Post Christmas and Pre-New Year...

The River Cruise.

Post Christmas, me and a few of my Presimates have made our way to one of the most rustic landscapes of Bengal, which has become very popular these days, as a nearby, riverside picnic spot. The place, as mentioned earlier is called Gadiara, in the Howrah district. Its a 2- 2.5hrs drive from Kolkata, taking the Second Hoogli bridge [Vidyasagar Setu], falling into the Bombay Road. 30mins from Toll Tax at Kona Expressway, comes a Bi-furcation from where you take an hour drive to the spot.

The Picnic ground takes Rs. 400/- flat rate. If you want other open spaces, the banks of the river is viable choice as well. The Roopnarayan Tourist Lodge takes your luncheon order before 11AM, and prepares it accordingly. No problem, with the quality, its comparable to the best hotels in Kolkata.

The River cruise was fabulous. How can I forget about the Sunset... although thanks to a few friends of mine, I couldnt get through the scenery to the max, but I managed to get through with one...

The Sunset At Gadiara

That marks as an outing with friends, and remarkably outside Kolkata since 2008 January. Gosh!!! Big gaph!

The banks of the River Confluence @ Gadiara. A few places are viable Picnic spots.

The advent of 2010 is near, a year, that would settle a number of scores for my close ones and my life. Lot of things depends, and I am having a good feeling about it. lets hope for the best and welcome 2010 like never before.... 2009 has gone, with new hopes coming in with 2010....

3 IDIOTS: A Review.

Can anyine guess Aamir Khan's age? Looks he has just graduated from some college, how about ICE, ahem, as Boman Irani - The Virus would say, the Imperial College of Engineering.

3 Idiots hits the theaters and the fever of feel good, this winter, spreads across the nation like anything. Some morning news paper did write about the film being all about gyaan [Philosophical knowledge] and less about entertainment, which a film should always have, but in my court of review [my blog], I would say it was a healthy gyaan with lots of laughter and snippets to cry. Enjoyable.

The Vinod Chopra production and the direction of Mr. Hirani, with lively tincture of the Shantanu Moitra as  Music composer, the Chetan Bhagat's adaption of Five Point Some One was brought to life by magical plot arrangement. A story which was told 90% in the background, with a charismatic drive from Shimla to Manali  and then to Ladakh makes the film come close to the warm generous friendly heart of each and every spectators. In the end, there was all about clapping and cheers for the whole team of three idiots.

www.internationalreporter.com

I am not here to write the composition of the fragnance, but can give the essence of the brand. Competition makes the world, as we see today, but its not very new. It was present since time eternal. Able was killed by Cannes and there was always two Adams for one Eve... But, to think differently is to think without pressure and utter silently, "AAL IZZ WELL" Ignore the spelling and you can understand the synonym.

Three Idiots stands out on its plot, screen play and acting and who better can be there than Sharman Joshi, Madhavan and Amir Khan who were ably supported by Kareena Kapoor who almost married a donkey and experimented for true whether a smooch is hindered by the nose, Boman Irani who believed in Results [even if it killed his own son]. Add to spice up, we have the Fun with Science...practical application of Salted Water and Electrical Conductor.... come on...its painful than a heart break!!!!

At the end, we all agree that a child should always mould according to his or her talent and not be a Machine which fulfills a parent's desire. [All italicized words have relevance to the film...go to understand the link].

In the end, I would like to put forward a few lines of a song,

Saari umra bhar-

Mar Mar k jee liye,

Ek Pal toh ab humein Jeene do,

Jeene do....

Give me some Sunshine,

Give me some Rain...

Give me another Chance...

I want to Grow Up again.....

The Song: http://www.bollyexclusive.com/download/27069.html

Courtesy: www.fullytimepass.com

The Verdict: 9/10

Back to Presi Days...

And bang it is...

The best thing that I used to do, i.e organize a trip is the way, I will be pressing the F5 button of my life, in an endeavor to refresh and relax the year end. The protagonist of the idea, being Sukesh, who on one fine night called me up for a plan of Re-Union in form of a picnic in the outskirts of Kolkata. Brief meets were conducted, and finally the gang of 8-9 people will be heading towards the unchartered territories of Howrah district, namely Gadiara.

About 2 1/2 hours drive from the city of Kolkata, Gadiara stands as an unchartered territory [almost], placed at the confluence of Hoogli-Rupnarayan. The conjunction is so wide that it takes to compare a sea to it. Localites and people who have paid a visit to the place, a day's picnic, says the Sunrise as well as Sunset is fabulous. Just waiting to witness the beauty of nature on 27.12.09, when I along with 7 others from my Presidency years plan to pack their small bags and head for a picnic.

Reminds me of the true essence of team work, during the three years of graduation in  Physiology at Presidency College, Calcutta. I still remember how in the first year we took the pains to reinitiate the cult of annual picnic in the department, and we made our way to a forbidden Jute Mill on the banks of Hoogli, in BadaNagar, Kolkata.

Second year, the mast was passed on the then first years, but we took a bulk of the responsibility, making our way to Dhannukuria,

Third year, in 2005-06 session, it was a ReUnion [Departmental, 32nd] that a picnic was organized in a park in Bhadreshwar.

Some remnants of those days is here to follow:

Pic: First Year Picnic.

Pic: Second Year Picnic

Time for Gadiara........

Scars: The Concept of "Tera-Mera"

I have referred to the film Paa, in my previous article. A pertinent topic arises in the Indian politics, that can be referred to Paa... In the film, Avisekh Bacchan plays the part of an young political visionary, trying to change the face of India. In the school, where Auro [Amitabh ji] studied, a New India Vision contest was organized [and the film started from there]. There Auro had made presentation "by mistake", which won the first prize. Its a "white globe", rightfully portraying all as ONE entity, erasing the borders and the "Scars"

Leave the film aside, for now. Its the Scars that will be redrawn on the face of my country... and there comes the concept of Tera-Mera, in english: Yours and Mine. The hot topic is not new, but renewed! The demand for a seperate state of Telengana, in South India reminds so. The process started from 1905, when the British, in the hope to rule India by dividing it, seperated Sind from Punjab and East Bengal [now Bangladesh] from West Bengal. The divisions and seperatist idea prevailed during independence, creating Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, from one strong Hindusthan!

Anyways, post independence acts, have always subdivided as well as incorporated new territories in India. The States Reorganization Acts, since 1956 have started it all. The list stands strong and is as follows:

1) Bombay State was segregated to Maharashtra and Gujarat based on linguistics. Year 1960.

2) Territories under the French and Portuguese domination was incorporated into India in 1962. They were Goa[state], Pondiocherry, Dadra-Nagar Haveli, Daman -Diu. {the rest being Union Territories}

3) Nagaland was made a stated in 1963, carved out from NEPC.

4) 1966 saw an immense political resketch of territories where by Punjab was devided in Harayana and Punjab, with few northern frinches of Punjab getting into Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh became a shared capital for Punjab and Haryana.

5) Himachal Pradesh, which was an Union Territory, conferred its right as a state in 1971.

6) Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura were carved out of Assam in 1972.

7) The Kingdom of Sikkim joined India in 1975. China tried its best to have it with them.

8) In 1987, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram as well as Goa became states.

The supressed demands of other states were present, when the vent was re-opened in 2000.

9) In 2000, Chattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh, followed by Uttaranchal [renamed Uttarakhand], from Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand from Bihar.

The scars will be visible again. With the demand for a separate Telengana state, out of the Andhra Pradesh, based on dialect, the Central Government has shown signs to do so, Telengana was present pre-1956, but with the reorganization, it was merged with Andhra and renamed Andhra Pradesh. In West Bengal, the demand for Gorkhaland based on tribe becomes strong as well, as Telengana is to freed from Andhra Pradesh.

Presently the Political Map of India looks like this [Dec 2009; Before Telengana]

Pic: http://india.wnso.org/main/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/map-of-india.gif

The concept of tera mera has been prevalent constantly, over the ages. It still stays, which I believe from the core of my heart, that it should stop at some place, or else the candy will be broken to bits; size on which mice will feed themselves to the full, erasing our existence as Indians... [300 years ago, some Albino Mice did the same, and ruled for 200 years.]

Paa...

Time for a Film review and its up with a big film, the Biggie. Rightfully said by the man's better half, Mrs. Jaya Bacchan as "Introducing Amitabh Bacchan", in the prelude of the film, this film has introduced the man who has have made the difference in the Indian film industry for over four decades. Awarded the Doctorate in Acting by the prestigious Cambridge University, this man knows no limits.

The recent film called "Paa..", I was heaving a doubt as to if the film was based on the short life of the Maestro, Mr. Amitabh Bacchan, with a character name of Auro, why wasn't the film named so, as the whole screenplay revolved around this person. Auro, a name that has an aura to establish the difference be a cute "normal" child with the cute "progeric" child. Auro has the rare genetic disorder called Progeria, which in the scientific technicalities means the rapid rate of ageing of a child, which is normally four to five times than normal. In layman's term, a person becomes old very fast...not by age, but by cells and body.

Although Progeria, having finertuned symptoms apart from fast ageing, the film showed how Auro, a child who thinks himself as a "bastard" comes of age and erases the tag on his death bed.

Exquisite acting by all the cast and crew members, the film catches each and every spectator weeping at the climax. That is where the justification of the title of the film stands. Thats the last word that Auro utters in this world.

Paa is not an imaginative film by any regards. With the fever of neuronal disorder taking the toll on good films being made, Paa is one of the finest. With Amir Khan's Taare Zameen Par where the film dealt with Dyslexia, to Ghazni where the film dealt with Retrograde Amnesia, Akshay Kumar's Bhoolbhulaiya that shows the Dual Personality Disorder, Paa comes in with Progeria. This is not Neuronal but Genetic.

Its a family film and to my rating, considering all the actions and direction, I give the film a cumulative 8.5/10.

Pic: http://www.dhangout.com/bollywood/news-and-gossips/images/paa-balki_596558.jpg

Being Numero Uno...

Finally in it's 77 years of History, the Indian Cricket Team finished the decade with being Numero Uno, of the new millenium. The achievement was completed on 6th December, 2009 at Mumbai when the team beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in the three test match series, at home.

"Its tough to hold on the crown", the Indian Captain M.S.Dhoni uttered at the Press meet. With 124 points to her name, India topples the year long numero uno, South Africa at 122 points while the ever strong number one scorchers Australia lag in third with 116 points in the ICC Test Team Point tally.

Reverberrating some of the comments, I would like to point out that this build up to the number one spot started a decade back when India, at the end of the 1990's started winning overseas. Beating Australia in Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies and then Pakistan on their home soil had made the team grow in confidence, day in and day out. With a recent bubble and shuffle in the ODI rank where India have clutched the hot spot twice in a span of a year, last year, the Test top spot came to her for the first time. We cannot forget the names of some of the captains who were arhitects of this status: Sourav Ganguly started it, Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid made the base strong and M.S.Dhoni crafted it to the ultimate beauty!

Courtesy: The Times of India.

After the week long aggressive AICCG 2009, this was an welcome recreation and entertainment.

Talk For India.

The temperature count in Kolkata, India is one of the coldest Novembers in fifty years, given to it's advent [which according to the MET office is about a fortnight ahead.] Its chilling 17'C, two-three notches below normal! But, it was more chilly a year ago in November 2008, in another metropolis of the nation, Mumbai. Yes, I am talking of the malice Taj-Nariman Point incidence, where for 56 hours, bullets flew across the heart of Mumbai and across the mind of every Indian. Over hundreds injured and many matyred, given to the assurance of the safety of the mother land. From the high ranked officials of the Indian Police Force, Mumbai division to the many sepoys, lay cold on the bloody streets of Mumbai, thanks to the infiltration and terrorism aided by a neighboring nation!

This year, Idea Cellular, a Birla concern has come up with an innovative "IDEA". The TALK FOR INDIA policy, where to commemorate the initial moments of 26/11/08 [popularly known as 26/11], where by for one whole hour, any Idea caller' outgoing will donate to a find that would be going forward to the Indian Police Force, to develop on the safety features for themselves and eventually the public. This is a Nationwide campaign, and according to the tele-sources, IDEA is India's fourth largest cellular service provider after Bharti-Airtel, Vodafone-Essar and BSNL, having a combined base of 5 crore customers. Re1. donation per customer would give a minimum amount of 5 crores [INR 50,000,000] The Talk for India hour would be 8:26PM to 9:26PM, when the Taj-Mumbai was attacked a year back to this date.

I don't have an IDEA connection, but I support this innovative and noble cause. Infact I would also like to Quote Mr. A. Bacchan [Jr], "What an Idea Sir-jee".

Apologies n Thoughts...

Since my re-incarnation in the field of Biology as a potent researcher, self-timed life has really been hard to come by. Leave aside the time to read the news paper, sometimes, eating a small apple by the window of the Institutes corridor seems an hour wasted! Its time to learn the techniques and explain the technicalities. I apologize to the people who have been feeling neglected via this blog portal.

Today, at 12:45PM, I sit alone in this room, trying to figure out the members and the participants in the AICCG [All India Congress of Cytology and Genetics], that involves a 4 day long conference with lot of activities and a grand workshop. Please refer to the website: http://aiccg1.110mb.com/aiccgwebsite/index.htm although, the registration is over for the year. I am proud to participate in this and am eagerly looking forward to some of the great thinkers in the field.

Yesterday one of my Lab-mate, Dr. Pritha Ghosh had forwarded me a mail that is really horrendous to know and also understand that we are a civilized human being. I PROTEST to the act. Please look forward to the pictures and get a pictographic understanding or the explanation is mentioned, following the galore of the pics.

This picture is from Denmark. The Sea is red not because of the Red Corals... but its something else. Please refer the next picture to know what it is.

Its red with the blood of the "killed" Dolphins. They are stabbed to dead by any iron rods, as a ritual. I ritual by the Danish, where by the Dolphins are stabbed in the usher spirit to prove that a "Boy" has matured to a "Man". If this is maturity, then what is in-maturity?

"Matured Men" Well, this is the greatest slap of insult in the name of maturity! The Dolphins come to the beach during the Spawning and mating season, but instead of creating life, they end their own life!

And there they Rejoice.

In the name of Humanity, I PROTEST this act. There has been a mail that is being circulated around, which I appreciate as a good awareness program. I you feel the above thought to be justified, please put in your note in the comment page and this "signature campaign" shall bear the witness of it's validity to what I protest!!!

I appreciate the courtesy of the taker of these pics... in the bid to increase awareness.

How to Become Rich...?

And the Question is How?

What did you think of? What's the target? The budget? Any idea... Well, my dear friends, its time to think as to with What do we consider ourselves rich? Is it money? Is it this green back or purple back that always volunteers when we give our valuable space in lifetime to think of becoming rich? Filthy rich?!

I will just cite an example, where amidst having all the scopes of becoming rich the monetary way, I have become poor....

There is an urge, an urgency to go abroad to pursue my PhD as well as become successful in the best possible way. With some of my juniors already making their way, it has become a thing of concern as to losing up an year. With age increasing, and the few white hairs are increasing on their family, it has really become tough to concentrate on matters of concern apart from academics.

A very good friend of mine, makes it prominent, that I should take my stance in a balanced way, but as it is with the urge of increasing knowledge, I have lost on the sense and sensibility... hurting not only my friend but others also. A suppressed feel of at loss always prevails the mind, as I make my way towards the Finale to meet the consequences....

Hello..lets see....

Reverting Back.

Enough of the Corporate world. Its time to get back to the ROOTS, where every passion started. Its just another try to get back into the known world of Biology and handling the eekie blood samples to the sputum... Time to Test them for any kind of abnormalities in the basic blue prints of life.

With this aspiration in mind, I hereby come to the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, to work out on the genetic toxicology.

More details to follow soon....

Its just my first Official day of joining the laboratory, but I have already been a veteran for over two days handling the lymphocyte cultures and the phase contrast microscope.

Aahhh.... I love them like never before. May be such a co-orporate exposure has left a lasting favoritism towards the life of Research in the field of Biology and I will ever inch towards being successful in the field of Cancer Biology. Lets see what's in store.

3 Days Drama.

Since October 5th, 2009 I have been at home, having resigned from work and keeping all my fingers crossed after the October 10th, 2009's announcement of the CSIR-UGC NET results where I did crack a position. Time had not been idle, running to places with the desire to talk to the few scientists especially in the field of Cell and Molecular Biology, with my special emphasize on Cancer and related work.

But for the past one week I had almost no work, but things changed midway, when a three day drama concluding yesterday. Some regions of Indian Union have always faced terror and unrest from the Maoists since the mid seventies. They fall under POTA and are an illegal organization by Indian Law. Any person having any link with the people in the organization are considered to be terrorists, threatening the Indian Internal securities and are valid prisoners in the name of the law.

Maoists have always managed war in exile and under cover from the forests of Central India, that expands to states like West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Karnataka. This time, it was one of the major operations taking place on Tuesday, 20th October 2009. The Maoists raided the Sankrail Police Station in West Midnapore district, killing two officers and abductinf the Officer in Charge [OC], Mr. Atindranath Dutta. They also looted a national bank a block away and boarded on bikes made their way into the jungle with the booty of 10,00,000 INR [approx] and the OC. Then followed a drama....

[A few people would cursing me for using such words, but please go through and then say whether it was a drama or not. I have all the goodwill for the Dutta family, of Ahiritolla, Kolkata. But I have the "drama" desciption for the others.]

Tuesday, with the news of the abduction of the OC, the media people started contacting the Dutta family and also the Maoist leader, Kishanji for the ransom or aspects that can lead to the freedom of the abducted OC. The fight for TRP [True'st' Report Publicity] started between trhe various regional news channel who have been politically active since the Lok Sabha election. I would refrain myself from naming the channels, but they had the following news to uphold [all questions translated to english]:

1) How are you feeling? [Question asked to Mr. Dutta's wife, after the news of abduction was given her]

2) Is the government listening to the cry of the 1.5 years old daughter of the OC? [Face to Face reporting when Dutta family was inside Mr. B. Bhattacharya's room in an act of plead]

3) What do you want Kishanji? [The first question with matter being asked by a reporter over the phone. Atlast they were talking sense.]

and many more... This reminded me of "Good Reporting Advertisement" by Hindusthan Times. Have a look:

After you have enjoyed what the I mean, here is something which is more enjoyable being part of a drama. Reminded me of the Shahruk-Juhi starrer, Phir Bhi Dil Hain Hindusthani. There took was a fight between the K channel and the Q channel here its a fight between the a celestial body with time. [Wise people will know what I meant]

When the OC was being released after 54 hours of an ordeal and the ransom demand of the Maoists  was to liberate the innocent tribal women were accepted, the climax of the whole drama started with the media. The two major players in the colloqial news bandwidth started the following:

Mr. Dutta's father thanked us ... We give you the first telecast of the release... How do you feel?.... We are the first to talk with the Maoists... etc etc....

Lalgarh and the adjacent regions in West bengal are being regularly bulleted by the Internal Armed men and the Police with reply bullets from the interior of the jungle. If the Maoists are terrorists and the government thinks so much for the Internal security, even the opposition leaders, then why dont they catch hold of the leaders... pull the head and the body will coem out. Please dont tell that it isnt possible, because this time the media was constantly over the phone with the Maoist leaders for over 10 minutes on an average. With my limited knowledge about the tracking technology, I know, its possible to track a person if he or she is on a phone, single connection for over 3 minutes.... that's the  minimum requirement.

What I see is a big Hoax...! May be the biggest in this step up to the State Assembly Election in Bengal, 2011.

 Pic Courtesy: The Hindu ~ Mr. Dutta's wife and daughter to meet Chief Minister of West Bengal.

 
I bear all my sympathies with the Dutta family and for the "innocent tribal women" in Police custody, but the custodians of law, i.e the State Government and the Opposition leaders seemed very silent over the whole issue. Whatever talking was done by the Dutta family, Kishanji and the Media reporter. Does it mean, the media personnel are the people who ensures the security or are entitled to take the diplomatic decisions? Some magic happened, as if, after the Dutta family visit to the CM, the ransom to liberate the women was accepted and the IC was released. The media calls this: The First Ever Release of Prisoner of War [P.O.W] {see pic: courtesy The Telegraph, Kolkata} by the Maoists in India. Great gimmick...!!! I guess this has something to do with diversion of mind from something grave...If I knew it, I would have published it...!

....... A Few Words.

Ah... Many might have given into the idea that after my year's 100th post, I have come to a stand still. Well there you go: My 101st post for the Blogging word. Let me acknowledge the fact that a number of things have had taken place along with the recently concluded festivities of Diwali and Kalipuja as well as Bhai Phota or as other parts of India would exult to as Bhaiya Duuj. [Well there are also few candidates who might think that I have stopped Blogging for some reasons which they believe is the best they understand... well I know you will not understand, as the preceeding statement is for them who sometimes make me very important and search by my name... Thank You!!!]

A number of ideas have come across in my mind in the past 11 days, which can be jotted down as below:

1) The Austerity Drive by the Central Government has led to many MPs take the digital route into Tweeting. I thought out an unwritten article on the matter, which I think I will incorporate in a few days time.

2) The situation by the Maoists is getting worse day by day especially in Bengal. There have been deliberate attempts to upholster the whole governance in the state...lest known as to what will happen.

3) I have been busy trying to figure out how to utilize Torrent Softwares...and in the past 3 days I have tasted all the possible types starting from BitTorrent to ARES to Meu Torrent to LimeWire. Now the last option as I see is left, is the VUZE...which will hopefully make my free downloads workable!

4) On a much more personal aspect, I had a gala time with my niece @ my sister's place.

There are many things in mind..qeued up in thy mind, just to be out. Lets see how fast I can make it. Write for you soon...

------------------------------------

Pic: By Somnath Paul [author] October 2009.

The New Mobile Age.

Lucrative? Well I thought so....

TATA DOCOMO has come to India with the 1sec call tariff all over India. The price is: 1p/sec for a life time offer without any bonus packs. Seems great, atleast to those who have their loved ones on an STD line! The tariff comes for any and every networks all over India. With a handful galore of packages starting from 1sec ISD pulse.

AIRCEL and Tata Virgin are also not far behind in this aspect!

 

The 1 second pulse might feel sensational, but it has it's own loopholes. Seems pretty decent to use but you can get better offers with AIRTEL as well, like The Special 5 where you can call anyone @ 20p/minute. That's 1/3p per second. If you need to talk for long on a local loop-a-loop, then that's the best plan. Such a plan exists with Vodafone India as well.

Aspects:

>> Now a common man would be induced to think, just as what I am thinking: MAINTAINING TWO SETS. The 1sec plan sets for the "Others" to talk while the 20p/minute plan for the loved ones, whom we talk daily, for hours.

>>More over, with a psychology that it's just a paise per second, would accumulate an intention to talk longer times making the topic stretched and sticky [like a chewing gum]. Work will be done less, thanks to more talking and we would still keep losing our money, because, a 40% * reduction in price [per minute basis] would lead to 50% increase in talking hours, ultimately making us recharge more or equivalent to what we did before.

* Calculation:

1p/sec :: 60p/min.

 /minute:: 100p/min

 /min Reduction ::: 40p.  Equivalent to 40%

>>This is associated with another "advantage", that is 50% increase in talking would increase the risk of brain tumor and associated Parkinson's disease, if not by 20% but closer to that figure!

Becoming a Mobile junkie is not an option for any one of us I guess! Is it? We have too much work to do I guess. This is not an anti-promotion for any plans. Even I will be keeping a 1sec plan as well from today, but we must keep in mind, that such plans are for cutting costs, not to increase the talking capability, although they seem to do so!!!

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Pic courtesy: TATA DOCOMO, AIRCEL, TATA Virgin, www.toonpool.com
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Orkut "Promote": Helpful Tool.

Today, every one knows about ORKUT. The first ever massive social networking, following whose model, Facebook and Ibibo came upfront. Now-adays, both Orkut and Facebook has a fan following which also has it's regular arguments, without which the matter seems very tasteless. To help out the fans, both the portals are bringing in innovative ideas, firstly to be better and then to keep the argument on!

The initiator was Facebook. It had many interactive features and games, that one can participate and with a result, can spread the word and enable others in the friendlist to directly compete as well as others all over the world compete and make it a global phenomenon. Still, I prefer Orkut coz it seems more soothing to the eye while talking and searching out friends and contacts! Its much more composed, compared to the appearance of Facebook. But without further indulgence into the debate and getting biased towards Orkut, although I have account in both, I would love to close down into the most pertinent topic of this article: The newly incorporated PROMOTE feature by Orkut. We have all been very conscious economically spreading the word of an endeavor or anything, as an advertisement involved cost! When I started on BIOSPHERE tutorial in the April 2009, I took the painst to search out the various Biology course supported colleges in Calcutta to spread the word. Now, with Orkut's Promote option, the work is easier to do and what's more? It comes completely free! Even my friends can promote my indulgence in his / her friendlist for a better outcome! I have taken some snaps of the tool in the making and would feel good to explain them:

Snap #1:

© Somnath Paul. October 2009.

Well, the snap shows my profile on orkut, which you can avail from the blog link as well. The red encircled zone depicts a promotion of some 120G tank by Tirthankar. As I mentioned that a third person can help the publisher of the ad, to get the promoted, even if the person doesnt know the ad-giver! It is made easy with a single click on the "cool, promote it" button.

Snap #2:

 © Somnath Paul. October 2009.

This is the Tool Portal, where we have to promote our matter with the matter appearance format being encircled in blue already in the snapshot taken.

Snap #3:

© Somnath Paul. October 2009.

Snap three shows the various aspects in a finished product, from the managing portal.

     A: Cool Promote it option in the final finished advertisement.

     B: The poster / text of the advertisement. Overhere I have put forward the picture of the Biosphere poster from my "publicly" shared album on Orkut.

     C: Promotions, Viewed, Hate list [Thrash], Clicks to see. Here Shomjit, a good friend from Presidayz have done the needful.

     D: The total reach and people viewing my stuff! The dark blue means direct friends, while the degree of fadeness depicts how close the person looking at the promotion is. Mind It! Its directly proportional to the degree of fadeness!

I am loving this concept as in a span of two days of promotion I have had 131 interested people! [Updated: 08/10/09] Hope you will Promote some and me for a cause! I will do the same, as in: cool, promote it!!!

Pujas 2009: Sasthi

This year round, to make my blog a place with a tinge of a tang, I will be posting a day to day event and list down the number of places covered during one of the greatest festivals of ManKind, the Durga Pujas. For past 1 month or so, my blog has been flooded with such articles, entitled the Pujas 2009. But this is the foundation stone of a very personalized criticism of the various pujas that the eyes of the blog owner [i.e ME] have rolled upon.

I start with Maha Sasthi, the day of strength and poweress of the goddess durga. Although I have been hailing in the office yesterday as well as today [24/09/09], which had not been the cae in the past 10 years, when my Pujas always started with the inset of Panchami. Still, nothing can be done, except that after completing my work at office, I headed out, did some shopping and then with the remnant time, managed to scrape out some valuable moments and went to Suruchi Sangha.
 

Picture by Somnath Paul.

Fabulous. In one word, they did stick to the concept of Theme Pujas where each organizing committee looks forward to create a puja ambinece pertinent to a particular theme, It might be upbring or grooming certain moral values to exhibiting the various arts and culture. This time, Suruchi Sangha, near New Alipore Petrolpump decided to stick to the former mode.

They talked of Birsa Munda, a person who is a literal hero and a historic figure whom we seldom know of. But Suruchi ensured that the people who visits their pandal or 'camp' surely knows him. Birsa was born some 120 years ago, in a small village @ juncture of the modern Indian provinces of West Bengal and Jharkhand. He was a man with principles, resisting the British Relm of acquiring land, making all the tribals in the region unite against the British government. The first "tribal uprising" was due to this great man - Birsa Munda. The shine-stone mentions the work [ref pic]. Birsa  was tortured to death at a tender age of 25 years! Birsa's statue is installed in the Parliament premises, and the most interesting part of it is, it's the only Tribal leader's statue!!

Picture by SomnathPaul.

The ambience of Suruchi is worth viewing it even in a queue for 40minutes. Time was very short today, hence amongst the big names, I only viewed Suruchi, but while coming back home I did pay a homage visit to all the known pandals in my locality of Taltala, each one maintaing their orthodox style without anything very bew. Yes, the neon lights seemed new and brighter than last year and the crowd was too dashing. This is unlikely for a Sasthi appointment with Goddess Durga.

Picture by Somnath Paul

I do put forward soe of the best chosen pictures, so that your eyes can sooth. More over the album can be viewed on Orkut. Hope you have an account there!

My Schedule...

This is for the people and my friends, who can visit my orkut profile or a recently uploaded and linked in online album to get a look of the various pujas that I have for you. It will be, in short, a complete Puja Parikrama.

Some of the biggest names to be completed, but this time round, if the rain gods permit, I think I would penetrate the suburbs and the village pujas, just for the essence of puja!

Saptami: Morning ~ Behala Parikrama. Evening ~ Rashbehari & Kasba.
Astumi: Morning ~ Central & North Kolkata. Evening ~ South East Kolkata [Park Circus /Ballygunge]
Nabami: Not decided ~ but may go to Garia and beyond.
Dasami: The sad tunes of an end and a happy tunes of hope ~ Bhasan @ Babughat!

Think this will cover up every alley! Eh?

Season's Greetings...

I am bit busy now a days, to increase my ratings and bring back those readers who once came and peeped through my thoughts!

In the course of the day, I was searching something productive to be posted. The days are ahead with the festive season coming upfront and one of the biggest festival is on it's way: The Durga Pujas. I wanted to wish my fellow bloggers and all trhe people around the world about Happy Pujas, or as per as the bengali colloqui goes, "Sarodiyar Preeti o Suveccha". I tried to post a greetings card here and so I proceeded: " Pujas Greetings + HTML Code". Google gave me thousands of option but 123 is relied upon always and hence I came up to this link to budge me out of the place of unknown: Embedding a e-card in my blog. The site: http://www.123greetings.com/events

I click on to Share Options and here is what I have for you:

Perplexing!!!!

I have never been so perplexed. This is the fourth time I am completely editing an article. Initially this article started off with bashing Mr. Kapil Sibal, Honrb'l Union Minister of Education for Reforming the education system in India, which I believe is for the worse!

Then the hype of the tour to Gadiara came upfront, so I redirected the thoughts to that! A day before the scheduled tour, the tour gets cancelled and the post that I am editing was the one post cancellation ready to vent out the vexation! Frustation... Even one of my friend who is in a similar situation mentions in his Orkut Profile: thru d---'no memory' land!!!

But I always believe and look up for the positive, hence I will walk through the 'memory' path and recollect the last time I had a trip in the Durgostav with Sangbaran, one of the vibrant colours in S5!

It was way back in 2007. Back then, S5 was segregated by geography with Sourav @ Hyderabad while Sandip was @ Bangalore. Sangbaran was then an unemployed engineer with Soumillo working in company in Sector I, Kolkata and I was pursuing my M.Sc [1st year in Genetics], Kolkata.

The remnant S5 had planned a night-stay at Soumillo's place, but 1 week before the event to be held on then: Panchami, Sanga mentions that he would be off to Mangalore for a training in his newly acquired job....

Old memories! That makes that last time I had a tour with Sanga was in 2006. Infact back then Soumillo, Sourav and Sanga were present. I post some of those days... in Collage [courtesy Googz Picasa 3] to cherish the moments in the memories when one of my friend mentions out of frustation 'no memory' land. I see no in-justification towards his feelings. Anyways, have a look at the S5 Pics: Durga Pujas 2006. The party was on Panchami, 27th Sept'06.

Snippets of Pujas 2006. The Literal Last with S5.

Direct from the OT.

The following will be received with un-adulterated precision. A common thing for a doctor and a normal thing for a biologist, especially a Physiologist like me. With the advance of mobile cameras, such pictures come to our social community network, thanks to some very good doctor friends, in their pre-matured era of being a Doctor!

The picture that is shown below is that of am amputed leg, with the pale white "bow" shaped article being the joint region of the femur with the lower bones of the legs. That region resides within the sinovial joint, protected by the patella. This is the terms that a common tenth standard can understand!!! The amputation is done by means of Gollitine [hope the spelling is right!] method.

The objective of the article is not to mention discuss about the ethics and whether one should publish such pics in the social networks or open forums like Blogs. I write this in support of the ideaof having a colour X-Ray directly from the table of the surgeon. Such images may be too tender for the people with weak heart, but seems very interesting.

One should understand that these are the things which only a doctor can handle. A commoner would faint! So before beating up a doc or destroying his clinic or public healthcare properties, one must think. Its hard to do so in the face of atrocity and I am not denying that people are there who cheat the public, but not all. I have known a few friends and a sister of mine, who are all MBBS students, who will never be "witches and zombies" to earn money! They have a good hand and a very good heart and this article is in support for them, and a warm greetings to them and also [too much and] a token of thanks for the support that they have always shown to me!

Enjoy the picture:



[Courtesy: Dr. Mainak]

Offisial Atyachar.

Its time to tickle some of your funny bones with the new kid around you. A simple get-away company, an online tour company has made the moto of "WORK-PRESSURE" into something sensational, visiting which, I can ensure of having a good laugh and so will you.

The website is called: OFFISIAL ATYACHAR, a parody made from the tune of "EMOTIONAL ATYACHAAR" of DEV-D, one of the biggest hits in 2008 bollywood cinema!

Please have a look through the video, to get a prelude of whats in the website. You have logging off tunes, of which the "Tridev" rocks! You have some downloads and others and at the end of the day, you will come up to one site being linked and patronizing the whole concept: GET A BREAK fro WORK, before you get BURN OUT WITH WORK!!

Enjoy the Video:


To visit the website, click here

The Wet Edge.

Its a long spell of torrential rain that have been soaking Kolkata, India for the past 24 hours. The spell, caused by an excessive depression over the South Gangetic Bengal, has carried along till date. Looking ahead, one with a mentality like me is naturally induced to write down a post with such a boring heading, WET EDGE!!! Come on...no PINK feeling around!!!

With just three weeks left for the inception of Pujas 2009, the grand festival for a Bengali, a rain can be as sharp an indent like a blade, cutting through the hopes of fun with loved ones, family and friends, to the shredding filaments!

The thought came to mind, while I was strolling across the corridor, talking over the phone. There was a sharp shound of electric shock waves, followed by a huge bang! A thunder must have shoved past us whose shrill stringed noise made me stuch with awe! Then the person across the phone sa

id, "If this continues, then Pujas are a gonner..."

Its very interesting to note the human mind. A few weeks ago, dus to excessive heat wave, everyone eagerly desired for the rain, but now they curse. First of all, the Pujas are untimely this year round, being ahead by almost half a

month. Secondly, the Aila had delayed the rains, which is now showering with all it's might, to fulfill our two weeks old wish to have a torrent!

Anyways, thinking of such a dicy situation, did make me soak in grim mood, as I expect the Pujas to be bright and with lots of grandeur, fir each and everyone! Tip

Tap.... the drops kissed the wash-basin and the thunder kept plying across the skies over Kolkata!!!

Pic: http://office.sustainability.dal.ca/Images/Water%20Tap%20Dripping%20resized.jpg

Changing Guard in the Tube.

For the last two and a half decade, Metro Railways have always been the most sophisticated journey, a person can access to in Kolkata. The footfall accounts over 5 lakhs per day, with the very own Bengali festival days sees a footfall that exceeds a ten lakh! Awsome figure. A journey that took hardly 35 minutes from the North extreme of Kolkata to the Southern extreme, which on any other road transportation, given the lower passage way in the mega city would surely have taken more than two hour to complete!

With the name of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar, the film icon of Bengali Movie industry, the new stations inaurganated by the Union Rail Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee on 21st August met with awe, when the minister didn't invite the State Chief Minister, Mr. B. Bhattacharya for the occasion. Standing in the state capital, the State all in one was not commenced, and Ms. Banerjee let the gree flag wave announcing the metro service to be extended in the passage that would set in four new stations, that is operational, since 22nd Aug, 2009.

The "beneficial act for the public" comes with a number of debates. The primary one that is already mentioned is the non-invitation to the CM. Well, the aversion for the TMC leader and the Union Rail minister that has been groomed since 2006 comes fore front and the tussle remains to get more bitter!

The opposition, i.e the state government supremo, Mr. Bhattacharya comes up with the following: "naming stations in the name of great people doesn't justify their greatness". What he must have meant is that since the TMC leader has taken the decision to name the stations without their consent, means she has done a grave mistake as the names are not for the common day's use!!! Good thought, but then we have to change a number of things in Kolkata drastically!

How about renaming GORKY Sadan? GORKY was a communist leader! How about changing Mahatma Gandhi Road to? What about Lenin Sarani! There people are Wlaking on the "chest of Lenin!" Lets get out of Kolkata, get into Birbhum! How about the names of the schools for government concern which is anmed after some local CPM MLA/MP's name, who had nothing to do before their death, for that school? --- Think the CM is not talking very sense!

The new stations and the their actual locations:

Garia Bazar - Kabi Nazrul [Emminent poet of Bengal]
Naktala- Gitanjali [The Noble winning Literature by Rabindranath Tagore]
Bansdroni- Master Da Surya Sen [ Emminent freedom fighter from Bengal]
Kudghat- Netaji [Freedom fighter with a World Fame]

Apart from the above, what Ms. Banerjee gifted the Artist Forum and the filmstars, is to rechristen Tollygunge Metro Station to Mahanayak Uttam Kumar, the man of dreams, with his heartiest smile!

Please refer to the chart below for a full details of the route:

Picture from: http://www.urbanrail.net/as/calc/calcutta-map.gif

The fun has started again. Today, 26th of August, 2009 there has been clashes all around by the CPM supported organizations and they all target the railways! Reason unknown!

Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, if you have the thirst of doing something good, then please spare the common people from the harrassment. Bengal has seen enough, like brain drain. You know the reason Mr. Bhattacharya? Because of slow paced work that Bengal work culture has. Why? Union! Politics!

Please do something for us, or else we all shall slowly go away, then whom will you all rule? The pet dogs that you all have. This is addressed to all the political parties. Please be civilized first!

Pujas Again... 2009.

Every year, this had always been a scheduled duty to remind the blog readers with the article entitled some where like this. "Pujo ese gelo.." or "Pujas are coming..."

Every year the occassion repeats, but has a new meaning. Some thing or the other changes in every one's life but the expectation of the festive season remains unchanged! Quoting a very good friend of mine from Presi Dayz, namely Moitreyi, who said Change is always constant! Today, I have a very different status to adore my belongings! Although my office will be open on Saptami i.e 25th of August, I shall be taking it off! Actually my Pujas had always started from Sasthi, the "sixth day", but this time round, this is ought to change!

After I got the licence to roam around alone, since 2001, for the past 5 years I have been engaged heavily with friends and close ones! In this transaction have always lost some quality time with my family, especially my mom. Hence this time around, I have planned that Saptami will be a morning tour with mom, to places in the morning as mom cannot withstand too much of commotion and the evening will be with one piece of the S5, Sangbaran. Asthumi and Nabami with friends, special people in my life and the way life shall continue!

Waiting for September 25th then... Pujas...Durga Pujas...please come with all the expected grandeur!!!

Mangalkot: A place in Mangal...Mars!!!

Before anything can pass into your head, have a look in here to marinate yourself for the reality to come through my keyboard, very very soon! Have a look int this picture and tell me what is it?


The above two are simple pictures, snapped from Wikipaedia account for Democracy, and mind it, India is well placed in the safe zone for Democracy.

Now come to West Bengal.

All the pictures change in the micro-environment of a state, tainted Red in the regime of a party that supposedly has become an instituition in almost every right. After all, over 35 years of sitting at the helm of the State Machinery, that's over 50% time of a nation's independence is nothing but credit, something that they will try to bite into and cling forever!

But as mentioned always, the air is changing..and so is the picture of a "peaceful, no terrorism state" turning violent each and every day. The reason is simple, weakening roots always pay the price of the tree, making sounds of breakage or wreckage!

I have been mentioning a number of times over the net, in my blog, about the suppressive politics that Bengal foresees, but today everything is reaching to an over saturated status. Recently concluded march to Mangalkot, Burdwan, West Bengal, India. A good lineage eh?! People from the opposition party voiced their protest over the whimses of the state government, declaring CURFEW and 144 in the region. The region has become un-accessible to the world, even the media. Some people who wants to enter the zone are being beaten up by the state machinery, who keeps mumb over the situation! The recent being the beating up of the Trinamool Congress meeting towards the outskirts of Mangalkot, which was outside the the Curfew territory. The authority beat up, but in the following media presentation, thanks to Star Ananda, you will find two people...one in black T-Shirt amongst the police cordon beating up the opposition as if they were dogs! Who are these "Colour Dressed Police?" CPM Goons? Cadres? They are CPM Hooligans! See the video for yourself!





Want to place any comments? Please do... As it is West Bengal is in Crisis for the past 15 years!

Hola, The 26th Mile!

Many people whom I expected a Call from will remember that missed the Train I was on when I was crossing the 26th Mile! That too, if they come by this blog article.

Many people will realise that I crossed the 26th Mile on August 8th, 2009 and may be spare me a congratulation on a belated note!

Many realizations will come by, but one realization always pins me into a renewed stream of sadness, that along with the 26th Mile, I have, invested in this day a sense of missing, catering it's 5th round in a row, when I see the seat beside me empty, where my Dad once held, a very special place. Especially, Aminia, where every birthday, till 1998 had I dinner of my favourite Biriyani with Mom and Dad! A school of thought, well said and remembered again.

Yes, the 26th mile is crossed with a tick on the ZEROth Hour on 8th August 2009. A small presentation, loved by mom, gifted to me a long time back [When I was nothing but Idle], is regifted to myself on this day. Have a look... just as silently I do!




Saonara!

Mistakes, even after death!

Comrade Subhash Chakraborty takes his last abode to heaven, but mistakes keep on get committed.

Just as shocking the news was, for Mr. Chakraborty conducted a meeting a week ago, regarding the transportation hindrances that the State vehicles had, last. Yesterday, his dead body gets burnt in the cremation center, in South Kolkata.

Approximately, two years ago, another Comrade, Mr. Anil Biswas also bid farewell to this worldly affairs, but never could one recall the mass and magnitude of crowd that congregated on the streets of Kolkata, to bid their last respect to the graet leader, whose comments were random and direct from the heart. He was the only man who feared none and even talked against the government as well as party policies, directly on face, being part of the Govt as well as the party. This did make the chairs of some emminent people tremble, but Mr. Subhash Chakraborty was a man of substance, help and goodwill.

Be it sports to personal studies, the man stood by the weak! Although, such a blog might seem rare, but I give you Lal-Salaam, on your way up there!

But there are mistakes, and over here there had been a big blunder... just see the picture and you will understand! Absurd and irresponsible reporting. The pic mentioned alongside the article is the former Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr. Somnath Chatterjee!!! [He is still alive!!!]

Friends... Friendship...etc...

Mind If I tell you a swine? If you mind, you are not my friend, for my friends know, why I asked you or better say, called you so!

How about getting all the doors locked behind and call upon the hectic schedule... You B**T***D! i guess you can understand what that means?! You are not a mumbo jumbo for not understanding that! Are you?

This is not a day to commemorate the past, for the first Sunday, every August is nothing but a gizmo deviced by the Archies and other card manufacturers to sell their cards! My Airtel already pounced in a sms declaring that the free sms plan will be off today, i.e 2nd August 2009. The simple reason, it's a friendship day! The young generation will ping out the smses: Hi...Happy Friendship Day or it can go like this Dear, wish you a very very very very.... [x million times] Happy Friendship Day! Alternatively, some on like me, can take the opportunity to wish the people in advance:

[dt: 01-08-2009]
Kal hain friendship day,
Aj hain sms free.
Kal nahee!
Iss liye Yara,
Kabul karlo apna yeh paigam..
Din kar diya,
Apne iss dost k naam-
Subh Dosti Din!

Taking the opportunity of sms, within the free window!

But, somewhere, things get missed a lot! Today had a talk with one of the very old friend, way back into the school days. Remembered and cherished those days at tuition, the beloved English tuition and with the occasion of the Pujas nearing every minute, the last minute plans that we had to alter here or there, even though I took all the pain to jot down the whole plan altogether!

Today meetings are vague. Never expected that this can turn out as a fate of such strong bondings that we once shared. Although I know that it all takes a will power to meet, just a step ahead to confirm the meeting, some one has to bell the cat!

I can just provide one such incidence, where I enjoyed with my pals, from my University Days, now trying to establish in respective fields! Just have a look below:



[Download the Video Pals? Click here]