Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Santa Claus for sale at New Market of Kolkata. The city is ready to celebrate Christmas with usual joy, happiness and enthusiasm. -- A. B.

23 December 2011 releasing new Feluda film by Sandip Roy across Bengal alongwith Kolkata. It will be a very unusual experience for the Feluda-lovers in the sense, the whole team of Feluda went to jungle to solve the Royal Bengal mystery for the first time. The film based on the story of Satyajit Ray. So, before Christmas, ready to witness the solve of Royal Bengal Rahasya with Feluda. -- A. B.

A new guest in the family of giraffe in Kolkata's Alipore zoo dragging rush of enthusiastic viewers. Winter is here in Kolkata - bold & cold. Hence, Kolkatans ready to enjoy the winter with kids and friends. Zoo always attracts all the ages of people. Each winter, a new guest attracts people, this year a new baby giraffe attracting viewers.-- A. B.

At last winter in Kolkata, on the onset of month 'Poush' in its real gorgeous hues. Temperature surely below normal, but drastic fall of maximum temperature in the city? Not seen for the last 10 years. Cold wave reigning in Nadia, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts of Bengal. However, Kolkata was waiting for this winter so that ensuing Xmas, fairs, exhibitions, rides, zoo, museum and above all winter time picnics - most enjoyable festivities for the enthusiastic city-dwellers. Various sweets of Bengal - nalen gurer sandesh, puli pithe, khejur ras - so many delicious food items for Bengalees in this winter. -- A. B.

Salt Lake like a city within city of Kolkata. Roads are look alike, divides by shades of trees and pleasant for pedestrians also.-- A. B.

Bangladesh Festival in Kolkata from 16 December 2011 at the premises of Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner. Eminent singers of Bangladesh and Kolkata will perform Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrulgeeti. Popular and precious saris of Bangladesh, like Dhakai Jamdani, Tangail tant, maslin etc will be exhibited this year also for sale. And special food items of Bangladesh, like Kachchi biriyani, Bhuni khichuri and various items of Ilish (Hilsa) will be there invariably. -- A. B.

Kolkata's Mohun Bagan defeated Hal Bangalore by 2 goals to 4 in I-League match in Bangalore stadium this evening. The first half of the match was for Hal, where they scored 2 goals. And when Bagan was searching the scopes to repay, Odafa sparked and scored 2 goals at 60 and 70 minute of the play. All the supporters prayed for another goal to cross Hal, and the gem came from the foot of Jewel Raja at 88 minute. Manish Maithani scored the last goal of the match at eleventh hour. Mohun Bagan will now face Dempo and Salgaonkar.-- A. B.

In the year 1911, on this day, King George The Fifth declared Delhi as the capital of India. Before that, Kolkata (then Calcutta) was the capital of India. A colourful royal rally was organised to commemorate this occasion in Delhi 100 years ago. Today is the birth centenary of New Delhi also. 100 years ago, on this day, New Delhi was founded. -- A. B.

93 lives lost in the fire of AMRI Hospitals in Kolkata. The city of joy shocked. And praying for the deceased this evening by the leadership of CM under the statue of Gandhiji. The rally in memory of the deceased will start with candles in hand in front of Birla Planetarium at 8pm. Before that, this morning, the CM paid homage in memory of the deceased at Safari Park, Rabindra Sarobar, Kolkata. A permanent memorial would be established at Rabindra Sarobor. The CM called all to pay homage tonight.-- A. B.

The performance of Mohun Bagan team is not up to the mark. The Police Association defeated Bagan yesterday. They always tried to arrest the goal-makers of Bagan. The supporters of Bagan shouted to see the play-acting of PFA. But it is the part of game. Why not the players of Bagan tried to give their best? Disappointed Sachib Anjan Mitra admitted, excessive play is the cause of dull play. But the coach remarked, the team of Bagan should be reoriented.-- A. B.

A special evening, only for full moon, to be ecliped totally. The evening came with a soft touch of shadow on smiling moon, then, gradually the moon totally covered, only a pale, dim, mysterious, dramatic reddish hue remained - a marvellous sight to experience. The pics here only a touch of these three phases.-- A. B.

Millennium Park - a millennium gift to Kolkata by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA/CMDA) of 26 December 1999 and since then it is the place to play for kids as well as adults. It is situated along river Ganga on eastern side at a stretch 2.5 kms from near Babughat to Koilaghat on Strand Road. The park has plenty of trees and children's amusement rides. One can see gathering of enthusiastic people from Kolkata and Howrah from 1pm to 7pm daily. -- A. B.

In the year 1880, on this day, Begum Rokeya was born in Rangpur (now in Bangladesh). She learnt English and Bengali from her elder brother and sister. Later married to Sakhawat Hossain. She was pro female education. Begum Rokeya's married life lasted only 10 years. She was lived with her husband at Bhagalpur in Bihar. After the death of her husband, she came to Kolkata and made efforts to spread female education in the city. She established 'Sakhawat Memorial Girls' School' in Kolkata initially with only eight girls on 15 March, in the year 1911 and the school is now one of the most renowned Bengali medium girls' school of Kolkata.-- A. B.

In the year 1883, on this day, Rabindranath Tagore wedded Mrinalini Debi in Kolkata. -- A. B.

Today, inauguration of 3-day long Bangladesh film festival at Nandan, Hall-1, AJC Bose Road, Kolkata. Theme of the festival - 'Bangladesh Muktijuddho in celluloid'. The inaugural cinema- Matir Maina 'The Clay Bird'. Besides, the following films will be screened - Khelaghar 'Doll House' ; Joyjatra; Khanda galpo '1971-A Few Shattered Tales'; Aamar bondhu Rashed 'My Friend Rashed'; Guerrilla The festival is open to all.-- A. B.

Total lunar eclipse on 10 December can be seen from Kolkata alongwith the whole country. The eclipse will occur for 50 minutes (7:36pm to 8:26pm). Kolkata is enthusiastic to watch this beautiful celestial event as it will occur again in the year 2018. -- A. B.

The writer of 'City Of Joy' (1985) Dominique Lapierre spent the day of yesterday amongst kids in Kolkata. A team of 40 writers now with him from Poland, America and France. Later Lapierre went to Sandeshkhali at Sundarban to visit the projects. He said, drinking water problems for the people of Sundarban yet to solve. Lapierre is now 80 years old. -- A. B.

Kids picking tamarind at Rabindra Sarobar in Kolkata. -- A. B.

-- A. B.

It is the picture of one of the oldest building of Kolkata - Clive House, otherwise known as 'Barakothi', located at 91 Rastraguru Avenue, Dum Dum erected before the seizure of Kolkata by Siraj-ud-daullah. It was also known as 'Dum Dum House', once upon a time - a well built house, standing on an artificial mound, surrounded by a moat. The history and origin of the building is obscured yet it is presumed to be a Portuguese or Dutch factory or godown of cotton and saltpeter. It is also presumed that the building of the late Mughal period was sometimes owned by Nawab Alivardi Khan and his grandson Nawab Siraj-ud-daullah and later on passed to the hands of Lord Clive who used it as his country seat (1757-60). The present double-storyed brick built building with number of small windows and supporting buttresses looks like a small fort. It was originally single storyed and in subsequent period additions and alterations have been done and converted to be a dou

Mahanayak Uttam Kumar used various cars but his most favourite was Ambassador. WMC 8787 is the last used car of Uttam Kumar which is now lying neglected on the road in front of his house at Bhowanipur. He departed us more than 30 years ago, but not yet the car declared heritage. It is high time to preserve this white Ambassador and save the memories of Mahanayak. -- A. B.

Rabindranath Tagore at the Galerie Pigalle, Paris, 1930 -- A. B.

Romain Rolland and Rabindranath Tagore in Villeneuve, Switzerland in the year 1926. -- A. B.

Partial load-shedding at Salt Lake Stadium on the 85 min of play didn't snatch the joy and happiness among the supporters of Mohun Bagan - finally Bagan won the first Derby match of this year. And beat East Bengal after 19 months! But the total match never reached at the peak of standard play. Lack of quality, tendency to play on the mid field - not expected from the two teams. But referee Pratap Singh tackled the adverse situations well (4 yellow cards). And Mohun Bagan won the Derby Match by solitary goal of Odafa Okolie - hero of the day. -- A. B.

In the year 1838, on this day, Brahmbhabandhab Keshab Chandra Sen was born at Kolutola in Kolkata. He educated from Hindu Metropolitan and Hindu College. He had profound knowledge in various fields. He came in touch with Debendranath Tagore in 1857 and joined in Brahmo Samaj. He was an eloquent orator. He published periodical 'Indian Mirror' and 'Sunday Mirror'. He established 'Bama Bodhini' magazine and 'Brahmika Samaj' for girls. For the education of girls, he established 'Native Ladies Normal And Adult School' which was later named 'Victoria Institution'. He was the founder of 'Albert Hall' in Kolkata. -- A. B.