Long categorized as conservative metropolis, at last we have found the burrow of emancipation after a long decade of revolution, to articulate our voice loud & clear. Kolkata is going to have its first ever FASHION WEEK! Top 35 models of the country will be sashaying down the ramp for designers of international repute like Bibi Russell, Ritu Kumar, Narendra Kumar, Mona Pali, Zubair Kirmani, Manoviraj Khosla, Sharbari Dutta, Abhishek Dutta, Anjana Bhargav, Marg and Dev R Nil, amongst others. No prize for guessing that it is going to be the ostentatious fashion gala, kolkata has ever experienced!
A change in stance & approach of fashion can be traced some years ago…with the starting of shopping mall culture. We moved over from new market, hati bagan or gariahat market to Shoppers Stop, Pantaloons or Westside in Forum, City center. This change in life style led to the emergence of boutiques of renowned fashion designers like Ritu Beri, Monapali or brand name like Hidesign. We began to shift from roadside shopping to everything-under-one-roof shopping carnival. That time globalization led to the emergence a new stratum of middle class people, who were strongly affected by the growing trend of consumerism. Business folks began to take grip over the virgin fashion market of kolkata.
From the last few years the growing numbers of shopping malls, pubs & lounge bars can be viewed as a silent cataclysm towards modernization. Started by Forum now we have City center, mani square, south city mall in the list, where you can find a new genus of Bengali! The crowd is out & out different from the one we have always imagined about ‘bheto’ Bengali…
Till now our very own designers like Sharbari Dutta, Abhishek Dutta, Sabyasachi Mukherjee had to showcase their designs on national platforms like Lakme India fashion week or Wills fashion week, but now time has come for us to enjoy their creation on the ramp of our very own city! Who knows may be some day we could be compared with Milan or Paris…cheers!!
My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Virtual Campaigning....
With election in around the corner our hard working, greatly devoted politicians are all ready to rock the ballot box with new campaign ideas in their stores! Few weeks ago I got the opportunity to experience one of the latest ideas of election campaign designed by Narendra Modi -Gujarat: the power house, distributed in free of cost with one of the leading English magazines of the nation, India Today. Those days were gone when these grey headed folks used to come down to the streets with a huge mike & never ending speeches including bunch of promises which incited series of forged hopes among us. In this cyber age we can reach the candidates we like with one click of the mouse…politicians are truly getting net savvy!
There was a time when youth didn’t have even the slightest interest in politics & election …but with the materialization of the consent named ‘Media’, we the young generation are gaining interest in the political system of the nation at large. We are bombarded with awareness building messages from electronics media, one of the successful of them is the Tata Tea advertisement which says, ‘Jaago Re’…even the Mtv which is considered as the youth icon channel is also promoting ‘Jaago Re’ in their show ‘Wats Up Youngistan! Why they are paying such magnitude on this issue?? Is it only because the youth need to be aware about the election procedure? Or there is other side of the story as well?
Considering the new trends in election campaign that is gaining popularity now days, it is discernible that politicians are now hankering for the youth vote bank. In the past it was almost impossible for the young generation even to know the profile about the candidates in detail…they were unaware about the party policies & ideologies. As a result very few of them sought to participate in the election process. But with more coalition Government... with more regional parties burgeoning from different states, our politicians have realized the necessity to incorporate youth in the election to secure vote banks.
Being in a country with such a complex system structure, every Indian should have enough knowledge about elections & every political party…but our Govt.’s sole concern definitely isn’t to increase only our awareness!! Since India's current demographic profile is heavily loaded in the favor of youth, more than 50 per cent of India's population is below the age of 25, politicians have realized the importance of youth participation to ensure sheer success.
As a result, politicians like Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram & many more have launched their websites which include upcoming policies & programs of their parties, their vision & goals. Recently a news on Headlines Today shows that people from around the world are visiting these websites in large numbers…& websites of these leaders are giving tough competitions to Celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan or Amir Khan!!
But this is yet to see how far all these efforts could ensure their vote banks in reality…
There was a time when youth didn’t have even the slightest interest in politics & election …but with the materialization of the consent named ‘Media’, we the young generation are gaining interest in the political system of the nation at large. We are bombarded with awareness building messages from electronics media, one of the successful of them is the Tata Tea advertisement which says, ‘Jaago Re’…even the Mtv which is considered as the youth icon channel is also promoting ‘Jaago Re’ in their show ‘Wats Up Youngistan! Why they are paying such magnitude on this issue?? Is it only because the youth need to be aware about the election procedure? Or there is other side of the story as well?
Considering the new trends in election campaign that is gaining popularity now days, it is discernible that politicians are now hankering for the youth vote bank. In the past it was almost impossible for the young generation even to know the profile about the candidates in detail…they were unaware about the party policies & ideologies. As a result very few of them sought to participate in the election process. But with more coalition Government... with more regional parties burgeoning from different states, our politicians have realized the necessity to incorporate youth in the election to secure vote banks.
Being in a country with such a complex system structure, every Indian should have enough knowledge about elections & every political party…but our Govt.’s sole concern definitely isn’t to increase only our awareness!! Since India's current demographic profile is heavily loaded in the favor of youth, more than 50 per cent of India's population is below the age of 25, politicians have realized the importance of youth participation to ensure sheer success.
As a result, politicians like Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram & many more have launched their websites which include upcoming policies & programs of their parties, their vision & goals. Recently a news on Headlines Today shows that people from around the world are visiting these websites in large numbers…& websites of these leaders are giving tough competitions to Celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan or Amir Khan!!
But this is yet to see how far all these efforts could ensure their vote banks in reality…
Sunday, February 22, 2009
wayward education!
Political pestilence has again intercepted developmental process in Bengal, this time Bengal Engineering & Science University of shibpur is on the hit list. The Ministry of Human Resources Development of the Government of India proposed that, it would elevate the 150 year old prestigious technical institute of the country to the status of an Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), as proposed by both the S.K. Joshi & Anandakrishnan committee. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya has promptly tried to grant permission from the Central Govt. for this purpose. The Human Resources Development expressed their suspicion about competency of the administration of BESU by taking into account the last instances of skirmish in the university campus. All of us are more or less aware about the ongoing discontent that took place in the BESU in several times since the year 2005…assault in the campus, bolted educational process, ragging, political concussion…one after another!
I’m not here to state the same information we got to see on TV channel or in newspapers, my endeavor is to pen down my take on the issue. We had to loose the Nano project because of the very state of fretting political condition of Bengal…& now BESU has became another strongest competitor who could make itself into this majestic list, as another example of political enmity. A major part of the present administrator of BESU is the supporter of the ruler party of Bengal, where as almost 75% working teachers are against the state Govt. Therefore it is alleged that often the teachers used the students against the administrators to vent their spleen.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharya tried all possible measures last year to make the International Film Festival successful, when intellectuals of the city started series of protest against violence in Nandigram & banned the festival to show their confrontation against the State Govt. At that time we have seen Bhattacharya’s Govt. in paramount action to uphold the culture & heritage of Bengal in international forum. But why they weren’t as active in the case of BESU?
No question can be raised on the quality of education that BESU provides in the field of Science & Engineering…but if BESU wouldn’t be able to acquire the status if IIEST, whose fault it would be? The university authority? The students? The teachers? The opposition party? Or, the ruling party? History says students’ politics has been the obstacle in education at college or university level…politicians has always used perseverance of students in their interest…& we were always at the receiving end! Was not it our Govt.’s responsibility to resist the disorder that took place the university campus of BESU in the past few years? For a university that is among the first ranking Engineering colleges of the nations, such complain of indiscipline is appalling for all of us.
I’m not here to state the same information we got to see on TV channel or in newspapers, my endeavor is to pen down my take on the issue. We had to loose the Nano project because of the very state of fretting political condition of Bengal…& now BESU has became another strongest competitor who could make itself into this majestic list, as another example of political enmity. A major part of the present administrator of BESU is the supporter of the ruler party of Bengal, where as almost 75% working teachers are against the state Govt. Therefore it is alleged that often the teachers used the students against the administrators to vent their spleen.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharya tried all possible measures last year to make the International Film Festival successful, when intellectuals of the city started series of protest against violence in Nandigram & banned the festival to show their confrontation against the State Govt. At that time we have seen Bhattacharya’s Govt. in paramount action to uphold the culture & heritage of Bengal in international forum. But why they weren’t as active in the case of BESU?
No question can be raised on the quality of education that BESU provides in the field of Science & Engineering…but if BESU wouldn’t be able to acquire the status if IIEST, whose fault it would be? The university authority? The students? The teachers? The opposition party? Or, the ruling party? History says students’ politics has been the obstacle in education at college or university level…politicians has always used perseverance of students in their interest…& we were always at the receiving end! Was not it our Govt.’s responsibility to resist the disorder that took place the university campus of BESU in the past few years? For a university that is among the first ranking Engineering colleges of the nations, such complain of indiscipline is appalling for all of us.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
political hindrance
Their social & political morality now has shifted from the rights of am janata to pollution! In the last epidemic in Singur they cried for justice of the local farmers…in the latest hurly-burly regarding two wheeler auto bans they were again against LPG autos & puffed up the issue of air pollution. But now with general election is round the corner, our very own dearest Mamata Banerjee is again in action & this time the proposed chemical hub in Nayachar is on her hit list. At last this chemical Hub made the impossible thing possible…it has turned Ms. Banerjee ,the ‘liberator of working class’ into ‘environment friendly’!
Such unscrupulously self seeking metamorphic political ideology is the sole reason of consumptive development of Bengal. This never ending conflict between the state Govt. & the opposition party to secure their vote bank is incarcerating the pace of development. Ms. Banerjee’s protest rally has stopped the expedition against two stroke autos. On top of everything, the scar of Tata Motors is still alive.
It has been claimed by Trinamool Congress party that the proposed Chemical Hub in Nayachar would confiscate earning of more than five lakh fisher men reside in South Bengal & the chemicals of that very Hub would make the water polluted, where as Govt. Officials said that very few fisher families dwell in the main proposed land. But that doesn’t make any difference for the oppositions.
They have decided to create encumbrance to the imminent endeavour of industrial development in Bengal all over again. This will give fuel to increasing number of unemployment in the state. On one side economic melt down & on the other hand political divergence…Bengal is going through hard times!!
Such unscrupulously self seeking metamorphic political ideology is the sole reason of consumptive development of Bengal. This never ending conflict between the state Govt. & the opposition party to secure their vote bank is incarcerating the pace of development. Ms. Banerjee’s protest rally has stopped the expedition against two stroke autos. On top of everything, the scar of Tata Motors is still alive.
It has been claimed by Trinamool Congress party that the proposed Chemical Hub in Nayachar would confiscate earning of more than five lakh fisher men reside in South Bengal & the chemicals of that very Hub would make the water polluted, where as Govt. Officials said that very few fisher families dwell in the main proposed land. But that doesn’t make any difference for the oppositions.
They have decided to create encumbrance to the imminent endeavour of industrial development in Bengal all over again. This will give fuel to increasing number of unemployment in the state. On one side economic melt down & on the other hand political divergence…Bengal is going through hard times!!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
stark reality...
The most extolled film of the year…the Golden Globe award winner & Oscar nominated ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ made me feel perturbed & affronted!
The story of a slum dog to become millionaire overnight was inspirational enough, but Mr. Danny Boyle used the ominous side of India with dexterity to grab the critic’s eye ball…which I personally don’t support.
Here in India at least people have slums for accommodation, where as in USA, people stand beside the road for help with a placard in hand,’ homeless’ written on it. Every country built high rise buildings over the ashes of poor & distressed people…we are not an exception! We don’t have enough money, but we don’t cheat people in the name of ‘Mineral water’. It was loathsome where the child protagonist was beaten by police & told the American couple that it’s the face of ‘Real India’…then the Americans gave him a dollar as compensation, to give the boy an idea about ‘REAL USA’! How many Indians support with this? In fact, I think Iran or Afghanistan could depict the ‘REAL’ picture of America in a more ‘REAL’ manner!
Child labor, prostitution, slums, unhygienic society, indigence, poverty… everything is true indeed, but the way this has been used in this film to lure audience abroad was wrong. They knew critics would love this backward face of India instead of the developed side which we have achieved within only 62 years of independence! Perhaps this is the reason why Taree Zamin Par couldn’t win the Oscar, since dyslexia is nourished by richer countries like UK & USA & here we fed up disease like Polio or malnutrition & critics wanted to see that ‘REAL’ face of India!!
This film is a filthy way to show where we stand. Life here isn’t as magnificent as its been depicted in Yash Raj or Karan Johar movies…I agree; but I somberly disagree with the way our futility was used by this British Film maker.
The story of a slum dog to become millionaire overnight was inspirational enough, but Mr. Danny Boyle used the ominous side of India with dexterity to grab the critic’s eye ball…which I personally don’t support.
Here in India at least people have slums for accommodation, where as in USA, people stand beside the road for help with a placard in hand,’ homeless’ written on it. Every country built high rise buildings over the ashes of poor & distressed people…we are not an exception! We don’t have enough money, but we don’t cheat people in the name of ‘Mineral water’. It was loathsome where the child protagonist was beaten by police & told the American couple that it’s the face of ‘Real India’…then the Americans gave him a dollar as compensation, to give the boy an idea about ‘REAL USA’! How many Indians support with this? In fact, I think Iran or Afghanistan could depict the ‘REAL’ picture of America in a more ‘REAL’ manner!
Child labor, prostitution, slums, unhygienic society, indigence, poverty… everything is true indeed, but the way this has been used in this film to lure audience abroad was wrong. They knew critics would love this backward face of India instead of the developed side which we have achieved within only 62 years of independence! Perhaps this is the reason why Taree Zamin Par couldn’t win the Oscar, since dyslexia is nourished by richer countries like UK & USA & here we fed up disease like Polio or malnutrition & critics wanted to see that ‘REAL’ face of India!!
This film is a filthy way to show where we stand. Life here isn’t as magnificent as its been depicted in Yash Raj or Karan Johar movies…I agree; but I somberly disagree with the way our futility was used by this British Film maker.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Mirage of Hope!
In inspirational inaugural address after being sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, Mr. Obama told the nation: "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America."…."Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.” Enthronement of the first black president Barack Hussein Obama marked the new era of development & prosperity for America.
Honestly, Obama’s inauguration speech is not my matter of interest...as an Indian I was hoping for some change in America’s foreign policy, which will be beneficial for India. But as the new administration has unveiled its bilateral relationships with Japan, South Korea & Australia, but not India…I was disappointed. You have seen live telecast of his inaugural session directly from US…his presidential election has been of your interest from last year…you are as happy as any other Americans when he won the seat of US President. But how this change in White House will affect our lives? After Indo US Nuke Deal though it can be said that relation between India & America are smooth now…in fact in the last Mumbai terror attack we have got assistance & cooperation from US to tackle Pakistan sponsored terrorism. But The Agenda – foreign policy, of Obama & Biden led us to devise since it says “they will maintain strong ties with allies like Japan, South Korea & Australia” with no mention of India. One good news is that America has a broad agreement with India for global nuclear disarmament, to stop development of nuclear weapons. As well as they deal with countries like Pakistan & Afghanistan to strengthen security worldwide. But the issue of Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regarding India is still on hold, while White House has strong support for this in the context of North Korea & Iran.
And this is yet to see if the new President will use his veto power in United Nations Security Council for permanent membership of India, since experts says that Brazil, Germany, India & Japan are the most strongest competitors.
Honestly, Obama’s inauguration speech is not my matter of interest...as an Indian I was hoping for some change in America’s foreign policy, which will be beneficial for India. But as the new administration has unveiled its bilateral relationships with Japan, South Korea & Australia, but not India…I was disappointed. You have seen live telecast of his inaugural session directly from US…his presidential election has been of your interest from last year…you are as happy as any other Americans when he won the seat of US President. But how this change in White House will affect our lives? After Indo US Nuke Deal though it can be said that relation between India & America are smooth now…in fact in the last Mumbai terror attack we have got assistance & cooperation from US to tackle Pakistan sponsored terrorism. But The Agenda – foreign policy, of Obama & Biden led us to devise since it says “they will maintain strong ties with allies like Japan, South Korea & Australia” with no mention of India. One good news is that America has a broad agreement with India for global nuclear disarmament, to stop development of nuclear weapons. As well as they deal with countries like Pakistan & Afghanistan to strengthen security worldwide. But the issue of Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regarding India is still on hold, while White House has strong support for this in the context of North Korea & Iran.
And this is yet to see if the new President will use his veto power in United Nations Security Council for permanent membership of India, since experts says that Brazil, Germany, India & Japan are the most strongest competitors.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Vapoury politics
Bengal has become the ultimate precedent of anti amelioration political culture. It seems that our political leaders are more concerned about the working class than the leaders of other metro cities. Perhaps our sensible leaders think that pollution can be controlled by calling more strikes in a month! It’s strange to see that these people are so engrossed in securing their vote banks that they don’t even bother about us. Every other city has seen protest & violence to ban auto pollution but our State Govt. is unable to handle the same thing & has pleaded helplessness. I wonder, in the issue of Singur we have seen violence on a larger level but that time Govt. was stick to its place, but why this time they surrendered themselves so easily?
Our administration is incapable of maintaining law & order in the state & wide range of protest has now become symbolical while implementing a court order in the city (take the issue of Book Fair venue for another example). Apart from that, Kolkata doesn’t have enough LPG outlets. Merely 12 outlets are there where as the target was 75, what was the Govt. doing since July 18? Preparing for Film Festival?
I’m not in the favor of any of the parties. The CM, who once said that at first he is the member of Alimuddin St., we can’t expect him to get above from party politics since he, himself have accepted that for him party comes first. But being a cultural & educated leader he should realize the adverse effect of pollution, which will affect the auto drivers more than any body else. On the other hand, our Didi, who considers her party, is for the people of grass root level, for whom we had to bid ‘good bye’ to the Nano project, is back to her form. She has become synonymous with anti development in Bengal.
Destruction of public property, blood shed, strikes, political procession….doesn’t protect interest of auto drivers. At the end of the day, its poor people who suffer from pollution the most.
Our administration is incapable of maintaining law & order in the state & wide range of protest has now become symbolical while implementing a court order in the city (take the issue of Book Fair venue for another example). Apart from that, Kolkata doesn’t have enough LPG outlets. Merely 12 outlets are there where as the target was 75, what was the Govt. doing since July 18? Preparing for Film Festival?
I’m not in the favor of any of the parties. The CM, who once said that at first he is the member of Alimuddin St., we can’t expect him to get above from party politics since he, himself have accepted that for him party comes first. But being a cultural & educated leader he should realize the adverse effect of pollution, which will affect the auto drivers more than any body else. On the other hand, our Didi, who considers her party, is for the people of grass root level, for whom we had to bid ‘good bye’ to the Nano project, is back to her form. She has become synonymous with anti development in Bengal.
Destruction of public property, blood shed, strikes, political procession….doesn’t protect interest of auto drivers. At the end of the day, its poor people who suffer from pollution the most.
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