A "Beef" Story

According to Hinduism, God resides in every thing, starting from the inanimate objects to the human being himself. Scientifically, we have all come into existence from the inanimate objects created millions and billions of years ago, in the super kitchen called the stars and the cosmos. Literally, we all are star-born, but still we have our differences! Differences that have helped the leaders tame us to our fears and angers, which if being diverted to a fruitful energy can bring much better and developed society.

Very recently, the beef story has been flashing in briefs all over India. Starting from the murder for the palate near Gurgaon to the uproar in Kerala Bhawan, the Holy Cow has been in media for the past few weeks! Why is Cow Holy? Because mythology states that Lord Krishna address her like a motherly figure, giving Milk. Well, taking of milk, all mammals do; starting from the mouse to the cow, all have mammary glands! Not only cow, every organisms need to to be spared then! Well, I have never tried the mouse meat thought; just for the argument!

In Bhgwat Gita, Shri Krishna showed Arjun, his image of the Universe, the image that relates to the balance of knowledge that controls the good and the bad; filters out the evil but like a colour contrast, leaves some behind for the realization that nothing is achieved without hardship. But in the end, everything has to go eternity; something in biology we call as release of the elements of  a body after death!

Eating beef or not, I have no opinion. It is ultimately the fact that India is a country where liberalism is part of the democracy. It doesnot mean how much evil it is to kill the cow; but to respect, yet tan her skin and wear on foot loses the omnipresent respect of not eating the beef!

Cow or No Cow; the situation sometimes make me say... "Holy Cow!"

পান্দেল-এ পান্দেমনিউম

পুজো শুরু....

এদিক ওদিক ছুটছে মানুষ,
উড়ছে ধুলো,
দুলছে ফানুস -
পুজো এসেছে আবার করে,
উমা এসেছে মর্তলোকে।

ঘুরছে চাকা,
উড়ছে বেলুন ,
Guiness Book থেকে আসছে কজন ;
মানুষেরই সমাগমে,
দেখবে বিদেশ উত্সব কাকে বলে!

এইনা বলে মানুষ ছোটে,
দিশেহারা  রুদ্ধশ্বাসে!
চটি খুলে,
ঘেমে নিয়ে,
পুজোয় মানুষ আনন্দ করে..

রাতের শেষে, ভর হয়ে যায়,
খুদা তৃষ্ণা থাকে একই জায়গায়,
অন্ধকারের চত্ব শিশু,
আবার করে দিক্বাজি খায়।

তোমার পুজো, আমার পুজো,
বিশ্ব সেরা দুগ্গা পুজো,
সৃষ্ঠি সুখে মানুষ হারায়,
অন্য কারোর জীবনের দায় ,

আসছে বছর আবার হবে,
পদ দলিত মানুষ যাবে,


সুধু জেনে রেখো মা সর্বাসুখে,
ভিক্কুক কে দুটি অন্ন  দিলে,
মন থেকে পুজো পূর্ণ হবে!

---সোমনাথ পাল

4-0. Does it really matter for Mohun Bagan, statistically?

In the world, where number rules now a days, with a sad heart I still do feel that does the scoreline of 4-0 really matters? 

Here is a small data:

EB: 135 times winning 20 trophies. Since 1920.... 2015: 1.42 trophies per year. (http://eastbengalfootballclub.com/trophy.php)

MB: 246 times winning 54 trophies. Since 1889...2015: 1.95 tropies per year. (http://www.mohunbaganac.com/history#trophies)

Still my fellow frnds shall say... talk after 1920.... so, I am talking after 1920 for Mohun Bagan....
MB: Since 1920...2015: 213 times winning 42 trophies (*IFA 1911 is also excluded): 2.24 trophies per year.

So, with so much at stake, the defeat of Mohun Bagan can be only for the day. In the long run though, statistically, Mohun Bagan is still 1.58 times ahead in  trophy win per year, considering data from 1920 to 2015 till date.

Wireless from Across the Atlantic : First Week

Getting in the pressed clothes, the journey started foe me nearly 10 days ago. A journey, that extended the first day of "hopefully" many more days to come. The day of Aug 20, 2015 was 29 hours for me. 2 hours in India, 15 hours in flight and then another 12 hours in US.

And then started a string of images from across the Atlantic for people back home to have a look, through my eyes. Specially my mom, who recently is taking her first strides into the World of Facebook.

There were two reasons, to be here. One to visit my wife and second to deliver a talk on my research activities at a Global gathering in Philadelphia. To a person like me, its all new... and the next few articles in this blog will be on that. Fresh from the neural network to the digital network.

Courtesy: Google Maps.

Normally, people back home use to compare the "cleanliness" of US. I would like to admit that I am no exception. But, they do not explain why. They do not think why? Population back home is astounding and loud too. Here, the best you can hear loudly are speeding cars. No honks! No swearings at random!

I would take the privilege to autopsy the situation. The only thing that comes upfront, to make a city like "clean" is the people that stay in here. Rather than getting mesmerize with the "beauty" of US or may be any European Nation; even Japan or Korea, it is very important to reflect on our habits.

It is said that "Indians become more disciplined and act like the locals when they are on foreign soil". Actually, looking at the surrounding, you won't feel like littering it but loiter in the lush green, clean ambiance. If they can do here, why not back home? I think, given an opportunity, this habit; Every Indian city has the potential to be like a "clean city". Mr. Modi has already flagged the notion of "Swacch Bharat". If the habits change, then population will never ever be a problem.

People might still poke in, I am in a less populated city of US, like Milwaukee. Well... I agree; but I have been to Philadelphia too. I do not find people pee-ing on the roads or spitting pan on the walls. Its a disciplined behavior that can change the outlook. Its not difficult! Its simple. Just it shall take some focus to follow this simplicity.

Have a look of the surroundings on a rainy day. Do you see any mud puddles?

I took a stroll around the place, to take some pictures of rainy, waterlogged, puddled streets of Milwaukee. This is equivalent to a township area, outside the main city. I have not come across one place where the water was above my shoe sole...

This first article is nothing change the India immediately. But I have my friends, who after reading this will help to spread the thoughts of "disciplined habits" to their known faces. I hope, someday, this notion of "Swachh Bharat" will not simply stay on as a notion. Its like a duty; for the city or town... on a bigger picture, India, feeds you and holds you in her bosom. Lets not cripple it's beauty.

4 more weeks of stay. I shall bring you much more different experiences... I hope. Till then....

A month of NO 2 Minutes : Looking back to a busy lifestyle without Maggi.

Approximately a month back, Indian household faced the Lead hurdle and their easy gate away to a morning breakfast, lunch and even evening snacks crashed down like the crunchy uncooked "Maggi" noodles.

"Maggi". A term that needed no introduction. I guess, just like Abhimanyu learnt the way into the Chakravyuha, the new born learns and tastes the ecstasy of Maggi, right in his/her mother's womb. You don't need a father like Arjun to teach him that; even a lazy dad can make one 2 minute dish, with the best taste to offer.

Enough of the introduction. How have we fared amidst the dawn of "Maggi"-less diet?

I asked a few friends of mine and they came up with mixed reactions.

A: Its like living without peace.
B: I don't feel anything different! We have more reasons to worry than our platter (he dashed off to do his experiment). I got you bro!
C: Very difficult! There are so many more things and the Government wanted to ban the cheapest of them all. Something that in the easy reach of the common man. Started from 5 to 15 and then the mega packs! How could they do this! Shall we all eat Pizza now?

Dear C, Pizza is not always an option. In fact, Maggi has no alternative in it's truest sense. You can munch on healthy bread, butter and omlette; but when it comes to spicy tasty yummy something to start off. Something that you can stir even sleeping. Its always Maggi! If you are sleepy, the alternative food in form of bread will over heat and turn "carcinogenic" black! The omlete may not be perfectly shaped and in most of the cases, the sleep will turn that to a scrambled egg!

Being a researcher, I would say, the cause to ban Maggi is good. I have nothing to refute it. I was surprised that the safety regulation office woke up late. If it's lead, then Maggi is here in India, even before my birth! What were they doing back then and all these? God knows, when we will get addicted to something else, that day may be another Lead will drill through our household and our pockets!

Although I am having difficulty. I will not complain against the decision. I would just pray that the Nestle brings out Maggi once again, after meeting through all the guidelines. Hope to see that day soon!

Looking forward to you dear,