Our last walk before Durga Puja had ended at the Rameswar Shiva temple on Nandaram Sen Street, off Chitpur Road. We now head back in the direction of Chittaranjan Avenue, and to temples of another kind - those dedicated to education and learning, many of
October will remain a special month in the history of India’s struggle for freedom. In 1943, it was in October that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose established the Provisional Government of Free India (Arzī Hukumat-e-Azad Hind) or simply Azad Hind, a provisional Indian government, in Japanese-occupied
When most of the Western nations have shown reluctance in taking the COVID-19 vaccines, with the governments having a tough time convincing the masses to be vaccinated against the deadly virus, we saw a different scene in West Bengal. Long queues, people literally waiting since
It was the year of Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India movement. 1942. It was also the year when poet Jibanananda Das created the ultimate mystery woman – Banalata Sen, the poem that ruled romantics down generations. Natorer Banalata Sen became the emblem of feminine charm and
Since long, flutes were just stout musical instruments used as accompaniment for folk music. But then came one Bengali musician who gave a makeover to the familiar flute and elevated it to another level altogether as an independent classical instrument. He is credited to have
Kojagori Lokhhi Puja that follows Durga Puja and is held on Kojagori Purnima is widely popular all over Bengal. However, for many of the older generation this is also a Puja that reminds them of the dark days of Partition, the blood bath that followed
A few days ago, we spoke about the ways of crime and punishment in old Calcutta. This may lead quite naturally to questions about famous trials and the justice system as it then was, and while today is not the day to talk about all
It was the year of 1877 when a teenager on the sprawling grounds of Hare School was seen playing with his classmates a game of football. The European teachers were amazed at his skills and that of his young team and thus was born the
It was the fag end of the 19th-century and the year was 1892 (some say 1894) when Binodbihari Pal and Kusumkumari Devi of Ghurni in the neighbourhood of Krishnagar in Nadia district were blessed with the birth of their third child, Gopeswar. Gopeswar displayed immense
GetBengal Autumnscape celebrates the sheer joy of being a Bangali -- anywhere on Earth. With contributions from some of Bengal’s most creative minds, from artists to historians, authors to film stars, and food historians, this year’s Autumnscape reflects the haunting beauty of a quiet, winding