Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

             Today is the 151st birthday of Sister Nivedita who dedicated her life for India. Actually, she was an Irish lady named Margaret Noble. Swami Vivekananda asked her to go to Kolkata for the progress of Indian women. She was a teacher of a renowned school of London. And was raising funds for the education of poor people of India. At that time, Swamiji told her to leave London for India. Then she was just 31 year's old lady.                We don't exactly know how much money she had at the time of boarding on Mombasa ship in London, but can anticipate that, Miss Henrietta Muller was the contributer of money who contributed money to Swamiji to purchase land for establishment of Belur Math. But Swamiji was not agreed with the special dependence of Margaret on Muller.                Swamiji wrote to Margaret from Almora in a letter on 29th July, 1898 that, it was very difficult for an English woman to live in India for the cause of upliftment of women of I

For the first time in Kolkata world standard puppet festival is about to held (26-31 October 2017) in which England, Germany, Peru, Portugal, Italy, Lithuania, Brazil, Singapore and India will participate. In this PUN (Puppets Unite Neighbours) Puppet Festival, 15 artists will participate, 7 from India. Puppet show, theatre will be shown to the students of several schools, free of cost. The artists will perform show at Quest Mall free of cost too. One function at P C Chandra Garden will be held by tickets only.

Ramkrishna Sarada Mission has completed the renovation work of Sister Nivedita's house at 16A, Bose Para Lane. It is the heritage building which the State Government has taken four years ago and handed over to Ramkrishna Sarada Mission for renovation work. The said house is situated on about 5 kathas of land. The house is renovated in such a way that the rooms remained same as they were used by Sister Nivedita years ago. A museum is being formed there inside the house where the books, things, furniture used by Sister Nivedita will be exhibited for all. Moreover, many information, photos of Sister will be placed there. So many past events occurred in the life of Sister Nivedita will become real by audio-visual effects. On the day of inauguration, a compilation book on life & works of Sister Nivedita will be published there. Moreover, a book on preservation of the house will be published there too.

Bird - free on the sky, the vast field of freedom. The puja committee has chosen this theme inspired by the speciality of making of artistic birds in Varanasi.

Theme of Nalin Sarkar Street is very sensitive and emotional - mentally handicapped childrens are still neglected in our country, normal relatives of them seldom contacts the patients stay in mental development centres. The hapless childrens are often victims of social injustice and negligence. But they need sympathy and concern from their parents, relatives and friends. The puja committee has depicted this social message for all by showing thousands of unattended letters hanging overhead, wheel chairs and many post boxes installed there. Anandabazar Patrika has chosen the Puja as best puja of Kolkata.

The Durga idol of Kumartuli Sarbojanin is excessively good. Anandabazar Patrika has chosen the idol of devi Durga as best among the pujas of north Kolkata. The theme is good too - the profession and distressful life of clay artists of Patua para (Kumartuli) is depicted here in the puja pandal. Soumitra Chattopadhyay - the veteran actor and poet has narrated the life of a clay artist or 'Poto'.

Yesterday, on Panchami, I went to North Kolkata to see the Durga Puja there. At first I visited Ahiritola Sarbojanin. The unique pandal is very gorgeous. The idol of Devi Durga is unique too. And beautiful.