Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

'Jamai' of Kolkata Amitabh Bachchan wishes to set up a college in actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's name at Daulatpur village in Fatehpur tehsil of Uttar Pradesh in courtesy of Big B's Sewa Sansthan.-- A. B.

Recalling the childhood days when used to awake by the chirping of sparrows on the doorsteps of verandah. They used to make nests into the hollow parts of beams of ceiling. But, surprisingly the sparrows gradually vanished from the growing cities. Now, they're coming back, merrily dancing around bedroom windows and creating a ruckus as the first rays of the sun hit the terrace. It was a common complaint that destruction of habitat, I mean the ventilators and cell phone signals had driven out these little friends. Then how they come back? One interesting cause could be the ability of these birds to adapt to the changing skyline of the city. Sparrows are now seen nesting on the pillars of flyovers, iron structures of hoardings and kitchens. It is true that sparrows and other smaller birds had became scarce in the city. But they didn't die out altogether. They shifted their locations. But, we're happy to see them again. People's Green Society, an NGO prepar

Today is the 40th birthday of Sachin Tendulkar. The city of joy Kolkata also celebrating Little Master's birthday with much enthusiasm. The paintings of Sachin displaying on Park Street. It's a token of love by a fan and well-wisher of Sachin. The fans of Kolkata also demanded on his happy birthday alongwith all the fans: 1. Tennis Elbow should be named 'Tendulkar's Elbow'. 2. ABC Corporation's box no. 9994 in respect of Don Bradman's 99.94 average; so, to honour Sachin's 100th 100, the AIR Post Box No. should be 100-100. 3. The 'boiling point' of water 100 degree centigrade in thermometer should be replaced by 'Tendulkars Point' in respect of make boiling 100 crore hearts by him. -- A. B.

65 inns will be established along national highways in a distance of 35-40 kms like highway motels of foreign countries to pave the way of much needed comfort and rest for the journey. -- A. B.

'Festival Of Children's Content' - the unique venture by National Book Trust for the childrens on this World Book Day in the city. Sabyasachi Chakraborty inaugurated the event today at Future Foundation School of Kolkata. Publishers' & Booksellers Guild is the co-organiser of this event and a 6-day long book fair is running at Rabindra Sadan. On this occasion, various workshops, inter-school competitions etc. will be organised. The festival will run upto 28 April from 4:30pm to 7pm daily. -- A. B.

Bengali film festival in London for the first time, at Harrow Arts Centre from 18-20 May 2012. Bengali film personalities like Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Rudraneel Ghosh, Paoli Dam, Swastika Mukherjee, Locket Chatterjee, Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and Aneek Dutta will present on the stage. The title, date & time (London time) of the films are:- Balukabela.com : (world premier) Saturday 19 May at 1pm. direction: Partha Sen, *ing Bratya Basu, Parambrata, Shashwata, Locket, Rudraneel. Egaro : Friday 18 May at 7:30pm. Direction:Arun Roy Aparajita Tumi : Saturday 19 May at 4pm. Direction: Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, *ing Prosenjit, Padmapriya, Kamalini. Elar Char Adhyay : Saturday 19 May at 7pm. Direction: Bappaditya Bandyopadhyay, *ing Indraneel, Paoli Dam. Royal Bengal Rahasya : Sunday 20 May at 12pm. Direction: Sandip Roy, *ing Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Bhooter Bhobisyat : Sunday 20 May at 3pm. Direction: Aneek Dutta, *ing Parambrata, Swastika etc. Nobel Chor : Sunday 20 May at

It is summer. And hand-made fans are the hope of fresh air for rural folks. The rural artisans are now busy to make these fine attractive fans with palm leaves at their home. -- A. B.

Hundreds of singers across Bengal performed in the city during the last 10 days. Today is the closing function at Rabindra Sadan, in which more 4 veteran and popular singers of Bengal would be honoured with 'Sangeet Samman' (the honour in the field of music), they are: Juthika Roy, Madhuri Chattopadhyay, Jatileshwar Mukhopadhyay and Hoimanti Shukla. PS: The Honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal felicitated the veteran singers of Bengal this evening with prestigious 'Sangeet Samman' at Rabindra Sadan. The popular singer of yesteryears Juthika Roy expressed her gratitude to receive the honour and sang a line of popular bhajan 'mohe chaakar rakho ji'. Then Madhuri Chattopadhyay sang 3 songs publicly after long time: 'tomai aamai pratham dekha' and 'oli omon kore noi'. Dwijen Mukhopadhyay, Jatileshwar Mukhopadhyay, Banashree Sengupta, Hoimanti Shukla and other artists also rendered several popular songs on requests. On 12 April, the State

90% humidity reigning in Bengal for the last seven days. Summer temperature is normal in Kolkata and above normal in rural areas. But never faced so much humidity in mid-April. Normal life of the city hampering badly due to maximum humidity in the air. The people feeling very tired due to excessive perspiration. The body & soul getting exhaustion and enthu to work fading out. The weather office not seeing any hope to witness immediate rains or mitigation of humidity in the air. The cyclonic depression remained static in the coast of Bangladesh and the humidity bringing the wind from south India. When the western wind will blow, the hot wave will mitigate the humid weather.-- A. B.

The world-famous Baluchari sari of Bishnupur and tant sari of Shantipur & Dhaniakhali owned the patent. The artists in Bengal of these saris now would be benefited. -- A. B.

Statues of Satyajit Roy & U Roy would be inaugurated on 4 May, 2012 at 1pm at their Garpar house. Satyajit Roy's grandfather Upendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury (U Roy) was built the house in the year 1914 at Garpar in North Kolkata in a total area of 16 Kathas. The 3-storied house had a printing press owned by U Roy. There are 14 rooms in the house. Sukumar Roy, father of Satyajit Roy was born at this house and lived at first floor. In 1923, Rabindranath used to sing for Sukumar, beside his sick bed. After death of Sukumar Roy, Satyajit Roy was born in that house. In the year 2001, that house of 100A, Garpar Road was declared as heritage house. In the year 1927, a school was opened in that house named Athennium Institution. And the owner of the school purchased the house in the year 2007 from the owner with the help of many others. Half bust statue of Sukumar Roy was established in the house in 2008 to commemorate his 125 years of birthday. Now, the statues

Various mela or fair run in the first month of Bengal. Some of them: Bhagabati Mela - This fair use to organise in Bengal to pray for a good and auspicious year. Bhadreshwarnath-er Mela - Choitra Neel Sankranti to Boishakh Sankranti - a month-long fair being organise at Shiva temple of Bhadreswar in Hooghly district. Sandeswar-er Mela - This fair is being organised from last ten days of Choitra to first week of Boishakh at the Shiva temple of Chuchura in Hooghly district. Rath-er Mela of Akshoy Tritia - On the auspicious day of Akshoy Tritia, a chariot carrying idol of Annapurna use to go from the temple of Telini Para of Bhadreswar, to the Kangali ghat of river Ganga, where the fair run for the day. Noajon-er Mela - This fair is being organised at the village Natphare near Somra Bazar station of Hooghly district. Lord Shiva is the Noajon. Many palm fruits use to sell here, so the folks also call it Talshanser mela (the fair of palm fruits). -- A. B.