Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

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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