BengalOORU Katha Volume-1 April-June 2008 … Cover Story k s e d s ' r o t i d E Namoshkar! f e i h As we herald the Naba Barsha (New Year) we all know what that means, don't we? It's a time for C new beginnings for looking back fondly and looking ahead with joy. Just the year gone by has e h t transformed into a new year bursting with possibilities. Jayamahal Durga Charitable Samiti is Culture Beat m endeavouring into a new activity of bringing out its own Newsletter, “Bengalooru Katha,” an o r F information and communication channel for Bengalis as well as Kannadigas interested in the Bengali culture. Can we take an oath in this Naba Barsha; we will support it and enliven it together so that we like it more and more. Of course, all the latest goings on amongst Bangalore Bengalis will weave through the pages of the Newsletter, but there is far more in store as a slew of regular features will enthral us with experiences of Face to Face guest writers in Bangalore. Bengalis always have tried to make a good blend of its culture with the rich heritage of Karnataka. It is an attempt for furthering the same by bringing a cultural lineage amongst the three and half lacs of Bengalis residing in Bangalore. We thank all the persons who have shared their rich experiences, literary thoughts with us in this issue of the Bengalooru Katha. We also acknowledge the efforts put by all who have made it happen. Thank you all. Personality Have a happy and prosperous Naba Barsha! Arun Kumar Chaudhuri Taste Bud With Best Compliments Ticklers SAIMANGALA ENTERPRISES BHARAT GAS DISTRIBUTORS PEENYA - BANGALORE 93412 27062 SHUKLA BOSE IN LIGHTER VEIN Y On Bengali Nicknames T I L To choton, bulbul, khoka, laltu, gogol, babu, buro, tutu, bubu, A ghoton, bhutan, chotka, shanto, bubai, tubul .... et al. Here is an attempt N to alert people to a great injustice that is being perpetrated upon the sons of Bengal. O So you thought they were wimpy to begin with. Far from it, my friend. Their S R current state is a result of years of conditioning by the oppressors, namely, the women. E By using a variety of psychological weapons, they have reduced these fine men to P what you mostly see today. Let us focus on the first weapon in their hands - the nickname. When a son is born into a Bengali household, he is gifted with a resonant, sonorous name. Bengali names are wonderful things. They convey majesty and power. A man with a name like Sushmito, Samrat, Samudro, Rudro, Prokash,Indrajeet, Surojeet, Prasenjeet, Bishwadeep, etc., is a man who will walk with his head held high, knowing that the world expects great deeds from him, which was why they bestowed the title that is his name upon him. But it simply will not do for these men to get ahead of themselves. Their swelling confidence needs to be shattered. How can one go about it? This task is left to the mothers of these lads and is accomplished by the simple act of referring to the boy, not by his rather-great-sounding real name, but by a nickname which even Shakti Kapoor ‘Picking Lotus Buds from the Mud’ would feel ashamed to answer to. Their are some rules for creating nicknames, which need to be followed. 1) Nicknames must have no connection to the real name. Arunabha cannot be Shukla Bose, CEO, founder, Parikrma Humanity Foundation, has a rich corporate called Arun. No, for that would be logical, and such things are anathema in experience of 26 years in the hospitality industry. Her first step of success was when the world of women. Instead he shall be called BHOMBOL. If possible, the she completed her ISC from Loreto Convent with record marks and won the National nickname and real name must have no letters in common, but an ancient Scholarship. She then did her Bachelors in English and Education. She also has the alphabet proves to be the constraining factor there. credit of having started the first school for the Indian army officers’ children in 2) Nicknames must be humiliating to the power infinity.. If you are a tall remote Bhutan. She then went to do her MA in Comparative Literature and got strapping boy, with a flair for soccer, an easy charm and an endearing a gold medal. She did her MBA specializing in Marketing. That was the beginning of personality, then you shall be nicknamed “Khoka.” And every time, you have her long stint in a corporate career. set your sights on a girl, and are on the verge of having the aforementioned lass eat out of your hand - your mother will arrive and pronounce loudly - She joined the Oberoi group and held various positions in Marketing. In 1990 she "Khokon, chalo". The ensuing sea of giggles will drown out whatever joined RCI, a multinational world leader in timesharing, and was responsible for confidence you had earned from that last winning free-kick. starting the new concept in the country, as the first MD. She was there for 10 years and was responsible for making it a profitable and a well-known hospitality brand 3) A nickname must refer in some way to a suitably embarrassing incident in and was responsible for the India, South East Asia, Middle East and China regions. your childhood that you would give your arm and leg to forget. If it took you a little too long to shed your baby fat, then years of gymming will not In 2000 she gave up her high profile corporate position and started the rid you of the nomenclature Motka. If your face turned crimson when you India operations of a multinational NGO working with children and also volunteered cried as a toddler, you will be called Laltu. When you turn 40, your with Mother Teresa for 7 years. Her experience with slum and street children greatly friends' children will call you Laltu Uncle. Even age will not earn you the encouraged her to make the development of under-served children her mission in life. right to be taken seriously thereafter. She then started Parikrma Humanity Foundation, an NGO that runs four schools that 4) Different members of the family will make up different nicknames each provide quality English medium education to about 850 orphaned, abandoned, slum more embarrassing than the preceding one. If one member of the family calls and street children. Parikrma has also partnered with Bangalore Corporation to you Piklu, then another will call you Pocha, and another will call you enhance the quality of education of 15 government schools. Ghoton. The humiliation multiplies. 5) You will always be introduced by your nickname until people forget you Shukla is the recipient of many national and international awards. She was had a real name. Ranajoy might have taken on a gang of armed men awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1995, the Bharat Gaurav Award single-handedly, but Tatai really didn't have a chance. After a point, Tatai in 1996 and the Woman of the Year award in 2000. will completely take over the beaten body of Ranajoy, weighed down by the pressure of a thousand taunts. Parikrma Humanity Foundation has been awarded the Derozio Award for excellence in special education and social commitment. Parikrma also received the This strategy is surprisingly effective. Ask yourself - would you take Governor's award for exemplary social work in January 2007. Professor Boltu seriously? Or put much weight by the opinion of Dr. Bubai? Or march into battle under the command of General Topa? The power of the nickname has scarred the psyche of Bengali men everywhere. It follows them like a monkey on their backs. That too, a monkey with a flair for slapstick, *** that was gifted to them by their own mothers, aunts and grandmas. Suvobroto Chattopadhyay Eminent Bengalis in Karnataka Way back in 1884, at about the age of twenty three years, Rabindranath first stepped into E the territory of Karnataka. His elder brother Satyendranath Tagore, the first Indian ICS officer R U was then posted as the District Judge at Karwar. In his autobiography, “Jeeban Smriti” there is T A a short essay entitled “Karwar”. He also wrote “Prakritir Protishodh” there. E F Later on a train journey while passing through Dharwar, D R Bendre, the well-known Kannada poet met Rabindranath on platform No 1 of the Dharwar Railway Station and had a longish chat with the poet. To commemorate this memorable incident a stone plaque has been installed on this platform. The story of “Amit Ray” “Shesher Kobita” was a project Rabindranath had taken up in the summer of 1928 at Coonoor as the guest of the Maharaja of Peethapuram. On that trip he was accompanied by Dr. Prashanta Chandra Mahalanobis and his wife Smt. Nirmal Kumari (Rani). After a few days, they left for Colombo for a trip to Europe. On reaching the Lankan capital they were told that in view of the poets declining health he should not undertake the arduous journey to Europe. The programme was cancelled and they came to Madras as the guest of Dr. Annie Besant at Adyar. He could barely withstand the oppressive heat and so came to Bangalore to recoup his health as the guest of Sir Brojendranath Seal who was then the Vice Chancellor of the Mysore University. “Balabrooie” was the official residence of the Vice Chancellor. Rani discussed the story of “Amit Ray” with Sir Brojendranath.