The Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), a rare and globally endangered migratory bird, was recently sighted on the sea beach of Digha, Paschim Medinipur district. Since this species is rarely seen in India, the discovery has excited ornithologists and bird enthusiasts. The sighting was confirmed by Dr. Suman
Durga Puja is the largest festival for Bengalis. It is the time of year for which everyone has been waiting. The celebrations consist of happiness, decorations, pandals, food, shopping, and holidays. For Bengalis, Puja is not just a festival, but also an emotion. Family and friends
Aviation, rail, ships, currency, archaeology—Kolkata has museums dedicated to all of these. There are even multiple museums on science. The only thing missing was a space museum. That gap, too, has now been filled—not just for Kolkata, but for the entire country. The museum has been
In 1972, after much violence and significant loss of life, East Pakistan had just become Bangladesh. Radio calls were put out across the world, asking for doctors, nurses and volunteers. As soon as Dr. Jack heard it, he threw some clothes into a bag and
The boat was the very first connection, the first bridge, between water and human beings. Nevertheless, despite three-quarters of the earth being covered by water, human beings chose to build societies and cultures on land. Accordingly, the story of boats is a very ancient one. Once upon a
It is that season of the year when we eagerly wait for the gifts from our loved ones. There was a time, when our grandparents put a crisp fifty-rupee note into our palms and it seemed like the greatest treasure. That simple gesture carried more joy
Do food vloggers love “controversy” more than food? Or is their favorite dish actually “abusive language”? While scrolling facebook, you’ll see — every few seconds a biryani video pops up. Not just biryani, there’s pulao, fish,chicken, mutton, royal platters, street parathas, fried rice combos and more.
In Bengali families, it was once customary to compose verses for weddings. Surprising as it may sound, this tradition was very much alive even forty years ago. And it wasn’t limited to Kolkata alone—other districts practiced it too. On wedding evenings, when guests gathered, colorful printed copies in
Calcutta in the early 1930s was thriving to grow. In 1931 a casual brainstorming session on new programmes for All India Radio resulted in a rough outline of what is now known as Mahalaya, worked out with AIR programme director Nripen Majumdar. This was Calcutta of
In 1966, All India Radio transitioned Mahalaya from a live broadcast to a pre-recorded format