Creative Edge

In August 2021, the world witnessed one of the most dramatic evacuation operations in modern history as thousands of people fled Afghanistan during the rapid political changes that followed the withdrawal of international forces. Amid uncertainty and fear, military transport aircraft became symbols of hope for countless families seeking safety and a new beginning. One of the most remarkable moments of this evacuation involved a massive military cargo aircraft carrying an unprecedented number of evacuees in a single flight. Designed primarily for transporting troops and equipment, the aircraft was instead filled with men, women, and children escaping an uncertain future. People sat closely together on the floor of the aircraft, united by a common desire for security and peace. The flight demonstrated not only the urgency of the situation but also the extraordinary efforts made by military personnel to save as many lives as possible. The evacuation from Kabul marked the end of nearly...

The Calcutta All India Radio Nilima Sanyal. The girl in the Copa Cabana of her life.   I can still hear the crisp, elocution-correct voice coming over the “aajker bishesh bishesh khobor holo” (Today’s Special News) and rattle off in a terse, no-nonsense stream the important facts of the daily news. If you were experienced in picking up the subtle undercurrents of a voice, you might detect the previous night’s cigarettes and whisky beneath the smooth exterior, which finally signed off with: “Khobor porche Nilima Sanyal!” (News Read By Nilima Sanyal).   The voice belonged to my mother’s special girlfriend, the glamorous, sexy Nilima Sanyal who read the Bengali news every day of her life. To us, the three Guha sisters, she was known as Nil Mashi: always warm, gregarious, hot-tempered, fun-loving, exciting and fashionably chic. Exuding charm wherever she went, all men fell for her in ninepins when she shot her sexy, Cleopatra-style eyes at them. Her thin lips, covered with...

Did you know between 1957 and 1976, there was a regular bus service between London and Calcutta, India. The 32,000km, 50 day, 2-way bus route is the longest in the world. The bus had sleeping bunks and even a kitchen! For just £145, you get to travel with food & accommodation. The bus would stop at attractions and for shopping in Vienna, Istanbul & Iran. The bus ride took passengers from England to Belgium, West Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern India. One of the most remarkable yet little-known chapters in travel history was the legendary bus service that operated between London and Calcutta from 1957 to 1976. Often described as the longest bus route in the world, this extraordinary journey covered approximately 32,000 kilometers on a round trip and took around 50 days to complete one way. Operated by adventurous travel companies, the service offered a unique blend of transportation, sightseeing, and cultural exploration...

Ladies and gentlemen, Today, I stand before you inspired by the life and legacy of a remarkable individual whose story reminds us that true greatness is not measured by power or wealth, but by knowledge, courage, and character. The life of Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee is not merely a chapter in history; it is a guiding light for generations that believe education can transform individuals and nations. I speak to you today as Hylton Upshon, with deep respect for a man whose values resonate strongly with my own belief in purposeful learning and human excellence. Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee was born on 29 June 1864 in Kolkata. From a very young age, he displayed an extraordinary love for learning. Books were his companions, curiosity was his strength, and discipline was his foundation. Mathematics fascinated him, but his brilliance was not confined to one subject alone. He went on to study law, becoming a judge, yet even this prestigious position did not limit his vision. He understood that educat...

ALIPORE JAIL MUSEUM It was inaugurated and opened to the public in September 2022. Various prison cells and gallows of notable inmates have been curated for visitors to preserve the memory of those individuals who lost their lives for India to gain its independence. The Alipore Jail or Alipore Central Jail, also known as Presidency Correctional Home, is a prison in Alipore, Kolkata, where political prisoners were kept under British rule. It also housed the Alipore Jail Press. It is no longer in operation as a jail, having been shut down on 20 February 2019. The jail site has been now developed into an independent museum in memory of the martyrs who were imprisoned and executed there. It is also used for the purpose of film shoots. The defunct Alipore Jail has been transformed into a museum, maintained by the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (WBHIDCO). It was inaugurated and opened to the publi...

Where sex is free & love is costly. Where loosing a phone is more painful than losing your sense of humor. Where loosing virginity is less painful than losing morals. Where modernization means nudity. Where money is worthy more than honest and true love. Where if you don't drink/smoke you are old fashioned & out classed. Where boys and girls flirt & pass bad comments on others. Where cheating on your partner is easy as cutting margarine with hot knife just because you are sharp & smart. Where temples are turned into dating points. Where worshipping God is difficult than committing sin. Where lies turned into realities. Where ladies fear pregnancy than H.I.V. Where pizza delivery is faster than emergency response. Where people fear thieves, robbers, terrorists than they fear God. Where outlook & clothes decide the value of a person. Where money is more important than family & friends. Where children are ready to leave their families, for the...

The coronation chair, also known as St. Edward's Chair or King Edward's Chair, is a significant artifact in British history. King Edward I commissioned the chair around 1296 to house the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, which he had captured during his invasion of Scotland. The chair was built between 1297 and 1300 and has been used in the coronation of English and later British monarchs since King Edward II in 1308. The Stone of Destiny is an ancient symbol of Scotland’s monarchy. Historically, it was used in the coronation of Scottish kings. King Edward I took the stone from Scotland in 1296 as a spoil of war, intending to emphasize his claim over Scotland. The stone was incorporated into the coronation chair to symbolize the English monarch's dominion over Scotland. The chair has been used for the coronation of 26 monarchs since Edward II. The monarch sits in the chair with the Stone of Destiny beneath it during the coronation ceremony. The chair i...

Terrace of Queens Mansion, Park Street, Kolkata The heritage committee of Kolkata Municipal Corporation has given the nod to Life Insurance Corporation of India to repair and paint the sprawling Queens Mansion, a grade I heritage structure located at the intersection of Park Street and Russell   Queen's Mansion, formerly Galstaun Mansions, was one of the many buildings made by J C Galstaun. The areas of Mayfair (Road), Queen's Park (Road) and Ballygunge Park, in today's Ballygunge neighbourhood were leased out by Galstaun.   The iconic Queens Mansion on Park Street, offering spellbinding views of the city’s most cherished landmarks. From The 42 to the magnificent Howrah Bridge, Vidyasagar Setu, and more, this heritage building’s terrace became the perfect vantage point for my enchanting adventure.   Queens Mansion, a five-story heritage building, greeted me with open arms as I ascended to its terrace. The moment I set foot on that expansive platform, the citys...

These were the old horse troughs built by the British. Now a reminder of the days long gone, when the Mountain Police etc used to keep order, sitting on their horses and only wielding a baton to control the crowd! There was a ratio 1 mountain police for controlling so many unruly public 50 persons. Forget used to be so impressed when young, hearing the clip clop of the horses when returning from Barra Maiden duty. Later these troughs were used by cows birds etc. no maintenance.   The old horse troughs that can still be found in some hill stations and colonial towns are fascinating reminders of a time when horses were an essential part of everyday administration. Built during the British era, these stone troughs were designed to provide drinking water for the horses ridden by the Mountain Police and other mounted officers. In those days, mounted policemen were a common sight on the roads, maintaining law and order while patrolling markets, public gatherings, and important events...

BISWA BANGLA GATE: KOLKATA’S NEW ICON   Biswa Bangla Gate, popularly known as Kolkata Gate, is the new icon of a rising Bengal, the same way London Eye is for the UK and Eiffel Tower is for Paris.   Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has left no stone unturned in trying to make a new Bengal and not so long ago, she came up with the idea of having a gateway to modern Kolkata, one that would welcome tourists, entrepreneurs, scholars, guests and people of all talent as they landed at the airport and began driving into the city. It would be a gateway so iconic that no one would be left in any doubt that Bengal is rising and the new Bengal is here and now.     HUNT FOR THE PERFECT LOCATION The first and obvious choice for the proposed structure was on VIP Road or Kazi Nazrul Islam Sarani, near Haldiram’s, a prominent landmark food court near the left-turning flyover from the airport, which kind of marked the entry into New Town, but there was hardly any space ...

When a crow feels unwell, irritated, or burdened by parasites, it doesn’t panic. It doesn’t flee. And it doesn’t rely on chance. Instead, it seeks out an ant colony. This behavior, strange at first glance, is one of the most elegant examples of natural intelligence in the animal world. Rather than hunting the ants, the crow deliberately allows them to crawl across its body. What looks like surrender is actually strategy. The crow spreads its wings, lowers itself to the ground, and positions its feathers carefully. It remains mostly still, shifting only slightly, as ants swarm over its body. This is not accidental. The crow knows exactly what it is doing. As the ants move through the feathers, they release formic acid, a chemical they naturally produce as a defense mechanism. For the crow, this substance acts as a powerful, natural disinfectant. Formic acid helps kill bacteria, fungi, mites, lice, and other parasites that can weaken birds over time. It also reduces irritation and may so...

This Day In History June 5 1937 The world's first shopping carts were introduced at Humpty Dumpty grocery stores in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Sylvan Goldman, the Oklahoma grocer who in 1937 invented the shopping cart, had a business problem that was keeping him from increasing what we today would call in-store sales. The women who came to Goldman's grocery stores (and in the thirties, they were mostly women) stopped shopping when their hand-carry baskets were full. I can just imagine Goldman sitting in his office after a long Saturday pondering the problem and thinking “how can I grow my business by making it easier for these women to shop?” With a bigger basket, his customers could buy more things. Since the basket would be too heavy to lift, Goldman put it on wheels, using a folding chair for the frame. His “prototype” was kind of klunky, but Goldman figured it was good enough for a market test. Like most entrepreneurs, Goldman discovered that his target market was hug...

David Sassoon David Sassoon (October 1792 – 7 November 1864) was the treasurer of Baghdad between 1817 and 1829. He became the leader of the Jewish community in Mumbai after Baghdadi Jews emigrated there. Sassoon was born in Baghdad, where his father, Sassoon ben Saleh (1750-1830), was a wealthy businessman, chief treasurer to the pashas (the governors of Baghdad) from 1781 to 1817, and president (Nasi) of the city's Jewish community. The family were Iraqi Jews. His mother was Amam Gabbai. After a traditional education in the Hebrew language, Sassoon married Hannah Joseph in 1818. They had two sons and two daughters before she died in 1826. Two years later he married Farha Hyeem (born 1812 - died 1886). The pair had six sons and three daughters. Following increasing persecution of Baghdad's Jews by Dawud Pasha, the family moved to Bombay via Persia. Sassoon was in business in Bombay...