Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

In the year 1881, on this day, Rabindranath's 'Balmiki Pratibha' staged for the first time at Jorasanko Thakurbari in the presence of the then intellectuals of Kolkata. Rabindranath himself played the lead role as Balmiki. Pratibha - daughter of the poet's elder brother Hemendranath played as Saraswati; Akshoy Chowdhury - the first robber and the other robbers of the play depicted by Abanindranath and Arunendranath. The poet's 'Jyoti Dada' helped in the production. -- A. B.

Solitary cuckoo seen at Shibpur Botanical Garden, near Kolkata yesterday - that means advent of spring in the city. -- A. B.

On this Day, in the year 1873, the first horse driven tram carriage service was started in Calcutta between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street via Boubazar Street, Dalhousie Square, Customs House and Strand Road. This service was wound up on 20 November due to lack of adequate patronisation. This life size model of horse driven tram can be seen at City Centre of Kolkata. -- A. B.

Enthusiastic cricket lover loved to cut hair to adorn his head with World Cup Cricket 2011 in Howrah near Kolkata. This picture was taken from a published photo on local newspaper. -- A. B.

The picture was taken at a village of Amta in Howrah district near Kolkata from a local newspaper. -- A. B.

In the year 1861, on this day, founder of Dakshineshwar Temple -Rani Rasmoni was died. She was born in a simple farmers' family in the district South 24-Parganas near Kolkata. She was very beautiful. At the young age, she went to a rich family of Kolkata as the bride of Babu Rajchandra - the famous businessman of Janbazar. She was very intelligent without any formal education. So, she was able to establish Dakshineshwar Temple despite the hindrances of the then Brahmins as she was not belonged to them. Rani given to the poor boys the right to catch fishes from river Ganges and spent huge amount of money to stop running steamer on the river. A busy road of Kolkata named after Rani Rasmoni.-- A. B.

In the year 1818, on this day, Kolkata Corporation started to wash the roads of Kolkata.-- A. B.

In the year 1836, February 18th, Paramahamsa was born at Kamarpukur in West Bengal. He was the priest at Dakshineshwar Temple, founded by Rani Rasmoni of Kolkata. His entire life was a true tale of co-ordination of all the religions on this earth. Read more about him at Wikipedia. -- A. B.

In the year 1486, February 18th Sri Chaitanya Deb - the founder of Gouriya Vaishnab Dharma was born at Nabadwip in West Bengal. He was famous with other names like Gouranga, Nimai, Mahaprabhu also. He spent his last days at Puri in Orissa and loved to worship Lord Jagannath. He was the worshipper of mankind irrespective of any cast or religion. You can read about his life more at Wikipedia.-- A. B.

Famous sarod player Radhika Mohan Moitra was born on 13 February in the year 1917. His first record was published in pre-independence period. Pandit Keramatulla Khan assisted him with tabla in the record. -- A. B.

In the year 1879, on this day, Indian Nightingle Sarojini Naidu was born in Hyderabad of India. She wrote a drama in English consisted two thousand lines and earned scholarship of 300 pounds from Nizam of Hyderabad and went to England. There she educated from Kings College and then from Garton College of Cambridge University. She used to write poems in English since childhood. Her famous poems 'Golden Threshold' 'Bird Of Time' 'The Songs Of India' etc. -- A. B.

In the year 1806, on this day, the British Government organised lottery to meet up the expenditure of building the Town Hall of Kolkata.-- A. B.

In the year 1882, on this day, my favourite Bengali poet Satyendranath Dutta was born at a village named 'Chupi' of Bardhaman district in West Bengal. He was the grand son of poet Akshoy Kumar Dutta. He educated at first from Central collegiate School and then from General Assemblies Institution. Then he engaged himself in business for some days. Gradually he dedicated himself in the service of writing poetry thoroughly. Later he came under the patronage of Rabindranath Tagore and earned Tagore's respect. His main characteristics were to found his very own style of writings, use of rural Bengal's idioms and unused words. He was known as the Magician of Rhyme.-- A. B.

On this day, in the year 1801 printing of the last page of first Bengali New Testament "Susamachar" written by William Carey was completed at Serampore Mission Press.-- A. B.

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Today is Saraswati Puja. I went to see the puja in rural Bengal. Some of picture of the occasion uploaded here for my readers. -- A. B.

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8 February 1935 : Benaras Hindu University conferred D.Lit to Rabindranath Tagore. -- A. B.

The 35th Kolkata International Book Fair ended a few minutes ago tonight. USA was the theme of this Book Fair. According to the organiser, about 1.4 million people visited the fair and worth of rupees 14 crore of books sold this year. It is 10% to 12% more than the last year's Book Fair. Therefore, this year's Kolkata Book Fair can be called a grand success. Next Kolkata International Book Fair will be held from 25 January to 8 February, 2012 at the ground of Milan Mela of Kolkata.-- A. B.

Fort William of Kolkata was opened to public on this day in the year 1949 after 176 years of its establishment. -- A. B.

Clothings of nineteenth century poet and writer Navinchandra Sen and Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay (the writer of the poem 'Vandemataram') were exhibited recently at the Asiatic Society, Kolkata. The first one is of Navinchandra and the second for Bankimchandra. I'm thrilled to see the clothings - history remains in every thread. -- A. B.

The cricket lovers of Kolkata disappointed much to realise that the only match of India against England will not be played at the Eden of Cricket - Eden Gardens. ICC reiterated via an email that there is no question of returning the India vs England World Cup match to a semi-finished Eden Gardens. The email also makes it clear to CAB that unless it completes all pending work and hands over the stadium to the world body by February 22, the other three non-India matches, too, would be moved out. -- A. B.

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In the year 1930 a memorable book was published to mark the 70th birthday of poet Rabindranath Tagore. It was an Eulogy, collection of articles on the poet by eminent writers, thinkers, philosophers and poets all around the world ~ "THE GOLDEN BOOK OF TAGORE". Yesterday, 1st February, reprinted edition of this book published in Kolkata. The 35th Kolkata International Book Fair is running now in the city. On this occasion, this precious book just published by eminent poet of our time ~ Shankha Ghosh at Rammohan Library. -- A. B.

In the year 1814 on this day, Kolkata Museum was opened as a branch of Asiatic Society in Kolkata. -- A. B.

-- A. B. In the year 1726 on this day, Mayor's Court was first established at Fort William of Kolkata, presided by Henry Liol. After 50 years, the Supreme Court was established in the country.