Calcutta is my birthplace and a city with which I have ties that only death can severe. I left the city temporarily for college at 18 and for an indefinite duration when I was 24. Since then, I have been returning to my home city, now and then, work and finance permitting. I have been keenly observing the changes in the city. During my trips, I observe a change in attitude, a decline in tolerance and acceptance and, in my humble opinion, a shift from traditional values that I grew up in a middle-class Bengali Calcutta. While not in Cal, I keep in touch with what's happening in the city through the Bengali newspaper Anandabazaar Patrika. Most of the time the news are scary, hinting to the changing values as a function of globalization in a city in pursuit of money. The following lines capture how I interpret the changes that I see, read and hear.
This is not the beloved city I left.
Flyovers, citycenters, 2nd Hooghly bridge -
the city's landscape changes for better -
while compassion and tolerance erode.
A father kills his son,
The wife prays he be hanged.
Neighbours outcast an HIV infected man,
Hospital returns a dying one
An old man is left to die on a footpath -
Passersby oblivious to his gasping.
Life goes on as lives are lost.
Why is everyone turning a blind eye?
Kids don't play outdoor anymore
Homework and cable dictate their lives.
The teachers don't train the mind
The village doesn't raise the child.
No one laments that Nano left Bengal
Too many cars already bring life to a halt.
The traffic cop pockets the bribe as
cars park illegally on a busy street.
Highrises mushroom where kids once played
Ponds fill up by domestic wastes
Landfills now house exotic hotels
And malls spring up everywhere.
Now there is a mall on a factory premise
with elegance and grandeur -
where there is grandeur there is pomp
and with pomp there is temptation
So much so that a young girl from
a decent family leaves a bar with a fat belly pig
with an even fatter purse.
And no eyebrow goes up! not even for once.
On EM Bypass, a beamer takes over a bullock cart
A speeding bus almost kills a man but no one flinches.
People crosses the road wherever convenient
The crossing light blinks out of sheer habit.
Everyone is busy, even the ones jobless.
Everyone is busy doing something or nothing
This is not the city I knew.
This is not my Calcutta.
March 31, 2009
March 28, 2009
Taal 2009
Tonight we witnessed a fascinating musical evening at the Harrell Theater in Collierville, Tennessee. It felt like the relieving first rain after a long spell of cultural draught. Very refreshing! A group of local talents, under the banner of MusiPals, took full advantage of the advances in track music technology and didn’t let the audience feel the absence of a live band for a single moment.
For the house-full crowd, it was like soaking in the vast array of songs from Bollywood, interspersed with regional songs. The singers kept the audience enthralled from the very beginning for over two hours. No small feat! It was quite professional and entertaining. The two MC’s threaded through program extremely well, and engaged the audience from the very moment they emerged from behind the curtains. I am observing a very positive trend that IAM functions are becoming increasingly interactive.
Srini’s theatrics was excellent. Tribute to AR Rehman was very thoughtful. Sam was lucid with his sweet inflection and was extremely stage free. We got to witness a classically trained performer in a non-classical setting and, likewise, talent from TV shows in India showing up in our local cultural landscape is very assuring. Vinodh’s outfit was apt for his song and Gopal’s impromptu rendition of Rajnikanth was befitting. Alice appeared to be enjoying the moment and the spotlight to the fullest. Bravo!
Song selection was good; the regional choices definitely showcased the social fabric of India. However, given the multi linguistic format of the evening, I find it a bit surprising that not a single Bengali song made the cut. I am saying this not because I am a Bengali (or may be because I am an Indian Bong), but because of the history of the long connection between Bengalis and Bollywood – Geeta Dutt, SD, RD, Kishore to Shan and Shantanu Moitra (of Parineeta fame). The list is simply too long to ignore. I, for one, was hoping for a Bong Connection there!
"Taal", the rhythm of the beat, definitely got the crowd energized and on its foot. The spontaneity of the audience in going up on stage and showcasing an expression of joy added a different dimension of color to the evening. May be in the future, these dancing talents can be channelized to provide a choreographed performance on stage to augment the entertainment value of the show. With so much of local talents that we have seen during any IAM function, I hope to see a group like Nritya-Mitra emerging soon to perform interpretive dancing to these songs and light up the stage.
The dedication and practice was definitely showing throughout the evening. However, one performer definitely doesn’t belong in this league. Selection should be based on performance and definitely not on the basis of relationship and/or the promise of exchange of favors. Contribution, and not credential, should be the gold standard. This is disrespectful to any paying audience and a disservice to a group that has put in so much of effort. Also, inclusion of artists representing broader India possibly may raise the bar a notch. There were times when absence of a native Hindi speaking male vocalist could be easily felt. I am sure Music Director John has taken notes and will address these few shortcomings in the future shows. We are looking forward to more such enthusiastic performances.
Finally, thanks to IAM for providing a platform to MusiPals.
For the house-full crowd, it was like soaking in the vast array of songs from Bollywood, interspersed with regional songs. The singers kept the audience enthralled from the very beginning for over two hours. No small feat! It was quite professional and entertaining. The two MC’s threaded through program extremely well, and engaged the audience from the very moment they emerged from behind the curtains. I am observing a very positive trend that IAM functions are becoming increasingly interactive.
Srini’s theatrics was excellent. Tribute to AR Rehman was very thoughtful. Sam was lucid with his sweet inflection and was extremely stage free. We got to witness a classically trained performer in a non-classical setting and, likewise, talent from TV shows in India showing up in our local cultural landscape is very assuring. Vinodh’s outfit was apt for his song and Gopal’s impromptu rendition of Rajnikanth was befitting. Alice appeared to be enjoying the moment and the spotlight to the fullest. Bravo!
Song selection was good; the regional choices definitely showcased the social fabric of India. However, given the multi linguistic format of the evening, I find it a bit surprising that not a single Bengali song made the cut. I am saying this not because I am a Bengali (or may be because I am an Indian Bong), but because of the history of the long connection between Bengalis and Bollywood – Geeta Dutt, SD, RD, Kishore to Shan and Shantanu Moitra (of Parineeta fame). The list is simply too long to ignore. I, for one, was hoping for a Bong Connection there!
"Taal", the rhythm of the beat, definitely got the crowd energized and on its foot. The spontaneity of the audience in going up on stage and showcasing an expression of joy added a different dimension of color to the evening. May be in the future, these dancing talents can be channelized to provide a choreographed performance on stage to augment the entertainment value of the show. With so much of local talents that we have seen during any IAM function, I hope to see a group like Nritya-Mitra emerging soon to perform interpretive dancing to these songs and light up the stage.
The dedication and practice was definitely showing throughout the evening. However, one performer definitely doesn’t belong in this league. Selection should be based on performance and definitely not on the basis of relationship and/or the promise of exchange of favors. Contribution, and not credential, should be the gold standard. This is disrespectful to any paying audience and a disservice to a group that has put in so much of effort. Also, inclusion of artists representing broader India possibly may raise the bar a notch. There were times when absence of a native Hindi speaking male vocalist could be easily felt. I am sure Music Director John has taken notes and will address these few shortcomings in the future shows. We are looking forward to more such enthusiastic performances.
Finally, thanks to IAM for providing a platform to MusiPals.
March 27, 2009
Love, deception and choice
He said that he loved her
He swore that he cared.
May be he did
Or may be he lied
Thinking all in love is fair,
she let her inhibitions down -
like the unbridled hair
cascading down her gown.
Now that she is pregnant
and he is gone for ever -
Do her naivety we flaunt
or comfort her in despair?
Inside her she hears a voice -
Forced she is to make a choice.
Helpless she feels, she is sad!
Cheated she is, she feels mad!
In name of love, when lovers cheat
Remorse all around in love's defeat.
Straddled with product of love or lust
who now on earth can she trust?
March 22, 2009
Abol-Tabol (Weird and Random) Thoughts from a Pink Floyd fan
Alone on a mountain -
Vision obscured by clouds
I face the delicate sound of thunder.
Or is it the division bell that I hear?
Searching for a saucerful of secrets
in the land of relics,
I hit the wall guarded by
the piper at the gates of dawn.
"Ummagumma" is the codeword to
the house of the atom-heart mother,
into the dark side of the moon.
Down in the valley -
We are all animals
waiting for the final cut.
But up here at Zabriskie Point -
a momentary lapse of reason
can't meddle the lunatic in my head.
Not on any interstellar overdrive,
'm just marooned but comfortably numb.
Remembering all the early singles
My pulse beats for more.
First, it's psychedelic and space,
then the progressive rock works.
The Pink Floyd sound echoes
from Shine On to A Nice Pair.
As my trip gets into high gear
I wish you were here!!
© Sanjoy Haldar
Blogger's note:
I am a die-hard Pink Floyd fan - here is an attempt to capture the essence of a "trip" by using the band's album titles. Can you identify them? Marooned gave the band its only Grammy.
I titled it Abol-Tabol, Bengali for weird and random, after a famous "nonsense" rhyme book in Bengali by Sukumar Ray, father of the famous Indian film maker Satyajit Ray.
March 20, 2009
A Kiss
A kiss comes from a far off land
like a migrating bird flying home.
Like a letter sealed with a kiss
from a warrior who's gone too long -
Like a withered leaf drifting in the wind
or a white cloud afloat in the autumn sky.
A kiss comes from a far off land
and fuel's tonight's dreams.
like a migrating bird flying home.
Like a letter sealed with a kiss
from a warrior who's gone too long -
Like a withered leaf drifting in the wind
or a white cloud afloat in the autumn sky.
A kiss comes from a far off land
and fuel's tonight's dreams.
March 14, 2009
Places I have been
I will try to describe places that I have lived or visited that have left a lasting impression on me. I prefer cities that are close to large water bodies: either beside a river or bay. I prefer a modern city with a rich tradition of art and culture. For vacation, I prefer places where time has come to a halt or places that are steeped deep in history or are situated in a wonderful natural setting.
Calcutta: The city of joy , the city of Sanjoy. Yes, Calcutta, now Kolkata, is my birthplace, city of my childhood, young adulthood, the city where I spent my growing up days. I love the vibration of the city, the passion of the people for politics and poetry. The city is steeped in rich culture. There are theatres, art galleries, museums, literary societies, debate halls, coffee house. There are problems but there is a certain element of dynamism that inspires me.
Kharagpur: I wouldn't be where I am today had I not gone to Kharagpur or KGP as we used to lovingly call it, the home of the Indian Institute of Technology. A small town compared to Calcutta, it claims its position on the world map due to two facts: it has the longest railway station in the world and the institute.
Pondicherry: this is small sea town in the south of India. I went there 25 years back but I can still smell the burning incense sticks in the prayer hall of Sri Aurobindo’s sanctuary. The silence of the place is deeply invigorating.
Shillong: this is a small hill station; capital of a northeastern hilly state in India called the Meghalaya (translated into English means Abode of the Cloud). Needless to say this is the place with the highest annual rainfall recorded in the world. With manicured golf course, small streams and waterfalls, flowers, orchids, lakes, the place is just like a picture.
Darjeeling: (of world famous Darjeeling tea fame) is another hill station as well as a district in the state of West Bengal, India. This is known as the Queen of the Himalayas. Extremely beautiful. I have memories of seeing wild mushrooms growing on the mountainside or waking up early in the morning to go see sunrise brighten up the Himalayas or suddenly experience cloud beneath me over the valley. The hike to the mall, the city centre was interesting. Life was easy, very easy. I am willing to give up a lot to simplify my life once again.
Now coming outside of India, there are 5 cities, not in any specific order that I have enjoyed visiting:
Paris: where tradition and modernism, culture and engineering (Eiffel Tower), art and science have all mingled. I just love this city, its museum and with the river flowing through it. A Chinese friends rightfully translated this from a Chinese poem, "Silently, the Seine runs across Paris, as if a delicate jade hairpin worn by a beautiful woman." Yes, the river is an integral part of the city.
New York: what can I say? The only other city outside Calcutta where I feel at home.
San Francisco: This a city with a different charm. With the Golden Gate Bridge giving the city its distinctive landmark, I love the fisherman's wharf, the tram ride (by the way, Calcutta still has a functional tram network), the art districts, access to the wineries up in the Sonoma county, and excellent food. There is something special about this city.
Montreal: I have never seen a city so clean and never felt so safe. Modern day architecture fits in well with the smooth functioning of the city. They have a parallel city underground to deal with the harsh winter climate.
London: again, I like the architectures, museums, parks. Lots of things to do/see. And then there are the fish and chips.
Other notable places in my book:
Brugge, Belgium, a quaint little town with canals running through the town, cobbled roads and lace stores.
Lisse, Netherlands, particularly in April-May when the flowers are in bloom. How can I forget the train ride between Amsterdam and the Hague through the carpeted tulip fields?
Den Hag (or the Hague) in the Netherlands. I just loved the access to the North Sea and being able to walk on the 5 Km promenade and see the sunset at 10 clock in the evening
Luxembourg (the most beautiful country I have visited till date)
Quebec City in Canada (a city that has two layers - an upper city and a lower city)
1000 Islands on the border of Canada and US (the water so deep that it has a beautiful blue color)
Sedona (a place so romantic and mystic) in Arizona desert
Sian Kaan a world heritage site in Mexico where I saw sea turtles and a vast expense of the turquoise green Caribbean Sea
Appalachian National Scenic Trail (US's longest marked footpath, at approximately 2,178 miles) this is where I have hiked many a weekends (there are beautiful hidden swimming holes)
The Rhine valley and the Black Forest in Germany
Kashmir (Switzerland of the East) with its Dal Lake, beautiful flower gardens, ski slopes and valley
Taj Mahal or Chichen Itza, monuments in the Seven Wonders list.
I am sure that I have experienced jaw dropping scenes (like I remember one night as I saw the lights coming on in Evian, the famous French Alps town on lake Geneva as darkness fell on the lake or the chalets hanging on the Swiss mountains like pictures pinned on a board, or the monastery where they train St. Bernard rescue dogs up in the Alps in the Swiss-Italy border or watching a light-and-sound show in a 500 year old fort in India or Mexico) but they are skipping my memory right now.
Less ...
Calcutta: The city of joy , the city of Sanjoy. Yes, Calcutta, now Kolkata, is my birthplace, city of my childhood, young adulthood, the city where I spent my growing up days. I love the vibration of the city, the passion of the people for politics and poetry. The city is steeped in rich culture. There are theatres, art galleries, museums, literary societies, debate halls, coffee house. There are problems but there is a certain element of dynamism that inspires me.
Kharagpur: I wouldn't be where I am today had I not gone to Kharagpur or KGP as we used to lovingly call it, the home of the Indian Institute of Technology. A small town compared to Calcutta, it claims its position on the world map due to two facts: it has the longest railway station in the world and the institute.
Pondicherry: this is small sea town in the south of India. I went there 25 years back but I can still smell the burning incense sticks in the prayer hall of Sri Aurobindo’s sanctuary. The silence of the place is deeply invigorating.
Shillong: this is a small hill station; capital of a northeastern hilly state in India called the Meghalaya (translated into English means Abode of the Cloud). Needless to say this is the place with the highest annual rainfall recorded in the world. With manicured golf course, small streams and waterfalls, flowers, orchids, lakes, the place is just like a picture.
Darjeeling: (of world famous Darjeeling tea fame) is another hill station as well as a district in the state of West Bengal, India. This is known as the Queen of the Himalayas. Extremely beautiful. I have memories of seeing wild mushrooms growing on the mountainside or waking up early in the morning to go see sunrise brighten up the Himalayas or suddenly experience cloud beneath me over the valley. The hike to the mall, the city centre was interesting. Life was easy, very easy. I am willing to give up a lot to simplify my life once again.
Now coming outside of India, there are 5 cities, not in any specific order that I have enjoyed visiting:
Paris: where tradition and modernism, culture and engineering (Eiffel Tower), art and science have all mingled. I just love this city, its museum and with the river flowing through it. A Chinese friends rightfully translated this from a Chinese poem, "Silently, the Seine runs across Paris, as if a delicate jade hairpin worn by a beautiful woman." Yes, the river is an integral part of the city.
New York: what can I say? The only other city outside Calcutta where I feel at home.
San Francisco: This a city with a different charm. With the Golden Gate Bridge giving the city its distinctive landmark, I love the fisherman's wharf, the tram ride (by the way, Calcutta still has a functional tram network), the art districts, access to the wineries up in the Sonoma county, and excellent food. There is something special about this city.
Montreal: I have never seen a city so clean and never felt so safe. Modern day architecture fits in well with the smooth functioning of the city. They have a parallel city underground to deal with the harsh winter climate.
London: again, I like the architectures, museums, parks. Lots of things to do/see. And then there are the fish and chips.
Other notable places in my book:
Brugge, Belgium, a quaint little town with canals running through the town, cobbled roads and lace stores.
Lisse, Netherlands, particularly in April-May when the flowers are in bloom. How can I forget the train ride between Amsterdam and the Hague through the carpeted tulip fields?
Den Hag (or the Hague) in the Netherlands. I just loved the access to the North Sea and being able to walk on the 5 Km promenade and see the sunset at 10 clock in the evening
Luxembourg (the most beautiful country I have visited till date)
Quebec City in Canada (a city that has two layers - an upper city and a lower city)
1000 Islands on the border of Canada and US (the water so deep that it has a beautiful blue color)
Sedona (a place so romantic and mystic) in Arizona desert
Sian Kaan a world heritage site in Mexico where I saw sea turtles and a vast expense of the turquoise green Caribbean Sea
Appalachian National Scenic Trail (US's longest marked footpath, at approximately 2,178 miles) this is where I have hiked many a weekends (there are beautiful hidden swimming holes)
The Rhine valley and the Black Forest in Germany
Kashmir (Switzerland of the East) with its Dal Lake, beautiful flower gardens, ski slopes and valley
Taj Mahal or Chichen Itza, monuments in the Seven Wonders list.
I am sure that I have experienced jaw dropping scenes (like I remember one night as I saw the lights coming on in Evian, the famous French Alps town on lake Geneva as darkness fell on the lake or the chalets hanging on the Swiss mountains like pictures pinned on a board, or the monastery where they train St. Bernard rescue dogs up in the Alps in the Swiss-Italy border or watching a light-and-sound show in a 500 year old fort in India or Mexico) but they are skipping my memory right now.
Less ...
March 7, 2009
From the bedroom window
The March snow melts away
the late winter gloom-
The pear tree in the back bursts
into a snow-white bloom.
Pure! Perfect! Pristine!
It's still chilly but
Spring is here for sure.
Birds have returned to my yard this morn -
The Blue Jay, the Robin and the Swallow too
to sing for a little girl like you.
Their incessant chirps fill my heart with joy
A happiness only you can bring!
Soon the daisies will be here -
Filling our gardens far and near.
Aren't they pure and lovely?
They are - just like you.
Blogger's note: this was written for a little girl, my niece, in India who is going to celebrate the first important milestone of her life - Annaprashan or Rice Eating Ceremony after which she will start eating solid food. It is a big part of our tradition and culture.
the late winter gloom-
The pear tree in the back bursts
into a snow-white bloom.
Pure! Perfect! Pristine!
It's still chilly but
Spring is here for sure.
Birds have returned to my yard this morn -
The Blue Jay, the Robin and the Swallow too
to sing for a little girl like you.
Their incessant chirps fill my heart with joy
A happiness only you can bring!
Soon the daisies will be here -
Filling our gardens far and near.
Aren't they pure and lovely?
They are - just like you.
Blogger's note: this was written for a little girl, my niece, in India who is going to celebrate the first important milestone of her life - Annaprashan or Rice Eating Ceremony after which she will start eating solid food. It is a big part of our tradition and culture.
March 2, 2009
How to use downtime effectively?
Of course this is no time to think about how to use downtime. Where is the downtime in this time of crisis and survival? This is time to work extra hard/smart to prove one's employmentability.
Actually I was pondering upon this question that came up in one of the monthly leadership meetings of our vice president. Here are my thoughts on some steps one can take during a downtime:
1. Step back and review your work processes
Ask, "How can I do it better, differently?" Then try to improve your work methods.
2. Finish unfinished documentation
This is time to finish all those documentation that you intended to do but never got done.
3. Re-energize
Learn something new. Pick up a new hobby. This is the perfect time to do what Stephen Covey calls "Sharpen the Saw." Prepare yourself for the peak.
4. Evangelize your work, your team
This may not be a bad time to do the networking, make those phone calls. Connect with that associate, reach out tohat colleague that you have been intending. Proactively go out and publicize your team accomplishment.
5. Take that vacation
Plan your vacation during the low time. So, when you come back you are not only energized, if you take time off during a low period, chances are you don't have to catch up with a lot of pending work upon return from break.
Actually I was pondering upon this question that came up in one of the monthly leadership meetings of our vice president. Here are my thoughts on some steps one can take during a downtime:
1. Step back and review your work processes
Ask, "How can I do it better, differently?" Then try to improve your work methods.
2. Finish unfinished documentation
This is time to finish all those documentation that you intended to do but never got done.
3. Re-energize
Learn something new. Pick up a new hobby. This is the perfect time to do what Stephen Covey calls "Sharpen the Saw." Prepare yourself for the peak.
4. Evangelize your work, your team
This may not be a bad time to do the networking, make those phone calls. Connect with that associate, reach out tohat colleague that you have been intending. Proactively go out and publicize your team accomplishment.
5. Take that vacation
Plan your vacation during the low time. So, when you come back you are not only energized, if you take time off during a low period, chances are you don't have to catch up with a lot of pending work upon return from break.
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