Don...Again

Thanks to Mr. Mayukh Das for the creation.

Mayukh is a freelance graphic artist based in Kolkata, India and can be reached at mayukh786@gmail.com for any consultancy purposes.

On Losing Side---Yet Again

The morning started in a disappointing note.

Last night I retired from my television set at around 12 o'clock leaving India well placed at 40-plus runs with 9 wickets in hand and with run-a-ball chasing equation. Defending a paltry run on board, I was quite sure that this was not the night of the Proteas and Dhoni's men will at last get a chance to leave the ground on a winning note at the Super 8 stage. It takes only special talents to loose a match from here and the the MSD brigade had just done that.

With many experts owing India's defeat to fatigue and over-exposure to cricket, I beleive it's the sheer callousness of the Indian cricketers that catalysed India's exit from the World T20 championship. Even in yesterday's match, while the South Africans were more interested in converting their ones into twos, most of the Indians fell in the process of hitting over the rope when it was an extravagant option. The skipper himself fell pray to an imaginative run that was never on the card.

Let's hope the team will bounce back in West Indies.

Check Your Social Networking Literacy

If you are a netizen, especially somewhat taken up by the concept of social networking, this is a must read for you.

Week-end Watch: Kshudhito Pashan

I was waiting for this movie to re-release ever since I heard that a copy of Kshudhito Pashan (Hungry Stones) has been found after a long period. Even couple of years ago, watching the Tapan Sinha classic inspired by a Rabindranath Tagore short story seemed like a forlorn hope as it was assumed that like Balika Badhu and Manjari Opera, copies of this masterpiece have also been lost for ever.

The DVD was released on last Friday, I picked it up from Planet M and that started my weekend. The story revolves around ayoung government officer posted in a remore area under Nijam's rule. He decides to stay in an ill-famous archaic palace even after repeated warnings from the people around. Nights after nights, he discovers the cruel chronicles of the palace and ultimately realises that he is also going to face the same fate as that of Meher Ali, a once-inhabitant now-mad resident of the palace with his enigmatic 'Sab jhut hai, tafat jao' blares.

To be frank enough, from the cinematic point of view, Kshudhita Pashan disappointed me. The sript was unlike a Tapan Sinha movie and the narrative seemed too predictable and shoddy. Soumitra was more than outstanding as Mayurbahan in Jhinder Bandi, but here his acting appeared a little subdued to me. However, Radhamohan Bhattacharjee's impeccable Urdu and quotes from Ghalib were simply outstanding. Chhobi Biswas also justified his standard in the small role of a postmaster (his character was not there in the actual story). Arundhati Devi also had very little to do.

The most astounding factor was Ustad Ali Akbar Khan's music. The master musician was at his best in amalgamating Indian classical music with Rabindrasangeet.

Thanks to all the people who made this movie available once again.

Federer's French Revolution

What could have been a better way to end the weekend than watching Roger Federer win the record-equalling 14th Grand Slam and that too with a tournament that had evaded him throughout his career?

Though Roger was never near his best tennis in the final, it was enough to maul Soderling. The world number 23 played good tennis in the 2nd set (and also throughout the tournament) and took it to the tie-breaker, but that was not enough to stop the indomitable Swiss.

Fedex must thank Soderling for making his task easier as it was a final in Roland Garros sans Rafa. Nevertheless, he is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) and will remain so.

Image © FFT

World Environment Day

An educative read on the World Environment Day.

Jai Ho....

'Ane De' (Let them come) was the call from all over the country since the last few weeks. And finally, the d-day has arrived. The MSD brigade is all set to defend their world champion title in the shorter version of the game. With an explosive set of cricketers, ameliorated with the IPL experience, India seems to be the top contender for the cup. The only worrisome factor was the opening combination. How the injury prone Viru and struggling Gauti wouldfare was the concern for every cricket-loving Indian. However, Rohit Sharma's escapades in the practice matches and a decent performance from Gambhir must act as respites for frowning Dhoni.

Best of luck to the experient young brigade.

New Zealand and South Africa are my other favourites for the tournament.

What is your call?

What It Takes To Be A Madam Speaker?

The Congress led UPA has done it again!

After India's first female President, it gifted the world's largest democracy with its first female Lok Sabha speaker and that too with a 'Dalit' tag attached to it. It's no surprise that Congress's bid to create history has drawn flak from different corners of the society. Many are labelling this as a ploy to counter Mayawati. Though for obvious reasons the Congress think tank is not ready to buy the argument and is all set to defend their decision, the appointment is bound to raise a few questions.

Firstly, the word 'Dalit' is often referred in India to denote an oppressed class of the society. Even if Congress's contention of Dalit empowerment is accepted, why not appointing somebody who is not from the upper echelon of the society? Ms. Meira Kumar's background (The daughter of the late Babu Jagjivan Ram decided to enter politics in the 1980s after a successful stint with the Indian Foreign Service and has been elected to the Lok Sabha five times since then) comes nowhere near a really oppressed Dalit.

Secondly, Ms. Kumar appears to be a naive, soft-spoken lady. I am not averse to appointing women to the top constitutional posts if it is based purely on meritocracy. My only fear is given the abusive nature of the representatives of the Indian parliament, will she be a proper replacement for Mr. Somnath 'Headmaster' Chatterjee?

Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, an informative read on the former speakers of Indian parliament.

Love in the Time of Global Worming

It seems that the e-entrepreneurs are never short of ideas, even if the business foundation is based on the trite concepts like social networking and online dating. The latest in the line is EcoDater.

It is an online community targeted at green singles. To be more precise, it is an eco-friendly online dating community. Members include environmentalists, vegans and vegetarians, organic farmers, outdoor enthusiasts, yoga practitioners, activists and much more.

So, if you consider yourself an environment enthusiast and are still single, don't waste your time.

The Smoky Image

31st May was the World No Tobacco Day. Today onwards, cigarette packets are supposed to feature pictorial health warnings. But is that going to dissuade the smokers in any way? Even from smoking in public places?

With much fanfare, a ban was enforced on public smoking in the country in October 2008. Even after that, smokers allover India, have made a mockery of the rule. Though smoking in public vehicles and to some extent in public placeshave reduced considerably, the initiative is yet to get whole-hearted support from the smoke-lovers.What is intimidating is that even the civilised society does not understand the implication of a court ban! In mostof the IT parks in the Salt Lake City, Kolkata, you will find people (most of whom are considered to be the creme de la creme of the society) smoking inside the building premises, which strictly are 'No-smoking' zones. If a court verdict cannoteducate us, what is the guarantee of success of another such initiative? Nevertheless, we should keep on trying.

And here is an advice for our Health Minister Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad from Prahlad Kakkar. The veteran adman in his impeccable style proposes the inclusion of Salman Khan pictures on the cigarette packets. Given the long list of karnamas of the bad boy of the tinselville (he got drunk, killed people on the road, got into umpteen fisticuffs and people still kiss his ass, every time he passes by.), Salman is all what smoking is about, proposes Kakkar.

Sounds good. What you say?

ABCD Online

News for the Feluda-buffs!

A group of die-hard Feluda fans are working on a virtual museum dedicated to the sleuth. Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes museum at 221B Baker Street, London, an eclectic group of Feluda fanatics around the world have come together to form this online repository that contains various Feluda memorabilia including an expensive violin Amatir Bhepu owned by Indranarayan in Bosepukurey Khunkharapi, the journal on parapsychology that Feluda read en route to Jodhpur in Sonar Kella, a clavichord in Samaddarer Chabi, Thomas Godwin's ivory casket in Gorasthane Sabdhan and many more.

Interested to join the bandwagon? You can contribute too!

The first-cut version is available at:

http://felumuseum.tripod.com/