Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Sunil Gangopadhyay  was born on 7 September, 1934. His poems I like very much. An innocent statement prevails his poems and that is the essence I like. Neera is the woman for whom he had written so many poems - although imaginary one this 'Neera'. Below, one of his famous poem I like, 'Suddenly for Nira.' .    হঠাৎ নীরার জন্য বাস স্টপে দেখা হলো তিন মিনিট, অথচ তোমায় কাল                                    স্বপ্নে বহুক্ষণ দেখেছি ছুরির মতো বিঁধে থাকতে সিন্ধুপারে–দিকচিহ্নহীন – বাহান্ন তীর্থের মতো এক শরীর, হাওয়ার ভিতরে তোমাকে দেখছি কাল স্বপ্নে, নীরা, ওষধি স্বপ্নের নীল দুঃসময়ে। দক্ষিণ সমুদ্রদ্বারে গিয়েছিলে কবে, কার সঙ্গে? তুমি আজই কি ফিরেছো? স্বপ্নের সমুদ্র সে কী ভয়ংকর, ঢেউহীন, শব্দহীন, যেন তিনদিন পরেই আত্মঘাতী হবে, হারানো আঙটির মতো দূরে তোমার দিগন্ত, দুই উরু ডুবে কোনো জুয়াড়ির সঙ্গিনীর মতো, অথচ একলা ছিলে, ঘোরতর স্বপ্নের ভিতরে তুমি একা। এক বছর ঘুমোবো না, স্বপ্নে দেখে কপালের ঘাম ...

No, it’s not a film by Mrinal Sen or Srijit Mukherjee, but, a date stuck in the root of Bengalee - the day when dearest poet Rabindranath Tagore was died. We know it is the day to ponder over sitting in the corner of room how the poet wrote all of his poems and songs mixed all the emotions, feelings, sentiments, experience and realisation one can gather lifetime. We silently hear his songs and poems and realise the profundity of a life he spent.      Rabindranath Tagore ignored all the sad deaths of his dear ones with a strong will that enriched his creations throughout. He had the philosophy "ভাল মন্দ যাহাই আসুক সত্যেরে লও সহজে" and never escaped.     At the age of 80, he died on "Baishe Shravan" when the monsoon sky wept too. It was the day, when a great life had stopped but, at the same time, the beginning of post-realisation of a great life whom the then society did not recognised.     80 years passed. But still, the humili...

Poet Shakti Chattopadhyay was died on this day, in the year 1995 in Kolkata at the age of 61. He was one of the powerful and popular poet of Bengal, contemporary of Sunil Gangopadhyay.            Shakti Chattopadhyay was a bohemian poet. He loved to travel hills, forests and villages of Bengal with friends, and sometimes, alone.            He was born on 25 November, 1933 at Jaynagar of South 24-Parganas.              He was very strong in Bengali language. His poems are literally gems of Bengali literature. The admirer of Bengali poems can never forget his immortal poems - "Abani, Bari Achcho?" (অবনী বাড়ি আছো) and "Jete Pari, Kintu Keno Jabo" (যেতে পারি, কিন্তু কেন যাবো)             In my college life, in late 70s, I had a scope to listen his poems by the poet himself, when he physically attended a literary function at Sisir Mancha, Kolkata. It wa...

Poet Joydeb Basu died on 23 February at the age of 50 in his Dum Dum residence of Kolkata. The poet was famous for his strong pen. The cultural circle of the city was shocked to hear the untimely demise of this popular poet. His first wide-acclaimed long poem 'Meghdoot' published on the periodical 'Pratikshan' in the year 1988 and then he created many poems which later published as collections named 'Bhobishyat' 'Jeerno Pata Jhorar Belai' etc. He wrote a novel named 'Uttar Purbo' also. Last year a long poem of him published on a Puja collection. The poet was born in Kolkata on 12 May, 1962. He spent his childhood at Darjeeling and educated from Shantiniketan. He had the knack to create literary works in Bangla since childhood and later admitted to Presidency College in Kolkata with Bangla as his favourite subject. After graduation, the poet went for higher studies at Jadavpur University. He continued his writings in little magazines. Later, he...

In the year 1899, on this day, the all-time modern poet lived in twentieth century - Jibanananda Das was born in Borishal in Bangladesh. Later he came to Calcutta for education. He was the student of Presidency College. After M.A. in English, he took the profession of professor and taught in various colleges. He always loved to write poems in Bengali. But never tried to imitate Rabindranath. His Bangla poems are the milestone of modern Bangla poetry. His poems are "Chitraroopmoy" (images through words) as Rabindranath said. Alongwith Bengal, his collection of poems also published in Bangladesh. Loneliness, sadness, helplessness of modern age, deep love for the soil and nature, feelings of history, geography - all the modern aspects of human tenderness are inside his poems, similar to the contents and forms of contemporary poets W B Yeats and Erich Maria Rilke. -- A. B.

In the year 1939, on this day, Kobiguru Rabindranath Tagore laid the foundation stone of 'House of the Nation' Mahajati Sadan in Kolkata. The building was conceived by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Rabindranath attended the function and within his speech, the poet recited his famous poem "banglar mati, banglar jal". The building is an auditorium with clay models of freedom fighters and an archive itself with facility of libraries. It is a heritage building of Kolkata and many organisations performing various cultural and social functions there. Famous magician P C Sircar performs here. Veteran singer Manna Dey performed here several times. The auditorium is air-conditioned. But the auditorium with its ancient history not getting due importance. Much more functions should be organised there, so that the nation may know the heritage value of this remarkable monument of Kolkata. It should also be included in the list of 'Places of Interest' by Wikiped...

Water-logged road - but love for beloved poet - Rabindranath - in every heart. [the photo was taken by a press photographer in Howrah on Monday and published on yesterday's newspaper.] -- A. B.

Today, "Baishe Shraban" of Bangla month - 70th death anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. The government of West Bengal declared the day as holiday to observe the day with reverence and love for the immortal poet. Tagore was a poet - the poet of all the poets. He felt and put his feelings in writing thus we can feel our imaginations and aspirations in every moment of life. He was the last word of feelings. When we feel sorrow - his creations are our solace, when we feel happy - we find with joy that he already guessed our happiness and written our feelings years ago. So, no new grief or happiness are there for us to write more - he already written for us. And that is the greatness of a poet's thought. Rabindranath our soul, Rabindranath our life. Today, in spite of rains, the city of joy Kolkata is observing the day with several rally and all the rally will meet at Metro station. In the evening, a cultural function will be held at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kol...

-- A. B. 9 May - birthday of poet Rabindranath Tagore. Statues of the poet now on sale in Kolkata.

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 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.