The Musical Techie Who Aims for the Stars 

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH This gentleman has two distinct personalities. Five days a week he works as an electrical engineer in a high-profile multinational company, with the national (Delhi) capital region as the place of his current posting. However, as soon as the weekend dawns he is virtually transmogrified so to speak. The corporate gear packed way, you are likely to see him in his casual avatar denim and tee shirts; with his guitar … Continue reading The Musical Techie Who Aims for the Stars 

Upholding Musical Traditions of Tagore & Their Legendary Aunt

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH Priyam Mukherji and Ritapa Bhattacharya have been buddies since primary school. Added to this is the fact that they are family-friends-cum-neighbours. Together they live in the (still fairly) pristine surroundings of Vishwa Bharati  (aka Santiniketan) the brainchild of Tagore and now a conspicuous Central University within the state of West Bengal, India. They share a common lifelong passion for Rabindra sangeet (Tagore’s lyrics). To crown it all, … Continue reading Upholding Musical Traditions of Tagore & Their Legendary Aunt

Chandrabali

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH Once upon a time, there was a pretty little girl who was rather shy and introvert. Having no playmates or siblings she would keep herself occupied with reading story books meant for children alongside academics and a smattering of music. Fast forward to many years later… the little one (transformed into a lovely lady) is now Chandrabali Rudra Dutta a renowned vocalist with keen interest … Continue reading Chandrabali

Nandalal  Bose

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH About   Nandalal  Bose’s paintings Dr  S  Radhakrishnan (noted philosopher and a former President of India) had observed, “ when we  come across   a  great genius  who  has abiding  faith  in     the spirit of this    ancient land, who has that rarest  of qualities  unhampered  unclouded visions we feel we have come  into  our own world  of art.Nandalal Bose  takes his   material  from the  … Continue reading Nandalal  Bose

Uttam Kumar The Finest Icon of Bengali Filmdom

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH Had he lived the mahanayak (super star) of Tollywood would have turned 96 this September. His life is the proverbial rags-to-riches story. Yes, he is Uttam Kumar who set the silver screen of Bengali tinsel world ablaze for three decades. His name translates (in Bengali) into fine individual. A quick recap of the life and times of this erstwhile matinee idol. He … Continue reading Uttam Kumar The Finest Icon of Bengali Filmdom

An Anglophile’s Nostalgia

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH I was born twenty years after India, my motherland, attained independence from British Colonial rule.  Nevertheless the  impact of  approximately two hundred  plus  years’ regime and socio-cultural interaction was  so deep rooted that it took many more years to gradually lessen the impact. In a personal vein, I was born during this period of transition and turmoil; and now more than fifty years later what remains … Continue reading An Anglophile’s Nostalgia

Ayar Maach

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH Ingredients Ayar mach 500   grams tomato (medium size) 1 bay leaves (large) 2 ginger paste ½  tbsp green chili paste 4 teaspoon /variable cumin powder 1 teaspoon coriander powder 1 teaspoon salt 1.5 teaspoon cumin seeds 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon green chili cut lengthwise 2   mustard oil 6 tablespoon water 2 cups Procedure 1. Marinate the fish with salt and … Continue reading Ayar Maach

Brit Influences Linger on in Bengali Psyche

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH Anglo-Bengali camaraderie may be traced back to 1690 when Job  Charnock, a senior official of the erstwhile East India Company, shifted his operations to Sutanati, an obscure village inhabited by local merchants who had dealings with the company. Gradually he  got the area merged with  two other villages, Gobindopur and Kalighat, thus laying (although this is highly disputed) the foundation of  the  sprawling  … Continue reading Brit Influences Linger on in Bengali Psyche