Creative Edge

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...

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...

The list is endless for childhood places and the memories built around it. Kharagpur was just that beloved city where the memories linger long after one has left for other abodes.   The first is the home I grew up in: Timeless memories circle around my head. My parents, relatives, neighbors, friends, school the school teachers. Then come the feelings:   Listening to the radio, reading books, walking to libraries, eating at fabulous restaurants, like Waldorf  and Far east.   Then comes the childhood places you visited numerous times: Paying obeisance to temples and churches. One was the Kali Temple. The goddess Kali looked gigantic with her golden tongue out, mischievous grin in a child’s eyes. And the church at Sacred Heart  with its quietude and hushed silence. Jesus Christ at the cross solemnised a child’s faith.   Going to the ”Cinema Cinema” greatest entertainment! Some went to the movies to get away from the oppressive hea...

The dark coldly air conditioned restaurant was the best place to walk into from a hot summer lou breezed shimmer heat. To escape the fierce summertime afternoons of Calcutta. As you stepped in: the sound of the deep saxophone, the muted tone of the unusually tall bass guitar, the drums in a a single soft beat, cymbals of the drummers chiming and the soft skillfully played beautiful piano sounds would envelope your ears. It would be totally silent after that… a couple of seconds later the soft sound of the Maraca, or Rumba Shaker or Chac-Chac would be heard. It was as if thousands of little pebbles were getting gently shaken up inside a cocktail shaker filled with liquid and tiny ice particles. There she was Delightful Delilah. Dressed to kill! Wearing a summer body shift short dress. Long legged. Absolutely larger than life beautiful copy of Marilyn Monroe. Blonde hair swept up tied up in a ponytail.   Holding the Maracas shaking them gently and deftly. The Rhumba Shakers wer...

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...

THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THE EAST TO THE WEST AND CHANGED GOA FOREVER VASCO DA GAMA Vasco da Gama is a Portuguese explorer widely credited with the discovery of an oceanic route linking Europe and India in 1498. He was the first European to reach India by sea, and his voyage to the East marked the beginning of an era of maritime imperialism by European powers in Asia. Da Gama's journey to India had a profound impact on the history of the region. It opened up trade routes between Europe and India, which allowed Portugal to dominate the lucrative spice trade in the region. At the same time, it enabled the Portuguese to spread Christianity throughout Asia and to expand their colonial empire in the region. The Portuguese, under Da Gama's leadership, also established their base in Goa, India. Goa was the first Portuguese colony in Asia, and it would remain under Portuguese control until 1961. During this period, the Portuguese introduced numerous innovations to the region, such as ...

Raja -Who is a superhero? Kavita - A superhero is somebody who saves lives, it is as simple as that.   Raja - Have you met a real life superhero? Kavita - No, but I would like to meet one.   Raja - Ok, then let me introduce you to Ambulance Dada, a real life superhero.   Kavita - By the way Raja, why is he called "Dada", is he a Gunda?   Raja - No, he is not a Gunda, but a social worker from Dhalabari in North Bengal. He is called Dada out of affection and endearment.   Kavita - Ok, Raja, then tell me more about Ambulance Dada.   Raja - He is from Dhalabari, a small town in North Bengal, famous for its tea gardens and Gorumara forest range.   Kavita - I am really intrigued now, so tell me about this social worker?   Raja - He is a school dropout who has saved more than 7000 lives since 1998.   Kavita - I wonder how did his journey begin?   Raja - It all began with an unfortunate event when he l...

Who is a Superhero? A superhero is somebody who saves lives   Does superhero require a cape and a mask? Honestly, no!   What we need to do? Don’t waste time Complaining /instead take the initiative to solve problems Ordinary people can also become superheroes, what they require is will and courage to do the impossible. Let’s look at somebody who has done it by himself.   Who Is Ambulance Dada? KarimulHaque, 57, was the third of his parents' six children and was born in Dhalabari. His mother and father were agricultural laborers, so he dropped out of school early to work odd jobs at a local tea garden. According to BiswajitJha, a former journalist who authored a biography of Haque two years ago, "He, perhaps, studied until Class III." Jha's book, Bike Ambulance Dada: The Inspiring Story of KarimulHaque (Penguin India, 2021), chronicled Hak's journey as a humanitarian driven to aid the underprivileged and destitute. The book received its first ...

The Pointed End was used for locks on churches in the 1800's. The rounded had a hole because a string would go throught it and the priest would have it on his belt for locking up the churches or unlocking the doors of the churches. Later the rear round end was used to open soda or beer bottles. And later beer came in tin and aluminum cans and other fruit drinks in larger cans and the pointed end made a hole and let the pressure out at one end and then drink. The tool you are describing is commonly known as a church key , a small metal implement whose form and purpose evolved over time. Long before it became associated with beverages, similar pointed and looped metal tools were carried by clergy, sextons, and caretakers of churches during the 18th and 19th centuries. These tools were often worn on a belt or tied with a string through a hole so they would not be lost. While they were not true keys for large church door locks—which required heavy iron keys—they were used for practical...

Know who Lachet Barfukan is? His name is wrapped in the history of the famous Saraighat war. Let's know the story of a brave warrior living far away from the pages of history. In 1671 the war of Saraighat was between Mughal and Ahm Empire. Which was once located on the bank of the Brahmaputra river, is currently located in Guwahati city. This war is as important on the pages of history, as the fight between Haldighat or Jhansi. Because this fight took place on waterways and grounds. The Ego Empire was introduced in 1228 AD, and this empire lasted until 1826. The Ahm Empire lasted almost 600 years. The wheel of this empire was rolled by a king named Sukfa. He came from the Shan Province of Myanmar. The place is basically located in the eastern region of Myanmar. They came crossing the Potkai mountain. This empire expands with time. The ego state expansion was across the coast of Brahmaputra. State capital also changed with time, sometimes Gorgaon, sometimes Jorhat. In the Midd...