AS I SN L . A O G F Bengali Association of Greater Chicago - Community Newsletter N G

R E T

B R

C H I C A G O mgvR msev` Volume 38 Issue 4

To:

From : BAGC 1148 N Main Street, Glendale Heights, IL 60139 “Investing is Simple, but not Easy” – Warren Buffet

Are you investing successfully for the long term? Despite making enough money, most people struggle to achieve their long term financial goals. They employ trial and error investment strategies, trying to pick the next hot stock or mutual fund. Lacking a clear investment plan and execution strategy, they often assume more risk than necessary and thereby diminish their chances of achieving their goals. What does it take to invest successfully? Successful investors have a well thought out investment plan and strategy, which they execute consistently over the long haul. Just as successful athletes have a plan and strategy in place and achieve success with the help of a coach, successful investors need a good investment plan and strategy that they can execute with the help of a good investment adviser. V2 Financial Group, an Independent fee-only advisor, provides sophisticated advice and manages your investment accounts on your behalf Our Services  Portfolio management (manage your IRA's, 401(k)'s and other investment accounts)  Planning (Insurance planning, Retirement & College projections and planning) Why V2?  Fiduciary (unlike brokers), operating with your best interests in mind  Individualized portfolio management  Unbiased product selection. No Commissions. Conflict-free advice  Sophisticated, holistic approach

VENKAT KRISHNAMURTHY & VENKATA VEDAM V2 FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC 1536 East Bailey Road Naperville IL 60565 (630) 364-4529 (Phone) (630) 839-6169 (Fax)

Www.v2financialgroup.com

Please contact us for a no-obligation consultation [email protected] / [email protected]

DISCLOSURES Registration as an investment adviser does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by securities regulators nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice, but is limited to the dissemination of general information on products and services. This information should not be construed as an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. Changes in investment strategies, contributions or withdrawals may materially alter the performance and results of your portfolio. We only transact business in states where we are properly registered, or are excluded or exempted from registration requirements. mgvR msev` Community Newsletter

2013 BAGC COMMITTEE President’s Message President: [email protected] Bitosh Sinha 312-515-8203

Dear Members, Vice-President: [email protected] I hope you had a wonderful Asim Gangopadhyay 630-418-0525 summer. Thanks to your Secretary: [email protected] enthusiastic participation, our Sunayana Yang 331-442-6654 annual picnic in June turned out to be a most successful Treasurer: [email protected] event. It is the only occasion Ranit Dhorchowdhury 847-274-2079 for our community to gather outdoor. Nearly 150 people Cultural: [email protected] showed up and socialized while Shaibal Talukdar 847-602-0353 enjoying the food prepared at the venue, participating in Shravani Datta 630-401-2104 games of cricket, volleyball and Puja: [email protected] bingo, strolling by the lakes, or indulging in plain “adda” Madhumita Banerjee 630-654-1219 clutching a cup of tea on a bench or in the shade under a tree. Suparna Gupta 630-428-0527 Childrens' day held on Aug 10 at Banga Bhavan was another notable Food: [email protected] success. About 25 pre-teen members of our community delighted the audience with their songs, music, dance, recitation etc. On Aug Aloke Raj Banerjee 858-752-8085 17, we commemorated 's independence day with a parade Biswaroop Datta 630-400-8169 along the "Indo-Pak" section of Devon Avenue. Some 20 members of BAGC singing patriotic songs on BAGC's brightly decorated Deep Bandyopadhyay 517-604-1364 float were cheered on by spectators gathered by the street. I would Newsletter: [email protected] like to thank Shubham Sanyal for his help in organizing this event. Dhiman Chakraborty 630-765-2788 With fall making its entrance, it is now time for us to get in the mood for the biggest event of the year – Durga Puja. This year, we will welcome Ranjita Chattopadhyay 630-898-8283 Ma Durga on Oct 11-13 at the Elgin High School. Some information Website/eMail: [email protected] about the program, directions to the venue, and the fee structure can be found in the following pages, while other details that have yet to be Rana Bose 847-843-7238 finalized, will be announced on our web site http://www.bagc.net/ as Facility: [email protected] soon as possible (see under Events Calendar and announcement under Upcoming Event). A special word of thanks is due to Mr. Achintya Roy Sudip Maiti 847-722-2780 for helping us secure the Durga Puja venue. Additionally, this year we Tuhin Majumdar 331-625-9860 will have a new event, Bijoya Sammiloni, on Saturday, Oct 19. The Ads/Sponsorship: [email protected] venue, program etc. will be announced on the BAGC web site soon, and also during the Puja. Please mark these dates on your calendar. On Jasendu Chakraborty 630-460-5537 behalf of the BAGC Executive Committee, I sincerely hope to see you Youth: [email protected] all on both occasions. Reemlee Dhorchowdhury 847-274-6001 One other thing that I would like to note is that the BOT-appointed reorganization task force has been meeting regularly and making Reshmee Dhorchowdhury 847-858-4979 steady progress towards finalizing a proposal for the new Registration : [email protected] organizational structure to bring all Banga Bhavan operations under the purview of the BAGC president. This also entails some Gokul Bose 815-482-9408 amendments to the BAGC constitution and by-laws. These will be Neel Saha 630-806-6724 presented to the general body for approval in due course following the standard procedure mandated in the constitution. I encourage you to BB Chairman : [email protected] participate in the democratic process. Monisha Datta 630-830-0851 Sincerely, BB Treasurer : [email protected] Bitosh Sinha Uditt Mukherjee 815-237-3545

1 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter Durga Puja 2013

Puja Schedule Friday – October 11 Registration starts 5 PM Puja 6 PM to 7:30 PM Tea and Light Snacks 5:30 PM to 7 PM Anjali 7:45 PM to 8 PM Sandhya Arati 8 PM to 8:15 PM Dinner 7:30 PM to 9 PM Cultural Program 9 PM to 11:30 PM Saturday – October 12 Registration starts 9:30 AM Puja 10 AM to 1 PM Anjali 1 PM to 2 PM You are all cordially invited to celebrate BAGC's 2013 Lunch 1 PM to 3 PM "Sharodotsav" (Durga Puja). Sandhya Arati 3:45 PM to 4:45 PM Cultural Program- Part 1 5 PM to 7:30 PM Venue : Elgin High School, Dinner 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM 1200 Maroon Dr. Elgin. IL 60120 Cultural Program- Part II 9:30 PM to 11:30 PM Sunday – October 13 Registration starts 12:30 PM Celebration Date Puja 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Anjali 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM Lunch 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM Day 1 : Friday, Oct 11 Cultural Program Part I 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM Dinner 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Day 2 : Saturday, Oct 12 Cultural Program Part II 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Day 3 : Sunday, Oct 13 Saturday – October 19 Cultural Program Part I 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM Bijoya Sammiloni : Saturday, Oct 19 Dinner 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Cultural Program- Part II 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM Puja Subscription Rates

Puja Day Member Member Non-Member Non-Member Self-supporting Adult Child Adult Child Student Fri $40 $25 $45 $25 $25 Sat $60 $30 $75 $40 $25 Sun $40 $25 $45 $25 $25 Fri & Sat $80 $40 $95 $50 $25 Sat & Sun $80 $40 $95 $50 $25 Fri & Sun $70 $35 $75 $40 $25 2nd Sat $20 $10 $25 $15 $25 3-Day $110 $60 $140 $70 $25 4-Day $125 $65 $160 $80 $25 $5 will be added to each rate if payment is received after October 4, 2013. – Disclaimer – Articles in Samaj Sambad are obtained from individual members. The editors are not responsible for the content of these articles. Opinions expressed in these articles are solely those of the contributors and not necessarily representative of BAGC.

2 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter m¤úv`Kxq

"®j­Ol ®L¡­m ®l¡c ®q­p­R, h¡cm ®N­R V¥¢V / 2013-l n¡l­c¡vp­h Bfe¡­cl pLm­L S¡e¡C p¡cl BS Bj¡­cl R¥¢V J i¡C -----' Bj¿»Z z h¤­L Sj¡ Smi¡l ¢ex­n­o ®Y­m ¢c­u L¡­m¡ ®j­Ol Evp­hl l¡¢NZ£l j­dÉJ ®L¡b¡u ®ke h¡S­R ¢hoæa¡l cm ¢g­l Q­m­R z e£m BL¡­n i¡p­R HMe mO¤i¡l "p¡c¡ p¤¤l z Na L­uL j¡­p Bjl¡ q¡¢l­u¢R Hje ¢LR¥ ®j­Ol ®im¡'z ®p¡e¡ ®l¡c ¢T¢mL ¢c­µR a¡l N¡u z hÉ¢š²aÆ­L ky¡­cl Ai¡­h ¢e­S­cl hs ¢lš² j­e q­µR z Bf¡jl h‰h¡p£l je EeÈM¥ – L­h Bp­h ®pC R¥¢Vl Na hR­ll ®no¢c­L p¤¤e£m N­‰¡f¡dÉ¡u, a¡lfl H­L H­L ¢ce…¢m kMe "®Lu¡f¡a¡l ®e±­L¡' N­s a¡mc£¢O­a l¢hnwLl, j¡ep Qœ²hšÑ£ Hhw A¢a pÇfË¢a Ga¥fZÑ ®O¡o i¡p¡­e¡l Bl a¡­cl c¤­m c¤­m S­ml Efl Qm¡ ®cM¡l Q­m ®N­Re Bj¡­cl ®R­s z Bj¡­cl p¡wú«¢aL S£h­e pju f¡Ju¡ k¡­h fkÑ¡ç z fËa£r¡l f¡m¡ fË¡u g¥¢l­uC HC r¢a Af§lZ£u z S£he hqa¡ ec£l j­a¡ Qmj¡e z Hm z L¥­j¡lV¥¢m­a fË¢aj¡l j¡¢V J M­sl L¡W¡­j¡l Efl a¡C c¤xM Hhw ®hce¡l BO¡­a ®b­j b¡L­m Qm­h e¡ z HLj¡¢V Qs¡­e¡l L¡S Ha¢c­e ®no z S¥­a¡-S¡j¡, n¡s£- ky¡l¡ Na q­u­Re ay¡­cl fË¢a ¢hejË nËÜ¡ S¡¢e­u Bjl¡ Q¥¢s J fËp¡de p¡jNË£l ®c¡L¡­e Evp¡q£ ®œ²a¡l ¢is H¢N­u Qm¢R z ¢nÒf£l jªa¥É ®eC z ay¡l pª¢øl j­dÉ ¢c­u œ²jnxC ®h­s Q­m­R z hÉÙ¹a¡ hCf¡s¡­a Bl ¢p¢X- ¢a¢e Ajl­aÆl R¡sfœ ®f­u­Re z Bjl¡ HCph jq¡e ¢X¢i¢Xl ®c¡L¡e…¢m­aJ – f¤­S¡pwMÉ¡, f¤­S¡l ea¥e ¢nÒf£­cl ¢n­Òfl ¢ia­lC My¤­S f¡h ay¡­cl q¡l¡­e¡l EfeÉ¡p Bl ea¥e AÉ¡mh¡j ! f¤­S¡ Bp­R z Bl j¡œ ®n¡L Su Ll¡l Ajªah¡šÑ¡ z Bn¡ l¡¢M BN¡j£ fËS­eÈl HLj¡­pl j­dÉ Be¾cju£l Bh¡q­e ®j­a EW­h h¡P¡m£z j­dÉ ®b­L HL¢ce E­W Bp­h ay¡­cl ®k¡NÉ Ešlp§l£ z öd¤ f¢ÕQjh‰ h¡ h¡wm¡­c­n eu, p¡l¡ fª¢bh£l ®kM¡­e ka öd¤ S¡a£u S£h­eC eu z ¢e­S­cl hÉ¢š²Na S£h­eJ h¡P¡m£ B­R pL­ml j­eC ®h­S E­W­R Evp­hl p¡q¡e¡z üSeq¡l¡­e¡l ¢h­u¡NhÉ¡b¡u Lø f¡­µRe ®LE ®LE z ¢WL hm¢R ®a¡? ¢e­Sl j­e L¡e ®f­a öe¤e – Bj¡­cl HLV¡C Ae¤­l¡d Bfe¡­cl L¡­R z S£h­el Evp­hl p¤¤l öe­a f¡­µRe ¢eÕQuC? HLV¥ A­fr¡ Ll­a ¢ho¡c ¢hd¤l j¤q¨šÑ…¢m­a j­e l¡M­he Bf¢e HL¡ ee z q­h z a¡lfl Bjl¡J pL­m ¢j­m p¡¢jm qh HC Bjl¡ pL­m B¢R Bfe¡l p­‰ z pL­m p¤¤ÙÛ b¡L­he z j­q¡vp­h z HC A­fr¡l ¢ce…­m¡ Bn¡ L¢l Be­¾c Be­¾c b¡L­he z j¡ Be¾cju£l L¡­R Bfe¡­cl L¡V­R pL­ml z ¢c­el °cOÑÉ Lj­a öl¦ Ll¡l B­N phÑ¡‰£e L¥nm L¡je¡ L¢l z ®l¡­cl ®p¡e¡ L¥¢s­u ®eJu¡l f¡m¡ HMe z N¡­Rl f¡a¡u B¿¹¢lL i¡mh¡p¡ J ö­iµR¡ pq, p­h j¡œ lP dl­a öl¦ L­l­R z f¡a¡ Tl¡l ¢ce Bp­a HMeJ A­eL ®cl£ z he­i¡Se, LÉ¡¢Çfw, qW¡v L­l l¢”a¡ Q­–¡f¡dÉ¡u q¡¢l­u k¡Ju¡ ®L¡e g­lØV ¢fËp¡iÑ-Hl N¡­Rl j¡b¡u R¡Ju¡ d£j¡e Qœ²haÑ£ B­m¡-Byd¡¢l fb d­l h¡ VmV­m S­m ¢Rf ®g­m j¡­R­cl Bn¡u h­p b¡L¡ – H p­hlC pju B­R HMeJ ®hn ¢LR¥¢ce z Bl HCph hÉÙ¹a¡l j­dÉ X¥­h b¡L­a b¡L­aC H­p k¡­h ®pC hý fËa£¢ra f¤­S¡l ¢ce…¢m z We thank Puja Mukherjee j¡œ Bs¡C ¢c­el SeÉ q­mJ k¡ Bj¡­cl i¥¢m­u ®c­h for the cover art titled °ce¢¾ce Na¡e¤N¢aLa¡l LÓ¡¢¿¹ z Evp­hl pj¡­l¡­q ®j­a ‘‘Sunday afternoon at EWh Bjl¡ z ¢ce…­m¡ ¢L¿¹¥ AhnÉC j­e l¡M­he z Lincoln Park - Bengali style” Hm¢Ne q¡C ú¥­m A­ƒ¡hl j¡­pl 11, 12 Hhw 13 a¡¢lMz ¢hH¢S¢p-l L¡kÑ¢ehÑ¡q£ p¢j¢al fr ®b­L Cwl¡S£

3 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter Cultural Program – Durga Puja 2013

"Hh¡l eh£e j­¿» q­h See£ ®a¡l E­à¡de'

Friday, October 11 "Invocation of Ma Durga" - a dance recital directed by Bidula Sinha Guest artist : Jayati Chakraborty Saturday, October 12 “Pushpanjali” - dance recital by Anushka Chakraborty “Devi” - dance program directed by Taposhi Jarvis “Bhalobeshe Sakhi Nibhrite Jatane'' - a journey through Tagore's life and literature directed by Ranjita Chattopadhyay Guest artist : Babul Supriyo Sunday, October 13 Youth program - humorous skits reflecting the idiosyncrasies lives of Bengali children growing up in the US, directed by Sid Biswas Guest artist : Shamik Sinha “Krishna leela'' - a colorful dance program showcasing our talented children directed by Remlee Dhor Chowdhury Saturday, October 19 Bijoya Sammilani This year we are bringing a unique taste of “Bangaliana” to you. Please mark your calendar for the event. Immerse yourself in typical Bengali spirit with “dhakka paar dhuti”, “lalpere tanter shari”, “machbhaja” and “paan”. Please celebrate Bijoya Sammilani hosted by BAGC with “bangali khabar” and “sanskritik anusthan'', two essential ingredients of Bengali culture. Cultural program for the evening Folk fusion Band : Fakira (Band members: Timir , Abhinaba, Avirup, Chayan and Kunaal) For last-minute changes and updated information, please check the BAGC web site: http://www.bagc.net

4 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter

Camelia Saha Camelia Saha graduated from Metea Valley High School in Aurora and will be majoring in Biochemistry at University of Illinois at Chicago. She was a member of speech team, vice president of Indian Student Association and vice president of future medical professional club at Metea.

Meghan Neeta Jarvis Meghan Neeta Jarvis, daughter of John and Taposhi, graduated form Hinsdale South High School in May. She will be attending Arizona State University in the fall as a Marketing major. She plans to keep dancing in Tempe and advises others to follow their dreams.

Annesha Ria Banerjee Annesha Ria Banerjee, daughter of BAGC members Prashant and Molly, graduated with high honors from Hinsdale Central High School. She is an Illinois State Scholar and an active member of the National Honor Society. She will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign starting this Fall. This summer she will be completing her Arangetram in Bharatnatyam under the tutelage of Hema Rajagopalan.

ANNOUNCEMENT

The constitution amendment, as recommended by the BAGC Reorganization Committee, a task force formed by the Board of Trustees in 2012, and authored by the By-Laws Committee went to Board of Trustees (BOT) for review. This now goes to the Executive Committee for distribution to general membership. We urge every member to read it and send comments to the EC before it is presented at the GBM for approval in November. We are grateful to the members of the Reorganization Committee for taking up this important project and spending many grueling hours over the last eighteen months to complete it. Achintya Ray Chairman, Board of Trustees 2013

5 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter ANNOUNCEMENT

Debika Ghose, daughter of Prasanta and Jhuma Ghose, got married to Jeremy Howard, son of Dan and Dennis Howard, on May 11,2013, at Marriott, Oakbrook Hills Resort at Oakbrook, IL. The couple is presently residing at Anchorage, Alaska. We wish them a happy and blissful married life.

Prodeep Datta, son of late Jagat K. Datta & Mrs. Monisha Datta recently got married to Rubina Mander daughter of Dr. Tejinder Singh Mander and Mrs. Harvinder Mander on July 6th, 2013 in Grand Rapids, MI. They have started their life together and are living in their condo in Chicago, IL. Best wishes to the newly weds!

Shikha and Bob Evans are happy to announce that their son Krishanu and daughter-in-law Holly had their first daughter, Autumn Ava Evans (daknam: Mamoni) on May 11, 2013.

Sanjay Basu We are proud to announce that Sanjay Basu, son of Samir and Juthika Basu, wrote a book called ‘‘The Body Economic” which was published in 16 countries in their native languages simultaneously on May 21, 2013. The book deals with the subject of damaging effect of austerity on human health. Congratulations Sanjay! Some websites to read about the synopsis of the We, Ranjit and Ilora Ganguly are proud to book are: announce that the birth of our first grandchild, Aryan, http://www.chicagotribune.com/search_results/? at 4:18 PM on Thursday, July 18, 2013. He was q=sanjay+basu%27s+book 6lb.5oz. and 20" long at the time of birth. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/13/opinion/ho Congratulations to w-austerity-kills.html his proud parents Suvodeep and Anita Ganguly.

6 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter

Qm¢µQœ f¢lQ¡mL Ga¥fZÑ ®O¡­ol AL¡m fËu¡­Z Bjl¡ Ni£li¡­h ®n¡L¡qa

Ga¥fZÑ ®O¡o Øjl­Z Hj Hj M¡ul¦m Be¡j

Ga¥fZÑ ®O¡­ol SeÈ 31 ®n BNø, 1963 p¡­m z ay¡l c¤C Nªq f¢lQ¡lL, ay¡­L ¢hR¡e¡l Efl A‘¡e ¢a¢e i¡l­al, ¢h­no L­l f¢ÕQjh­‰l Cc¡e£w L¡­ml AhÙb¡u f­s b¡L­a ®c­M z HL fË¢a­h¢ne£l X¡­L ph­Q­u n¢š²n¡m£ J hÉ¢aœ²j£ HLSe ¢Qœ f¢lQ¡mL X¡š²¡l H­p ay¡­L jªa h­m ®O¡oZ¡ L­le z ¢R­me z Na 30 ®n ®j, 2013 p¡­m j¡œ 49 hRl hu­p jªa¥Él Mhl ®f­u ¢g¢mÈ c¤¢eu¡l hý e¡uL, e¡¢uL¡, q©ck­¿»l ¢œ²u¡ hå q­u LmL¡a¡u ¢e­Sl h¡pih­e j¡l¡ f¢lQ¡mL J Lm¡L¥nm£l¡ ay¡l h¡s£­a ®no nËÜ¡ S¡e¡­a k¡e z Ga¥fZÑ Na cn hRl k¡hv X¡u¡­h¢Vp ®l¡­N Hhw B­pe z ¢hL¡­m ay¡l jl­cq "e¾ce' H ¢e­u k¡Ju¡ qu z Na f¡yQ hRl d­l fÉ¡w¢œ²u¡V¡C¢Vp ®l¡­N i¥N¢R­me z ®pM¡­eJ q¡S¡l q¡S¡l Ae¤l¡N£ ay¡­cl ®no nËÜ¡ ¢e­hce Ce­p¡j¢eu¡ h¡ A¢eâ¡ ®l¡­Nl SeÉ ¢a¢e O¤­jl Jo¤d L­le z Hlfl ay¡l jªa­cq V¡¢mN­”l ®VL¢e¢pu¡ep ®M­ae z Hl Efl X¡š²¡l­cl ¢l­f¡VÑ Ae¤k¡u£ ay¡l nl£­l ØV¥¢XJ­a ¢e­u k¡Ju¡ qu z ®pM¡­e f¢ÕQjh­‰l j¤MÉj¿»£ ""ql­j¡e ¢l­fÔp­j¾V ®bl¡¢f' S¢ea L¡l­Z ®hn jja¡ h­¾cÉ¡f¡dÉ¡u nËÜ¡ S¡e¡­a H­p h­me ""Ga¥fZÑ S¢Vma¡l pª¢ø qu z ®bl¡¢fV¡l clL¡l q­u¢Rm kMe ay¡l ¢R­me HL ¢hlm fË¢ai¡'' z Hlfl ""¢pl£¢V'' nÈn¡­e ®f­V A­Ù»¡fQ¡l Ll¡ qu Hhw h¤­L L«¢œj Ù¹e hp¡e qu z ay¡l nh­cq c¡q Ll¡ qu z H…­m¡ Ll¡l clL¡l q­u¢Rm ay¡l ""Bl HL¢V ®fË­jl NÒf'' R¢hV¡l SeÉ, ®kM¡­e ¢a¢e ¢e­S HLSe pjL¡j£ n¢š²j¡e A¢i­ea¡ ®p±¢jœ Q­–¡f¡dÉ¡u h­me, ¢a¢e ¢Qœ¢ejÑ¡a¡l i¨¢jL¡u A¢ieu L­l¢R­me z ¢hnÄ¡p-C Ll­a f¡l¢R­me e¡, Ha AÒf hu­p Aje ¢hl¡V

7 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter fË¢anË¥¢an£m HLSe ¢Qœf¢lQ¡mL­L q¡l¡­a qm z A­e­Ll d¡lZ¡, Sep¡d¡lZ­L ®œ²a¡ ¢qp¡­h BL«ø Ll¡l ""¢aa¢m'' J ""®c¡pl'' R¢hl e¡¢uL¡ Lˆe¡ ®penjÑ¡ SeÉ B­hce n¢š² J ®L±nm ¢a¢e ¢h‘¡fe ¢nÒf ®b­L Ga¥f­ZÑl jªaÉ¥­L HL¢V ¢hl¡V ¢eSü r¢a h­m hZÑe¡ lç L­l¢R­me z ®pC j¡e¢pLa¡ J A¢i‘a¡ flhaÑ£ L­l­Re z A¢l¾cj n£m ¢ceV¡­L S¡a£u ®n¡L¢chp L¡­m a¡y­L H­Ll fl HL B­hcen£m J ph¡l L¡­R ¢q­p­h f¡me Ll¡l Ae¤­l¡d L­l­Re z Ga¥fZÑ¡ ®pe…ç¡ pqSi¡­h NËqZ­k¡NÉ R¢h h¡e¡­a p¡q¡kÉ L­l­R z j¡e¤­ol h­m­Re, ""®O¡o h¡wm¡ ¢p­ej¡­L p¡wú«¢aL J L¡R¡L¡¢R h­m R¢h…¢m Ha Se¢fËua¡ J f¤lú¡l ®f­u­Rz jeen£ma¡l ¢cL ®b­L pjªÜ L­l¢R­me'' z j¤ð¡C­ul n£­oѾc¤ j¤­M¡f¡dÉ¡­ul EfeÉ¡p Ahmð­e Ga¥f­ZÑl A¢ja¡i hµQ­el j­e f­s Ga¥fZÑ ®O¡o HLj¡œ °al£ ¢nö Qm¢µQœ ""q£­ll Bw¢V'' ®a A¢ieu f¢lQ¡mL, ¢k¢e ay¡l f¢lh¡­ll ph¡C­L ¢e­u L¡S L­l­Re z H R¡s¡ ¢hf¡n¡ hp¤¤, nÉ¡j ®h­eN¡m, ®p¡q¡ Bm£ L­l¢R­me j¤ej¤e ®pe J hp¿¹ ®Q±d¤l£ z 1995 p¡­m j¡ J M¡e, AS¥Ñe l¡jf¡m, l¡Cj¡ ®pe, ¢LlZ ®Ml CaÉ¡¢c ky¡l¡ ®j­ul pÇfLÑ ¢e­u °al£ R¢h ""E¢e­n H¢fËm'' ®nËù a¡l p­‰ L¡S L­l­Re h¡ pwØf­nÑ H­p­Re, ph¡C ay¡l ¢gQ¡l ¢gmÈ ¢qp¡­h S¡a£u f¤lú¡l f¡u z A¢ie­u ¢R­me pw­hcen£m je J AeeÉ fË¢ai¡l Lb¡ ØjlZ L­le z AfZÑ¡ ®pe J ®chnË£ l¡u, ¢k¢e ®nËù S¡a£u A¢i­eœ£-l p¡¢q¢aÉL l”e h­¾cÉ¡f¡dÉ¡u J AeÉ¡eÉ f¢lQ¡mL, f¤lú¡l f¡e z 1997 p¡­m LmL¡a¡l l¡Ù¹¡u e¡l£ pqf¢lQ¡mL­cl ®Q¡­M ¢a¢e AaÉ¿¹ ‘¡e£, h¤¢Üj¡e J ¢ekÑÉ¡a­el HL¢V paÉ OVe¡ Ahmð­e ¢e¢jÑa ""cqe'' B¿¹¢lL j¡e¤o ¢R­me z ApwMÉ hC fs­ae J a¡l R¢hl ¢Qœe¡­VÉl SeÉ S¡a£u Qm¢µQœ f¤lú¡l f¡e Ga¥fZÑz ®ia­ll jjÑLb¡…­m¡ M¤h Ni£l i¡­h Ae¤d¡he Ll­a HLC R¢hl SeÉ k¤NÈi¡­h ®nËù A¢i­eœ£l f¤lú¡l f¡e f¡l­ae z ¢p­ej¡ J e¡V­Ll p­‰ S¢sa ¢h¢nø …Z£­cl Ga¥fZÑ¡ ®pe…ç¡ J C¾cÊ¡Z£ q¡mc¡l z 1999 p¡­m j¤¢š² ®hn£l i¡­Nl j­a, Ga¥fZÑC HLj¡œ f¢lQ¡mL ¢k¢e f¡Ju¡ ""Ap¤¤M'' R¢h¢Vl ¢hou ¢Rm HL ¢gmÈ ØV¡l ®j­u J i¡la£u Qm¢µQœ SN­a paÉ¢Sv l¡­ul k¤­Nl p­‰ a¡l B­ul Efl Apq¡ui¡­h ¢eiÑln£m h¡h¡l pÇf­LÑ Bd¤¢eL k¤­Nl HLV¡ ®k¡Np§œ ÙÛ¡fe Ll­a prj V¡e¡-®f¡­se z ®nËù ¢gQ¡l ¢gmÈ ¢q­p­h ""Ap¤¤M'' S¡a£u q­u¢R­me z f¤lú¡l f¡u z 1999 p¡­m HL ¢hdh¡l HL¡¢LaÆ J p¤¤ç jeh¡pe¡l Efl R¢h ""h¡s£Ju¡m£'' ®hl qu z H­a ®nËù Ga¥fZÑ p¡Eb f­u¾V q¡C ú¥­ml R¡œ Hhw k¡chf¤l A¢i­eœ£ J pq A¢i­eœ£ ¢q­p­h ¢LlZ ®Ml J p¤¤c£ç¡ ¢hnÄ¢hcÉ¡m­ul AbÑe£¢al pÀ¡aL z ¢nÒf£ ¢qp¡­h fËbj L¡S Qœ²haÑ£ S¡a£u f¤lú¡l f¡e z 2000 p¡­ml R¢h öl¦ L­le HL¢V ¢h‘¡fe ®L¡Çf¡¢e­a z HLpj­u ay¡l ""Evph''-Hl SeÉ ®nËù f¢lQ¡mL ¢q­p­h S¡a£u f¤lú¡l j­e q­u¢Rm, AbÑe£¢al hc­m p¡¢qaÉ h¡ ¢nÒf ¢e­u f¡e Ga¥fZÑ z ¢houhÙ¹¥ ¢Rm HL hªqv f¢lh¡l, k¡l pcpÉl¡ fs¡öe¡ Ll­m ®h¡d qu i¡m q­a¡ z 1992 p¡­m LjÑp¤¤­œ c§­l c§­l h¡p Lla z ®Lhm hR­l HLh¡l c§NÑ¡ h¡µQ¡­cl SeÉ h¡e¡­e¡ ay¡l fËbj R¢h ""q£­ll Bw¢V'' f¤­S¡l pju ph¡C °fa«L h¡s£­a H­p HLœ q­a¡ z j¤¢š² f¡u z HC üÒf S£he f¢lp­l j¡œ c¤C cn­Ll j­dÉ 2002 p¡­m ""¢aa¢m'' R¢h­a j¡-®j­ul HL AeÉ ¢a¢e 24¢V R¢h °al£ L­le, k¡l j­dÉ 13¢V S¡a£u dl­Zl pÇf­LÑl Lb¡ a¥­m d­le Ga¥fZÑ z ®pM¡­e ®cM¡ f¤lú¡l m¡i L­l z Hl L­uL¢V HL¡¢dL ¢hi¡­N f¤lú«a k¡u HL¢V ¢Ve-HS ¢L­n¡l£ ®fË­j f­s­R HL huú qu z L­uL¢V ASÑe L­l B¿¹SÑ¡¢aL f¤lú¡lJ z Qm¢µQœ ¢gmÈØV¡­ll, k¡l p­‰ A­eL hRl B­N ®M¡c j¡­ulC f¢lQ¡me¡l B­N ¢a¢e h¡wm¡l l©­f¡m£ fcÑ¡u ¢h‘¡fe O¢eù pÇfLÑ ¢Rm z fËÙ¹¥aL¡lL ¢qp¡­hC f¢l¢Qa ¢R­me z B­N ph ¢h‘¡feC Cw­l¢S h¡ ¢q¾c£ ®b­L h¡wm¡u aSÑj¡ Ll¡ q­a¡ z 1980 2003 p¡­ml ""öi jqla'' R¢h¢V ¢a¢e BN¡b¡ p¡­m ¢a¢eC fËbj h¡wm¡ i¡o¡u ®j±¢mL ¢h‘¡fe lQe¡ ¢œ²¢ØVl ""¢jl¡l œ²É¡LÚX X¡Ee éj p¡CX'' Ahmð­e L­le z ¢h­no L­l ""®h¡­l¡m£e'' S¡a£u HL m¡C­el J °al£ L­le z A¢ie­u ¢R­me l¡M£, n¢jÑm¡ W¡L¥l J ®nÔ¡N¡e-djÑ£ ¢h‘¡fe …¢m M¤hC Se¢fËua¡ m¡i L­l z e¢¾ca¡ c¡­nl ja h­lZÉ ¢nÒf£l¡ z HLC hR­l lh£¾cÊe¡b

8 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter l¢Qa ""®Q¡­Ml h¡¢m'' R¢hJ ®hl qu, k¡­a InÄ¡¢lu¡ l¡C a¡l ®Q­u ®hn£ ¢Q¿¹¡ ¢Rm ¢a¢e cnÑ­Ll L¡­R HLV¡ i¥m A¢ieu L­l¢R­me z 2004 p¡­m ¢q¢¾c R¢h ""®le­L¡V'' h¡aÑ¡ f¡W¡­µRe ¢Le¡ a¡C ¢e­u z pjL¡¢ja¡­L Ga¥fZÑ ®hl qu z H¢V 1906 p¡­m l¢Qa J'®qel£-l ¢hMÉ¡a ®R¡V ®kje pqSi¡­h ¢e­u­Re, i¡la£u Qm¢µQœ SNv NÒf ""The gift of Magi'' Ahmð­e ¢e¢jÑa z H­aJ ¢houV¡­L j¡e¤­ol HLV¡ AeÉaj ü¡i¡¢hL fËhª¢š ¢q­p­h e¡¢uL¡l i¨¢jL¡u InÄ¡¢lu¡ l¡C z h¡wm¡ i¡o¡l ®nËù ¢gQ¡l ®pi¡­h ®j­e ®e­h ¢Le¡ a¡ ¢e­u ay¡l Ni£l p­¾cq ¢Rm z ¢gmÈ ¢qp¡­h H R¢h¢VJ S¡a£u f¤lú¡l m¡i L­l z ¢hË¢Vn HLh¡l ¢a¢e HL p¤¤f¡l ØV¡­ll fË¡p¡c a¥mÉ h¡s£­a ®N­m n¡peL¡­ml HL S¢jc¡l f¢lh¡­ll L¡¢qe£ ¢e­u 2005 ®pC ØV¡­ll p¿¹¡e ®p¡S¡ H­p ¢S‘¡p¡ L­l, ""Bfe¡­L p¡­m °al£ qu ""A¿¹l jqm'' z A¢ie­u ¢R­me SÉ¡¢L Ga¥ B­ˆm h­m X¡Lh e¡ Ga¥ B¢¾V hmh?'' Ga¥fZÑ nËg, ®p¡q¡ Bm£ J l©f¡ N¡‰¥m£ z 2008 p¡­m j¡e¤­o e¡uL­cl kMe ay¡l R¢hl SeÉ ¢e­u¡N Ll­ae, a¡­cl j¡e¤­o pÇf­LÑl Efl ""®Mm¡'' R¢h¢V­a je£o¡ °Ll¡m¡ p­‰ Lb¡ hm­a ay¡l A­eL pju CaÙ¹ax ®h¡d qa z fËbj h¡wm¡ R¢h­a A¢ieu L­le z HLC hR­l ""ph kMe ¢a¢e f¤l¦o A¢i­ea¡­cl p­‰ L¡S Ll­ae aMe Q¢lœ L¡Òf¢eL'' R¢h­a ¢hf¡n¡ hp¤¤ J fË­pe¢Sv A¢ieu påÉ¡l B­NC h¡p¡u ¢gl­ae Hhw a¡­cl p­‰ ®q¡­V­m L­le J R¢h¢V S¡a£u f¤lú¡l f¡u z 2009 p¡­m ¢kö ¢N­u LM­e¡ ®cM¡ Ll­ae e¡ z AeÉ¢c­L j¢qm¡ ¢nÒf£l¡ ®pe…ç, AeeÉ¡ QÉ¡V¡SÑ£, c£fˆl ®c, jja¡ nˆl A¢ie£a Ga¥f­ZÑl p¡¢æ­dÉ ü¢Ù¹ J ü¡µR¾cÉ ®h¡d Ll­ae z ""Bhqj¡e'' R¢hl SeÉ ¢a¢e ®nËù f¢lQ¡mL ¢q­p­h S¡a£u f¤lú¡l f¡e z Ga¥f­ZÑl ®no R¢h ""¢Qœ¡‰c¡'' Ef­l¡š² L¡l­Z ¢a¢e B­Ù¹ B­Ù¹ A­eL hå¥ h¡åh j¤¢š² f¡u 2012 p¡­m z H­a ¢a¢e pj¡­S HLSe J L¡­Rl ®m¡LSe ®b­L Bm¡c¡ q­u k¡¢µR­me z ay¡l ¢qSs¡l f¢l¢ÙÛ¢a c¤xp¡q¢pLa¡l p­‰ AaÉ¿¹ ®M¡m¡­jm¡ ¢e­Sl i¡C, hE-h¡µQ¡ ¢e­u p¤¤­M b¡L¡ C¾cÊe£m, ay¡l p­‰ i¡­h a¥­m d­le z ®hn c§laÆ hS¡u ®l­M Qm­ae z Na L­uL hR­l fËb­j j¡ J f­l h¡h¡­L q¡¢l­u Ga¥fZÑ B­l¡ ¢exp‰ q­u f­se z jªa¥Él f§­hÑ ¢a¢e nl¢c¾c¤ h­¾cÉ¡f¡dÉ¡u pªø Se¢fËu ay¡l¡ c¤S­eC ¢gmÈ m¡C­el p­‰ k¤š² ¢R­me z ay¡l h¡h¡ h¡P¡m£ ®N¡­u¾c¡ ®hÉ¡j­Ln h„£-l NÒf ¢e­u ®l¡j¡’Ll p¤¤e£m ®O¡o ¢R­me HLSe XL¥­j¾V¡¢l R¢h ¢ejÑ¡a¡ J ""paÉ¡­eÄo£'' R¢hl L¡S ®no L­l¢R­me z ¢QœLl z Hlfl B­p ay¡l S£he ¢hfæL¡l£ A­Ù»¡fQ¡­ll ¢p­ej¡u A¢i­ea¡ ¢q­p­h Ga¥f­ZÑl fËbj q¡­a M¢s B­u¡Se z qu 2003 p¡­m, E¢su¡ i¡o¡l HL R¢h­a z 2011 p¡­m Ga¥fZÑ p¡S­N¡S Ll­a hs i¡mh¡p­ae z ¢a¢e ¢a¢e c¤¢V h¡wm¡ R¢h­aJ A¢ieu L­le z ®L±¢nL N¡‰¥m£ ¢gmÈ ®g¢ØViÉ¡m…­m¡­a ¢eu¢ja ®k­ae z HlLj HLV¡ f¢lQ¡¢ma ""Bl HL¢V ®fË­jl NÒf'', k¡l Lb¡ B­NC ¢gmÈ ®g¢ØViÉ¡­m p¡­m¡u¡l, L¡¢jS, ®c¡f¡–¡ f­l q¡¢Sl hm¡ q­u­R z AeÉ¢V p”u e¡N f¢lQ¡¢ma ""®j­j¡¢lp Ce q­u ¢a¢e ay¡l R¢hl e¡¢uL¡­L Qj­L ®ce z HV¡ ®hn j¡QÑ ''z HR¡s¡ ¢a¢e ®V¢m¢in­e c¤¢V a¡lL¡ B—¡J L­uL hRl B­Nl Lb¡ z ®n­ol ¢ce…­m¡­a ay¡l EfÙÛ¡fe¡ L­l¢R­me, ""Hhw Ga¥fZÑ'' ""C¢V¢i'' ®a J ®ia­ll ®j­um£ üaÆ¡¢V œ²jn ®ke ®hn£ j¡b¡ Q¡s¡ ¢c­u ""®O¡o AÉ¡ä ®L¡w'' ""ØV¡l Smp¡'' ®a z ¢a¢e ""N¡­el EW¢Rm z Ga¥f­ZÑl A­eL L«¢a­aÆl j­dÉ HLV¡ hs Jf¡­l''-l ¢Qœe¡VÉ J ¢m­M¢R­me z L«¢aaÆ HC ®k, ¢a¢eC fËbj Qm¢µQœL¡l ¢k¢e ®k±ea¡l ¢ho­u Ga¥f­ZÑl p¢œ²u p­Qaea¡ ¢Rm z pjL¡¢ja¡­L HLV¡ ¢ei«a Lr ®b­L ®hl L­l pj¡­Sl kaV¡ ¢e­Sl ®p„¥uÉ¡¢m¢Vl SeÉ ¢hqÄm h¡ ¢hhËa ¢R­me, j¤­M¡j¤¢M cy¡s Ll¡­e¡l p¡qp ®cM¡­a ®f­l¢R­me z

9 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter Rituparno — Some Reflections Bakul Banerjee

I never knew Rituparno Ghosh in the usual sense of the same way. I preferred Dancing around the dunces the word. It is a shame because I would have liked to and Mayhem in mansions kind of Hindi movies during meet him in person and to watch him work through his this period. creative processes. The US release of Rituparno's Utsab occurred at As a teenager many decades ago I left the one of the North American Bengali Association tumultuous . My return visits were brief and conferences. It was my first introduction to his films. chaotic with no opportunities to savor cultural aspects of Although Utsab, one of his earlier movies, is not as that vibrant city. In Chicago, I spent occasional evenings strong as some of his other films, it established a solid watching old Bengali movies with friends. However, base of admirers. On the other hand, some attendees at they seemed alien to me as some of my Bengali friends the conference did not watch the movie because of the felt like watching the Lord of Ring movie series. I had whispered discussions about Rituparno's sexuality. only a limited access to the new crop of Bengali cinema. During the next few years, his earlier masterpeices like “Did you name your daughter Paroma after Aparna Dahan, Titli, and Chokher Bali left big impressions on Sen's movie Paroma?” One of my friends asked me in me. early nineties. I was puzzled. Antar Mahal (Inner Chamber), released in 2005, “No, I never heard about the movie Paroma before. left me gasping for air. I had read Tarashankar When I was in college, I read a novel by either Bimal Bandopadhyay's classic short story Protima, the basis of Kar or by Bimal Choudhury, where the heroine's name the movie, in my early teens. Even at that age, I was Paroma. Then and there, I decided that if a daughter understood the awful truth about oppression and torture is born to me, I would name her Paroma. I still remember that the patriarchal society of India inflicted upon the artist's sketch of Paroma on the page.” Later, I women. In the movie, the “zamindar” first wife tried to figured out that Paroma was born before Aparna made stand up against the injustice, but she could not prevent her film. I was curious about the movie and the the inevitable tragedy. There were many memorable coincidence, but only found the Hindi version. It was the scenes in the movie, but the most powerful one was the most impressive film of the time, both technically and intimate bedroom scene with the “zamindar” and his acting-wise, that I saw in twenty years. The portrayal of second wife Yasho as the buggy-eyed priest kept the heroine by Rakhee was superb. chanting from the sacred scripture in the same room. Unlike Rituparno, I knew Aparna in a way, because The scene was flooded with golden light. for three years I saw her almost every weekday at the The day after I watched the film, I was cooking Presidency College where both of us studied. Although I dinner in my kitchen. Looking out of the window, I saw was not close to her, I was her classmate with my young daughter of the same age as Yasho, as consecutive roll-call numbers, invariably being in her portrayed in the film, playing with the neighbor's dog on proximity during tense examination days. After the lush green grass. I shivered as I remembered that watching Paroma, I was proud of her creative appeals. only thing Yasho wanted was a doll from the local fair. It Aparna Sen's bold works, specifically Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, was because of Rituparno's bold direction, the scene will enticed me back to the Bengali movie world. She remain as one of the prime examples of voyeurism elevated the quality of modern Bengali movies. She had depicted in Indian film traditions. For Rituparno's sake, a lot to do with how I view the body of work by Rituparno today. let us not forget that such cruelties still occur in the real world, maybe in somewhat different forms. With this However, Aparna Sen alone could not sustain my perfect stroke, Rituparno succeeded in making his art interest. Most Bengali movies continued to be about timeless and universal. I am sure that Tarashankar, a insipid romance stories about women waiting to be masterful observer and documenter of human rescued and mean or spineless relatives with ingrained conditions, had he been alive today, would feel proud of urges of controlling the universe. They did not interest Rituparno’s rendition of his story. me. In the meantime, my cinematic taste matured with increased access to high quality American and From 2004, Rituparno took his films to a larger international movies. According to my informal polls, audience using Hindi and English languages. This effort many immigrant Bengali women and men of my age felt was unequivocally successful as proven by the awards

10 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter he received. Beginning with Antar Mahal, his excellent, not at all familiar with Rabindranath.” but often not quite popular, use of Bollywood stars As a consummate artist, Rituparno viewed added another dimension to his work. He had the Rabindranath's explorations of the alienation of women uncanny capability of bringing out the best from big- and downtrodden through a narrow, tight window, name actors and actresses in Bollywood. Notable examples are Jacky Shroff, in the role of the zaminder in enhancing the overall impact of his medium. Four of his Antar Mahal and Rakhee in Subha Muhurat, but my films, Chokher Bali, Noukadubi, Chiranganda and personal vote goes to Kiran Kher in Bariwali for which Jibansmriti were directly related to Rabindranath, the she received the National Film Award for Best Actress. influence is visible throughout. Rituparno's own sensitive and understated acting in We are fortunate that a new crop of emerging Memories of March probably illustrates what he looked directors are making fascinating movies anchored in for in acting. Kolkata. Notable ones include Sanjoy Nag, the director of Memories of March and Sujoy Ghosh, the director of He expanded his repertoire by adopting classic Kahanni. Both of them explore complexities of modern tales. Raincoat, an adaptation of O’Henry’s story The Kolkata and beyond while blurring the boundaries of Gift of the Magi, was a commercial success both in India languages and locations that are realities of urban India. and abroad. The unusual twist in this film brought out the primary theme of individual alienation that ran Like millions of Bengalees and Indians around the throughout his work. A retrospective of Rituparno's world, I am sad that I will not be able to anticipate artistry cannot be complete without the discussion of another work by Rituparno. I will not be able to trace the Rabindranath Tagore's influence. Again, the use of arc of emotional intelligence carved out by him Rabindranath's uncanny understanding of female exposing another new aspect of human dignity or characters became an essential part of Rituparno's indignity. I feel that somebody should have convinced toolbox. In his Times of India interview of Aug 19, him to take better care of his health, but that would have 2012, he explained about the documentary Jibansmriti gone against the core of his existence. He lived his life on Tagore, "What comes through is what a lonely man on his own terms, surely knowing the risks. I am glad Tagore was from childhood to old age. There is no one that we received the treasures he gave us during his brief in his life to share even his success with him. It's the creative life span of barely twenty years. I am equally journey of a lonely traveler. What I haven't captured in glad that he was recognized with twelve national and the documentary is what a fun-loving, humorous man he several international awards. It was touching to learn could be. I show him as a profound thinker, a guru but that he was cremated with full state honors including a then this was perhaps necessary for an audience which is somewhat awkward gun salute.

CONDOLENCE

We express our heart-felt condolence to Indrani Mandal, who lost her mother Mrs. Bela Gangopadhyay on June 14, 2013. Mrs. Gangopadhyay, who was known to many members of BAGC, remained strong-willed and wise till the very end. May her soul rest in peace.

Amiya Nath, our beloved dear friend and BAGC president in 1985 died on Saturday, June 8th, at Hinsdale Hospital intensely fighting for four weeks after heart- valve surgery. He was a very successful professional engineer at GM Electromotive division in Chicago, which ultimately took him to the GM headquarter in Detroit in various responsible positions, where he took retirement. He moved back to Chicago in 2012 to be close to his family. He is survived by his daughter Antara, son Raj, son- in-law Gerardo, daughter-in-law Lisa, grandson Romelo and his dear wife Shefali. We offer our sincere condolence to his family members.

11 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter V­l¡­¾V¡u h‰-p­Çjme öij p¡eÉ¡m

H hRl 33 aj h‰ p­Çjme Ae¤¢ùa qm V­l¡­¾V¡- f¡h e¡', "®c¡­m ®c¡c¤m ®c¡­m c¤me¡' – CaÉ¡¢c hý ¢ce ®a z V­l¡­¾V¡ HC ¢e­u 4-bÑ h¡l B­u¡Se Llm Ešl f­l ö­e ¢g­l ®Nm¡j ®R¡V­hm¡L¡l LmL¡a¡u z HLp¡­b AÉ¡­j¢lL¡l HC h¡vp¢lL h‰ jq¡pi¡l z 2008 p¡­ml Ha…­m¡ e¡jLl¡ ¢nÒf£ HLC j­’ ®cM¡l ®p±i¡NÉ ¢hlm z V­l¡e­V¡l jd¤l Øj¢aª Hhw H hR­ll e¡j Ll¡ B¢VÑØV­cl l¡j­j¡qe j­’l h¡¢L Ae¤ù¡e…­m¡ ®R­s Hh¡l R¥Vm¡j BLoÑ­Z Tmj­m ®l¡Ÿ¥­l, B—¡ j¡l­a j¡l­a fË¡u 11 ®ea¡S£ j­’ "¢cmc¡l' e¡VL ®cM­a z ¢nÒf£l¡ V­l¡­¾V¡l O¾V¡l fb ¢e­j­oC ®ke ®f¢l­u ®Nm z f­b V­l¡­¾V¡l A¢i­ea¡ A¢i­eœ£, ¢L¿¹¥ ¢e­cÑne¡ ®jOe¡c i–¡Q¡­kÑÉl z nqla¢m ¢j­np¡N¡u ®ch¡¢n­ol HL hå¥ "®V­l¾p'-H HL ¢iæ ü¡­cl jjÑØfnÑ£ e¡VL z "¢cmc¡l'-Hl Q¢l­œ He Bj¡­cl QjvL¡l °Q¢eL M¡h¡l M¡Ju¡e z l¡a 12 V¡u H ¢h ¢p'l pi¡f¢a Su­ch plL¡­ll Af§hÑ A¢ieu, Bjl¡ ¢eS-¢eS ®q¡­V­m "®QL-Ce' Llm¡j z B­m¡L-pÇf¡a, Bl ®jOe¡­cl h¢mù ¢e­cÑne¡ Bj¡­cl Bl¡­jl O¤j Bj¡­cl f­bl LÓ¡¢¿¹ f¤­l¡f¤¢l ¢j¢V­u fË¡u c¤C O¾V¡ ®hy­d l¡Mm p£­V z Hl fl öem¡j Lj¢me£l, ¢cm z f­ll ¢ce ®hËLg¡ØV ®M­a ¢N­u ®c¢M ¢hl¡V m¡Ce; p­Çj¡qL lh£¾cÊp‰£a z L­uL hR­lC HC k¤ha£ ¢nÒf£ ay¡l p¤¤­lm¡ L­ã ph¡l je ®L­s ¢e­u­Re z ¢g­l ®Nm¡j Nä¡u Nä¡u ®m¡LSe m¡C­e cy¡¢s­u h¡wm¡u Lb¡ hm­R – Bh¡l l¡j­j¡qe j­’ öe­a ®c¡q¡l-Hl ®m¡Lp‰£a z ph¡C H­p­R LÉ¡e¡X¡ Bl AÉ¡­j¢lL¡l e¡e¡e nql ®b­L z fËbj lSe£l ®no Ae¤ù¡­e S¢j­u ¢cm ®c¡q¡l a¡­cl p­Çjme q­µR ®j­VÊ¡ Le­ien¡e ®p¾V¡­l, V­l¡­¾V¡l cl¡S Nm¡l N¡­e Hhw h¡cÉ-k­¿»l TwL¡­l z "®c­M¢R l©f- X¡EeV¡Ee A’­m Bj¡­cl ®q¡­Vm ®b­L 7 ¢j¢e­Vl p¡N­ll' je i¢l­u ¢cm ®nË¡a¡­cl, "c§NÑ¡f¤­S¡l N¡­e'l f¡­u-q¡yV¡ fb z f¡­nC 1815 ¢gV EyQ¥ NNeQ¥ð£ p£. He R­¾c ®e­Q EWm ®R­m-h¤­s¡l¡ j¡Tl¡­a ! V¡Ju¡l z Bj¡l¡ c¤f¤l 12-V¡u ®l¢S­ØVÊn¡e Ll­a ¢N­u ®c¢M aMeJ B­u¡SLl¡ f¤­l¡f¤¢l fËÙ¹¥a ee, L¡N­Sl l¡a 1 V¡u Bjl¡ kMe ®hl¦C, h¡C­l Cm­n…y¢s hª¢ø ¢f˾V-BEV ®c­M ®m¡­L­cl ®l¢SØV¡l Ll­Re, fs­R z a¡lC j¡­T Bjl¡ l¡S L¡f¤l Bl e¡¢NÑ­pl Lj¢fEV¡l HMeJ h­p¢e – H¢c­L A¢a¢bl¡ Bp­a jae ¢iS­a ¢iS­a ®q¡­V­m ¢glm¡j z j­e fsm Blñ L­l ¢c­u­R z Bjl¡ ¢h­L­m 5 V¡u ®p­S…­S jq£­el ®pC N¡e : "l¢hnˆl, Bl B¢m BLhl ö­e ®fy±R¡C Le­ien¡e ®p¾V¡­l z ®l¢S­øÊn¡­e ¢hl¡V m¡Ce z i¡mh¡¢p ®i¡­l L¥u¡n¡u O­l ¢gl­a....'z c¤­V¡ ¢hl¡V hs qmO­l ®hn£li¡N hs, hs g¡wn¡e q­h; "l¡S¡ l¡j­j¡qe l¡u' Bl "®ea¡S£ p¤¤i¡o j­’' z a¡R¡s¡ pL¡m­hm¡u kMe O¤j i¡Pm hª¢ø-®d¡Ju¡ BL¡n ®b­L AeÉ¡eÉ q­m Qm­h "¢gmÈ ®g¢ØVi¡m', p¡¢qaÉ-pi¡, ü¡ÙÛÉ- l¢hl ¢LlZ Y¥L­R S¡em¡ ¢c­u Bl h¡C­l B­m¡Qe¡, k¤h-j’ Hhw h‰£u-L­m­Sl fË¡š²e R¡œ V­l¡­¾V¡l BL¡n­lM¡ z BS ®hËLg¡ØV q­m ®cM¡ qm R¡œ£­cl ¢jme-pi¡ z l¡j­j¡qe j­’ E­à¡de£ Ae¤ù¡e qm L¡Sm-A¢c¢a­cl p¡­b z ¢nL¡­N¡ ®b­L BlJ A­e­L – "S¡NlZ', h¡wm¡l "®l­epy¡p' h¡ f¤eSÑeÈ-Hl Efl H­p­R – h¡Z£¢c, h¡p¤¤­ch, pe¡ae, A¢ja, pj£l, p¡q¡-c¡ l¢Qa eªaÉ¡e¤ù¡e, ae¤nË£ nwL­ll ¢e­cÑne¡u z p‰£­al Hhw a¡­cl f¢lh¡l z e¡Ju¡-M¡Ju¡ ®p­l Bh¡l j¢eÑw- a¡­m a¡­m Af§hÑ e¡Q cnÑL­cl ®j¡¢qa L­l ¢cm z a¡l Ju¡L Llm¡j Le­ien¡e ®p¾V¡­l z pL¡m­hm¡ h‰- ¢WL f­lC "H j¡u¡h£ ¢a¢b' Bj¡­cl pju-k­¿» E¢s­u p­Çjm­el fËb¡ Ae¤p¡­l Qmm B­j¢lL¡l ¢h¢iæ A’­ml ¢e­u ®Nm ¢hNa 50 hR­ll h¡wm¡ ¢Qœ-N¡­el eØVÉ¡m¢SL B’¢mL Ae¤ù¡e, p¡¢qaÉ-p­Çjme, ¢p­ej¡ Hhw L­mS- SN­a z a¡­a N¡e f¢l­hne Ll­me h¡wm¡l ®nËù N¡uL- ®N¡ù£­cl ¢jmepi¡ z ®cMm¡j Ga¥fZÑ¡l ea¥e R¢h "j¤¢š²', N¡¢uL¡l¡ – ®m¡f¡, Sua£, j­e¡ju, °pLa, p¡n¡, G¢Ü z k¡l i¥¢jL¡ ¢a¢e ¢p­ej¡l B­N ¢e­S ¢c­me z Ae¤ù¡e¢V­L ®hy­d l¡Mm p¤¤S­ul i¡oÉf¡W z "S£h­e ¢L fË¡çhuú­cl ¢b­j °al£ H R¢h pf¢lh¡­l h­p ®cM¡l

12 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter Ae¤fk¤š² z Bj¡l ®aje i¡m m¡­N¢e z BlJ e¡e¡ R¢h S­eÉ m¡Ce ¢c­u cy¡¢s­u z j¢qm¡­cl i£s z ®h±­cl b¢m ®cM¡e qu Hh¡l – "në', "e¡j­a e¡j­a', "j¡R, ¢j¢ø & q­µR i¡l£, hl­cl Ju¡­mV q­µR M¡¢m z Hph Ll­a ¢N­u More', "J ®qe¢l', "q¡Ju¡ hcm' – ®L¡eV¡C B¢j ®cM¡ qu e¡C: ¢f ¢p Q­¾cÊl gÉ¡n¡e ®n¡, Bl He H ¢h ¢p ®cM¡l p¤¤­k¡N f¡C¢e z BCXm z f¤­l¡e h奭cl p¡­b ®cM¡ qm hý hRl fl z p¤¤c£ç ®L¡b¡u ¢V. ¢p. Hp H r¥­c ®fË¡NË¡j¡l ¢Rm ... HMe ®p He H ¢h ¢p ®a fË¢ah¡l M¡cÉ-A­eÄo­Z ®hn ®hN - ¢hl¡V e¡VÉL¡l, ¢pÜ¡bÑc¡ ®L¡b¡u Bj¡­cl fË­Sƒ m£X¡l ®f­a qu z Hh¡l ¢L¿¹¥ M¤h i¡m HL LÉ¡V¡l­ll hÉhÙÛ¡ ¢R­me, HMe E¢e BC. ¢h. Hj Hl ¢i ¢f L¢g, B—¡ L­l¢R­me B­u¡SLl¡ z 12 Xm¡­l M¤h p¤¤ü¡c¤ b¡¢m - ! – Øj¢a-h£¢b­aª ¢g­l k¡Ju¡ Bl AhnÉC ¢LR¥ ¢f He ¢f ¢p Nlj i¡a, e¡e, j¤­Nl X¡m, fy¡Q-®jn¡m£ alL¡¢l, ¢Qw¢s j¡­Rl j¡m¡CL¡¢l Abh¡ j¤NÑ-jp¡m¡, pÉ¡m¡X Bl ®n­o – HR¡l¡ ¢L h¡P¡¢m­cl p­Çjme Q­m ? ¢på¥c¡ HLpju lpj¡m¡C z Ju¡q, ¢L ü¡c ! ¢hL¡­m l¡j­j¡qe j­’ ¢p. H. ¢h Q¡m¡­ae; E¢eC L¢l­X¡­l Bm¡f L¢l­u ¢c­me f§ZÑ i–¡Q¡­kÑl p­‰ z f§ZÑc¡ ¢S­‘p Ll­me, "®a¡jl¡ Ae¤¢ùa qm "100 hR­ll N£a¡”¢m'l N¡b¡' – ¢hcÉ¥v Hhw l”­el i¡oÉf¡­Wl h¡dy¤¢e­a N£a¡”¢m pª¢øl j­e¡NË¡q£ ¢nL¡­N¡­a He H ¢h ¢p LlR e¡ ®Le ? j­e f­s ®Nm 2006 p¡m, kMe h‰-p­Çjme Ll¡l hÉ¡f¡­l Bj¡­cl C¢aq¡p, lh£¾cÊ-p‰£­al Amˆ¡­l pjªÜ – p¡­qh, Lj¢me£, Sua£, paÉ­jl Af§hÑ L­ã z L­õ¡­ml e¡VL "¢jE¢SLÉ¡m pwÙÛ¡u ¢lp¡QÑ q­u¢Rm – p­Çjme ¢QL¡­N¡­a Ll¡l f­r pwMÉ¡N¢lù b¡L­mJ, 3 ®i¡­Vl fË­u¡S¢eu 2/3 ®Qu¡l' ®aje S­j¢e – ¢eE S¡¢pÑl HC e¡jLl¡ e¡VÉ­N¡ù£l L¡­R Bj¡­cl BlJ Bn¡ ¢Rm z J¢c­L pwMÉ¡…l¦aÆ f¡u¢e z påÉ¡ ®hm¡u Sua£'l Bd¤¢eL N¡e J ®ea¡S£ j­’ "jq¡i¡la' f¢l­hne Ll­me V­l¡­¾V¡l lh£¾cÊp‰£a öem¡j – Af§hÑ m¡Nm z pj¡¢ç Ae¤ù¡­e eªaÉ-¢nÒf£l¡ z ®L¡¢qe§l ®pe hl¡­Vl ¢e­cÑne¡u HC V­l¡­¾V¡l ¢nÒf£l¡ f¢l­hne Ll­me h¡wm¡l ¢hn¡m eªaÉ¡e¤ù¡e HL Aá¥a, AehcÉ pª¢ø z LmL¡a¡l e¡jLl¡ Ahc¡e i¡la£u pwú«¢al SN­a – p¢mm ®Q±d¤l£, ®qj¿¹ ¢nÒf£l¡ – c¤m¡m ®i±¢jL, ®jOe¡c, p¡­qh, m­LV, Efq¡l j¤M¡SÑ£ Hhw l¡ým ®chhjÑ­el N¡­el j¡m¡, eª­aÉl a¡­m ¢c­me Bl HL¢V c¤cÑ¡¿¹ e¡VL – "H BhlZ' z fË¢a¢V a¡­m z Hl fl 2 O¾V¡ ®ØVS °al£ Ll¡l SeÉ "hÔÉ¡L j¤q¨aÑ Bjl¡ a¡­a X¥­h ¢Rm¡j, fË­aÉLV¡ L¥n£mh­cl BEV' z i¡l­al HMeL¡l phÑ¡d£L SefË£u N¡¢uL¡l p¡hm£m A¢ieu Bl j­e¡NË¡q£ N­Òfl BLoÑ­Z z ¢g­l SeÉ z ®L ¢a¢e ? ®nËu¡ ®O¡o¡m! h¡C­l ¢hn¡m m¡Ce ®Nm¡j l¡j­j¡q­e j­’ öe­a j­e¡ju Hhw ®m¡f¡l HLL cy¡¢s­u H ®j¡s ®b­L J ®j¡s – 7000 cnÑ­Ll p‰£ae¤ù¡e z "B¢j ¢jp LÉ¡mL¡V¡' ®b­L ¢e­u ®hZ£j¡dh' i£s z V­l¡­¾V¡l ¢hl¡V f¤¢mn-h¡¢qe£ H­p ®Nm Sea¡­L ¢L N¡¢uL¡l ! ü¡j£ Su plL¡­ll N£V¡­ll p¡­b – range p¡jm¡­a, ¢L¿¹¥ l¡a p¡­s BVV¡ ®b­L HN¡lV¡ – fË¡u N¡Ju¡ "k¡J f¡M£' Bj¡­cl HL AeÉ SN­a ¢e­u ®Nm z Bs¡C O¾V¡ cnÑLl¡ cy¡s¡­mJ, ®L¡e lLj ¢hnªwMm¡ ¢àa£u ¢c­el g¡wne ¢Rm "Bl. ¢X. hjÑe e¡CV' z N¡C­me qu¢e z ®nËu¡l ®fË¡NË¡j qm "NËÉ¡ä ¢ge¡­m' ay¡l Af§hÑ "p¡­lN¡j¡' ¢hSu£ ®ch­SÉ¡¢a p¡q¡ Hhw h¡wm¡l – Nm¡u Hhw N¡u¢L­a ¢L i¡­h cnÑL­cl Ly¡f¡­e¡ k¡u a¡ "p¡­lN¡j¡' Su£ c£f¡¢eÄa¡ ®Q±d¤l£ z ay¡l¡ M¤h i¡m N¡C­mJ ®nËu¡C S¡­ee z ®hn£li¡NC ay¡l Se¢fËu ¢q¾c£ N¡e, a­h l¡a ®hn£ q­u k¡Ju¡u ®h¡dqu ®nË¡a¡­cl aaV¡ ®V­e üÒf L­uL h¡wm¡ N¡eJ N¡C­me ¢a¢e z cnj£l ¢ce j¡ l¡M­a f¡­l¢e z LÓ¡¿¹ f¡­u ¢g­l ®Nm¡j ®q¡­V­m z c§NÑ¡l i¡p¡­el fl ®k n§ZÉa¡ Ae¤ih qu ®pC "¢g¢mw' ®l¡hh¡­ll h¡S¡l z fË¡axl¡n ®p­l Bp­a ®cl£ q­u ¢e­u ¢g­l ®Nm¡j ®q¡­V­m z L¡m Bh¡l 560 j¡Cm ¢N­u¢Rm z hs qmO­l ®Nm¡j ®cM­a ØV­ml ®jm¡ – ¢nL¡­N¡ ®gl¡l d¡‚¡ z Bp­R hRl Bh¡l q­h, ®cM­a n¡s£, Nue¡l Evph z Cj¡l­al ®L¡Çf¡¢el¡ M­Ÿl dl¡l l­u ®Nm CµR¡ z

13 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter Conversation with Sudeep Chakravarty Dr. Biswamay Ray

“I am going to cook 'Tin Fish' today”, mom said, rumblings of trucks in the street. Curious, he opened the Sudeep was talking about his mother. “It was a holiday, I windows to see what was going on. “I saw hundreds of don't know why on holidays mom did not cook fresh fish”, people on the street and here were soldiers. After some Sudeep reminisced, then he added, but mom would not call time the soldiers marched into the hostel. There were it 'canned fish' or even 'tinned fish', she always said 'tin sounds of gunfire, screaming, crying and loud noises. I fish'. don't know when I fell asleed”. “'Tin Fish' was my first book, a fiction. After I finished Next morning Sudeep woke up early, went to the it the publisher asked me to come up with a name and there balcony and found his parents standing there. His father it was. Of course the publisher loved it”, he said. All this in was angry at what was happening in the hostel. His mother response to a question why he named the book 'Tim fish', had the corner of her shari stuffed in her mouth, she was the incongruity of the name was not lost on the audience. crying. Sudeep then continued with the story …. “Soldiers - - - - - came out of the hostel, I can see them clearly now, guns End of June. We are at Banga Bhavan, a small pointing down, their job done. The students were coming gathering of twenty or twenty five literary minded out, with their hands up. Kishan'da was among them. The police hit him with a stick, he fell down, they kicked him Bengalis to listen to the author, Sudeep Chakravarty and again and again. Two policemen picked up Kishan'da and possibly to engage in conversation with him. dragged him into the police station. Bijay'da was also taken “Anek dhanyabad for having me here. It's a treat for inside the station, they did not come back”. me and I hope it would be a treat for you as well”, Sudeep A few days later his parents went to the police station began. He wanted the meeting to be an informal one, like to find out what happened to the boys. They were told by 'adda' with tea. the Police Inspector to mind their own business and were - - - - - turned away. “A little bit about myself. I grew up with a certain - - - - - sense of expectations and aspirations, and also a certain Sudeep then talked about his third book “Red Sun” sense of loss. My parents gave that to me during my school based on the Maoist movement. He told another story. A and college days. And I have carried that into my writings”, girl came to complain to a 'Daroga' (Police Inspector). He he said. He talked about the economic liberalization and said, “Would you like to have sex first then we can talk the new found wealth; poor becoming poorer, destitute and about your complaint.” She went to the forest, found and desperate; the political chaos, the Naxals, the armed joined the Naxals. “I would like to kill a hundred insurgency; and the feeling of disenfranchisement in North policement', she told them. East India. - - - - - Changing the subject he discussed the secessionist movement and the armed struggle in the Northeast part of As the disenchantments grew in his mind, “I took a India, the conflict between the “Outland” and the “Inland” sabbatical leave (from journalism) in 2004, went to Goa to (Mainland) based on which he wrote his fourth book write a book, to get it out of my system”, he said. Since then “Highway 39”. he has written four books, all nationally acclaimed. ------During the discussion many issues were raised 'Tin Fish' was set in 1970's. The story was about a although there were no solutions in site. What an abundant fifteen year old boy. “I am going to describe what I saw resource for writers like Sudeep to find the material for with my own eyes”, he said. He then told us a story full of their stories to rise consciousness, to keep us up-to-date. horror he witnessed at a very tender age, which I believe The question remains though, then what? Is there anyone was etched into his mind for ever. in India who is not familiar with the depth of corruption, They lived in a house in front of the Jadavpur the injustice, the violence, the armed struggle, the University hostel. As a young boy he knew several students insurgency, and the failure of the leadership? there and called them “dada”. Some of them came to their - - - - - house, got to know his parents and called them 'masima' The lady sitting next to me said, “Oh, I am so and 'mesomasai'. confused”. I am sure, she was not the only one. After all, The hostel was one of the hotbeds of Naxalite the topic was India, where fear and aspiration, dream and movement. One night he woke up from sleep from the desperation dance together in their own confused way.

14 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter Sans Facebook — A Childhood Saga Ranajoy Ganguli

There used to be an era during my childhood, in the boundary as a befitting answer to a college student’s small campus of the Regional Engineering College in bowling (pitching) in cricket or to be almost at par with Durgapur, where the only air conditioning on a summer them in athletics during their practice sessions, elevated evening was the gentle zephyr after sunset. Sprawling some of us to the stature of instant heroes. Video games cinema theaters were missing in Durgapur. There were a were unheard of. We returned home with the mixed couple of run-of-the-mill cinema theaters which were smell of mud and sweat on our gears and also got bruised not air conditioned and where the whirring of fans very frequently. There were no demons to be killed in a interfered with the soft dialogues. Occasionally, cinema video game…there was only the real conflicts on the was projected outdoors on our campus, on a gigantic field, friendly or unfriendly, that defined most of our piece of cloth tied to bamboo poles, with viewers sitting evenings. Many a time, we returned home with serious on both sides of the screen, the early birds on the side of cuts and bruises, sometimes a sprain or fracture too, but the projectors and the slackers on the other side. The the satisfaction of the achievement on the field and local vendors selling knick-snacks and beverages like friends coming home and reassuring us of our heroic chanachur, jhalmuri, , tea, etc, used to somehow deed that led to all that was a painkiller in itself. get the wind and inevitably flocked around the plot that The Norwesters, popularly known as “Kaal- was set up as a make-shift cinema hall. There was a little boishakhi” came every April or early May and it was hobnobbing and socializing well before the cinema kind of a Godsent in the already seething town where commenced. This was the time I loved the most as I used mercury was well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in to hop from one temporary stall to another, building my Durgapur. Many of the families came out to their stock for the entire evening. My friends and I built this gardens and had fun in the first shower, not caring about “pot-luck” stock and munched throughout the show. drenching of their clothes. It was a kind of a little God- There was no rattling sound of generators during a sponsored event. I especially loved the sodden smell power cut. It was plain tryst with darkness with a couple that came with the first showers. Perhaps someday, there of kerosene lanterns or candle lights and an involuntary will be an aroma in the domain of aromatherapy that break from daily chores, which came like a Godsent. emulates such a “sodden” fragrance. Most importantly, computers at homes were too much of a luxury in 70s and early 80s. It would surely have cost Schedules were pretty much open and calendar more than a year of my father's salary to afford one. maintenance was largely done on a small diary that lay Besides, life had no need for computers in general, on the center table, or on the physical calendar that hang except for academic research and programming from the wall, with its characteristic whif and snap purposes. sound while it swayed to the overhead fan. I loved the unexpected suspenseful tinkle of the doorbell and Most often, people just showed up at their neighbors’ doorsteps shortly after dark, just to have a always ran to answer the door. It was on three counts that chat over a cup of tea or coffee to break the monotony. this unexpected tinkle was pregnant with opportunities. TV soap operas had still not invaded the lives with that One, it was a ticket to outdoors amid study time. Two, much of gusto. Occasional invites were common too, since it was unexpected, my mother was mostly but they were not a weekly affair. May be once in a unprepared and therefore gave me some money to go month or two, we either invited a couple of families or and get the and sweets from a nearby shop, someone invited us over for dinner. I waited fervently which meant some amount of kick-back for my pockets. for days for the guests to show up, especially when they Three, this meant bicycling to City Center where one of had a kid near about my age. We played every evening in my best friends stayed. Almost invariably, while the one of the campus playgrounds that were named after samosas were still frying in the pan, I used to quickly “Oval” and “Lords” to give them some character. The swing by my friend to say a quick “hello”, even though fields were beautiful with lots of “Shaal” (a deciduous we might have met little over an hour ago at “Oval” or tree found in the North Eastern parts of India) encircling “Lords”. That was the biggest lagniappe. When I was in their spread. We often played with the college students my mid-teens, there was a fourth incentive that sneaked too, who were several years elder to us. But a classy pass its way into the list. I used to make use of this little stolen or an occasional goal in soccer, a boundary or over- moment to ogle at a sweet girl nearby who studied

15 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter during this time, keeping her windows open. The whiff was alive with music, anecdotes from lives of of summer air used to play with her cascading hair and celebrities, claps, praises and laughter. We did not own a she always carelessly tidied them every now and then. I TV until 1985, when I was about to enter my senior year loved to see that. Sometimes, she used to be in the in high school. We never missed it too much. Campus kitchen wearing an orange sari, helping her mom or life had enough stimulants for us. preparing tea for the family. The kitchen window also Facebook was not born yet. People “liked” you by used to be open until early November, when the air got coming to your homes and shook hands or hugged each cooler. other. People disliked you on your face with their It also meant my study of the characters to gather palpable gestures or blunt retorts. “Sharing” was done enough recipes to craft my next mimicry session to by chit chatting, discussing trivia on politics, cinema, entertain a small crowd on the campus. This came scandal, et al. One might argue, “Well, the world is now serendipitously. Especially, when the person or group in our palms in the form of iPhones, iPads and what was one that my mother did not approve of. It was fun to have you. We can virtually get into the living rooms of see my mother's blunt rejoinders to the “intruder” that all our long lost friends”. True indeed. That is better than made the situation somewhat tense and my gullible obliteration of relations for sure. And there is Skype too! father always attempting to smooth things out. All It sure gives us the essence of a touch and feel of others' debates dwindled into nothingness when this was the lives. But what about the smell of samosas, the touch of situation. My mother made sure that she and only she a hand, the sweat dripping from my shirt when I sped won each argument. She used to authoritatively take her uphill towards City Center just to get that 5 minutes of delivery of samosas and sweets and then ordered me quick chat with my school friend? The thrill to score that peremptorily not to “waste” a single minute in useless million dollar soccer goal in order to become the “bantering”, because I had an exam nearby. This was cynosure just for a single evening? What about the directly 90% to the “intruders” that generated the apprehension during a tense calm settled during adialog, useless bantering and 10% towards me, as I came to or amid livid arguments? What about the adrenalin rush sense through years of association with her. during the stolen moments of watching the sweet girl carelessly tidying her hair? What about the sudden spree The case was quite the opposite – when the of bicycling at night in a mofussil (suburb)…..a “intruder” was from my mother's camp or circle of trust. lagniappe from an unexpected socializing? The I was not only blessed with a larger budget to spend, “timeline” activities were something that came and which of course meant larger kick-backs for myself. It touched us deeply, almost in real time, as they were also meant no accounting of the expenditure happening. The death of a neighbor's ailing mother, the whatsoever. I was also allowed to sit back and join the petty thief caught red handed on the campus, the early gossip. It was a meaningful discussion now and no morning vocal practice of Aheer Bhairav (a morning longer a bantering. My mother only pleaded very gently raga) by the girl next door. The spicy quarrel of a couple once, whether it is ok for me to spare some time on nearby, where invectives poured out of an open window studies. And it was an ostentatious question that indicated that the selectable answers had a strong, large like blood oozing out of a skull, and some teenagers font, bold, highlighted, underscored “No, I am done for eavesdropping with bated breath in the couple’s today” as one of the options. And then, I loved the chit backyard behind a bush. The sudden bark of a dog at chats. Time flew unnoticed; sometimes well into our dawn or the distant whistling of a train “stirring but not dinner time. My mother often tied her sari around her shaking” up the winter midnight. The sessions of waist and quickly did an extra stir fry or a couple of fish dialogs in our own garden or living room that were a fries or cooked some extra or lentil for the guests potpourri of interesting, disturbing, comical, blunt, while gossiping, and lo and behold, suddenly, we had sometimes stupid moments, yet resplendent with their enough dinner for the whole crowd. Even if there was a priceless recipes for my never-ending mimicry topics sudden power outage, it never dampened the spirits. We for decades to come….The multiple serendipities that either sat out in our sprawling garden or in the verandah, came as bountiful gifts from my ethos of childhood. The with just a lantern or sometimes even without it, if we collage of hundreds of faces diversely colored with their were blessed with moonlight that evening. My father expressions, evoking a smile, frown, chuckle, or even a and some of the guests sang songs outside in the garden. touch of sadness the moment I close my eyes and think Songs of Tagore, Nazrul, Rafi, Kishore, Manna Dey, of them ! Can Facebook ever hold a candle anywhere Talat Mehmood, Lata, and suddenly our dark garden near that real time view of my world?

16 mgvR msev` –:: Movie Review ::– Community Newsletter The Great Gatsby Suranjana Chattopadhyay (Age 15)

Baz Luhrmann's movie adaption of The Great obviously no small task. Baz Luhrmann's attempt at this Gatsby written by F.Scott Fitzgerald opens with the cannot be called bad, but in my opinion the movie narration of Tobey Maguire who is playing the role of lacked the ability to convey the depth of the messages Nick Carraway. Nick, a disillusioned and depressed that Fitzgerald had revealed in his book. young man, is at a therapy session with his doctor. It is at this session that Nick introduces viewers to James The movie is visually engaging with effects that Gatsby, a man who stood as a symbol of infinite hope. bring to life Gatsby's parties, the cold riches of Daisy's house, the lively speakeasies, and the general The movie then flashes back to the roaring 1920's, a atmosphere of the 1920's. The soundtrack blends time filled with unprecedented riches yet also with together modern music featuring artists like Kanye many illegal activities of gangs and speakeasies as much West, Jay-Z, Goyte, and others with a twist that allows of the young generation struggled to culturally redefine these 21st century songs to reflect the moods of the Jazz themselves. The characters of Fitzgerald's book not only Age. The movie also follows the story line of embody the age but also bring out a timeless message on Fitzgerald’s novel. However, it's at this point that I the nature of human dreams. believe the movie lacks. Nick, the narrator, is a young man who has come to The Great Gatsby is so much more than just an the West Egg to pursue his profession. It is during his interesting story, and in my opinion the movie failed to first summer there that he is swept up into the world of convey that. Toby Maguire plays the role of Nick in a Gatsby. Although Gatsby is his neighbor, Nick first somewhat flat way, not capturing Nick's self-confident, hears of him at his cousin Daisy's house in the East Egg. hypocritical, and ironically judgmental nature. Little does he know that this connection he has to Daisy will allow him to know and understand Gatsby like no Leonardo diCaprio playing Gatsby and Carey Mulligan one else. Gatsby's world is one filled with extravagant playing the role of Daisy bring to life the emotions of parties at which everyone who is anyone attends. their failed love. The other actors also do an adequate Everyone except for the one person he is searching for. job acting out their characters. If this movie were to be Everything that Gatsby does, the platonic conception he judged based on whether or not it was engaging and had has of himself, it is all for Daisy. Before he had gone to a good story it would be fare quite well. the war, Daisy had been Gatsby's love interest. By the However, in the end, The Great Gatsby is not just a time Gatsby returned from the war, Daisy had gotten love story, it's a story about the struggle of human married. Yet, Gatsby still believes that Daisy will return dreams in a society that constantly pushes us back to the to him and it is this hope that led him to not only become past. Fitzgerald's message not only deals with individual a distinguishing character in the book but in all of goals but also explores the nature of the American literature. Dream. Baz Luhrmann's gives his audience an engaging Making a movie that not only conveys the themes story but does not bring to life the true greatness of The of this great literary work while engaging the viewers is Great Gatsby.

She Leaps Gracefully An Apple, a Cherry, — A Big Surprise a Mango-Garden Oishi Chakrabarti (Age 9) Oishi Chakrabarti (Age 9)

She leaps gracefully onto the shiny floor An apple, a cherry, a mango I see Just like how the waves arrive on the shore Lying on the ground, right by me I watched her spin and felt the cool breeze What garden like this could be so divine? ACHOO! I accidently loudly sneezed Hoping it could be yours or mine She jumped so high looking so scared Once I look out the window Then looked at me and glared Well I guess I learned a lesson right there I capture the whole view You should never be like an allergic hare! But once I'm outside, I decide to eat a few!

17 mgvR msev` –:: Book Review ::– Community Newsletter “The Sense of an Ending” — Julian Barnes Sarvani Datta

How many of us slide the dial of our watch on the anger and venom and also spells curse. So, when he other side of the wrist? I do. I do unconsciously, just revisits his own nature he is inexplicably sorry at how because sometimes it looks better! However, author his crass and obtuse behavior dampens his own fabric, Julian Barnes, in his book “The Sense of An Ending” even though he had managed to amicably set a chronicles time by using such subtle nuances to stronger handle on his own course. He had come to personalize and make “time” your very own. He terms with a modest career, a marriage that ended in crisply deals with the irony that you cannot make time agreeable friendship and a good working relationship your own without influencing others with whom you with his own daughter. share the time coordinates. The urge to outdo one another from a competitive The coordinates of time cross your life and often, what seems indispensable to a coarse beginner, fades past haunts and turns down all future possibilities of a in importance as you mature. revival of the tenderness they once shared. Here is the life of an ordinary working Joe, Tony This is of course poignant storytelling and a Webster, plotted against three of his close friends and compelling chronicle of time on how we a woman he had loved. One friend, Adrian Finn, is compartmentalize memory, fix impressions to them blessed with strong analytical prowess and a sharp and tidily store them. It also shows how those etched and clear thinking mind. He invariably stands out as visuals of the past guide us in our present. Somewhere the cynosure to all eyes. Adrian fades in to oblivion as deep inside we can also relate to how, as mortals, we he ends his own life and opts out of the race. are held hostage to our own emotions and often spill Tony finds himself betrayed and shortchanged poison to destroy ourselves. We could do a better job through manipulative mechanisms. He reacts with at holding ourselves back and let time do the talking.

Thorns Bani Bhattacharyya

With the bright light of the sun People are cautious to be near them, A rose opens its yellow petals. Wish they were not even there. It looks straight up at the sky Then suddenly the time arrives, Just to swing from one side to another When petals are nowhere there With the touch of the blowing wind. As day has come for rose's departure.

When glowing yellow attracts all, But the little thorns are still there, Its sweet scent spreads the news. Staying busy with their inherited duty People adore and cherish their love Waiting there with all their patience, As they look at its intense beauty For the other buds to bloom to show their faces Just to think how cool it is. So that thorns can take care of roses.

Many little thorns below it They are ugly, they are strong Stand always erect, being careful, Not being loved, they linger long, To shield it from all the trouble, They are caring, they are faithful, Just like sentry doing their duty Although they are just Protecting the rose from all its enemies. Unloved little thorns.

18 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter ANNOUNCEMENT

Talk by Prof. Kalipada Pahan Our fellow BAGC member Prof. Kalipada Pahan delivered a speech on the role of cinnamon in protection of memory and learning. He began his lecture with a discussion of how variations in collaboration between different types of cells in the brain may predispose an individual to become an athlete, a scientist, or an antisocial element. He also talked about how we are affected by negative emotions, such as fear, worry, anxiety etc. He then described how cinnamon inhibits factors responsible for inflammation and oxidative stress. He explained how studies conducted in his laboratory show that cinnamon protects memory and learning in mice afflicted by Alzheimer's disease. Among the different brands of cinnamon available in the market, those from Ceylon are preferred to their Chinese counterparts as the latter contain traces of coumarin, a toxic substance. Prof. Pahan showed how exposure to new lessons followed by examination improves memory in mouse brain by reinforcing the associated genes. In conclusion, he spoke of his ongoing experiment to investigate if cinnamon can help improve learning skills in poor learners.

We would like to thank the Bengali community of Chicagoland area for your support www.biswas.com

19 mgvR msev` Community Newsletter ANNOUNCEMENT

Dear Members, Thanks to your generosity, support and participation, Banga Bhavan is thriving with activities all year round. It has been rented for weddings, Birthday Parties, Engagements, Movie Clubs and so on. Here's a sampling of what your support helped accomplish in this year alone till now;  We celebrated “Poush Mela”, “Shiv Raatri”, “Holi” and “Noboborsho” very successfully with religious and cultural fervor. The next few events planned are “Janmashtami”, “Diwali” and “Holiday Party”.  We have an “Aaroti” every Sunday at 4 pm. Please come with your family and friends and enjoy the Sunday afternoon over some “adda” and “aalochona”!!  There is a movie screening on every third Sunday of the month. If there is a specific movie you would like to watch with your friends, do let us know. We will try our best to arrange that.  We have also seen two very successful lectures by our very own Dr Ananda Chakraborty and Dr Kalipada Pahan in our Lecture Series. We are extremely proud of their achievements and are grateful to them for taking time out to share their knowledge with the Community at large.  We also had the privilege to host “Saumyen Adhikary” from Kolkata who regaled the audience with his melodious rendition of both old Hindi and Bangla songs.  There have also been Author Visits at Banga Bhavan organized by Unmesh and others.  For any rental enquiries, please contact any of the BBC members or check out the details on the Banga Bhavan Rental page on the BAGC website. Banga Bhavan is the ideal place for hosting smaller intimate gatherings on a regular basis for the community and thus, allowing us to continue our rich heritage of religious and cultural life. We cannot afford to rest on our successes. If you want to see Banga Bhavan thrive and become the hub of activities all year round, please come forward with your tax deductible donations. Your donation will have an enormous impact on our ability to meet the challenges in the smooth running of Banga Bhavan. Thanks to all for your continued support and patronage. Please make checks payable to; BAGC (Banga Bhavan). Official tax receipts will be provided. For any questions, please contact the following; Monisha Dutta, Soma Sanyal, Sonali Biswas. See you all at Banga Bhavan! BBC-BAGC 2013

At a function starting at 4 pm on Sunday, October 20, at Banga Bhavan, Mr. Pradip Chaudhury, Founder and General Secretary of Poets' Foundation, Kolkata, will give us a glimpse of his organization's philanthropic activities, which include awarding publication grants to financially struggling young promising authors, recognizing outstanding works by Indian authors at home and abroad, and providing financial aid to poor students. He will also announce the launching of a Chicago chapter of his foundation. Chief Guest Padmashree Dr. Ananda Chakrabarti will inaugurate the program. For more information, call Ranjit Ganguly at 773-775-9219 or Bhaskar Bandopadhyay at 815-398-6537.

20 1 Dakshineswar Ramkrishna Sangha Adyapeath

THESE KIDS ARE GROWING UP WITH YOUR HELP Contact : Mural Bhai 50-D.D. Mondal Ghat Road P.O. : Dakshineswar Kolkata - 700076, West , India [email protected]

Art layout & printing by Neospectrum