demanding. And by the time it was the magic day called Friday, the pressure cooker had started to blow its whistle.

At my hotel reception I inquired on how to get to the Stockholm Archipelago. (they call it Stockholms skärgård) From the reception, I got the website from where I could get more info. About an hour long web browsing after that, I had decided to go out alone in the city on this little adventure [in case of failure, I had a plan B ready - Streets!].

Thankfully, the transportation system there is well integrated and is well understood by anyone, not just by the city dwellers. Two metros trains then a not-so-short walk, then a bus instead of an expected tram finally made me reach the port from where I had to catch the boat for my 3 hour long exploration. Thankfully, my penultimaterun towards the ticket counter and then the ultimate one towards the white, well maintained, 80 year old steam boat was good enough not make me loose on my adventure.

The place is called Nybroplan and it gives a nice view of the array of buildings and the water.

From the ticket counter I started running and finally stopped on the roof of our steamboat (from where I got the above picture). At 12pm we started. I was hoping for a sunny day, but it wasn't. Even though it was overcast, it at least didn't rain. The boat had lower and upper decks for people to sit and enjoy the view from the windows, but I wanted to get it without any glass colour tint on my shots.

It was a guided tour (in English) and was totally an enriching one for someone like me who was at zero potential as far as history and geography of the city is concerned. The history of the archipelago during the dark ages, early settlements, of merchants are quite treat to swallow.

Our tour concerned only a part of the inner archipelago. Houses like these were spread all over the scattered islands. Many of you have already seen it in my facebook album and... well... we all know what we start to think when we see a house like this (that too with the colours of the surrounding trees at their best)...

On the semi saline semi fresh Baltic waters, I clicked not much but only a zillion photographs. I guess, the couple sitting in front of me on the roof, had started to be judgmental about me clicking simply everything. But, I had my own things to pack inside the little memory card, so I could only ignore them... Upon reaching Vaxholm, the most populated place on the archipelago, the sun showed up from somewhere and the water again turned blue-er than before.

This is some kind of a fortress at Vaxholm that was never actually used by the Swedish to base their attacks on their enemies. Among the 10-15 photographs I had taken of this structure, this one was a little better than the rest. Our boat stopped here for 5 minutes before it started off for its journey back.

All the time (90 minutes of our up-the-sea tour) I was planning to take a shot of which I had a very particular picture in my mind. But didn't get it. Our boat took a little different way back and I found something that was close to my mental picture.

An island and the sea. Imagine a day coming to an end and you sitting on the last rock before the sea on this island. Gives me a very realistic feel of loneliness. I don't know if I have it in me to pull up anything like that, even for a day.

The most irritating thing that the 'big photographer' in me was observing was the changing mood of the sun. For a very short time it was 'the perfect light'. Rest... it was gray... or worse... gray with some strong shadow (I didn't dig into details on how is it possible!). But finally, the 'big photographer',stopped complaining and tried to make some lemonade with the lemons he had [relax guys... this is a metaphor!]

Knowing my weakness for black and white, he turned to the apparently 'undesirable' objects around him and created a shot. This is, as you know, from the roof of the boat. But trust me, it is not easy to just let yourself loose in this black and white memories. Three hours of freezing wind had my still gloveless hands frozen this time. I was unable to pull up the zipper of my jacket as I was not able to know if my fingers are successful in holding the zipper or not. My sense of touch had his resignation for quite some time.

When I could finally convince myself that the day had enough clicks, I went down to the lower deck and warmed my hands (and nose and ears and throat). As we reached the land and bid goodbye to the wonderful crew of the boat, a thing started to go through my mind and it made itself very prominent when I was walking towards the tram stand to catch my train from T-Central...

It was... today's plan-B. Thankfully, I had another weekend to use... my last one out there...

Stockholm Diary: Weekend #4 - Streets

2011-11-14T00:00:00.000+05:30

... Few habits seldom die.

Almost all of you know that when I am in Kolkata, I barely find anything more amusing than capturing the streets. Given the correct company and place, I am up for it anytime. But here was the problem. in Stockholm, 'a correct company' was running short. There are a few people I know who share my frequency, but they were not there with me. And for many more, clicking the streets may be nothing but a flat and boring way to 'kill' time. So, not risking anybody else 's plans, I sat myself out on the last Sunday. [the Saturday was, as they call it, for total hibernation for me. Sofo. But then a few scoldings from a friend charged me up to follow my instincts].

Sunday... and Gamla Stan again. But this time, I was there for a different sight from the history.

I stood on this sidewalk for more than three minutes to be able to get a people-free street . But couldn't. Even the streets of this place, as I came to know on the very first weekend only, have not changed since they were first built about 400 years back. (I know... Diagon Alley... yes!).

But unlike the first weekend, this time, I was early enough to be able to get inside the church. The morning mass had probably just finished and seeing people only coming outside the gate, I felt a little puzzled. But finally went inside anyway. Afterall, I was a tourist and was allowed to make even the basic mistakes...

...and forgiven. I have no idea how the clarity of the colours on the glass with the sunlight behind it got captured in my novice camera, but once it did, it cheered my mood up and cutting through the stream of people coming out, I finally went inside the main hall of the church.

Once inside, the odd feeling went away. There were a good number of believers, non believers and tourists. I had only read about the pipe organs and have heard the sound in Dracula movies. For the first time I saw one (and it was great to see it in the most non-Dracula place) kept in the overhang of the first floor inside the hall.

Unfortunately, for some reason, my shots were not being steady. Everything inside was golden, the stands, the chandeliers, the frames, the candles, the people...

... yes... I know. She looks even prettier standing like that. No, it was not one of my sneak shots. I had formally taken the permission and also even had told her to look away from the camera for a 'better' shot. I honestly I dont know what else is exactly making this picture worth posting even with that slight shake.

Ahhmm... after Gamla Stan, I just let my habits take over. Went straight to T-Central and parked myself in the corner of the stairs just outside the tunnel gates (the one leading down to the open chess-board type area.). And out of many (many) things I saw (but could not click)... this one is my favorite.

There was a boy in mid air jumping up from one stair to another, a man walking straight at me with his pet dog, an elderly woman staring at a big poster, a lady posing in front of her friends for a photograph. But I find this one speaking to me the loudest. In facebook, I have called this one: distance.

And... distance is what mattered the most to me on those 30 days.

Away from people... away from places... in a totally different land. Although, now-a-days a foreign trip is nothing to be very surprised of (that too only for 30 days), but as far as I came to know myself, this trip made me believe that a typically poisonous... thing... has made a permanent place in me in last few years. They spell it l-o-v-e. I realized how much I love the unbalanced, unpolished, unmaintained, dirty, overcrowded place of mine. But at the same time, the treatment I got from the 'videsh' in those 30 days, I will never forget that. Never. The ease, the smile, the respect, the trust, the walk with music, the smell of the bakeries, the cleanliness, the people...aahh!! Uncomparable...

As they would say in Swedish: Tack Stockholm!

Till "next time",

Cheers :)

Courtesy: Shillong, Guwahati

2011-09-13T13:18:00.080+05:30

Huh!! Its good to be home :)
Hi :)
Yes, the trip was really good (minus a few calls from work). As many of you already know, it was Shillong and Guwahati this time. [Yes, I too think that this year I am having a really good luck in travelling]. Well, I must warn you before you begin. This is quite a long post with my blabbering and occasional photographs. So, if you are in a middle of something, then please finish that first coz I would really appreciate it if you are able to go through this post with nothing else in your mind.

Oh great! All settled now? Brilliant :) Here I go.
We started from Kolkata at about 10 in the overcast morning of Sept 4th and our ‘vimaan’ reached Guwahati at 11. By “we” I mean I myself, Baba, Maa, Pranav uncle (Baba’s collegue) and Mausumi Aunty (Pranav uncle’s wife). And by the time we could come out of the airport and start for Shillong in a taxi, it was almost 12. Including a lunch at ‘National Highway Dhaba’ it was past 4 in the evening when we finally reached the AMD guest house in Shillong [AMD is where Baba works]. Baba and I took some time out the same evening to meet our relative Pankaj Kaku who lives and has his own business in Shillong. And it was him who arranged for a car and a guide-cum-driver, Rasheed, for the day next. James and Sangma, the guest house caretakers, had prepared a fantastic steaming dinner that night which went great with the chill of the hills.

Cherrapunjee was our destination on 5th. Started off at 9 in the morning and after covering 55 odd kilometers, we reached here.

There are many viewpoints in Cherrapunjee. This one is from the DUWAN SING SYIEM VIEWPOINT. This is not only a valley between two hills but a valley between two ranges of hills. You can see the crest running far away.

Our next point was UMSTEW LAITRYNGEW (Yes, I too cannot pronounce it! Saw it written in a sign post nearby). Rasheed was not sure if we should stop there. But we did.This is a view from a cliff about a hundred feet above this waterfall. When we had just reached, we could see nothing but only clouds in the gorge. But we could hear the sound of the falling water on the rocks. Then, gradually, the clouds cleared off and the source of the sound revealed itself. It was great to see it appear gradually from its invisibility.

The next place charged Rs. 70 for one camera to go past the entry gate. It did hurt my pocket a good deal but once I was inside, I must say that it would not have been fair to allow a camera free of charge. They call it the ECO PARK (short for Ecological Park). All the time we were there, the clouds were covering the mysteries of what’s beyond the cliff or where the water from the falls is landing (I am very doubtful if you can see the waterfalls in this picture. The closer one is in white about an inch above and 1cm right to the “Cherrapunjee” in the picture and the second one is fader, diagonally above to the right of the first one, and is almost in the centre of the picture. Nyahh!! Leave it).

When we turned back to get back to our cab, I saw this (This is just 180 degrees opposite to the railings you can see the previous picture). The horizon was making its own wallpaper with the clouds and their shadows. After some more time, we left the place.

Now, I should be honest. In our next destination, I really was feeling that a someone is missing. I had no idea who but that person should have been there. Take a look at the place.

The place is called KHOH RAMHAH and when we were there, only we were there. There was the sound of a small waterfall and the crickets. It was not cold and also not that wet. It was just magical. Won’t destroy the romance of the experience of being there by uttering a dry info like Bangladesh is visible from this place but would definitely say that you actually have to be there to know if you have come alone, or not.

Ahhmm… moving on… another some sort of park was our next point. Forgive me for forgetting the name.

These VIOLETS were something no one seemed to miss. Everyone who was there, was gathering around to take a picture of these beauties. There was a green house in the park. A place more of interest to Baba and … well, let’s say there was another place inside where it was great to see the child in Maa :)

This was the extreme of the distance we covered. On our way back, we touched a few more places. First of them was the SEVEN SISTERS.

I think you can count the number of waterfalls rubbing down the surface of that hill. When we passed it the time when we were on our way up, it was completely covered with clouds. But we were lucky enough (yet again) that when we actually stopped to see it, it didn’t feel shy. Later, Rasheed made us notice, the most prominent of the falls is actually the one that was falling down the ecological park (the second one I tried to make you see there). You can see the green railings, top left. (I know you cant see that too!)

The climate was being a little funny. We were sweating a little, but when we looked up to see (and complain) the sun, it was nowhere to be seen. Just clouds. I guess they do have some good reasons to call the place Meghalaya.

The last destination for that day was the MAWSMAI CAVE. Here I must say that the management of the cave SHOULD put a sign at the entrance warning people who are claustrophobic, asthmatic or have quite an obese body to ideally refrain from entering. Although there were enough fluorescent lights but the signs inside should also been in Hindi along with just English.

I must confess that I messed up seven out of nine photographs of the interior of the cave, but I think these two pictures can hint you that a journey through these smooth stones and narrow passages and dripping cracks can give an experience to the little adventurer inside you. After coming out of the cave (feeling like a Nat Geo explorer), we realized that Rasheed was right when he told us that going inside will be a bit problematic after lunch. After we came out (at about 2:30 pm), we had our food at a hotel near the cave and took our way back to Shillong. On the way we went to the Sri Ramakrishna Mission, Cherrapunjee. They have two really nice anthropology museums and off course a peaceful pujaghar. Upon entering the atmosphere there, the feeling of being sacred enters through your nostrils and fills up every vein in your body.

That night, Pankaj kaku had invited all five of us for a dinner at a restaurant called City Hut. The food was good and was plenty. I got to meet little Sayan (Pankaj Kaku’s 9 yr old son, full of energy and stories from his school). Close to the end I realized that almost half of the bowls with the rice and chicken and paneer were waiting near my plate to be emptied.

Next day, Rasheed had some other priorities. But he gave Babu as his replacement. Well spoken and well behaved, like Rasheed, he was to take us for the places around the city. Our first point was the SHILLONG PEAK.From a tower at the edge of certain hill in an Air Force residential area, this is the view that one gets of the Shillong city. It is although only a quarter of what is visible from there. It was here where I saw a really nice thing written. “We believe in God. But we spell it NATURE”. So simple and so true, isn’t it :)

Next was the ELEPHANT FALLS.This one up here is the third and the highest of the three falls (about 25-30 feet high, nothing much). The name 'Elephant Falls' came when the British came to the city and saw the first of the three falls. They noticed a big stone in front of it that resembled the head of an elephant. But we could not see that stone as it was destroyed in an earthquake long back.

From there, we went to another nature park in the centre of the city. There was a small zoo inside. Below are a few of the zoo guests whom I had never seen before.A YELLOW THOATED MARTEN (I still haven’t Googled what exactly a ‘marten’ is but it looked kind of beautiful) andA HORNBILL (Have seen pictures of this beauty but haven’t seen it in real life before). I know, these pictures are not of the quality that I try to post here (also the cage has made a mandatory appearance), but I thought why not just share something that made me feel good. Below are those shots which I found worth a click (and worth the post).

Can’t say I haven’t seen any EAGLE before but must say that I have seen this stare only in the Discovery and channels like that. Gives you the sense that it is in a state of complete awareness of its surrounding (Unagi, as I have heard the Japanese call this state) and can even see through you.Honestly speaking, I think a PELICAN is not among the most beautiful of the birds. But this shot, after washing away the colours, brought out such a stark contrast of the black and the white that I was bound to post it here. This is one of my favorites photographs of the trip (one of the). No blur, the perfect content and only the desirable colours [and off course the caption! :)]

We had to reach our guest house by 1pm so we were in a kind of hurry. And that is the reason why we only stopped the car but didn’t get down when we reached here.

THE CATHEDRAL OF MARY, Shillong, no doubt, is quite a majestic structure. To add to the grandeur you can see the five thin trees comparing themselves with the blue building. And in some way I think the sky has added an extra effect to this shot. Actually, if you notice, in all the shots (those you have already seen and those you will be seeing) where there is a good portion of the sky visible, a little sense of splendor has somehow come, adding to the beauty of the place.

When we drove on to our last spot in the city of Shillong, it had started to rain in the pace of 2-3 drops a minute (in an area only big as my palm). Even though it was a bit risky to take a camera out in rain, but I could not resist when we reached here.

THE SHILLONG GOLF COURSE. We all got down. The breeze was not very high and the openness was something we all wanted to experience. Unfortunately we were in a sort of hurry, so we couldn’t explore the field much. Standing at a comparatively lower ground I got this one [the tree staring at the clouds. This is also one of the :)]

Then we got back, double checked our packed bags, had lunch and started off in a Sumo for Guwahati. By the time we were barely near the Police Bazaar Area of Shillong, it had started to rain in a real Shillong Rain fashion.

Truly speaking, our group was quite a lucky one to have been able to see the waterfalls (in the midst of all the clouds) with no rain at Cherrapunjee to hamper the fun and also to be able to see the beauty when IT ACTUALLY RAINS sitting securely and dry inside a closed vehicle.

My good friend Sumana had told me (more than once) to visit a place called BADAPANI in the outskirts of Shillong (she has spent her early childhood in this city). While going to Shillong we saw that place but I was in the wrong side of the vehicle then to get any postable pic. While leaving the place, although our driver (forgot his name, sorry!) didn’t stop, but the vehicle speed was slow enough to avoid any blur in the picture below.

There is a novel by Rabindranath Tagore that is called ‘Shesher Kobita’ in Bengali (translated to English under names like ‘The Last Poem’ and ‘Farewell Song’). That novel is backdropped in Shillong. While travelling down to Guwahati, with quite a heavy rain on my window, I took Baba’s mobile. The mp3 version of the novel was there in its memory card. That one hour was something that actually made me experience something first hand of which I have never been a part of. Bengali Literature. (No sir/madam, I am not just saying it. it was like travelling in the atmosphere that made the poet write those words!)

Well, enough of the typical poetic show off… :)
The traffic jam that welcomed us on entering Guwahati was good enough to make me forget the romance of the rain, the poems and that glass of tea (that we had on our way in the rain). Roughly at about 7:30 in the evening, we were in the Daffodil Lodge (just in the opposite of the Paltan Bazaar taxi stand). We had quite an early dinner in a nearby hotel and retired in our beds before it was 10:30 at night.

The next day was for some Pujas and some sightseeing. I think everyone of you has heard of the KAMAKKHYA TEMPLE.

Only about five kilometers away from Paltan Bazar, there was no problem in reaching the temple by 7 in the morning. Maa and Mausumi aunty wanted to offer a puja. We met a purohit by name Praneshwar Sharma Panda who made the arrangements. The process starts by cleansing of hands and feet at this Kund (above) and touching the feet of the stone Ganesha by it. Next was waiting in a queue till the turn comes. Our main priest was the 15 year old Jeetu, quite a radiant lad and the nephew of Praneshwar. Photography was not allowed inside the cave (Temple) so I can’t show you how the interiors actually were. But I felt like entering a Theme Puja Pandal during the Durga Puja at Kolkata. Also, there is no idol of the Kamakkhya inside. It’s only a natural water spring to which everyone offers the Puja.
The whole affair took about an hour . Once we were outside with red tilaks on our foreheads, that I took out my camera.

What I saw there was that the harassment and the extent of mismanagement were very less in comparison to a few other temples I have been in my locality.

Anyway, after having a dal-poori breakfast in a shop just outside the temple premises, Vipin (our driver and guide) took us to a few more places. First of them was the BALAJI TEMPLE.

[The sky again :)] It was a little different to see the kind of architecture and worshipping methods in the Eastern state of Assam that one usually witnesses in the Southern India. The stotras and the prasad also had the pure smell of south India. Photography was prohibited inside so I could help myself only from the outside of the structure.

From there, we went to a Science Museum. Must say there is a lot to see and find reason for there. Quite a big arrangement and interesting too. Camera was allowed inside the museum but I don’t think I could take anything worth posting except a video of the aquarium. Will upload the video and give you the link as soon as the broadband connection at my home gets fixed.

The VASHISHTHASRAM was our next point. Frankly, I failed to find anything of much interest there (interest as in ‘blogging interest’). There was a little waterfall inside the Ashram, not more than 30 feet high that was coming down via a natural staircase made of stones. For about 10 minutes I sat on one of the stones with my feet immersed ankle deep in the running water. Felt kind of relaxing. Baba and Pranav uncle explored the interiors of the temple there a little. But before we left I got him.

It was about a three feet high stone slab with this sculpture in its highest first feet. I liked the colour of the wall on which the slab was resting and also the ancient feel it was giving out. It probably is a Vishnu. If it is something else, I need to change the caption. Oh! By the way, I don’t know if you have noticed or not, this picture is a little shaken.

The next place was the SRIMANTA SANKARADEVA KALAKSHETRA. But, before we entered the premises, we had our lunch.

Those who know the Nandan at Kolkata, they will be able to draw a comparison. Those who don’t, for them I can say that it a kind of cultural centre of the city (and has a bigger area than the Nandan I was talking about). It has a big garden, statues like this, water bodies and benches by it, an auditorium and probably a theatre too. I found nothing more interesting than these men and bulls to post.

The final place was the zoo. Everybody was very tired by the humidity and the dust and the constant roaming since seven in the morning. It was about four, I think, when I and Baba entered the zoo. ‘Reel camera’ was charged Rs. 10 and ‘digital camera’ was Rs. 50. I could not get why such a weird classification was put in place by the management. I left my camera with the others in our car. We used our mobile cameras inside. Saw some snakes, some cheetahs, a couple of playful bears, a typical flat face owl. Actually we two were also tired of the day and the kind of elevation and depression the land has inside the zoo (with only rocks and soil to walk on), our untrained-in-mountaineering feet soon started to ache more than before. Our vehicle had to stay parked for not more than 40 minutes. [Mobile pics were not clear enough to post, sorry! If we meet I can definitely show them to you!]

The rest of the day had nothing else (other than me connecting to my office email and work for a couple of hours with my little colleague Priya). The day next was for Maa and Mausumi aunty to shop for some Assam Silk in the morning and me to shop for some wood and bamboo carvings in the evening. Next day (Sept 9th) we left Guwahati at about 11:45 (with me in the window) and reached a rainy Kolkata at about 1pm.

Huhh!!! Quite a big post, eh? :) Told ya… :) Well, that was my trip (in a little detail). Do let me know if the trip could be a good one for you too. We will wait for your comments [We as in I and Mr.P. Yes, found him just around the corner. I think he will be there with me from the next post! :)]

Lastly, as they say in Shillong, KHUBLEI for your humungous patience. Till next time, Cheers! :)

Street of Three Stations

2011-07-16T12:31:00.011+05:30

Aallo !!! :)

Yah... Long time no see... I know. In case you are not in a mood to listen to any excuse, just jump to the next para. In case you are... here are few: # I had to work a few weekends (office work I mean) so, no new picture to show you. # [I guess, one excuse is enough!].

Sohh.. apologies done. Now, some sharing. (btw, I could not find any other logical order in which I could put these pictures, so I will go in the order they were clicked).

July 3rd,2011 was the Rath Yatra festival. Rashmila, Sounak, Sayani, Sewoti and I made a plan to get some of the Rath Yatra pics on that day. So we all decided to be at Park Street Metro Station (the first station from the title) at 1pm. When I came down from the bus at around 12:55, I got this man.
I was just checking my camera's battery and calendar settings when I found him lighting that cigarette. He probably had sensed that this guy with the camera is trying to take his pic, but he didn't move a muscle more than it was required to blow out the smoke. The way he ignored me, I got a feeling that he will look wherever he wants to but will never LOOK BACK.

I was there near the station and had just started to wait for others to join in, when I felt a little thirst looking at these colourful bottles.
Although I took only a glass of mist coloured Nimbu Paani, my real intentions were now turned to use my camera here. I asked him if I could take his picture. He should me an open palm [meaning: Stop!]. I stopped. Then he said, "When you take it, take the whole." and took out his full beard (those two long locks). I clicked happily. For me, this was the best catch of the day. I call it WATER COLOUR.

One thing I must confess, before we even started for Park Street, Rumki [my would be sister-in-law!] gave us the information that the ISKCON Rath will leave from Minto Park at 1pm odd and will reach Park Street not before 4 in the evening. [What is Rath Yatra?]Even after knowing this, we five gathered near the place and simply started walking towards Maidan Metro Station (the second one).
It was a Sunday afternoon and the streets were quite empty. So we five were a little more free to be a little more of ourselves. In front of every multistoreyed building, in our way to the station, the girls were screaming their own names and we two boys would get inside every ATM counter just to catch some low temperature air. And yes, when we crossed the road to the cathedral, I got this. That is the dome of the Birla Planetarium, that is the top of the St. Paul's Cathedral and that statue is of Indira Gandhi, OVERLOOKING.

After a few photo sessions (only I was not from St.Thomas School, rest of the four were and it was a long awaited reunion of Sewoti with Sayani), we walked inside the shade of a bus stand where I (and everybody else too) found this.
I wish you could read the lines directly. Just try. But in case you are not able to, here is what it is written: Through many years, / At great expense,/ Journeying through many countries,/ I went to see high mountains,/ I went to see oceans./ Only I had not seen, / At my very doorstep,/ The dew drops glistering/ On the ear of the corn. I will leave the interpretation of these LINES AND A SKETCH on you.

It was not 3:00 till then, so the gates of the church was not opened yet. And this was the time when Sewoti decided to treat us with some ice cream. The me in me was more than delighted! After the break, we all kept walking on the pavement behind the church and before we could feel tired about the walk, we were behind the Academy of Fine Arts premises. From there, before we could enter the Nandan campus, I got this [Nandan is a West Bengal Government sponsored center for cinema and other visual art facilitation and awareness and is very near to the Rabindra Sadan Metro station (the third one!)].
They say, the time of the machines or Kaliyug started with the death of Krishna when a hunter wounded his feet, mistakenly, with his arrow. This is a poster of a play called 'Krishna, the man alone' just outside the premises of the academy. If you see clearly you will see the very moment when the times of compassion ends and the times of mechanical emotions begins casually leaving behind some WOUNDED FOOTPRINTS.

Inside the Nandan campus, I too had a little reunion with my college friends Anirban and Anirban [Banerjee and Ghosh, (AB and Maha)]. But, I will say it openly, I did not stay with them for long showing my own reasons (its okay, you can be judgmental.). Then a few more pictures got shot, then people started to leave. After a little snacks at the Exide Haldiram's we went to the cathedral. Sewoti was in her usual super charged up mode and Rashmila was too being herself!

After this, we three parted ways. Strangely enough, none of us ended up returning back to Park Street for the Rath snaps which was the main reason why we were out in the first place.

Well... that was more or less how that afternoon of mine and of four more was spent...

By the way, this post was not intended to show the photograph but to show the little picture of the street inside them. So, if you hate them, I will say, I cannot help it at all coz that is how the place is... :)

Till next time,
Cheers! :)

Whites and Blacks

2011-04-27T15:20:00.013+05:30

Hey guys!

Doing good? hmm?? O... great! that's a relief to know! :)
Well... its a summer again and its all humid and hot in the city. So, no outdoors for a couple of months...But, thankfully 2011 has the summer less cruel than 2010...

For a few days I have been taking shots of some very common place objects. Tables , chairs and what not; but could not create a "Mr.P" out of them. Guess I will never know what he actually used to do with the camera. Yah, he is still not back and I am still looking for him. But all the days he was there with me, he made me realize one thing very clearly: To make anything look beautiful, you have to believe that it is already beautiful.

Ahhmm... well... enough of philosophy. Below are a few takes by me very much inside my own room. And yes... there are no colours.

In October 2009, me and my entire family (of more than fifteen members) had a Kerala trip. [You can find the full Kerala travelogue here]. There, our last destination was Cochin. From there I bought these.
I am a little strange kind of traveler who generally forgets to bring back souvenirs. Only get reminded about them when I see someone else buy them. Same case with these. But here is another fact - I got these BLADES for me and they were the only souvenirs I brought back. (yes, you sure have the rights to be judgmental about me...).

The next one is a shot I got holding the camera in one hand (you can SEE why). But strangely, no blur! This one (not the shot but that metallic object in it) was again a thing back from a place (Pelling, March 2011, colleagues).
Nothing new to say about my "bring things for people too" habit. But honestly, I wanted this piece of work for myself. No offense guys, but it was raining in the hilltop and I grabbed and ran with what I could (after paying, off course). The lady who sold me this fake Tibetan MEDALLION was good enough to grant me a good discount even after my poor bargaining for a just a cast on metallic piece.

People say, there is no bigger achievement in this world than to be able to love selflessly. One day, a kitten, barely a few days old and hungry, was found meowing in the little garden of our house. My sister, took it in. Today, if noone, then at least a cat knows that somebody has scored a big achievement in the house where it lives now.
All is fine, but what is with the name?? My sister calls him (him) - Strawberry. (Guess... Spike or Tiger or Killer would have done better.) Anyway, a good part of Strawberry's daily activity includes coming to our second floor, rubbing its torso with the feet of people (like me) and simply DOZE the time off.

Even though it is summer, gray skies and little storms are not very unusual in the city. And for a careful boy like me, closing the windows in time is... well... something of a topic which you should not discuss with my mom. With no more damage than a layer of dust on the floor, that day the wind lowered its velocity leaving one of these in my room:
It is a very very rare habit of mine of keeping leaves and flowers inside books. On seeing this dried and flat guest, few things came back to me. I have no idea if it came directly from a dead tree, or from a nearby garbage bin or it was at all a symbol of A MEMORY of someone, kept inside somebody's secret diary (and later, let go off).

Wohh!! It seems I talked a lot today. Must stop now (you gotta get back to what you were doing!)... Anyway, it is needless to say that it was great, yet again, to spend these minutes with you.

Hopefully, will see you next time with something better to show.
Till then, stay healthy stay cheerful...
Bye! :)

Pelling: a few shots

2011-03-27T13:15:00.026+05:30

Hi,

Yes, Pelling is the place where I, along with few of my office colleagues - Manu, Biswanath, Sarbartha, Surya and Soumik da went for a weekend break. To summarize our trip in a evidently poor understatement, I would say that the time was awesome! :)

Now, about this post. It should not be here. Truly speaking, this blog is liked by people because of Mr.P. And this time, I could not find him anywhere. I discovered that I have lost him somewhere when I landed in New Jalpaiguri Station (NJP, from where Pelling is a 5 hour drive). Was planning to make this post more of a travelogue type of something, but now I can see that I wont be able to. So, a big "SORRY" to all of you for me not being in a position to describe our Pelling trip in a systematic manner. Whatever I could pick up (yes, I had to do it. Mr.P was not there this time!), after learning from Mr.P, here they are:

This one runs along the entire mountainous road which we had to take from NJP to Pelling. To get a proper view of the river, I changed my seat three times in that vehicle, but my luck, the river always showed up its best from those windows which was farthest from me. My adolescent years were spent near places where shallow mountain rivers are not a very uncommon thing. Views of this TISTA river, made me go a little back. Saw many things worth posting in our journey that day but as Mr.P was not there, so, I messed up the shots.

When we reached Pelling, it was definitely not more that 7-8 degrees Celsius there. After Biswanath and Surya played the major part in discussion which we had that night, the sandman came to work very early. Next morning... ... it was worth waking up at 5am with just a couple of degree Celsius of heat around. KANGCHENDZONGA. All of us saw this Himalayan citizen gradually becoming more and more prominent with the sunrise. Take it from me, you have to be there to feel thankful for your gift of sight.

After breakfast, we sat out for some sight seeing. After crossing Rimbi Waterfalls, while going for the Rimbi Rock Garden, we saw this. It is called RHODODENDRON, the state flower of Sikkim. The driver who was there with us, was getting very excited while showing us any such tree. I have never seen anyone becoming so happy while showing a flower, that too not very rare. Undoubtedly beautiful (isn't it??), but not rare! I dont know he was being a travel guide or was really happy.

After the Rock Garden, we were at the Kanchenzonga Falls. It was grand and I got some shots too, but none of them were worth posting. Then we went to the holy Khechuperi Lake. They say that the birds in that area don't allow even a single leaf to be floating on the lake's water. Near the lake there is a monastery and a worship place. Everyone has to enter with their shoes off. But I went as inside as possible with my shoes on (with no ill faith at heart off course) to see this sight. Complete darkness coexisting with a MILLION LIGHTS.

Outside, there was a good crowd of tourists (now pilgrims). But among those tourists there were a good number of locals too. While we were on our way back to our vehicle, these maroon clad PUPILS were on their way towards the lake. (I actually have no idea what to write about them, so wont talk much here now).

And in the souvenir shop just outside the premises, I saw something that I had only heard of and seen in the internet. Do you see that cylindrical thing (with that artistic metallic base) mounted on that black thick handle (behind that wooden horn)? Well, I don't know what that is called in English but in Bengali, it is called jap yantra i.e. a device to aid meditation. The echo of a far away faint Buddhist chants comes to me mind whenever I think of this device. I dont know why it happens. Probably the way I have always been picturing it since childhood, has something to do with it!

After this, we came back to our hotel, had lunch and sat out again. We saw the Dentam Valley (where I messed up the shot) and then we went to the Pemayangtshe Monastery. Only Sarabrtha and Soumik da went inside (photography was not allowed inside, so I, a so-called friend of Mr.P waited outside). He was sitting outside with two more of his fellows. He was the youngest of the three. He was being photographed by a few more. He didnt want to be shot by me. He tried to hide his face. He was curious at the same time. He was the LITTLE MONK.

After Manu took a timer mode shot of six of us in front of the monastery, we left for the the second highest suspension bridge in Asia. Nearing 200 meters in height the SHINGSHORE BRIDGE gives a magnificant view of the valley between the two mountains which it connects. We six took a to and fro walk on the bridge. It was drizzling lightly and a little lonely walk with a calm song in ones earphones didnt look like a bad idea to me. Later I realised that it was worth the time.

We came back and our driver bid us farewell when we all decided to get down at the Helipad. This place has been made by trimming the top of a mountain and gives a 360 degrees view of the place. From the top, I took this. The town of PELLING. 6620 feet high but one frame and thats enough. As Surya had said on the very evening of our arrival "Its only an alley". Standing there, I could not have agreed more. The drizzle was still on after trying for some facebook profile pics, we all descended down.

The next day, we came even more down to NJP in a somewhat 4 hours of Hollywood-action-sequence type of ride and from there, on Monday early morning, to our very dear Kolkata.

I know, this was not the best of the posts you have seen. But still, it would be great if you could tell me how was it. :)

Till next time. Cheers!

P.S. If you happen to see Mr.P anywhere, please let him know that I am looking for him.

The Sundarbans

2011-02-26T15:16:00.047+05:30

Hello,

How you doing? :) Me? Trying to be good! :)

Well, many of you know that I was out of town last weekend (I mean 18Feb to 20Feb, 2011). And many of you know where I was. For those who don't... it was the magnificent Sundarbans. Mamondi, Asit da, Rajat da and Bipasha di luckily didn't mind to carry me with them. Well, I wont bore you with something that can start like "as you all know that the Sundarbans is the home of the Royal Bengals ... blah blah blah". You can get ample amount of information about this one of a kind mangrove forest here.
As of now, please let me show you the sights we enjoyed (and Mr.P captured). Even though there are more than 45 photographs in total and keeping in mind the patience I myself will need to go through them, I have clubbed the pictures as per a somewhat logical group (could not afford to miss out a single one!). So I think, there need not be any official warning to be issued as far as the length of this post is concerned.

Okay, here I go. Below is the collage of the changing scenes throughout our journey. We were in a four wheeler which went through the changing urban picture and dropped us at the ferry ghat of Gothkhali.
Please go clockwise, you will find an order. This was our two and half hours of CLOCKWISE JOURNEY.

On that very day, we went for some sightseeing around the Gosaba-Rangabelia island. This was the island where we were lodging too.
Among the major rural industries, one is of hand made garments and one of the important such producer is the Rangabelia Mahila Samiti, a small scale industry run entirely by women. Even after the cyclone Aaila devastated the delta, people here TODAY are continuing to look forward.

If you happen to have a look at the southern most portion of the Indian state of West Bengal and the southern parts of Bangladesh, you will see enormous tributaries and distributaries of many river running to merge into the Bay of Bengal.
People here have taken the rivers as a part of their society. A lot comes from it and a lot goes into it. But no matter how fair or unfair is this natural transaction, people here are completely DELTA DEPENDENTS.

People like us, who were tourists, were looking at the place from the perspective of a reader of a book with glossy paper and lots of pictures. But like every other place on this earth, there are ruthless truths of lives besides the singular beauty.
Although tourism is something promoted by the state government itself and gives a good deal of employment to the locals, but besides that people there are engaged in occupation like fishing, agriculture, woodcutting, honey collection etc. EVERYDAY in everybody's life is for its continuation.

Now, our main sightseeing began the day next. We had to take the permit from the Forest Department at Sojnekhali Post to enter the jungles. We had Mr. Manas Mondal as our guide. Setting foot in any of the open jungle is strictly prohibited by the Forest Department, so whatever was seen, was from the boat itself.
After a certain distance, there was completely open and untamed forest on both side of the river (the river kept changing its names from Matla to Bidyadhari, Basanti, Piyali and what not from place to place). But its the forest which gives this place its name - SUNDARI. The unique respiratory system of the vegetation, the ecological society is completely a wonder there. (By the way, that single plant is a Sundari plant).

From the boat and from the watch tower and canopy walk at Dobaki, we could be legally closest to the open forests. Although, the picture below took more than a just a few shots by Mr.P, but I am presenting it to you all in the most summarized way possible.
I am extremely sorry if this group of picture is somewhat not very clear. From top right, its a Spotted Deer (behind the bushes), to its left is a Monitor Lizard (yes, that deep grey four footed thing). Below the lizard its a Rhesus Monkey (and its baby) and in the bottom right, we have a Saltwater Crocodile (a portion of its head and back can be seen outside the water). All these photographs of these CITIZENS have been taken in the open wild, in their natural habitats. Trust me, its a different feeling to be in this raw kingdom.

Other than these land and aquatic dwellers, we were lucky enough to get a few glimpse of their aerial counterparts. Most of them, again, were spotted at the banks of the river, walking, feeding or flying.
Well, I am again sorry if this picture is not clear and here I cant even help you out to recognise, which one is which one. They all are some kind of egrets. (Trust me, all are different!). May not be as appealing as the Mammalia or the Reptilia counterparts but they sure are a bunch of FEATHERS IN THE CAP of the Sundarbans.

It was Bipasha di who took drew our attention towards a rather small but astonishing world at the mud on the banks. After we got a glimpse of it, no doubt was left that there is no way these mangroves are going to stop surprising us.
Hopefully this picture is clearer than a previous few. Clockwise from top, first is one of a kind yellow crab (beautiful, na?), a one clawed red one, a hermit crab (in that borrowed shell) with probably a purple friend beside it and finally, in the bottom left, with some of the most marvelous survival adaptations, the mudskipper fish (if possible, please read about it). Undoubtedly, the MUDWORLD is itself a wonder.

And what is Sundarbans without the Royal Bengals. But, sadly enough, we five could not spot any. Our guide said that even though we might have seen tigers in zoos, but watching one walking in the forest (from safe distance) in its own royal demeanor is a sight to remember.
But we were lucky enough to be able to see a fresh pugmark of a Royal Bengal Tiger. To its right is a Bonobibi temple. Local fishermen, honey collectors, wood cutters and everybody who enters this dangerous forest for a living, first offer a prayer to Bonbibi, the deity who is believed to protect one and all in these islands, and then enter the forest. You can read about Bonbibi here. To prevent the tigers from coming out and swim to the human localities, such nylon nets are used (Yes, they do work. Tigers are known to fear these nets for their own safety). These forests are undoubtedly beautiful but also are mysterious and a TERROR'S TERRITORY.

The (permitted) sightseeings were from sunrise to sunset. But what was bonus to the amazing diversity of the these mangrove forests was the sky when we were tired after the day.
I know, I have said this a lot in the past, but the scene of a setting sun never grows old. And please trust me when I say that none of these photographs have been enhanced (none!), all are here as they were seen. Along with the forest, its inhabitants, the people, these CELESTIAL GOLDS at the end were worth a wait.

In total, we were there for three days and two nights. Our hotel had the minimums in plenty. The hospitality was unbelievably good and so was the food. Electricity was only for five hours 6pm to 11pm (out of that diesel generator). Left no area to really complain, we all had a fantastic and relaxing yet exciting holiday at the Sundarbans. Take it from me, its worth a visit!

That was more or less of what Mr.P and I had seen there. Please let us know if you enjoyed this little tour. We will be waiting! :)

Till then... Cheers! :)

A Walk in the Graveyard

2011-02-12T21:24:00.022+05:30

Hi,

Today (Feb 12th, 2011) Rashmila, Sewoti, Deepak and I (and Mr.P) were out again. Among us, Sewoti was excited the most. It was again Rashmila who planned out the entire outing. The place where we had gone to visit today was a graveyard in the past The South Park Street Cemetery. The burial ground was opened in 1767 and was in use till mid 19th century. In the last more than 150 years, there has been no funeral on these grounds. There are more than 2000 people resting in peace in the cemetery. Its currently a heritage site and a tourist's place in Kolkata. The place has got graves of people like Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (poet and teacher), Sir William Jones, founder of the Asiatic Society. The tallest obelisk of the cemetery is of his grave.

Lately, the site has been made famous ten folds by a Bengali movie: Gorosthanay Shabdhan [beware the graveyard]. The movie is based on a detective story by Satyajit Ray, of same name, featuring Feluda.

Okay, after the history and the facts, now lets get to our outing. First, I must mention that the pictures have been put here with all the respect to the ones who are resting in peace and those who love them. I wont let my talkative nature come in between coz its the silence which is the real sound of such a place.

GUARD

GATEWAY

REST

HONORED EVER AFTER

SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS

HEAVEN'S OWN

The epitaphs on a few were really a work of poets, even though all of them carried the endless emotion which the loved ones had for the person. At a few places, there were husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, fathers and sons together. Sometimes, the whole family has been buried at the same place, side by side. As Rashmila told us, they are called the talking graves. There were soldiers, high ranking officials, civilians, fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, artists, poets, leaders, teachers and who not. But all appeared to be same once they were done with this world.

Although the last shot may make you think that we were there till dark, but we were not. The place closes at 5 in the evening. Even though we had to have some heated arguments with a few "official"s there over some mindless issues, but we all came out in a cheerful mood. We walked the entire Park Street (with a halt for a "little" snacks, thanks to Sewoti!) till the metro rail stations and from there, we four took off for our homes.

The South Park Street Cemetery was more of an experience than a mere outing for us. If you get a chance, please pay a visit to this place.

Till next time,
Bye :)

Fakesperiment

2011-02-12T21:06:00.005+05:30

Hi,

Yes, its us again. Me and Mr.P. This post is gonna be a really small one (just two pictures, only). Nothing much to fill in between. Here is the first one.
This is a shot taken from just outside the "container" in which this thing was SMUGGLED in. [Please don't laugh. We need your co-operation with the imagination here.]

The next one is here below is after the thing gets past the "black" hands and passes to more respectable hands, often with an entirely different story of its discovery/arrival to go with the present genre of admirers.
Raised in degree and after gone higher in CLASS, these things become the reasons for the change in characters and intentions. Even elementary science is able to categorizes these only as a chunk of crystalline carbon, just a degree fairer than its cousin-the pencil lead.

Okay... time up... please come out of the imaginary envelope (if at all you were there!). These two were the best from about fifty five shots by Mr.P. And the shots were nothing but a lazy afternoon diffused flash experiment with something... [please refer the title of this post].

We will be glad to know your comments on this postlet.
Bye! :)

Mr.P in the Wild

2011-01-26T21:49:00.047+05:30

Well, almost he was there.
Other than the wilderness of the city itself, there is a dedicated area in Kolkata for those stunningly beautiful creations of God called animals. That area known as the Alipur Zoo. (and... Mr.P wanted some 'wildlife photography' in his cards and a zoo was the best option when only a couple of hours are there to spare)

The plan was by Sayani to spend the holiday of our Republic Day in the zoo. She is the twin sister of Saunak (yes, the same one!). Another very old and dear, Sumana joined us. But unfortunately, Saunak had to finish some urgent work and he could not be part of the little time out.

Mr.P has tried not to get the cages and bars in his photographs. But at places he was helpless (high cages, stuffy crowd, dust, insufficient camera zoom, mood of the animals, etc.)

Okay, enough of the preface. Lets get on with Mr.P's collection of the day. It was 11:45 am when we were inside the zoo premises.
This animal was the first on our list. Its a NILGAI. Well, there is apparently nothing NIL (Blue) about it, but its ultra-great-grandfathers were also called so. So there is nothing much that our generation can do about its name.

Next was a remainder that we had two bottles of Coke in my bag and two packets of pop-corns with us. We started with them and came here.
The label near this animal had SLOTH BEAR written on it. We saw there is a yellow "V" around its neck (not visible in the picture). These typical bears are used by those people who put up the road side "Bhalu Naach" shows (Although, it is banned now).

When we reached the next animal, it was showing the entire crowd in front of its cage its... well... "back side". But later it changed its position a little.As tried by Mr.P, no cage or bars. I have heard a few experts say that ZEBRA is one of those animals which is really tough to tame and also that the stripe patterns of each zebra in this world is as unique as the finger prints of each human being.

I don't know but due to some "unknown" reason, Sumana was getting very curious to get to the monkeys and apes. We reached near the Chimpanzee's area, but it was not outside its shelter. We walked on and reached the other cages.Even though it was terribly dusty near this BABOON's area, but the look it was holding in its eyes, was something that Mr.P just could not leave unshot. I have no idea what the animal was thinking/looking at but by the looks of it, it could not have been just a crow that he might have been trying to spot.

Next is the one for which Sayani found the perfect spot for Mr.P to shoot. he was at a different place, but he ran down to the new found area around the boundary to get this shot.
This GHARIYAL is Mr.P's one of the most satisfying pick of the day. Three of these were basking in the sun and this one was giving just the correct pose to be shot and published here in this post.

Then came the animal which features behind the 10 rupees currency note and 25 paisa coin of India and is an enlisted endangered species.In spite of that heavy and thick skin and the signature horn on his nose (not in the one in this picture), the RHINOCEROS are not very tough to hunt down if ambushed properly. This one though was generous enough to show us its running capabilities inside its boundary itself.

Well, apologies first. The Royal Bengal Tiger was not out of its (fully covered) shelter, so no opportunity for Mr.P to shoot it. Although, a close cousin of it was in a mood for a stroll in the winter afternoon sun.A little discussion made a recollection that a WHITE TIGER is a very close cousin of Panthera Tigris i.e. a common tiger (although they are not very common anymore these days). Its just the skin pigmentation that differs this type from the rarest one.

But one lady was surely out and was enjoying the mild sun. Mr.P is sorry for not being able to avoid the cage in this next shot.The metallic board on its cage read INDIAN LIONESS. Thanks to the auto focus settings (for the crowd and pushes) the cage became more prominent than the queen herself. No matter how many people come and see her in her royal slumber, she just refused to get disturbed.

Next was a bird. Honestly speaking, even a decade ago, I was not as tall as this bird in its fully standing position. Its not an Ostrich (there was a zoom problem and the ostriches turned out to be camera shy, so no ostrich pic).This bird here is called an EMU. Although its a completely flightless bird, but still its cage was completely covered (another helpless situation for Mr.P). It was estimatedely about...aaa... 5 feet tall.

Then was this shot. Something that was not shot by Mr.P but by Sayani. The animal was too far away for even a full 10x zoom.Guess its quite old, that's why the manes are not bushy enough. Its a LION. I had a special request from my friend Sujay when he called me up in the morning, which goes like "I need the pictures of a lions teeth". Well, sorry dude, his majesty didn't yawn (or tried to eat us) the time we were around his territory.

Now for the most intelligent group after the ones who were outside the cages. There were three, and were in a slightly playful mood.No doubt these ELEPHANTS had to be in an artificial setup, but in comparison to the elephant shots in Kerala by Mr.P they were a little 'not so catchy'. By the way is it only I who can see that gentle smile on this ones face?

Now for the most idiotic one. Although Mr.P can blame it on the thick crowd in his left and right. Moving along the Jaguar and Panther cages, Mr. had to somehow hold his hand high and shoot.Yes, yes, I know. The face of the CHEETAH is hidden behind the stupid log. But, this little embarrassment (for Mr.P) is worth the show of the beautiful skin for this fantastic creature. This skin, again, has turned out to be the one for which poachers are after this animal.

Initially, the next animal was not visible to the eyes. But later a few shouts of "there it is, there it is" revealed its position. Only the mouth of the animal was not open, or else it would have made a typical Nat Geo frame.Once, one of the group member was spotted, the others were discovered just below and around it. But this ALLIGATOR, somehow wanted to be clicked separately, so it came out of the huddle and sat peacefully in its own sun.

In the next one also, there were bars which were possible to be avoided only by a helicopter shot (so, it was not avoided by Mr.P today!). When we reached this area, a weird calmness came upon all of us.There was a father, a mother and a child GIRAFFE. These animals are mute but not a bit less beautiful than the Cheetah or the Tiger or the Lioness. When we reached, the entire giraffe family was out. Strangely, it was feeling great to be standing there.

We moved out after some more time. No doubt the day was great. I went to the zoo after almost a decade and still found the same magic working in me as I had always remembered it to work. Also I am lucky enough to have this "Mr.P" to accompany me now-a-days! :)

Please let us know about your thoughts about this post. We would be really glad to know if you still feel the same way about the zoo as you did when you were a child.

Bye for now :)

Kakdwip, Bokkhali and Us

2011-01-26T20:18:00.021+05:30

First of all, I must confess I was disturbed a lot by one of my posts called "Faces". It had a clear indication that Mr.P is heartless and does not care about pain of people. All he cares about is a "good" shot. I have got the post deleted. Mr.P is not that bad, he can't be. After the deletion, I feel light to some extent and so does this poor Mr.P.

Now, Hi. :)

Last weekend, my brother Bishan (Biki), Deepak (you know him, right... my friend and colleague) and I went out of Kolkata, about a hundred kilometer down south in 24 Parganas(S) district to places like Kakdwip, Bokkhali and Henry Island. Yes, the Kakdwip is the same place where my uncle has some land and a farm house. A detailed tour is there in the post Kaakdeep - a break (I know the Kakdwip spelling is incorrect!).

We reached at about 12:30pm on Saturday (22nd Jan 2011) after travelling in a local train and sat on the cement benches near the stairs of the pond inside the premises.

I had missed out this swan in that earlier post. My uncle's daughter calls this CHUNNU (or MUNNU... I dont know!. Actually there are more than one and no way to distingush!). The water droplets on its super white feather were the things which made Mr.P took this picture.

After that Moong Dal and Alu Bhaja and Chicken Curry by KumKum mausi in lunch, we three sat out at about 4pm for HardWood Point to see the setting sun.

The place is like a goods dock (no, this picture is not trying to prove that, its from some other angle). And I am really lost on what to name this pic. I already have so many sunset pictures posted and such a poor vocab.! Well, lets call this as DOT AND LINES. (please let me know in case you want to change it!).

Biki suggested that there can be a better angle to see the setting sun. We three went a little more along the shore (of this river) and reached in a more cemented place.

From this point, we saw that at certain places, the horizon was not distinguishable. One more thing (other than these two people calculating something), the reflection of the horizontal tops of the those four 'things' are not visible, just the stands. I call this one as VOLATILES. We also had a fantastic ice cream sold with the name "Shahi Kalash" at this place. Its a must try.

That night (same menu for dinner), our discussions ranged from old teachers to cricket to hobbies to past goof ups to college to work to what not. Next morning, I woke up and Mr.P discovered this in the garden.

Please excuse this little poetry: "This group of petals are for you/Coz you make me... aaa... aaa..." Okay! forget poetry.!! Its just that one of my female friends said, after seeing this picture, "Had somebody come up to me with such a one, I would have said a YES, then and there."

Ahhhmmm... Moving on, at 10am, we three packed from Kakdwip and sat out for Bokkhali (35km south from Kakdwip). Its a beach, a really nice one (but something not marketed properly by the authorities). We went there and were regretting why we didn't have enough time.

I dont know who these little girls are, but Mr.P could not let this joy go away unnoticed. This was more or less the same expression which we three were wearing. Mr.P calls this picture WAVES AND SMILES.

The camera which Deepak has, has an option for panoramic shots. It is not there in mine. He got three to four 180 degree panorama of the beach (awesome ones!) and Mr.P managed this with the settings I had in my camera.

The day was a holiday is Bengal (Jan 23rd, birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose), so the crowd was huge. We three got inside the water but did not wet our feets more than 12 inches from the heels (I know, I too regret that!!). This is the SHORE taken by Mr.P.

After having a lunch at a very nice restaurant near the beach (and the Shahi Kalash again!), we three started for Henry Island. Here, I dont mean to do any antipublicity, but, the place is not worth more than five minutes after you have reached the top of the watch tower.
This is the view from the third floor of the watch tower, and those forest on the other side of that river are none other than the Sunderbans. Henry Island (although, its nothing like an island, its just a random location on land) is officially the STARTING POINT of the famous mangrove forests.

Well, it was about 2pm in the afternoon and we started to head back to Namkhana station. (a small 2 minute boat ride is also there to ply between Namkhana and Bokkhali which charges only 50 paisa per head for the ride!). Our Sealdah Local came on time and we three got down in three different stations and reached home perfectly on time on Sunday evening.

Please let me know if you have anything (anything at all) to say on this post.
Its a treat to read your comments :)

A Christmas Outing

2010-12-26T17:09:00.040+05:30

Hi,

The last post was somewhat not-in-a-usual-state-of-mind type. But, even if mistakenly, the idea got conveyed that the bunch of half a dozen of amateurs were all serious like Uncle Sam, you might like to reconsider the conclusion.

To start the day, we got these beautiful Christmas trees from Rashmila (the one behind the snapathon plan and its successful exceution).I call this tree... aaa... mmm... FREE TREE. (ya! I know that name stinks, but did you see the number of 'E's here? did ya? huh?... oh! forget it!) Rashmila, if you are reading this, please don't throw me out of your upcoming plans.

Oh! Must warn you all that the amount of colours in this post is noticeably less. One of the reason being the time when the picture was being shot. The perpendicular and overly bright sunrays were making the colours appear dull, so I and Mr.P agreed on removing them from more than just a few places.

Passing though the market place, at not less than eleven thirty, a few things caught the attention of Mr.P. One of them is this one.I had heard it somewhere that in India, anytime is tea time. I don't disagree I have seen people having tea at 4am, before breakfast, after breakfast, at 11am (some also have it after lunch), after the post lunch nap, before/during sunset, after sunset (for sure) and even at 2:30 am in teh morning (ask those engg. college students!). I call this picture TIMELESS BEVERAGE.

Again, in the context of India, spices are something that make our country different from others. Continuing on the market place, this one could never skip the eyes of Mr.P.

I call this one TASTE OF SCARLET. Wont be wrong in calling our country the 'spiciest' land of all. eh? :)

I don't know if the next pic should have been a part of the last post, but, for some reason I didn't put it there. Although, you might not disagree that there are a few elements in it that might qualify more for the last post.

I am highly unsure, but the first look at this man and I could reverse engineer a story about him. He might have come out his house early, might have pulled a goods loaded cart, then he got a break and now is BASKING in the sun. (okay, no questions please, these are only assumptions in a few milliseconds).

I too was planning to stand in the sun for a few moments more, but some of your company went inside the gates of an old red and sold building. Mr.P didnt want to miss anything out. He too went in.

Have anyone of you ever noticed one thing? Even though the residences of people are clubbed together in a single multi storied building, still that building is called APART-MENT. (oh! by the way, he is Sounak).

After walking on the road which runs parallel to the tram tracks, all six of us now found a door completely ajar, with noone standing, sitting or watching it. (No, we didnt have any ill intension)

We all stepped inside and I am sure we all got quite nice pictures how the structure of the of the house of the middle class of old times used to be in the city. Mr.P calls his catch ONE STEP.

Then, we all went inside the locality of Kumortuli (for the second time in the same calender year) but this time, Mr.P was not at all planning to shoot anything in particular. He thought of relying on the moment which may put something in front of him.

I had no idea, which god is this, but I wont be surprised if the artist had Lord Shiva in his mind. The backdrop was something that Mr.P didn't want to put in his frame, so I had to bend down my not-so-athletic body, to get the angle he wanted. (I think, this is a NATARAJA).

But after this, it was Deepak who found out something quite interesting. All six of us were so excited by it, that we sometimes were blocking the other person's camera.

All Deepak said was "Boss... take a look at this." and we six took really good looks at it. It is part of the necklace that a big graffiti-ed goddess Kali was wearing. It was something that made a name come out at that very instant LIFE FROM DEATH.

Inside the studio of Nepal Pal (yes, the same one), I went in again. It was looking like one of those aircraft hangers after the airplane is out of it, so empty. Mr.P didnt take the picture. the largness (and hence, the emptyness) of the studio didnt fit in his screen. Deepak, Chandrika and I went in.

I showed them the staircase from where Mr.P had taken one of his little admired pictures of Kumortuli. The place had nothing there now. Will it be unfair if this picture is called USED UP?

We didn't know the roads of the locality. Luckily, Sewoti expressed our concern (that if that lane to the left leads to the Ganges) in a bit louder voice. Suddenly, a boy on a bicycle passed her, saying a "yes". We concluded that, here, we just need to make it audible, the answer will surely pop up.On our way to Ganga, this temple got spotted. And thanks to the auto focus settings of my camera, Mr.P got what exactly he wanted his snap to be. I call this picture BARRED BELIEF.

Oh! almost forgot to post this one at its proper place. As I have mentioned even earlier, the artists hardly care who is taking their picture, and who is not if you are not drawing too much of their attention (or its a secret for a theme puja).

This young sculpture was no exception, a few occasional questions was being asked, but his father was the one to answer them. This artist was completely FOCUSED in every stroke he makes in that clay.

And this one now was a find by Mr.P himself. We already had a footprint on a door, and now we had a palm print on another door.

Actually, I dont know if Mr.P was audible enough for others to hear about his discovery, but I am sure that he knew, he needed this picture (why?? I don't know!). He calls this one BRAKER (dont like it? me neither!)

At the Ganga, Mr.P was just enjoying the sun and I was getting a chance to be a part of other photographs :) The day was done now. Time to get back. Sewoti took us to her home. And the most remarkable part was the elevator ride. Let me try putting it in a compact way. Two and half feet by two and half feet, four people maxxximum, speed...mmm... I could see people using stairs... and when it has reached the second floor, it was at 1.75th floor, good lighting makes it easier but still not for claustrophobic. But if someone asks me: how is it? I would say: It was singularly thrilling :). And also those fish chops were superb!

Then we all took our own ways back. At Park Street, Deepak and I had our lunch and then went to the Music World store. (Nyah! we just admired some of the album arts and cursed some of the album prices and came out). Then we (me and Deepak) went to the St. Thomas Church.

It was Christmas and hence, it was not unusual for us to find the church to be a little crowded. Mr.P and Deepak took many pictures. I also took a few pictures of Deepak that he wanted for some profile pics! :). But, not being an expert on religious texts, I dont know what exactly they call this event depicted in this beautiful glass painting, but I, we, called this THE CRUCIFICATION.

Huh..!! well, that more or less how the daylight of December 25th, 2010 was for me. (the evening only has memories of a pain in my feet, probably from the walk that I had since eight thirty in the morning).

Anyway, sorry,I didn't notice that the post is getting huge. It always is great to share time with you. Please feel free to share your thoughts on this post. We will be waiting :)

Cheers :)

A Cubic Studio

2010-10-30T23:25:00.032+05:30

Hi,

This post was never meant to be here. It was just a sudden something in someone's mind that I find myself writing at the dead of night.

One Saturday morning the sun rose from its preassigned prehistoric heavenly direction and so rose a wild idea in the mind of an "emotionally blank" brand of species, Mr.P. Absolutely nothing... he said absolutely nothing for the next forty seven minutes and kept utilizing the remaining battery life of my camera. As he was not expressing anything and hence I am, frankly, not in a position to fill in the gaps between the pictures with anything more.

C H R O M E T O U C H

A reflection of the fragments from the entity of self, is perhaps, the only fashion that is known to mankind.

E L E V E N A E M M

GPRSs and 3Gs and touch screens and so many others are clear losers to these age old papyrus descendants.

R E L A T I O N S

Somethings have become so rare these days, that a testimonial always comes in handy, especially in those times which categorize us as "lonely".

A D D I C T O R S

Addiction is for happiness. Happiness is an addiction.

S H E L V E D

A lot was done in the past. The same past whose future is, now, the present.

E L E M E N T A R Y

And the world, after all, may still have the 'customize' button. Just the correct observations and deductions and all becomes so absurdly clear.

W E A K E N E D

The Saturdays and Sundays are the regular doses of some inferior drugs which are somehow still watering the roots.

E S C A P E

A little showoff of the true desire is nothing harmful save only one area where it ends up convincing a habituated mind that the desires have come true.

D E A D

The word with the widest range of interpretations. But, as of now, staying concerned only with the really burned or broken or buried ones is the safest option.

Coming back to facts, again, this post was never meant to be here. I know its not the usual "Mr.P and I" type of post but thanks to Mr.P for letting me experiment with his perspectives.

The shots have been taken in the ten feet by ten feet by ten feet room where I sleep every night and hence the name of this post.

Thanks, really, for sharing our perspectives.

And you know what....we will be glad to know yours too. :)

Kumortuli with Mr.P and Co.

2010-09-26T14:45:00.053+05:30

And that "Co." in the title is for Sounak and Rashmila. Thank God that I had spoken about a Kumortuli trip with Sounak in the last post or else we could not have got the most syntactically correct mind of our circle with us - Rashmila. She was as enthusiastic as to see the greenroom of the idols as we both were!

Hi,

[Must warn you here: This post is a quite lengthy one. Your patience should be the key if it is the end that you wish for! I can only promise my honest efforts to not to challenge that in mid-way.]

I think it is needless to say anymore that Mr.P and I could finally make it. But after I was back from the jaunt, Mr.P discovered that he has made a good deal of errors while clicking which has destroyed many of the pictures (it kind of is disturbing). Whatever was left undamaged, is here. Most of the pictures here are in black and white and I have tried to keep the names in a bit of alliterative fashion. And one more thing: the pictures do not represent the flow of time on that evening. They have been placed in a random manner.

Here we go. The area of Kumortuli is an amoeba shaped typical north Kolkata colony on the bank of the river Ganga. The soil and sediments which the Ganga deposits on its bank is the ideal raw material of sculpting the idols.

They are transported on boats and are distributed among the sculptures from the Bagbazaar ghat. The perfect blend of this soil with water is called 'etel maati' in bengali (which means sticky soil in english) which is the one the artists use to give the idol a standing shape. This picture above I call CRAFT'S CLAY.

Not only the etel maati but also needed are many more small but important ingredients to complete the structure. They include straw, bamboo, ropes, plaster, glue etc.

When we three reached this place, I could see him working with the plaster. I tried to seek a permission from him to let Mr.P click his photo. He didn't say a word. Something in me refused to call it rudeness. He was, very apparently, busy with a FESTIVAL FORMULA.

And now for the saddest part for Mr.P. He went there to shoot the artists at work in full swing. But later he realised that in eight out of ten pictures, he didn't care to notice the settings of my camera and also could not keep his arms steady. Result: bad pictures (short term) and a loss of one year (long term). Whatever he got, one of them is here.

This photograph is from the studio of Nepal Pal (Yes... thats not a surprising name in Bengal). About eighty percent of the artists in Kumortuli have the surname Pal. When I asked one of the artists working there about the number of idols being given shape there, he answered me - about thirty. I calculated a bit and even from my poor mathematics I could tell that they are working really hard to meet the DEADLINE DEMANDS.

Its not only art but also some deal of engineering which the artists use to make every Durga Puja a grand success, year after year. Kumortuli can be termed as a mass production house of the idols and for mass production, everything cannot started from scratch.

These casts are made in hundreds and thousands in numbers from the same moulds which probably are in use for decades. These are later blended in with the main structure to give that a final shape. In some of the studios we saw smoke coming out of these casts. Later I came to know that to dry these and to get rid of the mosquitoes, something is kept burning inside these INVERTED IMITATIONS.

And how it is possible for Mr.P to return without a glimpse of the old Kolkata which in spite of being unplanned, untidy and filled with narrow old lanes has such an inviting hypnotism that it is very difficult to be in two minds to be sure of the actual roots.

In my last year's trip to Kumortuli also, Mr.P came back with a photograph of a meagre lane. Lucky for him, this time also that he could find the correct settings for his snap. According to me the sight of the AGELESS ALLEY in Kolkata, no matter how old it grows, will remain unchanged in memories forever.

Moving out for some more pictures, Mr.P caught a few more flavours of North Kolkata. Comparatively, the people (not only kids) of North Kolkata are still crazy about the sport of kite flying than of southern Kolkata.

While the entire colony was busy with their deadlines, the only concern of a few of them was 'why the wind not catching up?'. I noticed eight repetitive attempts of this boy in not more than one minute while Mr.P was only waiting for the face of the kite to be seen from place where I was standing. I call this picture JOY OF THE JOBLESS.

As you already know, this trip was planned a week before when it actually took place. The reason for that was simple. The later we go, the more the probability of the idols to be near their finished state. And to me, Kumortuli is more about the process than about the product (sounds like one of those ISO 9001-2008 guys!).

Its good that we were a week late. The reason being we could see the colour work along with the clay work. My observation told me that this was the first coat of colour used on the white primer. The idols are the reflection of what the artists think to be the most perfect of human structures and the colours do not count as exception. I call this picture DAFFODIL DISTEMPER.

Many will argue in favour and many in against of the concept of Theme Puja. (no no.. 'Theme' is no God whom we worship). Theme Puja is name given to idea of having the pandal, the decorations and sometimes even the idol to be of the same concept. These themes range from Burmese Pagodas to Harry Potter, from haunted houses to the Golden Temple of Amritsar.

This year is the one hundred and fiftieth birth anniversary of Rabindra Nath Tagore and this life size sculpture of the very man is a clear indication of what at least one of the two thousand Puja Committees of Kolkata is thinking as their theme. There was a big standing sculpture of The Phantom (yes... the comic strip superhero!) with his Hero beside this one, but Mr.P could not capture him good. As a Bengali, I call this picture RABI ROBE NIROBE (which means "Rabi will remain in silence" ... inspired by a line from his poetry: Tumi robe nirobe. "Tumi" means "You" in Bengali)

In that studio of Nepal Pal, when we three went inside, we learned that its a two floor studio. When I was climbing up the naked staircase, Mr.P caught a glimpse of the studio beside it... of Rakhal Pal. (I am not sure, but I think Nepal and Rakhal were brothers)

It was actually a different feeling to see Durga idols everywhere. On the Puja outings, I am sure that only a handful of Kolkatans can manage to see so many idols in those five days which we three have seen in ninety minutes. Even from the gap which the builder has forgotten to fill with cement, a glimpse of more than one Durga is easily available. Looking at the dark sense, Mr.P calls this picture ULTERIOR UNDERWORLD.

There was actually a good number of photographers roaming the entire locality. We saw a news reporting team also. Three to four of them also were shooting the same thing at the same time when Mr.P took the snap below.

This is/was again, I think, was part of some theme. Apart from the main idols, the artists have to pay in the equal amount of attention to every detail that these side attractions have. Hats off! Mr.P calls this one PLASTERED PAIR.

It was Rashmila who redirected Mr.P's attention to these hanging representation of some Puja in the past. Sounak, Rashmila and Mr.P were capturing Kumortuli in their own freedom but if anyone of us was finding anything worth the attention of the other two, a signal was always given.

During the five days of Puja, tender coconuts are kept on these earthen pots along with bael leaves and a piece of cloth. These scarlet pots have their place right in front of the goddess. But once the ceremony is over, just like the idol of the goddess itself, the illusion of these pots are also taken out from the minds of the devotees and they remain only the TERRACOTTA TABLEAU of those five days.

The arrangement of the idol in the Durga Puja is like Durga in the centre (with the lion and Mahisasura at her feet and Shiva above her crown), Lakshmi to Durga's right and to the right of Lakshmi is Ganesha (with his Kola Bou to his further right). To Durga's left is Saraswati and to Saraswati's left is Kartikeya. All this means that its not only Durga that the artists need to sculp but also the other family members (Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya are believed to be her children).

This picture above is a fraction of all the Saraswatis which are getting shape at Kumortuli. As all of us know, she is believed to be the goddess of art and education. The colour of Saraswati is imagined as white as symbol of purity which she represents. This picture is called by me as SERENITY SERIES.

Earlier I had said that there is a lack of colours in this post (which, no doubt, you must have noticed). But leaving out the colour from the shot below would equal the sin of vandalizing.

Its not the first time when Mr.P has captured a complete stranger in a somewhat "interesting" (according to Mr.P) situation and surrounding. I don't know whether this man is one of the artists or one those hand pulled rickshaw pullers but he stayed peeking in like this only for some moments. Mr.P calls this one BARS AND BLUES.

Now the last one. It was visible from an open door near which Sounak was clicking something inside. Mr.P didn't move close but zoomed in the view and clicked this fraction of the lion.

In case you are new to Hindu mythology, Durga is believed to have used a ferocious lion as her faithful accomplice and transportation during her battle with Mahisasura. Just look at those deadly dental arrangement (an artists impression of what nature can put inside the companion of a Goddess on a mission). But this fearsome sight brings out only the feeling of joy when a person like me (who, even after staying in Kolkata, has missed the Durga Puja in 2009) looks at them in 2010. I call this picture CARNIVAL CANINES.

After this clicking mission was over, we realised that it was just a quarter of the fun. Near the Bagbazaar level crossing, we saw Santanu Moitra in a car with about five of his friends. (that bald head, that French cut beard, those typical broad framed spectacles are recognisble anywhere). Moreover I didnt think over it twice before walking up to his car and confirming our hunch by directly looking at his face. (no... the autograph part happened later).

We then, were looking for some evening snacks. Cha. We located a shop called Bachhu Singh (the spelling may be incorrect). We had the most splendid tea there (a kind of significant milestone in itself that evening). If any of you ever come across that shop, please convey our thanks to Bachhu Singh.

Then we caught a Metro from Shova Bazaar. Sounak and I were to get down at Tollygung and Rashmila at Jatin Das Park. But near Chandni Chowk or somewhere we all three decided to get down at JD Park. Why?? To listen to a fabulous song from a Bengali movie - Autograph. The song is called "Amake Amar Moton Thakte Dao" (let me be the way I am) and can be an instant favorite to anyone who listens to it. After listening to it twice, Sounak and I continued from there to Tollygung, where again we had to get a little wet in the rain. But the smss at 8pm confirmed that we all three reached home with a memory of a fantastic evening, both in our minds and cameras! :)

Huh... Will not stretch it any long.

A very very big thanks to you for reading till the end. Thank you for your patience!

Please do let me and Mr.P know about your thoughts on this post.

Take care, bye. :)

A Wet Weekend of Mr.P

2010-09-18T18:21:00.024+05:30

Hi,

(Wow!!, the joy of saying this particular "Hi" will never age out!!) :)

Anyway... Truly speaking, this post was planned to be on an entirely different subject. One of my oldest and dearest pal, Sounak and I were planning to go out this saturday to Kumortuli (the place in Kolkata where ninety nine percent of the Durga idols for Durga Puja are sculpted) to see and capture the artists at work and their unfinished masterpieces. But it rained! It was raining at 4am in the morning and its raining even now. You can very well guess what happened to our plan.

But now I can see... it was not a complete waste... the day! (How could it dare? Mr.P was after all determined to the hardness of granite)

Once the plan got finally cancelled, Mr.P changed his subject and thought of experimenting with the shutter speeds. Take a look at the picture below:

I bet you will look at the picture again after you have read the next sentence. This has been taken at 11:56 am in the afternoon (with a flash, a very rare thing by Mr.P). The shutter speed was increased to the highest permissible value in my camera and the exposure was also the least (this explains the lack of light). And it was the high shutter speed which made those rain droplets reveal their very precise positions at 11:56 am IST. Yes, those white spots are the HANGING DROPS.

Being Mr.P's first love, my camera enjoys the most careful handling by me. I try not to expose it much to dust or moisture. Frankly speaking, there was something different running in Mr.P's mind when this next picture got shot.

Mr.P was about to step out to our terrace to take some very open photographs of the rain. He had an umbrella with him. But there was wind too making the job very tough. I requested Mr.P to drop the idea (after all it was my signature on the cheque which got me that device). Strangely, he didnt agrue! We came back and stood at the terrace door feeling very much LOCKED WET.

At about 4 pm, when the wind seized and the pace of the shower receded itself a little, Mr.P grabbed that three fold umbrella and went outside. Realizing that the camera has to be kept very much under the range of the umbrella's protection, Mr.P thought of rejecting the idea of becoming a Nat Geo weather photographer and focusing on simpler nearby entities.

Mr.P allowed more light was to pass inside the camera due to the cloudy cover above and that is why this picture is appearing to be so bright. This is a plant on my terrace that has got a magnificent pattern of tiny leaves which keeps the water in it held within the arrangement for a long time. I call this photograph FRESH DRIP.

The last of the best in today's lot was taken in the evening. Samosas were getting planned and I was the one to go out and get them. Mr.P anyway was almost done for the day but he wanted a finishing touch (something to square his desire for Kumartuli and later a full fledged rain photograph). He again went to the terrace in that poor natural light and started to look for something. What he got with an 8X zoom was this

Little bit of blackening and whitening did the trick (no... really... we don't have any black leaved plant with us). More than the colour of the leaves, its the colour of the water present on it, which came out so unexpectedly dazzling. Mr.P calls this picture MERCURY. I don't disagree!

Well... there were more... but they were no better than the guinea pigs of the laboratories. All in such a condition due to the experi-mental nature of this unknown breed of Mr.P.

Anyway... it was great sharing some minutes with you. (Its always a treat!). Looking forward to an exclusive Kumortuli post somewhere in near future...

Till then,

Cheers :)

A Morning and a Night

2010-08-28T16:47:00.012+05:30

Hi,

First thing first: this post is the smallest of the all photoposts I have had till now. And there are a few reasons for it. I had a bit of extra workload at my office, so Mr.P allowed me to practice snoring on those weekends. And a few "lets go out" plans got trashed for some unavoidable reasons. So whatever is there below, is taken at my home, in my very floor.

And the one just below this sentence is in my very room. That was July 5th, when I woke up for my office. The moment I did, I saw this creature.

It was resting on my window curtain. Mr.P got up silently, fetched my camera and then told me to put my left palm behind it (yes... the background is a fractional view of my palm), while Mr.P, holding the camera with only his right hand, took this FIRST FACE of the day. But this fresh green creature (is it a mantes??... Nyah... they look a lot different) escaped, before he could take a second shot.

There were a lot more junk captured in my camera's memory stick after this (no... I am talking about the real junk). But on the night of August 22nd, when I went out to my terrace to get the chair back inside, I looked up in the sky...

Believe me guys, the actual view was a hundred times more magical than this picture. It was great standing drenched in moonlight and taking numerous shots of this heavenly CIRCULAR PRISM (please don't start investigating technically, I beg you...). The colours havent come here the way I saw it that night, but a little exercise of your imagination can definitely take you there!

Well, as i said...its the shortest photopost...

Do take care of yourself...

Until next time.... Cheers! :)

Mr.P's candle lit evening

2010-07-04T22:37:00.012+05:30

Hello.. :)

(No matter how many times I say this, it always feels the same childish excitement as it did the when I said the first "hello" to you!)

Well, first thing I must make clear is that the photographs in this post are not during a power cut off in my locality. They have been taken in some vaguely thought setups. So please do not make any mental picture of how the idea of this post came to Mr.P, it just did! Thats it! :)

In this not a very long post, the idea of this first picture came to Mr.P was when I went to the kitchen to get some biscuits (what? its not a sin to feel a little hungry at 9pm, is it?). Mr.P saw the candle on the rack and that was it! He ran in (without any biscuit) and made this setup.

There was no wind in that room at that moment which is the reason why the flame was steady. Mr.P didn't know what kind of page to open for this photograph. He just turned the book and the page here in the photograph was the one to which it opened. He didn't think of looking for an alternative. He calls this photo as NIGHT OIL.

Mr.P went down the staircase with the candle held in his hand. He was planning to take some pictures of the stairs and he did it too. But trust me, even someone like me can say that those photoes are nothing but junk. Then he saw this old bicycle of my younger brother, kept at the landing.

My brother used to ride it when he was barely eight or nine. He will be entering college next year. I see this bicycle kept at the same place everyday but looking at it in the candle light made it look very solitary. It looked like as if it is trying to hold the last shred of the LOST DAYS with it, in vain.

Only a few days back, my good friend Sujay asked me if Mr.P has a weakness for the colour of yellow. (Here itself I must tell you that Sujay himself has an eye for beauty and is a marvelous photographer. Click here for Sujay's photographs.) He concluded this after he went through the posts in this blog. I had to think for a while (just a while), then I answered on behalf of Mr.P that he was not wrong. The combination of black and gLOW (golden yelLOW) is something he falls for everytime. The next picture is again a something where Mr.P slipped.

Mr.P was just about to put off the candle and light up the fluorescent tubes. But as he went close to blow it off, he saw the smooth reflection of that long flame on the molten wax. There was little wind which tilted the flame. Mr.P calls this picture TILTED MELT.

Well, to tell the truth, the rest of the snaps were the real trash, so Mr.P decided to not to show them to you.! But, leaving those out, please do comment on how did you like these three picks of the candle lit evening. Coz its always great to know how we are doing.! :)

Till next time,

Cheers :)

Mr.P on a Little Cruise

2010-06-19T11:53:00.042+05:30

A big HI after a big break,

After the Prinsep Ghat, there has not really been any Mr.P type of outing. Some of you have been asking me if Mr.P is upto something or not (believe me, when this is asked, it feels great!) and the answer has always been a sad 'no' because of the recent heat and humidity at Kolkata. But on June 18th, the entire team at my office decided to take a break on a cruise on the Ganga (and needless to say Mr.P had sniffed his material already).

Its very rare that I bring my camera to my office. I took it on that day and the first thing I shot was the little sculpture on my desk.

This two inches tall artwork was brought from Mayapur last year. I have kept this in front of the moniter on my desk and I call this photo GANESHA DOT JEE O DEE.

At about three thirty pm, the team left the office in two buses and reached the entrance of a riverside park called Millennium Park. Everybody was busy in taking photographs of their peers and bosses. But Mr.P was being tactically stubborn in being himself. He did took some of the photographs of my team mates also but he was more into the surroundings.

This OLD HALL was always there on the Strand Road (a street bordering the Ganga on its eastern bank at Kolkata) but I saw it yesterday only. The most attractive thing about the building are probably the palm trees in front of it.

At about five thirty pm, we were on the deck of the little cruise ship (called MV Paramhamsa). Some of us grabbed the chairs and some went out to explore some more of the luxury vessel. Mr.P stopped at the captain's cabin.

He knew that I am still to grow up a little more to catch the ideal maturity of my current age and he knew that I sometime prefer to spend some time in movie fantasies. Mr.P smiled at me when he saw this place and he let me name this photo then and there: JACK'S WHEEL.

But after some more minutes on the deck, everyone around me noticed the sky together. We were in the middle of Ganga and this was the sight in the sky.

Me, being a little hydrophobic, had my smiles transferred inside the sling bag I was carrying but Mr.P was being Mr.P. Looking at the magnitude of the cloud, he only thought of comparing it with that bridge. He calls this photo as UMBRELLA OF THE CLOUD.

After sometime, the sun went down and the sky became tougher to predict due to the darkness. I got my smiles out. People were now busy with the starters of the dinner (so was I) but Mr.P would not let the camera go inside its pouch (and hence refrain me from using both hands on the starters). At the late twilight he got this.

Those four 'things' are the floodlight stands of the Eden Garden (hopefully I need not tell you what is that!). This photograph somehow is able to capture the new and the not-so-new images of the same city together. Mr.P calls this photo STILL STILL.

Now Mr.P took a little chair and sat down. Strangely, I found the deck to be unusually empty. Then I discovered the place where every party lover was.

I went to the floor, but then i realized that I am not the only one with a camera (I might have ended up revealing the truth about my dancing skills in somebody else's camera), so, I came out after a few minutes. Being there was amazing. Mr.P calls this collage LIGHTS, BEATS AND MOVES.

After a sweaty bhangra-cum-salsa-cum-hip-hop session on the floor, few of us decided to catch some fresh Gangetic breeze. We went down at the ship's dining hall (which open up to the lower deck). After some air, we came in and sat on the high chairs of the empty mini-bar. It was Deepak who saw this on the thin curved drink-tending marble platform.

I casually asked if it resembles anything under that beam of light. Anugrah answered: "LOOKS LIKE LIFE to me." Mr.P knew that taking at least one photo of this simple arrangement will be worth if it can provoke a little spark of thought.

Before dinner, Mr.P tried numerous times to take a fair photo of the Howrah bridge, but the light was not enough for producing a convincing photographs. With a dozen of junk snaps, I went for dinner. But after dinner, Mr.P thought of taking few more attempts.

This was the best of about thirty of its uglier brothers. Please forgive Mr.P's untrained hands and lack of technical knowledge for not presenting you with the actual and a more magnificent view of this landmark. I call this photograph NIGHT PRIDE. (hope you don't mind my feelings for the city, which sometimes ends up reflecting a little biased me)

The next one goes a little personal for me. I (not Mr.P) took this one before leaving the ship. Its for that person to whom I could not say a proper goodbye on that very day but who was honest and sweet enough to not to hide the truth from me (a truth that only a few lucky ones get to hear).

This is for her: "I am sorry for being the idiot I am. These are FOR YOU"

Ahhmm... Well, that was more or less what my evening was like. I got down at Park Circus from the team bus and got home in a cab and started working on the day's catch.

Its incredible how so many of you have been writing about your views on this blog and its even more satisfying to see some of you following this particular page on the internet. Please keep loving this Mr.P like this. I promise on his behalf to keep him alive.

Till then,

Cheers :)

A little Prayer

2010-03-21T02:32:00.005+05:30

Hello,

First, its not a 'Mr.P' kind of post... no photographs here... but its a little "something" I thought I can share with you.

It was 2005. I was in the second year of my college. That morning I was going back home on a few days break. The early morning passenger train from Mecheda directly used to reach Tatanagar. I boarded that and found a comfortable place for the rest of the journey. The compartment hardly had a dozen of occupants.
My watch showed me 5 am when i saw it happen. Just on the seat across the aisle, I saw a middle aged man placing a mat on his seat. Then he folded the bottoms of his trousers half the distance to his knees. He was barefoot. I kept looking at him. He took out his hand kerchief and tied it around his forehead and head covering most of his hair. It was a summer morning and the sky was lit with a cold golden shade. The windows were open and the speed of the air rushing in matched that of the train. The man then got on the seat and smoothly knelt on the mat he had spread. Nobody else was supposed to see what was happening as the rest of the people were sitting outside the scope of the view. In the knelled position, that man straightened his backbone and head, placing his hands lightly on his slant thighs and closed his eyes. He was about to read the Namaaz.
.
.
.
.
.
This was a blissful sight for me at that time of the day. For a few moments I kept looking at him. Nature and man, both are spreading purity together. My rest of the journey was so very beautiful.

The next one was five years later. 2010. I was doing the night shifts in my office and 10 pm was a 'nothing' of the time for which I had to say back. The water cooler and the pantry are located at the end of a common passage in all my office floors. That night, at about 10 pm, I went there for some water. As there are very few people at night in the office, very few lights remain switched on. The passage had three. One was above the cooler and pantry at the left end, one above the door though which on enters that passage, at the center and the third light was on at the right end of the passage, near the broom cupboard. When I turned back with my water, I saw a man below that third light, in the background of a dark glass wall, standing on a mat, barefoot, tying a hand kerchief around his forehead.

P and Old Folders

2010-03-13T17:35:00.023+05:30

Hi,

HUHHH.... It always feels so good to talk to you.! :)
One thing I noticed about Mr.P. He follows his own thoughts while clicking photographs. And that's all he does. But technically, he is as good as Roger Federar in Indian classical music. One of my friends, Vikas, knows it and is really trying to help him out now-a-days. He thinks, it will make Mr.P "better". Thanks dude.! :)... (But for some reason , he thinks Mr.P is some competition for him.!!!.. sigh.!!!)
About this current post, they are again some of the photos from some old folders. Didn't realise earlier that they can be touched up a little to reflect out their moods even better. Here is the lot on which I just finished working on.

This photograph is from Prinsep Ghat. The post below this one has details about my trip there with my brother. Took this snap to get the last slash of the sun rays falling on the Ganga. And also to capture its last reflection on it. Call this one SET TO SET.

The next one is from the same Ghat. The bridge had lost all its details in the shadows of the setting sun.

This one was taken before the previous one. Frankly, I don't have much philosophy from my side to put for this photo. Have thought of the name I have chosen for this one: STRANGLED SUN.

The next one was taken 2008 (on the very same day when Mr.P realised that he is Mr.P).

This is a stone fairy mounted at the apex of the Victoria Memorial (what?? haven't heard of this Kolkata landmark?? Gawd.!!). Earlier it used to rotate with the wind at that altitude but now it doesn't. (Without knowing that Mr.P was applying something called Law of Thirds), Mr.P took this photo to test his camera zoom. I call this pic EVENING BUGLE.

By looking at the next one, you can guess that it sure will take a good zoom to know if its a Chinese bamboo art or a Renaissance angel at the top.This pic was also on the same day as the previous one. To tell you the truth, Mr.P was trying very hard to get the whole of Victoria Memorial in a single frame from this distance (yes, this is an angular view of the Kolkata landmark I was talking about) but he kept on failing. Then he came up with an idea of covering his failure with a little "philosophy" (c'mon guys... something had to be done!). So Mr.P went to this corner and kept going on until the whole thing was in his LCD screen. Mr.P (not me) calls this photo: PERSPECTIVE STAND. (Let me know the meaning of this name if you get it!)

The next one was taken during the Durga Puja in 2008 at Kolkata (where else do you think?). It was at a domestic Puja at Sen Bari (Sen's residence) at Behala.

Me and my bro (Biki) went in unrestricted. While he was admiring one half of the house,I was doing it for the rest of the half. In old Kolkata, houses of similar architecture were common among the wealthy group of people. Today, they still have their magic on the newer group of people. I call this grey picture with only a blue 'something' in the center CORRIDOR AND HISTORY.

Now, for the next one, you have to start by forgiving me for I have made my own (copyrighted) photo reach its extremes. This is an amazing (brilliant, magnificent,... and awesome) piece of sculpture near the root of the dome of the Victoria Memorial (now you know what 'Victoria Memorial' is, right?).

For many reasons, I think you can have mixed reaction on this one. If you like this, then I would say that its not at all fake. Its an honest 100% effort by Mr.P. If you hate it, then I will say that I will try for better ones. From the photo's content part to Mr.P's (and mine) crossed fingers, there is only name I found suitable for this photo: TENDER.

Well, that was all I could do this afternoon. Please do let me and Mr.P know anything you have to say on this through your posted comments. It would be great to know how we are doing.!!

Till next time,

Bye :)

P for Prinsep

2010-01-31T16:22:00.010+05:30

Hi,

Hope you are doing fine... :) I too am trying my best.

In last few days, I was asked "Isn't Mr.P planning anything new?" I had to say a "No" coz that was the truth. But on the fine morning of the Indian Republic Day (Jan 26th), I got a call from my brother Bishan (Biki) and an afternoon outing got planned. Focus: Ganga.

If you have been to my previous posts (and remember them!), you might be knowing that I had a little early morning session at Ganga already. But I still went out with Biki for three very simple reasons: 1. He wanted me to, 2. I myself wanted to, 3. Mr.P had overheard our conversation on the phone!

Anyway, as soon as we reached the Babughat, my bro got busy with his own camera (believe me guys, he has a flair for snapping). Mr.P already has shown the place to you, so he allowed me to relax a bit. We didn't have any proper plan in place (boys!) but after a cup of flavoured yogurts near Howrah station, we decided to go to the Prinsep Ghat, a place Mr.P has never been to.

Here is what Mr.P got from there.

That arrangement of cables and that big "H" is the a part of the Second Hooghly Bridge, better known as Vidyasagar Setu. And that inscription with a visible JAMES PRINSEP is a structure which stands before the bridge and on the bank of the Ganga. With a view like this, the set of these two can be called as GRAND STAND. What do you say?

The sunset time was nearing. We went a little closer and reached that structure. The photograph of the complete structure was not good enough. But what was fair enough is this one:

Frankly speaking, I still haven't googled who James Princep was for Kolkata, but after standing here, something made me feel that there has to be glorious history behind that name. Only one, just one name comes to my mind whenever I see this picture: WHISPERING PILLARS. Actually a very dear friend of mine, Partha, had shown a very similar picture snapped by him (and I called his one also with the same name). Dude, this one is dedicated to you.!

(by the way... at this very place only a scene of the song Piu Bole from teh movie Parineeta was shot)

We decsended on the Ghat. There were other people taking the photographs of the setting sun, the boats, the bridge and what not. Mr.P also tried but here is what he could do best.

This is how the complete bridge looks like (well, almost complete!) with its reflection disturbed by the ripples and a few trademark boats in front of it. People hire these boats for a hour and a half flawless feast of what we Kolkatans call as the magical Ganga-r Haowa (the Ganges breeze). Biki and I didn't take the trip but believe us, it sure is a treat. Not Mr.P but I call this picture NOSTALGIC. I know its a pathetic name. Please (please) let me be the second one to know if you are the first one to come up with a better one.

While coming back, Mr.P could not leave out the his most frequently shot object. The Sun.

Mr.P, whenever is back from one of his outings, he is sure to be back with a few shots of teh setting sun (is not impossible) and I end up posting it here. I dont knwo if you would agree or not but the setting sun is one of the most beautiful things that we are gifted to see everyday (yes, even a person like me also agrees!). You can see there is no leaf left on that tree and so the picture can also be called SKELETAL. (yes... I do have a poor vocab).

After this one, neither Mr.P nor Biki found anything much interesting to shoot. We took a cab and with a fantastic ride on the bank of Ganges, and not to mention, enjoying the ever refreshing Ganga-r Haowa, reached a restaurant at Park Street.

Honestly, I, as someone who has seen Mr.P doing better, think that you also should let Mr.P know that he might be losing what he had started with. He would be really glad to get your thoughts and comments on these pictures and know his flaws.

Anyway, as usual, it was great sharing a few minutes with you.! :)

Till next time, Bye :)

Cheers.! :)

Kaakdeep: A break

2010-01-09T16:32:00.036+05:30

Hi,

No... the name 'Kaakdeep' has nothing to do with my unspoken name ('deep', that is). The name 'Kaakdeep' should mean 'Crow Island' (Kaak=Crow, Dweep=Island... The 'dweep' is pronounced as 'deep' in Bengali). Its a little town located in southern Bengal about 100 km from Kolkata and is an important fish trading location. We went there as my Mamaji (maternal uncle) owns a farmhouse there. This time my complete 'double ex-ell' sized family invaded that place on last Christmas (2009), all on a break. But more than anything else, it was a complete A-to-Zedd fun filled trip.

But as you know, why am I here and why this blog is being written. Yes.. yes.. It was Mr.P again doing what he does best, ruining my 'time outs' with his own ideas. Actually Kaakdeep is nothing like any hidden paradise or some undiscovered historical/archaeological site... its just another place on the Diamond Harbour Road. So please do not expect any mind blowing snap in this post. The pictures here are like what Mr.P could take out from his two night stay there.

Here I go.

We started from Kolkata on Christmas day at about 10:30 am and after half of the journey, our caravan took a halt at a roadside hotel for a little refreshment. Mr.P got busy. The hotel was at the end of a bridge. This is what Mr.P got when he stood looking down the canal running across under the bridge.

The man was rowing and the lady, sitting here, was collecting something from those aquatic plants. I looked down, they spotted me too. I showed them my camera (meaning: Please don't mind sir, I just took a picture of yours). They smiled. I smiled back (this time meaning: BON VOYAGE).

After that snack (at 12 noon!), we continued. Thanks to the advancement of automobiles (the car's suspension system to be precise), I didn't realise that we were moving at 100km/hr when Mr.P took this picture.

My sun sign says that I am (read: should be) adventurous. I don't know how far true it actually is but I did realise that it is not entirely wrong. For some reason my thirty-two were all exposed (I have only 31 though). It felt like somebody has told our driver (Chhotu), in a high US accent,: ONYA MAAK, get set, go!

After we reached, it was a lazy (rest of the) afternoon. We had our lunch and after a few more hours, I went out with my bro, Jijaji (my elder sister's husband) and of course Mr.P to explore the surrounding a bit. After some samosas and tea at a market nearby, when we were to come back, Mr.P spotted this man between the rickshaw stand and the Kali temple.

And as soon as he did, he ran towards him and said "please sir, stay like that for some more seconds". As you can see, he didn't move a muscle (other than his eyes'). When I came back, my Jijaji said "He is luckier than us at this hour. We have to ride a rickshaw back in this chill and he is enjoying the HEATED CHILL".

We came back that evening and after a mind blowing chicken prepared by one of my uncles, it was next to impossible to avoid the call from that bed (with a cozy quill and plump pillow but minus the city noise). But next morning, all the thanks to Mr.P, I woke up at 6 am!! There is a little pond in the east side of the premises. Mr.P went there but here is only what he could grab worth posting.

The camera could not capture the thin irregular layer of fog on the water at that hour. There was absolutely no ripple in it and the trees were making the sun rays distinctly noticeable. It was like a MIRROR OF THE DAWN.

Mamaji has an open space where he breeds a variety of birds. At such a place where there were pigeons, Mr.P got this.

These birds were looking absolutely stunning in that morning sun. All the time we were there, we cousins, not very surprisingly, kept referring these birds as MASAKKALI. I heard Mamaji saying once, while feeding them, "makes your heart feel light". Mr.P wanted another particular shot of these magnificent birds, but could not get it then.

I went to my dad. He was also looking at a different cage with a few different birds. He told me to click the camera in a certain way from a certain distance. But when I (and Mr.P) kept failing in getting the shot he wanted, dad himself took the charge and here is what he got.

After all the people saw this shot, they didn't find it surprising that I have been running this photoblog. And after Mr.P had seen this picture, he knew that he has a very very long way to go. But when I came to know that it is a Love Bird, I was bound to name this picture as ALONE.

The picture below is the best of about fifteen similar pictures of the same flower. Mr.P was shooting it but it was I who was being laughed at (its obvious how your sisters and Mausis will behave when a rose gets so much of attention from you).

The shots were getting blurred for some reason. But whatever, the thing is, when it comes to a rose, it has to be special. But with a mind like Mr.P's, Jacks and Roses look best to him in posters only. So this picture can be left with only one name: NOT FOR YOU.

It was about 1:30 in the afternoon when I realised that I should finally take a bath (for the sake of other people). When I went out to ask for my towel, Mr.P spotted something that he wanted when he was clicking MASAKKALI. No second thought, he ran it, fetched my camera, came out and Click.

I don't think, I need to see anything else. These two birds, face-to-face, say a lot anyway. I could here only a few things that they were saying between themselves... it sounded something like "YU EN AAI". (poor in english I believe).

After (a bath and) lunch, I was roaming in the garden. Mamaji took me with him and showed a few flowers. Mr.P shot all of them... but he could only make two of them worth posting.

Here is the first one.

Its called BLEEDING HEART. If you see carefully, a group of scarlet petals emerge out from the white ones. Its the most perfect name this flower can get and so does its picture.

The second one is more glamorous than the first one.

If I remember correctly, its called the Spider Web (or something like that). Looking at its colour, if we go a bit deeper in its name, I don't find it wrong to name this picture PINK WEB.

That evening also, me, Mr.P, bro and Jijaji went to the market (for jalebis this time). We, as the evening before, took a rickshaw to get back home. The rickshaws there are not the usual two seaters. They are have an array of flat wooden planks bolted together to make a platform for about six people. This assembly is placed on three wheels with the help of a bolted metallic arrangment and is powered by manual paddling. I was seated at the rear of that rickshaw facing the direction opposite to which we were moving when Mr.P got this shot.

Although my eyes were almost blinded by these lights, but something in me could still not ingore the darkness though which we were moving. It was not the lights which was winning the war, it was a little DISCOUNT FROM DARKNESS which was appearing like a celebration.

That night we all celebrated the birthday party of one of my cousin sisters three days in advance (afterall such a complete get together is rare). Dinner had three types of fish (yes...I too was shocked when i first came to know about it). That night I called up my friends to tell them about my stay at Kaakdeep. We were to leave the next afternoon.

For once, I didnt let Mr.P run over me. I slept for long the next morning and Mr.P also took a break. Swimming and fishing in that pond went for the rest of the morning. After lunch, we said goodbye to Subrata, the caretaker of that farmhouse. But while in that local train back to Kolkata, Mr.P proved he is not done yet.

The time was about 3:30 pm or something when the outside turned golden. I had seen this happening in the beaches but now I knew that there exist some LOCAL COLOURS also. The camera charge was getting exhausted. Mr.P finally let me sink back in that 'ghost story' book, I had bought three minutes ago for the rest of the journey.

I hope you also enjoyed the Kaakdeep break, at least a little. If you get time (and have no problem spending it in the countryside), Mamaji will be glad to get his farmhouse visited by you.

About this post, please let me know how you liked or hated it through your comments.

Till next time,

Cheers.! :)

Mr.P and before: A year

2009-11-29T16:01:00.049+05:30

Hi,

I had thought of no more posting in this year and so did Mr.P had decided to observe some more stuffs around before jumping on to his next snapping mission. But even this momentary retirement was proving itself unbearable (after all retirements are for those overworking cricketers, not creatures like Mr.P). Moreover Mr.P was getting to realize that he is turning one gradually and considering me as a person who jumps from one thing to other so often (in short, impatient) he wanted a little "something" to remember. So, this post.

This post has got a few pictures from different times in this one year and also a few even before Mr.P knew he was born. Here they are. Hope you would like them.

It was 2008 and Durga Puja in Kolkata (yes... Kolkata yet again.!!). I was out with Soumalya, my friend (the one with the bike in the post: Aadi Kolkata below), on that Saptami. Please note that Mr.P was unaware that he had started to work then.

This was one of the dozen artworks in the entrance of a pandal in south (Kolkata). I could not help myself from appreciating the person who planned the lights and colours there. This picture I simply call RED AND LIGHT.

The next one is one of my favorite pictures that I (as Mr.P was still working without his own knowledge) had taken in Puja 2008.

The purohit (priest) here is in just the correct place with just the correct gestures and objects. The fumes have filled the entire pandal creating just the correct haze with just the correct colours around. Its as if the Goddess herself is decorating the studio for my snap. It was SIMPLY DIVINE.

That was Saptami. On Navami I went out with my bro, Bishan, for just a morning long pandal hopping. As I said, I was a hopping, most of the pictures are not that good (as Mr.P was still not working consciously). But from whatever I could grab, here is a better chunk of it.

In this puja of Kumartuli, apart from the Durga idol, this Shiva sculpture was worth an admiring look. No limit of the count of arms he can have, neither of the purity nor strength he possesses. He is an INFINITE MAN, yet so calm. (Again a loud round of applause for the pandal artists.)

Oh! Before the Navami, I had a day long hopping on Ashtami with Bishan (we call him Biki) only. Though I don't think a vast majority of the pictures are worth posting, but this one I could not resist.

It was a little jhaarbaati (chandelier) hanging from the ceiling of Sen Baari (Sen's residence), at Behala (Sourav Ganguly's home locality at Kolkata to be precise!)where their own Durga Puja was going on. We two went inside the residence. No body stopped us. Took a few pictures of the idol. But this STILL BLUE souvenir was unavoidable to return with.

On the Navami night, we cousins went out to see the Salt Lake pujas. I don't remember the name of the place exactly, but there was a good open space where that puja was being held. Some cultural programs were also being held in a little stage there.

Frankly speaking, I am one of the worst dancers alive but I, at times, do find myself appreciating this form of art. After looking for some time at this performance, I could guess the story in it. I just waited for the moment when the boy will ask the girl "WILL YOU?" (the kneeling down of him was bonus.!)

Puja 2008 was gone with the yells (and sms) of aschhe bochhor abaar hobe (next year it will be there again) all around. Now it was almost this time of the year last year and a "someone" called Mr.P woke up to its own knowledge one afternoon. As soon as it did, it went out.

This church has featured in this blog even before (in the post Bitten by the Clickbug) but not in this mood. Gives me a vintage look when taken away from its true colours into plain black and white. An OLD CATHEDRAL holding a belief much older than itself.

About Digha also I have told before. But in this "revisit" type of post, I could not leave it out completely. The picture below is one of those which I wanted to but didn't publish in "Mr.P is out again" post but told about.

The reason being that its no different from what already was there. Yes, you got it right. Its YET ANOTHER SUNSET on the beach. Have my fingers crossed if you would like it.

2008 was over. My elder sister got married in January '09. I witnessed the preparations, the pressures and above all the fun of the ceremony. I did take all the family pictures but there also the highly thougthful Mr.P was looking for his "subject of interest". (c'mon man.! I was there to enjoy, not to waste time in whatever Mr.P calls his "subject").

But when I saw this lovely artwork, I shutted my big mouth and let Mr. P work. The fair hands with the scarlet MAHENDI, surely makes a wedding party looks so complete.

In April, I went to Mayapur, the headquarter of ISKCON with two of my friends. It sure was a hectic day but the company made it worth.

It was yet another sunny day of the hottest summer in the last decade. But the faith that one of my friends was holding in her then, made us carry on even in that UNBEARABLE heat. That belief was of the peace when you sit near the foot Krishna. After all ISKCON stands for International Society for Krishna Consciousness.!

Now there was a big gap for Mr.P. January to July went by. In the middle there was a rainy season. On some weekend evening at that time, after a quick but refreshing shower, I went to my terrace.

While checking different modes of taking pictures in my camera, Mr.P was randomly shooting whatever he could find nearby (or far away, in case of zoom tests). Basically, I myself am very less interested in gardening but to breath in a CLEANSED evening air is itself a very satisfying sensation.

After roughly a week I guess, Mr.P was again testing my camera. Again in the same terrace but this time with no rain. I don't know what came to him, he shot the frame below.

Thanks to the camera settings, only the outline of the 'earthly' objects of the snap came with a dark filling. Other than them, I could see that not only the birds (and other earthly beings) but the sun was also going to be NESTED.

Before my holidays in October, Mr. P was desperate to take a few snaps of the Ganga at Howrah (and he did that too... check out the post "5am on a Sunday... Thats not me"). In that little walkathon (word contributed by one of Rashmila's comments), Mr.P got this snap below.

Although its not a very old construction but this NEXT BRIDGE is as nostalgic to me as the first one (yes the Howrah bridge itself)... considering the fact that I have spent the majority of my childhood outside the Kollolini (a bengali adjective used by many for Kolkata)

Rules of Photography says that if somebody wishes to publish a picture of someone, the publisher needs to have the permission of that person (even if she is family). This rule made me call up the person below today.

Didi was not at all willing to get it published, but later on she said,"Okay go ahead if you like it so much." Well, I didn't know what to call this picture but the smile, the gaze, the comfort and the shade somehow gives me a nice feel of WARMTH. (It has been taken in my mobile on the way to Kerala, in a moving train, so please excuse the clarity.)

If you go right below this blog page (across all the photo posts), you will find what I used to do (when I did nothing.!). Scribbling, doodling etc on the pages left out of my old notebooks.

Well, nothing of a high magnitude was ever done by me but I can say that I have been more that what I had been (yes, Mr.P is assisting me a hell lot). And the best part is it has been a wild party of enjoyment (oh God.! I am talking as if I am dead.!). Anyway, the picture above is of ONE OTHER P.

Frankly speaking, these pictures I could not fit anywhere and were like leftovers (I know, some better word should have been used). But I thought, seeing them, they deserve a little better treatment. So, this post.

Anyway, if you liked them, please do let me know through your comments.

Till then,

Cheers :)

Mr. P and my Mobile Phone

2009-11-08T16:00:00.021+05:30

Hi,

Many of you have also asked me: Who is this “Mr.P”? Well, he is the crazy photographer inside me who is often philosophical and can go to limits for a good snap (born in the post “Bitten by the Clickbug” in this blog) .Sometimes I hate him for ruining my weekends but I believe some of you seem to love him for what he does.

"Thank you" [says Mr. P :) ]

This time, he gave a rest to my cybershot and used my mobile (which has a 2MP camera in it). Until very lately I never though that I will ever post these pictures taken from my mobile camera here but it was a few work by Mr. P which made me think otherwise.

The clarity of these pictures is pathetic as they are from a mere 2MP mobile camera. So now you know what not to expect from the pictures of this post.! (the pictures here have been made a little eye friendly and also have been made to throw out their best)

Well, here I go.

One evening (probably in June), when I came back from my office, I turned to my right in the entrance passage in my house, through the window of my grandpa’s study.

Mr. P snapped three pictures, but my grandpa was so engrossed in the subject of that page, he didn’t notice. He still has no idea that he has reached you and you also have seen him when he was busy with HIS HOBBY.!

Coffee in my office is one of the rare few free entities. And another best side of the pantry is that it is in the fourth floor and has large glass walls.

In that July evening, the sky was looking very welcomingly red. Mr.P and I, both, just love this time and decided to call the picture above what it meant: SIX P.M, FINALLY.

At Kolkata July was fairly rainy. The picture below is of one those days when I hadn’t brought any umbrella to my office (yes... its a snap from the same pantry).

I took it to show one of my colleagues how badly it is going to rain IN A FEW MINUTES and how even more badly I needed an umbrella. You can see the reflection of my mobile’s camera here in this pic.
The picture below is of the LANE WHERE I LIVE.
There is nothing so special about this picture other than a fact that to take this picture, Mr.P (and my body) were standing OUTSIDE the terrace boundary railing, over the shades of the windows of the second floor (which means a slip, and my body falls like a rock from two storeys). Please don’t tell my mom about it.!
Kolkata is growing, both horizontally and vertically. Sourav da, being a boy from BaghBazar (a typically north Kolkata locality) chose to take a home at Garia (the southernmost tip of present Kolkata). I had gone to his place that afternoon.

When I asked him about his such a choice, Neogi Aunty (his mother) took me to the roof and gave me this breathtaking and peaceful view of their NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD. The reason became clear.! (can you listen to the birds chirruping?)

The holidays of 15^th August, I try to spend them with my parents at Jamshedpur. And this year also I was successful. While going to the place, I went and stood near the train COMPARTMENT DOOR.

The morning rain had just finished and the smell of wet soil was... just so... fresh (a brilliant understatement for what it actually felt like, forgive my vocab.)

Came September end, and my workload in office increased ten folds. Four of us colleagues had to stay in the office 24x7 for five days (and nights). The office guest house was booked for us to stay.

That morning, at about six fifteen, I was coming back after my longest nap of two and half hours when I looked up to see my OFFICE AT SIX AM. May be its not that bad a place after all.

After that hectic phase in the office, I was to leave for Kerala (as you might already have known by now that I really had gone to that place). The journey was of three days two nights.

After the first night was gone, I woke up and Mr. P again ran to the compartment door to catch the RISE FROM SLEEPER CLASS.

All the ‘bloggable’ pics that were taken in Kerala are in the post just below this one. While coming back, I had slept in the topmost bunk and when I woke on the second morning in the train, this is the first thing which caught my eyes, just across the commutation passage.

I don’t know who she is or what she does. All I knew was, Mr. P took out my mobile, checked the surrounding for any watchful stare, and Click.! Sorry MISS. WHOEVER-YOU-ARE for not informing you about your picture in such deep expression, I just couldn’t.!

And finally, when I was back in the battle of survival (called work life), I was amused to learn that it hardly matters to Mr. P if I am on my way back home at nine thirty at night or not. He is ever enthusiastic as ever to borrow a moment from the time and space around him.

I used to notice that this man (yes, the lump in the footpath is a person) rests at the same place every night. Mr. P was a little hesitant to take a snap of him from a crowded bus... but he did it anyway. The person is in his COMFORT ZONE in spite of such a rushing and complaining world around him.

I hope it doesn't end here. Mr. P is even more desparate now for better pictures. Dont worry, I will keep you informed of whatever he does.

Do let him know all what you think about the pictures through your comments below. It will help him.

Till then, cheers.! :)

Mr.P in Kerala.

2009-10-24T18:59:00.111+05:30

Hi,

Bottomline first: KERALA IS TRULY RELAXING, PERIOD. Me (and not to mention Mr. P) went there with my family on October 7th, 2009 for a net eight day tour. I went there to relax and get a break from the usual days and nights I used to spend in Kolkata (except for those where Mr.P used to reawake himself inside me) and Mr. P went there...huh... yes, right. To shoot.

Below are a few of his snaps (made to reflect the possible best in them) by him. As you will proceed, your little tour guide (that would be me) will take you milestone by milestone the journey we had from start to end. One thing I must tell you: This isn't just another regular post of an-hour-or-two-of-a-crazy-outing-of-mine-in-the-city type with only five to six snaps. This post has a good amount of pictures. So, if you are really on a tight scheduled, I suggest you better close it. But hey! I would love to see you find some time and go through it.

But, if you are sure you have time... we can start from THIRUVANTHAPURAM.

Having our hotel booked in Tridendram, on 9th, we went to the KOVALAM BEACH. Below are a few snaps from there:

The beach has a very steep shore and you suddenly might feel like toppling as the sand below your feet can be gone with the retreating wave. By the way, the picture above is called CHILD, LOOK BEYOND.

The picture below is called CALENDAR (for some weird reason). Here it is:

There are lots of rocks on the beach. And not to mention loads of coconut trees.

This picture is called WINDY. I know its a very aaa....obvious name buut still.!

The next one is a feminine potrayal of what Mr. P was exactly doing in the beach.

I call this picture as Mr. Me.!

Still keeping our reservation in Trivendram, next day we went to KANYAKUMARI

Frankly speaking, there was nothing much for Mr. P. Below is what he got:

This is the VIVEKANANDA MEMORIAL on the Vivekananda Rock.

Below is THE COMPLETE ROCK:

(well almost. Thanks to the only 3 inch screen, the ends got truncated).

Upon entering the Vivekanada Memorial (where photography is not allowed), anybody in any state of mind can feel the peace and strength at the sametime. I did (and thought I would share the feeling with you).

One our way back to the hotel, we stopped at the PADMANABHAN SWAMI TEMPLE. There they have a tradition: If a woman is wearing a Saree, then only she can enter the temple with her hair covered with a cloth. If she is wearing something else, she has to wrap a saree around and then she can enter. For men.. no such relaxation. Can wear only a Dhoti, only. No further questions.

Below are a few snaps from that place:

I call this picture TWILIGHT TEMPLE.

Mr. P was lucky enough to get the picture of thisYOUNG DEVOTEE. (As I said, no exceptions.!) All I did there was get some evening tea with some UFOs (Unidentified Fried Objects)

After we came back to the bus, we realized that many of the ladies were missing. And guess where we found them? Yes, a place which closely resembles a place like the picture below:

Well, SHOPPING ANYONE?

Next day we moved out of Trivendrum and headed for ALLEPPY. From there, through THE BACKWATERS, we were to reach KOTTAYAM (a city with 100 percent literacy rate in India)

Below are some of the snaps by Mr. P there:

This picture above I call THE CROSSING. Almost every house near the backwaters banks has a boat like this and it is the most vital mode of transportation there.

And who doesn't know about the most the relaxing floating things in Kerala??

Yes, I am talking about the HOUSEBOATS.

According to Mr. P, there were numerous other situations to take pictures of (may be, I hardly understand this stuff). But all were not captured, technical problems, we were constatly moving.

I have no idea what this church is actually called but Mr. P calls this picture THE OPEN OLD.

In between all these, there was a local guest in our launch. Even a dull person like me admired the beauty of it and Mr.P helped me reach it out to you. Here it is:

This picture is called THE GUEST.

On the banks by now we had spotted all kinds of people from all religions and their walk by the banks remainded me of the drawings I used to do back in my school.

This picture above has no specific name. But as of now lets call it GOING TO WORK.

That day we had a single night stay at KOTTAYAM where I took a little time out to call up my friends (was missing them a lot there). Next day we all set out for KUMILY. Its a hill station which is famous for its spice market and homemade chocolate.

On our way there were a few snaps taken by Mr. P:

This picture is of a rubber tree trunk, lined to collect the INFANT RUBBER.

Our travel guide, on our way to Kumily, told us that there wont be anything for us to do in the evening after we reach there, so we can just follow the scenary on the way. I just did and so did Mr.P:

This picture is called FOLLOWED (dedicated to our guide)

Looking out of the bus window there were again many (many) breathtaking places. But as Mr. P is not an expert photographer (and again we were moving quite fast on a contstantly direction changing spiral hilly road), many snaps were just a piece of junk.

Out of them this one was quite postable:

Mr.P couldnt stop admiring the courage of this tree standing there alone. He calls this picture HABIT OF THE EDGE.

After we reached Kumily, we were told that there is a Kathakali show to be held that night in a nearby hall. People who are interested can go and enjoy.! You can imagine, in what Mr.P was more interested in than the dance on the stage.

I call this picture IDENTITY.

Just a little walk from our two night stay hotel at Kumily there was a turn in the street. There was a statue of Mother Mary holding a dying Jesus on her lap. Mr. P tried and tried but couldnt be happy about his picture below.

See if you can feel anything other than SADNESS OF THE EYES.

Next day, we all went to PERIYAR (in a useless hope to see a few wild animals).

Not much promising, but here are a few snaps of the forest and the lake:

This is the PERIYAR LAKE boating where is currently prohibited due an very nasty accident that happened here a few times back.

While walking in the road of the forest, just the way I was listening to some music, my dad was walking alone humming.

I told Mr.P not to lose this moment when my dad was HAPPY ON HIS OWN.

After we came back, had lunch, many of the us from the touring party were feeling lazy enough to miss the spice garden visit. But I went and so did Mr. P

It was nothing as brilliant as anything but what I enjoyed most was an elephant ride.

This picture is not taken by Mr.P but by a person called SAUNAK (thanks buddy.!). I call this picture GOPAL (that's what is the name of the elephant in the picture). There are reason for me to select this picture. First, Gopal is in a brilliant pose with his trunk raised to greet the camera. Second, being the fourth person on Gopal at that moment, I am hidden.! You can only see a part of my blue jeans above Gopal's left ear.

The next day we were informed that we are finally starting for MUNNAR with a faint warning of a chilly weather there.

Here are a few snaps of what we saw on the way:

My sis was holding these FLOWERS in her hand and it was looking worth a few MBs in my camera's memory card.

We were told of a journey through the hilly regions and there the last thing we expected was the rain. But who knew, the dying Jesus from the streets of Kumily will fulfill even the last expectation of us.!!

This picture is called the WET SETUP for the rest of our journey.

On the way we had the DEVIKULAM FALLS:

This water fall was in the midst of vast bed of tea plantation. But instead of capturing the tea plantation around (like everyone else) Mr. P got asked these ladies to wait and hold it right there.

He called them up as 'aunts' on which they started to laugh. Later on Mr. P had to say 'g'bye sister'. I call this picture AUNT SISTERS.

We continued with our journey in those spiral roads (with the sky tap still on).

At times, we prayed no other vehicle till the same THICK CURVE of the road lasts.

But the journey to Munnar was only not scary, it was beautiful too.

When places like the above picture came, it was hard to imagine if anything could have fulfilled the snap had the climate not been MOISTURIZED.

And after a journey of about four and a half hours and we could finally see the town of Munnar.

This picture is by my dad. Sure he has literally FOUND THE TOWN in the 'middle' of the rain.

On the afternoon the day we reached Munnar, we went out for a sightseeing. And here is what we saw:

TAKE-1: THEY CAME.

TAKE-2: THEY ATE.

TAKE-3: THEY LEFT.

After this royal feast, our bus moved ahead for the couple of nearby places:

This is a shot from a place called the ECHO POINT, not a that bad place for paddle boating.

Then we stood on the MATTUPATHY DAM (and Mr.P took the snap below).

The next morning was booked for RAJAMALAI, for the highest peak in the Neelgiri mountains. But before brushing my teeth on that day, as soon as I woke up, Mr. P rushed towards the hotel balcony and snapped the picture below:

He calls this sunrise THE SUNSET HANGOVER.

While we were being taken by the forest officials to the top of the Rajamali hill in a wildlife park (whose name I have forgotten but it was recognised as the cleanest wildlife park in India) we saw this:

You have to forgive me but I had no other option but to name this picture by Mr.P (who took it straight right down from the fall's foot)as UNKNOWN HEIGHTS.

At a checkpoint, we were left to explore the rest of the uphill journey on our feet. On the way to the top of the hill, we found this animal:

It is called the NEELGIRI THAR. It is something in between a deer(body) and a goat (head). Rajamalai is the only place in the world where this animal is found.

And after we went to the top, it was altogether a different mood. Clouds playing around, the chill, the wet air, the moody sun....huh.!!!!

This picture was taken by Mr. P after he waited long for the sun to get caught in that crack in the cloud. He calls this picture ORACLED.

One moment you can clearly see who is down there.. Come back after 15 minutes...

you are bound to ask the clouds WHOOZ DOWN THERE?

These pictures are absolutle nothing (believe me when I say that) when it comes to actually go there and stand at the top.

And what a sight after we descended down.

The clouds were between my two hands.!!! It had started to drizzle and we had no umbrella (it sure was fun.!!). We had a coffee in a tourist shade. Then Mr.P took the above picture (by taking out the camera in that highly moist weather). All in all... it was ... mesmerizing.! I will never forget how it actually felt to PLAY THE ROMANCE there.

That day afternoon, we left Munnar and started for COCHIN, the last milestone of our Kerala trip.

It took us five hours to reach Cochin in bus. There, one the next day, we went out to see some history, but half of the things in the city were closed. Below is what we could manage:

This is the VASCO DE GAMA CHURCH where his corpse were buried for a few years after his death before it was taken away by his sons to Lisbon. THIS IS THE FIRST CHURCH IN INDIA buit in 16th century and last renovated in the 17th century.

Very near to this church is a beach used by fishermen.

The fishing is done by these CHINESE FISHING NETS which are in India almost for more than four hundred years now.

One the evening that same day, we were taken to see the sunset on a cruise. Later it was announced that due to the clouds, the setting sun won't be visible. So Mr.P again grabbed whatever he could.

Although the we were not on a luxury ship, but the trip on that boat was good, overlooking the sunrays FROM THE DECK.

Then comes the last snap by Mr. P in Kerala.

The HOMECOMING.

Next day was our train back to Kolkata.

I know I have eaten up a lot of your precious time, but by any chance you liked (or hated) this album, please do let me know though your posted comments.

Thanks you.!

Cheers.! :)

Sunday 5 am?? Thats not me.!!

2009-09-20T10:35:00.007+05:30

Hi,

Seriously, Mr. P has gone nuts... he has gone completely mad and in the process of this highly unwanted task... he is making me like him too.!!!

After a few calculations... Mr. P could infer that its gonna be next year March if not now.! This was the last weekend before the Pujas.. during Puja and the week after that I will be busy at my office... after which I will be out on a 15 days trip to Kerala..

When I will be back it will be almost November... winter... which means waking up at 5 am will be even tougher. To let the winter go by.. it will be almost next year March... so Mr. P set an alarm (and two wake up remainders) at 4:45 am (and 4:50 and 5:00 am) to get up and get the fresh picture of the fiilthy Ganga (many call it Ganges.!) in the morning.!

Frankly speaking, Mr. P was not very happy with any of the pictures taken... but these are some of the better ones.

Believe me, these are the cleanest steps at Babughat. The ones which go into the Ganga have an inch of the polimaati on them throughout the year. I almost slipped on them today. Mr. P calls this picture with a very obvious name STEPS OF THE BABU.

Thats all he could get at Babughat worth posting. Mr. P moved out

of there.. while I was having some biscuits, he asked a person selling neem sticks, natural toothbrushes, about any other nearby ghaat.

"Outram Ghat"... Mr. P went there but photography was not allowed...

Then me and Mr. P were on our own.! Mr. P could find some of the unnamed ghaats... Here is what we got from there:

This old man in the picture was holding up arms in the same way since I discovered that he is there in the Ghat... I took few pictures of him ... he was there in the same position... and before I finally turned away from him... I saw him staying in the same position... chanting something...

Mr. P calls this picture FAITH.

The next picture is from the same unnamed Ghaat.

After Mr. P had taken the pictures.. I was standing at the same place thinking... They have been tied to the same stock for hundreds of years... neither the boat design nor the majhi uniform has changed in so many years.! Only the crossing fare might have gone up.! Thanks to the "developement" we are a part of.

Mr. P calls this picture OLD FERRY.

And what is Ganga to a bengali without the Howrah Bridge.! I had tried many times to see it in a single shot... but I always had to turn my head to cover the complete view. But hey.! Look what Mr. P has done.! He just did it...

From another unnamed Ghaat near the first one... Mr. P just clicked the view.. and I called it, much to the disagreement of the highly philosophical Mr. P, THE WHOLE PACKAGE.

But the problem started to show up.! I was at the place from where this 'whole package' picture was taken and Mr. P wanted to go to the foot of the Howrah Bridge... the one which is on the left side of the picture above.

"Koi Gal Nahi, Sir jee"... I told Mr. P... I had a fresh morning tea from a stall... plugged my earplugs with a song in it... and simply started walking towards it. On the way I got this picture of the road...

Mr. P and I call this picture with the very same name as the girl from

a nearby car would have called it (after she was done with her amazement of seeing a short guy taking the picture of an empty street at 6:00 am for no appearent reason... I wish she could see Mr. P.. but she couldnt as he was inside me..)... A TAKE FROM A WALK.

And finally when me and Mr. P reached that 'left sided foot' (hey... m good at keeping names.!!! Mr. P... left sided foot.!)of Howrah Bridge after walking a little more and finally taking a bus... Mr. P discovered another ghaat there... it had a name starting with 'Chan...' but I dont remember the name rigt now.!! (sorry..! next time pakka.!)... Mr. P descended on it...

After taking a few snaps... Mr. P (and I) found only this picture 'bloggable'... It was more than 6:30am and this is exactly what I call as my dawn. And this is what I call this DAWN OF DAWN.

Then it was just a return bus with music plugged in my ear... and a Kolkata waking up....

I seriously have loads of doubt that you would like these picture on which Mr. P made me invest my half of sleep... but some kind of satisfaction would come to Mr. P after I have posted them here...

Do post your comments if you feel like.!

Cheers.! :)

Aadi Kolkata

2009-09-19T16:14:00.003+05:30

Hi,

This time Mr. P was stuck with the idea "why always grandure... why not the little things.!!??" and as usual, Mr. P ruined a saturday afternoon of mine.! We went out with my camera, this time to the Northern part of Kolkata, the old and the real Kolkata. I being a South Kolkata lad also believe so.!

There we have Kumartuli, the hub of Durga idol makers in Kolkata, in India or rather in the whole world.! The month was August and it was about to end.. Puja was at the end of September only.. No time could be better than this to go and see the artists at Kumartuli in full swing.!

I managed to get the help of my friend Soumalya to reach there. Thanks dude.! You and your bike made it possible.!

Here is what me and Mr. P got.!

The face has got an extra clarity over the rest of teh picture... the light is there the most and it looks brilliant. Mr. P called it THE ONLY LIGHT.

Not very convincing name... but he just couldn't exercise his poor vocab for a name for this divine one.!

His next one was through a narrow door. He almost would have missed it had he been a little bit more absent minded.!

Anyway, Mr. P managed again to get and capture the glimpse he had got. He calls it ENLIGHTENED DARK ONE.

Me, Mr. P and of course Soumalya came out of Kumartuli after a few more snaps. Then Mr. P was in the hunt of his "little things" (I told him... Sir, you have a camera which is not even one year old.. you dont even know what is its aperture opening... (whatever it is) ... you just are excited about taking pictures. So, Please sir, stop being so philosophical.!)

But I kind of have a funny belief in him and I followed him... after he completely ignored my short speech.

The boy in this picture made three jumps for Mr. P. No...No... dont take me wrong...!! Neither me, nor Mr. P and not even Soumalya told him to do so...!!! He was just having fun... jumping and getting photographed at the same time.!!!!

Mr. P calls this picture LIFE.

The next picture is something I could feel like is of type which goes to photo exibitions and places like that.! I dont know why.!

But after Mr. P took the picture, he didnt feel like complaining, but apperantly didnt find any reason also for these pictures to go to the photo exhibitions... for some reason, they just go.! Anyway, looking at it Mr. P could find no other feeling than sympathy and called it TENSE PAST.

When I was coming back, Mr. P just happened to turn back from the bikes rear seat and saw something. He told Soumalya to stop.

When Mr. P came back with a picture no name could suit this very narrow old Kolkata lane other than ALLEY SEPIA. These empty alleyways take you back to the Kolkata of the 70's, the bloody decade of Bengals political turn... or may be even in the 40's when these gullies had witnessed the freedom fighters taking bullets on their chests.! (this is not Mr. P writing... its me. I am feeling the same shiver in me which I always feel when I think of the old Kolkata even in this very second when I am writing about it.!)

I and Mr. P thanked Soumalya for his such a help... He went back home and so did I with Mr. P to post these pictures here.!

Hope you have liked them... Please do post your comments... to keep more of Mr. P coming.!!!

Cheers.! :)

Mr. P is out again.!

2009-09-19T15:29:00.008+05:30

HE LIIIIVES.!!!! More like a Frankenstienish pleasure came out of me when I felt the same Mr. P in me while going out on little weekend out with my family. We went to Digha.!

I preferred listening to Enya in my ipod while roaming in the beach but that Mr. P in my told me "dude.! pull up your sleeves.. get that damn clicking device out and let me work.!"

I asked him (with big watery): "Enya??"

He said, checking the battery charge level in the camera (and not sparing a look at my big watery eyes), "Take it... it will add to the mood.!"

Well... so there were we, out again, alone, again in a sunset. Here are a few results on which Mr. P was happier than the rest:

Mr. P had two very different colours of light in front of him and behind him... This golden one was in teh West side of the beach.! He called it, out of shear reflex, ABSOLUTE GOLD, PERIOD.

The next one was a few moment before the above one was taken ... on the same side of the beach... (Mr. P and me realised that its really strange how the rays of the sun changes its colors in such beautiful places.. it hardly happens in the cities.!!!)

Anyway here is the next one. he calles it THE SANGAM. Quite sarcastic if you see... the sky seems to meet with the land and the water, the water meets with the sun, the sand seems to hold the sun and waves think they have reached the shore but nothing is actually there.!

Enough talk, next one was very tough to get. Mr. P had to use a full 10x Op-Zoom and a steady hand to get just the correct image. It was on the east side of the beach.

Mr. P, after he took this picture, examined it, and made sure that the faces are out of bounds of recognition. This was Mr. P's first (copyrights protected) snap which had so much emptyness yet was flooded with so much of emotion. He smiled a little after this click and called it ONLY.!

Me and Mr. P came back from the beach for the day. Next day, me, mom and dad went out for a little sightseeing. (I had Mr. P inside my jacket.!). While our car was crusing on the beach of Mandarmoni, I got this:

Mr. P took this picture from a running (and vibrating) vehicle, from behind the windsheild. This added to the effect... a blurry look came in the picture which gave it a fine glow. Mr. P calls this picture SOLITUDE

Mr. P had a few more pictures of the beaches that he liked but for some reason I am not posting them now.

One more thing I learnt, Enya sounds absolutely mind blowing, even to a highly-non-classical person like me, when you are roaming in a beach, capturing the world around you, with Mr. P!

Cheers.! :)

Bitten by the ClickBug

2009-09-19T14:46:00.009+05:30

Hello...

Last year I got this new digital camera... and very much not to my surprize, the photographer in me realized that its IN me...

Well... after this divine realisation, it woke up one evening (brushed its teeth) and went out to explore.!

Here is what he got when he went out:

This picture here is of one of the most significant landmarks in Kolkata... a symbol of its gloriuos past... a woman can be seen here standing in front of it.. a woman whose economic condition doesn't seem to be very good... this is what it is... my true Kolkata.. has everything... My camera calls it REFLECTION OF TRUTH.

Next, the photographer in me (lets call him aaa.... Mr. P ( P for photographer)) tried to get some more like these... and here is what he could grab.

The light was very weak... Mr. P could just hold what he could before he left.. He calls this picture of the St. Pauls Cathedral ST. PAULS CATHEDRAL only.!

Next, Mr. P was wondering what to shoot next... when his gaze ran into a pair of women, staring... Mr. P had no idea to what.!

He went closer... and followed the gaze of one of them... when he went even closer... one of them turned towards him.. Mr. P knew.. he will not a get a second chance... Click.! he got THE STARE.

Mr. P had some more time and wanted to use the in built flash in my camera. Why??? I dunno.!! but that arbitrary click wasnt that bad... as Mr. P told me. Take a look. He called it what it was:THE GUARD.

The light was getting feabler but Mr. P wanted some more... he didn't know what but he just wanted that... something to complete the day... he had no idea that only a 180 degree turn would do it.

But when he did... he had this... a VICTORIOUS reason to click.!

Mr. P had his day. He told me: lets go back.! The day was great.! That day I had went out alone but came back with a knowledge that a Mr. P lives in me.!

Lets see for how many days it does.!

cheers.! :)

wadaahh!!!

2008-10-09T21:50:00.000+05:30

kisi se kabhi kuchh kaha...
kisi se kabhi kuchh na kaha...
aajkal fark nahi padta...
ya phir sabse zyada fark padne laga hai...
tabhi ye kahyal aa rahe hain...

dimmag par itna bharosa tha...
ab toh woh bhi dil ke haathon majboor ho gaya hai...
kuchh bhi socho...
ek feet neeche jaane ko kehta hai...
saala...

chalo koi baat nahi...
ikraar bhi sahi...inkaar bhi sahi...
but itni sahi zindagi ab boring ho gayi hai...
kuchh galat karne ko jee karta hai...
tum se sach bolne ko jee karta hai...

never knew...slam!!!! reality

2008-03-23T17:49:00.000+05:30

So Many Things

Actually I was never so alone. Now when I say alone, I mean everything I do and I have points towards only one person as responsible, me. And I am in such a situation for the very first time. I liked Rabindra Sangeet but never used to play them myself or had never sat on my own interest to listen to them. Now, so far from home, when at the infant dawn, I go to the roof, I realize how so many things have come with me. I realize how many things were always there for me. I was just enjoying all the comforts of other’s responsibilities. Now all I want to do is grab some more of them and take them away from the sky.

Up on the roof then, when I close my eyes and take a deep breath, my senses expect a very familiar smell to enter and start a concert of all the beats I know with vocals of the chirping birds singing in the morning and all the praise from the dew wet jasmine will add to the glory of the opera. But it just doesn’t happen. The eyes open up, the smile departs. I look around from that seven storeyed high roof to see an unknown city which has youth but no motherhood. And after that, I look straight up, towards the sky. Yes, it knows me. But wait, what is that? It does not dew on the eyes! Then what is that? Nevermind. The sky is still looking at me. On that clear blue background, just like the sun’s love on a winter laden afternoon, I see one stroke of a golden line. A perfect stroke of by marvellous artist. First the strokes are gradual but after a few, they are more rapid, even more and more. The whole sky is getting covered by arbitrary crazy lines. Now the artist is nowhere, it appears like a child is desperately trying to make others understand what he wants, he creating a tantrum with a slate and piece of chalk but no one is able to understand him, not even I, although I see a part of me also up there. He is scratching the sky and he is scratching the sky.

And after that the first rays of the young sun appear at the corner of the big blue. My eyes turn to its bright red costume. But it’s tough to look at that. The eyes close by themselves, that empty deep breath leaves my heart. That’s the reality, towards which you cannot look straight, which slaves that independent slate of that child and paints it in its own colours. But still that’s the reason for own mornings, our lights. And lying on the flat floor of the roof, my dark long shadow due to that new light says, “The song is over, but your time starts now, go downstairs, your office shuttle will arrive after sometime.”

A Slice of it....Life

2007-08-10T17:34:00.000+05:30

1. Was Alive

Yesterday, I got a letter from Papai. I know my son. He will never return to me.

Six months back I lost my wife in a car accident. A young lad ran his car over Aparna while she was coming back from her mother's place that night. The lad was driving drunk. The very next evening was scheduled for Papai’s arrival from Nainital. Aparna was hit at a crowded place. Half of the gathered people took her to a nearby hospital and rest of the people took the boy out of his car and gave him a public thrash. Police arrived after sometime. Aparna died on her way. I got the news one hour later.
The police themselves ran the case on that boy. I never felt it necessary to go and see him. He was nothing more than a murderer to me.

Next day, Papai didn’t come home. I called him in his hostel. They said that he had left for Kolkata three days back. I called him in his cell phone again and again. It was switched off. The funeral of his mother was done without him. I did lodge a complain in the police for my missing son but they were also unable to bring Papai back to me. After that, he never came back home. But this letter just did.

“Baba,
All these days, you must have badly searched for me but you couldn’t succeed, I know. For the last six months, I was in Kolkata only. In Alipur, in jail. I had three simultaneous cases running on me – stealing a car, drink and drive and homicide. Yes Baba, I think you got it. I was the one who ran the car over Maa. At night, when the police put me in lock up and said they will “see” me in the morning after “sir” arrives, I got a chance to destroy all those documents which could give away my identity. One lighter always used to reside in my pocket. Till the dawn, everything was destroyed. Actually, I came to Kolkata one day in advance to have some “fun” with friends. By the next evening, everything, all the hangovers, might have been over. I was coming back from the discotheque driving my friend's car when all it happened. During the investigation, that “friend” of mine said that I was running away after stealing his car. I didn’t protest. All my friends stood away from the case saying they didn’t know me. This worked in my favour. All I was scared was that someday you might come and visit Maa's killer. But God is great. You never came. Due to the absence of any of my identity proof, cases were run against me on a false name and address. I became a boy with no relative alive.
After seven hearings, I have got nine years of imprisonment on last 18th. You must have got the news by now. But Baba, I can’t stay away from Maa for so long. I am feeling desperate to see her and Baba, I will, as soon as possible…

Papai”

I hoping for Papai all these days. Now I know, he will never return, never.

2. Am Alive

Its ten years today. We all were together last time. Me, Maa, Baba and Bhaiya. Today I am alone. Baba is at home along with Maa. I had come to a nearby town with a survey team. Couldn’t stop myself from coming here after having come to a place so close. Bhaiya died here. From here Bhaiya lost his foot hold and slipped over the cliff. I couldn’t look at his wounded face after I climbed down. Baba had been to Shillong before. At that time came home so many stories, so many experiences. But this time we came back empty. Baba didn’t talk for two years after he saw Bhaiya’s blood wet face and body. I had the last year of my graduation left then. Anyhow I completed it and got a fair job.

Bhaiya had never liked the sea so much. He used to say, “What else is there other than the breeze?” he used to think himself to be very adventurous. On that day, he went out of the hotel all alone. He was wearing a locally made cloth cap and was looking exactly like a khassiya. The night before, he revealed a very deep secret of his to me. He had fallen for Poorva di. He had given her some hints but hasn’t told anything in direct. At night I had told that this will remain a secret but in the morning I thought why not to cash some fun out of it! So, I started to irritate him by repeatedly saying – I will tell Maa. We sisters are always like this. He got angry and went out of the hotel. I followed him. Outside, after some distance, he turned to me and said, “Go and do whatever you like.” But he continued to walk without knowing where he was going as it was his back leading his way. And before I could say anything.........

After retirement with some old friends Baba spends his evenings. The mornings are spent in the newspaper. He gets some sleep in the afternoon. This is how Baba is changing the calendars. Maa is busy with the households, monthly expenditures, her knee ache and some Hindi Bangla T.V. serials. I am also married since last three years. My in-laws didn’t mind my job. I had been to Baba before leaving for the survey. At that time Poorvadi had also dropped in for some time on her way to her father’s place. Her husband was out of station for some official tour. I saw a baby boy of about two in her laps. She seemed pretty happy with her life.

While I was coming back, I saw Bhaiya’s photo over the shelves covered with dust. Some cobwebs were also using it as a support. I yelled at out maid to clean it up with the duster under the table. She said that she was going to chop the vegetables now. By then I also had one of my feet in my sandle, so didn’t re-enter.

3. Will Be Alive

“He has regained consciousness today after two months. He has opened his eyes. Only they are moving in his whole body. The rest is paralyzed. But he is alive and that is the thing that matters to me the most today.
I didn’t want to marry Anirban. I had Tushar in my life. Dad forcibly pushed me into this seven months back. After two months of our marriage, Anirban came to know about Tushar and I think he could guess that I will never be able to give him the place he wants in my heart. But surprisingly, he never went into any argument regarding this with me or with my parents. After knowing about Tushar, he became even softer to me. We had never gone out for a dinner during the first two months but after that, he took me out four times in three months. I realized on those nights that he is a really nice and caring person but a bad actor as he was trying hard to pretends that he is happy even after knowing the truth. Just a week before his accident, he asked me if I wanted a divorce. I didn’t answer then. Tushar didn’t me call after my marriage. He is a decent guy but today I don’t know where he is. About a month before the accident it appeared like Anirban had something to tell me. The day before he asked me for the divorce, he took me to the roof holding my hand. There he stood in front of me and kept on staring at me for minutes. He didn’t appear to be desperate but a little confused. He didn’t say a word up there. He came back in silence.
Today for the first time I, myself, am holding his hand. Today he can’t hold mine. Today his face fails to speak his heart. Tushar is lost but I haven’t lost Anirban. Holding his hand is giving me strength. The moment I got the news of his accident, I realized that I was in love, with Anirban, my husband.
Please, get well soon. I want to know what you had to tell me and I will wait.”

“Today, after two complete months I can see Shikha. She is sitting beside me, holding my hand. I am feeling it so badly to hold her now but I can’t. I had decided a divorce the night when I came to know about Tushar. I had even brought the necessary papers and locked them in my office locker. Whenever I used to see them, it felt like somebody is squeezing all the blood out of my heart. I knew that she is going to be there with me for only a few days now. Even though I knew about her feelings for Tushar, I gained some courage to ask her out on dinners. My wife didn’t refuse. I needed those nights for myself. To have something to cherish after she is gone.It was great to see her smiling on those dinners.
Finally, one day I told her about the divorce. I had expected an answer then and there but she kept quiet.
But there is something else; I still have to tell her. I thought I would tell her a month back before this nasty incident but couldn't collect enough nerve. Just the day before I asked her for the divorce, I took her to the roof to tell her what I wanted to but couldn’t. She was looking at me, waiting for me to say something. I was quiet. I came back, without saying a word.
But today, I feel different. I feel to say it and I feel it more than ever. I know I can’t. So, from today, all I can do is wait... and I will. I will wait for the day on which I will be able to speak, will be able to hold her hand and say how much I had loved her and how much I always will.
Shikha, I am dying to tell you what I always wanted to. Shikha, I love you.Please wait for me.”

Zero and a Straight Line

2007-08-10T17:25:00.001+05:30

Sometimes I remember that very day.

Mihir is lying on that white bed. Unconscious. Nobody knows if he will ever open his eyes. I was standing beside him. In front of me sitting is Sarah. Sarah Arthur. Holding her silver dangling Jesus. William is standing with his hand on her shoulder, gazing the floor. Megha is sitting on the other side of the bed. Inside is such an uncomfortable silence in the cabin. Megha has no Jesus hanging from her neck. She is holding Mihir’s right hand which is as senseless as Mihir himself. The doctor has left the cabin, saying – Only a miracle can.

I looked at Mihir’s face. The boy is lying in such an impossible peace. His parents are there in Allahabad. Nobody of the whole drama troop could come forward to inform them of the accident of their son on the stage. A counterweight of one of the backgrounds, which was a sack full of sand, fell from a deadly height, fracturing his skull and the thrust breaking his neck joint. As always, he was in the backstage.

Gradually, the photographs of the last four years crept into my vision. Megha, Pritam, Joey, me and Saahil had pushed Mihir many a times – “Go, you moron! Stop pretending ‘just friends’ and ask Sarah out for a date.” Mihir also used to say, “Even I am Also tired of this ‘just friends’ thing. But the problem is – what if she judges me wrong? I mean so many days, laughing, smiling, pranks and jokes, so many pure emotions. If all of a sudden she realizes that I was just pretending to be a friend, I had something else in my mind; all those laughs were a fake, she might start to hate those days. And if that happens, I will be left with nothing.”

While all these were flashing in front of me, I looked at Sarah. Her eyelids were wet. She was forcing her Jesus for "the miracle". It was clear to me as I could see her blue veins getting clearer and clearer under the skin of her shivering fair hand in which she was chocking her God. I didn’t notice when Megha had started to cry with Mihir’s right hand on her forehead. My heart was also heavy but all my tears were dry that day.

William was looking at Mihir with a pale and blank expression. He is the most religious among us. His tears might still be fluid and probably that is the reason why he went out of the cabin, to hide them. Megha turned to the door. Her eyes were as red as blood.

I looked at the cardioscope. Twenty six beats per minute. Then I turned my eyes to Megha. Megha lifted her wet face. She turned to Sarah. Sarah opened her eyes and looked at Mihir. Nineteen. She had started to sweat. Nineteen. Her veins were gradually disappearing beneath her skin. Gradually the silver Jesus came out of her grip. He probably is not getting annoyed by anymore prayer for any miracle. Eleven. Megha moved her eyes towards me and then settled them on Sarah. Nine. That metallic god also remained a witness of those moments. Seven. Sarah is advancing her hands towards the unconscious left hand of Mihir. Five.

Once I had asked Mihir, “What if someday Sarah herself comes up to you and proposes to you?” He stopped me then and there, smiled and said, “It’s gonna be a disaster that day, dude, a disaster.” Three.

Sarah is holding Mihir’s hand. There is no gap between as if Mihir is also trying his best. Two.
Before leaving home, Mihir had a habit of saying – “Am leaving” with a smile on his face. One. Suddenly, Mihir’s hand lost the support of Sarah and fell on the bed with a sound as if something went said. I looked at his face. He hasn’t lost his habit. Zero ....and a straight line.

Album

2007-08-10T16:16:00.000+05:30

Once upon a past, a moment cried, "Can you promise, you will forget me never?"
To this, memory said, "I will make you live in my heart, forever."