(The author is the founder of 'Patharpratima Runners', an organization for cultivation and seed conservation). Traditionally, the low-lying delta of Sundarbans was fertile land and in the kharif season, there used to be a substantial yield of various types of indigenous rice varieties without the use of any
A restroom in the middle of a lush green park that throws up stacks of books! Surprised? Well, do not be so, as a security guard has turned a restroom in the park he usually protects into a free library. And all this, for the
Bengal is a rich treasure trove of traditional music, art and craft, and indigenous dance and folk forms. Much of this heritage has been transmitted down for generations through 'shruti’ (that which is heard and refers to the body of the most authoritative, ancient form
Check out the events happening in Kolkata this week The "Illumination - a Summer Collection" exhibition, organised by Artverse and curated by Mr. Shubhankar Singha, will feature paintings, photography, and sculpture and will be held at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture in Kolkata from
Ananda Samarakoon, the man of Sri Lanka who voluntarily embraced death wrote a song that is today’s National Anthem of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankans sing their anthem with varied emotions, though Samarakoon could never be a part of such proud moments. He chose to
Prostitution as an occupation is as old as civilization itself. Sumerian records dating back to ca. 2400 BCE carry mentions of prostitution. These documents describe a temple brothel operated by Sumerian priests in the city of Uruk. This kakum or temple was dedicated to the
Sadai Fakirer Pathsala – Ausgram’s teacher Sujit Chattopadhyay might be a Fakir by pocket, but his heart is bigger than any Emperor, a man who has dedicated his life to his native village to uplift all through the light of education. A retired school teacher
Even a couple of decades ago, the eastern side of Kolkata, especially New Town, had an abundance of undisturbed landscape, long stretches of grasslands, marshlands, and wetlands which was home to a wide variety of wild fauna, birds, butterflies, reptiles and even mammals like jackals,
Utpal Dutta had always followed an unconventional route, be it in his personal life, his education or while performing on stage. For him, acting did not follow any strict conventional method. Many believe acting is role play, it is an expression of varied emotions, where
Parts I & II of this saga were all about the rise of the White criminal or ‘saheb chor’ in 18th and 19th-century Calcutta, and the escapades of Warner and Healey, a duo who met for the first time in Presidency Jail, struck up a