My strange affair with Bengal and Bangla..
“Tor e shokal ghum bhenge dite pari… Toke boshonter din dite pari.. amake khuje de jolphoring!” My relation with Bengal is like the siblings. When we are together we drive each other crazy. But when away it’s an unbearable longing to be back and embrace with promises of never leaving again (which btw is totally false promise). All those of us have spent most of our lives or atleast some years away from Bengal feels this tug of some invisible thread pulling us to this land of culture progress and variety. There is something in the air that invariably becons us to return for few days atleast. Where ever we might be it always feels home. Yes, sometimes the over friendliness can act somewhat of a dampener. But there is more to this land than “rosogolla” and “misti doi”. Having spent college years in Kolkata I can vouch, the Kolkata the young crowd that I have encountered is a vibrant lot ful of energy, progressive mindset and brilliance. From Jadu Babur bazar to Esplanade, from Eden gardens to gol badir mangsho, from college Street to Jadavpur university campus and more there is history and modernity entwined in every lane and by-lanes. Yes true sometimes they are called “mumma’s boys”. But who aren’t?? What I have gathered traveling in India boys from anypart have this similarity. They love their mom! Epic!! What amazes me is the way their women are treated. Given full liberty and always encouraged to pursue their passion. May be this is what Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Tagore, Raja Ram Mohan Roy dreamt of and more. They started a renaissance. We have a lot to learn. Bengal is not just Kolkata. It is the only state to touch the feet of mighty Himalaya and at the same time lucky to be kissed by the waves of Bay of Bengal. Have you spent a night in the jungle of dooars? It’s an experience you can not forget easily. The sound of “madol” ( tribal drums) and the rhythmic steps of the tribes dancing, The moon high up trying to find a glance through the canopy of the trees and not too far, the mountains standing tall in silence as if challenging you “ dare you forget these!”.. it all sets the backdrop of a mystical night. You can not miss the “bhatiyal” song of the “Majhi"s ( boatmen) . I have been fortunate in taking a trip down the Teesta (one of the major river of North Bengal) and had been mesmerized by the bhatiyal song. The “Lal pahar and Ranga matir Desh” (red mountain and red soil) Birbhum plateau, you can not forget, if you are in love the “Baul” songs (folk song) the Baul singers bring out the best of the tunes with just an “ektara”. In the days of fine tuning songs and voices what they manage to do is something of real talent. How can the Digha and Mondarmoni trips be forgotten? The soft sand and waves between the feet and the feel of the sea. Yes yes I know. Digha is “over crowded” “has become dirty” etc etc who are to be blamed for that? Anyways.. Mondarmoni will always be the escape for everyone from college gangs to families. So when Shaan sings “o Majhi re” ( from bong connection) one can’t possibly help the feel of the nostalgia. The fields, meadows, rivers mountains all seem to call out. “Chelebelar swapno sob geche hariye/Majhi re.. Tumi dekhecho ki take” . How much irritated pissed I get, I can’t help miss this land. It has memories of the times I would always cherish and hold this close to my heart.
