শুভ নববর্ষ

শুভ নববর্ষের অভিনন্দন

দেখতে দেখতে কতই না পাল্টে গেল বাঙালি. ধুতি থেকে এলো জিন্স, উত্তম কুমার থেকে সৌরভ গাঙ্গুলি, পিঠে পুলির বদলে পিজ্জা, পটাটো চিপস থেকে মাইক্রো চিপস. রবীন্দ্র সংগীতের সঙ্গে চায়ের আড্ডা ভুলে ব্যান্ড, চ্যাটিং আর ফেসবুক. পাড়ার ঠেক থেকে ডিস্কোঠেক. দুর্গাপুর থেকে সিঙ্গুর, ইস্টবেঙ্গল- মোহনবাগান থেকে নাইট রাইডার্স. গতকালের অপসংস্কৃতিই আজকের ফাশ্যন. বাবাও তো আজকাল ইমেল লিখছেন নিয়মিত.
তবে এত রদবলের মাঝেও রয়ে গেছে অনেক কিছু. সেই স্বপ্ন - 'সকল দেশের সেরা', সপ্তসিন্ধু ডিঙ্গায় চড়ে বাঙালির বিশ্বজয়... হয়ত সে দিন আর বেশি দুরে নয়. সেই নতুন ভবিষ্যতের দিকে তাকিয়ে সকলকে জানাই শুভ নববর্ষের অভিনন্দন.১৪১৭ সবার ভালো কাটুক.
- অল্পা ও অভিজিত

Revolution of a different kind

Revolution of a different kind

Recently something revolutionary happened in India. Something that was never though of. Something- no other country in the world has been able to implement. Something- which once again proved that India is thinking about day after tomorrow. If you have not got it yet- I am talking about women reservation bill, which was passed by Lok Sabha this week.

Cut to 1999. We were in 3rd Semester of IIP. It was the time when junior batch representatives would take over as hostel president and secretary from our batch. There used to be an election. However- since the seniors were more in number- it was kind of academic. Whatever collectively senior students used to decide, would have happened. On the eve of the election, I proposed let a girl be Hostel secretary this time. And my my… it was opposed with all vehemence. “A girl? Are you crazy? Have you lost your mind? Do you have any special feeling? Etc etc”
Except a few of us, every one opposed it. People who claimed to be progressive opposed, people who had girlfriends thought it was a bad idea, people who used to talk about progressive thoughts said girls are not competent. Every one opposed it. I had thought- I would be able to get it through by a strategic supports from some sections. My friends would definitely understand my logic. Girls in the hostel would support and I would be personally influence a few opposers. Surprisingly- I was wrong. Apart from Kousik Saha most of others took it as if ut was a personal humiliation and a challenge to their masculinity. Even some of the girls were also tentative. “How can a girl face IIP management?”
At the end- I had to give up. What followed was also bitter. But it had opened my eyes on how we still doubted ability and competence of women.

Cut to present- The bill has been passed. From next election onwards- 33% of our law makers would be women. I am sure they would focus much more on development and wellbeing of the neglected half of the country. Once this fairer half starts standing tall, overall progress of India as a nation would definitely get huge acceleration. To echo what Swami Vivekananda had said 100 years back- India would only raise when women power would get completely developed. A bird can only fly only when both the wings are equally strong.
Yes- we are at the brink of that flight. The journey, which had stared in 18th century by Raja Ram Mohan Roy through abolishing of “Sati”, which got strengthened by Ishwar Chandra Vidysagar’s “widow re-marriage” and “women education” movement, has gained optimum momentum. While anticipating the grand flight with all excitement- I am happy to forget the temporary setback, which I had 11 years back, on my attempt to empowering women.

Mahi to Monster... Monster to Mahan cricketer???

Life has come to a full circle for Mahendra… I mean Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Indian cricket captain. Even since his dramatic debut to Indian team he has only seen things going from good to better. And like most of the mortal beings, success has made him wary of loosing it. He lost touch with his fearless mind. Flawless instinctive decisions gave way to overcautious mistakes. “Captain Cool Dude” became rude hot headed arrogant. Like the eternal story of Bengali crabs, Indian media tried to pull him down. And once, he was disarmed by the pathetic losses, knives came out. He had experimented with Yoginder sharma during last world cup. It paid off and he became Captain courageous. Suresh Raina did magic with balls during the death in IPL T20, Dhoni became master strategist. But the moment gambles started going the other way, his historical win at New Zeeland, just the other day were forgotten like a bad dream. Media pained a “monster” out of “Mahi”.
Now, would be the real test for him. It would be interesting to see how he comes out of this mess. He had opened too many front, had taken fight against too many… selectors, celebrities, team mates, media, ex cricketers… His personal form is down in dumps… his confidence is shaken. It is very easy to slide to obliteration, get caught into this web of failure or run towards resigning to fate. However, if he has the essence of true greatness, he would fight back. We have seen similar turn around from Saurav Ganguli in the past and I am quite sure Dhoni is also capable of one.

Few hours before India got out of world T20, during the national anthem- the camera had focused on Dhoni, there were a sense of pride in his posture and a drop of tear at the corner of his eye. That gave me a feeling- Dhoni is not going to take it lying low. He would again stand up from the ashes like a phoenix… We would be waiting for that moment Mahi…

Saas bahu Aur Saazish…

And you thought it happens only in Saas Bahu serials…

Yes I am talking about the latest S***M*** drama. I had never heard of her before she was arrested. Initially I thought this as another page 3 masala. However since every press report hinted about “family conspiracy”, thought of doing a small internet search on what is this drama all about… and OMG… this is even more chatpata than any serial running on TV. Here goes the story….


A***a, heir of then famous M*** group was engaged with P***B***. Now- who is P***? She is the elder daughter of a very influential (and rich) Pali hill resident. All were going well till they came to know that P***’s sister is having an affair with A***a. Yes, this younger B***t girl is S***l. Her family quickly disowned her so did A***a’s family. A***a got married to some one else but only to get divorced after a while. Soon after that ; A***a got married. S***l was never welcome in the M***l family, she was too modern and used to eat non-veg . However, she managed to do things her way and A***a preferred to follow his wife than his other family members.

After senior M***l died, A***a got all his properties. However, his mother made a police complain stating that A***a and S***l are ill treating her and are trying to capture houses illegally. To make matter more complicated, A***s’s elder sister did a sex change and claimed that since she/ he is the eldest son, property should be assigned to her/ him. A***a however, won the battle in court. Meanwhile S***l became head of M***l L***y and tied up with V***e for their franchise in India. She also had became quite famous page 3 celebrity. Meanwhile M***l textile business sank and factories got shut. Workers claim that they have not yet got the compensation promised to them.

Next we hear about M***s when A***a complained to police about theft of family jewellery worth crores. However his mother informed that the jewellery was with her and she would hand them over to A***a and s***l. Well after all these, I didn’t feel remotely surprised to hear the speculation that M***l family members only tipped off Customs about the jewellery S***l was carrying.

Now what happed to P***m? While S***l was busy in trying out latest fashion, throwing parties and fighting domestic battle with in-laws, P***m got married to one Mr. S***f after a relationship of four years.

He incidentally had two children aged 9 & 11 at the time of marrying P***m. Yes the children were from his first marriage. The marriage which ended in a divorce before his tying knot with P***m…. Huff… confused!!!! and you thought such complications only happen in TV soaps????

(Source of all information in this article is internet news articles and blogs… author is not responsible if any of the information is not authentic)

Change & Suicidal Bengali

I checked with dad, “How many seats do you think Mamata would get this time around?”

“They are saying it would be 50-50 this time. 21 seats each for CPM & Mamata”

Indrajit, a CPM sympathiser, said- Max to max 16 for TMC + Congress. While Drupad, a Mamata & kabir Suman die hard fan did not comment- but kept pleading in Orkut for voting for them…

At the end, the bell for the end of CPM has ringed. They are confined only to 9 seats (15 including CPI, FB & RSP). With assembly elections just two years away, knowing the Bengali Sentiment, End of CPM is all but certain. Only one person can save them and that is Mamata, by doing another self injuring blunder.

But how does it stack up for Bengal as a whole? Not good at all according to me.
Firstly- CMP in order to win back people, would not push Industrialization at all for next two years. Secondly- TMC, if voted to power, would not talk about it since this very anti-industry stance would see them home.
Lastly- With all other states pushing rapid industrialization, we would have no takers after 6-7 years. (I am sure Bihar would get the special status soon and most probably start attracting more industries than any other state in eastern India).

I am convinced that Industrialization is the only answer Bengal has to all the problems of unemployment, development and work culture. I have pointed this out in all my previous posts on similar subject. With Industry shying away, we would miss the tide Buddhadev tried to bring in and mess with the state.

But why committing this hara-kiri? The answer lies in N C Chaudhuri’s comment- Bengalis are suicidal. We love to live in the past, want to relish the glory of yester years while keeping a blind eye to the present realities. For long, we have been romanticizing - how others are envy of us and how they want to pull us down. We want to continue that. Even slightest hint of a temporary hardship for a better future, makes us nervous. We don’t mind turning into group of self destructing souls.

The main slogan for TMC in this election was for Change…

Ironically results show what we have pushed away is exactly that… CHANGE… The inner change.