The Feudal Flavors

The word Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) brings forth two things in my mind. One is subjugation by the feudal lords and the other is the blue blooded families. People have distinctly carved Uttar Pradesh as the realm of feudalism devouring its subtle taste from British and the then Zamindars (land owners) who had a dichotomous peonage. U.P. has its many hidden treasures and this treasure shall unleash with my visit to certain key places of, rather the CAVAL towns of U.P. The CAVAL towns were named by the British as follows:

C was for Cawnpore, now Kanpur. 

A was for Allahabad, now Allahabad.

V was for Varanasi, then Benares.

A was for Aligarh, now Aligarh.

L was for Lucknow, then Avadh.

We shall discuss the CAVAL towns as well as other prominent towns in Uttar Pradesh.I will bring to you Lucknow and Aligarh soon enough, the intriguing cities with muslim population in majority.

Kanpur

Kanpur, fondly called the Manchester of the East with its numerous factories and colonies of its workers. The town was filled with smoke and had large brick red houses. It had prominent textile mills of the tatas and many others. The leather factories had shrouded a permanent residence and are still growing in leaps and bounds. It takes a huge part in the amount of in bound and out bound trade. Like it is observed, UP has its upper class and lower class. Kanpur too is divided between the same. It has prominent families, brick red houses, wooden floors and sky high ceilings. They sit near the fireplace in winters with their kashmiri carpets spread out and their mastiffs in deep slumber. The colonial houses are in brick red colour which were the official bungalows of the officers who were incharge of the factories. There is strange fun in and around the city like observing the vintage cars parked outside many of the houses. The memsahebs (the ladies) of the factories are driven down by a chauffeur, a black ambassador more likely and the foreigners visiting the factory are given quick snacks made of crackle topped mayonnaise. The foreigners are keen visitors to Kanpur and they are delighted to see ambassadors, cows in the polluted areas and the stark difference between the world inside the factory premises and outside it. The large business houses buy paintings and treats them as a purpose for investment. The house of the district magistrate, other officers are worth to look at. The house of the municipal commissioner is a giant mansion keeping fourty four servants at 24 hour service and is located near a small lake called Moti Jheel. 

However, some parts of the city dirty due to the pollution caused by the factories and its workers. Poverty line is high and high are the cleanliness activities. The cleanliness driver undertaken by the Municipal Corporation is challenging. The city has its markets like gumti number panch (hindi name of a market), wave mall that houses a famous bakery called the Upper Crust. A famous restraunt called Derby prepares wonderful continental dishes.

The markets are flooded with local materials especially leather shoes and things made out of leather. The city’s upper class has been educated in convent schools and has a massive university that has a wonderful helipad for helicopter landing for inspection and numerous facilities for students staying in the campus. The students passed out mostly move out to the metropolitan cities or enter into entrepreneurship by managing the factories. The most prominent, beautiful is the railway station of Kanpur. The mode of transport is buses, auto rickshaw and human rickshaws.

Allahabad

The name Allahabad comes from the name of a king called Raja Ila and was named after him as Illahabad. The hindi version is still spelled like the aforesaid. The British gave the name Allahabad and built the Oxford of the East known as the "Allahabad University" which has a huge clock tower that rings its bell that can be heard in the night. The city was known for its plush bungalows and beautiful gardens. The Allahabad High Court is a highly acclaimed court that disposes various prominent cases and thus the city commands the elite brainstorming lawyers with their well established practices. The city of the late Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Their palatial mansions are built into museum, also observes a toddler orphanage and planetarium. The city is more or less quite and often called pensioners paradise with many parallel roads and huge buildings like the Office of the Auditor General of India (AG Office) and the Board of Revenue to name a few.  The Airforce Station and Army Station has beautifully established the Cantonment area. The city has a huge population consisting of Anglo-indians, Bengalis, Christians, Muslims and Hindus. Allahabad is treated as the education capital of Uttar Pradesh and has numerous colleges including MONIRBA, Agricultural University etc. The catholic convent schools are St. Marys Convent and St. Josephs School and College. The protestant institutions are Girls High School, Boys High School, Bishop Johnson and Mary Lucas. The city celebrates the major festivals and Durga Puja or the Navaratra is celebrated with great enthusiasm in every nook and corner of the city.

The city has the famous Alfred Park that reminds us of the assassination of Chandrashekhar Azad, the Fort of Akbar that houses the famous Akshayavat tree from the times of the Mahabharata. The Fort is now taken care by the Indian Army. The Minto Park where the famous Queens Proclamation was read during the pre-independance times. The city houses the bungalows of the famous hindi writers and poetess like Prem Chand, Harivansha Rai Bachan, Mahadevi Verma etc. 

The city comes in full light during the period of the Mahakumbh Mela that comes once in twelve years. The mighty ganges flows through the city and creates the sangam with the blue waters of the river yamuna and the saraswati. The Kumbh Mela takes place every year during the December-January and attracts large amount of pilgrimage from the world map.

The city hosts many functions of the Theosophical Society of India of the late freedom fighter Ms. Annie Beasant. I will update you more on this city. This city is like an old pure burmese teak wood furniture found in your antique. You cannot throw it away from your attic but you can always keep it, polish and place it distantly in your memory forever. The city is so British in its outlook and english is definitely the second language of the elite here.

Mirzapur  

The small town is located near the ganges bordering the vindhyachal range. It has a huge population consisting of hindus, muslims, christians, bengalis and foreigners across the globe. Basically called the carpet industry area where huge factories have been established and carpets are exported around Indian and abroad. The vindhyachal devi (goddess) temple is enshrined in the vindhayachal range and a must visit for every hindu.

This quaint town consisting of a major carpet industrial area has given a new culture to the city. On one hand there are people who are rural and on the other hand there are people who are extremely urban and educated. The urban crowd consists of carpet industrialists, government officers, professors, foreigners  doing business in carpets and other raw materials. The city is filled bungalows of colonial architecture and plaush gardens with servants dressed in white attire. Grand parties are hosted in such bungalows and soulful western music is played to entertain the guests. Food is brought from abroad and Delhi, Mumbai to serve the invitees.

Mirzapur has a market place called Wasligunj, locally adapted from the name Lord Wellsley [*] of the pre-independence period. Diwali, Holi, Durga Puja and all other Hindu, Muslim and Christian festivals are celeberated with great fervor. The children of the urban population generally study in schools of metropolitan cities in India or abroad. The local rural population however send their children to the local schools in the town. The famous Chunar Fort of Sher Shah Suri, the Mughal Dynasty is located near Mirzapur and is fun to explore. It is also interesting to note that the colorful Indian pottery is made in Chunar and is known to be an important destination for tourists coming to the State of Uttar Pradesh.The notorious Bandit Queen of India the late Phoolan devi’s constituency was Mirzapur and her funeral pyre was burnt with full homage by guards and wreaths near the ganges.Mirzapur is a city of the ganges and the hindu godess vindhyachal devi and attracts a lot of hindu pilgrimage across india.

 Varanasi (Benares)

Varuna and Asi rivers makes it Varanasi.  Varanasi is acknowledged as the city of ghats. The city is older than the city of Babylon and is filled with lanes and older structures. It has a running population of foreigners close to six lakhs. It has an international airport and attracts tourists from India as well as the world.

The city is famous for the Vishvanath Temple (shiva temple) and the mosque named Gyan Vapi that was built by Aurangzeb, the king from the Mughal Dynasty. History narrates that Aurangzeb had demolished the original Vishvanath Temple and constructed the Mosque with the stones from the temple. However, the temple was again rebuilt by the Hindus. Shringar Gauri is the place near the temple and bordering the mosque where every year hindus gather and present their offerings to the god. It is a tense situation for the local administration often getting succumbed to a law and order situation as the wall of the Mosque is near Shringar Gauri . This is a unique example of Hindu and Muslim architecture and culture.

Vishwanath Gali is the lane approaching the temple. This lane consists of shops selling offerings for god like garlands, sweets, fruits etc., also seen are betel nut sellers, local drinks like bhang and thandai (drink), wooden toys, kachauris sabji (flour breads and curries). The whole building of the temple and the Mosque is a high security area and has armed officers in positions, control rooms, cctv cameras and local spys. It is a treat for the foreigners to visit the temple.

Varanasi commands most of the five star hotels and the hotel industry is at its booming best in this city. Investors around India look for lucrative opportunities in this sector. Music, dance and theatre are seen in big fashion in the Benares circuit. The famous Nagri Natak Mandali (Auditorium) hosts music and dance of renowned artists. Also the Ghats hosts functions near the ganges for artists like Sitara Devi, Girja Devi, the late Bismillah Khan, Birju Maharaj etc to name a few. This city is the home to “Benares Gharana” (house of Varanasi music).  All the music stalwarts across india were mostly born here and excelled thereof.

The age old architecture of Varanasi is beautiful. Houses are mostly overlooking the ganges and have in dependant bathing ghats for the royals. The rich live in enormous mansions inside the lanes and their house entrance still has beautifully ornate “palkis” [*] of their ancestors. It’s a historically rich city and home to many famous people of India. The drawing rooms have white bread spreads and cushions and the ceilings have chandeliers of ancient era. I can bet that each house of old Benares takes you on a journey of history of the then period.

Benares is a city of temples, it has the famous Kaal Bhairav, Sankat Mochan, Durga Kund temples that enshrines the hanuman (god) and durga (goddess) idols. There are numerous temples in every nook and corner of the city.

For you people who are reading this note I would like to highlight the festival called “Dev Dipawali” this is a diwali of hindu gods celebrated quite beautifully in Benares. The ghats are adorned with earthen lamps (diyas), fireworks take place in the sky and the houses in and around the ghats are decorated with diyas. Live classical music is conducted on “bojra” (boat) and food like benares chaat is served on the boats. Tourists sail in the ganges to watch the fireworks, music and eat the freshly cooked food served on the boats.

Benares is close to a place called Sarnath, the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. The place has Buddhist buildings and beautiful gardens. There is a museum also that has the Ashok Sthambh, the national emblem of India.

The city has prominent hindus including bengalis, jains, gujratis, marwaris, muslims, christians and others.  Benares has its ancient Benares Club that is frequently visited by the urban population. The city is mysterious and has a strong influence to the taste of foreigners.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Port Blair is the capital of Andaman and Nicorbar Islands and airport that connects Kolkata and Chennai. To start with, Andaman and Nicobar has many Islands and Andaman can be divided into North, South and Middle and has many cities and villages that are connected by roads and ferry. Andaman Islands are a place of great adventure and energy. One has to plan the trip accordingly and to note carefully the group of islands can never be finished in a seven day trip. It would need more than that so plan a trip only after a proper research.

Port Blair being the capital is connected to all these cities and villages and has some lovely beaches like Colvin. Port Blair itself has the Peerless Portico Sarovar, Fortune Bay Hotel, Sea Shell and Shompen (named after a famous tribe of Andaman and Nicobar), to name a few.

The main islands for a traveler’s itinerary are the Havelock, Neil, Mayabunder, Ross, Smith, Jolly Boy, Ross and Viper. The Ross and Viper Island are reachable through a ferry. Ross consists of the remnants of the British Settlement and now an Indian Naval Base. It has some lovely remnants of a british bakery, church, water distillation plant, swimming pool, cemetery, clubs etc. It is said that during Tsunami, the island acted as a wall for Port Blair and faced the onslaught of the giant waves.

Viper Island, it has remnants of a jail where the Indians and others were kept in isolation during the pre- independence period by the British. The city of Port Blair has a fisheries and anthropology museum and has some lovely artifacts. Another island is called Chatham which is very near to Port Blair and connects itself through a bridge built by the British. It has now been renovated by the Government of Port Blair. The Chatham Island has an ancient saw mill which is in running condition and has a small museum consisting of wooden artifacts out of the wood from the giant Paduk trees (of the size of 35 to 40 meters), considered to be a high priced wood carved out of the Paduk trees from the deep deciduous forests of the Andaman and Nicobar jungles. These woods are exported to various countries abroad, specifically Burma. There is giant pith inside the compound of the Chatham Saw Mill that was caused by the British bombs on the Japanese occupation of Andaman and Nicobar.

Port Blair has some lovely pearls, coral, shells and artifacts carved out of the wood from Paduk trees and can be carried as a souvenir for the trip. One of the interesting areas around Port Blair is the Jarawa tribal Reserve Forest, especially if one is looking out for serious adventure. The forest is located at Baratung and one has to wake up at three am to reach there on time. On time is the important quotient of the trip, reason being, the convoy of cars and buses opens at six am sharp for entry in the forest and closes at around 4pm. The forest strictly bars photography and videos of jarawa tribes in the forest and any such act invites imprisonment of seven years and a fine. One can see lovely trees, one being the Paduk that is visible to the naked eyes as enormous height of towering amongst the others. Baratung has a jetty and one has to travel in a cargo ferry to reach the other bank. The other bank consists of speed boats that take people to the Stalagmite caverns inside the forests, mangrove trees and a mud volcano. One can also visit the Jarawa village and Mayabunder city that has turtle breeding reserve, pearl culture and Avis Island.

Port Blair is well connected to Havelock Island and can be commuted through cruises both private and government. Havelock Island consists of there beaches Radhanagar beach, Kala Pathar beach and Elephant beach. Havelock Island has the famous Bare foot resort and other cottages where one can unwind and relax. Scooters and cycle is available to commute in and around the island. Foreigners always make it a point to visit this island.

The famous Neil Island is close to Havelock and can be reached by a speed boat. Jolly Buoy island is also nearby and commutation is available.  Jolly Buoy is famous for its various coloured coral reefs.

Port Blair has varied places to visit and a seven days  is not enough to visit. The must visit for Port Blair is the Cellular Jail Museum and its light and sound show that narrates the story of its close to six hundred inmates consisting mostly of the Bengali patriots that fought for the independence of India. The cellular jail was also visited by Shri Subhash Chandra Bose during Japanese occupation of these islands and hosted the country’s national flag.

So visit Andaman Islands for its lovely beaches and history. Nicobar islands are also famous for its various tribals but however they are strictly protected by the government and avoid any public interference. The government offices are there in Nicobar Islands and only the government officials are allowed to enter the same. One must enjoy the great seafood and the beaches. One may choose the crab and lobster for your curries in most local restaurants.

A word of caution, Andaman and Nicobar Islands are surrounded by sea and one must be careful to swim in the beaches. Many saltwater crocodiles surround the mangrove trees and the beaches specially the Radhanagar Beach in Havelock. The mangrove trees are the breeding place of sea animals like crab, lobster, crocodiles. The beaches though have some boards indicating presence of such predators and one must be careful in observing adequate precautions regarding the aforesaid.

Manali - Travelogue

It was a bright monsoon day when parents and I took off for a trip to Manali. It was a long distance drive. We travelled by road from Lucknow to Delhi. The newly built Yamuna express highway was a beautiful path. We moved again and stopped for lunch at a nearby dhaba then we kept moving ahead and reached Delhi.

We haulted in Delhi for a day and then again started for Manali the next morning. At 5 in the morning we started driving down to Manali and reached a wonderful Dhaba that served us breakfast. It is to be noted that Punjab and Haryana side has more developed Dhabas and highway inns. The word “Haveli” is used for denoting a dhaba or an inn and has comfortable stay and relaxing packages. The highways have all basic amenities including shops and malls.

As we started reaching Manali we saw the Beas river right aside us from our car window. The sight of the Beas river and the beautiful snow laden mountains made us feel having come into the Indian Switzerland. The Beas river was sea green in color right near the Radha Swami Satsang Ashram. We stopped at Manali for some tea and again started driving down alongside the mighty Beas river.

We crossed a dark tunnel which was lighted and was ranging for about 2.5 to almost 3kms. The picnic spots were beautiful and were in plenty alongside the road to the top of Manali. The picnic spots were small places aside the Beas river and provided Hotel accommodations, cafes and tea points. The drive is long and it took 16hrs in total to reach our destination.

We reached in the late evening and our Hotel was Portico Sarovar that was built aside the Manalsu river. Manalsu river is the river that flows there and the name Manali is derived from her.Early morning when we opened the curtain we saw the beautiful Himalayan range shrouded with Deodar trees. The day was followed by a buffet breakfast at the hotel and then we visited the lovely Manalsu river and dipped our hands and feet into it. We clicked pictures and laughed and played with the stones of the river.

Next day we visited market i.e. the Mall of the hill station. We purchased typical Manali wear and other items from the Mall. The himcoop products are quite authentic, supported by the HP Government and consist of the best fruits of Himachal Pradesh (“HP”). HP is considered to be the fruit bowl of India. Two days went by walking down the mall, observing the Manalsu river and visiting the Hidimba Temple.

We saw the lovely ice-capped mountains while sipping tea and coffee at the hotel. Most of the hotels were built of wood and glass windows in order that the tourists feel the surroundings while having food at the café.

There is a Manu temple also that is built in Manali is dedicated to Manu who is considered a saint. Manusmṛti (written also as Manusmriti or Manusmruti) (Sanskrit: मनुस्मृति), also known as Mānava-Dharmaśāstra (Sanskrit: मानवधर्मशास्त्र), is one metrical work of the Dharmaśāstra textual tradition of ancient Vedic Sanatana Dharma, presently called Hinduism.^[1] Generally known in English as the Laws of Manu, or Dharmic discourse to vedic Rishis, on 'how to lead the life' or 'way of living' by various classes of society.

The text presents itself as a discourse given by the sage Manu, to a congregation of seers, or rishis, who, after the legendary great floods in the vedic state of Brahmavarta in India some 10,000 years ago, beseeched him to guide them in how to face such calamities in future though an organized life with "guidelines for all the social classes".^[2] His response was captured and preserved in memory as a dialog between himself and the sage Bhrigu in some 2685 ślokas, the compilation of which is called Manusmriti.

What I could gather by the Manali trip was that the trip should be splitted in various parts. From Lucknow to Delhi, then from Delhi to Ambala and finally from Ambala to Manali. This causes less exhaustion to the traveler and keeps the energy quotient alive as the road gets covered into milestones.

In memory of Late Rituporno Ghosh - Drafted in Bengali

“Jokhun podbe na mor payer chinho………..eyi  ghaate” – 

Tokhun baaje atta…amar alarm clock ta bajlo tung tang kore. Ami aaste aaste konorokhume uthlam. Raatire besh kota bhalo boyi ghaanta ghaati korechilam. Din katlo jemni kaate…hothat dupure pishi phone korlo baba ke lunch er shomai aar khobor ti dilo. Khobor ta pey hotash holam aar silent hoye gelam. Pishi  aar Pishe Kolkataye well connected aar praye onek tollywood er shilpi der jaane.

Odhbhut laage….eyi genius er cholochitro gulo, ami baar baar dekhtam. Ekta chobio miss korini. Protik ti chobi te he never compromised on the quality quotient. Ekta notun story hoto, with a strong messge, script, cinematography, symbolism, sequence, depth aar puro paraphernalia ta nijer haathe toiree korto. Theek mone hoto Satyajit Ray er direction aar Rabindranath er mind ke meshano ekta odhbhut akriti prostut hoche chokher shaamne. Or cinema bangali der heart ke emun bhabe touch korto jeno mone hoto e toh  protek bangali jiboni ba badir golpo lagchey.

Shey chilo Rituporno Ghosh, ekta odhbhut manush. Personality te ekta odbhut magnetism chilo.  Or prothom chobi release hoye 1992 te…taar naam chilo Hirer Angti. Tokhun ami khub chotto. Or chobi ami dekhlam 1999 e…....naam chilo “Unishe April”, shey ek odbhut ma meyer golpo. Research korlam toh jante parlam Ingrid Bergman er Autumn Sonatar opore based kora chobi. French film with English subtitles chilo, besh bhalo.  Onar mritur khobor pe infact I was reminiscing Unishe April’s er first scene jekhane shobai beareved hoye condolence dite esheche. Ritu da’r bishoi shob jaante parlam internet theke ebong or shonge je shilpi ra kaaj korto. Tader interviews jokhun hoto tokhun buste partam real life e o kemun chilo. Or nijer library chilo, photography, admirer of flora and fauna, bhalo khetey, portey bhalo basto, very aristrocratic and his aesthetic sense was impeccable and matchless. Paint kora, make up kora, costumes choose kora aar shanghatik voracious reader chilo. Puro desh ghure chilo aar na na rokhumer writers der golpo national international aar films of different genre ja brevity of thoughts aar courage diye  potray korto sheta bhaba jayena. Nari shokti te nije ke ebong nijer mayer support ke identify korto.

Ritu da college er shomai naki jholar modhey besh ko ekta film society er boyi niye ghure bedato aar class room student chilo na..…eyi shob interviews e shunlam aar mone mone hashlam, ashol shilpi jonmaye shotontroto poribeshe, khola hawar modhey. Theek jemun Rabi Thakur, Einstein eder moton, jader creativity taarai jane bojhe aar aaste aaste nijer foundation toiree kore ekta beautiful aar intriguing Alpine Mountains hoye daaraye. College daze e nishchoi ekta odhbhut flamboyance thaake aar jaara jonmaye talent niye taara aro beshi energetic hoye aar knowledge gain korar ekta passion thaake tader modhey. Ora holo eyi shrishtir shobche shreshtho intellect, creativity, multi-dimensional, deep, extremely emotional with racing thoughts and ekanto aar peace bhalobashe jekhane nijer masterpieces ke jonmo dite pare. Ritu da advertising er jogot er shilpi chilo, borolene er jonno ekta caption toiree kore chilo. Ad world er lokera bolto je his captions had a middle class appeal. Ritu da’s films potrayed people from the society not fiction. Though the characters he drew were from proletariat as well as the bourgeoisie. His films were above stereotype societal norms and catered mostly to the classes not the illiterate masses. It is often revealed that Bengalis thronged the theatres and awaited his films, much to the dislike of the commercial film-makers and shallow audience, the echoes “what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow”. Eyi rokhum honour er aro filmmakers achey like Shyam Benegal, Sudhir Mishra who made “Hazaron Khwahishein Aisi” that was remarkably dedicated to a spirited woman called Renu Saluja. It is also noticed the Mishra has touched the north with  films of audacity like Sardari Begum etc.

Bengalis’ generally adore Robi Thakur, Satyajit Ray, Aparna Sen, Ritwick Ghotok,  Mrinal Sen, Kaushik Ganguly etc. Ontotoh most of them Michaelangelo, Leornado – Da Vincir moton oshadharon bhabe supersonic intelligence, sensitivity aar  multi-faceted personalities hoche.

Chobi gulo protik ti bhalo hoye daariye chilo…. 1992 te Hirer Angti – ota directorial debut chilo, based on Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay's novel, 1994 e Unishe April , 1997 e Dahan 1999 e Bariwali, 1999 Asukh Bengali, 2000 e Utsab, 2002 te Titli,  2003 te Shubho Mahurat jeta Agatha Christie novel – The Mirror Cracked er opore based chilo, tarpor ashlo Robi Thakur er golper opore lekha Chokher Bali- Binodini tremendous psychological struggle in her mind, tarpor Katha Deithilli Ma Ku Oriya, 2004 e Raincoat Hindi tey chilo, ota O’Henry golpo “The gift of the Magi” er opore based chilo. Chobi jokhun dekhlam tokhun buste parlam je Ritu da’r mother tongue Bengali tai chobi ta bangle tey toire hole otar underlying pathos ta ontotoh Bengali intelligentsia feel korte parto, 2005 e Antarmahal, 2006 e Dosar that dealt with infidelity, 2007 eThe Last Lear 2008 e…etao darun chilo…kemun ekta Shakespearan era theatre actor ekla hoye geche with the passage of time but in manic and grandiosity he recites the verses of the bard’s literature with phenomenal grace and pathos. Khela film tarpor Shob Charitro Kalponik, tarpor 2010 e Abohoman, tarpor Tagore er Noukadubi – Raima ke ekta Bengali well read and taught princess legeche aar baba aar meyr relation tao khub shundor with Dhritiman’s character,  tarpor 2011e Arekti Premer Golpo directed by Kaushik Ganguly, that dealt with homosexual relationship, pher ashlo ekta darun powerful story jaatey Ritu da ke prothom baar ami dekhlam - Memories in March. Eta te ami Ritu daar acting er modhey ekta odhbhut pensive manush pelam je melancholy modhe ache ebong shei melancholy ta golper modhey diye audience ke ki taan che. Golpo ta chilo khub deep aar typical societal norms ke periye lekha hoyechilo. Ekta gay manush aar taar premik er maar shonge oshadhoran relationship toiree holo…aar aste aste oder dujoner modey je kaoke haranor ja grief ta chilo sheta jaayeni kintu onek komlo bhalobasha diye ek onno ke. 2012 e Sunglass er bishoye shunchilam kintu dekha hoye ni amar.

Ami bhalo koriye jaantam jokhun or cinema gulo dekhtam, ekta odhbhut though provocation hoto, or cinema ta prothomoto “golpo” was always empowering and direction ekta flowing river er moto lagto. Satyajit Ray moton micro detailing e jeto. Prothomoto story drafting, script, cinematography, kon actor ba actress suit korbe kon role er jonno. Or shobche bodo contribution chilo Rituporna di, jaar bhitore je ekta super enduring womanhood ache sheta ke tule dhora……sheta onek bodo contribution chilo. Dahan, Paromitar Ek Din, Utsab shobetey ekta soft, feminine grace anlo. Shunechi je onek jaigai je o make up khub pochondo korto aar actress der make up aar touches ditoh. Ghorer light aar setting, costumes shobe tey or ekta touch thakto. Nijer bachar moton toiree korto cinema ke. Protek technician aar puro film  making group taar shongey boshe golper script ta narrate kora aar suggestion newa. Even  kajoger columnists der criticism er o proshansha kora aar oder ke phone kore janono je criticism ta bhalo chilo.

Ritu da ke onek ra bolto lonely, baba maara giyechilo, tarpor ma maara gelo jaar shongey khub close chilo. Ma ke bodhai miss korto. Tai or bhabona aar emotion er shrot chilo or ma aar protek female character or cinema te powerful hoto theek Robi Thakurer er Street Potrer moton (infact ekta radio teh or streer potrer drama taar narration nije koreche), Sarat Chandra er golper moton ba Satyajit Ray er Ghaire Bairer moton. Jekhane puro desh ekta delhi rape case ke niye etoh affected, shekhane Ritu da koto bochor dhore feminity aar female er shakti ke durga hishebey dekhiyechilo. Antarmahal ekta ironical portrayal chilo….ek dike etoh dominance of staunch priests aar feudal lords of Bengal der, badir mohila der opore otachaar aar chepe rakha, aar arek kone dike female form Durga protima ke oyi ottalikar  modhe rekhe taar pujo kora aar je balika bodhu ke otachaar korto oyi badir feudal lord taar chokher shamne ekebare durga moton toiree kore dilo murti ekta shabanno artisan. Artisan taar jonno oyi balika bodhu chilo durga. Onek symbolism chilo….hoyeto eyi depiction chilo that the balika bodhu daringly breaks away from the confines of that palatial house and ends the continued suffering.

Ritu da was highly influenced by Tagore aar onek research korto protek golpo ke present korar aagey. Chitrangada  bola hoye ota or nijer golpo chilo. Janinia koto ta shotto eyi convention ta. Kintu bhebe dukhoyi hoye. Ekta shanto manush chilo shey je.

 Rudra Chatterjee i.e. played by Ritu da who has spent his life going against society convention. As a young man he defied his father's wishes to become an engineer and became a choreographer instead. As he prepared for a performance of Tagore's Chitrangada, he and his partner decided to adopt. But there was one problem: same-sex couples are not permitted to adopt children.

Jiban Smriti Bengali Documentary on Rabindranath Tagore based on Tagore's autobiography, 2013..ami dekhini aar Satyanweshi Bengali Unreleased  film hoche jeta edit hoyeni. Dekhar icche achey…aar jani nischoi bhalo hobe. Okey onek lok bolto, je stree prodhan golpo lekhey aar onek kichu. Kintu amar mone hoto je mohashota debi jokhun stree prodhan golpo lekhe tokhun to keu kichu bole na. Ta chara Autumn Sonata, The Gift of the Magi, Chokher Bali, Noukadubi, The Mirror Cracked e gulor story toh male aar female ra likheyche. Ritu da just was medium to convey it grandly before the intellectual audience national , international both. Shudhu meyer character keno, shob chele rao impressive hoto or chobi te prosenjit, Tota Roychowdhury der ke darun legeche. Ritu da ke gay icon bola hoye…am proud Bengal pioneered in this kind of rare species.

Shudhu Ektai kotha bother kor chilo je Robi Thakur aar Sotyojit Ray er majkhane je bridge ta chilo sheta kaal bhengey gelo…..aar judbe ke aar ki bhabe sheta jaanina, there is a massive void ? Amader ke or onek kichu dewar theke bonchito holam onek rokhum kore. Or bhitorer grief taar jonnie amra bangali ra onek kichu pelam….onek kichu feel korlam theek Kurt Cobain er moton. Or cinema ekta lyrical odyssey hoto, social message thakto, emotionally sensitive hoto aar incredible “intellectually” stimulating hoto….…shob kothai hothat hariye gelo….shudhu memories roye gelo through his cinema.

Ritu  da my head bows down before you with a heart wrenched feeling that you gave us so much for the rest of our lives. Tomai Nondon, Robindro Shodon ba tomar studio te giye dekhte pelam na. Kintu tomar oyi sthir shorir dekhte bhalo lagto na amar…..….tomar teachings, haanshi, politeness with all, cinema, knowledge awakening kotha, emotion aar snigdho chehara bhalo lage. Tomai turban porle onek ta Swamiji moton lagto aar jokhun woman attires porte tokhun shotti khub charming lagto. I admired your sartorial clothing…theek bolte tumi je Jodi mey ra cheleder jama porte pare toh whats the harm in men wearing the same, after all men used to dress like this in ancient india….I salute the last maverick filmmaker after Ray. Thou shall live in a Bengali’s heart forever. Tomar jonno Bengal cinema prochondo rise korlo aar various international film festival e pouncholo. Tumi film jogot e shobai ke respectfully treat korte tai aaj protek ta manush tomar shroddhai tomai mone korche. Tumi state honor pele khub bhalo feeling holo…………..Beethoven er condolence mone hochilo.

Tumi Nari ke shomman dite, or shokti, intelligence, emotional strength  aar perseverance ke shomman dite eta ki khub bhul korte….ota toh nijer matribhumi keyi respect kora holo..tai na ?Tomar kotha bhable mone hoye ekta birat jahaj kothaye gobhir shomudror modhey dekhte dekhte …………….hariye gelo. Tomar Shubho Muhurat er chobi theke mone porey ekti robi thakur gaan…”Jibono moroney sheema na charaye…bondhu hey amar royecho daaraye”. Bondhu tumi puro baangali der buke……tumi chile ekta birat inspiration. Amar shudhu ektai biniti thakur ke…tumi jeno abar jonmao…eyi prithibi tey….onek kichu roye gelo…chere gelo mone hoye…..onek onek knowledge. Puro world bonchito holo bisri bhabhe…..world tumi shudhu mone rekho…eyi legend take Jodi er proti puraton prem dhaka pore jaaye aar notun aro filmmakers aashe. Shudhu eyi genius ti ke mone rekho !

By Mili Chatterjee

©Copright May, 30^th 2013