Behti hui Ganga

Why is it that we always seem to be at loose ends whenever there is a crisis,when we can be reasonably sure,on the basis of past empirical evidence and stats,that the crisis will almost certainly blow over,sooner or later? This posit is probably due to the fact that we underestimate the impact of extraneous factors, over which we have little or no control whatsoever,on our lives. Ultimately, in my opinion, everything seems to boil down to a bit of Bahti huin Ganga mein haath dho lo,laced with a strong belief in Karmayoga for most ordinary mortals (Hindus,that is), like yours truly.

- Biswa Bikash Sen

Movies like "Shall We Dance"

Watching movies like Shall We Dance and love story makes me realise that we Indians are not the only romantic and sentimental types around, and also that all the world loves a lover. When I was younger, and far less travelled, I used to think apart from us, the only ones who were affected by such mushy tearjerkers were the latinos / hispanics. But I know different now. And that knowledge some  how gives me a lot of hope for the future generations. Amen

 - Biswa Bikash Sen

Trouble-Bubble

One of the greatest lessons I have learnt  in life is, To know your own strengths (very few and  far between, in my case) and weaknesses (too many to enumerate,  alas as regards the undersigned). One inevitable corollary of the above truth is, to try and avoid those persons who are consistently proven to be stronger and also more anti-self interests. In this context, a small poem penned on trouble, by a dear and near one in his infant years always seems to spring to mind in adverse circumstances:                      Don't trouble trouble,             Till trouble troubles you,              You only double trouble                 And trouble others too. In other words, I guess: Don't bite off more than you can chew.  PS: Title inspired by the real 'Trouble-Bubble' - Biswa Bikash Sen

Musings about Music

Music has always cast a spell over my senses. Of course, I can not claim to be an expert in musical matters, just a regular guy who likes to immerse  himself in tunes and melodies, rhythm and blues , rock and roll and reggae. Another thing I enjoy even more is commentary and criticism of well informed gurus, on T V and Fm. 

    

We are reliably informed that music and mathematics are symbiotically connected. All I can say is that all human relations need to be built on layers of lovely notes and formulae, probably reducing the outbreak of hostilities at the drop of pins. I remember attending Class IV in a well known Calcutta school, and every pupil had to try and play several instruments - I remember the sitar and tabla ,in both I was a sad sack misfit. But I still maintain it was a lovely initiative on the part of the school authorities to try and soothe the savage beast in us from that very impressionable age.

- Biswa Bikash Sen

Daily Thoughts and Prayers

There is a publication of the Belur Math, Ramakrishna Mission, bearing the title 'Pratidiner Chinta O Prarthana" (or Daily Thoughts and Prayers) this is essentially the Bhagbad Gita, encapsulated on a daily format, very simple translation in Bengali or English , the choice depending on your personal inclination and ability. I have been reading this more or less regularly for about 3/4 years now. But it is only in the last year or so that I have appreciated it to be a management primer, as well as being a spiritual and religious guide and mentor. However, this realisation dawned on me rather slowly, like the morning sun lighting up the sky at daybreak. If you don't catch the the full Wagnerian movement, from all encompassing inky void to blazing orb,you could just miss the joy and beauty of it all. The simplicity and clarity of the language keep your attention from wandering..I personally feel that the Mission should introduce editions in other major Indian languages such as Hindi, Gujrati, Tamil, et al.

- Biswa Bikash Sen

Home Sweet Home

Growing up in a fairly tiny area, upto 10 or so, with parents, and a brother and sister, both younger, in a near claustrophobic lane in North Calcutta, in the late 40s /early 50s, and having to share various urgent common facilities with numerous members of the larger clan, has made me appreciate the utter enchantment of open spaces.

My fathers first posting outside Calcutta, as an Income Tax official, was to then open simplicity of a semi-urban Allahabad, where we lived in a semi-detached 3-storied house with a garden in front and a courtyard at the rear, quite near the fabled Anand Bhavan of the Nehrus. We would make frequent trips to scenic touristy spots, mostly by car.

A short 1 year sojourn, courtesy deputation to the Reserve Bank of India, followed, again in very well-spread out quarters (now demolished to make way for a multistoried monstrosity) opposite the Birlas Laxminarayan Temple in Ballygunge, where we could easily play cricket and football in teams of upto 6 or 7.

Then Father was posted back to the IT department, in lovely Ravindra (or Man) Nagar, next to the now very upmarket Khan Market, with acres of unimaginably beautiful sloping terraces, which we devoured every afternoon and evening in all manners of athletic and other activity. Then again to Allahabad on promotion, and larger quarters near the city's Civil Lines, Allahabad's charming riposte to New Delhi's Connaught Place.

Then, again to Calcutta, before moving on the last transfer to the country's capital, near the seat of supreme legal power. Ultimately, the parents were to both pass away in their own South Delhi residence.

The quarters that Father had been allotted had always been gracious, and also very well located. For this blessing, I must always remember to thank God for His munificence, and Father for his dynamism and winning ways.

Even now, I find it extremely hard to reconcile myself to living in concrete, pigeon-coop highrises, without the reassuring presence of vegetation, especially large, leafy trees, growing in their majesty in solitary splendour. I would rather not live in air-conditioned premises, which I am told, are somewhat unhealthy anyway.

- Biswa Bikash Sen

Movie Review: Kalpurush

Imagine a multi layered cake for the intellectually nimble gourmand, with just the hint of a bitter chocolate leavening. So that the treat does not turn into an unbearably, treacly sweet treat.

By itself, the superbly framed reels would probably have fetched it a must see grade. But the so exquisite locations, the cleverly apt musical interludes, the various utterly down to earth portrayal, (with the carping criticism that Rahul Bose’s Bengali diction does not really fit in with the average Bengalis memories of the North Calcutta upper middle class genteel, poor bhadrolok), the several dexterously interwoven stories; all these and touching interfaces with the Namesake and Apur Sansar make Kalpurush a viewer’s delight.

Perhaps the ideal way to view it would be in several long lazy interludes.



- Biswa Bikash Sen