Bengalis have a special relationship with aloo (poatato). Aloo sheddo bhat (mashed potato and rice) is one of the most sought after Bengali comfort food. Every Bengali kid starts his/her day with a sumptuous meal of aloo sheddo bhat, a practise which i am sure will be frowned upon by health and nutrition experts. It…
Babu Bhai has a frown on his face and he usually sports an expression which suggests that he isn’t happy to see you. He is not an eager host. He will get irritated if you change your order suddenly or if you ask for second helpings. So, before you approach him, you have to make…
Every 90s kid swears by the movie Dil Chahta Hain. It has been 16 years since Dil Chahta Hain was released, but it still holds a special place in the hearts of every kid who grew up in that era. Farhan Akhtar’s Dil Chahta Hain was a like a breath of fresh air, strikingly different…
Kunal Basu’s ‘Kalkatta’ is not like any other book on Calcutta. It is not the story about the City of Joy, which most of us know and cherish. This is not a nostalgic rendition of the charms of a dying city where time stands still and strangers are made to feel at home. This is…
Reminiscing Bengali’s love for tele bhaja: Maach, Mishti & More
I had picked up ‘Cobalt Blue’ absent-mindedly on one of those dull summer evenings, which strike you with its restlessness. However, once I read the first sentence, I knew I won’t be able to put down this book. “That you should not be here when something we’ve both wanted happens is no new thing for…
The beach from a distance is speckled with intermittent dashes of red. A village boy runs up to me and says ‘Didi, would you like me to catch one?’ ‘What are these?’ I ask perplexed. ‘Crabs, didi! Let me get one for you’. Before I could protest, he runs towards the beach, determined to get…
The story of wandering minstrels and local artisans in Shantiniketan
Reminiscing Tagore in his ‘abode of peace’, Shantiniketan
I have been reading Marquez since my first year of graduation, but something about ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ struck a chord and left a lasting impression. Every time I think about this book, I am overwhelmed by a bittersweet sadness and an ensuing feeling of loss. I believe Marquez does that to you and…
Memories of a summer spent in Udaipur
Here is exhibit A: Haleem A thick, creamy stew oozing with the richness of ghee, Haleem is a very popular dish in India. It is a traditional Ramadan delicacy which is served in the evening after the day’s fasting is over. Haleem originated in the Middle East and was very popular in Iran and Afghanistan…
Stories From The Letter Box 