n¢eh¡l, 04 A−ƒ¡hl, 2018, påÉ¡ 9:30 ¢j¢e−V! p§Q£fœ Contents

Utsav Literary Committee and Disclaimer 2 pÇf¡cL£u / Editorial 3 Utsav Committee Members 4 Message from the Utsav Boardroom 5 Utsav Accounts 6 Program Schedule 7 Community News 8 Utsav Award Winners 11

L¢ha¡//Poems Three Poems Tapati Ray 14 ¢ae¢V L¢ha¡ a¾cÊ¡ h−¾cÉ¡f¡dÉ¡u 15 c¤¢V L¢ha¡ A¢i−oL l¡u 16 öe−R¡ −N¡ j¡? AeeÉ¡ cš-¢jœ 17 ¢ae¢V L¢ha¡ A¢i−oL e¡N 18

fËhå / Articles lb k¡œ¡ ¢eiÑ£L hp¤¤l¡u 21 Las Vegas Trip Siddhartha Dey 21 −jm¡ −cM¡l NÒf j”¥ l¡u−Q±d¤l£ 22 BcÉ¡f£W J BcÉ¡j¡ üfÀ¡ L¥j¡l 25 V¥L−l¡ Øj«¢a, qua NÒf Suc£f l¡u 27 HL¢V Bd¤¢eL l©fLb¡ (ljÉlQe¡) nË£−mM¡ i–¡Q¡kÑ 29 ¢pe¡C-Hl p§−kÑ¡cu −N±aj plL¡l 30 I Believe Debanshu Das 34 Dubai – The Sleepless City Srijon Datta 35 A Trip to Swami Vivekananda’s Ancestral House Shimika Basuroy 37 Einstein and Newton: A Glimpse to Their Barin Kumar 39 Achievements and Lives My World Cup Experience in Brazil Adi Choudri 41 Ghosts of Folsom Lake Manas Ray 43 Barcelona Diaries Sanhita Bandyopadhyay 47 Cosmopolitan Calcutta Pramila Kripalani 50 Travelling in the Fourth Dimension Sangita Biswas 51 Post Soccer World Cup Musings and Predictions Ajay Joshi 53 Pujo Shopping, Pandal Hopping, and Much More… Mala Paul 56 33G Notebook: Destination Iceland Biswanath Mukherjee 59 Hinduism and Meditation Swami Prapannananda 63 Brief History of Utsav 65 Utsav Membership Roster 67

−Q±l‰£ 2014 1 Chowrongee 2014 Literary Committee

Rashmi Nandi Anupam Mitra Biswanath Mukherjee Somen Nandi Manas Ray Rajat Saha (Editor)

Cover design by Debanshu Das

Disclaimer The views and opinions of authors in this magazine do not necessarily state or reflect those of Utsav, Inc. For writings published in this magazine, Utsav does not warrant or assume any legal liability and responsibility for accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any information disclosed and/or published. Information provided is accurate as of the date of going to press; Utsav or Chowrongee is not responsible for any errors or omissions. Opinions expressed are those of individual authors. Advertisers are solely responsible for the advertisements, not Chowrongee or Utsav.

Utsav Inc. 11230 Gold Express Drive P.O. Box 310-412 Gold River, CA 95670 www.utsavsac.org

Chowrongee is published annually for Utsav members by Utsav, Inc., Sacramento, CA, USA (www.utsavsac.org) Printed at: J. Prassa Printers, 2313 C Street, Sacramento, CA 95816 Phone: (916) 446-7865; http://www.jpprinting.net

Postmaster: If undelivered, please return to Utsav Inc., 11230 Gold Express Drive, P.O. Box 310-412, Gold River, CA 95670.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 2 Chowrongee 2014 pÇf¡cL£u Editorial

c§NÑ¡f§−S¡ H−p −Nmz Durga Puja with its message of victory of good over evil, peace and unity amongst mankind, is pÇf¡cL jn¡C-Hl Hh¡l Lmj dl¡l f¡m¡z −LE an integral part of our Bengali culture and our fs¥L e¡ fs¥L f¢œL¡l öl¦−a pÇf¡cL£u HLV¡ Q¡Cz way of life. The reading from the holy JV¡ e¡ q−m f¢œL¡ pÇf¨ZÑa¡ m¡i L−l e¡z scriptures, burning of dhup, beating of dhak, hRlV¡ −hn L¡V−m¡, −hn OVe¡hq¨mz La ¢L OVm! and blowing of the conch create an aura so glamorous and glittering that its attraction KKR IPL −m¡Lpi¡ −i¡−V f¡m¡hcm, Hl −Sa¡ towards all men and women, young and old, is (−p±l−il c−m e¡ b¡L¡V¡ k¢cJ c¤−d −N¡Qe¡l ja, ah¤ irresistible. −L¡mL¡a¡ ¢S−a−R HV¡C hs Lb¡!) - B−l¡ La ¢L! Bl ph f¡Ju¡l −pl¡ f¡Ju¡ qm ‘j‰m¡ue’z Eg, ¢L We, the members of Utsav, the Bengali association of Greater Sacramento, are −MmV¡C e¡ −cM¡m ISRO! H−Lh¡−l fËbj chance-HC organizing our very own Durga Puja which is h¡¢Sj¡a! entering its 13th year. We have a sense of deep ah¤ Hl j−dÉ ¢L An¢ep−ˆa ¢LR¥ −eC? M¤h B−R! association with this puja as all of us have a role h¡wm¡u "p¡lc¡"l L¥¢Vm ï¨L¥¢V B−R; l¡S°e¢aL An¡¢¿¹, to play. Some of us have management roles, j¡l¡j¡¢l, M¤−e¡M¤¢e B−R; ph¡l Ef−l −N¡−cl Efl some take part in acting, singing, painting, naru making, and what not. ¢ho−gy¡s¡l ja B−R k¡chf¤l ¢hnÄ¢hcÉ¡m−u f¤¢mn à¡l¡ R¡œ WÉ¡P¡−e¡l OVe¡z Chowrongee is Utsav’s ‘Pujo Sankhya’. This published effort depicts Utsav members’ ah¤ Hp−hl j−dÉC Bj¡−cl i¡m l¡M−a, i¡m skills as poet, writer, critic, composer, and so Ll−a, Bj¡−cl j¡ c§NÑ¡ Bp−Rez ¢h−c−n fËh¡p£ h¡P¡m£ on. For the past 13 years, every issue of j−e Be¾c ¢c−a j¡ Bp−Rez Hhw Evp−hl Evp−hl Chowrongee attempted to provide a window to p§Qe¡ Ll−a j¡ Bp−Rez Qm¤e ph cm¡c¢m i¨−m Bjl¡ the thoughts and dreams of the Bengalis living HC c¤¢V ¢ce fË¡Z M¤−m B—¡ −cC, M¡Ju¡-c¡Ju¡ L¢l, in the Greater Sacramento of California which Bl ¢e−iÑS¡m Be−¾c −i−p k¡Cz HC c¤¢ce - just were articulated by both kids and adults through −q¡LLmlhz their paintings, poems, stories, and articles. Some reminisced the Puja days of Kolkata, some i¡−m¡ b¡L¥e Hhw f§−S¡ Ef−i¡N Ll¦ez portrayed the future they intended to build in −Q±l‰£l œ−u¡cn fËL¡ne¡l j§m Q¡¢mL¡n¢š² pÇf¡cL USA. This year is no different. j™m£l fr −b−L ph¡C−L S¡e¡C öi n¡lc£u¡l fË£¢a, I offer thanks to all, especially to the little ö−iμR¡, J B¿¹¢lL A¢ie¾cez ones, for their contributions. I am also indeed grateful to all members of the Literary lSa p¡q¡ Committee whose untiring efforts are behind bringing light to this issue.

We hope that you all find reading the various articles in this souvenir informative and above all enjoy this year’s celebrations.

Rajat Saha

−Q±l‰£ 2014 3 Chowrongee 2014

Utsav Committee Members

Governing Body Members (GBM): Website Committee: Ajay Joshi (President) Sanhita Bandyopadhyay (Lead) Sanjib Nayak (Vice President) Santana Das Anima Kumar (Treasurer) Koushik Das Sanhita Bandyopadhyay (Cultural Secretary) Mala Paul Manas Ray (Public Relations) Snehungshu Guha Community Council Members (CCM) Utsav Youth Group: and Election Committee: Neha Joshi (Lead) Adi Choudri Sharod Nandi Biswanath Mukherjee Sunoy Nandi Somen Nandi Natasha Chanda Ayananta Chowdhury Literary Committee: Rashmi Nandi Aditya Chowdhury Anupam Mitra Debanshu Das Biswanath Mukherjee Rinita Mukherjee Somen Nandi Sharon Sarkar Manas Ray Rupa Chowdhury (Coordinator) Rajat Saha (Editor) Mitra Choudri (Coordinator) Cultural Committee: Fundraising Committee: Sanhita Bandyopadhyay (Lead) Ajay Joshi (Lead) Ajay Joshi Anima Kumar Nupur Joshi Sanhita Bandyopadhyay Poonam Jadhav Sanjib Nayak Mala Paul Manas Ray Snehungshu Guha Udayan Chanda Adi Choudri Suvra Mukherjee Joy Mukherjee Debolina Simmi Sarkar Soumya Mallick Puja Committee: Anima Kumar (Lead) Food Committee: Mitra Choudri Sanjib Nayak (Lead) Subir Sarkar Santana Das Adi Choudri Rupa Chowdhury Udayan Chanda Mukta Kar Seema Chanda Joy Mukherjee Sanhita Bandyopadhyay Registration Committee: Pradosh Chakraborty Prodosh Chakraborty (Lead) Anima Kumar Biswanath Mukherjee Debolina Simmi Sarkar Sumanta Ghosh

Barin Kumar Subhra Gima

−Q±l‰£ 2014 4 Chowrongee 2014

Message from the Utsav Boardroom

On behalf of the Governing Body, welcome The Food Committee is going to cook to Utsav’s 13th Sharadiya celebration. for the entire Durga Puja weekend again this The days are beginning to get a little year. They raised the bar considerably last shorter, there is a nip in the air, and year with their superb performance, and plan KashPhool have made their annual to raise it even higher this year. I am sure auspicious appearance in our community. that they will meet the heightened Yes, SharatKaal is here, and Ma Durga will expectations of the community this year! I soon arrive on Earth from Mount Kailash. encourage all members to come forward and As Ma watches from Kailash, Bengalis all participate in this truly-communal effort. over the world are preparing for her arrival. The Pujo Committee will ensure that Durga Puja is finally here. Durga Puja is grand and that all prayers and We began the year with our Saraswati rituals are performed appropriately. Puja celebration in February which included None of this would be possible without a cultural program dedicated to the memory the support and generous contributions of of Manna Dey and Suchitra Sen, and which our members and sponsors. Please come was enjoyed by all. Our Picnic and Annual forward and contribute in any way you can. General Body Meeting followed in August. This is, after all, your organization, and it Even the weather Gods relented for a day becomes what you make of it. this year, so that members could enjoy their In a few months, this Governing Body day out at Folsom Lake! will complete its two-year term. Each one of If there are KashPhool wafting in the us has worked hard to make our beloved autumn breeze, it means that the latest Utsav the best it can be. With the efforts of edition of Chowrongee must be here too. our members, several new initiatives have With articles ranging from soccer to science, been taken and some trends set. As we look travel, poetry, art and religion, our annual to the future, we shall hand the reins over to magazine adds a dash of color, culture, and a new Governing Body, so please participate Adda to our celebration. It is a tribute to the in our upcoming elections. We will, as talents of our members. I thank the Literary always, continue to serve Utsav and support Committee and all contributors for doing the new Board. We wish the incoming what it takes to bring Chowrongee to life Board members even greater success. every year. Preparations for Utsav’s Durga Puja are Dr. Ajay Joshi in full swing. Members are busy in President, Utsav 2014. rehearsals, preparing for our cultural show. Participants, young and not-so-young, are Governing Body Members (GBM): perfecting their dance steps and rehearsing Ajay Joshi (President) their lines. We are producing the entire Sanjib Nayak (Vice President) cultural show in-house this year. Multiple Anima Kumar (Treasurer) themed dance shows will be presented. We Sanhita Bandyopadhyay (Cultural Secretary) are very excited to produce a Natok this year Manas Ray (Public Relations) – ‘Dance pe Chance’. We are confident all members and guests will enjoy the shows.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 5 Chowrongee 2014

Utsav Accounts* July 2012 – June 2013 Amount Amount Savings from 2011-12 $92 $92 Revenues Membership Fees $19,744 Donations (Holi 2013) $200 Ticket Sales $442 Saraswati Puja 2013 $372 Fund raising T-shirts sales $750 $21,508 Total Revenues $21,600 Expenses Utsav Domain & Hosting Registration $117 Insurance for 2012-2013 $568 PO BOX Rental Yearly Subscription $245 Storage rental $1,248 $2,178 Durga Puja 2012: Puja & Proshad Expenses $392 Food $4284 Cleaning Expenses $220 Hall Rental $1,721 STL Rental (equipment) $587 Sound & Light $1,000 Magazine $300 UHaul and Misc. $178 Awards engraving $174 Transport (STL and Storage) $375 $9,231 Saraswati Puja 2013: Puja Expenses $132 Food $1,068 Transportation $175 Cleaning expense $40 Priest Donation $151 Hall Rental $550 Tabla $250 $2,366 Holi 2013: Park rental $175 Food $571 $746

Annual Picnic Expenses $668 $668

Charitable contributions: Loaves & Fishes $278 St. John Shelter $500 $778 Total Expenses $15,967 Net Balance 2012-13 $5633 *To be audited

−Q±l‰£ 2014 6 Chowrongee 2014

Program Schedule* for 13th Durga Puja, 2014

Saturday October 04, 2014 Registration 9:00 AM onwards Durga Puja (Shaptami and Mahastami) 10:30 AM Anjali 12:15 PM Prasad 12:30 PM Lunch 1:00 – 2:30 PM Matinee Show - TBD 2:30 – 4:30 PM Sandhya Arati 5:00 PM Cultural Program* 6:15 PM Agomoni Segment 6:15 – 7:00 PM Gaaner Sandhya (Adults) 7:05 – 7:20 PM Dhaaker Naach (Kids) 7:20 – 7:30 PM Bengal Renaissance – “A depiction through dances” 7:30 – 8:00 PM Dinner 8:00 – 9:30 PM Bangla Natok “Dance Pe Chance” by Sudipta Bhowmick 9:30 – 10:45 PM DJ – Open dance floor 11:00 PM onwards

Sunday October 05, 2014 Durga Puja (Nabami and Bijoya Dashami) 10:00 AM Anjali 11:30 AM Prasad 12:00 Noon Shanti Jol, Bishorjon, Sindoor Khela 12:30 – 1:00 PM Lunch 1:00 – 2:30 PM Cultural Program* 2:30 PM Nache Le 2:30 – 2:35PM Go-As-you-Like (Youth and Adults) 2:35 – 3:45PM Vote of Thanks 3:45 – 4:00PM Bijoya Snack 4:00 – 4:30PM Wrap Up 4:30 – 6:00 PM *Subject to change

−Q±l‰£ 2014 7 Chowrongee 2014

Community News

Kudos to Shashwati Roy for organizing a fundraising dance event entitled “Elements” for St. Jude Hospital on April 26, 2014. Dhruba Biswas, daughter of Sangita and Debabrata Biswas, graduated from Mira Loma High School in 2014. She has joined Boston University, studying Biochemistry as a freshman. Roshni Mallick daughter of Sharmila and Soumya Mallick, graduated from Whitney High School in 2014. She has joined University of California, Davis, where she is studying Psychology as a freshman. Neil Choudri, son of Mitra and Adi Choudri, tied the wedding knot with Minal Patel on May 25, 2014, in San Francisco. Natasha Choudri, daughter of Mitra and Adi Choudri, completed her Masters degree from Pepperdine University in 2014. She has joined Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology at Wright Institute in Berkeley. Rudrani Ghosh, daughter of Rupa and Kunal Ghosh, graduated in 2013. She has joined Berkeley City College, where she is studying Political Science and Psychology as a freshman. Ayan and Adi Chowdhury, sons of Rupa and Arun Chowdhury, had their sacred thread ceremony (Upanayana) on April 6, 2014. Arun Chatterjee, son of Pat and Satya Chatterjee, tied the wedding knot with Robin Parker on March 8, 2014, in Sacramento. Congratulations to Manjula and Saumen Dey on the birth of their second son, Rishan on January 1, 2014. Ananya Nandi received her Masters degree in Computer Science from University of California, Davis, in June 2014. Uttam Mandal received his Ph.D. degree in Computer Science from University of California, Davis, in June 2014. He is now working at Anvato, Inc. in Mountain View, CA. Apratim Ganguly received his Ph.D. degree in Statistics from University of California, Davis, in August 2014. He is now a postdoctoral researcher at Boston University. Enthusiastic volunteers from Utsav joined in the annual fall cleaning program (Karma Yoga) that was organized by the Vedanta Society of Sacramento in October 2013.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 8 Chowrongee 2014

Sumita and Sayan Ghosh are children of Paramita and Sumanta Ghosh.

Neil Ray, 6 years, is son of Dipanjali and Joydeep Ray. Title of this frawing is "Gualala Hotel by the ocean".

−Q±l‰£ 2014 9 Chowrongee 2014

Mahika A Chowdhury, 4 years, is daughter of Sanchita and Pulak Chowdhury.

Evani Paul, 7 years, is Daughter off Mala and Shomeek Paul.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 10 Chowrongee 2014

Utsav Award Winners (for 2003-13)

Utsav gratefully acknowledges the winners of Utsav Awards in past years.

Cultural Award Outstanding Volunteer Award 2003: Somen Nandi 2003: Suvayu Bose 2004: Shyamal Chattaraj 2004: Shashwati Roy and Mala Paul 2005: Nabanita Sen 2005: Santana Das 2006: Shashwati Roy 2006: Joy Mukherjee 2007: Sharmila Mukherjee 2007: Seema Chanda 2008: Marvel Gima 2008: Rupa Chowdhury and Koushik Das 2009: Joydeep Roy 2009: Subir Sarkar 2010: Mala Paul 2010: Anima Kumar and Rashmi Nandi 2011: Tuhina Ghosal and Sanjib Sarkar 2011: Koushik Das and Arun Chowdhury 2012: Ajay Joshi 2012: Biswanath Mukherjee 2013: Bipasha Chowdhury and Rajat Saha 2013: Mitra Choudri and Pulak Chowdhury

Literary (and Educational) Award Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award 2003: Arijit Chatterjee (This award was initiated in 2004) 2004: Arun Das 2004: Joey Chakraborty 2005: Dilip Roychowdhury 2005: Mohana Roy 2006: Rashmi Nandi and Pat Chatterjee 2006: Natasha Choudri 2007: Santana Das 2007: Aninda Chowdhury 2008: Manas Ray 2008: Robby Chakraborty 2009: Rashmi Nandi 2009: Arunav Sarkar 2010: Manas Ray 2010: Rudrani Ghosh 2011: Tapati Bhowmik 2011: Sunoy Nandi and Sharod Nandi 2012: Prodyot Bhattacharya 2012: Sunoy Nandi and Sharod Nandi 2013: Avishek Nag 2013: Neel Chanda

Fundraising Award 2003: Udayan Chanda 2004: Deb Saha 2005: Anita Ghoshal 2006: Somen Nandi 2007: Deb Saha 2008: Anima Kumar 2009: Ajay Joshi 2010: Deb Saha 2011: Anima Kumar 2012: Deb Saha 2013: Joy Mukherjee

−Q±l‰£ 2014 11 Chowrongee 2014

−Q±l‰£ 2014 12 Chowrongee 2014

−Q±l‰£ 2014 13 Chowrongee 2014

Three Poems Tapati Ray

Take My Soul The moaning wind made the bone dry branches to bow, The crackling leaves fell to the ground.

The fleeting glowworm’s lamp did nothing for the darkness. In the stealth of the night you came for me.

I have been waiting for you to hand you over my soul. Take good care of it for it belongs to you

now. Om Mother Saraswati Om Mother Saraswati Salutations to thee. Goddess of music & learning I seek your blessings.

In the middle of a night you woke me up. I was flooded with words of all kinds.

Larger Than Life They kept coming in myriads It was a dark world preexisting, like an advancing army, relentless. I happen to enter it, I don`t know why. They came to me in rows and lines, words of passion, and wisdom. I know when I started to climb the hills, the winding paths beckoned me, I Words of all shapes and sizes responded. Don’t know where they came from. They cried in unison, Storms loved me, I embraced them, weave a beautiful tapestry of lyric and What is the significance of life, of death? rhythm.

I am here now, I shall depart, don’t know I did as they forbade, selected the words when. carefully I carry on, oblivious of the inevitable. and deftly crafted them. When I woke up, Is there a significance of being a puppet I found a string of pearls adorning my neck. in some unknown hands? Will never know.

Dr. Tapati Ray is a retired Anesthesiologist and lives in Forest Hill, California

−Q±l‰£ 2014 14 Chowrongee 2014

¢ae¢V L¢ha¡ a¾cÊ¡ h−¾cÉ¡f¡dÉ¡u

A−Qe¡ N¢a −Q¡−Ml f¡a¡u aM−e¡ ¢Rm BL¡n n´M−lM¡u O¤−l O¤−l EW−R −My¡f¡u …y−S l¡M¡ C−μRl L¡Smma¡ ¢cek¡f−el −lM¡ ¢g−l k¡h¡l Lb¡ ¢Rm e¡ BS L¡m flö T−l f−s k¡−μR Bm−p −f¢l−u q©vLj−ml f¡f¢s Rs¡−e¡ R¡u¡fb −T¡−s¡ q¡Ju¡u Bj¡l ByQm M¤−m f¡−ul ¢e−Q c¤−m EW¢Rm °L−n¡−ll Q¾celP ¢h−Lm…−m¡ ah¤ Q−m −k−a qm E−s k¡−μR −b−L −b−L

Lf¡−m aSÑe£ Ry¥C−u hm−m: ¢ehÑ¡pe ¢e−Q QL−jm¡−e¡ E−W¡−e a¡C qy¡¢V Am£L nq−l HL¡ HL¡ R¢s−u B−R ¢ehÑ¡p−el B−u¡Se, Ol h¡¢s ph gy¡L¡, …y−s¡ …y−s¡ hª¢ø öL−e¡ j¡m¡, Bjf¡a¡, i¡P¡ OV, i¡P¡ j§¢aÑ…−m¡ ¢i−S −Q¡−M −Q−u b¡−L j¤−R k¡Ju¡ Bmfe¡

py¡T−hm¡l R¡u¡Y¡L¡ L¥−u¡am¡ j¡b¡l Ef−l öd¤ ¢el¦−Ÿn cÉ¡−M¡, −g−m k¡Ju¡ Lmp£l L¡e¡u Bl r−u k¡Ju¡ Qy¡c f¤−l¡−e¡ −NlÙÛ¢ml j¡u¡ −m−N B−Rz k¢c h¡ −fy±RC, q¡−al j¤−W¡u b¡L−h e¡ ¢LR¥C −ch¡l j−a¡z

A−fr¡ −Qe¡ a¡l¡…−m¡ M−p fs−R ¢qj −m−N −Ly−f EW−R Qy¡c

j¡−Wl Jf¡−l O¡ph−e R¢s−u B−R fË¢a¢c−el −hp¡¢a OlLæ¡l −h−m¡u¡¢l V¥L−l¡ f¤l¡ZLb¡l i¡P¡ X¡m¡

¢ei¿¹ Ee¤−el f¡−n h−p B¢R −f¡s¡ Lum¡l mrÈZ−lM¡ −V−e ¢c−u, a¾cÊ¡ h−¾cÉ¡f¡dÉ¡u, −fn¡u NË¡¢gL ¢XS¡Ce¡l, k¡chf¤l ¢hnÄ¢hcÉ¡mu −b−L h¡wm¡ J Cwl¡¢S i¡o¡u pÀ¡a−L¡šl Ef¡¢d ASÑeL¡l£z c¤'¢V Bue¡l R¡u¡…−m¡ −no Lb¡ h−m L¡−e L¡−e i¡o¡u −mM¡−m¢M L−l−Re A−eL ¢mVm jÉ¡N¡¢S−e, R¢hJ By−Le Hhw fËcnÑe£ L−l−Rez h¡C−l AbC AåL¡l l¡af¡¢M−cl N¡−el −YE c¤−m EW−R A¢Ù¹−aÆl j§−m fs−R V¡e,

H−p¡, ¢fËu ¢expjuz H−p¡, SeÈ¡¿¹lz c¤q¡a h¡¢s−u −e−h¡ −V−e, h¡¢mL¡hd§l j−a¡ pm‹ ea¥e f¢lQu cy¡s¡−h Bj¡l −Q±L¡−Wz

−Q±l‰£ 2014 15 Chowrongee 2014

c¤¢V L¢ha¡ A¢i−oL l¡u

eø −j−u öiL¡je¡ B¢j HLV¡ eø −j−u −o¡−m¡ hRl hup ¢Rm −R−mV¡l, q¡sL¡V¡ N¢ml AåL¡−l L¡S, ¢hc¡u ¢e¢μRm °L−n¡l, −k±h−el kh¢eL¡ l¡a L¡−V f−bl f¡−e −Q−u lqpÉju q¡aR¡¢e ¢c−a öl¦ L−l¢Rm −R−mV¡−L, k¢c HLV¡ M−Ÿl −S¡−V BS! HLV¥ HLV¥ L−l f¡ÒV¡¢μRm Q¡lf¡−nl −Qe¡ fª¢bh£V¡, −a¡jl¡ q−m iâ−m¡L, f¡ÒV¡¢μRm −Qe¡ A−eL n−ël j¡−e, Bj¡l −Ry¡u¡Q hy¡¢Q−u −b−L¡, f¡−ÒV¢R−m¡ ph −cM¡l cª¢øi¢‰J, öd¤ ¢ew−s ¢e−u −i¡N Ll¡l fl, ¢e¢oÜ nëV¡C aMe BLoÑZ Lla ph −b−L −hn£, −hBC¢e h−m −O¡oZ¡ L−l b¡−L¡, −j−ul¡ aMe öd¤C hå¥ e¡, AbQ −a¡jl¡C N¡J p¡jÉh¡−cl N¡e, ¢L −ke HLV¡ AeÉ p¤¤M m¤¢L−u b¡−L "−j−u' nëV¡l j−dÉ, −a¡jl¡C h¡¢e−u−R j¡eh¡¢dL¡l L¢jne, hsl¡J −Mu¡m L−l¢Rm −Q”V¡, −a¡j¡−cl Hh¡l ¢q−f¡¢œ²V hm¡ k¡u ¢L? öd¤ −Mu¡mC L−l¢e- e¡¢L Bj¡l j¤−M Cw¢mn −hj¡e¡e? ¢e−o−dl −hs¡S¡−m BVL¡−a −Q−u¢Rm −pC f¢lhaÑeV¡−L, HL¢ce B¢jJ ¢Rm¡j −a¡j¡−clC c−m, ¢L¿¹¥ ah¤J Ah¡dÉ −V−Ù¹¡−ØVlZ lw ¢Rm S£he S¥−s, −R−mV¡−L h¡dÉ L−l¢Rm f¢lZ¢aq£e −fË−j, Bl fy¡QV¡ ¢L−n¡l£l jaC, h¡dÉ L−l¢Rm m¤¢L−u ¢pN¡−lV −M−a üfÀ −cMa¡j c¤−Q¡M i−l, ¢LR¥ ¢e¢oÜ hC fs−a, a¡lfl −a¡j¡−clC ¢LR¥ −f¡o¡ S¡−e¡u¡l- a¡lfl HL¢ce O−VC −Nm OVe¡V¡ Bj¡l m‹¡ −L−s ¢em a¡l¡, h¡¢s−a a¥j¤m An¡¢¿¹, −p¢ce −a¡jl¡ −L¡b¡u ¢R−m? j¤ý−aÑl j−dÉ −R−mV¡ HLn lLj Ef¡¢d −f−u −Nm −X−LJ f¡C¢e p¡s¡, h−M k¡Ju¡ −R−m, M¡l¡f −R−m, ApiÉ −R−m, ¢L¿¹¥ BÕQkÑ! −R−mV¡−L −LE −h¡T¡−m¡e¡ B¢jC qm¡j −c¡o£, −Le −p M¡l¡f? M¡l¡f −L¡eV¡? B¢jC e¡¢L c¡u£ Hp−hl SeÉ, i¡−m¡h¡p¡V¡? −e¡wl¡ R¢h −cM¡V¡? B¢jC phÑe¡n£, e¡¢L hs−cl ja −Øj¡L Ll¡V¡? −L¡eV¡? pj¡S e¡−j a¡j¡n¡V¡l, −R−mV¡ −h¡−T¢e, l‰ −cMh La! f−ll ¢ce, i¡−m¡ qJu¡l l¡Ù¹¡V¡l −My¡−S, B−l¡ HLV¡ ¢VeHS HL ¢e−j−o ph gy¡L¡, A−eL…−m¡ ¢pÔ¢fw ¢fm −M−u f¡¢l ¢cm A−eL c§−l, "hå¥' ¢Rm ka, Bp−m −R−mV¡−a¡ M¡l¡f q−a Q¡u¢e, BS −a¡j¡−cl °al£ h¡S¡−l, a−h ph¡C ¢L¿¹¥ −R−mV¡l i¡mC −Q−u¢Rm, −a¡jl¡C h¡e¡−m fZÉ, −kjei¡−h ¢qVm¡l S¡jÑ¡¢el i¡−m¡ −Q−u¢Rm- BS −a¡jl¡C HLO−l −W−m ¢c−m, ¢WL −pCi¡−hz B¢j BS "eø' - −a¡j¡−clC SeÉz

A¢i−oL l¡u fË−L±nm£, CE¢ei¡¢pÑ¢V Ag LÉ¡¢mg¢eÑu¡, −X¢ip-H N−hoZ¡laz

−Q±l‰£ 2014 16 Chowrongee 2014

öe−R¡ −N¡ j¡? AeeÉ¡ cš-¢jœ

H−mj c§−l −a¡j¡u −g−m, q©cu i¡−p −Q¡−Ml S−mz j−e f−s −a¡j¡l Lb¡ i¥m−a −a¡j¡u Q¡C Akb¡z −g−m Bp¡ −R¡V−hm¡, phC −ke −a¡j¡u ¢O−l f§−S¡ −cM¡, g¥QL¡ M¡Ju¡, j−e −ke B−p ¢g−lz p¡l¡¢c−el LÓ¡¢¿¹ −n−o, j¡−N¡ −a¡j¡l n£am R¡u¡u, Bh¡l L−h f¡¢s −ch ü−fÀl HL l¢Pe c¤¢eu¡u? qW¡v j¡−N¡, HC p¤¤c§l −c−n hå¥ −fm¡j Q¡¢lf¡−nz p¤¤M-c¤x−Ml By−Lhy¡−L, a¡l¡C Bj¡l −Mu¡m l¡−Mz f¡−n Bj¡l a¥¢j R¡s¡, l−u−R Bj¡l hå¥ k¡l¡z a¡−cl L¡−R B¢j GZ£ −a¡j¡l jaC a¡−cl ¢Q¢ez a¡−cl AN¡d i¡mh¡p¡ ¢SC−u l¡−M j−e Bn¡z f−b k¢c q¡¢l−u k¡C, a¡−cl f¡h phÑc¡Cz

AeeÉ¡ cš-¢jœ, −L¡mL¡a¡l ¢f. ¢S. q¡pf¡a¡m −b−L ¢Q¢Lvp¡ ¢hcÉ¡u pÀ¡a−L¡šlz haÑj¡−e UC Davis School of Medicine-H N−hoZ¡laz z

−Q±l‰£ 2014 17 Chowrongee 2014

¢ae¢V L¢ha¡ A¢i−oL e¡N

e−le h¡h¤ HL¢V ¢Q¢W ¢mMh −a¡j¡u e−le h¡h¤ −j¡sm q−he HL¢V ¢Q¢W ¢mMh −a¡j¡u −a¡s−S¡s a¡l M¤h, A−eL k−aÀ BS ... −l¡S pL¡−m N¡jR¡ f−s i¡o¡ My¥S¢R, My¥S¢R ¢h−no N−‰ −a −ce X¥h! n−ël L¡l¦L¡Sz

e−le h¡h¤ h¡LÉh¡N£n HL¢V ¢Q¢W ¢mMh −a¡j¡u hš²«a¡ −ce gy¥−p, A−eL hRl f−l, f¡l−m −c−he V¡CV a¡−cl pÀ¡u¤-Q’m je V¡ −L a¡C, i¢š² k¡−cl O¤−o! h¾c£ L−l¢R O−lz e−le h¡h¤ hc−m −ch¡l p¡c¡ L¡N−S ¢q¢S¢h¢S L¡¢V pcfÑ BnÄ¡−p, pL¡m −b−L py¡T −X−j¡−œ²¢pl Bs¡m −b−L HL¢V ¢Q¢W ¢mMh ¢WLC ¢e¾c¥−Ll¡ q¡−p! A−eL k−aÀ BS! nš¥ll¡ l¦M−a a¡−L ByV−R e¡e¡e gy¡c, ilp¡ −l−M l¡−jl Efl e−le ¢e¢hÑh¡c!

¢j¢qc¡e¡l L¡lM¡e¡ fma¡l f¡−m¡u¡e¡, f¢ljm S¡e¡ L¥¢Ù¹l f−l a¡l Q¡C ¢j¢qc¡e¡z HL j−Z, c¤C j−Z il−h e¡ je, A−Òf−a M¤¢p eu, ¢M−c V¡ i£oZ! je ja f¢lj¡Z e¡ −f−u S¡e¡, A¢i−oL e¡N fË−L±nm£z, ¢VÊ¢e¢V L−mS, X¡h¢me-H N−hoZ¡laz ¢j¢qc¡e¡ h¡e¡−e¡l −M¡−m L¡lM¡e¡!

−Q±l‰£ 2014 18 Chowrongee 2014

−Q±l‰£ 2014 19 Chowrongee 2014

The Vedanta Society of Sacramento

Utsav members may wish to check out the activities of

The Vedanta Society of Sacramento Swami Prapannananda Minister and Teacher Ramakrishna Order, India 1337 Mission Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608 Phone: (916) 489-5137 E-mail: [email protected] Web: vedantasacto.org

The Society was started in 1949 and became a branch of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, India, in 1952.

Celebrating 50 years of dedication of the temple in Sacramento, which started in 1964.

Activities include:  Daily: Worship at 8:30 a.m. and group meditation twice at 6 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.  Wednesday Class on Vedanta scriptures at 7:30 p.m.  Saturday Discourse on Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature at 7:30 p.m.  Sunday: Special Morning Worship at 9:30 a.m. A lecture on a religious topic at 11:00 a.m. Vesper Service (Arati) with devotional songs at 6:00 p.m.  Celebration of the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda. Other religious festivals observed include Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Jagaddhatri Puja, Shivaratri, and Janmastami.

The Society Bookstore sells religious books, chidren’s books, religious articles, incense sticks, etc. Ph: (916) 489-2116, Email: [email protected]

 Santodyana (Garden of Saints): A four-acre retreat with Krishna and Lotus ponds is a place of peace and tranquility. Within the serene garden are statues of Sri Krishna, Shiva, Moses, Shankaracharya, Sri Chaitanya, St. Francis of Assisi, Guru Nanak, and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 20 Chowrongee 2014

¢eiÑ£L h¡p¤¤l¡u, 8 hRl hup£ Hhw Gallerdo Siddhartha Dey, 6 years, is first grader in Allen Elementary ú¥−ml a«a£u −nËZ£l R¡œz Hight Elementary School.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 21 Chowrongee 2014

−jm¡ −cM¡l NÒf j”¥ l¡u −Q±d¤l£

Bj¡l −R−m−hm¡u ö−e¢R "i¨üNÑ L¡nÈ£−ll' Lb¡z −cn E‹Æm Hhw N‰¡ ü¡i¡¢hL −O¡m¡ Smz N‰¡ kj¤e¡l HC ü¡d£e q−u Hhw a¡l fl i¡N q−u f¢lZa −q¡m p‰−j kb¡l£¢a pÀ¡e q−m¡z j¡e¤−ol Aj¡e¢hLa¡l HLV¡ L¥l¦−r−œz B¢j i¡l−al f§îÑ-f¢ÕQ−j hph¡p L−l¢R, f¢lQu −f−u¢Rm¡j, −kV¡ ¢hhªa Ll¢Rz HL hªÜ¡ pÀ¡e L−l c¡¢rZ¡−aÉJ −hs¡−a −N¢Rz HMe j¡¢LÑe k¤š²l¡−øÊl f¡−s E−W h−p B−Rz a¡l −R−m e¡¢L M¡h¡l Be−h "i¨üNÑ' LÉ¢m−g¡¢eÑu¡−a AhÙÛ¡e, Hhw a¡J l¡Sd¡e£ h−m −N−Rz hý pju Q−m −N−R - a¡l −R−m −h¡dqu pÉ¡œ²¡−j−¾V¡−az j−e Ll¦e HL¢V (Ad¤e¡) h¡wm¡−cn ¢gl−he¡z ¢e−Sl −h¡T¡ e¡¢j−u −N−Rz −b−L-i¡la£u h¡‰¡¢me£ HC p¤¤¾cl −c−nz 1860 pju Hl hý f−l Bjl¡ c¤S−e c¡¢rZ¡−aÉ −hs¡−a k¡Cz k¡l¡ H−p¢Rm i¡la£u J h¡‰¡m£ i¡NÉ¡−eÄo−Z, B¢j −Ll¡m¡ M¤h p¤¤¾cl h−m h¡−p L−l ¢œh¡¾cÊ¡j R¡sm¡jz a¡−cl c−m eCz Bj¡l LeÉ¡l¡, S¡j¡a¡l¡ Hhw a¡−cl iâ−m¡L O¤¢j−u lC−me Hhw LeÉ¡L¥j¡l£ −f±yRe −Nmz f¤œ-LeÉ¡ ph¡C H−c−nz AaHh B¢j HC −c−nz L¥j¡l£ −ch£ L¡lJ fËa£r¡u laz −p j¢¾c−l Bj¡−L e¡¢a-e¡ae£l¡ L¡−RCz L¡R¡L¡¢R b¡−L, −cM¡J qu h¡wm¡u BfÉ¡ue Ll−me f¤−l¡¢qaz deÉ ü¡j£S£, a¡yl j¡−Tj¡−T −pSeÉCz HL¢ce öem¡j LÉ¡¢m−g¡¢eÑu¡−a i¢š² p¡l¡ c¢r−Z l¡jL«o·-ju L−l −l−M−Rz pîÑrZ State fair q−μR Hhw −pM¡−e Hl¡ ph¡C, H h¡s£−a "l¡jL«o· f¤lj' Hl h¡p O¤−l −hs¡−μR HLV¡L¡ i¡s¡uz H−p HLœ q−u −cM−a −Nmz B¢j B−N qua h¡ −N¢R, −pM¡−e ¢h−hL¡e¾c ¢nm¡ J j¢¾cl −cMh¡l jaz HMe Bl n¢š² J p¡dÉ −eCz −pM¡−e fËQ¥l qy¡V¡, A−eL h−‰¡fp¡Nl i¡la jq¡p¡Nl Hhw Blhp¡N−ll jq¡¢jme- games, M¡h¡l S¡uN¡, −hQ¡-−Le¡ AhnÉC b¡L−hz B¢j −r−œ E¢e pÀ¡e Ll−me Bj¡l cnÑe J ØfnÑZ fkÑÉ¿¹ h¡s£ h−p i¡h¢R - lh£¾cÊe¡−bl −mM¡z ""q¡V h−p−R −q¡mz −pC l¡−a −hn qõ¡ L−l −jm¡ −c−M ph¡C öœ²h¡−l, hLp£N−” fcÈ¡f¡−l'' - B¢j La…−m¡ −jm¡ ¢gl−me, Bj¡l O¤j −L−V −N¢Rmz j−el ¢h¢Qœ N¢az −p −c−M¢R - j¡−e ö−e¢Rz q¢lR−œl −jm¡, −n¡ef¤−ll −jm¡z pμR−¾c ¢hQlZ Ll−a m¡Nm, Aa£−a B¢h×L«a Øj«¢az p¡d¡lZ HL¢V j¢qm¡l Hph −cMh¡l −L¡e AhL¡n −eCz Bj¡l L¡n£−a hs q−u JW¡ - kMe ú¥−m −N¢R f¢äa Bj¡l HLj¡œ p¤¤−k¡N H−m¡ kMe nÄöl, nÄ¡ös£, J jce−j¡qe j¡m¢hu¡l fË¢a¢ùa ¢q¾c¥ ¢hnÄ-¢hcÉ¡mu h¡h¡j¡l p−‰ fËu¡−N −L¡e ¢h−no −k¡−N pÀ¡e Llm¡j, a¡l f¢lQ¡¢ma ¢q¾c¥ú¥m (j¢qm¡) −pM¡−e −R¡V −R¡V −XpÚLÚ e¡−jl S¥s£ −eC, "L¥ñ−jm¡'z H −jm¡u mr 2 k¡œ£ Hhw Q¡V¡CHl Bpez HL¢V jÙ¹ O−l LÓ¡p, −LE L¡−l¡ B−pz Bj¡l h¡h¡ L¡n£−a posted, c¡c¡ Hm¡q¡h¡−c N¡−u N¡−u euz j¡¢V−a LÓ¡p öe−m ph¡C q¡p−h ¢L¿¹¥ b¡−L, AaHh −L¡e Ap¤¤¢hd¡ −eCz B¢j BV j¡−pl ¢nö h¡C−l S¥−a¡ M¤−m m¡Ce L−l l¡M¡ fkÑÉ¿¹ −nM¡−e¡ −q¡az LeÉ¡−L ¢e−u Jy−cl p−‰ ¢e−u fËb−j L¡n£ f−l fËu¡N BS ph h¡s£−a clS¡u S¥−a¡ −cM−m j−e f−sz Hm¡jz −L¡e −VÊ−e JW¡ k¡u¢e, h¡s£l N¡¢s¢V ¢e−u q¡Cú¥−m AhnÉ AeÉlLj, nË£j¢a HÉ¡¢e −hn¡−¿¹l Øjl−Z −jSc¡c¡ Grand Trank Road d−l −p¡S¡ fËu¡N k¡œ¡ Hhw Hm¡q¡h¡−cl "−h¡XÑ' f¢lQ¡¢maz Bj¡l −Q−u ¢LR¥ Ll−mez −p ¢hÙ¹¡¢la hm−a −N−m −no q−he¡ - 80 ¢p¢eul Am£e¡ W¡L¥l HLC ú¥mh¡−p Bp−aez aMe j¡Cm −k−a 6 O¾V¡ m¡Nm, f−bl c¤d¡−l öd¤ −m¡L, qy¡V¡ h¤¢T¢e Hyl¡ W¡L¥l h¡s£l j¡e¤o k¡l¡ −h¡j¡l i−u LmL¡a¡ f−b Lac¤l −b−L Bp−Rz −R−s L¡n£−a BnËu ¢e−u¢R−me LÉ¡¾Ve−j¾V H¢lu¡−aCz HC j¡−Ol n£−a c¢sl M¡¢Vu¡u T¥¢m−u hªÜ h¡h¡j¡−L f¡b¤¢lu¡O¡V¡l HL¢V fË¡p¡c ¢Rm, f−l −p¢V ¢hnÄ¢hcÉ¡mu A−e−L ¢e−u k¡u - a¡l¡ ph¡C −f±yR−he Hje Lb¡ −eCz A¢dNËqZ L−l Hhw p¡−u¾p L−mS quz Bj¡−cl h¡„-fyÉ¡Vl¡ ¢e−u H−p¢Rm −VÊ−e L−l h¡μQ¡l−m¡L f¡b¤¢lu¡O¡V¡ hm−a HLV¥ ¢hÙ¹¡l L¢lz L¢h…l¦ Hhw n¡ös£l −m¡Lz ¢a¢e hm−me L¡fs e¡ hc−m, −S¡s¡py¡−L¡l h¡s£−a SeÈ ¢e−u−Rez f§îÑf¤l¦ol¡ c¤Ci¡C påÉ¡¢q²L Ll−he e¡, gma: Q¡ J M¡−he e¡z c¡c¡ (‘¡¢a) Q−m B−pez j−e qu j¤pmj¡−el p−‰ JW¡hp¡ A−eL Ae¤−l¡d L−l ¢e−Sl d¤¢a ¢c−u L¡fs hmc¡−e¡ L−l ¢eNªq£a qe, j¡e¤−o ¢fl¡m£ h−m hmaz H−cl −Nmz −VÊe¢V f−ll ¢ce pL¡−m H−p −f±yRuz Hl e¡j −R−m−cl ¢h−u q−u−R ph AaÉ¿¹ p¡d¡lZ O−l, LjÑQ¡l£−cl f¤ZÉpÀ¡ez N‰¡ ¢qj¡mu −b−L −e−j q¢là¡−l pja−m f−s O−lz L¢hl ¢fa¡jq à¡¢lL¡e¡b hÉhp¡ L−le, fËQ¥l fËu¡−N H−p ¢jn−me kj¤e¡l p−‰z k¡l L¡−R L«−o·l La dem¡i L−lez f¡b¤¢lu¡O¡V¡u fªbL i¡−h fË¡p¡c °al£ m£m¡z H−qe p‰−j j¡œ 1 qy¡V¥ Smz c¤'d¡−l −L¡e O¡V L−le, fËg¥õe¡b "l¡S¡' V¡C−Vm f¡ez H−cl −L¡e f¤l¦o, −eC, −R¡V ¢X¢‰ L−l −fy±−R X¥h ¢c−a quz kj¤e¡l e£m c¢r−ZnÄ−ll j¢¾c−l à¡cn ¢nh j¢¾cl °al£ L−l −cez Sm −k −p±¾ckÑÉju£ BS o¡V hRl f−lJ a¡l Øj«¢a lh£¾cÊe¡−bl −jSc¡c¡ fËbj i¡la£u I.C.S. k¡l¡ L¢We

−Q±l‰£ 2014 22 Chowrongee 2014

fl£r¡u Eš£eÑ q−u hª¢Vn p¡jË¡SÉ Q¡m¡−aez HMe i¡la h¡s£−a kMe M¤h −R¡V, h¡h¡l posting −N¡ä¡ h−m plL¡l I.A.S. h−m A¢i¢qa L−le Hlfl AeÉ¡eÉ i¡C HL¢V S¡uN¡u, fËL¡ä h¡w−m¡, g¥−ml h¡N¡e, QjvL¡l c¤¢V J i¡C−f¡l¡ LmL¡a¡l fËQ¥l Eæ¢a L−lez h¡h¡-j¡−ul Grey-hound L¥L¥l - S¥m£ Bl S¥X£z hm−a f−e−l¡¢V p¿¹¡−el j−dÉ lh£¾cÊe¡b 14 aj h−m S¡¢ez j¡ i¥−m−N¢R h¡h¡ −lmJ−u−a X¡š²¡l, −L¡e plL¡l£ hÉ¡f¡l p¡lc¡−ch£−L 13 hRl hu−p q¡¢l−u A−eL N¡e lQe¡ euz HV¡ HLV¡ −L¡Çf¡e£ ¢Rmz ü¡d£e qh¡l fl plL¡l£ L−lez W¡L¥l f¢lh¡−ll Ahc¡e A−eL, ph j−e L−l A¢dNËqZz Bj¡l fy¡Q hRl hup q−h - L¥L¥l c¤¢V−L hm¡ L¢We, ay¡−cl ¢nÒfLm¡-¢hcÉ¡h¤¢Ül a¥me¡ −eCz −cM¡−n¡e¡ Lla Hhw h¡N¡eJz a¡l e¡j n£amz Ahe£¾cÊe¡−bl ByL¡ Hhw l¡SL¡¢qe£ −b−L k¡l¡ h¢’a Msjf¡−u MVMV L−l A−eL…−m¡ −pm¡j L−l Sm q−μR a¡−cl SeÉ c¤:M quz h¡wm¡l p−‰ k¡−cl −k¡N¡−k¡N a¥ma, −p −ch£z j¡b¡u f¡Ns£ b¡La Nl−jl i−uz h¡h¡ ¢Rm a¡l¡C S¡−eez HÉ¡L¡−cj£ AgÚ g¡Ce BVÑp, p¡−u¾p i¡la£u hå¥−cl p−‰ hml¡jf¤l S‰−m ¢nL¡l Ll−a ¢jE¢Su¡j H ph h¡s£…¢m ay¡−clz −p±l£¾cÊ −j¡qe p‰£−a −k−aez HLS−el HL¢V fÔ¡Cj¡Eb N¡s£ ¢Rm, Bj¡l ¢hn¡lc ¢R−me, A−eL hCJ ¢m−M−Re, q¡l−j¡¢eu−jl −R¡V i¡C jq¡ Evp¡−q Q−s ""f¡¢mj¡Eb'' h−m X¡L pËø¡z f¡ÕQ¡aÉ piÉa¡l B−m¡−L ka f¢lh¡l B−m¡¢La ¢c−a¡z hml¡jf¤l 60 j¡Cm c¤−l, ¢Q¢el Lm B−Rz -W¡L¥lh¡s£ a¡l j−dÉ −nËùz Bjl¡ avL¡m£e pj¡−S ¢nL¡−l f¡M£ −j−l O−l Be−m j¡ iu¡eL ¢hlš² q−aez −Lnh −pe, ¢hcÉ¡p¡Nl, SNc£n Q¾cÊ CaÉ¡¢c je£o£−cl qaÉ¡ Ll−mC f¡f ¢L¿¹¥ f¡¢Ml¡ hs Apq¡u Hhw f−l ‘¡em¡i Ll−a −cMm¡jz pwú«a f¢äa A−eL ¢R−me a¡−cl M¡Ju¡ quz j−e f−s h¡h¡ ¢Qa¡J −j−l¢R−mez qua ay¡l¡ pj¡S ¢e−u hÉÙ¹ ¢R−mez HC fl¡d£e −c−nl −N¡ä¡ −b−L ¢ae O¾V¡u m−r± −f±yRe −k−a¡, fË¡uC Eæ¢a ¢e−u ¢Q¿¹¡ −eCz lh£¾cÊe¡b −e¡−hm fË¡CS H−e k¡Ju¡ qaz Cinema −cM−a h−VCz −h−lm£−a h¡h¡−L −N±lh h¡s¡−me Bj¡−clz −S¡s¡py¡−L¡ BS HL¢V b¡L−a qu, −pM¡e −b−L °ee£a¡m 50/60 j¡Cm j¡œz ¢hnÄ¢hcÉ¡m−u f¢lZaz W¡L¥l h¡s£l −LE b¡−Lee¡z AaHh HLV¡ p¡l¡¢ce −hs¡−e¡ −Nmz R¢h−a h¡h¡ −eC, f¡b¤−lO¡V¡u HM−e¡ ¢e−S−cl −cha¡ B−Re j¡¢mL −LE R¢h a¥m¢R−me j−e quz −p…¢m HM¡−e B−p¢ez a¡m B−Rez ka£e W¡L¥−ll fË¢a¢ùa ¢nh j¢¾cl −c−M¢R j¡−e −mLz Boat H −O¡l¡ −q¡mz p¡l¡¢ce L¡¢V−u L¡n£−az Hy−cl e¡¢a avL¡m£e l¡S¡ fËh£l W¡L¥l J a¡l Bj¡−cl A−fr¡u la h¡h¡l −pm¤e¢V L¡W−N¡c¡j e¡−j Ù»£−L L¡n£−aC −c−M¢R, l¡e£ Af§îÑ p¤¤¾cl£z H R¡s¡ −ØVn−e c¡¢s−u ¢Rm - Bjl¡ −h−lm£ ¢glm¡jz Hlfl B−l¡ h¡‰¡m£ H−p¢Rm LÉ¡¾Ve−j¾V f¡s¡uz X¡š²¡l j¢e −c h¡h¡ j¡ Bj¡−cl SeÉ Hje S¡uN¡ My¥S−Re −kM¡−e ÙÛ¡u£ pf¢lh¡−lz h¡h¡ hm−me ay¡l j¡ø¡ljn¡u, −j¢X−Lm L−m−Slz ú¥m f¡Ju¡ k¡uz Bjl¡ n¡¢¿¹¢e−La−e k¡h¡l h¡pe¡ ¢Rm, 1943 H h¡wm¡u jeÄ¿¹l H−m¡z f−l −S−e¢R −p j¡ −k−a −ce¢ez f−l AhnÉ R¡s−a q−u¢Rmz aMe hª¢V−nlC L«f¡uz l¡S°e¢aL AhÙÛ¡ −n¡Qe£uz −L¡b¡J −he¡lp e¡j ¢Rm, ú¥m Hhw L−mS ¢ae i¡C −h¡e c¡‰¡ - Apq−k¡Nz −L¡b¡J ¢c−el fl ¢ce hÔÉ¡L BEV, −pM¡−e f¡l qm¡jz h¡s£−a N¡e −pM¡−ae Aj−ln ¢àa£u jq¡k¤Ü −m−N ¢RmC 39 −b−L 45 H −no, 1947 Q−VÉ¡f¡dÉ¡u aM−e¡ ¢e−SJ R¡œ ¢R−me, d¤¢a f−l p¡C−Lm H 15C BNø Cw−lS −R−s −Nm ¢L¿¹¥ j§MÑ S¡¢a−L Mä- Q−s Bp−aez aMe Ha fÉ¡−¾Vl −lJu¡S qu¢ez N¡−el ¢hMä q−a qmz h¡wm¡, f¡”¡h£l¡ ¢p¢ål¡ ph¡C −ke M¡a¡ A−eL¢ce ¢Rm, B¢j −g−mC H−p¢Rz j¡ø¡ljn¡u L¢We k¿»Z¡u j¤Q−s −Nmz Bjl¡ −R−mj¡e¤o ¢Rm¡j ü¡d£e pa£n Q¾cÊ °jœÉ, Q¡lj¡Cm fb −qy−V Bp−aez −no l¡−œ qh¡l Be−¾c ilf§lz E−W N‰¡u pÀ¡e L−l qy¡V−aez ¢h¢Qœ j¡e¤o ¢R−me, LM−e¡ −m¡−L h−m hup q−m j¡e¤o −Lhm i¥−m k¡uz B¢j h¡c ¢Rm e¡z HL¢ce B−pe¢e, f−ll ¢ce ¢S‘¡p¡u S¡e¡ j−e L¢l −Q¡M L¡e ph¡C Q−m k¡u - g−m A−ål k¢ù −Nm ay¡l M.A. f¡n −j−S¡LeÉ¡ j¡l¡ −N−Rz Jyl ¢hL¡l f¡h¡l SeÉ ¢e−Sl p¿¹¡−el p¡q¡l¡z kMe −k±b f¢lh¡l ¢hq£e fs¡−e¡ Qmmz Jyl f¡¢lnË¢jL 50 V¡L¡, A¢hnÄ¡pÉ ¢Rm aMe HLV¡ Wy¡C f¡Ju¡ −k−a¡ - HL¡L£aÆ −h¡d BS−Lz Bj¡l LšÑ¡J ¢q¾c¥ ¢hnÄ¢hcÉ¡mu −b−L q−a¡e¡, HMe L¡m hc−m −N−Rz AåN¡uL L«o•Q¾cÊ −c C¢”e£u¡¢lw ¢XNË£ ¢e−u B−pez HMe I ¢hn¡m S¡uN¡u h¡Nh¡S¡−ll hp¤¤-h¡s£−a b¡L−aez k¡ h−m¢Rm¡j, HM¡−e −j¢X−Lm L−mS fË¢a¢ùa q−u−Rz L¡n£ L−h °al£ −hn ¢LR¥ h¡h¡-j¡l p−‰ Bm¡f q−u−R - ay¡l¡ ph q−u¢Rm −LE S¡−ee¡z jq¡l¡e£ −L±nmÉ¡ h¡C ejÑc¡ −b−L tourist z k¡L k¡ hm¢Rm¡j, Bj¡l j¡b¡u ph ¢is L−l L¥¢s−u H−e ¢hnÄe¡b fË¢aù¡ L−le - j¢¾c−ll Nð¥−S 25 Bp−R ka f¤−l¡e R¢h, ¢p−ej¡l jaz ¢q¾c¥ú¥−m je −p¡e¡ −cM¡ k¡u, ¢pwclS¡J −p¡e¡lz 52 je c¤d ¢c−u fs¡L¡m£e, e£¢mj¡ c¡p J a¡yl −h¡e j”¥-−L j−e B−Rz fËaÉq pÀ¡e quz M¤hC Ah¡L m¡−N i¡l−al ph fË¡Q£e a£bÑ lh£¾cÊp‰£−a Ae¤l¡N d¢l−u ¢c−m¡ j”¥ - ""L¡l −ke HC Bm¡c¡ lL−j f§¢Saz j−el −hce °QœÉj¡−pl Eam q¡Ju¡u''z HR¡s¡ hå¥ e£¢mj¡, e¡−Q f¡lcnÑ£z e¡QV¡ Bl q−m¡e¡z

−Q±l‰£ 2014 23 Chowrongee 2014

Bj¡l n¡ös£ à¡lL¡u öL¡−e¡ −hmf¡a¡ ¢e−u −N−me a−h q−lc−l HLlLjz j¡−ul S¡¢a pÇj¡e f¡u e¡z −p¡je¡−bl SeÉz ¢qj¡m−u −Lc¡l-hcl£e¡b öd¤ Nl−j BSL¡m HM¡−e −cM¢R h¡‰¡m£ a¡l fch£ hÉhq¡l −M¡m¡ b¡−L - n£−al pju hå b¡−Lz −hn£ qy¡V¡ fb - Ll−Re¡z A−eL p¡c¡ B−j¢lL¡e−cl p−‰ ¢h−u q−μRz HMe A−eL c¤l N¡s£ k¡uz B−l¡ B−R - −ef¡−m −hn L−uL hRl B−N −b−L −c−M¢R ph¡C "a¥¢j' L−l föf¢ae¡b, °hcÉe¡b B−Re −cJO−lz c¢r−Z Lb¡ h−m, ‘Bf¢e’ hm−a i¥−m −N−R - j−e qu Cw−lS£ ¢al¦f¢ae¡b h¡m¡¢S, Hl¡ ph −hn£ −p¡e¡u Y¡L¡, ‘you' q−u k¡¢μRz ph¢LR¥ p−u ¢e−a q−h l¡jL«−o·l Lb¡ l¡−jnÄlj −cMm¡j 4 j¡Cm pj¤â h−r, ¢L −k fËL¡ä “−k pu −p lu, −k pue¡ a¡l ¢LR¥ lue¡”z A−eL ¢LR¥ ÙÛ¡faÉ, ¢L L−l I f¡bl −V−e ¢e−u ¢N−u¢Rm j¡e¤o? hc−m −N−mJ Bjl¡ ph ¢LR¥ ¢e−u −hy−Q B¢Rz i¡lahoÑ HMe AhnÉ ¢hËS °al£ q−u−Rz HC ÙÛf¢a a¡Sjq−ml ¢LR¥ −f¢R−u −eC - A−eL fË−c−nl (State) A−eL −Q−u BÕQkÑÉju h−m j−e L¢lz i¡o¡, h¡wm¡J b¡L−hCz ¢œ¢Qe¡fõ£−a −ch£ j£e¡r£ J l‰e¡b j¢¾cl Afl©f B¢j L¡−l¡ ¢e¾c¡ h¡ …e-N¡e Ll−a h¢p¢e, pjNË p¤¤¾clz f¤l£−a SNæ¡b J pj¤âaV LmL¡a¡l L¡−R h−m hp¤¤ål¡ Bj¡−cl j¡z A−eL −cn öd¤ hl−g Y¡L¡ Bl Se¢fËu - HlLj pj¤âaV M¤hC ¢hlmz f¡”¡−h üZÑ j¢¾cl A−eL −cn p¤¤Sm¡ p¤¤gm¡z ¢jn−ll piÉa¡ −L¡b¡u a¢m−u Bj¡l −cM¡ qu¢e LM−e¡z H−qe L¡n£−a ¢hnÄjq¡k¤Ü −Nm, h¡l L−l¢Rm h−V hª¢Vnz i¡l−aJ qlè¡ −h¢l−u¢Rm −b−L hy¡Qh¡l SeÉ fm¡ue LmL¡a¡ −b−L fË¡u ph¡Cz −M¡c¡C L−lCz a¡−a j−e qu h¡‰¡m£l L«¢aaÆ il¡z S¡f¡e −a¡ −h¡j¡ −gm−hCz −ea¡S£ p¤¤i¡o −h¡p h¡ÇjÑ¡ ö−e¢R fË¡Q£e i¡l−al HL EvL«ø ¢ecnÑe, ÙÛ¡f−aÉlz −b−L ay¡l Indian National Army ¢e−u Bp−Rez −j¡Nm l¡S−aÆl n¡pe L¡−m −k ÙÛf¢a −c−M¢R, Bjl¡ −L¡b¡u k¡Cz h¡h¡-j¡ h¡S¡−l −k−ae e¡ hm−mC a¥me¡¢hq£e L¥a¥h¢je¡l HL¢V Ec¡qlZz Bj¡l Øj«¢a−a quz phC −gl£Ju¡m¡, j¡wp fkÑÉ¿¹z 2/3 V¡L¡ q−m j¡ −O¡l¡O¤¢l Ll¦L H…¢mz J−cl hm−me HlLj −Le q−μRz a¡−cl Sh¡h - HMe ebÑ B−j¢lL¡l −p¡e¡l −c−n −b−L hs hs ""XÉ¡e¢Q h¡h¤−m¡N ph −m S¡a¡ qu''z AbÑ¡v L¡n£ âøhÉ −c−M¢R −kje Yesomite eÉ¡ne¡m f¡LÑ ka a¡−cl "XÉ¡j-Q£f −m−N¢Rmz k¤−Ül c¡j¡j¡ b¡jm 47 ¢hn¡m aa BÕQkÑÉ, j¡−T −mL A−eL f¡q¡sz L¡−ml J p¡−m, aa¢c−e B¢j A¿¹a: 100 Se j¡e¤−ol p−‰ S−ml fËh¡−q fËql£l ja cy¡¢s−u B−Rz H−c−n j¡e¤−ol f¢l¢Qa q−u¢Rz j¡eh SeÈ −nËù hm¡ qu - −p c¡eh h¡ fË−Qø¡−aC p¤¤¾cl q−u B−Rz HM¡−e ka i¡la£u −cM¢R, j¡dh q−a f¡−l k¢c Q¡uz ¢hnÄh−lZÉ jq¡aÈ¡ N¡å£−L h¤−L −hn ¢jö−Lz Bj¡l i¡m m¡−N, f¡m¡ L−l party Ll¡ …¢m L−l j¡l−m¡ HjeC HL cpÉ¥z pjNË fª¢bh£ S¡−e qu, B—¡ quz f¤−S¡l pju −h¡T¡C k¡ue¡ - B¢j ¢a¢e A¢qwp¡l fËa£L ¢R−mez ü¡d£ea¡l SeÉ Aene LmL¡a¡u −eCz N¡e h¡Se¡l ¢nÒf£J A−eL B−pz L−l−Re A−eLh¡lz ay¡l p−‰ A−eL jq¡lb£l¡J ¢R−mez HM¡−e −VLem¢Sl L¡l−Z phC Eæaz j¡e¤−ol N¢a −h−s i¡l−al n¡Ù»£u p‰£−a M¤h pÇj¡e p¡l¡ fª¢bh£−az Q−m−R, ea¥e fËS−eÈl °dkÑÉ h−m ¢LR¥ −eCz AbÑ¡v dË¥fc CaÉ¡¢cl fl, −Mu¡m N¡−el pËø¡ ¢ju¡ a¡e−pez −nM¡−e¡ que¡z B¢j k¡ S¡¢e BLh−ll pju C¢e pi¡l HL¢V laÀz Bj¡l i¢hoÉ−al ¢Q¿¹¡ −eC, pju g¥−l¡−μRz a¡e−p−el …l¦ q¢lc¡p ü¡j£z B¢jJ Evp¡q£ q−u −pa¡l A¢i‘a¡ hm−R, −R−m−j−ul¡ pqhv M¤h LjC ¢nM−Rz ¢nMm¡j, …l¦ lO¤e¡b l¡J f–hÜÑez −hn ¢LR¥¢ce ANËpl iâ hÉhq¡l Ll−m −L¡e Ai¡h q−h ¢L? pÇfË¢a ¢LR¥ q−u f¢lpj¡¢ç!! N¡e−L ¢QlL¡m i¡mh¡pm¡j - h¡h¡j¡J adult h¡p−aez L¥j¡l nQ£e −chhjÑe g¥Vhm −Mm−a H−p −j−ul Lb¡ hm¢Rz a¡l¡ Bj¡l h¡wm¡ Lb¡u öd¤ Cwl¡S£−aC Lb¡ hmm - h¡h¡ j¡ AhnÉC h¡‰¡m£z −c−n −b−L−Re h¡s£−az h¡h¡−L −lLXÑ Efq¡l −cez Bj¡l b¡L−a ü−cn£ −jm¡ −c−M¢R, p‰£a p−Çjm−e −jm¡, j−e −eC, Bj¡−L −L¡−m L−l−Rez hs q−u EWh¡l pju −qj¿¹ j¤M¡¢‹Ñ, SNeÈu ¢jœ, −chhËa ¢hnÄ¡p, L¢h J book fair H −jm¡ q−u−Rz Bj¡l hm−a q−μR kMe p¤¤lL¡l L¡S£ eSl¦m, jqÇjc l¢g CaÉ¡¢c−cl N¡e ö−e i¡‰m ¢jme −jm¡ B¢j pi¡i‰ L¢lz A−eL Lb¡ C−μR b¡L−mJ hm¡ q−m¡ e¡z −L−V−Rz aMe T. V. ¢Rme¡, HMe J N¡e ö−e L¡−Vz

−p fˆS j¢õL −eC, −eC j¢qo¡p¤¤l j¢ŸÑe£z j”¥ l¡u−Q±d¤l£, gmpj-H Ahpl S£he k¡fe Ll−Rez BS−Ll f¢lhaÑen£m SN−a Ha Eæ¢al fl h¡wm¡ i¡o¡, lh£¾cÊ-p¡¢qaÉ, J p‰£−al fË¢a a¡yl j¢qm¡-S¡¢al ¢e×L«¢a −eCz ¢q¾c¥-j¤pmj¡e pL−ml Be¤NaÉ a¡y−L −mM¡−m¢M J fs¡−n¡e¡u hÉÙ¹ l¡−Mz hÉhq¡−l ¢fa«a¡¢¿»L BQlZ −cM¡ k¡uz −j−u p¿¹¡e SeÈ p¡¢qaÉ, Lm¡, ¢h‘¡e J l¡Se£¢a ¢houL e¡e¡ a−bÉ a¡yl ¢e−m AM¤n£, AL¡−m ï¥ZqaÉ¡ L−l ¢e−Sl ¢fW h¡yQ¡u - f¢lh¡l-f¢lSe −cl AhNa l¡M¡J a¡yl AeÉaj −en¡z fZ fËb¡ BSJ hšÑj¡e, i¡lah−oÑz A¢nr¡l gm¡gm, ¢el¦f¡u −j−ul¡ ph pqÉ L−lz f¡ÕQ¡aÉ −c−n A−eL Lj

−Q±l‰£ 2014 24 Chowrongee 2014

BcÉ¡f£W J BcÉ¡j¡ üfÀ¡ L¥j¡l

B¢j ¢h−ul B−N c¢r−ZnÄ−ll L¡m£j¢¾cl, L¡m£O¡−Vl J −p±i¡NÉha£ q−u¢R−mez BcÉ¡f£W −b−L "−qj¿¹i¡C' L¡m£j¢¾cl, WeW¢eu¡l L¡m£j¢¾cl - H…¢m−aC −h¢n h−m HLSe pæ¡p£iš² Bj¡−cl h¡¢s−a Bp−ae, k¡a¡u¡a L−l¢Rz BcÉ¡f£W h¡ BcÉ¡j¡l Lb¡ A−eL B¢jJ a¡−L −c−M¢R, n¡nÄ¥s£ j¡−ul j¤−M ö−e¢R E¢e ö−e¢R ¢L¿¹¥ −L¡e¢ceC h¡−fl h¡¢s −b−L k¡Ju¡ q−u h¡mL hup −b−L BcÉ¡f£W j¢¾cl °al£l SeÉ −L±−V¡ J−W¢ez ¢h−ul flC B¢j nÄölh¡¢sl W¡L¥lO−l fËbj L−l L−l −VÊ−e−a, l¡Ù¹¡−a −m¡−L−cl L¡R −b−L fup¡ "Bl¡dÉ −ch£' ¢q−p−h BcÉ¡j¡l cnÑe −fm¡jz Bj¡l Q¡C−aez HC "−qj¿¹i¡C' flhaÑ£L¡−m Bj¡l nÄöljn¡C, −hn j−e B−R 1972 p¡−m kMe eh hd§ −h−n Hm¡j, n¡nÄ¥s£ j¡ J Bj¡−cl h¡¢sl A−eL −L "BcÉ¡j−¿»' Bj¡l n¡nÄ¥s£ j¡ Bj¡−L W¡L¥lO−l h¢p−u "BcÉ¡Ù¹h' V¡ c£¢ra L−l−Rez Bj¡l −R−m-−j−uJ Hl L¡−R c£¢ra fs−a hm−me, Hhw fË¢a¢ce k¡−a HC "Ù¹h' W¡L¥−ll qJu¡l −p±i¡NÉ −f−u−Rz p¡j−e L¢l HC B−cn ¢c−u¢R−me - BS ¢a¢e −eC ¢L¿¹¥ a¡l B−cnV¥L¥ f¡−bu L−l HC c£OÑ pwp¡l S£he A¢ah¡¢qa L−l Q−m¢R, La c¤:M-LØV, Bfc-¢hfc, pjpÉ¡-c¤OÑVe¡ Bj¡−L S¢s−u d−l−R öd¤j¡œ "BcÉ¡Ù¹h'V¥L¥C −ke Bj¡−L n¢š² k¤¢N−u−R, −O¡l AåL¡l −b−L HLg¡¢m B−m¡l ¢en¡e¡ −c¢M−u−R, −L¡b¡ −b−L HL Af¢lp£j n¢š²l ¢eiÑla¡ ¢c−u−Rz Bj¡l HC hªÜ¡ hu−p HMe Bj¡l ¢e−Sl j¡, n¡nÄ¥s£ j¡ pLm−LC q¡¢l−u¢R, B−R öd¤ Bj¡l "BcÉ¡j¡'z

BcÉ¡f£W j¢¾cl −k¢ce fËbj −M¡m¡ qu −p¢ce j¢¾cl −R¡yu¡l m¡Ce HLV¡, B−lLV¡ m¡Ce "j¡'−L cnÑe Ll¡l m¡Ce - fËQ¥l j¡e¤−ol pj¡Nj, HC i£−sl j−dÉ HL¢V h¡μQ¡ −j−u "j¡'Hl j¢¾c−ll pj−e c¡y¢s−u jd¤l L−ã N¡e N¡C−R, −pV¡ Bh¡l pL−m −cM−a f¡u¢e, Bj¡l n¡nÄ¥s£ j¡ J a¡yl −h±¢c c¤S−e −cM−a −f−u¢R−me HL TmL ¢L¿¹¥ HLV¥ f−lC pLm−L −cM¡−e¡l C−μR b¡L−mJ Bl −L¡b¡J My¥−S f¡e¢ez E¢e h−me −h¡dqu "BcÉ¡j¡'C qu−a¡ −R¡– −j−ul l©−f Bj¡−L J −h±¢c−L −cM¡ ¢c−u−Re a¡ e¡ q"−m HC Amf pj−ul j−dÉ Ha i£−sl j−dÉ h¡μQ¡¢V Ha a¡s¡a¡¢s −L¡b¡u k¡−h? ""¢hnÄ¡−p ¢jm¡u hÙ¹¥, a−LÑ hýc§l""z j¡, S£h−el −no ¢ce fkÑ¿¹ HC ¢hnÄ¡p J i¢š²−L f¡−bu L−lC S£he L¡¢V−u −N−Rez Bj¡l nÄöljn¡CJ ¢R−me M¤h d¡¢jÑL J pv hÉhp¡u£

j¡e¤oz E¢e "j¡ p¡lc¡−ch£"−L ¢eSQ−r HLfm−Ll SeÉ HC BcÉ¡f£−Wl BcÉ¡j¢¾cl fËbj −k¢ce E−à¡de cnÑe −f−u¢R−me, "j¡" −e±L¡ −b−L q¡a a¥−m pLm q−u¢Rm −p¢ce Bj¡l n¡nÄ¥s£ j¡, hsS¡, −R¡V eec J iš²−L Bn£hÑ¡c Ll¢R−me, ¢a¢eJ pL−ml j−dÉ −b−L −R¡V −cJl HC j¢¾cl ØfnÑ Ll¡l −p±i¡−NÉ −p±i¡NÉh¡e −pC Bn£hÑ¡−cl i¡N£c¡lz

−Q±l‰£ 2014 25 Chowrongee 2014

BcÉ¡f£−Wl "−qj¿¹i¡C" Bj¡−cl h¡s£−a kMe HMeJ Bjl¡ BcÉ¡f£−W −N−mC "j¡" Hl cnÑe Bp−ae, Bjl¡ pL−m Je¡−L fËZ¡j L−l Je¡l j¤−M −p−lC "−qj¿¹i¡C"-Hl O−l h¢p, Je¡l Lb¡ i¡¢h, E¢e BcÉ¡j¢¾cl °al£l Lb¡ S¡e−a Q¡Ca¡jz E¢e hm−ae Bj¡−cl pwp¡−ll …l¦ ¢R−mez a¡C BS Ha¢ce f−lJ ¢am-¢am L−l La Lø L−l "j¡"-Hl HC j¢¾cl fË¢aù¡ kMeC HL¡ j−e h−p b¡¢L aMeC ay¡l j¤M¢expªa Lb¡ q−u−R, pæÉ¡p£−cl pwp¡l£−cl ja j¡e-peÈ¡e −h¡d l¡M−a −ke öe−a f¡C - −eC, pL−ml L¡−RC q¡a f¡a−a l−u−Rz HC pæÉ¡p£ ""H S£he ¢Ql¢ce l−he¡ −a¡j¡l, ¢ir¥L−cl de£-c¢lâ ¢e¢îÑ−n−o ph¡l L¡R −b−LC ¢ir¡ p¤¤M£ q−a Bp¢e −qb¡uz Q¡C−a q−u−R, a¡−cl pL−ml Ae¤c¡−eC "BcÉ¡f£W" −i¡N e−q S£h−el E−ŸnÉ jq¡e, f£WÙÛ¡−e f¢lZa l−u−Rz "−qj¿¹i¡C" ¢hq¡−ll h¡c…õ¡ J ‘¡e¡SÑe n¡¢¿¹l −p¡f¡ezz"" N¡m¤X£−aJ BnËj M¤−m−Rez h¡c…õ¡ J N¡m¤X£−a hý Bj¡−cl e¡¢a-e¡ae£−cl fËSeÈ HC pæÉ¡p£ W¡L¥l−cl S¢j ¢L−e −pM¡−e Q¡o L¢l−u m¢l m¢l M¡cÉi¡ä¡l p¡¢ædÉ −fm e¡, Ha¢ce S£¢ha −b−L E¢e −a¡ pLm−L BcÉ¡f£−W f¡W¡−e¡l hÉhÙÛ¡ L−l−Re - BcÉ¡f£−W ¢nr¡ ¢c−u −k−a f¡−le e¡, L¡−ml ¢eu−j a¡ pñh euz ¢ea¡−i¡−Nl hÉhÙÛ¡ - "j¡" Hl B−cnh¡Z£−a B−R −L¡e öd¤ fË¡bÑe¡ "BcÉ¡j¡"−ul L¡−R, y…l¦ "−qj¿¹i¡C"−ul iš² −ke −i¡N −M−a H−p ¢g−l e¡ k¡uz "−qj¿¹i¡C" L¡−R, "j¡"−ul Bn£hÑ¡c −b−L HC ¢nöl¡ −ke h¢¾Qa e¡ BS Bj¡−cl j−dÉ −eC, ¢L¿¹¥ ¢a¢e BcÉ¡f£−W −k qu, Bl "j¡" −L X¡L¡l i¢š² J nËÜ¡V¥L¥ a¡l¡ −ke Ol¢V−a b¡L−ae, −pM¡−e ay¡l ¢hR¡e¡, ay¡l hÉhq©a BS£he d−l l¡M−a f¡−lz ¢S¢epfœ ph p¡S¡−e¡ B−Rz ay¡l ¢hR¡e¡u fËZ¡j£ h¡−„l f¡−nC B−R m−S−¾pl h¡„, ¢nöl¡ fËZ¡j Ll−mC fËZ¡j£ nË£j¢a üfÀ¡ L¥j¡l Evph pcpÉ h¡¢le L¥j¡−ll ï¡a«hd§z ¢q−p−h f¡−h m−S¾pz

With Best Compliments From

−Q±l‰£ 2014 26 Chowrongee 2014

V¥L−l¡ Øj«¢a, qua NÒf Suc£f l¡u

−Q±l‰£-l pÇf¡cL jq¡n−ul ¢h−no Ae¤−l¡d - h¡wm¡u ""Bj¡l¡ Su-Hl hå¥z hå¥l h¡¢s−a ¢V¢i −cM−a −mM¡ ¢c−a q−hz B−j¢lL¡l fËh¡p£ j¡e¤o - S¥−a¡ −pm¡C Bp−aC f¡¢l''z J−cl j−dÉ A−e−LC e-L¡l¡¿¹ në −b−L Qä£ f¡W ph ¢e−S−cl−LC Ll−a quz q¡S¡l EμQ¡lZ Ll−a f¡la e¡, ""e'' −L ""m'' hma - −kje hÉÙ¹a¡l j−dÉ jl¡l pju −eC - a¡l j−dÉ Bh¡l h¡wm¡u ""−mC'', ""m¡Q'' CaÉ¡¢cz HL l¢hh¡l B¢j h¡¢s −eC, ¢mM−a hp¡! pÇf¡cL jq¡nu-Hl ¢h−no Ae¤−l¡d Bj¡l pjuV¡ c¤f¤l HLV¡ jae q−h, Bj¡l ¢LR¥ h¢Ù¹h¡p£ hå¥ L¡−R ¢h−no Efâh h−m −W−Lz ¢L¿¹¥ Je¡l Ll¦Z, H−p Ef¢ÙÛaz −NV-Hl Ls¡ e¡s−a e¡s−a - ""j¡p£j¡ "LeÉ¡c¡uNËÙ¹-¢fa¡' −N¡−Rl j¤M¢V −c−M Bh¡l e¡J Ll−a Su B−R? j¡p£j¡ Su B−R?'' h−m qCQC öl¦ L−l f¡¢l e¡! f¢œL¡ pÇfce¡ Ll¡ −a¡ Bl j¤−Ml Lb¡ euz ¢cmz j¡ −h¢l−u H−p, fËQä ¢hl¢š²i−l hm−me - ""e¡ fËh¡p£ (¢h−noa f¢ÕQj h¡wm¡l) h¡P¡¢ml¡ e¡¢L h¡wm¡u Su −eC! ¢L Q¡C −a¡−cl?'' J−cl ¢mX¡l ¢Rm h¤dq ¢mM−a i¥−m k¡−μR, a¡C ÙÛ¡e£u fËh¡p£−cl −b−L h¡wm¡ h−m HLV¡ −R−m, −p hm−m - ""−p ¢L?? Su −mC! −mM¡ −S¡N¡s Ll−a ¢N−u pÇf¡cL jq¡n−ul e¡¢L ¢V¢i−a HLV¡ i¡−m¡ m¡VL ¢Rm . .'' −p¢ce h¡¢s −gl¡l NmcOjÑ AhÙÛ¡! E¢e Bh¡l Bj¡l hå¥ÙÛ¡e£u, hu−pJ fl, j¡ −a¡ Bj¡−L HC j¡−l ¢L −pC j¡−l - ""Hl¡ Ae¤S, a¡C q¡S¡l T¡−jm¡l j−dÉJ −e−j fsm¡j q¡−a −a¡j¡l hå¥! "−eC' −L h−m−R "−mC'! e¡VL −L h−m−R Lmj ¢e−u! m¡VL! −L¡−e¡ fs¡ö−e¡l e¡j −eC! EμR−æ k¡μR . .'' ¢L ¢mMh ¢L ¢mMh i¡h−a i¡h−aC ¢ce c¤−uL Q−m CaÉ¡¢c CaÉ¡¢c! ¢L¿¹¥ j¡ kaC J−cl AfR¾c Ll¦L, −Nmz h¡¢e−u −mM¡l pju Hhw °dkÑ c¤−V¡lC hs Ai¡h, −Mm¡l p¡b£ ¢q−p−h J−cl a¥me¡ ¢Rm e¡z J−cl p−‰ a¡C f¤l−e¡ Øj«¢al −T¡m¡V¡C q¡al¡Cz fË¡u Q¢õn hR−ll f¡s¡u f¡s¡u …¢m −Mm¡l L¢Çf¢Vne Lla¡jz f¡−nl NÒf S−j B−R T¥¢m¢V−az i¡¢h, i¡m L−l My¥S−m ¢eÕQC h¡¢sl h¡N¡−e Q¥¢fp¡−s ¢Ym −j−l Bj f¡la¡jz J−cl f¡h ¢LR¥ q£−l-j¡¢eLz k¡ fË¡u ¢hØj«a, d¤¢md¤p¢la q−u T¥f¢s O−l −ka¡j J−cl ¢c¢c h¡ j¡−ul j¡M¡ Lc−h−ml f−s B−R qua je-L¥W¥¢ll −L¡−e¡ −L¡e¡uz i¡¢h, BQ¡l −M−az B−d¡-AåL¡l −f¡−s¡ h¡¢s−a m¤−L¡Q¥¢l −p…¢m−L My¥−S −hl L−l, O−o −j−S, Bh¡l QLQ−L L−l −Mma¡j, O−l ¢gla¡j p¡l¡ N¡−u jn¡l L¡j−sl c¡N f¡WL−cl L¡−R f¢l−hne Ll−m −Lje quz NÒf LaV¡ ¢e−uz hs Be−¾cl ¢Rm −pC ¢ce…¢mz q−h S¡¢e e¡, ¢L¿¹¥ HC p¤¤−k¡−N Øj«¢a −l¡j¿ÛeV¡ −a¡ Bj¡l HL pÇf−LÑl c¡c¡, e¡j −p¡qj, Bj¡−cl q−hz HLV¡ −Qø¡ −a¡ Ll¡ −k−aC f¡−l, a¡C e¡? Bp¤¤e h¡¢sl L¡−RC b¡Laz −p¡qj Bj¡l −Q−u hRl −c−s−Ll a¡q−m, Bfe¡−cl ¢e−u k¡C −hn ¢LR¥ hRl B−N, hs Hhw Bj−cl −Mm¡l ¢eu¢ja p‰£ ¢Rmz HLV¥ LmL¡a¡−a, Bj¡l −R−m−hm¡−az X¡e¢f−V −N¡−Rl, ¢œ²−LV-H c¡l¦Z −S¡−l hm Ll−a ""e¡e¡ l−Pl ¢ce…¢m'' f¡laz Bj¡−cl h¡¢sl f¡−nl gy¡L¡ S¢j−a, −kV¡l Lb¡ Bj¡l °nn−hl A−eLV¡C −L−V¢Rm V¡¢mN”-Hl Qä£ öl¦−a h−m¢R, Bjl¡ k¤Ü-k¤Ü −Mma¡jz −Mm¡V¡ ¢Rm −O¡o −l¡−Xl L¡−R HLV¡ i¡s¡ h¡¢s−az h¡¢sl f¡−n HClLj - c¤−V¡ cm Ll¡ qaz HLV¡ c−ml LÉ¡−ÃVe M¡¢eLV¡ gy¡L¡ S¢j ¢Rm, a¡l ¢LR¥V¡C h¡h¡ g¥m Bl p¡d¡lZa −p¡qj qa, Bl AeÉ cmV¡l LÉ¡−ÃVe qa f¡a¡h¡q¡¢l N¡R Ll−aez −N¡m¡j, X¡¢mu¡, Nål¡S, NÉ¡yc¡, h¡hm¤c¡z h¡hm¤c¡l¡ Bj¡−cl h¡¢sl E−ÒV¡¢c−L HLV¡ T¡Ez Bl h¡¢L M¡¢m S¢jV¡ ¢Rm Bj¡−cl −Mm¡l ¢ae-am¡ h¡¢s−a b¡L−aez h¡hm¤c¡ Bj¡−cl −b−L S¡uN¡z Bj¡−cl h¡¢sl −fR−e ¢Rm HL¢V j¡T¡¢l L−uL hR−ll hs, mð¡ −l¡N¡ ¢Vw- ¢Vw−u −Qq¡l¡, Bl p¡C−Sl h¢Ù¹z −pC h¢Ù¹l ¢LR¥ X¡e¢f−V −R−m ¢Rm Bj¡l j¡b¡V¡ ¢Rm hcj¡−u¢n h¤¢Ül ¢X−f¡! aMe Bjl¡ i¡−m¡ hå¥z J−cl p−‰ ¢eu¢ja p¡j−el N¢m−a ¢œ²−LV, A−e−LC ¢Rm¡j h¡hm¤c¡l Aå iš²z k¤Ü-k¤Ü −Mm¡l g¥Vhm −Mma¡jz p−åÉl pju fË¡u ¢ce Jl¡ Bj¡−cl fË¢a−k¡N£ cm c¤¢Vl fËbj L¡S ¢Rm AÙ» −S¡N¡s Ll¡z h¡¢s−a ¢V¢i −cM−a Bpaz aMeL¡l ¢c−e (B¢nl AÙ» hm−a, −Ql¡ L¢’ ¢c−u de¤L, f¡VL¡¢W h¡ T¡V¡l cn−Ll öl¦l ¢c−L) O−l O−l ¢V¢i ¢Rm e¡z a¡C L¡¢W ¢c−u a£l Bl N¡−Rl X¡m −i−‰ a−m¡u¡lz a¡lfl ¢V¢i−a n¢eh¡l l¡−a kMe Ešj L¥j¡−ll ¢p−ej¡ ¢ca, h¡ öl¦ qa k¤Üz fËb−j HL cm Afl cm−L mrÉ L−l hªqØf¢ah¡l påÉ¡u kMe ¢Qœj¡m¡ öl¦ qa, aMe a£l Ry¥saz a£l −no q−u −N−m q¡−a a−m¡u¡l ¢e−u Bj¡−cl hp¡l O−l −hn HLV¡ ¢is Sjaz hm¡C h¡ýmÉ, pl¡p¢l Bœ²jZz Bj¡−cl −Mm¡l S¢jV¡l f¡−nC HLV¡ fs¡öe¡l pju h¡¢s−a ¢eu¢ja ¢is qJu¡V¡ Bj¡l j¡ h¡¢s−a ApÇf¨ZÑ ¢ia ¢Rmz ¢iaV¡ j¡¢V −b−L fË¡u g¥V H−Lh¡lC fR¾c Ll−ae e¡z ¢L¿¹¥ J−cl i¡hM¡e¡ ¢Rm - Q¡−lL EQy¥−az HLV¡ cm ¢i−al Jfl −b−L a£l R¥la,

−Q±l‰£ 2014 27 Chowrongee 2014

AeÉ cm b¡La ¢e−Qz HLh¡l HClLj k¤Ü-k¤Ü −Mm¡l −L¡−e¡ NaÑ-VaÑ ¢LR¥ −eCz −c−M j−e q−μR h−V HLV¡ pju ¢ia −b−L ¢e−Q f−l ¢N−u Bj¡l HL M¤sa¥−a¡ NaÑ My¥−s L¡fs ¢c−u Y¡L¡ q−u−R, a−h Bp−m ¢LR¥ i¡C −S¡l SMj q−u¢Rmz −pC OVe¡l fl Bj¡−cl HC −eCz ¢L¿¹¥ f¡h¢mL i¡h−R JM¡−e ¢eÕQC NaÑ B−Rz ""p¡j¢lL Ae¤n£me'' −hn ¢LR¥¢c−el SeÉ hå ¢Rmz Hh¡l a¥C kMe JV¡l Jfl ¢c−u −c±s¡¢h, ph¡C i¡h−h, LM−e¡ j¡¢V−a c¡N −L−V VÊÉ¡L h¡¢e−u Bjl¡ −c±s −p¡qj ¢L jÉ¡¢SL S¡−e? NaÑl Jfl ¢c−u −hj¡m¤j −c±−s fË¢a−k¡¢Na¡ Lla¡jz −c±−s −h¢nli¡N pjuC −p¡qj Q−m −Nm, AbQ fsm e¡! f¡h¢mL i¡h−h −a¡lÚ ¢eÕQC ¢Saaz −p¡qj ¢LR¥V¡ −Ny¡u¡l V¡C−fl ¢Rm h−m Jl −L¡−e¡ A−m±¢LL rja¡-Vja¡ B−R''z −p¡qj −V¡fV¡ −fR−e −m−N −hn jS¡ qaz HLh¡l h¡hm¤c¡ −p¡qj−L −M−u −Nm! ¢cm NaÑl Jfl ¢c−u −c±s! a¡lfl kMe −h¡L¡ h¡e¡−e¡l g¢¾c BV−m¡z fÔÉ¡eV¡ q−m¡: j¡¢V−a gy¡−c f¡ ¢c−u i¨f¢aa q−m¡ aMe Jl j¤−Ml l¡N Hhw HLV¡ NaÑ −M¡s¡ q−hz NaÑV¡−L −L¡eJ HL fËL¡−l Ah¡L-i¡h, c¤−V¡C ¢Rm −cM¡l jaez a−h h¡hm¤c¡ Y¡L−a q−h, k¡−a Jfl −b−L −h¡T¡ e¡ k¡C −k j¡¢V−a l¡N−aJ S¡e−ae, Hhw l¡N −i¡m¡−aJ S¡e−aez ¢a¢e NaÑ l−u−Rz a¡lfl NaÑV¡−L j¡T¡M¡−e −l−M HLV¡ aM¤¢e −p¡qj−L ¢e−u ¢N−u L−uL lL−jl m−S¾p ¢L−e −c±−sl VÊÉ¡L Ll¡ q−hz −p¡qj −L hm¡ q−h JC VÊÉ¡L-H ¢c−me f¡s¡l j¤¢c h¡h¤l −c¡L¡e −b−Lz Bj¡−cl i¡−NJ −c±−s −cM¡−az −c±l¡−e¡l pju −kC Jl f¡ JC N−aÑ ¢LR¥ fsm (HC S−eÉC Bjl¡ h¡hm¤c¡l gÉ¡e ¢Rm¡j!) fl−h, Aj¢e ff¡a Q! aMeL¡l −R−mj¡e¤o£l Lb¡ ¢LR¥r−el j−dÉC −p¡qj ph l¡N i¥−m Bj¡−cl p−‰ i¡h−m HMe q¡¢p f¡u, ¢L¿¹¥ Bj¡−cl j¡b¡u (¢h−noa −Mm¡−a −j−a −Nmz h¡hm¤c¡l) p¡l¡rZ HClLj hcj¡−u¢n fÔÉ¡e Qmaz k¡C BS, HCph OVe¡l fl ¢a¢ln hR−llJ −hn£ pju −q¡L, Bjl¡ −a¡ fÔÉ¡e Ae¤k¡u£ HLV¡ −R¡Vjae NaÑ A¢aœ²¡¿¹ q−u−R, LmL¡a¡ −b−L hý c¤−l B¢j, M¤−s −gmm¡jz ¢L¿¹¥ j¤n¢Lm q−m¡ JV¡−L m¤−L¡−a ¢N−uz Øj«¢aQ¡lZ L¢l, BS B¢j c¤C p¿¹¡−el SeL; La NaÑV¡−L HLV¡ j¡¢V-l−Pl L¡fs ¢c−u Y¡L¡ −cu¡ q−m¡ AeÉlLj J−cl °nnh, q−h e¡C h¡ −Le - ÙÛ¡e, L¡m, h−V, ¢L¿¹¥ camouflage V¡ H−Lh¡−lC ¢lu¡¢m¢ØVL q−m¡ f¢l−hn, p−h−aC −k La ag¡a! Bp−m qua a¡ eu, e¡z H¢c−L −p¢ce ¢h−Lm q−aC −p¡qj H−p Ef¢ÙÛaz °nnh B−R °nn−hl S¡uN¡−aC, −Lhm ¢e×f¡f Be−¾c h¡hm¤c¡ pqj−L hm−me - ""−p¡qj, −c¢M a¥C La −S¡−l f¢lf§ZÑ, j¡−ul jja¡l R¡u¡uz −c±s−a f¡¢lp? HC VÊÉ¡L d−l −c±−s −cM¡ −a¡!'' −p¡qj j¡¢V−a NaÑl S¡uN¡V¡l ¢c−L ¢LR¥rZ a¡¢L−u h¤T−m¡ Suc£f l¡u, gmpj ¢eh¡p£ Hhw −fn¡u Intel-Hl X¡m −j L¥R L¡m¡ qÉ¡uz Bjl¡ kaC −h¡T¡C JV¡ ¢LR¥ fË−L±nm£.z e¡, −p¡qj aaC −hy−L h−p! hÉ¡f¡lV¡ ¢L qu −cM¡l SeÉ −hn HLV¡ ¢is S−j −Nmz aMe h¡hm¤c¡ ¢g−ô e¡j−mez −p¡qj −L Bm¡c¡ L−l −h¡T¡−me, ""−n¡e −p¡qj, JM¡−e

−Q±l‰£ 2014 28 Chowrongee 2014

HL¢V Bd¤¢eL l©fLb¡ (ljÉlQe¡) nË£−mM¡ i–¡Q¡kÑ

NË¡−jl S¢jc¡l L¡m£fËpæ l¡−ul fË¡p¡c −b−L −n¡e¡ k¡−μR l¡−N SSÑ¢la! S¢jc¡l f¢lh¡l Ha¢ce ph −ch−ch£l j¤ýj¤Ñý n´MdÆ¢e Bl Em¤l BJu¡Sz −pC BJu¡S ö−e f§−S¡ ¢c−u−Re, OV¡ L−l j¡ea L−l−Re, ¢L¿¹¥ h¡s£l NË¡jh¡p£ ph q¡a −S¡s L−l W¡L¥l fËZ¡j Ll−R - ""k¡L am¡u h¡Ù¹¥¢i−Vu h¡p L−le −k e¡N-e¡¢Ne£, a¡−cl L¡−R ph i¡mu i¡mu q−u −N−R''z −R−ml ¢hh¡−ql fl c£OÑ B−hce, ¢e−hce ¢LR¥C L−le ¢ez i£oZ i¥m L−l cnhRl A−fr¡ L−l S¢jc¡l h¡s£−a g¥VÚg¥−V e¡aÚe£ −g−m−Re, j¡ jep¡l Lb¡ j−eC f−s¢e ay¡−clz ph¡C H−p−Rz hý W¡L¥l −cha¡l L¡−R hý p¡dÉp¡de¡, f§−S¡- aVÙÛ q−u p−l ¢N−u−Re O−ll −L¡−Z, j¡ jep¡ ay¡l BμQ¡, j¡ea Ll¡l fl Ha¢c−e W¡L¥l j¤M a¥−m lš²Qr¥ ¢hØg¡¢la L−l BP¥m a¥−m n¡f ¢c−me ""HC −Q−u−Rez l¡u¢Næ£ −a¡ HMeJ W¡L¥l-O−ll −hc£−a j¡b¡ −j−ul p¡l¡S£he k¡−h l¡æ¡O−l l¡æ¡ Ll−a Ll−a; h¡s£- −W¢L−u ¢nöLeÉ¡l j‰m L¡je¡ Ll−Rez BS ¢ae¢ce Ol-−c¡l p¡g Ll¡, h¡pe j¡S¡, L¡fs L¡Q¡, HC Ll−a ¢a¢e I O−l −L¡elLj SmØfnÑ e¡ L−l dZÑ¡ ¢c−u h−p q−h p¡l¡S£he d−l; f¢lnËj Ll−a q−h Ecu¡Ù¹, pL¡m B−Rez f§−S¡ H−p −N−R, p¡j−e j¡ c¤NÑ¡l fË¢aj¡, X¡−Ll −b−L R¥−V¡R¥¢V L−l −k−a q−h Olpwp¡l p¡jm¡−a, ¢e:nÄ¡p p¡−S Af§hÑi¡−h p¢‹a −ch£j¡ Bl ay¡l c¤C −j−u −gm¡l pju f¡−h e¡z ""HC h−mC j¡ jep¡ −kje mrÈ£, plüa£, c¤C −R−m N−Zn Bl L¡¢šÑL ph HL H−p¢R−me −aj¢e L¡−m¡ −j−Ol j−dÉ ¢j¢m−u −N−mez Q¡m¢Q−œ Ol S¥−s ÙÛ¡fe¡ Ll¡ l−u−Rz n¡lc£u f§−S¡l Nªq−cha¡ où£ W¡Ll¦Z −a¡ j¡b¡u q¡a ¢c−u h−p pju HLh¡l HC c¡m¡e M¤−m −cJu¡ qu fy¡Q¢c−el SeÉz f−s L¡æ¡L¡¢V p¤¤l¦ L−l ¢c−mez HMe ¢L Ll¡ k¡u? ¢L NË¡jh¡p£l¡ B−p p¡l¡¢ce d−l c−m c−m . . . W¡L¥l −cM¡, L−l HC L−øl S£he −b−L M¡¢eLV¡ j¤¢š² −cJu¡ k¡u? A”¢m −cJu¡, fËp¡c M¡Ju¡, −i¡N ¢halZ Ll¡ Q−m k¡−a HC hÉÙ¹ S£h−el j−dÉJ p¤¤−ch£ p¤¤M, Be¾c J pL¡m −b−L p−åÉ fkÑÉ¿¹z HC pj¡−l¡q Q−m Bp−R f¢lf§ZÑa¡ −f−a f¡−l? ¢a¢e kMe Ni£l ¢Q¿¹¡u jNÀ, fË¢fa¡jq Ej¡fËpæ l¡−ul Bjm −b−Lz aMe qW¡v p¡l¡ fª¢bh£ ïjZ p¡‰ L−l ju§l-l−b L−l e¡aÚe£ p¤¤−ch£l SeÈ¡−e¡l HL¥n¢ce fl BS Bh¡l E−s L¡¢šÑL H−p q¡¢Sl q−mez ay¡l HMeJ "hl' −cJu¡ W¡L¥l c¡m¡e M¤−m −cJu¡ q−u−Rz fË¢aj¡l p¡j−e −R¡– h¡¢L B−Rz ¢a¢e hÉ¡f¡l ö−e A¢hm−ð HC ¢hf−cl M¡−V ö−u B−R ¢nöLeÉ¡ - fl−Z mð¡ p¡c¡ S¡j¡, a¡−a pjpÉ¡ pj¡d¡e L−l −gm−mez h−õe, ""B¢j Bn£îÑ¡c −N¡m¡f£, e£m p¤¤−a¡l g¥m −a¡m¡ HjhËuX¡l£l L¡Sz c−m Ll¢R, HC −j−u HLV¥ hs q−mC B−j¢lL¡u b¡L¡l c−m NË¡jh¡p£ Bp−R p¤¤−ch£−L −cM−a, pL−ml q¡−aC p¤¤−k¡N f¡−h Hhw −pM¡−eC −p p¡l¡S£he L¡V¡−hz −pM¡−e ¢LR¥ e¡ ¢LR¥ Efq¡l p¡jNË£z p¤¤M£ S£h−el p−‰ L−W¡l S£he Ja−fË¡ai¡−h S¢s−u ¢L¿¹¥ I ¢ce A¿¹l£−r k¡ Q−m−R −pV¡ Bjl¡ −cM−a B−R - a¡C ph ¢cL ¢c−u Bj¡−cl pL−ml f¡¢μR e¡z j¡ c¤NÑ¡ −e−j H−p fËb−jC Bn£îÑ¡c Ll−me i¢hoÉvh¡Z£l j¤Mlr¡ q−hz'' ¢nö−L - ""−j−u fË¢aj¡l jae p¤¤¾cl Bl p¤¤mrZ¡ q−hz'' mrÈ£J j¡−ul ¢fRe ¢fRe H−p hl ¢c−me nË£−mM¡ i–¡Q¡kÑ 34 hRl −X¢ip-Hl h¡¢p¾c¡, fËL«¢a, ""depÇf−cl −L¡e¢ce −L¡e Ai¡h q−h e¡, ¢QlL¡m ïjZ, J h¡wm¡ p¡¢q−aÉl fË¢a Ae¤l¡N£z p¡μR−mÉl j−dÉ ¢ce L¡V−hz'' a¡lfl H−me −ch£ plüa£ - ""¢h−cÉ h¤¢Ül −L¡e LjÚ¢a q−h e¡ - N¡−e, e¡−Q −k ¢c−L je −c−h −p¢c−LC p¡gmÉ Bp−hz'' Hh¡l ¢p¢Üc¡a¡ N−Z−nl f¡m¡ - ""öd¤ ¢hcÉ¡h¤¢Ü b¡L−mC −a¡ q−h e¡, Q¡C ¢ÙÛla¡, d£la¡ J ¢hQrZa¡; −p …−ZJ …Zju£ q−h ¢nöLeÉ¡z'' L¡¢šÑL ay¡l ju§lh¡qe ¢e−u fª¢bh£l Qa¥¢cÑ−L E−s −hs¡−μRe, a¡C Bp−a HLV¥ −cl£ q−μRz C¢aj−dÉ qW¡v L¡−m¡ −jO L−l hSÊ-¢hcÉ¥v pq−k¡−N hª¢ø p¤¤l¦ q−m¡z NË¡jh¡p£l¡ −k k¡l Olh¡s£l ¢c−L R¥V−m¡z

−pC L¡−m¡ AåL¡−ll j−dÉ H−p q¡¢Sl q−me j¡ jep¡,

−Q±l‰£ 2014 29 Chowrongee 2014

¢pe¡C-Hl p§−kÑ¡cu −N±aj plL¡l

Ha p¤¤¾cl, Ha j−e¡lj S¡uN¡ B¢j p¢aÉC Bl −L¡b¡J Q¡u e¡z J¢c−L e¡¢L f−c f−c ¢hfc, k¤Ü pwœ²¡¿¹z −c¢M¢ez f¡q¡s Bl pj¤â f¡n¡f¡¢nz f¡q¡−sl lw L¡lZ B−nf¡−nl ph −cnC e¡¢L claim L−l −k f¡V¢L−m, Bl pj¤−âl, AhnÉC e£mz ¢L¿¹¥ p§−kÑl B−m¡u ¢pe¡C-−f¢eep¤¤m¡ a¡−cl, Bl a¡C ¢e−uC ka −M−u¡−M¢uz −pC f¡V¢L−m Bl e£m l−Pl −k La "lLj' h¡q¡l qu, A−eL L−ø HLSe−L −S¡N¡s Ll¡ −Nm, HLV¡ a¡ e¡ −cM−m ¢hnÄ¡p Ll¡ L¢Wez Bl Q¡¢l ¢c−L öd¤ private car-H Bj¡−L ¢e−u k¡h¡l SeÉz ¢L¿¹¥ j¤n¢Lm h¡¢m Bl h¡¢mz H−a¡ h¡¢mJ ¢Rm H fª¢bh£−a? a¡lC qm i¡o¡ pjpÉ¡; Bj¡l L¡−R Bl¢h k¡, Jyl L¡−R j¡−T H¢cL-J¢cL ¢LR¥ LÉ¡LV¡p S¡a£u …mÈ N¢S−u Cw−l¢SJ ¢WL a¡C, H−Lh¡−l k¡−L h−m "i¡y−s j¡ B−R M¡f-R¡s¡ i¡−hz HM¡−e J−cl Ef¢ÙÛ¢aV¡ −Lje ih¡e£'! a¡C q¡a-f¡ e¡s¡eC q−u cy¡s¡−m¡ −h¡T¡-h¤¢Tl −ke Ak¡a£a A¢a¢bl j−a¡z Hje cªnÉ pQl¡Ql −cM¡ HLj¡œ j¡dÉjz ¢WL B−R, a¡CC pCz HL¢ce −i¡−l k¡u e¡z −c−M je i−l −N−m¡z ¢L¿¹¥ HM¡−e Bp¡l B−N −h¢s−u fsm¡jz Plan-V¡ ¢Rm −j¡V¡j¤¢V HC −k L¡u−l¡ HCp−hl ¢LR¥C Bj¡l S¡e¡ ¢Rm e¡z −k SeÉ ¢pe¡C- −b−L p¤¤−uS q−u, Gulf of Suez hl¡hl c¢r−Z k¡Ju¡, −f¢eep¤¤m¡u −N¢Rm¡j, a¡ qm HLV¡ "Ap¡d¡lZ p§−kÑ¡cu' Bl HLC f−b −gla Bp¡z AeÉ −L¡e ¢c−L k¡Ju¡ −cM¡z Bl a¡ −cM−a q−m p¡l¡ l¡a trek L−l EW−a Qm−h e¡z L¡lZ j¤n¢Lm qm Bj¡l A¡−j¢lL¡e q−h j¡E¾V ¢pe¡C h¡ j¡E¾V −j¡−pp-Hl Jfl, k¡l −L¡−m f¡p−f¡VÑz I SeÉC Bj¡l e¡¢L Cpl¡−u−ml …çQl qh¡l B−R fª¢bh£l ph−Q−u f¤l−e¡ Q¡QÑ, ""−p¾V LÉ¡b¢le''z HC pj§q pñ¡he¡z L¡lZ I "q¡l¡¢j' A¡−j¢lL¡C −k f¡q¡−sl Jf−l e¡¢L Moses üuw iNh¡−el L¡R −b−L Cpl¡−um−L Cåe −k¡N¡uz k¡l −S¡−lC e¡¢L Cpl¡−u−ml ""10 Commandments''-Hl ¢e−cÑn −f−u¢R−me, k¡ Ha c¡fV, Bl −pC c¡f−VC e¡¢L Jl¡ ¢pe¡C- ¢Le¡ flhaÑ£ L¡−m q−u J−W ¢MËØV d−jÑl A-B-L-Mz −f¢eep¤¤m¡u "h¡h¤' q−u h−p ¢Rm −hn ¢LR¥¢cez ¢ae HCph S¢Vm information comprehend Ll¡l ¢aeh¡l k¤Ü L−l a−hC ¢pe¡C-−f¢eep§m¡l −hn M¡¢eLV¡ rja¡ h¡ h¤¢Üjš¡, −L¡eV¡C Bj¡l −eCz −kV¡ ¢Rm, a¡ −gla −f−u−R ¢jnlz HCph abÉ ¢L Bl Bj¡l j¡b¡u qm I "Ap¡d¡lZ p§−kÑ¡cu' −cM¡l CμR¡z "Ap¡d¡lZ' HC −Y¡−L? Bj¡l öd¤ I HLV¡C pðm, I "CμR¡'V¡z a¡R¡s¡ L¡l−Z, −k p§kÑV¡ e¡¢L f¡q¡−sl am¡ −b−L j¡¢V gy¥−s I 2000 hR−ll f¤l−e¡, f¡R¡-g¡V¡ m¤¢‰l j−a¡ ¢L ph Ecu qu, f¡q¡−sl Jfl cy¡s¡−m k¡ ¢L e¡ j−e qu −ke R¡m-h¡Lm fl¡, dÉ¡ldÉ¡−l −N¡¢h¾cf¤−ll Mr. Moses f¡−ul am¡ −b−L p§−kÑ¡cuz c¡¢SÑ¢m−Pl V¡CN¡l¢qm −b−L k¢c a¡ −c−M b¡L−a f¡−le, a¡q−m A¡−j¢lL¡u b¡L¡ HC Bm¡ú¡l j¡E¾V jÉ¡¢Le−m, LeÉ¡L¥j¡¢lL¡ ¢œ-p¡N−ll p‰j Bd¤¢eL B¢jC h¡ a¡ f¡lh e¡ −Le? c¤f¤l 12-V¡ −b−L p¡Eb-B¢éL¡l Cape of Good Hope, Bj¡l e¡N¡c −p¾V LÉ¡b¢le −fy±R¡−e¡ −Nmz HC Q¡−QÑ e¡¢L ¢j−e−p¡V¡l h¡¢sl L¡−Rl −NËV-−mL p¤¤¢f¢lJl −b−L Bj¡l j−a¡ Af¢hœ e¡¢Ù¹−Ll −Y¡L¡ h¡lZz ¢L¿¹¥ B¢j −k h¢m¢iu¡l fª¢bh£l EμQaj-−mL ¢V¢VL¡L¡, l¡SÙÛ¡−el Af¢hœ a¡C h¡ S¡e−R −L? i¡hm¡j Ha c§l kMe jl¦i¥¢j −b−L B¢éL¡l p¡q¡l¡, AÉ¡¢l−S¡e¡l NËÉ¡ä- H−pC¢R, Y¥−LC f¢s e¡ HLh¡l, ¢LC h¡ Bl q−h? LÉ¡¢eue −b−L A−ØVÊ¢mu¡l Em¤l¦-lL, Hje¢L −fl¦l −c−MC ¢e e¡, ¢L Hje ¢S¢ep B−R Hl −ia−l, k¡ ¢e−u AÉ¡j¡Se S‰−ml j¡Q¥¢fQ¥-−aJ p§−kÑ¡cu h¡ p§kÑÙ¹ −cM¡l ¢Le¡ j¤pmj¡e, ¢MËØV¡e Bl Cýc£−cl j−dÉ Ha m¡W¡m¡¢W, −p±i¡NÉ q−u−R Bj¡l; ¢L¿¹¥ a¡C h−m f¡−ul am¡ −b−L Ha ¢MV−Lmz a¡R¡s¡ fup¡ Ep¤¤m Ll¡lJ −a¡ HLV¡ j¡¢V gy¥−s? e¡x −ajeV¡ B−N LM−e¡ ö¢e¢ez HCph hÉ¡f¡l B−R, H−a¡ MlQ-MlQ¡¿¹ L−l Hm¡j HÉ¡Ÿ¥l . . . ö−e-V¥−e I "C−μR'V¡ j−e H−Lh¡−l Sy¡¢L−u hp−m¡, z ¢L¿¹¥ I −k ¢h−hL h−m ¢L −ke HLV¡ B−R e¡? a¡l −m¡iV¡ Bl p¡jm¡−a f¡lm¡j e¡z Bl k¡C −q¡L, HV¡ −S¡l¡S¥¢ll L¡−RC −q−l −Nm¡jz −Le S¡¢e e¡ j−e qm −cM−a −N−m Bj¡−L iNh¡e h¡ djÑ −h¡T¡l j−a¡ −L¡e −k, B¢j HC ¢NSÑ¡u Y¥L−m h¡¢s h−u H−p −S¡l L−l Ap¡d¡lZ rja¡l A¢dL¡l£ q−a q−h e¡, k¡ ¢Le¡ Bj¡l L¡E−L ApeÈ¡e Ll¡ q−hz a¡ B¢j f¡lh e¡z a¡C H−Lh¡−ll −eCz a¡C ¢WL L−l −gmm¡j, −k HV¡ e¡ h¡C−l −b−LC −cMm¡jz −hn −cM−az A¡−j¢lL¡l j−a¡ −c−M B¢j ¢jnl-−cn −R−s es¢R e¡z ¢L¿¹¥ B¢j ¢WL hs, Bl ea¥e h¡ "fast' −c−n b¡L−m k¡ qu; 500 Ll−mC h¡ ¢L? −pM¡−e k¡h ¢L L−l? l¡Ù¹¡ O¡VC −k j¡Cm −L¡e c§laÆC eu, Bl 500 hRl A−eL ¢cez −aje −eC; k¡ B−R a¡ A¢a eNeÉ, Bl a¡lJ a¡C c¤C q¡S¡l hR−ll f¤l−e¡ ¢LR¥ HLV¡ −cM¢R, −i−h −hn£li¡NC e¡¢L håz −Lee¡ −LEC −k −p¢c−L −k−a j−e −Lje −ke HLV¡ −l¡j¡’ Bl ¢nqle qmz ¢L¿¹¥

−Q±l‰£ 2014 30 Chowrongee 2014

hÉ¡p, IV¥L¥Cz Spiritual ¢LR¥C feel Llm¡j e¡z j−e L¡V¡−a, B¢j kMe p¡l¡ l¡a trek −L¡lh; L¡lZ je¤oÉ j−e HLV¥ q¡pm¡j, −L¡e spirit b¡L−m a−h e¡ piÉa¡ e¡¢L HM¡−eC −noz BμR¡, n¡¢¿¹ My¥−S f¡Ju¡V¡ ¢L spiritual feel Ll¡ k¡u, Bj¡l −k Hp−hl "¢Lp¤¤C' HaC c¤úl? k¢c h¡ HM¡−e HLV¥ p¤¤−k¡N qm...... z ¢L Bl −eCz E−ÒV¡¢c−L −R¡−V¡ HLV¡ ¢Vm¡l Jf−l HLcm Ll¡? −h¢l−u fsm¡jz p−åÉl B−NC −fy±−R −Nm¡j j¡E¾V ¢MËØV¡e −m¡L −L¡e HLV¡ "service'-H hÉÙ¹ ¢Rm ¢pe¡Cz j−e j−e HLV¥ iuC f¡¢μRm¡j, f¡lh −a¡? −cMm¡jz Jl¡ −kph j¿» BEl¡¢μRm, a¡l j−dÉ −Lje Driver −a¡ Bj¡u f¡q¡−sl −L¡−m −g−m −l−M −L−V −ke HLV¡ n¡¢¿¹l h¡aÑ¡ ¢Rmz ¢WL −kjeV¡ qu; kMe fs−h, Bl a¡lfl? ¢L¿¹¥ JM¡−e ¢N−u −hn ¢LR¥ pwú«a j¿» h¡ −Ù¹¡œ "−aje' L−l, −LE −aje "Nm¡u' CE−l¡¢fJ ¢h−cn£−cl −c−M d−s −ke HLV¥ fË¡Z Hmz "f¡W' Ll−a f¡−lez Bj¡l −R¡V−hm¡u jq¡mu¡ ö−e O¤j a¡l¡ −cMm¡j ph H−Lh¡−l ¢hmL¥m ready, trekking- −b−L JW¡l Lb¡ j−e f−s −Nm, ¢h−l¾cÊ L«o· i−âl −p ¢L Hl p¡S-pl”¡j ¢e−uz Bl B¢j? p¡−b öd¤ HLV¡ Ap¡j¡eÉ cra¡u −Ù¹¡œ f¡W! −i−hC N¡−u Ly¡V¡ ¢c−m¡z S−ml −h¡amz I −k h−m e¡, h¡‰¡m£−cl ¢Lpp¤¤ q−h e¡z Jy−cl c¤-HL S−el fl−e p¡c¡ BmM¡õ¡l j−a¡ ¢LR¥ HLV¡ B¢jC a¡l q¡−a-Nlj Ec¡qlez HM¡−e e¡¢L HMe ph j−e qm, qu−a¡ Jl¡C f¤−l¡¢qaz Jy−cl p¡−b ¢N−u Bm¡f ¢S−l¡−μR, M¡e¡¢fe¡ JEl, ¢h−cn£−cl k¡ qu, Q¥j¤-Q¡j¤z Ll−a C−μR Llm, a¡lfl i¡hm¡j e¡ b¡L, J−cl fË¡bÑe¡ −cMm¡j phC Qm−R −hn i¡−m¡ lLjz B¢j ¢L L¢l, ¢L i‰ Llh e¡, B¢j−a¡ Bl −p rja¡l A¢dL¡l£ q−a L¢l i¡h−a i¡h−aC ¢hlš² q−u −Nm¡jz ¢L¿¹¥ HL¡ HL¡ f¡lm¡j e¡, J−cl f−bC h¡ h¡d¡ q−h¡ −Le? H¢cL J¢cL −k H¢N−u k¡h, a¡l p¡qpJ −eC h¤−Lz HM¡−e H−p¢R −a¡ gÉ¡ gÉ¡ L−l O¤−l −hs¡m¡j −hn M¡¢erez i¡h¢Rm¡j HL¡C, ¢L¿¹¥ a¡lfl −b−L HC HL¡L£−aÆl iuV¡ −Lje iNh¡e −hQ¡¢l−L ¢e−u Ha j¡l¡j¡¢l −Le? e¡¢L j¡l¡j¡¢lV¡ −ke NË¡p Ll−a öl¦ L−l−R Bj¡uz Bl a¡l Jfl HC Bp−m S¢j cM−ml, HC ¢pe¡C-−f¢eep¤¤m¡l cMm −eh¡l CE−l¡¢¢fJ−cl −c−M Bj¡l AhÙÛ¡, k¡−L h−m "−O¡s¡ ja? Bj¡l ¢ae −j−ul Lb¡ j−e f−l −Nmz BμR¡, Jl¡ −c−M −My¡s¡'z Lb¡h¡aÑ¡ h−m k¡ h¤Tm¡j a¡ qm Hyl¡ l¡a k¢c −L¡e¢ce Bj¡−L ¢e−u j¡l¡j¡¢l öl¦ L−l −cu, a¡q−m 11-V¡ e¡N¡c trekking öl¦ Ll−h, Jf−l −fy±R−a B¢j −L¡e ¢c−L k¡h? −hQ¡¢l iNh¡e, Ee¡l −k ¢L ¢ec¡l¦e −fy±R−a l¡a 4-−Vz a¡l −hn£ −cl£ Ll¡ k¡−h e¡, L¡le AhÙÛ¡! Ee¡l −a¡ ¢e−SlC An¡¢¿¹l −no −eC, Bl ay¡l L¡−RC ¢Le¡ −m¡−L n¡¢¿¹ ¢ir¡ L−lz HLV¡ Blh B−m¡ g¥V−a öl¦ L−l −c−hz Hp−hl ¢LR¥C Bj¡l S¡e¡ −hc¤¢ue−LJ −cMm¡j, E−Vl ¢f−W L−l k¡−μRz −l¡−c QV¡, ¢Rm e¡z öd¤ S¡ea¡j −k pL¡m 9-V¡l j−dÉC Bj¡−L L¡m−Q-a¡j¡−V N¡−ul lw, Bl q¡l ¢Nm¢N−m, l¦r −Qq¡l¡; −e−j Bp−a q−h, L¡le driver Bj¡l SeÉ A−fr¡ −M−a f¡u e¡ −h¡dquz N¡−u na¢Ræ S¡j¡L¡fsz −c−M j−e L−l b¡L−hz ö−e pL−m hmm −k JV¡ e¡¢L −L¡e qu hRl L−uL pÀ¡e L−l¢e J; H¢c−L SmC h¡ f¡−h hÉ¡f¡lC e¡, p§−kÑ¡cu 6-V¡l j−dÉC −no, a¡lfl e¡j−a −L¡b¡u? f¡−u −cMm¡j −R¡f −R¡f −j−l p¡c¡ M¢l EW−R, O¾V¡ Bs¡C - ¢a−el −hn£ m¡N−h e¡z j−e j−e ¢WL N¡−uJ ¢eÕQC −iy¡VL¡ Nåz Jyl E−Vl ¢f−WJ HLV¡ na¢Ræ L−l ¢em¡j −k Hy−cl p¡−bC EW−h¡z l¡a 11-V¡ e¡N¡c nal¢’l j−a¡ ¢LR¥ HLV¡, W¡ä¡ −b−L hy¡Q¡l SeÉC Jf−l JW¡ öl¦ qmz M¤h p¤¤¾cl Qy¡c E−W−R, l©fp£- −h¡dquz −c−M j¡u¡ qmz BμR¡, Jl ¢L hE B−R? −R−m, ¢L−n¡l£ −kez Jl l©−fl RV¡u Q¡¢l¢c−L l¦−f¡m£, ¢QL −j−u? a¡l¡ ¢L −M−a f¡u? p¤¤M −k −eC, a¡ −a¡ −cM¡C ¢QL L−l Qm−L fl−R −pC l©fz −pC Ef−Q fl¡ l¦−fl k¡−μR, ¢L¿¹¥ n¡¢¿¹? −pV¡ ¢L Bj¡l −b−L JylC −hn£? B−m¡u fb −c−M, Bl j−e j−e Bj¡−cl pL−ml ¢fËu ¢LR¥ c§−l HLV¡ O−ll j−a¡ ¢LR¥ HLV¡ −cM¡ −Nm, "p¢mmc¡'l ""Bj¡l¡ ph¡C ¢j−m p§kÑ −cMh h−m'' N¡eV¡ Ly¥−sOl Bl ay¡h¤l j¡T¡j¡¢T ¢LR¥ HLV¡z JylC q−h N¡C−a N¡C−a kMe Jf−l ¢N−u −fy±R¡m¡j, aar−e Qy¡c −h¡dquz H¢cL-J¢cL, R¢s−u-¢R¢V−u BlJ ¢LR¥ EV, Ae¿¹ −k±he¡, Bl Bj¡l ¢Si −h¢l−u B¢j ¢QafV¡wz …mÈ ¢Q¢h−u ¢S−l¡−μRz J−cl demeanor-HJ −Lje Jf−l −hn W¡ä¡, ¢L¿¹¥ I W¡ä¡V¡−LC h¤−L S¢s−u dl−a −ke "n¡¢¿¹'z −c−M j−e qm −k HC c¤¢eu¡u ¢L OV−R, e¡ CμR¡ Llm, ¢WL a¡C Llm¡jz Qy¡−cl B−m¡V¡ Ef−i¡N OV−R, a¡−a J−cl h−uC −Nmz HC Bf¡a "An¡¿¹' Ll−a Ll−a hl£e Q¡V¥−kÉl −pC p¤¤lV¡ j−e f−l −Nm, ¢pe¡C-−f¢eep¤¤m¡u n¡¢¿¹ My¥−S −fm¡j B¢j! fË¡ZV¡ S¥¢s−u a¡m¡a j¡qj¤−cl N¡Ju¡ ""Qy¡−cl Ha B−m¡''z ¢e−S−L −Nmz I "n¡¢¿¹' ¢c−uC Bj¡l lungs c¤−V¡−L i−l M¤h i¡NÉh¡e j−e qm, −k¡NÉa¡l ¢e¢l−M S£h−e −a¡ La −eJu¡l −Qø¡ Ll¢Rm¡j, Bh¡l L−h −k p¤¤−k¡N q−hz ¢L¿¹¥ ¢LR¥C −hn£ −f−u −Nm¡jz i¡l−a SeÈ¡−e¡l p§−œ HC −pM¡−eJ ¢hf¢šz N¡¢sl driver H−p a¡N¡c¡ m¡N¡m, N¡eV¡, Bl A¡−j¢lL¡u b¡L¡l −c±m−a j¡E¾V ¢pe¡Cz hm−m¡ −k Hh¡l j¡E¾V ¢pe¡C lJe¡ e¡ q−mC euz H−LC h−m Lf¡mz A¿¹a Bj¡l c¡c¡ Bl i¡CV¡−L eu−a¡ JM¡−e Bl pju j−a¡ −fy±R¡e k¡−h e¡, L¡le p¡−b l¡M−a f¡l−m qua HaV¡ Guilty feelings qa Jy−L −k Bh¡l H¢c−LC −gla Bp−a q−h l¡a e¡z ¢L Bl Ll¡ k¡−h, −pV¡J Bj¡l Lf¡mz −R¡V−hm¡u

−Q±l‰£ 2014 31 Chowrongee 2014

pqSf¡−W h¡ ¢Lnm−u f−s¢Rm¡j ""HL¡ HL¡ −Mm¡ k¡u Q¡C−Rz Bj¡l f¡p−f¡VÑV¡ nl£−ll HLV¡ −N¡fe S¡uN¡ e¡, I h¡¢s −b−L LuSe −R−m H−m −hn qu'', Bj¡l −b−L −hl L−l Jy−cl −cM¡m¡jz aMe Jyl¡ Bj¡l ¢c−L −pV¡C j−e f−s −Nmz Qy¡−cl B−m¡V¡ B−Ù¹ B−Ù¹ L−j Ni£l fm−L a¡¢L−u −b−L, ¢e−S−cl j−dÉ ¢L ph −k−a m¡Nm, Bl BL¡nV¡ HLV¥ HLV¥ L−l f¢lú¡l hm¡h¢m Ll−a Ll−a, f¡−nl HLV¡ −Rys¡−M¡l¡ ay¡h¤−a q−a m¡Nmz BL¡−nl lP −h…e£ −b−L −N¡m¡¢f, −N¡m¡¢f Y¥−L −Nmz Bj¡l f¡p−f¡VÑV¡ ¢e−uCz a¡l B−N Bj¡−L −b−L Ljm¡, Ljm¡ −b−L m¡m, Bl a¡l p¡−b p¡−b ¢L ph h−m n¡¢p−u −Nm, k¡l AbÑ HLV¡C qu −k; B¢j BlJ LalL−jl e¡j-e¡-S¡e¡ l−Pl f¢lhaÑe q−a q−a¡ k¢c HL f¡J e¢s, −a¡ Bj¡l S¡e Majz ¢L¿¹¥ e−s k¡hC qV¡v −p¡e¡m£ q−u −Nmz Bl a¡lC gy¡−L HL j¤q¨−aÑ h¡ −L¡b¡u f¡p−f¡VÑ R¡s¡? −hn ¢LR¥re fl Jyl¡ ¢g−l Hm, f¡q¡−sl am¡ −b−L, Bj¡l f¡−ul am¡ −b−L −h−l¡m Bjl f¡p−f¡VÑV¡ q¡−a ¢e−uz d−s −ke fË¡Z ¢g−l −fm¡jz HLV¡ m¡m V¥LV¥−L l−š²l −N¡m¡, j¤q¨−aÑC −kV¡ Bh¡l q−u ¢L¿¹¥ f¡p−f¡VÑV¡ −gla ¢cm e¡z E−ÒV hmm S¡j¡-L¡fs- −Nm HL a¡m −p¡e¡l cm¡z j−e qm −ke q¡−a HLV¡ mð¡ S¥−a¡-−j¡S¡ ph −M¡mz M¤mm¡jz S¡j¡-fÉ¡−¾Vl f−LV…−m¡ T¥mT¡s¥ b¡L−mC JV¡−L HLV¥ Ry¥−u −cM¡ −ka; JV¡ −ke i¡−m¡ L−l search Llm, S¥−a¡ −S¡s¡Jz a¡lfl hmm La L¡−R, Bh¡l La c§−lJz a¡l Hje a£hË l©f, −k −kV¡ h¡¢L B−R, −pV¡J M¤m−a q−h, AbÑ¡v Bj¡l −p¢c−L −Q¡M −gl¡−e¡ k¡u e¡, a¡C a¡ i¡o¡u fËL¡n Ll¡ underwearz B¢j i¡hm¡j, ¢L ¢hfc, HV¡ Bh¡l −Le? Apñhz Sj¡−ua −m¡LSe−cl j−dÉ HLV¡ ý−õ¡s EWm, CaÙ¹a Ll−a m¡Nm¡jz ¢L¿¹¥ Jy−cl Bl¢h q¢ð-a¢ð −b−L a¡lfl ph¡C Q¥fz HLV¡ ¢eÙ¹ìa¡ NË¡p −L¡−l ¢em pLm−Lz k¡ h¤Tm¡j a¡ qm ""Aa pq−S ¢Qy−s ¢iS−h e¡ Qy¡c¤, a¥¢j Bj¡l es¡Qs¡ Ll¡l rja¡V¡C q¡¢l−u −N−m¡ −hn JM¡e −b−LC −a¡j¡l f¡p−f¡VÑV¡ h¡l L−l−R¡, p¤¤al¡w JM¡−e ¢LR¥r−el SeÉz a¡lC j−dÉ ¢LR¥ R¢h −a¡m¡, Bl c¤-HL BlJ ¢L ¢L m¤L¡−e¡ B−R a¡ Bjl¡ −cM−a Q¡C''z ¢j¢e−Vl HLV¡ video record Ll¡z Hlfl e¡j¡l f¡m¡z Bj¡l XÊ¡Ci¡−ll ¢c−L BL¥¢a ¢e−u HLh¡l a¡L¡m¡j, −k e¡j−a ¢N−u La ¢LR¥C j−e H−m¡, HC fª¢bh£V¡ La p¤¤¾cl, a¥¢j A¿¹a H−cl i¡o¡V¡ S¡−e¡, ¢LR¥ HLV¡ L−l¡z ¢L¿¹¥ Jyl Bjl¡ −Le −k Ha TNs¡-j¡l¡j¡¢l L¢l, HC phz j¡b¡u −Q¡−Ml Cp¡l¡u k¡ h¤Tm¡j a¡ −q¡m, Jyl¡ k¡ k¡ hm−R a¡C HLV¡ ¢Q¿¹¡ ¢RmC, k¢c N¡¢sV¡ pju j−a¡ e¡ B−p, ¢Lð¡ Ll¡C −nËuz ¢e−S−L −h¡T¡−e¡l −Qø¡ Llm¡j −k H Bl H−Lh¡−lC e¡ B−p? ¢jnl£u−cl pju ‘É¡−el k¡ h¢mq¡¢lz Hje ¢L? Gym-H ¢N−u py¡a¡l L¡V¡l fl, h¡ lÉ¡−LV-hm pju pœ²¡¿¹ ¢LR¥ ¢S−NÉp Ll−mC Hyl¡ h−m ""Hep¡ Bõ¡'', −Mm¡l fl Hje −a¡ fË¡u fË¢a pç¡−qC L−l b¡¢L; men’s AbÑ¡v −L¡e OVe¡ pju j−a¡ OV−h ¢Le¡, h¡ B−c± OV−h locker room-H pL−ml p¡−b E−c¡j q−u pÀ¡e L¢l, cy¡¢s ¢Le¡ a¡l f¤−l¡V¡C ""Bõ¡''l j¢SÑl Jfl ¢eiÑln£mz L¡j¡Cz HjeV¡C −a¡ L−l Bp¢R A¡−j¢lL¡u k¡Ju¡ CÙ¹Lz c¡¢uaÆ Hs¡−e¡l ¢L pqS pj¡d¡ez i¡la −b−L pl¡p¢l JM¡−e −a¡ HV¡C −lJu¡Sz p¤¤al¡w H−a Bl O¡hs¡−e¡l ¢L HM¡−e H−m qua HaV¡ −Q¡−M fsa e¡, L¡lZ Bj¡−clJ B−R? h¤T−a f¡lm¡j −k Bj¡l HC A¡−j¢lL¡e −a¡ I HLC lLj pju ‘É¡e, k¢cJ Bjl¡ pQl¡Ql f¡p−f¡VÑV¡C HC j¤q¨−aÑ Bj¡l ka ¢hf¢šl L¡lZz a¡C iNh¡e−L Hl j−dÉ Ss¡C e¡z ¢L¿¹¥ S£h−el −hn£li¡NV¡C Jy−cl −h¡T¡−e¡l −Qø¡ Llm¡j −k B¢j Bc−a i¡la£Jz A¡−j¢lL¡u b¡L¡l fl? M¤hC −Q¡−M f−s, ¢hl¢š² m¡−N, L¡u−l¡, Bl ¢jn−ll AeÉ¡eÉ −hn ¢LR¥ S¡uN¡u ¢ce L−uL Bh¡l q¡¢pJ f¡uz ¢Q¿¹¡V¡ ¢e−Q e¡j¡l pju a¡C j¡b¡u B−NC −O¡l¡l p¤¤h¡−c S¡ea¡j −k HC ¢jnl£ul¡ Bj¡−cl −hn i¡−m¡lLjC O¤lf¡L M¡¢μRmz ¢L¿¹¥ ¢e−Q −e−j −c¢M Bollywood-Hl R¢hl M¤h iš², TV-−a HM¡−e p¡l¡¢ceC Bj¡l N¡¢s Ef¢ÙÛa, a¡−a Y¥−LC N¡-V¡ H¢m−u ¢cm¡jz ‐subtitle LMe −k O¤¢j−u f−s¢Rm¡j a¡ S¡¢e e¡, Lare −k I ¢q¢¾c R¢h −cM¡−e¡ qu; Bl¢h p−jaz a¡R¡s¡ i¡−h −L−V−R a¡J S¡¢e e¡z HLV¡ °q-qõ¡u O¤jV¡ −i−‰ fª¢bh£l ¢h¢iæ fË¡−¿¹ O¤−l Bj¡l HC d¡le¡C q−u−R −k, −Nmz −c¢M Bj¡l N¡¢s ¢O−l −hn ¢LR¥ −m¡LSez ay¡−cl i¡la£u−cl Jfl ¢h−no L¡−l¡ −aje −L¡e l¡N −eC; k¢cJ q¡−a h¾c¥L, j¡b¡u f¡Ns£, j¤−Ml −hn£li¡NV¡C Y¡L¡, fl−e HMe Bj¡l f¡¢LÙÛ¡e ïj−Zl −p±i¡NÉ qu¢ez hlw, Bj¡−cl ¢jnl£u "N¡−m−hu¡'z i−u lš² H−Lh¡−l ¢qj q−u −Nmz pÇf−LÑ A−e−LlC "n¡¿¹-¢nø-mÉ¡S-¢h¢nø' HC dl−el HLV¡ d¡le¡ B−Rz a¡C Bj¡l i¡la£uaÆ −h¡T¡−a Hyl¡ ¢L H−Lh¡−l −j−lC −gm−h e¡¢L? −j−u ¢ae−Vl j¤M…−m¡ −Q¡−Ml p¡j−e −i−p EW−m¡, a¡lfl ph¢LR¥C Bollyywood-Hl ¢Qœ a¡lL¡−cl e¡j L−l −Lje −ke T¡fp¡z O¤−jl −O¡−l −L¡e üfÀ −cM¢R e¡ −a¡? B−h¡ma¡−h¡m hL−a öl¦ Llm¡jz qu a¡−aC L¡S qm, ea¥h¡ Bj¡−L Jy−cl HL h¡dÉ-EeÈ¡c h−m j−e qm; −c¢M Jyl¡ Bj¡l driver-V¡−L N¡¢s −b−L −V−e e¡j¡−μRz Bj¡l Jfl Jy−cl p−¾cqV¡C −h¡dqu Q−m Nmz Bj¡l a¡lflC h¾c¥Ld¡l£ HLSe N¡¢s−a E−W Hm, Bl aæ underwear aæ L−l N¡¢sl −ialV¡l aõ¡¢p ¢emz a¡lfl Bj¡−LJ Bl −M¡m¡l clL¡l qm e¡z f¡p−f¡VÑV¡ e¡j−a hmmz i−u Ssps q−u, bl bl L−l Ly¡f−a −gla ¢c−u ¢f−W HLV¡ Q¡fs −j−l HL h¾c¥Ld¡l£ hmm Ly¡f−a B¢j e¡jm¡jz Bj¡l L¡−R ¢LR¥ HLV¡ Q¡Cmz S¡j¡ fÉ¡¾V f−l ¢e−az QVfV a¡C Llm¡jz a¡lfl Jyl¡ Bj¡l XÊ¡Ci¡−ll p¡−b ¢L −ke HLV¡ ¢j¢Vw Llm, Bj¡l driver Bj¡−L −h¡T¡m −k Jyl¡ Bj¡l ID

−Q±l‰£ 2014 32 Chowrongee 2014

Bj¡l p¡j−eCz XÊ¡Ci¡l N¡¢s−a Y¥−L, p¡−b −k map Xm¡l L¡j¡h¡l osk¿»? −L S¡−e, Bj¡−L qu−a¡ Hyl¡ ¢e−u −N¢Rm¡j, a¡l Jfl BP¥m ¢c−u ¢c−u Bj¡−L −L¡−e¡ "j¡m'-c¡l f¡¢VÑ W¡E−l−Rz Bl B¢j "j¡m'-c¡l −h¡T¡m −k Bjl¡ −k l¡Ù¹¡ ¢c−u B−Nl ¢ce H−p¢Rm¡j, e¡ q−mC h¡ ¢L? A¡−j¢lL¡e −a¡ h−Vz HLV¡ cj hå a¡ hå q−u −N−R, AeÉ O¤l-f−b ¢gl−a q−hz öd¤ a¡C Ll¡ iu −Q−f hp−a öl¦ Llm h¤−Lz HLV¡ jamh eu, Bjl¡ k¡−a Jy−cl p¡−b −L¡elLj Rm¡-Lm¡ L−l H−m¡ j¡b¡uz Bj¡l k¢c ¢LR¥ HLV¡ q−u k¡u, a¡q−m AeÉ −L¡e l¡Ù¹¡u Q−m e¡ k¡C, a¡l SeÉ Jyl¡ J−cl HLV¡ ¢LR¥ A¿¹a −l−M k¡C Bj¡l −j−u…−m¡l SeÉ, −m¡L f¡W¡−μR HLV¡ S£−f, Jyl¡ p¡j−e p¡j−e fb −c¢M−u k¡−a J−cl S¡e¡l HLV¡ r£Z pñ¡he¡ b¡−L −k J−cl ¢e−u k¡−h, Bjl¡ öd¤ −pC f−bC Jy−cl follow L−l h¡h¡ −L¡b¡u −h−O¡−l fË¡ZV¡ ¢c−u−Rz −kC i¡h¡, Aj¢e L−l −k−a f¡lh, e−Qv euz Bl −hn£ hÉ¡Nlh¡C L¡Sz Camera-u HLV¡ card i−l a¡−a Bj¡l Ll−mC, ¢Yp¤¤jz ph ¢LR¥−aC l¡¢S qm¡jz ¢L¿¹¥ a¡−aJ HLV¡ R¢h a¥mm¡j, HLV¡ −j¡rj selfie. p¡−b Bj¡l lr¡ −eCz HLSe H−p ýj¢L ¢cm −k Bj¡l camera- XÊ¡Ci¡−llJ HLV¡ R¢hz HLV¡ ¢i¢XJ −lLXÑ Llm¡j, ¢L V¡ HM¡−e −l−M −k−a q−hz −p ¢L? a¡ ¢L L−l pñh? AhÙÛ¡l j−dÉ f−s¢R a¡l HLV¡ −R¡V hZÑe¡ ¢c−uz a¡lfl Bj¡l −k ¢jn−ll A−eL S¡uN¡C −O¡l¡ h¡L£ HM−e¡z −pC card-V¡ camera −b−L h¡l L−l f¡L −j−l Ry¥−s LÉ¡−jl¡ R¡s¡ Qm−h ¢L L−l? Bj¡l H−a¡ p¡−dl j¡E¾V −g−m ¢cm¡j N¡¢sl h¡C−lz i¡m −LE k¢c HV¡ L¥¢s−u ¢pe¡C−ul p§−kÑ¡c−ul R¢h…−m¡J −a¡ HlC −ialz L¡L¥¢a f¡u, HC Bn¡uz qW¡v p¡j−el S£fV¡ cy¡¢s−u fsm, ¢je¢a Llm¡jz −L¡e m¡i −q¡m e¡z Jy−cl Lb¡ qm −k −pC Ae¤k¡u£ Bjl¡Jz Bl ¢WL aMeC Bj¡l −Mu¡m Jyl¡ Q¡u e¡ −k B¢j HM¡eL¡l l¡Ù¹¡-O¡V, −QL−f¡ØV, qm −k B¢j HC j¡œ Jy−cl−L −cJu¡ Lb¡l −Mm¡f Hp−hl R¢h a¥¢m h¡ −pCph R¢h HM¡eL¡l h¡C−l k¡Lz L−l¢R, HC aõ¡−V Bl −L¡−e¡ R¢h a¥m−h¡ e¡ hm¡l B¢j −h¡mm¡j ¢WL B−R, a¡C pCz Lb¡ ¢cm¡j −k B¢j flJ Bh¡l R¢h a¥−m¢Rz Bj¡l BaÈ¡l¡j My¡Q¡z HC aõ¡−Vl Bl −L¡e R¢h a¥mh e¡, Bl already i¡hm¡j HC −l, Jl¡ ¢eÕQuC c§lh£e ¢c−u Bj¡l R¢h −a¡m¡ R¢h…¢ml j−dÉ Jy−cl −k…−m¡ fR¾c eu, −p…−m¡ −a¡m¡ h¡ ¢LR¥ HLV¡ Ry¥−s −gm¡l L£¢aÑ-Lm¡f −c−M−R; delete L−l ¢c¢μRz Jyl¡ hmm I −k p¡j−e S£−f Hh¡l a¡l Sh¡h Q¡C−hz B¢j ¢L Sh¡h¢c¢q Llh? HMe Bj¡−cl −m¡L −a¡j¡−cl fb −c¢M−u ¢e−u k¡h¡l SeÉ ¢L L¢l? S£f −b−L c¤Se h¾c¥Ld¡l£ −e−j −fR−e A−fr¡ Ll−R, Jyl¡ ¢L −a¡j¡l j¡j¡? −k −a¡j¡u R¢h Bj¡−cl N¡¢sV¡l ¢c−L Bp−a m¡N−m¡z B¢j öd¤ Bj¡l delete Ll−a pju −c−h? Bj¡l −cJu¡ Lb¡l ¢i¢š−a heart beatV¡C öe−a f¡l¢Rm¡jz Jyl¡ H−p hmm −k k¢cJ h¡ camera-V¡−a R¡s −cJu¡ k¡u, Jl −ia−ll Bjl¡ HLV¡ junction-H H−p f−s¢Rz Jyl¡ Bl R¢h p−ja card-V¡ ¢LR¥−aC Jyl¡ HM¡e −b−L −hl−a Bj¡−cl fb −cM¡−h e¡z Bjl¡ X¡e ¢c−Ll l¡Ù¹¡ dl−m O¤l f−b p¤¤−uS q−u L¡u−l¡ −fy±−R k¡hz Bl −L¡elLj −c−h e¡z ¢L Llh? I card-V¡−aC lg¡ Llm¡j, SD −hu¡c¢h L−l hy¡ ¢c−L k¡h¡l fy¡ua¡l¡ Lo−mC, ¢Yp¤¤jz memory card-V¡ h¡l L−l Jy−cl ¢c−u ¢cm¡jz −k Jyl¡ Jy−cl S£−f −gla −Nm, ¢L¿¹¥ W¡u h−p b¡Lm p§−kÑ¡c−ul hZÑe¡ −cJu¡ L¡lJ f−r pñh eu; −pC Bj¡l −L¡e l¡Ù¹¡ d¡¢l, a¡ −cM¡l SeÉz Bjl¡ X¡e p§−kÑ¡c−ul R¢h…−m¡ p−ja, −pC p§−kÑ¡c−ul video ¢c−Ll l¡Ù¹¡ d−l j¡−e j¡−e −L−V fsm¡jz Bj¡l p−jaz h¤LV¡ −g−V −N−m¡z a¡lflJ −lq¡C −eCz Jyl¡ q©v¢f−äl d¤Lf¤L¡¢eV¡ Bj¡−cl N¡¢sl C¢”eV¡l −b−LJ ¢S−NÉp Llm −k p¡−b Bl LV¡ card B−R? −pM¡−e −hn£ −S¡−l R¥V¢Rm, BlJ −hn£ −S¡−l në L−l −kez HM¡eL¡l l¡Ù¹¡O¡V h¡ −QL−f¡−ØVl R¢h −a¡m¡ B−R ¢Le¡, −hn ¢LR¥re I i¡−h k¡h¡l fl, L¡u−l¡l ¢c−L k¡h¡l CaÉ¡¢cz −j¡Ÿ¡ Lb¡ k¡ h¤Tm¡j a¡ qm HC −k, i¡−m¡u HLV¡ road‐sign −Q¡−M fsmz d−l fË¡Z ¢g−l −fm¡jz i¡−m¡u Jyl¡ öd¤ Bj¡l fË¡ZV¡ ¢e−uC HM¡e −b−L Bj¡u Bh¡lz a¡lflC f¤−l¡f¤¢l ¢hnÄ¡p Ll−a öl¦ Ll−a −gla −k−a −c−h, AeÉ ¢LR¥ ¢e−u euz h¡¢L card- f¡lm¡j −k H k¡œ¡u −h¡dqu Bl fË¡−Zl iu −eCz …−m¡J −cM¡m¡j, Jyl¡ h¤T−m¡ −k J…−m¡ empty. M¡¢ere f−l −Mu¡m qm −k Bj¡l N¡−ul S¡j¡V¡ ¢i−S a¡lfl öl¦ −q¡m p¡j−el I S£fV¡−L follow Ll¡z Q¥h¤l, pfÚ pfÚ Ll−R O¡−jz a¡lC p¡−b HLV¡ Ae¤i¨¢a fË¡−Z iu, ¢L¿¹¥ Q¡¢lf¡−nl cªnÉ −c−M H−Lh¡−l j¤‡ q−u qm; I O¡j ¢c−u SÆl R¡s¡l fl −kje qu, A−eLV¡ −Nm¡jz ¢pe¡C-−f¢eep¤¤m¡l −p L£ Afl¦f l©f, k¡ −c−M −pClLjz ¢Le¡ HLV¡ fË¡e-i−u i£a j¡e¤oJ j¤‡ q−u −k−a f¡−lz Ah¡L −Q¡−M Q¡¢l¢cL −cMm¡jz ¢h¢iæ −QL−f¡−ØVl −ial −N±aj plL¡l ¢j−e−p¡V¡ ¢eh¡p£ J ïjZ¢mÃp¥§z HC ¢c−u −k−a q¢μRmz j¡−T HLh¡l j−e qm −k B−c± fË¢a−hc−el h¢ZÑa OVe¡ 2012 p¡−ml −ghË¥u¡¢l j¡−plz ¢WLW¡L k¡¢μR −a¡? e¡¢L HC phC Bj¡−L i¡¢‰−u ¢LR¥

−Q±l‰£ 2014 33 Chowrongee 2014

I Believe Debanshu Das

I believe that the world we live in is not an specifically Earth, as grains of sand in a vast important microscopic particle in our vast desert. If suddenly one grain of sand galaxy and universe. The first time I started vanishes from the desert, the terrain would to believe this was back in my third grade not be affected at all. This is similar to the science class. We were studying the Earth; it is a little planet in our enormous astronomy chapter and learned about how galaxy. If any type of catastrophe occurred our universe was generated and galaxies that caused the end of our world, our solar were formed. Honestly, before this chapter, I system would be somewhat affected but our used to think that our solar system was in galaxy would not be influenced at all; it the center of outer space until I learned would stay the same. Believe me I am not about what a galaxy was. After third grade, trying to sound pessimistic; I am just stating my interest in astronomy grew the factual truth. Everyday, old star systems exponentially. During the rest of elementary die off and new stars are born. One day, school, whenever I had leisure time, I millions of years from now, even our star occasionally searched Google Images just to will eventually disappear. Yet our galaxy view random galaxies. Once middle school will suffer no pain. started, I was lured even more deeply into astronomy and began to gather information about large stars millions and billions of times bigger than our sun. Similarly, I used to research complex star systems, black holes, nebuli, and other galactic mysteries because I found the cosmos so interesting. Until this day, I continue to research about this science. So what exactly is a galaxy? Galaxies are complex structures containing millions and billions of stars, dust, and some black holes. Their diameters range from thousands Earth is truly unique in my opinion to millions of light years, and they form into because it is the only known planet that a variety of different shapes. The galaxy we actually supports life in our solar system. It live in is called The Milky Way. It contains has a large diversity of living creatures and a around 300 billion stars in a loose spiral huge variety of geography. But I believe that form. Almost all of these stars are suns in it is still too small to be of any significance their own solar systems. in this galaxy and universe. When it is gone, In fact, one of those stars is the center of nothing will change. This is what I believe. our solar system. To make a comparison, I see the planets in our solar system, and

Debanshu, 16 years, is an eleventh grader in Pleasant Grove High School.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 34 Chowrongee 2014

Dubai – The Sleepless City Srijon Datta

This summer I visited my grandparents and diplocidae and an herbivore. Then, we went cousins back in Bangladesh. On our way to to the Dubai Mall Aquarium and had fun. Bangladesh, we had a transit in Dubai, and my parents planned to stay in Dubai for few days to explore the city. When I heard that, I was all excited.

Dinosaur Skeleton – at Dubai Mall. On the day of our trip, we took a domestic flight from Sacramento to Seattle, In the neighborhood of Dubai Mall, and to get to Dubai, we had to take an there is the world’s tallest building “Burj Emirates plane from Seattle. The flight took Khalifa”. The next-door neighbor of Dubai 14 hours. My little brother, Orjon, and I Mall and Burj Khalifa is the famous enjoyed a lot on the plane by watching “Dancing Fountain”. During day time, we cartoons, playing games, eating all yummy could not see the show, so went back again foods. at night and enjoyed the beautiful show with We landed in Dubai at 7 in the evening, colorful light and music. and it took us few hours to get custom and immigration clearance and baggage. When we got out of the airport to hire a taxi to go to our hotel, I felt so hot even at 11 at night. On our way to hotel, I noticed a lot of traffic on the highway and many high-rise buildings everywhere; the city is full of lights. Then, we checked-in at our hotel and our room was on the 11th floor from where we could see parts of the Dubai Creek, Highways, and Sleepless Dubai City. My brother and I went to sleep after watching a movie in our hotel room. Dancing Fountain – at Dubai Mall. The next day, we went exploring Dubai. The next day, we went exploring again; We ate at a breakfast café. We went to this time we went to the Jumeirah beach and Dubai City Center Mall and explored it. marine drive. By the beach, we saw a sail- Then, we went to the famous Dubai Mall. At boat-shaped hotel called “Burj Al Arab”. It the entrance of Dubai Mall, there was giant is the world’s only Seven-Star hotel. It was a Dinosaur Skeleton. The dinosaur came so hot that we could not play at the beach, from Wyoming, USA. It was a whip-tailed

−Q±l‰£ 2014 35 Chowrongee 2014

but Orjon and I played at the shaded water Then, we went to our hotel to prepare for park by the beach. Then, we took our lunch our flight to Dhaka, Bangladesh. Stay tuned at IHOP. for Part 2 or something new!

Orjon and myself – having fun in Dubai. Burj Al Arab – World’s only 7-Star Hotel.

Srijon, 9 years, is a fourth grader in William Brooks Elementary School, El Dorado Hills, CA.

Manjula Dey loves painting and she lives in Sacramento.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 36 Chowrongee 2014

A Trip to Swami Vivekananda’s Ancestral House Shimika Basuroy

This summer, when I went to Kolkata, I house. The center was full of pictures of visited the ancestral house of Swami Swamiji, with corresponding placards Vivekananda, one of the greatest spiritual detailing important events in his life. We leaders of the nineteenth century. After also watched a video about Swamiji’s visiting the house, I was very impressed, childhood. After touring the cultural center, both by the beauty and grandeur of the we finally went inside the ancestral house. house, and by the restoration of the house, As we toured the rooms, I was struck by the which had obviously taken much time and size and splendor of the house, which effort. signified how wealthy the Dutta family must have been. The house basically comprised of a spacious courtyard, bordered on two sides by the main building which was divided into two parts, the men’s quarters and the women’s quarters. We visited the rooms in which Narendranath and his family worked, ate, and slept, and I liked looking at the stately furniture and old family portraits. Several rooms gave me a glimpse of what a remarkable boy Narendranath Dutta must have been: his father’s room where he used to throw valuables out the window to the beggars below, the waiting room where he once smoked out of different hookahs to see if it would affect his caste, the meditation room where he once kept meditating despite the appearance of a cobra, not to mention the room where he had once received a divine vision of the Buddha. The Thakur Dalan was very impressive with its grand, massive columns, and the prayer room where Swamiji’s mother Bhuvaneshwari The large house in which Narendranath Devi had prayed everyday for the birth of a Dutta (the future Swami Vivekananda) was son (her prayers ultimately being answered born had been built by his great grandfather by the birth of Narendranath) was also a Rammohan Dutta. The house is located in point of interest. However, the place where Simla Palli, a neighborhood of North I felt the most awe was the roof of the Kolkata. In order to get to the house, we house. In the old days, it was customary to rode on the metro. This was my first time give birth in a makeshift shed on the roof, so traveling on a metro in Kolkata, and it was I got to see the exact spot where Swamiji much quicker and more comfortable than was born, marked by a placard. It was an going by car! amazing feeling to know that I was standing Before going inside the actual house, we where this great man was born on January visited the cultural center attached to the 12, 1863.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 37 Chowrongee 2014

The gleaming floors, pristine walls, and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Swami ornate décor all gave the impression that I Vivekananda’s ancestral house, as it gave a was looking at the house as it had looked picture of a typical Indian family home in one hundred years ago, which meant that a the 1800s, and how the boy Narendranath lot of work was put into restoring the Dutta was like, the person who would rise to building from its ruined state. We were become the great Swami Vivekananda. shown a video that described the complex process of restoration, involving 14 crore rupees and five years of dedicated work. The restoration process went so far as to use the exact materials that houses were built of back in the nineteenth century! The wonderful job that had been done to restore a dilapidated structure to its former glory was really much appreciated!

Shimika with brother Nirvik in front of the main entrance.

Shimika, 14 years, is a ninth grader in Folsom High School.

Shimika in front of entrance on Gour Mohan Mukherjee Street.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 38 Chowrongee 2014

Einstein and Newton: A Glimpse to Their Achievements and Lives Barin Kumar

Introduction: It is not possible to measure the moving mass is more than 22 times of the genius of Albert Einstein (1879-1955). I that of the mass at rest. would only try to take a glimpse of his When we apply relativity theory on scientific achievements in some areas such Newton’s second law of motion, rate of as motion, force, energy, and gravity. In change of mass cannot be ignored. That is, these areas, we must also go back in the Force = rate of change of momentum or history all the way to Isaac Newton (1642- mass(m) x velocity(v). 1727) before finding another human being From classical mechanics, energy is of comparable scientific achievement. And defined by the distance travelled by a body before Newton, there is no one. Also I of mass when a force is applied to it or would take a look at their personal lives. Energy(E) = Force x distance. Newton invented the calculus, Applying the relationship that no formulated laws of mechanics and motion, material body can have a velocity equal to or and proposed a universal theory of greater than the velocity of light with the gravitation. Einstein laid the foundation of above definitions of Force and Energy, we relativity and quantum mechanics, and can obtain the famous equation of Einstein, created a new theory of gravity. namely Energy(E) = mass(m) x (velocity of In ‘Newtonian’ universe, time flows light, c)2. always at the same rate, now and forever. Gravity: In Universal Gravitational Every effect has a cause without exception. theory, Newton showed that the elliptical The future is completely predictable from form of planetary orbits would result from the past. In ‘Einsteinian’ universe, time is centripetal force inversely proportional to not absolute. The rate of flow of time the square of the radius vector, and this depends on the observer. In quantum theory applies to all planetary motions. mechanics, which Einstein helped to In his new theory of gravity or in his establish despite reservations, certainties General Relativity (GR) theory, Einstein must be replaced by probabilities. showed that the observed gravitational Motion, Force and Energy: One of the attraction between masses results from the most important results of relativity is the warping and twisting of space and time by deduction that mass of a body varies with those masses, making space-time as one motion or velocity. The relativistic entity. The ultimate speed of a moving mass, mechanics differ from Newtonian mechanics however small it may be, cannot exceed the where mass of a body is assumed constant, speed of light. Time-space entity varies but irrespective of its motion or velocity. speed of light stays constant always. GR is The variation of mass of a body becomes an essential tool in modern astrophysics and important when the speed or velocity of the understanding of ‘black holes’, i.e., regions body begins to approach the velocity of of space where gravitational attraction is so light. For example, when the speed of the strong that not even light can escape. body is 99.9 percent of the velocity of light, Theoretical Physics: Both Newton and Einstein were principally theoretical

−Q±l‰£ 2014 39 Chowrongee 2014

physicists. They did their greatest work in Einstein, in later life, involved himself their mid-twenties. Both tried their hands at with many social causes, such as supporting experiments. Newton, the far greater the League of Human Rights, giving experimentalist, discovered among other numerous lectures around the world on things that light is composed of a mixture of politics, philosophy, and education, helping colors like in a rainbow. Newton invented to found the Hebrew University of mathematics which he needed. He Jerusalem. Einstein had many romantic documented this monumental work in relationships in his life. But at the personal Principia (1687). Einstein did not, but his level, he seems to have been as solitary as brilliant intuition led him to study and adopt Newton. the obscure non-Euclidean geometry of Einstein on Newton: Einstein, in his Rieman and Gauss for his geometric theory autography, expressed his departure from of gravity. Newton in the following way. He said, Personal Lives: Both Einstein and ‘Newton, forgive me; you found the only Newton were artists. Both devoted way which, in your age, was just about themselves to simplicity, elegance, and possible for a man of highest thought and mathematical beauty. Like artists, both creative power. The concepts which you preferred to work in isolation. Newton created are even today still guiding our secluded himself for months at a time, thinking in physics, although we now know working sometimes eighteen hours a day, that they will have to be replaced by others when he was at work on a project. Einstein farther removed from the sphere of never had any graduate student and rarely immediate experience.’ taught. Both were loners. Newton was the Einstein, in an introduction to a 1931 greater loner. He seems to have been edition of Newton’s Opticks, wrote of practically anti-social. Newton, ‘Nature to him was an open book. French satirist and philosopher Voltaire In one person, he combined the (1694-1778) noted at Newton’s death, ‘In experimenter, the theorist, the mechanic, the course of such a long life Newton has and, not least, the artist in exposition. He neither passion nor weakness; he never went stands before us strong, certain and alone.’ near any woman.’ Newton even formulated If Newton could reappear in the future, a plan to preserve his celibacy. He wrote, in a forbidden trick of time travel, he would ‘The way to chastity is not to struggle with probably say similar words about Einstein. incontinent thoughts, but to avert the thoughts by some employment, or by reading, or meditating on other things.’

Barin Kumar is a 29-year resident of Sacramento. He is an electrical and nuclear engineer, who worked for Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) at Rancho Seco Nuclear Generating Station and SMUD Power Distribution for many years. He can be reached at [email protected]

−Q±l‰£ 2014 40 Chowrongee 2014

My World Cup Experience in Brazil Adi Choudri

So, it all started with a phone call from Neil the hotel was showing the Argentina-Bosnia early on a busy Tuesday morning: ‘Dad’ I game. Of course, everyone was rooting for was thinking’… I look at the United Airlines the Bosnia team (Brazilians have a real website, tickets might still be available to rivalry with their neighbor Argentina) The Sao Paolo from San Francico. Well we don’t rooting got louder as people had more beer, have soccer tickets this year, although I fried and of course the bartender was happy to FIFA Website (Live South Africa). oblige. (By the way, bars don’t close in Rio Well, if you remember the best part of until the last customer leaves.) World Cup in South Africa was watching Next day, we went to the Copa Cabana the key game on Giant TV screen on the beach to soak in the beach festival. FIFA beach in Durban. I had to agree the whole had set up a Fanfest (with Grant TV and World Cup experience is very hard to sound system in open air). I think it is worth describe – intoxicating, and a melting pot of going to the World Cup just to be in the soceer fans from all over the world. If you Fanest. (This is set up in all FIFA venues.) It love soccer and I know most Bongs do, you is thrilling to see a game with 20,000 other got to make this pilgrimage once in your people from all over the world and make lifetime. friends. (One desi fellow from Amsterdam So, I quickly checked out flights, and bought Neil and me a beer.) Neil and I could get two round trips from SF to Sao Paolo. Neil found couple of hotels in Rio and Sao Paolo, and we boarded the plane at SF. Still no soccer tickets, but I was doubly exciled because I have never been to Brazil before, and being a lifelong Brazil supporter I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to be in Brazil for this fanfest.

After the game, Neil and I stopped at a local restaurant to set some Brazilian food. Brazilians love meat and BBQ, but we fried some local delicacies. The biggest surprise was a can of coke that we ordered (Coca- cola was written in Bangla). To make sure nobody was playing a prank, we ordered two more cans. Rio is a very beautiful, cosmopolitan, As soon as we checked into the hotel in world-class city of 6 million people, great Rio, we saw that it is a nonstop soceer party weather, and very tropical with lot of natural atmosphere. The bar across the street from harbors and mountains.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 41 Chowrongee 2014

favourite team let me down! Brazilians in the stadium could not believe their eyes. We left the Fanfest very quickly, and heard that was the start of some trouble and vandalism. We struck up a conversation wirth a Brazilian family, and they invited us for a nice BBQ and Caracha Rum.

Since we actually did not have ticket for any Brazil games (we were told some ticket may be available at the venue), we decided to look for them in Rio. We ran into couple of German guys in a bar in Copa Cabona beach. They had couple of extra tickets for the Brazil and Germany game in Fortalizza.

After some negotiation, they agreed to sell Overall, we enjoyed the trip very much, them to us for 2-3 times the official price. and are definitely looking forward to visit But we had to sit among the German fans in Brazil for more siteseeing such as Amazon the stadium (which we decided not to accept and Iguazu Falls. And as a hardcore soccer and in retrospect we are glad we did not take fan, I am looking forward to the next World those tickets). We than flew to Sao Paulo Cup in Russia already. and watched the Brazil and Germany game at the Fanfest with 20,000 people. Of course, we all know the result of that game. My

Adi Choudri is a 25-year resident of Sacramento. He is a rocket scientist, who works for Aerojet Corporation. He can be reached at [email protected]

−Q±l‰£ 2014 42 Chowrongee 2014

Ghosts of Folsom Lake Manas Ray

It was a Saturday afternoon in May 2014. were all Folsomites, reminiscing about the The mercury had touched hundred. Neel, days when the dam was being built to hold Joy, and Mili went to see Folsom Lake. water. They had grown up in Folsom and had been 'Do you remember, John? I think it was to the lake many times on different 1950 when the workmen and machines occasions – for swimming, for camping, and started moving into our little town.' for a community picnic. Californians loved 'Yes, I do' John said. 'We were in Tenth the lake which had made their picturesque grade back then. Ron, Joe, and I had left town, where the valley rolled up to the school early one day and biked to the Sierra hills, even more attractive. construction site. There were woods all This time it was a totally different around and mostly dirt roads. The workers at experience. They had never seen the lake in the construction site had treated us well. We this condition. Actually no one had. Folsom did not have the necessary official Lake had dried up almost entirely except for permission; yet they had given us an some muddy puddles here and there and a ‘unofficial’ guided tour.' streak of blue water just below the dam. 'I had also come here once with my They were not alone; hundreds of people girlfriend – quite the spoilt girl of a rich had come to witness this extraordinary father. We came in her red Cadillac. We event. smoked and sipped beer, sitting on one of People were walking on the sandy bed of those dunes. The construction of the dam the lake, discovering many things here and was complete but they had not yet released there like passionate archeologists… an old the water into it.' tire soaking in the bright sunlight after many Mili was enjoying this eavesdropping. years of having been submerged, a rounded She was trying to reconstruct in her mind cement boulder with a name scribbled on it what it would have been like in those days, – possibly the name of a worker, a few beer sixty years back, which changed the lives of bottles still unbroken, big rocks and wavy the people of this sleepy town on the dunes which were earlier under water. Ruins American River named Folsom. of an old wall and parts of a building Neel came running to her. 'What are you seemed to attract many of the visitors. doing here? Let’s go. It will be dark soon.' People had once inhabited the lake bed. Placing a finger on her lips, Mili Where were they now? gestured to him to keep quite. She dragged The sun was slowly setting. The trees on Neel behind the bush and said, “Don’t raise the banks of the lake threw longer shadows your voice. Listen to these men. They were on the sandy lake bed. The crowd started boys when Folsom Dam was built. The sight thinning, walking back towards the banks of the dried-up lake has taken them sixty and the parking lot. Neel said to Joy, 'It’s years down memory lane.” time to go back. Soon it will be dark. Where 'Interesting,' replied Neel. He joined Mili is Mili'? in the eavesdropping. Mili was standing by the side of a small Joy was becoming restless. He had sent bush on the dry lake bed. She was listening Neel to bring Mili back, but now he too was to the conversation of a group of aged men missing. Where were they? Oh! There they who looked to be in their seventies. They were. He noticed them quite far away down

−Q±l‰£ 2014 43 Chowrongee 2014

near the bottom of the lake bed. Shouting was it his imagination playing tricks? The would not help and he had left his cell phone women were talking in lowered voices while in the car. He would have to walk down to filling their wooden pots with milk. them. Suddenly some children, bare footed and Joy started walking towards Neel and dusty, burst upon the scene. They looked a Mili. happy bunch, chattering boisterously. But to The sun had gone down further, its last Joy, their noise seemed to be at a great rays enabling the bushes, rocks, and dunes distance. He did not understand a word of to create a strange mosaic of light and shade. what was being said. The dry lake bed now looked a different The sun must have got stuck somewhere place. The few people who had still not left on the horizon as the twilight lingered on also cast long shadows, their movements in without progressing into darkness. Joy and out of the zones of light and shade looked at his wrist. “Gosh!” he muttered; no generating a surreal effect. Moreover, one wore wrist watches anymore and his cell something strange was happening: the lake phone was resting in the car. bed seemed to be acquiring a life of its own. A different sound was in the air. What Joy walked on. was it? Joy tried to fathom it. Oh! The sound Behind a big rock and a little bush, Joy of galloping horses! Two horsemen came found that a part of the dry lake had dashing in. The horses were covered with disappeared. Instead there was a green patch sweat, their flanks heaving indicating that of land, a few old houses, and three horses they had been through a long journey. The grazing. Almost out of nowhere two cows men got off the horses and dusted their coats followed by two women appeared on the as the children ran towards them. One of the patch of green. The women tethered the men swung a child up on to his shoulders cows to two small wooden poles and started and walked towards the houses followed by milking them. the other man and the remaining children. Joy came to a halt. He felt that he must The women stopped milking the cows and have lost his way and had moved to an went to attend to the exhausted horses. unknown part of the lake. Which way should Having done that, they collected their milk he go now? He turned around. There was no pots and started to walk towards the houses. longer any sign of a lake here – only a Then, the whole scene started dissolving narrow dirt path which proceeded uphill into a whirlpool of dust and dried leaves by through dense woods to some unknown the time the women reached the houses destination. ‘Was it possible that the dry lake would 'What now?' thought Joy. He decided to reappear now?’ Joy thought. sit behind the rock and watch. What else No, that did not happen; something else was there to do? did. A green patch materialised. There was a The two women were wearing peculiar wooden bench on it, and on the bench sat dresses – long frilly skirts and black boots. four old men with long beards. They were Their hairs were long and braided. It talking. Surprisingly, now Joy could seemed that they had just landed there from understand some of what was being said. the set of a Wild West movie. Only a One of them was saying, ‘So nice to feel windmill seemed to be missing. But was it? the warmth of the sun after sixty years. No Lo! And behold! A windmill too had more the strain of living through cold, dark appeared, happily spinning even though the and watery days and nights.’ air around was still. Was it really there? Or

−Q±l‰£ 2014 44 Chowrongee 2014

‘How long will this last? Summer will ‘Who are you and where do you want to be followed by winter and the rains, the lake move? What is preventing you to move?’ will fill up once again and we’ll be down counter-questioned Joy. under… again!’ lamented another person. The four men fell silent. ‘Well, this is our fate. They moved the 'Well! It is apparent that we are strangers others but forgot us. Let’s enjoy the sun and to each other as we are are asking same the dry air of summer for the next couple of questions to each other. Sit down young months and prepare ourselves to bear the man, you look lost. Have some hot milk,' weight of the cold water thereafter,’ said the leader. commented a third. Joy had not noticed that in the meantime, ‘Isn’t there a way out? Can’t we move one of the two women who he had seen elsewhere till the lake is dry?’ pondered the earlier, had come up to the group and had first person who seemed to be the eldest and started pouring hot milk in wooden cups. the leader of this group. The old men uttered a prayer – Praise to the ‘But, we cannot move ourselves; who man who communed with Jehovah, and will help us?’ questioned the fourth one. raised their cups. Joy also took the cup ‘Think. Think. There may be a way. The offered to him and sipped. The milk was hot place is not far away. I understand it is less but Joy felt a chill spreading through his than five miles from here. Over the hills in body. Somehow, it had a soothing, drowsy the north-east,’ urged the leader. effect. 'They are lying in peace there – under 'You enquired about the hindrance to our the dirt over which the sun shines during the moving elsewhere. Can you help?' day and the moon comes out a night – 'Yes, I want to,’ said Joy, ‘But, first tell waiting for the day of the judgment,’ said me why you can’t do it yourselves; what the second one. prevents you?' Several thoughts churned inside Joy’s 'We cannot. Right now, you are in a head. What were they talking about? Who town called Mormon Island, which ceased to was stopping them from moving? Why were exist 150 years ago. We had lived and died they wearing such odd clothes? Well, if they in that town. When the dam was built, the needed help, he would help them. graves of the town were relocated to a place He came out from the cover of the big just beyond those hills.' The man paused to rock and walked towards them. He had have a sip of the milk. decided to help them to move. He stepped He started again. 'The rains had come onto the grassy patch. He suddenly had a early. Heavy rains; and the lake had started feeling of weightlessness; he did not seem to to fill up. The workmen were in a hurry, and be walking anymore but slowly gliding over they relocated all but the graves of four a green sheet of ice as if those bearded men families. They got submerged in the water. were attracting him towards them by some Ever since then and all of these sixty years, magnetic force. Joy held his nerve. He we have remained trapped; and it is only the steeled himself as he came to a stop near the unprecedented drought of this year that has wooden bench. given us a chance to enjoy the warmth of the ‘Who are you? Why are you wearing sun. We are praying to God to help us move such a funny dress?’ asked one of the beyond the hills so that we can join our bearded men. people.' The man suddenly stood up and raising his voice said, 'Listen everyone. God has

−Q±l‰£ 2014 45 Chowrongee 2014

heard our prayer and has sent his chosen one 'You are right. But, even after a town is to rescue us like Moses did.’ ‘Here he is’, he abandoned, there remained some people… I said, pointing to Joy. mean dead people in their graves.' Joy immediately found himself 'Yes, they do. But all the graves of surrounded by a number of men, women, Mormon Island were specially dug up and and children, their faces glowing with hope, relocated to new place on the Green Valley their hands pointing towards the hills and Road. I have been there a number of times; beyond. Then, they held each others' hands, you should too.' made a circle, and started moving around 'Not all the graves. A few graves were him, all the while chanting, “The Chosen left behind…. to be exact, the graves of four One, The Chosen One!” families. I met them today. I have promised TWO to rescue them. Tomorrow, I'll go to Folsom A splash of cold water on his face forced City Council office and report this. They Joy to open his eyes. But bright lights of the must relocate those graves before the lake room made him to close them again. What gets filled up again. Yes, I am their 'Chosen had happened? Where was he? One”.' “Joy-da, ki holo tomar (Joy, what Everyone in the room was happened to you)?” Mili's cry woke him up. dumbfounded. He was now surrounded by a different set of 'Were you dreaming?' asked Neel. people, normally-dressed people. He could 'No.' protested Joy. 'I remember every not recognise any one of them except Mili detail. They gave me milk to drink in a and Neel. They seemed to be inside wooden cup.' someone's house. Why had they brought him Silence prevailed in the room. there? All eyes turned towards the small table “Where am I? Why are you all looking at the side of the bed. A small wooden cup at me in this way?” Joy asked. rested on it. “This is the Mercy Hospital. He, Mr. Joy had been holding that cup in his John, first noticed you lying unconscious by hand when John had found him lying the side of that large rock on the lake bed. unconscious. He called us and we all brought you here. The nurse has told us not to worry; it’s a Manas Ray is a resident of Folsom. He is a literature simple case of heat stroke. You will be fine lover and works in California Department of Water Resources. He can be reached at shortly,” Mili explained. [email protected]. 'Mr. Joy,' John said, 'What happened? It is not simply a case of heat stroke. What exactly happened? You were uttering some words like ‘the Chosen One’ or something, ‘Rescue’… Why? Who needed to be rescued?' 'A few families of Mormon Island,' Joy’s voice was almost inaudible. 'Mormon Island? Why, that town was abandoned 150 years back – once the gold- rush fever was over. Nobody lived there. And some sixty years ago, that town was completely submerged by the Folsom Lake.'

−Q±l‰£ 2014 46 Chowrongee 2014

Barcelona Diaries Sanhita Bandyopadhyay

They say, travel and change impart new volleyball or simply enjoyed people vigor to the mind. My husband (Pradeep) watching at the boardwalk. Suhaan loved the and I are passionate travelers, and as our rope-climbing frame available on most child (Suhaan) starts first grade this year, we beaches. We often settled at one of the many know it would be difficult to take trips for local restaurants located on the beach and longer duration, whether on vacation or relished a hearty tapas or seafood dinner late work. Besides the fact that we love Europe in the evening. and Pradeep’s business is in Europe, I am fortunate to have a job that allows me to telecommute. Our destination of choice this summer was Barcelona, Spain, a beautiful city with a laid-back lifestyle, rich heritage, unique architectures, gorgeous beaches, gastronomical delights (oh! the food) and endless activities. It is the home of the world-famous Futbol Club of Barcelona, also known as Club Barca. The world’s best players with the likes of Messi, Neymar Jr., Suarez play for this club. We reached Barcelona during the World Cup 2014, and the fever was very much on. Knowing Argentina led by Messi had reached the World Cup finals and the prospect of visiting Camp Nou during our stay was very exciting! The city has so much to offer that there is always something to do here. The restaurants stay open till 2 AM, and believe it or not, some bars are willing to stay open as long as you want to drink! Our stay lasted four weeks, and we had ample time to The Colorful City – Barcelona is a big explore the city and soak up the local city and the best way to commute is by taxi, culture. In the following weekends, we made tour bus, or metro. At times, we explored the trips to Venice, Italy, and Warsaw, Poland, city by foot. We enjoyed the hustle and and drove up the Northern Coastline of bustle of the popular La Ramblas Street, and Spain to Costa Brava. visited many tourist attractions. We spent an Boardwalk, Beaches, and More – The evening at the Magic Fountains and apartment we rented in Barcelona was very cherished the great views from Montjuïc close to the beach. In the mornings, we Hill. People in Barcelona are very relaxed at the beach and took a dip in the welcoming and courteous. Suhaan made warm blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. friends with many local shop owners and In the evenings, we enjoyed a nice walk on managed to learn a little bit of Spanish. the golden sand, watched a game of

−Q±l‰£ 2014 47 Chowrongee 2014

Antonio Gaudi’s Influence on Gaudi’s work is very colorful and he Barcelona’s Culture – Gaudí’s modernist often drew inspiration from nature, animals, architecture had a great influence in shaping and organic forms. The white pillars and the culture of Barcelona. The most-visited ceiling inside La Sagrada mimic branches of attractions include the Temple of La Sagrada trees and leaves. The gorgeous chandelier Familia, Parque Güell, Casa Milà, and Casa replicates the shape of a tortoise. Batlló, all works of the famous architect. Their presence makes Barcelona one of the world’s most visited and renowned centers of modernism.

Camp Nou Experience – Visiting FC Barcelona, the oldest stadium in Europe, was an enthralling experience. We started the tour by visiting the trophy room, which showcased all the major trophies won by

−Q±l‰£ 2014 48 Chowrongee 2014

Team Barca. The museum traced the history An Evening of Flamenco – What better of the club since it was founded more than a way to end a vacation than to enjoy an century ago. We viewed the players’ locker evening of Flamenco at the stunning Palau rooms, press conference room, etc., and de la Música Catalana, a UNESCO world enjoyed walking through the players’ tunnel heritage auditorium? The show was a to the pitch and finally viewed the combination of opera music, romantic magnificent stadium. We climbed to the top guitar, and amazing flamenco. A must see if of the stadium to view the press boxes from you visit Spain. where the commentators broadcast the games. I pictured in my mind the commentators going crazy when a goal is scored. Gooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalll!!!

Sanhita Bandyopadhyay is a Business Analyst in Cisco. She lives in El Dorado Hills, CA.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 49 Chowrongee 2014

Cosmopolitan Calcutta Pramila Kripalani

I grew up on Chowringhee lane… a street that the processions and protests added behind the Indian Museum, off Sudder colour and excitement to our lives. Also, Street. It was wonderful to be surrounded by there was always the possiblitly that school Park Street and the New Market. It was an would be closed and we could go to a area where all different communiities nearby park and eat Jhal muri, Phuchkas, mingled happily… Bengalis, Parsis, Anglo and Kathi rolls or visit Kamlalaya Stores on Indians, Gujratis, Punjabis, and Sindhis to Dharmtola Street and shop. name just a few. As I grew older, the center of my life We spoke a mixture of Bengali, English, changed from Central Calcutta to College and Hindi… and for years I did not know Street and Coffee House. The Coffee House which words belonged to which language. was right near Presidency College where I Was Adda a Bengali word or a Hindi word? studied. I spent many hours there enjoying O.K. was definitely a Bengali word and addas and drinking coffee. Conversations at Bhalo could have been a Gujarati word. the Coffee House were often stimulating. We celebrated all festivals with equal However, if the conversation ever became enthusiasm… Durga Puja, Diwali, Parsi boring, one could walk along College Street New Year, Chinese New Year and and browse in the second-hand bookstores Christmas. We all played together on the which were full of precious books at very Maidan around the Black Horse statue, cheap prices. I still cannot resist going to commonly known as Kala Ghora. We often those pavement book stores. walked through the Maidan to Victoria Book stores are enjoyable, but Kolkata is Memorial and played under the penetrating never short of entertainment. Performances gaze of Rani Victoria (there was a huge at Rabindra Sadan or Kala Mandir or at statue of Queen Victoria right in the middle many other small theaters are always there of Victoria Memorial. to be enjoyed. One can also wander around Many of us walked together to our Park Street and enjoy the various night clubs school… Calcutta Girls High School on with the crooners. I remember that I heard Dharamtola Street. We were totally Usha Uthup for the first time in Trincas on unphased when we ran into one more Park Street. procession with red flags shouting “Julum Kolkata is not a tourist paradise… it is jor cholbe na”. After all, B. C. Roy’s house overcrowded. However, it is difficult not to (Chief Minister at that time) was just behind love it if you take the time and go for a few our school, and everyone protested in front days and really live there. You will realize of his house. The Statesman published a then that it is a lovely place full of story calling Calcutta a “Nightmare City” interesting and loving people. and we could not disagree more. We thought

Pramila Kriplani was born and brought up in Kolkata. Before moving to Sacramento in 1972, she lived in Britain, Switzerland, and Canada. She speaks six languages, and is a retired librarian. Pramila has two children and two grandchildren, and enjoys being a member of Utsav.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 50 Chowrongee 2014

Travelling in the Fourth Dimension Sangita Biswas

Are you tired of your monotonous drive to every station. I could sense his work every day? Do you ever wish there apprehension, and my prejudiced mind was some excitement, or something different scanned all the possible crimes he may have each day that would make your day a tad bit committed as he was watching out for the different? Perhaps, even time travel in the cops. However, at the Mather Fields station, fourth dimension? Well, look no further... his face lighted up when a woman boarded just hop on the light rail with me! When I the train. He hugged her tightly and said, first moved to Sacramento, the first thing “How are you, mom? It’s been two years”. that changed for me, besides the weather, The woman replied, “This time I am out for was my mode of travel to work: I starting good, son.” He hurriedly told her about his riding the light rail. school, and the sports he plays and his foster Now, the first thing that I noticed was home. Their reunion was brief. As the boy that most people ride the light rail with a got off at the next station, he said, “Love certain sedated bubble of detachment. You you, mom. Please try to stay out of trouble.” take your seat, you avoid eye contact, you Tears rolled down her cheeks as she lost him keep your head down on a book (or, more in the crowd. likely, your phone), and you tune out of the On a Saturday afternoon, on my rattling, humming, beeping, robot-controlled commute back, an elderly guy sitting across trip that is the light rail from Folsom to from me had wanted to know how I would Sacramento Valley. I, on the contrary, love cook the mustard green that I had picked up to study people. Although a silent observer, from the farmers market. I gave him a short I want to know what’s going on inside a recipe, and told him that he can freeze the person’s heads. leftovers for a week. He said, “Well, I live On my first day, as the rail doors slid under the Sixtyfifth street Bridge, so ma’am, open and I boarded the train, I was met with I would have to eat it all.” I had just taught a the neon sounds of ’80s-style music. recipe to a homeless man! Someone was blasting some smooth jazz, On some days, when the humans were while another passenger was listening to not interesting enough, I would simply gaze some old-school R&B from an old phone. through the window. One such day, as the That passenger was a slender African train grinded up on the over bridge at Power American dude, standing about 6 and half Inn, my attention caught on a loving couple feet tall, fully tattooed, and dressed in a far off. The husband was lean, tall, strong, skintight leotard. As I sat next to him, I and metallic. The wife, with her face shrank to half my size in order to avoid any covered, had a humble hunch; stood beside physical contact whatsoever. Then I him faithfully like she did for the last 30 dissected him, analyzed the effects of the years. Now, to a nondreamer, these were just environment on his genetics, and painted an the tall metallic shafts of the lumber and evil picture. As I stepped out of the train, I molding factory. But, to me, they were a heard him shout at me. I panicked, ready to rock-solid couple, weathering every strain jump off, but still looked back. He was and stress together. I never miss glancing at holding out my umbrella! them every day on my way to work. Another day, a young teenager sat across I have always been a fan of Stephen me anxiously looking out of the window at Hawking, the great physicist, cosmologist

−Q±l‰£ 2014 51 Chowrongee 2014

and proponent of time travel. I find that light rail is a perfect place for time travel. When the train is slithering across the straight rails, I am travelling in one dimension, every twist and turn adds the second dimension, and when we go up and down the bridge, it adds the third dimension. My imagination added the fourth dimension. Each day, I filter life through the lens of a scientist, trespassing in stranger’s minds, letting my imagination go wild, and travelling in the fourth dimension.

Dr. Sangita Biswas is a Senior Scientist in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine of UC Davis. She lives in Folsom, CA.

With Best Compliments From

−Q±l‰£ 2014 52 Chowrongee 2014

Post Soccer World Cup Musings and Predictions Ajay Joshi

Now that World Cup 2014 is done and struggling to convince themselves that they dusted, it is time to look back at the major could actually win without Neymar! take-home points and look forward to the Argentina had multiple chances to win soccer season that has just started all across the final but cannot have much to complain Europe. This World Cup saw 171 goals about losing it. How can a team deserve to scored, the joint highest ever with 1998. win a game when they do not have a single There was some breathtaking attacking play. shot on target in the whole match? Mario The dismantling of Spain by the Dutch was Gotze showed them how it is done by taking a tactical masterclass. While tiki-taka is not his one chance with aplomb in extra time. dead, its exponents are slower and appeared Without doubt, the Germans are deserving weary and leaden footed. The difference champions. It is the culmination of the between an interception and a defense- changes made after a calamitous 5-1 splitting pass leading to a shot on goal at this thrashing at the hands of England in Munich level is only a fraction of a second. If a team in 2001. They rebuilt their coaching system has no Plan B, opponents will eventually from the grassroots, focusing on quality figure them out and adapt, and therein lay coaching at every level and training the reason for Spain’s defeat. They will need hundreds of new coaches. The current to find a Plan B and replace the old guard coach of the United States, Jurgen with younger, fitter exponents. Klinsmann, was closely involved in that set This was one of the worst Brazilian sides up and was current coach Joachim Low’s of all time. Take away Neymar and it’s boss before he stepped down in 2006. The bereft of any creativity and penetration. United States would do well to give him a While it comes as no surprise that Brazil long stint with their national side. was defeated by Germany, the sheer scale Trends – Speed, both physical and and the ease with which it was inflicted was mental, is becoming an increasingly shocking. Never before have I seen a team important part of the game. Players are invest so much time, emotional energy, and becoming fitter and faster. Skill may not focus on a player who was not playing the matter if a player does not have the required match! The school-boy defending of pace and fitness. People seem to forget that seasoned defenders who acquit themselves Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, apart well in top European leagues proves that, from being masterful technicians, are mentally, the Brazilian team had lost this extremely fit and have pace to burn. More match long before it started. This is and more teams are looking to absorb reminiscent of the collapse in Paris after an pressure when on defense and break at unfit Ronaldo played a World Cup final break-neck speed when an opposition attack even though he had suffered a convulsion breaks down. Even for top teams, this is the the previous day. It points to a mental preferred tactic when playing away from fragility that exists in the Brazilian football home. The number of goals scored on set up when under severe pressure. How lightning counter attacks is only going to many times before have you seen a team increase. Every player is a defender and hold up the jersey of a player who was not expected to track back in defense. Forwards even playing in a World Cup semifinal? It are increasingly expected to press high up seemed that the Brazilian players were and try to win the ball in the opposition half.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 53 Chowrongee 2014

The old-fashioned technique of playing is great if it works, but one major injury and three center halves, popular in Italy, is that’s money down the drain. Clubs are making a bit of a comeback. Louis van Gaal willing to take huge risks because the stakes (LVG) used it to good effect in the World are so high. It is hoped that Financial Fair- Cup, and it is likely that a few more teams Play rules will moderate the spending of will adopt it. The box-to-box midfielder sugar-daddy clubs like Manchester City, who can shield the back four and yet break Chelsea, Paris Saint German, and Monaco to forward and initiate an attack with a lung- somewhat level the playing field, but the busting run into the opposition penalty area effectiveness of the measures put in place is or a killer early pass is becoming a much highly debatable. The transfer fee and sought-after player. There aren’t many good wages of top players, however, will continue ones around, every team wants one, and to rise. each one of them will be worth their weight in Gold! Coaches – We are seeing the dawn of the celebrity coach with the advent of characters like Jose Mourinho, LVG, Diego Simeone, and the highly-respected and evergreen Arsene Wenger. Many coaches now make more news than their players! Arsene Wenger is paid more than any player in his team! This is, however, an anomaly amongst top clubs. Coaches are becoming younger and much more tactically innovative. Some older coaches have Radamel Falcao – Worth it? cleverly employed a young and tactically- savvy backroom staff to keep up. This was best exemplified by the now-retired, Sir Alex Ferguson. Failure to do so will expose more old-fashioned coaches as being tactically outdated, sadly exemplified by Arsene Wenger. This is particularly ironic because he brought new ideas and tactics to the English Premier League and was a trailblazer when he burst upon the scene as the manager of Arsenal in 1995. Economics – The European transfer window that closed just a few days ago saw Angel Di Maria record spending. Player wages, ticket prices, Predictions – At the risk of looking price of merchandise, and in-stadium food foolish, I am going to stick my neck out and drink are touching unprecedented levels. here. Chelsea will win the EPL this year The recent loan deal that Manchester United with Manchester City coming second. I hope has struck with Monaco for Radamel Falcao to be wrong, but my beloved club, Arsenal, is a great example. It is estimated to cost will find themselves fighting for a top-four nearly 20 million pounds with wages, and he spot again, at best. I expect that one of will be free to walk at the end of one year! It Liverpool or Manchester United will miss

−Q±l‰£ 2014 54 Chowrongee 2014

out on a top-four spot. Both have made too In Seria A, Juve will likely continue many changes to their playing personnel, their dominance and should win a fourth and it may take a season for the players to consecutive Scudetto. The Milan clubs are gel. in decline and will need a little time to catch In La Liga, it is going to be a dog fight up. Juve’s closest challenge is likely to between Real Madrid and Barcelona. come from Roma. Atletico are unlikely to emulate their heroics Players to Watch – Barcelona’s Munir of last year. Given the amount of money el haddadi is one to watch for the future and Real Madrid has spent, it should be a potential Messi in the making at La Masia. considered a failure if they do not win both He is left footed too. Watch out also for La Liga and the Champions League this Calum Chambers of Arsenal. It is rare to season. I suspect that they will win one or see so much composure on the ball from a none. defensive player at just 19. Defenders are In the Bundesliga, Bayern will be like good wine but this boy is special. champions again with plenty to spare. They are extremely dominant at this time and I cannot see any team coming close. Dortmund should finish second, well below the Bavarians.

Combustible Celebrity.

Dr. Ajay K Joshi, full-time soccer enthusiast and arm-chair coach.

Past it?

−Q±l‰£ 2014 55 Chowrongee 2014

Pujo Shopping, Pandal Hopping, and Much More... Mala Paul

Oh, how I wish we kids had cameras back darker shade of lip liners - but boy oh boy - then. I tried going through all my old photos we were all over that one, especially me. I and am bummed to find out I have had every shade of brown matte lipstick absolutely no pictures of us friends in our there could ever be. Followed by those famous pujo attires of yesteryears. Those pastel, short-sleeved churidar kameez from pictures would be priceless based on our Dil to Pagal Hain. sense of fashion back then. Pujo fashion in Kolkata was, of course, dominated by the latest Bollywood styles. I think it was 1990 - the year of Maine Pyar Kiya - pujo shopping in Gariahat, the street vendors crying out loud, “didi, come take a look at the kabutar ja salwa kameez” - the one Bhagyashree wore while singing that famous song. No, I DID NOT purchase that. I cannot remember if it was my choice to not buy it or I wasn’t allowed to. But whatever

the reason was - thank God! I was surprised to see the same trend after I moved to Sacramento a decade ago. The year of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam - Jaya Bhaduri sarees selling like hot cakes at the Berkeley saree stores for aunties and the Kareena Kapoor outfit for the youngsters. Now, now, aunties - please don’t get mad at

me for calling you an auntie. If it’s any That definitely did not stop us from consolation to you - I think I’m one now as trying to pick up some of that fashion when well. it came to our hair and makeup. I have So, it’s that time of the year and I miss specific images of those big hair bows with all the craziness. I have no idea what’s “IN” nets at the bottom to hold your hair into a these days anymore. I mean, based on the bun. I think that rage started with Divya recent Bollywood movies I’ve watched, Bharti in the early 90’s as well. Anyone there is no way on earth I can sport some of remember her? I also remember sporting those outfits worn by Kareena Kapoor or that hairdo at the Golf Green pujo pandal Deepika Padukone. I miss those days when one year - got a non-facebook “friend Bollywood actresses had some meat on their request” from one of the senior dada’s there bodies and wore clothes maybe some of us - SCORE! I wonder if it was the hair or could carry off. I guess I really AM an those big button-style (for lack of better auntie now. words) earrings that did the trick - LOL! If you haven’t already guessed, the first Now I cannot remember who started the thing pujo is all about amongst many other whole matte lipstick phase paired with a things is fashion. The crazy shopping and

−Q±l‰£ 2014 56 Chowrongee 2014

planning of new outfits to be worn on all every time, year after year. But what was five days of Durga Pujo - that includes most delectable were the rolls and fuchkas separate morning and evening wears. As being sold on the streets. You can never go kids, we used to keep a tally amongst friends hungry those five days of pujo since street as to who had the most number of new food is available all night long. outfits that year. Ronita almost always won. Apart from these, pujo to me was As much as pujo was a time to spend waiting for baba to arrive along with waiting with family, our friends always got for Durga’s face to be unveiled, Thamma's precedence. Our group of friends had a crisp white sarees with red borders, going to schedule down for those few days. Mornings see the new protima at mamoni’s house in were to be spent with family and anything Tallygunge, Dadubhai’s ear plugs, those remotely religious that was expected out of blaring loudspeakers, narkeler naaru, any of us. Evenings were reserved for maangsehr jhol on nabami, the beating of friends and pandal hopping with them. As dhaaks and dhunuchi naach, the friendships, we grew older, we convinced our parents to the lights and sounds, Jodhpur Park, have sleepovers and were out all night in the Babubagan, Golpark, Ekdalia, Mudiali, city going from one pandal to the other with Maddox Square - the heartbeat of my most expectations to outnumber last year’s count favorite city – Kolkata. as well as to determine which locality had the most number of good-looking males.

I wonder if I could ever explain to my daughter what those few days meant to us. Pujo was also about relationships. Starting this year, mainly because she is Extended families came together, and it was beginning to understand things better and a time to reunite with cousins you would has opinions (how did that happen? She’s normally not meet the whole year. It was still 5!), I plan to introduce some of my pujo about friendships – both old and new. It was experiences from back home. It will, of also a time for romance. I think the last one course, not be the same, as pandal hopping took precedence over the rest. It was a time will have to be substituted by pujo for folks to fall in love – time for the guys to parikrama on the Internet, but we can start muster up the courage to finally tell a girl our own new traditions and it will be as they liked them. It was a time to feel giddy much fun for her as it was for me growing with excitement knowing someone had the up. hots for you, a time to openly check out and I guess it’s time to start with shopping… be checked out without being judged. Bengalis are foodies. So it comes as no Mala Paul is a graphic designer, dance lover, and surprise that pujo was also all about food. I dance teacher. She lives in Folsom, CA. still wonder how the “bhog” always tasted as heavenly as it did, without fail, each and

−Q±l‰£ 2014 57 Chowrongee 2014

Wishing Utsav A Happy and Prosperous Durga Puja 2014

Consulting Business is about meeting challenges.... Corporate Office Walnut Abrams Plaza 1221 Abrams Rd, Suite 326 Richardson, TX 75081

−Q±l‰£ 2014 58 Chowrongee 2014

33G Notebook: Destination Iceland Biswanath Mukherjee 33G is a travel notebook… penned by the author for Chowrongee since 2005. This edition of 33G Notebook covers Iceland which the author was fortunate to visit recently. Iceland is the destination which my wife and is a much larger island with much more I chose to visit this past summer. On our ice… and if all of Greenland’s ice were to way to Iceland, we stopped at Baltimore to melt, it would raise the sea level by six feet visit our daughter Bipasha and her husband worldwide! Indeed, we have to ensure that Chris. On our way back, we stopped in global warming is arrested. Toronto to attend my nephew’s Annaprasan Iceland was discovered in ~900 AD by (rice ceremony). It was a nice way to Norwegians. Most recently, it was ruled by combine a vacation with visiting family. Denmark, from which Iceland gained I first heard of Iceland when it hosted the independence in 1944 (when everyone was 1972 World Chess Championship (referred busy with World War II… as Denmark was to as the Match of the Century) between occupied by the Germans, so the British and defending champion Boris Spassky of the the Americans set up bases in Iceland). Soviet Union and the eccentric American Iceland has similarities with other Nordic Bobby Fischer, a match which was won by countries, including the name of its Fischer ending 24 years of Soviet dominance currency, the Icelandic Kroner. But it is not of the crown. My second Iceland news event part of the European Union. was the major 2011 volcanic eruption of Iceland is roughly oval-shaped, located Eyjafjallajökull, which spew ashes over between Northern Canada and Northern much of Northern Europe, disrupting air Europe… and between the Atlantic and travel for several days. Other than that, Arctic Oceans. Icelanders get about 22 Iceland was a mystery to me… but our tour hours of daylight during the peak of guides provided many interesting facts, summer, but only 4 hours at peak winter. some of which I summarize below. From the southern tip of Iceland, if one were Iceland Facts – Iceland, as the name to travel directly south across the Atlantic, indicates, has a lot of ice. But something one would reach Antartica (after just new I learned on this trip is that Iceland is missing the western tip of Africa). Route 1 also a land of “fire”… it has a lot of “heat” is a Ring Road around the island, hugging underground, causing frequent volcanoes the coast in many places; a non-stop drive (spewing ash and toxic gases), earthquakes, will take 20 hours to complete, but most and geo-thermal activities. Icelanders have people would take several days to soak in not only grown used to them but also the beautiful scenery. Don’t expect fast- innovated methods to exploit the geo- food chains or restaurants on Route 1 as thermal abundance to warm their homes, traffic is light; you have to settle for burgers supply hot water to their buildings, and and such at the gas stations on Route 1. The recycle the waste water to warm the streets inner part of the island has many volcanoes and prevent them from icing. but, unlike the Hawaiian volcanoes or the About 11% of Iceland is covered by ice mountains in the Cascade range (such as year-round, which becomes 100% in winter. Rainier, Shasta, St. Helens, etc.), the Iceland If all this ice were to melt, it would raise our volcanoes are quite flat and their peaks are sea level by one inch worldwide. If this is not so prominent… because the weight of significant, then consider Greenland, which ice and glaciers has flattened them.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 59 Chowrongee 2014

Iceland experiences frequent flooding about 120 USD, while a bus ride costs about because, when a volcano erupts, it quickly 20 USD per person… your choice!) melts a lot of its ice cover, and the floods Reykjavik is the northern-most capital destroy roads and bridges, which have to be city in the world, on latitude 66oN, so 66 frequently reconstructed. The floodwater North is a popular clothing brand here. The from ice-melts and lava create black sand next time you shop, if you find the 66 North which covers a large part of the terrain, brand, you will know it is from Iceland. destroying farmlands if they existed before. When we visited in mid-August, the Hence, Iceland has to import a lot of its temperature hardly exceeded 59oF, so our food, particularly vegetables. Iceland does winter clothing, which we use in Davis, was grow some fruits and vegetables in sufficient. Most of the days were beautiful greenhouses, and sheep and cattle are also and sunny, so walking around the core part abundant… but to feed a million tourists of the city to visit its various attractions was (and growing) per year, Iceland has to very comfortable. import a lot of meat as well. Reykjavik is like any modern tourist Like other Nordic countries, the living destination. It has some nice buildings with standard and cost in Iceland are very high. attractive architecture such as a church In 2007, Iceland was seventh in the world on (called Hallgrímskirkja), a convention center per-capita income, with 1% unemployment. (called Harpa), City Hall, a wonderful But unemployment rose to 20% when it was human-made lake (called The Pond) next to hit hard by the 2008 economic downturn, City Hall with a fountain in the middle, etc. from which it is now recovering. Today, It also has a coastline which provides an unemployment is at 3.5%. attractive walk as the water body here is part English is widely spoken in Iceland, and of a harbor. Fishing is the #1 industry in the people are very friendly; in particular, Iceland (with tourism being #2), so fish our tour guides were very knowledgeable, restaurants are abundant. (The lobster soup talkative, humorous, and friendly. and fish kababs we tried were delicious.) Iceland is a small country with a Iceland is also known for its lamb. To cater population of 326,000 inhabitants, and about to tourists, restaurants, coffee shops, two-thirds of them live in Reykjavik. bookstores, and shops selling Icelandic Reykjavik – Iceland’s capital is merchandise (wool, etc.) are abundant. Reykjavik, pronounced rei-ca-vik, and Blue Lagoon – Iceland’s abundant geo- meaning “smoky bay”. It is located in the thermal activities mean that it has many southwest part of the island, far from the thermal pools and hot springs. The most volcanoes, and protected by hills from the famous (and highly/successfully marketed) cold winds blowing from the north. The one is Blue Lagoon, which is located close international airport (built by the US during to Keflavik airport and which seems to have World War II to serve as a vital refueling become a must visit for all tourists. Given and transit depot) is in another town, called its distance from Reykjavik, many tourists Keflavik (meaning “driftwood bay”), which visit Blue Lagoon from Keflavik airport is located 50 km away. The black rocks we after arriving in or before departing from see while landing at Keflavik as well as on Iceland. (Some do this just while on transit the hour-long drive to Reykjavik remind us in Iceland.) The Blue Lagoon is a large that we are in volcanic territory. (Tip: A thermal pool, where you can wade in waist- taxi ride from the airport to the city costs high warm water, which is rich in minerals such as silica and sulphur, so bathing in the

−Q±l‰£ 2014 60 Chowrongee 2014

Blue Lagoon can help some people suffering this location: Geysir (which is dormant for from skin diseases. It is a human-made many years) and Strokkur (which erupts to lagoon fed by the water output of a nearby heights of 100 ft every 3-10 minutes). There geothermal power plant. It also provides are only a handful of geysers in the world, white mud to benefit skin. While wading in the most majestic being the Old Faithful in Blue Lagoon, I overheard some college-aged Yellowstone National Park. We have been tourists saying: “This is the most over-rated fortunate to see almost all of the geysers, not rip-off I have seen.” (Our trip to Blue only the Old Faithful and the ones in Iceland Lagoon cost 100 USD per person, including but also the one in Calistoga, CA, and transport.) Indeed, there are many thermal another in Rotorua, New Zealand, which is pools in Reykjavik, which one can enjoy for another geo-thermal wonderland. a nominal charge. Note that all natural wonders and attractions are free to all, including visitors, in Iceland. Golden Circle Tour – This 7-hr tour covered some of the main attractions near Reykjavik. Our first stop was a small but attractive waterfall, called Faxi. (Note that waterfalls are numerous in Iceland because of all the ice melts falling from mountains.) Our next stop was another waterfall, called Gullfoss (Golden Falls), which is a very popular tourist spot. At Gulfoss, the water flows down into a wide curved three-step “staircase” and then abruptly plunges in two stages (30 ft and 60 ft) into a crevice, which is perpendicular to the waterfall. As you Þingvellir (North American and Eurasian tectonic approach Gulfoss, the crevice is obscured plates drifting away from each other). from view, so it seems that a mighty river has suddenly vanished. Our final stop on this tour was Thingvellir (written as Þingvellir in Icelandic). Þingvellir means Parliament Plains, where a general assembly of the people was started in 930 AD, and continued annually until 1798 AD (usually in the month of June when it was warm enough so people could set up living quarters and use the nearby lake for food such as fish and bathing). Major events in Iceland’s history have occurred at Þingvellir, such as creation of the laws of the land. In 1930, Þingvellir became a National Park. The Þingvellir area Gullfoss (Golden Falls). is part of a fissure zone running through We visited Geysir, site of the oldest Iceland, and situated on the North American known geyser (according to Icelanders). The and Eurasian tectonic plate boundaries of the name comes from an Icelandic verb, which Mid-Atlantic Ridge (click here for details). means “to erupt”. Two geysers are here at The faults and fissures of the area indicate

−Q±l‰£ 2014 61 Chowrongee 2014

the rifting of the earth’s crust as the North shallow so large icebergs float around in the American and Eurasian Plates can be clearly lagoon. We took an amphibian vehicle seen to be drifting away from each other (so (started off as a bus and became a boat on that one day Iceland will break into two water) to visit various parts of the lagoon. parts separated by ocean). The largest We ate ice from one of the chunks picked up crack/fault, called Almannagjá, is a very from the lagoon. Many movies use Glacier clear canyon. Due to its interesting history Lagoon for some of their shootings including and geography, Þingvellir is on the James Bond movies A View to a Kill and UNESCO World Heritage List. Die Another Day as well as other movies such as Tomb Raider, Batman Begins, etc.

Glacier Lagoon (setting of several Bond movies). Getting There: Icelandair – While Skogafoss. everything in Iceland is expensive (expect to South Coast Tour – This was a day trip pay at least double for almost anything of 13 hours. This long but enjoyable drive relative to US costs, e.g., 200 USD per night had nice scenery of waterfalls, glaciers, and for an average hotel room), fortunately landscape (click here for photos) and very getting there is not. Icelandair is Iceland’s interesting commentary was provided by our main airline, with service from 12 North tour guide. On this trip, we visited two American cities and 25 cities across Europe. waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss (we could walk We flew on Icelandair because of its behind it!) and Skógafoss). We also saw a competitive fare; also, due to Iceland’s glacier from close range with hikers walking strategic location (e.g., 5 hours from US on ice. (Note: Ice walking is dangerous and East Coast and 3-5 hours to European should always be done with knowledgeable cities), it attracts many passengers, some of guides, as frequent deaths occur otherwise.) whom wish to have a break in their long A major attraction was Glacier Lagoon journey. Icelandair offers free stopovers in (Jökulsárlón), where a huge glacier breaks Reykjavik of up to seven days, so you have into the lagoon, which is also connected to a very good reason to visit Iceland. the Atlantic Ocean, but the region where the lagoon connects to the ocean is narrow and

Dr. Biswanath Mukherjee is Distinguished Professor (and Past Chairman) of Computer Science at University of California, Davis, where he has been for the past 27 years. Readers can visit the author at: http://networks.cs.ucdavis.edu/~mukherje/

−Q±l‰£ 2014 62 Chowrongee 2014

Hinduism and Meditation Swami Prapannananda

Prayers are common in all religions, but in body but concentrated in the heart. It is Hinduism and Buddhism the practice of made up of subtle food elements. Mind meditation is special. Prayer presupposes works on three levels – waking, dreaming, belief in a higher entity through faith, and dreamless sleep. It has the possibility conviction or tradition – a belief in a of transcending the three levels and superpower, compared to which an remaining in a stage which is only individual’s capacity is small and consciousness. Mind, of course, loses in insignificant. In prayers, we seek help for the stage of pure consciousness of all its our benefit from that superpower. In faculties by which it is distinguished in the meditation, we seek to realize that the usual three levels. It is a state of mystical insignificant individual power is a part of experience which is sought through the great power. Hindu scriptures say that meditation. It is to be understood that all this realization is possible only through the the aspects of the mind are comprehended control of the mind. It comes in a moment simply through individual reflection. when the mind is pure and perfect, in peace Anybody can find it by a little careful and tranquility. A little reflection or a small observation. No laboratory experiment is effort will bring one to the simple necessary. conclusion that it is quite difficult to control Meditation is mind’s working on itself. mind. Since ancient days, Hindus gave a A mind which is too agitated or too dull is lot of thought to devise methods to control not good for the practice of meditation. the mind. They are known as Yoga. Today, the popular objective of meditation Meditation is one of the yoga, and it used to is to get relief from mental stress. But the be taught to young people at an early age. meditations which are practiced by Hindus Even today, families with fine traditions have a definite purpose. Stress relief is the initiate their children into meditation when by-product. According to Hindus, if one they start going to school. can reach the state of pure consciousness, Before practicing meditation, it is worth one can get liberation from the cycles of knowing how the Indian scriptures look at birth and death. It is the most desirable the mind. Mind is considered to be a knot objective of human life. It is good to of consciousness and matter. The essential appreciate this objective before starting entity of a being is consciousness, called meditation. soul or Atman, which is figuratively Controlling activities by sitting in a covered with mind. The latter has four solitary place, one can practice meditation. distinct functions – cognition, intelligence, A quiet environment and breathing memory, and ego. Through the doors of the exercises are helpful. Then, thought is senses, mind receives impulses, which are directed to a spiritual object. The processed through the cogitative faculty. repeatedly-straying mind needs to be Then, identification is made with brought back to the object, which is intelligence and stored in the memory; and selected according to the suitability and finally action is taken by the ego. Mind is liking of the practitioner of meditation. also the speediest entity that can be Sacred words are also useful. conceived. Its seat is generally the whole

−Q±l‰£ 2014 63 Chowrongee 2014

Hindus taught their children to meditate minister fell into disgrace, and his King on the entity from which the physical world ordered him to be imprisoned on the top of and also the unseen world have originated, a tower till death. The minister’s wife and to pray to it for intelligence and came in the evening and from the base of enlightenment. This meditation is universal the tower called to him to determine if she in nature. There is no mention of God or could be helpful. The minister said, “Bring Goddess, or of any attribute. One can the following materials … one long rope, a meditate on the sun because it is true that bundle of strong twine, a pack of thread, a both the things around us and ourselves package of silken thread, a beetle and a have our origin in the sun. On attaining drop of honey.” The wife did not sufficient maturity, children can choose understand why they were needed but she special spiritual practices to their liking and faithfully obeyed. Next evening, she suitability. brought the materials. The husband asked For a practitioner of meditation, the wife to tie the silken thread to the beetle moderation in life is important. Too much and to smear a little honey on its horns and eating, too much sleeping, and too much to place it on the wall of the tower heading activity are not good for meditation. As upwards. Smelling the honey ahead, the also the opposites – too little eating, too beetle slowly crept to the top of the tower. little sleeping, or too little activity are not The minister got hold of it and seized the favorable. Some social virtues, if cultivated, silken thread. Then he asked his wife to tie help in meditation – it is like tuning a the silken thread to the pack thread, to the musical instrument properly before the strong twine and then to the rope one after actual performance. These virtues are the other. The minister finally grasped the friendliness toward the happy, compassion rope and tied it to a secure place in the top toward the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, of the tower and slowly climbed down and and indifference toward the wicked. escaped. Meditation is a slow process. It needs Similarly, meditation needs to be to be cultivated patiently through regular pursued slowly and diligently to be practice. There is a story that once a successful.

Swami Prapannananda, Minister and Teacher of Ramakrishna Order, India, and currently the Minister-in-Charge of the Vedanta Society of Sacramento.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 64 Chowrongee 2014

Brief History of Utsav

eyes – signed the official paperwork. We tsav is a nonprofit, cultural “U celebrated our first Durga Puja in October organization involved in promoting Bengali 2002. The participation of member families culture in the Sacramento Valley. Utsav was was outstanding and the joy was boundless. founded in 2002, with one goal: creating a With time, the Utsav tree has expanded and positive and enjoyable experience of the bondage among families grew deeper. friendship, happiness, and harmony via our The baton of responsibility transferred to Bengali heritage. Although Utsav is other able hands from the hands of those predominantly a Bengali organization so far, who started the organization. But the we want to reach other communities as well. founders and senior members continued to Membership in Utsav is not limited to any remain very active in different roles. particular race, religion, or ethnic origin”. Utsav membership includes 80-90 The Journey families, from which several members are The Beginning: It was a fine afternoon of elected every year to serve as officers for a Saraswasti Puja of 2002. A few new Bengali year. So far, many of our members have arrivals in Sacramento were standing in ably served our organization with the front of 1317 Montridge Ct., El Dorado leadership of our following Presidents: Hills, reminiscing over the Puja celebrations  2003: Arijit Chattopadhyay in their homeland in India. The participants  2004: Udayan Chanda in that gathering – Deb Saha, Udayan  2005: Mitra Choudri Chanda (UC), Arun Chowdhury, Samrat  2006: Biswanath Mukherjee Basu, Anirban Bhattacharya, Suvayu Bose,  2007: Dipankar Chattopadhyay and Joy Mukherjee – all felt the need to host  2008: Deb Saha their own Durga Puja in Sacramento and the  2009: Adi Choudri idea of an organization was thus born. In an  2010: Sharmila Mukherjee hour, they came up with the name, Utsav,  2011-12: Joy Mukherjee first proposed by Suvayu Bose. Later, Mala  2013-14: Ajay Joshi Paul designed the Utsav logo. A few weeks after that momentous Our Activities: gathering, several Sacramento Bengali old We organize several major annual events: timers were contacted with the help of Mita Durga Puja; Saraswati Puja; Picnic + Chakraborty. Everyone who we spoke to Annual General Meeting (AGM); etc. All got excited to have our own Durga Puja and our events enjoy strong participation from to have our own organization. Through this our children. Our next generation – for process of joyous interactions between the whom the exposure to Bengali culture is new arrivals and the old timers of invaluable – is very active in our cultural Sacramento, Utsav found few strong pillars programs, literary activities, and puja in the names of Adi and Mitra Choudri, activities. It is gratifying to note that many Somen Nandi, Biswanath Mukherjee, and of our young members, even after going to others, who had an immediate impact to college, still come back for our Pujas and make Utsav a grand success. look forward to attending them. In July 2002, Utsav was officially formed. Our other activities include the following: Adi Choudri, Deb Saha, Udayan Chanda,  Cultural Program productions, as parts of Arijit Chattopadhyay, and Joy Mukherjee – Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja, Anandamela, with smiles, happiness, and glitters in their India Day, California State Fair, etc.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 65 Chowrongee 2014

 Our Past Durga Puja External Artists o Public Servant (Gautam Roy), also include the following famous performers: performed at Bay Area Natyamela, May o Mala Ganguly 2005. o Lopamudra Mitra o Jampati (Sruti Natak) (by Sanjib o Antara Chowdhury Chattopadyay). o Bhoomi o Babuder Dalkukure (Manoj Mitra), o Rezwana Chowdhury Banya also performed at Bay Area Natyamela, o Somdatta Basu June 2006. o Utpalendu Chowdhury o Apaharan (Sruti Natak) (Baidyanath o Nachiketa Mukhopadhyay), performed at Bay Area o Sougata Ganguli (Sarod) Natyamela, June 2007. o Jojo  Our participation in 23rd Annual North Anup Ghoshal o American Bengali Conference (NABC) Raghav Chatterjee o (Bongo Sammelan), Long Beach, CA, o Suchismita Das July 2003: with a Children’s Dance o Shubhomita Program (Production: Mala Paul) and o Arnab Chakrabarty o Kaya Drama Bifole Mulyo Ferot (see above). o Tanusree Shankar and Troup  Transfusion (November 2005; Producer: o Aneek Dhar and Anwesha Mala Paul; Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ernie o Parnava Bodai): A Fundraising Event through  In 2009-10, Dr. Mitra Choudri initiated a which we donated $5,000 to the Cancer youth volunteer group, led by Utsav kids. Foundation of India. th They organized a winter clothes drive and  Our participation in 29 Annual North served an Indian meal at St. John’s American Bengali Conference (NABC), Shelter, performed Annual Spring San Jose, CA, July 2009: Dance Program Cleaning at Vedanta Center, and raised (Production: Shashwati Roy and Mala funds for the Haiti Disaster. Paul) and Drama Hoitey Sabhdan  High-quality production of our Annual directed by Joydeep Ray. Magazine, Chowrongee (please visit our  Ramayan (October 2009; Directed by: website for archives), thanks to Past and Ajay Joshi): A children’s drama. Present Editors: Dilip Roychowdhury,  Chalo Kolkata (October 2010; Written Arun Das, Rashmi Nandi, Manas Ray, by: Manas Ray; Directed by: Mala Paul): Avishek Nag, and Rajat Saha. A musical drama.  Drama Productions, under the Direction  Bir Purush (October 2010; Directed by: of Somen Nandi, such as: Paramita Ghosh): A children’s drama. o Obak Jolpan (by Sukumar Roy), also  Halud Himu Kalo Rab (October 2012; performed at Durgotsav’07 by an all- Directed by Manas Ray): A drama based female cast under the direction of on Humayun Ahmed’s novel. Sharmila Mukherjee.  100 Years of Bollywood (October 2013; o Mamago (by Sukumar Roy). Directed by Nupur Joshi). o Makuda Chole Gelen (Gautam Roy). Information for this writeup is gathered from the past o Bifole Mulyo Ferot (Samir Dasgupta), rd several years with the objective to help new and also performed at 23 Annual North future members who are expected to take forward American Bengali Conference (NABC), and improve the Utsav legacy. Long Beach, CA, July 2003. . o Hum Do Hamara Do (Amol Roy).

−Q±l‰£ 2014 66 Chowrongee 2014

Utsav Membership Roster (2014-15)

Platinum Sponsors (contribution: $1200 and above) Choudri, Adi and Mitra Chanda, Udayan and Seema Jadhav, Umesh and Poonam Joshi, Ajay and Nupur Nayak, Sanjib and Soma Sharma, Kingshuk and Ashrukona

Gold Sponsors (contribution: $600 and above) Chowdhury, Shyamal and Bipasha Devavarapu, Pradeep and Sanhita Bandyopadhyay Mukherjee, Biswanath and Supriya Nandi, Somen and Rashmi Sarkar, Sanjib and Hem

Silver Sponsors (contribution: $400 and above) Chakraborty, Prodosh and Mita Chakraborty, Shyama and Paris Powell Dey, Saumen and Manjula Khatua, Tara and Krishna Kriplani, Indru and Pramila Kumar, Barin and Anima Mukherjee, Arun and Sharmila Mukherjee, Joy and Suvra Saquib, Najmus and Lubna Sarkar, Sandeep and Debolina Simmi

General Members Adoni, Anand, Subhra (Chakraborty), Anish, and Aisha *Bagchi, Shyamal and Ossing *Bandyopadhyay, Barun, Sunanda, Sneha, and Hiya *Bandyopadhyay, Rohosen Banerjee, Amit, Snigdha (Ghosh), Isha and Shriya *Basu, Mrinmoy and Kajal Basu, Shantanu, Rina, and Dhiya Basuroy, Nirupam, Sudeshna, Shimika, and Nirvik *Bhattacharya, Anirban, Paramita (Chakraborty), and Archita *Bhattacharya, Prodyot and Srilekha *Bhaumik, Partha Bhowmick, Rana Burman, Prabir *Chakraborty, Prodosh, Mita, Joey, and Robby *Chakroborty, Shyama and Paris Powell *Chanda, Udayan, Seema, Neel, and Natasha *Chatterjee, Satya and Pat *Choudri, Adi, Mitra, Neil, and Natasha Chowdhury, Arun, Rupa, Ayananta, and Aditya Chowdhury, Pulak, Sanchita (Dey), and Mahika Adishree *Chowdhury, Shyamal, Bipasha, Sudip, and Anindya Chowdhury, Ujjwal and Family *Das, Aveek

−Q±l‰£ 2014 67 Chowrongee 2014

Das, Gautom and Jayanti Das, Koushik, Santana, and Debanshu *Das, Modan, Shilpi, Neil, and Raj Datta, Jyotirmoy, Namita, Srijon, and Orjon Datta, Sandipan Datta, Shubhojit and Jhuma *Datta, Subrata, Alodipa, and Family *Devavarapu, Pradeep, Sanhita (Bandyopadhyay), and Suhan *Dey, Saumen, Manjula, and Siddhartha *Ganguly, Apratim Ghosh, Anandaroop *Ghosh, Kunal, Rupa, Shovik, and Rudrani Ghosh, Somnath and Sarbani *Ghosh, Sumanta, Paramita, Sumita, and Shayan *Ghoshal, Surajit, Tuhina, Tuli, and Tithi Gima, Marvel and Subhra *Guha, Snehungsu and Tanusree (Dasgupta) *Joshi, Ajay, Nupur, Neha, and Veer Kar, Mukta, Shommek Paul, and Evani Karmakar, Amit, Carol, Deven, and Asha Khan, Abdul Quyyum, Jasmin, Sami, and Nafi *Khatua, Tara and Krishna *Kriplani, Indru and Pramila *Kumar, Barin, Anima, Soma, and Eric Mallick, Soumya, Sharmila, and Family Mandal, Uttam *Mitra, Anupam and Ananya Mohammad, Billah (Rana), Baby, Farah, and Farhan *Mukherjee, Arun, Sharmila, Ballari, and Kajori *Mukherjee, Biswanath, Supriya, Bipasha, and Suchitra *Mukherjee, Joy, Suvra, Rinita, and Ronit *Nandi, Somen, Rashmi, Sunoy, and Sharod *Nayak, Sanjib, Soma, Ena, and Ashna Paul, Debashis *Paul, Mala and Evani *Paul, Subrata, Soma, Dipto, and Sreeja *Ray, Joydeep, Dipanjali (Banerjee), and Family *Ray, Manas, Shashwati, and Mohana Ray, Monika, Naveen (Atray), Sultana, and Dhruv (Atray) *Roy, Abhishek *Roy, Tania Saha, Deb, Nina Shetty, Rohan, and Ishaan *Saha, Rajat and Ananya *Saha, Subir, Seema (Chowdhury), and Family *Saquib, Najmus, Lubna, Samhita, and Samara Sardar, Pranab and Family *Sarkar, Sandeep, Debolina, and Ryan *Sarkar, Sanjib, Hem, Arunava, and Sonia *Sarkar, Subir, Lily, Sahana, and Sharon Sarkar, Sudeep, Suman, Aditya, and Aryav *Sharma, Kingshuk, Ashrukana, Khounish, and Eashaan

* Denotes membership renewed for 2014-15 during press time. Our apologies if the information has any inaccuracy; please drop us an email at [email protected] with corrections.

−Q±l‰£ 2014 68 Chowrongee 2014

−Q±l‰£ 2014 69 Chowrongee 2014

Thanks All Its Volunteers Who Have Tirelessly Contributed To The Success of All Its Events In 2013-14

ph¡C−L S¡e¡C öi ¢hSu¡l fË£¢a J ö−iμR¡