Showing posts with label Bengali. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bengali. Show all posts

Friday, January 7, 2011

Bong Connection !!

I'd few funny experience in my last Kolkata trip. Firstly, let me clarify I am a hardcore bong girl and I take great pride in my bangaliyana. Recently, I went to Kolkata for my cousin's wedding after and we (me & hubby) were very excited, as it was our 1st trip to Kolkata together after marriage. My last trip was on Feb 2007 with my friends, and boy was that fun. This trip was special as I was going there for the first time after my marriage and meeting with my side of the big fat family after ages. Yes, I love this old fashioned city named Kolkata, right from the intriguing salesman, chaiwallas,  Jhhalmudiwala to the trams, taxis, filthy roads, Ganga, Howrah Bridge, I love everything about this place. Like they say, people make the place, have a tete-te-tet with any of the locals and you'll understand the meaning of satire, humour, quirky, tight-upper lip, straight face comedy and what not, they all are hardcore humorist (or maybe leftist), but they'll make you laugh your ass off.

One afternoon, while we were roaming around, we decided to take a haath rickshaw ride, so I went upto this rickshawala, who was obviously taking a nap, I called him and asked him for a ride, in response he gave me one of those dhutth chhai, disgruntled look and muttered "dekhte parchen na ami ghumochhi"(Can't you see I am sleeping). I was left agog with surprise, that he is more keen on sleeping than earning few bucks was actually shocking for me. I couldn't help laughing at his laziness. But in retrospect I realised, for some people it's not always about the money, that doesn't always includes the rich. Another ingrained quality that bongs have is their love for literature, they might be bathing in the pond but they'll know all the verses of Shakespeare, they know all the Tagore's poetry by heart, their chest swells with pride for Satyajit ray, they will teach their any form of art, be it dance/ music/ painting/ drama/ poetry/ recitation and they love to flaunt the fish they eat. Hilsa, chingri, papda always makes a good topic of conversation. And I've not yet started writing about their love for politics or football.

Their no frills attitude keeps them grounded, they don't have a religious bone in their body, they believe in celebration. They celebrate the Goddess, and  indulge in building the biggest, grandest of pandal and pomp and show. They rather have a good time than keep praying and asking for all the materialistic cravings from God. A steamer ride in Ganges was in my "to do" list this time. We took the ride on one of those rickety boat, with some tourist and some locals, the tranquility of the setting sun and us on a boat to oblivion will remain on my mind forever. We went to Belur Math to see the evening prayer, it was once in a life time experience, the chanting and echo of the prayer was something I've never experienced. The blog will be incomplete without a mention about the food that Kolkata has to offer, a Rs.20 road side Mughlai Parantha, with chunks of chicken will put Karims to shame, and that too for such a price, this would've cost me 250 bucks in Delhi and that to for half the taste. The charm of paranthewali gali in old Delhi will look lame compared to this. You can have a huge fish cutlet for Rs.3, tea for Rs.2 after every hour, and I'am still talking about street food here. They equally have the finesse of fine dining, offering gourmet delights for the ever experimenting bengalis. Have a stroll around the Park Street, have breakfast at Flurys or Chelo Kebab at  Peter Cat, the food that Kolkata has to offer is vast, delectable and scrumptious. But the real prized-possession of that place are the priceless people.

Survival of the fittest as they say, but you will see the happiest bunch of smiling people, doing what makes life more richer i.e, eating the best, learning the best, living the best, instead of running after money in this so called busy but mundane life. The pride of the bhhodrolok is something to be proud of. I salute the spirit of the rickshawala who put his sleep first than a few bucks. As for me, I think I'll always remain a girl fascinated by a big city.

TAGS: Kolkata, Belur Math, Flurys, Peter Cat, Delhi, Karims, Ganges, Satyajit Ray, Rickshaw

Friday, December 26, 2008

“Tigers die and leave their skins; people die and leave their names”

Every bong family gives too much importance to pet names and bongs have a knack of giving the most weirdest of name, I'll through in few examples like Bappa, Mimi, Puchu, Buchi, Budo, Putla, Badla etc (mind you, I've picked up these names from my family, they all are very close to me). I believe bongs get some kind of perverse pleasure by calling someone with meaningless aadoorer nam (ie out of love). I never liked my pet name, that's one reason of why I loved Namesake, so much, I could relate to Gogol. My friends use to bully me by calling it in a different way, luckily in those days they never got better of me as I was a smart ass (lets just tell the truth). I always use to outdo them with my wit in those days but that doesn't mean that I've not resented the fact, that, my parents could have named me better. I could never understand the point as to why have a pet name in the first place, that too so weird, you'll have to think twice before saying it. Even pets in bong family have pet names. Wesley (my little poddle) has seven different names (and he responds to each one of them).


As I've moved base to this new city I've become very possessive about all the things that I've left behind, all the memories, all the experiences & yes my silly Pet Name too. Here nobody  knows that I've a pet name, everyone calls me Mousume. Its strange to start again  and showcase what you are to new people you meet, they don't know me how I've grown or what I've been, how crazy, how naughty nothing. It's like coming a full circle and realizing how much things have changed, how much you have changed but still remain the same. My pet name has become a persistent remnant of my childhood, a remainder that I am not the same to all the people. My name reminds me of the time I'd been scolded, badgered, appreciated, adored, loved and of the many memories I hold close to my heart. There are somethings in life that should be cherished because they've always been there. My pet name reminds me of a time when life has not been so serious, they matter to me because they are a part of my growing years, a time I will never forget, and that's more than enough for me!

P.S.: BTW my pet name is BUTU.