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
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
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
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
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