Bioscope

A visit to Dilli Haat took us back down memory lane, where as kids back in 1980s & early 1990s this was a scene from any lane or by-lanes of any Indian town or city. Wonder how many were inspired by this in the past, today just a showcase at the prestigious Dilli Haat.

Never mind we do have the idiot box to snub our kids creativity.

Just another Indian woman

She is around 40, hails from a village in West Bengal where electricity is yet to make its appearance. School was a few days dream for her.  When she was merely out of her teens, she was married off to a stranger from Uttar Pradesh.  She has two kids, a 20- year old daughter and a 10-year old son.  Her husband is an alcoholic and a gambler.  He does not earn a penny, beats her, and throws her out of the house.  She now works as a domestic help, her daughter is suffering from high fever and is lying unattended in UP. Her son is being raised by a kind doctor in the south.

A common Indian story, right?

Not quite.

What makes her special is her indomitable spirit...her thirst for knowledge.  At this age, she uses the little free time she has to learn how to read, write, and do simple calculations.

At one hand she wants to know if airplanes fly by lord shiva in heaven.  On the other, she wants to know how to read the meters in auto rickshaws. she tells her children not to waste time in chatting with friends but to read the news papers instead.  She longs for some love and security but has none. She dreads that she wouldn't even have a place to stay when she grows old. She gets no legal help in that village in UP to get her due as a helpless woman whose husband treats her cruelly. Her family, poor as they are, is in no condition to travel to UP and stand by her while she fights for her rights.

And the last but the most difficult part is that she is physically challenged.  Her auditory capability is next to nil. Without the highest power hearing aid, she will not get to hear the loudest car horns on the busiest Indian roads and might be mowed down by a speeding truck. Her eye sight is also failing.

She wants to get her daughter married but has no dowry to offer.

Her dream is to fly. If only we can help her break the millions-of-years-old shackles of poverty, suppression of women in a male society, and tricks played by nature on her physical capacities.

How can we help?

By getting her some legal aid in fighting for her rights, by trying to get her daughter married without dowry, and by pulling in an organisation or a fund that will help her purchase her hearing aids when needed (priced at 6000 INR at least) and get her a pair of contact lenses.

Spread the word and respond if you or any organisation is ready to support the cause. 

International Woman's Day: A Tribute to an Angel

Miss Helen Daniel

March 8: International Woman’s Day…a day when womanhood is being celebrated in several ways all over the world. On this special day, I could only think of one woman…Miss Helen Daniel. A woman who made so much of differences in so many lives, she is known as Bari (maternal aunt), Boju (grandmother), Chhema (maternal aunt), Phupu (paternal aunt), Didi (elder sister), and Bahini (younger sister) to so many people in so many fond and great ways.

Among her siblings, she was known as Kalo Pothy (the black hen) because she would protect all her siblings with all her might. At the age of 15, she claimed to be of 18 and started her career as part of the British army in colonial India. At the age of 85, she still receives a stipend from the East India Company!

Eventually, she landed up working with the West Bengal Government Health Services as a TB health visitor. At that time, with the stigma associated with a disease such as TB and the risks of working as a health service professional, people wouldn’t easily take up such a job. But Bari did.

She worked and earned and supported families…not only her own, but of people known and unknown. It’s no great wonder that even today, she is remembered, adored, loved and respected by multitude of people all across the globe. In her own words, “I never married…but see…I still have so many children!”

Miss Helen Daniel

Being a single woman, she brought up more children than two mothers of that era could put together. She shaped more lives than she can ever remember; she stood by the known and the unknown in their times of need, sickness and desolation; she showed her inner strength and courage at times when the strongest of the strong would have crumbled. Her love and affection is still found in her radiant smile and gestures. You’d still find her busy all the time on her mobile phone…talking to someone or the other. If you ask, she’d say, “There are so many lonely and old people…if I call, they feel happy. Is there something wrong with that?” Miss Helen Daniel…the savior still of lonely hearts, if not in person but then with the help of technology.

It is true that with age, she has lost some of her physical might. But she still is the same angelic person to the core. She is still trying to live a life for people… if in no other possible ways, then in her prayers.

A woman of substance, she is probably one of those rare women who is called as “ama” (mother) without ever giving birth.

On Woman’s Day, I salute Miss Helen Daniel…my dear Bari…one of those great Indian mango people…who make this world a better place!

New Delhi World Book Fair 2013

In a city where weekend means household work, parties, shopping, or mall hopping…the New Delhi World Book Fair was a welcome break. For bookworms like me, it was almost an enchanted escape to the land of tales!

The Fair was organized by National Book Trust, India, an apex body of the Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development. It was held from February 4 to 10, 2013 at the centrally located Pragati Maidan exhibition grounds, New Delhi.

This year, apart from Indian and international publishers, the New Delhi World Book Fair had France as the Guest of Honor Country. France presented glimpses of the industry and its writings through a large contingent of French publishers. Besides, many authors and scholars from France engaged in discussions and conversations with the Indian counterparts at the many literary programs and professional round tables organized during the New Delhi World Book Fair. The vibrant cultural heritage of France with its music, food, as well as cinema and other cultural performances formed a major component of French presentation.

 New Delhi World Book Fair

The theme of the New Delhi World Book Fair this year was "Indigenous Voices: Mapping India's Folk and Tribal Literature." The diverse expressions of Indian's traditional native cultures, including exhibit of books, traditional art forms, crafts, panel discussions, and performances were showcased.

People from all walks of life and age groups flocked the New Delhi World Book Fair. Some were engrossed in reading up as much as they could; some were spending a nice time with family and friends; some were there to explore what others were exploring; and some others were there to buy books at the best bargains. Honestly, not often would you get a flat discount of 33% on Tintin comics, would you?

It was interesting to see how parents were eager to introduce their children to the pleasure of reading books. Contrary to popular beliefs, we could catch glimpses of loads of kids completely immersed in their books. While some little ones were literally dragging their parents to buy their favorite books, others were proudly showing off their newly acquired 3D books!

 New Delhi World Book Fair: Children Performance

Young couples discussed which books to buy for their future homes…and there were those who were trying to impress their partners by displaying their love for books. Another interesting fact was that on the last day of the fair…food stalls were completely emptied by the throng of hungry crowd! The only options left were tea and ice creams.

Added to the magic of books and food was the cultural arena that acted as an awesome break from the monotonous city life. Enjoying tribal music and dance at the heart of Delhi was more than what we could have asked for at the New Delhi World Book Fair. Just in case, you missed this year’s fair, do visit it next year. For the great Indian Mango People, the New Delhi World Book Fair is kingdom of dreams @Rs.20/- per head.

Just another Ball Game

Satyajit Pal, 16, Bongaon, Dream: To be a footballer; reality: Poor Indian 

Durga Puja, 2012. The city of Kolkata was flooded with lights, love, and laughter… true to its name, The City of Joy. The four days of Puja are of pure festivity…of dressing up in your best, spending time with family and friends, and eating and making merry. 

Especially for the young people, these are the days of freedom and of dreams…the time to be cozy with your partner and, if you don’t have one, to find a pretty face to complete the festive dream.

Amidst this festive high, we spotted Satyajit, carrying his heavy, modern day sandwich board…advertising for a mobile service provider. He is just 16, stays near Bongaon, West Bengal, and is a ninth standard student in a local school.

The boy was out earning money while the entire city was having a ball. For sacrificing each evening’s merry making, he earned Rs. 350. In four days, he would make about Rs. 1400.

On asking why he was carrying this extremely heavy board around when he could have easily taken his girlfriend around, he gave a shy smile and said that he plays soccer and wants to make it to the district selections. For this, he desperately needs a pair of soccer boots and the only way he could buy them was with the money he’d get by carrying this board around. He did not have any of the other required soccer gear; neither did he know how to get them.

His family supports him as much as they can and had asked him to go out and enjoy like the other boys. However, for Satyajit, puja meant soccer and his dream was that of a pair of boots.

We don’t know his current whereabouts, neither do we have any more details. Our only wish is that unlike the thousands of other promising sportsmen, who get lost among the multitude of helpless Indian mango people, the dream of this boy should not be shattered and he should at least get a fair and good shot at realizing his dream of playing for the country.

The saints go marching in!!!

When the saints go marching in, so do men… For the baraat that has gone in and scored a huge and real life brownie point (read as perfect Indian wife & hefty dowry) for the bridegroom, the band that accompanied him finally walks home after a day’s job. They do not get to ride the car got by the bridegroom as a dowry nor any share of the booty… All they get is their daily wage and a little tip to go along with, not enough to ride a public bus too… In their glamorous attire they look a pretty picture, well that is as long as they are playing. These men are skilled enough to be performing together the bollywood blockbusters; however, they do not read music because they do not belong to the privileged lot of people who have had proper training. Most of these men have been born with flair for music and are in the profession mostly as a part time job, as this profession does not have constant flow of income as it is seasonal. Even in the season, it is not a daily affair, so they make ends meet by doing odd jobs.
Hope the saints will be watching over them when they go marching in…

The Best Half

Just another passer by, like many who came, went, and yet to go by… Just another passer by.I am a face that passes by the entrance and exit of Sealdah station every day.Here am I, and not to forget that standing by me is my best half. Yes! She is my third wife and the one I have been married for the longest. More than a decade now…the longest, and still standing tall. The rest had just come and gone by; indeed in those days of youth time just flew by.Yes, in quiet moments, just by myself, I think how uncertain were those moments of life. Crazy were the phases, but then looking back, just one steady ship. Yes again! Indeed the best. The best half.