a memoir of etchings and wanderings
Sisters are a blessing. I imagine if I had one of my own, I’d never feel the need of a best friend. As far as memory takes me, the word always made me think of Pooja. She’s my first cousin and I met her once a year while on summer holidays. Those memories will last me a lifetime. Spending afternoons listening to the radio and giggling. Devouring watermelon and pomegranate … Continue reading “The Nikaah.” →
Where do you come from? What do you look back to? What will you always remember? After a lot of years have passed. Let us go back. To the times. To the dreams. To the careless laughter. To bruised knees. To the sound of waves. And memories. Roots are important. They define you. That’s why its important to go back to them From time to time. *** आओ, उसे याद … Continue reading “Roots” →
I’m often told that Bengali is such a beautiful language. Easy to understand. Sweet on the ears. Although, the ‘mother’ tongue is essentially Punjabi, my mother is fluent in Bengali as well. And my parents have done such a fabulous job passing it on to me. At a point of time, I could read and write effortlessly as well – but then one day I wrote Bengali in my Hindi … Continue reading “Native” →
Today is Mahalaya. The invoking of life in the idol of Goddess Durga. The beginning of what will be an entire week, followed by a hangover of a month of festivities. Today is the one day when almost everyone is awake at the break of dawn. Probably the only day when the people of Bengal tune into AIR to listen to Mahisashur Mardini by Birendra Krishna Bhadra and quietly hum … Continue reading “Almost Pujo” →
I concur with Mr. Marley. I feel this more than ever because the childhood has been stripped of it. People around me cringe at the sight of an overcast or the rumbling of thunderclouds. The joy I feel is beyond description. So when I stepped out in Calcutta today and it rained cats and dogs, I could not help myself from flinging away the umbrella and soaking up the showers. … Continue reading “Drenched!” →