Shashi Tharoor’s candidature for UN Secretary General isn’t a surprise, though it took awhile for Indian Govt. to announce it. Shashi Tharoor is a prolific writer turned quintessential international civil servant cum diplomat, who presently serves as an under-secretary general to the UN. Shashi’s nomination comes at a time when it’s supposed to be the […]
The perils of driving right
As such driving on Kolkata roads is nothing short of nightmare. Roads are narrow, traffic uncompromising. Potholes and bumps figure prominently in long list of woes, jaywalking is another hurdle to negotiate. Since road space is pathetically small (only about 6% of total city area) and therefore traffic density alarmingly high, there is always a […]
That’s all
I’ve fished out 25 blogposts from my earstwhile blog of same name. No more fishing now. My invisible readers -> thanks for patience. Perhaps you’d like to read this entry as to why I reproduced so many of my earlier posts. Time to move on…
Kolkata is hot!
[First posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006] It reminds me of a tv ad that shows an egg accidentally dropped, turning into an instant omelet on the bonnet of a car stranded in a Mumbai thoroughfare on a sizzling afternoon. Kolkata isn’t that hot yet, but uncomfortably warm for February. Sunday’s temperature climbed to 38.1 […]
A bizarre story
[First appeared on Monday, February 20, 2006] If anything can be truly grotesque, then this must be it. It all started when one Abhijit Lahiri applied for advance bail at the High Court that came up for hearing recently. His crime was simple enough, he had 2 years back ‘lived together’ with his wife who […]
Football House of India
[First posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006] Unknown to many, a brand new HQ of All India Football Federation (AIFF) has sprung up at Dwarka in West Delhi. A 3-storey structure on a modest 2000 sft, AIFF’s head office will cater to many needs rolled in one destination. To start with, it’ll house the inevitable […]
Rabindra Sadan
[First published on Friday, February 10, 2006] Whenever I set foot on Rabindra Sadan metro station, my eyes wander off to either side of the platform. On the walls across railway track, big white panels display Tagore’s writings in both Bengali and English. Immaculate and soul-searching, the writings let you discover the exceptional creative power […]
Swirling angel
[First posted on Wednesday, February 08, 2006] Who would have thought that restoring a 3-tonne bronze angel atop Victoria Memorial, one of the finest monuments of Kolkata, to its former glory would need a court reprimand? Yet, such was the apathy that until the court intervened (thanks to Subhas Datta of Howrah Democratic Citizen’s Forum), […]
Cradling New Town
[First appeared on Sunday, February 05, 2006] New Town, to the east of Kolkata, is where the city is headed in its eastward drive. Action Area II & III of New Town need land development before amenities are built, and handed over later to prospective owners. The task of filling low-lying lands is mammoth and […]
Ways of almanacs
[First published on Friday, February 03, 2006] Going by two prominent Bengali almanacs (panjika), Saraswati Puja falls on 2 days this year. Today (Feb 3) is second day, being followed by most. A holiday today, it’s convenient too. One gets to enjoy 3 days off. Plus the ambience lingers longer. Not that school-goers have any […]