Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

Today is the 114 birthday of legendary poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. On this occasion, a cultural function will be held at Nazrul Mancha at 5pm and 3-day long (25-28 May) cultural programmes would be held simultaneously at Nazrul Mancha, Rabindra Sadan, Shishir Mancha and Mohor Kunja. Nazrul's writings explore themes such as love, freedom, and revolution; he opposed all bigotry, including religious and gender. Throughout his career, Nazrul wrote short stories, novels, and essays but is best known for his poems, in which he pioneered new forms like Ghazals. Nazrul was an advocate of the emancipation of women; both traditional and non- traditional women were portrayed by him with utmost sincerity.[17] Nazrul's songs are collectively called as Nazrul Sangeet. Nazrul's creativity diversified as he explored Hindu devotional music by composing Shama Sangeet, bhajans and kirtans, often merging Islamic and Hindu values. Nazrul's poetry and songs explored the

Durga puja - 150 days to go. The theme-makers started to take the venture of famous pujas of Kolkata. Sanatan Dinda has taken the job to implement the Durga puja of Barisha Club & 95 Pally Jodhpur Park. Both of them are of south Kolkata puja. Subodh Roy has taken the charge of Nalin Sircar Street puja. Theme-maker of this year's Tridhara Sammilani puja is Gouranga Kuilya. Dipak Ghosh taking the charge of Ballygunge Purba Pally puja. Amal Sarkar taking the job of Behala Natun Dal Durga puja. Anirban Das for Dum Dum Park Tarun Dal this year, Somnath Mukherjee (he has taken the charge of 6 Durga pujas this year) at Sanghasri. Mudiali in the competition this year and Sushanta Paul taking the charge. Shibshankar Das remained at Chakraberia Sarbajanin. Purnendu Dey also remained for Badamtala Ashar Sangha and Rajdanga Nabodaya Sangha. -- A. B.

This year Padma's hilsa would decorate dishes of Bengal's Jamai. Next Sunday Jamaisasthi. And today, 250-275 MT of silvery hilsa or ilish of river Padma of Bangladesh entered in the markets of Bengal. Jamaisasthi means ilish - ilish paturi, sorse ilish, bhapa ilish, doi ilish. Before the year 2008, Kolkata and other parts of Bengal used to relish ilish of Padma much. But, since three years, we're not getting much hilsa of Bangladesh owing to excessive taxes imposed on import of hilsa. -- A. B.

A 'Gateway of Kolkata' would be set up at the abandoned KoPT cargo sheds near the iconic Howrah bridge. The work is in progress as seen in this picture. -- A. B.

High-voltage IPL match tonight in Pune, between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils. Both the team eager to get the passport to go final. Delhi won 11 matches and Kolkata 10, but Delhi defeated Kolkata at Eden first and the match was disturbed by rains. Later Kolkata has taken sweet revenge in Delhi. And one thing is clear - both the team are determined to win and KKR depending on Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan and Abdulla. -- A. B.

Beautification work of the river bank of Kolkata started last year. And the first phase of the project, covering a one-km stretch along the river from Babughat to the Millennium Park is now ready to be inaugurated on 24 May at 6pm by the chief minister of West Bengal. The original plan covers a 10 km stretch along the river's Left Bank from Pramamik Ghat at Baranagore in the north to Dahi Ghat in the Garden Reach in the city's southern fringes, it was decided at the meeting that the initial work would be taken up on a one kilometre stretch from Babughat to the Millennium Park. The project, called 'Hooghly River Front Development, Kolkata,' envisages setting up of a cultural node in the northern end and a nature retreat, along with development of the jetties at the Fairlie Ghat, Millennium Ferry Ghat, Babu Ghat and Outram Ghat. Besides, it also includes setting up a 'Kolkata Square,' an open air theatre and a 'Water Shrine' alon

NGO Green Tycoon organised a unique anti-spitting campaign on Howrah Bridge on Saturday. Volunteers made people aware of consequences of spitting tobacco on the bridge. They also collected signatures from passers by, who took oath to never spit on the bridge again. The signatures would be forwarded to prime minister of India, West Bengal chief minister and officials of Kolkata Port Trust. -- A. B.