This is the story of "&"

“You must give everything to make your life as beautiful as the dreams that dance in your imagination.” 
― Roman Payne

I had grown up seeing my mother as a successful homemaker. She looked after all of ours’ needs, as if she was well versed in telepathy. Before we could utter a word, the need was satisfied. I used to wonder how she could single-handedly manage all daily household chores. My father and all of us had weekly leaves but she had none.

As I grew up she became my best buddy. We were each others’ confidant. And sometimes in the solitude of a lonely night she would confess her secrets of deep anguish. She wanted to be a teacher. But my grand mother had given her a choice of family OR career. She chose us over her dreams. My aunt on the contrary was determined to pursue her work life along with family. Though I was too young then, but today I know she must have done justice to all her responsibilities. However her family never appreciated her efforts. Her sincere efforts were responded with apathy and insensitivity. Her only fault was she chose “&” over “OR” for her life, for her existence.

I want to fly high

Today is another era, an era of globalization, an era of virtual relationships and an era of (so called) women liberalization. But as a woman do you feel liberated? Do I feel liberated of the societal norms of the bourgeois society? I doubt! It’s true, that the woman of today handle meetings and client presentations as efficiently as she cooks a delicacy in the kitchen. She smilingly takes humongous responsibilities at office, along with looking after a household.  She is dancer, a writer, a social butterfly as well as a doting mother. The “&” has slowly moved into her existence. But yet is she liberated? Her dream is more serene, it’s pure, it’s volatile and it’s divine.

I can touch the sky- a lady pilot

“Where dainty fairies fly with their wings wide open,

Where lush greenery has no end, where all rules are broken!

Where cows loiter around, with bells around their neck,

Where phoenix of imagination, rises from a wreck!

That’s the land, where my story belong,

Where the essence of living is felt life long”

                                                                      Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

I emote through my creativity- a dancer

The world today is modern, yet toll of heinous crimes like rape, domestic violence and sexual abuse is witnessing a record high. A working a woman needs to travel, she needs to return home late for completion of work, but she is bound by the fetters of unsafe society condition. Who is responsible for this condition, the government or we? There is no answer. A corporate woman looks classy and attractive in her attire. But she feels unsafe to wear such clothes, if some bunch of hooligan laid their dirty eyes on her, even the heads of the intellectual society may start judging her from the length of her skirt.

Stop this abuse

The world today is modern, yet even after having a long day at office, a quarrel with her senior and unbearable work pressure, the woman is expected to make tea for her husband. And if she is in a joint family, the responsibilities are much more. Afterall it’s her own choice to add an “&” to her life. She has to face the dire consequences of that “&”.

The world today is modern, a woman is flying an aircraft, she is a successful scientist, she is a painter, she is a writer and she is also a homemaker. And obviously she has stresses in life, equivalent or may be more than her male counter parts. Yet our modern society does not take her letting loose positively, her boozing or smoking (alcohol intake and smoking are injurious to health) are signs of derailment. But the same activities are a man thing. 

Sometimes I actually feel the modernisation is a pseudo one, long ago Goddess Sita had given “Agni Pariksha” to prove her sanctity and even today the examination continues. But does the parochial society stop, me or you from adding that most desired “&” or “&”s to our lives? The answer is “NO”. Let the society put more obstacles, we are ready to take more challenges and ready to rock the world. As long as Amelia Earharts, Junko Tabeis, Arundhati Roys are there to show us the path to success, we are not going to let the society or even the family to exchange our “&s” for “Ors”.

Arundhati Roy

For me “Or” was never a consideration. My life cannot be one dimensional. While I am a chemical engineer by profession and give loads of importance to my career, I have other passions to pursue. I am an ardent reader of fascinating fictions; I love to dance and act. Every year I participate in plays, and make it a point to quench my creative thirst. But writing is a part of me, and writing blog posts are just the beginning I feel. I desire to write a book. A book that will portray the ethos and pathos of a woman who chooses “&” over “OR”! I desire to portray her day to day emotional ups and downs and the response she receives from the society. But besides every thing I want to be a successful homemaker, an understanding daughter and daughter in law and later a doting mother to my kids. Fortunately my families, maiden and after marriage have been supportive to all my dreams. And my husband has always felt proud of my creative know-how. He has played my crisis angel time and again. But not every woman is blessed with an understanding family like mine, and for them coping up becomes a tiresome journey.

My pen is mightier than your fetters 

Lastly I want to convey to the society, don’t let fetters bind the women of your families. Allow them to fly and be witness to their journey of victory, be understanding and be sympathetic. Because we have decided to choose “&” over “OR”, and the decision is firm enough to combat void societal hypocrisies. My requests to all the women who find it difficult to maintain everything due to lack of co-operation is don’t give up! We are not born to please, be yourself and love yourself, know your true worth and the world will know it too.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

P.S. 'This post is a part of #UseYourAnd activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette Venus'.

World at my doorstep

The society today is more virtual than real. Although at times, we condemn the virtual feelings’ precedence over the real ones, but the good impacts cannot be ignored as well. 

Social networking is just a meagre portion of the online era that has dawned on the present generation. Today the world is really at our doorsteps. The entire idea of buying and selling has been turned upside down, with the onset of the philosophy of online shopping. A computer or a smart phone can bring the entire world right in front of us. This saves precious time and hard earned money.

There is no dearth of sites for online buying and selling. But even in this rat race of gaining confidence with the customers, and making a mark, Quikr stands apart. For long it has successfully bought needy buyers to interested sellers or vice versa. I too, had sold some of my old furniture through Quikr at good prices. Hence being a user of Quikr myself, I recommend it to all.  

Now Quikr have added another feather to its cap. It has introduced chat option, for all those using mobile app, mobile site or desktop site. For more details you can explore their website: www.quikr.com

I personally appreciate and congratulate Quikr on this addition. Afterall this is an age of chatting. More so because the pace of life and living is high enough to leave us gasping for breathe. Especially in cities like Mumbai, where we are constantly fighting with the time factor, even making a call takes humongous effort. Chatting definitely comes easy. Following are the reasons why I personally will prefer chatting over a phone call.

1. Firstly and most importantly it saves time. As a working woman, most of my time is spent sitting in front of the laptop for work.  So chatting will not require an extra effort of me walking over to a place or rather corner, where I am not disturbing others’ work and others are not disturbing my discussion. I can comfortably be at my cubicle, in front of my very own mean machine and indulge. I can quietly communicate with my buyer or seller, along with the smooth continuation of my office job. Hence definitely chatting saves a lot of my time and also energy, when compared to the efforts required for making a call.

1. Secondly it saves my hard earned money. Making a call always involves spending some, either from my pocket or my employer’s (in case I have company paid mobile-wink). So in this age when all kinds of communication are gradually becoming free, it will be great if getting in contact with the buyer or seller also becomes so.

1. Lastly, buying and selling are monetary transactions; hence keeping records is a great and fruitful idea. After all we cannot record our over the phone conversations, but chat history does that for us. Whatever we discuss, remains in black and white, and can be referred to in case of any contravention

In this world which slowly shrinking, coming in contact is longer an issue. Hence introducing the chatting system to this buying and selling business, I guess will revolutionise the concept of contacting and communication with relevant people. The ease of action will fasten things and increase the number of interested people. And every action will get Quikr (quicker).

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

Know your worth....

“I don't mind making jokes, but I don't want to look like one.” 

― Marilyn Monroe

It’s true when they say that “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”. There is no definition of beauty, no boundaries and no rules. It is something that emerges from the core and finds it way, to illuminate the exterior. It’s sometimes sublime, sometimes adorable, sometimes exotic and sometimes violent. But it attracts. It’s enigmatic and even magnetic. But it’s attainable and may be even palpable. The deep sea life is beautiful, the blue horizon is beautiful. The child is beautiful in mother’s lap. The setting sun is as beautiful as the sunrise leading to a bright new day. You are beautiful. I am beautiful, what we create and what we destroy is beautiful.

The concept of beauty has always appeared vague to me. And so it is. I am one firm believer of internal beatification, rather than the exterior. Growing to be a good human finds precedence over looking good. But that necessarily does not stop me from enhancing the tangibility of beauty. And one thing I completely endorse (without any endorsement fee off-course-wink) is that, confidence is enhanced when we know that we are presentable. Confidence of facing the world, the world whose most residents will be judgmental enough to judge us from our external self.

Ishani was just stepping into teenage. She was growing up in the school of thought, that beauty is not external, it’s the resonance of a pure heart that translates to a glorious face. But with every passing day, she was growing increasingly unsure of what was right and what not. Her classmate Riddhima was one of the wickedest human she knew, but the entire class and even the teachers pampered her. They thought she was extraordinarily beautiful. Whenever a chief guest would come for ribbon cutting, Riddhima was put in the fore front. They said she was the face of their school. Ishani could not understand why and how she was inferior to her. But she gradually started getting into the invisible shell she had constructed around her.

Mehr and Siya had joined office on the same day. They were more of friends than colleagues.  But eventually a feeling of jealousy started bugging Mehr.  Siya was beautiful, and her beauty gave her confidence she thought. She appeared to be confident during presentations and meetings. Already management recognition had dawned on her. Mehr feared if that continued, she would be left behind. But genetic good looks are not attainable by beauty products. She started losing hope, she stopped loving herself and eventually got trapped in the dungeon of jealousy and inferiority complex.

The above two stories are completely hypothetical but the situations may be very real. I do not mean to promote discrimination based on looks. But it’s an honest attempt to put across the pain that we often put ourselves through just on the grounds of the looks we possess. This most prominently happen during adolescence. I just want to say know your true worth. Which is much above the meagre facts of looks and complexion.  You first need to love yourself to make others and the world love you. Beam with internal confidence.

When I came across the topic posted by Garnier in Indivine, I thought it was a great forum for me to pen down my feelings on beauty. As already stated beauty is internal and that is what I believe. Yet can we deny that when we see a peacock we stare spellbound, but a crow or a pigeon fail to attract our attention? The green carpet looks unimportant when glorious red roses wave with the breeze. Yes beauty is relevant to the on-looker’s perception, but there are certain descriptions, certain unsaid rules that we cannot deny. And hence external beauty does have an impact on our day to day life and sometimes takes a toll on our confidence.

We all want to look good, it increases our confidence. Pimples, Acne, freckles etc. are very common skin problems that we face. Genetics is a difficult subject to lay hands upon, so it’s better to learn loving oneself, but at the same time its fine trying to enhance what we are gifted with.

A healthy looking blemish less skin is all we drool about. In-fact I am very particular about the health of my skin. The appearance of an unwanted visitor, called pimple leaves me worried. Each stare seems to concentrate on it. My confidence goes down, which is very bad to cope up with in office. After-all we cannot hide under the quilt. So combating skin problems, especially pimples is important to keep me going strong. I have used many Garnier products to maintain the health of my skin and Garnier Pure active Neem Face wash is one of them. I must say it truly rejuvenates and neem’s antiseptic properties helps healing pimples faster, making you look fresher and fresher with each wash.

You can check the following Garnier link for many solutions to different skin problems and more:no pimples no marks

You can check the following  link to know more about Garnier Pure active Neem Face wash: Garnier neem face wash

Finally what I want to convey is love yourself the way you are, but maintain your physical appearance, it gives you confidence to face the world. Build a strong interior, it will help feel complete. And as long as brands like Garnier continue to take the responsibility of enhancing our beauty, most part of the task is done. Beam with confidence, fly high and know your worth.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta 

The Mythical Horizon-Kanchenjunga

“The white zenith attracts me, it has a story to tell,

All the feet that conquered it and all who failed.

Standing with its head held high, it beckons my wandering soul,

Again and again I stare spellbound, I feel like losing control.

Each time I discover a bit more of you but not through Wikipedia,

I know how true it is, when we say INCREDIBLE INDIA!”

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

Kanchenjunga from Hanuman Tok, Gangtok

Travelling is my passion. But I don’t believe in trying to visit all tourist attractions of a destination, I rather prefer living and feeling few but with all my heart. Every traveler off-course has a distinct flavor of perception, which should be respected. Each time I plan a vacation, relentlessly fighting with the time and leave factors, I think, "this time I should definitely set foot outside India". But unfortunately end up discovering a bit more of my very own Incredible India. The culprit, responsible for my decision is sometimes my pocket but most times my conscience. “How much do you know of the land you belong to?” asks my conscience and the decision on my travel destination is taken!

Kanchenjunga from Hanuman Tok, Gangtok

Going to Gangtok was a dream I had preserved for long, when my sisters told me stories of mystic Sikkim, I longed to witness it. And truly it’s illustrious. However a trip to Gangtok, in the month of January and that too with my mom and mom-in law, the fear of facing acute chill made me tremble before reaching. But someone has correctly said, preconceived notions are not always correct. And that’s what happened.

Kanchenjunga from Hanuman Tok, Gangtok

The weather God was truly with us, it was bright and sunny and pleasantly cold in the day time. The nights were chilled, but thanks to the awesome infrastructure of The Royal Demazong, we could combat the night weather with flying colors. There are many things I loved of Gangtok, but my current narrative is only about the glory of the Kanchenjunga.

Kanchenjunga from Tashi veiw point, Gangtok

We visited many view points, but the most spectacular view of the regal horizon was available from Hanuman tok and Tashi view point. The sky was breathtakingly royal blue, clouds were floating haywire and there stood strong my majesty, the royal, snow-capped, third highest peak in the world “Kanchenjunga”. The crimson rays of the sun as if descended from heaven specially to embrace its beauty. The icy mountain sparkled like diamonds as the rays fell and got trapped in the enigma. I stood spellbound, speechless. It’s not the first time I saw Kanchenjunga Himal, but each time I see it, I get struck with awestruck syndrome, and why not. Each rendezvous is superior to the past.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta
Pics courtesy Avishek Sengupta (my husband)

The Royal Demazong, Gangtok

As I witness the enormity of mountains, I feel so meagre with my small problems of life and living.

As I witness the clouds kissing the greenery and settling in the valley's grave embrace, I feel my cheeks turn pink.

As I witness the rising sun and the setting one, painting the sky in different hues, I feel blessed to be alive to see it all.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

The Chola Range from The Royal Demazong

 This was my first experience of holidaying with Club Mahindra. And to say the least I cherished every bit of my stay at “The Royal Demazong” in Gangtok. Derived from the Tibetan word Denzong meaning valley of rice, Demazong redefines luxury accompanied by heartwarming hospitality in a remote place like Gangtok. Facing the illustrious Chola range and a sneak peak to the mountain roads leading to Nathula pass, the resort provides its guests with a million dollar, thirst quenching view. The interiors have the distinct Sikkimese flavor yet the amenities are very modern and tastefully designed.

The Sikkimese style lobby

The Royal Demazong

The winding path leading to the Resort

The enchanting view

Our room

The tasteful furnishing

We had taken two studio rooms, 33 and 34. With a comfortable double bed, well maintained bathroom and a traditional eating area, the rooms had all we required. But the best part was the balcony overlooking the greenery of mountains. From sunrise to sunset the changing mountain ambiance is worth noticing and living. A distant village, a cloud of smoke from the chimney of a hut, the slow mountain music from festivities at a distant and eventually the moon shining on the enormity.

The beauty of solitude

The breeze caress the flags

A distant village

The food was good and available at subsidized rates for members like us. The chef personally cooked meat the way we wanted, which was commendable. The resort had a small garden, children play area and indoor activity area very essential for evenings in hill stations. The restaurant, named Orchid was a lovely place to put up, in the evenings, karaoke and games were organized there for the guests.

However what I loved most was the warm reception, the smiling faces and commendable hospitality we received. A vacation is a time when we just want to be away from daily chores and be amidst the warmth of divine gaiety. We want to relax. And this is only possible if we get the apt ambiance for it. Club Mahindra’s resort is a 15 minutes’ drive from the hustle bustle life, which adds to the relaxation quotient. Lastly I thank club Mahindra and all the resort crew for making our stay worthy and enough for getting etched in our hearts forever.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

Pics courtesy Avishek Sengupta (my husband)

Family makes us complete

Its been a long time since I wrote my last blog, but the gap was spent interestingly. After more than a year, I went to my home city, Tilottoma Kolkata. The city really has a spirit distinctively different from others but the pull that I feel is most effective due to my family being there. I just love the city, and now that I have returned to the city of lights, suddenly I find it so alien. Well it's a temporary syndrome that I always suffer from, as I return from Kolkata. 

But this trip was special in ways more than one. My current narrative highlights one such high points. This time my in laws Baba and Mamoni (Father-in-law and mother-in-law respectively) had arranged a welcome party for us. A lovely gathering for our belated wedding anniversary celebrations, which provided us with the opportunity of meeting all our near and dear ones, at the same time and under the same roof.

The venue, all set to welcome

My look, Go traditional

Curls for a change

It really felt heavenly receiving all that love and blessings. The chic venue, banquet hall in the Park Hotel, the loved faces, mouth smacking food and Rabindra Sangeet, a complete bliss marked the beginning of our trip. 

With Mamoni and Avishek

With my Didis

With Nirmala Mishra

A moment with Rabindra Sangeet

Celebrated Bengali Singer Smt Nirmala Mishra, is my Mom in law's aunt, and her presence made our day all the more special. After all when a singing maestro like her is around, how can the occasion roll without a bit of beats, and the expected happened. It's actually overwhelming to witness the talent exhibition of so many of our near and dear ones. That afternoon witnessed a lot of talent and fun. 

Food Food

My narrative will be incomplete without the mention of the lavish lunch spread. I loved the fish Orly the most. Starting from virgin mojito, to a filling non vegetarian lunch spread and finally complimented by Bengal special sweets. I am sure the guests had quite a treat and so did we.

And finally I really want to thank my family for that warm welcome, however thanking them is always unfair. This gathering will always remain with me, how true it is when they say "family makes us complete".

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

Pics courtesy Avishek Sengupta (my husband)

She is not a good girl!!

Recitation of "Na pathano Chhithi" by Bratati Bandhopadhyay

When I came across the topic "Define good girls" in Indispire, a poem read long back came alive in my mind. A Bengali Poetry by celebrated Bengali poet and author Shri Sunil Ganguly , "Na pathano Chithi" (meaning- The unsent letter).

Each time I read the poem or should I call a slice life, tears of anguish and helplessness happen to wet my cheeks. I have shared the You Tube recitation of it by eminent elocutionist Smt. Bratati Banndhopadhyay. Please listen to the master piece. However it is in Bengali, so unfortunately, all my readers may not be able to experience its profound impact.

The narrative is a letter, a letter which is not destined to reach it's destination. A letter from a daughter to her mother. A daughter who was sold to pursue a life of disgrace by her own parents, so that they could make their both ends meet. It's a satire on the bourgeois society and its baseless norms.   

The poet goes on to describe her present and past lives, and points out to the striking contrast, between the two. A little girl full of life, just like the flowing waters of a virgin waterfall, is snatched of her happiness and innocence. And pushed to the dark dungeon of the flesh business. The narration dramatically ends, when the girl pleads her mother, not to gift her younger sister a blessed life like her's , as selling her body is more demeaning than snatching away life from it.The same parents who had food by selling their daughter, questions her sanctity and refuses to take her painfully earned money, fearing demean. Off-course she is not a good girl!

I sometimes feel helpless when I see the society around me. But it has been so since time immortal, God Shri Ram had asked his wife Sita to go through the humiliation of Agni Pariksha to prove her sanctity or goodness quotient.. And it has not changed today. Whenever we hear or read about discreet rape and molestation cases, the society has no dearth of eyes, that immediately start gauging the goodness of the victim from the length of her skirt. When a guys smokes or drinks, he is either stressed or being social. But when a girl does the same, "Hello!, she is a bad girl!" (Cigarette smoking and alcohol intake are injurious to health). A widow or divorcee woman finds it difficult to save her honor from the claws of society and continue to be a good girl.  

Am I a good girl, if I raise a finger at the baseless biased norms of this so called modern society? Are you a good girl if you read my narrative? Who wants to know, who gives others the right to gauge our goodness or badness? Why on every phase of life, we have to prove our sanctity, innocence and being?Why do we have to prove to be good girls?

I prefer to be a woman, a woman of substance, who does not require the society to label her as good or bad.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

Badshahi Angti a movie reveiw..

The very thought of watching a Bengali movie, away from Bengal has certain nostalgia attached to it.

So my husband Avishek and I generally end up watching all Bengali movies that manage to get released in Mumbai. And I must say, that today's not so main stream to parallel to intellectual Bengali cinema, does manage to stand apart in this business of arts. Amongst my recent favorites is Srijit Mukherjee's "Chostushkone”. But the last two ventures were not too successful, one being Kaushik Ganguly's Khaad and the other, the recent most release, Sandip Ray's "Badshahi Angti".

Badshahi Anti Poster

 

Badshahi Angti meaning the Emperor's ring is based on celebrated Satyajit Ray's Feluda Adventure story of the same name. And it is needless to say that the book is a masterpiece like all other works of the literary maestro. Feluda (Felu is the pet name and da meaning big brother) aka Prodosh Mitter is a one of the most glorified and loved detective characters to all Bengalis and beyond. Satyajit Ray himself had transformed few of his Feluda series stories on celluloid. Veteran Actor, Padma Bhushan, Shri Soumitra Chattopadhyay had played Feluda then. Later legendary Bengali film actor Sabyasachi Chakrabarty had taken the baton, and played the character in many films, made by Satyajit Ray's son Sandip Ray.

Badshahi Angti was new in ways more than one, this was the first time Abir Chatterjee played Feluda, another key character Topse was played by a newcomer. This story is based on a young Feluda, just beginning his detective career, hence a very fascinating character Jotayu is not in this one. He comes in the later stories. It is worth mentioning, this was the first time, a film was made on a Feluda adventure without Jotayu.

I don't think that too much diversion was made from the original story, yet the impact of the book could not be replicated on screen. Abir Chatterjee and the rest of the cast did justice to their roles, but the overall effect lagged somewhere. Though as an ardent fan of Feluda, I missed Sabyasachi Chakrabarty's impactful voice. The teenager, Sourav Das, who played Topse was lacking a good onscreen presence.

Overall I think, the transformation of any great story onscreen, takes a lot of courage. But Sandip Ray had done justice to most of his legendary father's creations. But this one can be termed as one of his not so good attempts and the unfolding of the mystery could not be laminar as he did in his previous ones. At last I would say watch Badshahi Angti at the theatres not with of hope of viewing the majestic recreation of the story onscreen but with the hope of getting chance to see our favorite character come to life once again but with a new face.

My heartfelt congratulations to Abir.

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

 

Give ur reviews on the movie.

 

31st night, a night of fun and madness....

I returned home early with loads of hope and a feeling of high already. It was 31st December 2014, time passes truly at the blink of an eye. The memories of 31st night 2013 was still fresh, in my mind. I wanted to return home early and get ready for the most happening evening of the year, a day when the entire world parties, the entire world dances and rises a toast to the very new beginning. The beginning of a new journey, with new dreams and new challenges! 

Avishek had returned from Delhi and was still recovering from the thermal shock, thanks to the difference in temperatures in the two cities. I returned home and was soon struck with the realization, that I had too much to do. A quick shower followed by ritualistic homage to God, followed by the tedious work of choosing the correct outfit (overcoming- I have nothing to wear syndrome) and then finally getting ready and lastly the toughest part, being satisfied with the look.

I chose a "Vero Moda" red skirt and paired it with a lovely "Only" beige satin top, and was about to feel happy of my look, when the worst moment of my night arrived. The incense stick that I had kept by the window after paying homage, had made two small holes in my skirt without my knowledge. I felt lost for a few minutes :-(. But Avishek gave courage to rework and I finally settled for another "Vero Moda" party dress.

Nilesh, Shalaka, Avishek and me set forth to have a blast, we had tickets of a New Year Bash organised at Thane called "UPSURGE2014". The roads as expected were crowded than usual, we reached th venue at 10:00 pm.

I would like to congratulate the organising commitee of the Programme, for the good food, great music and really well maintained party atmosphere. The safety part was specially looked after, which was great.

Overall it was real fun and we partied hard till late night.  And welcomed the new year in an euphoric mood, marking the beginning of great, new things. Thanks to my dear friends and also Upsurge2014 for the lovely experience.

A very happy NEW YEAR!!

Aritra Chakrabarty Sengupta

A few glimpses of the evening