
Its that time of the year when ask a bengali if he would like to spend a week in Switzerland in place of his hometown, and most likely …. The order would be declined.
Nothing beats hopping pandals in durga puja!

Its that time of the year when ask a bengali if he would like to spend a week in Switzerland in place of his hometown, and most likely …. The order would be declined.
Nothing beats hopping pandals in durga puja!
I came back 3 hours early from office hoping to relax after a long and arduous week at work. Had a cup of tea and went out for an evening walk.
Little did I know how this day would unroll.
( – - follows below the chronological listing of how things happened – - )
In retrospect I realize what would have probably happened thereafter.
I was half expecting these cops to call me and ask me to file a complaint. If not at least come over to police station several times, or harass me enough. I had my phone switched off, so that no one could reach me. But as I have missed call alert, I can see no one has called yet.
Tomorrow is a crucial day, and I intend to pick no phone call, which does not show a number. I am glad I did make the call to my dad, a bit embarrassed that I chickened out at the 11th hour but proud nevertheless that I chose to stand there and fought for what seemed like eternity on my clock and about 100 mins on the mechanical clocks.
Attaching the photos of the driver and the owner of the bike, just in case (JUST IN CASE!!) someone needs this to push and find those who ‘harmed’ the jolly fat boy on an evening walk who chose to stand up!


Watching a Mithun-da movie is a pleasure, except of course if it is a Bengali movie. Call it stereotype, but quality is not the first (or the last … or the ones in between) thing which comes to my mind when I think of Mithun & Bengali Cinema together. Well, this was until I saw Shukno Lanka. A movie which made my admiration for Mithun-da go beyond the “Disco Dancer” and the philanthropic traits.
As a movie Shukno Lanka has uncharacteristic complexity, reminding me of the Ray and his works. Each telling multiple stories through the subterfuge little nuances say the inexplicable acerbity of lawyers, the simplicity and happiness of adivasis and the intuition and love of a lady in the movie Agantuk; Lets keep this for some other time.
Shukno Lanka is like the proverbial onion with many layers of themes capsuled in the life of an “extraordinarily ordinary” movie ‘extra’ Chinu Nandy, played by our ex-disco dancer Mithunda; the life of the dry red chilli (which is what shukno lanka roughly translates to). Something which is very much a commodity in Bengali kitchens, with little to no differentiation (one from other), shriveled, deformed, not the sumptuous rich green looks of its younger counterpart but still packing quite a punch; something which is the foundations of a good ‘tadka’.
The movie talks of how someone who lives a pedantry life as a Rs. 250 per day daily wage paid support actor or one of the ‘extras’ could protect his dream and talent from daily scars of insult and humiliation. It tells the tale of how the neighborhood boys are the only one who want to really see him act, how his loving wife (played wonderfully by Angana Basu) has little to complain and as little to desire as a cup of tea while taking a mid-night ‘tanga ride’ through the city and how the daily rigmarole and hardships only embalm and soothen the pain that the self-believed capability to excel in acting would remain just that … self belief.
In contrast is the life of a critically acclaimed, international award winning director Joy Sundar Sen (Sabyasachi Chakraborty) who lives the reclusive life committed to his passion of quality movie making, something which have never done (or for that matter never will do) well at the box-office. Someone for whom commitments could only be towards art and work, much has his wife struggles isolation and neglect. The warmth in the marriage is long replaced by a civility which borders cruelty, reminding us of the heavy price of such creative eccentricity as Joy Sundar.
There are other side (under-the-skin) tales, one involving the warmth and respect and platonic (debatable!) relation between Joy Sundar and a successful Australian actress; One which talks of the almost militant ‘grounded’ and yet highly self-respecting personality of Chinu Nandy juxtaposed against the arrogance and individuality of the maverick genius, Joy Sundar. Another which talks of the self-indulgent lifestyles of the mainstay film heroes and their idiosyncrasies. And another which talks about the regimentation of the ‘elite’ and their self-created belief of being exclusive in generating ‘high quality’ work, when Chinu is repeated reminded (not so much in words) but in actions and warms of him being at the end of the day a Junior Actor by Joy Sundar Sen, which Chinu finally revolts against. Finally the love story of the old and un-shapely (they are ‘aesthetically challenged’, middle age, middle class, low educated) couple of Chinu Nandy with his wife, the love which comes from being considerate and facing the rigmaroles of life which tends to wear out the hope and optimism from the best of us.
Mithun Chakrabarty as Joy Sundar Sen is remarkable. So is his wife, played by Angana Basu (an unheard of name in the movie industry). The music is soul-stirring and meaningful. The script and cinematography are bang on spot.
This is absolutely Satyajit Ray marterial. My recommendation to all who read is then, MUST Watch (even if that means you bribe me with a popcorn & soda to translate the Bengali into whatever language you understand!)
I am not a Bihari. Yet, Nitish Kumar’s victory in the just concluded Bihar elections, makes me want to rejoice. Somehow, I am not sure that I would want to do the same if (which is just to be politically correct) and when Mamta comes to power in Bengal.
True it will be a befitting end to the tyrannous rule of the Left so much that all that is left in Bengal is little of educated skilled labor, some fertile land, lots of uneducated farmers who have been seasoned to being the subject of the state’s undemanding and benevolent welfare system which emphasizes on rights and skips duties. All I would fear that lest it not be out of the frying pan and into the fire. Just as Red Bastion was turning atinge more blue, Buddha had managed to get the buy-in from the likes of Nirupam Sen on the need to reawaken the spirit of enterprise and virtues of hardwork … and thankfully Jyoti Basu is finally dead (touchwood!) comes the screaming and banner hoisting hooligans of Mamta busy to show their influence, even if that means weeding out the tender saplings of industrial growth planted. For the same reasoning (and the belief on collective wisdom being immune to seasonal irrationalities; something which is questionable) I will rejoice if Mamta gets re-elected on her second term.
Coming back to Bihar, I am tempted to call this state flooded with emotions. And not without ample reason.
Youv’e got to hand it to them: The Indian Electorate. Afterall, Rahul Gandhi got his ‘footfalls’ but not their votes!
Read this report on the Wall Street Journal which talked about the sense of humor of the governor of the Central Bank of India (RBI), Dr. D. Subbarao.
The fastidious ‘eye on the detail’ and penchant for picketing on typographical and presentation errors like formatting, fonts, colors, bulleting etc. is something which plagues me at my workplace too. Here Subbarao talks on how his endowment for this ‘nuisance’ is a matter of pure legacy of that great institution, a matter of heredity which is cherished all the same if I may so add!
Subbarao manages to sound convincing and almost pulls it off which is not surprising considering he is one of the smartest people in one of the smartest institutions of our country, the Reserve Bank.
Although someone as curious as me would still want to ask that considering that perfection always comes at a cost (and agreeably that’s a real High Cost!) would the time and effort spent on making official documents/memos and publications free of such irritants and imperfections not be better spent fine tuning our economic and monetary policies. Even an iota of incremental improvement would have such a multiplier impact on the lives of the subjects!
Coming back to the case of the “Professional Services” business, one wonders is what truly makes it professional? Is it the perfection in form or is it near absolute appropriateness of solutioning / recommendations coupled with the unquestionable integrity and incorrigible (and one may add irreprehensible) obsession with not fine tuning bitter pills to make them more palatable to those-who-must-not-be-named. Or is it both?
If Both then what would be the priority amongst:
[pertinent recommendations, unquestionable integrity, expertise & competence over subject, perfection in presentation of outcome report]
The answers may be easy to arrive at, the process to think through far more arduous! But then the Zen saying always goes as the Journey is the reward!
I just completed 2 years of post MBA employment, accidentally with the same employer whom I had intended to stick with no more than a few months, or just enough to get sufficient foothold in my home-base: Delhi.
This milestone may not bring back too many jubilant memories to me, but that would be no mean feat considering that I have managed to pay off my educational loan, survive two years of relentless pestering by my parents to get married (and be done with!) and hive off a few pounds here and there & get in much better physical shape; something that was on the agenda almost since time immemorial.
But now the priorities are clear. The mid-life crisis seems to have seeped in already. Choices are far and wide, and rest assured the present state should not persist in future. Wondering whether to set forth my Ph.D in Strategy or go for a second MBA or even do something as esoteric on finally taking the plunge on the entrepreneurial waters!
I think I’ll discipline myself to start writing something every now and then once again, even if the quantum of each write-up is pretty small.
Incidentally visited Mumbai and Bangalore the last month. Mumbai was on work and I put up in a rather non-descript hotel band in the hustle-bustle of Bandra(West). For what it was worth loved the fact that the city stays awake till wee hours of the morning. The relentless pursuit of work-happiness-life is commendable and so is the professionalism of the people in the city. Sadly what soured it up is the Delhi-bashing hobby that most Mumbai’kars would indulge in as soon as they learnt that’s where I belonged to. Beats me, especially considering that Delhi is after-all the only city which does not align itself with any community/state/language in the whole of country and even with all its ills people land up in Delhi because of their need for it and not vice versa! Bangalore was a day trip over the weekend. Caught up with an old buddy and got home a few kilos of “Mysore Pak” a sweet which I came to admire so much during my stay at Hyderabad.
I have meanwhile also become a proud owner of a rather spacious and well located apartment in Delhi along with a voluminous mortgage which came bundled with it. To say that the whole concept of being in debt to an extent that your whole worth would need to be decupled (i.e. ten folded) and yet fall short (significantly!) to meet the dues is scary, would be an understatement. Eitherway, now I’ve taken the plunge. This would put on hold most of plans of purchasing a nice car or mindless squandering on eateries and any of the so insidiously enticing and yet obviously senseless stuff! With the first EMI just about due the lessons learnt during Financial Management course in MBA came floating back with PS telling us how debt brings in with it fiscal discipline and coupled with the tax benefits afforded when taken for house purchase make it an unbeatable offering for the logically minded. Also reminded me of the golden words of my mom that irrespective how high you may be in corporate ladder, purchase of a house which is fit for staying would inevitable necessitate some serious tightening of belt!
Something else has changed around me. My father just bid adieu to a long and illustrious career as an honest and respected public servant as he superannuated yesterday. Thankfully, the one thing that had embarrassed me the most about him when I studied in one of the more garish schools of Delhi (him being too earthily, nonchalant and simple) has stood him in good stead as he retires with a truckload of friends and well-wishers. A reminder to me that soon, not too long in future, I too will have to call it a day as far as professional career is concerned. Time is too short to be squandered in pointless dilly-dallying as I try to negotiate a better remuneration to justify something which is not true to my heart.
Professionally, I will have to strive to find my niche! This is a serious goal for future. On Personal front, I’d like to meet up with someone special to spend the rest of my life with as well. Too many noble goals. Too much of not-so-noble temptation around. The fun is about to begin.
Wish me Luck!
I was wondering over the past few days of how change envelops the very core of our lives. Sometimes we fail to realize the importance or rather the overbearing effect of change. I mean, most often people when asked to give examples of change would pick out the day-night outside, hot-cold weather, the chilli-sweet sensation as examples of change.
Take a guess try naming examples of change. The ones which come to the top of my mind when asked to state change in life would be
But those are not the only layers in life which get reformed and reshaped or changed! Like an Onion, we could keep skinning peels out of life and at every layer change would be the common factor. The examples above are only epidermal in organism’s endowment of change
People change: Our beliefs, our perceptions, our values, our ability to judge/perceive/appreciate changes. Everything changes. It was not one sporadic event or incident which made me ponder on this aspect but a larger kaleidoscope of observations. Some things which made me think on these aspects (I have tried to keep each one of the below mentioned ass unconnected to others as possible):
I could really get into the swing of this pointless gibberish. But the moral of the story is very clear & concise: Change is Overpowering and Unavoidable.
Ending with those lovely words of Jean-Louis “Jack” Kerouac,
All of Life is a Foreign Country!
I live a funny life in a funny world. It has these queer ways of denying the obvious.
Keep thinking that I am very different from the unknown man who is turning a corner of the street right bout now in the opposite end of earth when the reality is quite otherwise.
For instance I am just as much fad driven. Loved blogging. Still kindda like it, at least when I am doing it on my IPhone. Lately though it’s obviously loosing out to tweeting:
It’s easier, quicker, crisper and way more pragmatic.
Something as idealistic like grammar or building a case before the conclusion is arrived at is nether facilitated nor permitted.
Suits me just as fine, though leads to a gradual corrosion of my writing skills acquired painfully through my high school years.
Anyways, this iPhone typpng is finally taking it’s toll. Will catch up soon, meanwhile am there on my twitter tweets