Santiniketan

‘I shall be born in India again and again. With all her poverty, misery, and wretchedness, I love India best.’

Rabindranath Tagore

Santiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. This place was founded by Rabindranath Tagore's father Devendranath tagore. This 'abode of peace' lies approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata and can be reached by several train and bus services within 3-4 hours. Maharshi Debendranath, father of Rabindranath Tagore, founded an ‘Ashram’ here in 1863. Almost 40 years later, Rabindranath started an open-air school at Shantiniketan that gradually developed into an international university named Visva Bharati where the cultures of the East and the West may meet in common fellowship and thereby strengthen the fundamental condition of world peace.However, this tranquil outskirt have become a global tourist location, other than being a university campus.

There are a Museum- Vichittra and Art Gallery- Nandan. Within the Uttarayana complex, there are five houses of the Tagores- Udayana, Konarka, Shamali, Punassha and Udichi. Besides, Chhatimala, Upasana Mandir, and Shantiniketan Bari are some of the oldest sanctums.Shantiniketan is famous for its various festivals, marking the changing seasons. The major festivals are Poush Mela (December), Maghotsab (February), Basanta Utsab (March), Varsha Mangal (July-August), Sharodutsab (Oct-Nov). Millions of people come to Santiniketan during these festivals from all over the world.

Other than touring the town limits of Santiniketan, excursions from Santiniketan have also become a common desire of the tourists. Nearby places like Kankalitala (9km), Deer Park (4 km), Joydev-Kenduli (30 km), Nonoor (18 km), Saintha- Nandesawari (44 km), Lavpur-Fullara (30 km), Tarapith (88 km), Nalhati (100 km) and Massanjore (75km) lie at a convenient distance from Santiketan; suitable for a weekend's vacation.

The best time to visit santiniketan is from October to March. There are sveral hotels and lodges available within the town premisces at affordable rates. Internal transportation is catered to by a "rickshaw association' and private cars. Long distance buses reach to the nearby places of tourist interest. Two 'must see ' attractions of Santiniketan is the natural beauty of Kopai and Sonajhuri. This place have been like a magnet for me since years and this can be said undoubtedly that Santiniketan is the unmatched spot for peace lovers and cultural minds.

I can see the future..

I come closer to the future with every passing day
I was close to past yesterday…
I am happier today..leaving it behind

The highway of the future lies in each break of a day
I enclose my future with every approaching moment with my own decisions

I encounter my future everytime I dream and all the diligent steps I take
Make up my future and plans for the future

Though I made my past…I repent…and I relish moments that are close to my heart
Today I face the future, knowing it won't last.
I try not to depend on my future…I know …its blind
Future is vague and ephemeral …while my present is fleeting…

In spite of thousand thoughts around…I believe
'you'll live well in the future
if the present is well lived '

Kolkata Summers.......

The scorching summer has brought Kolkata into a sluggish halt, though the vehicles are running, transactions are on the way and life is on its usual roll; the city is seething. The natives away from Kolkata may be relieved to know that they are away from 40 degree C on an average. No sign of rain or storm is getting our expectations into a dipping down curve with every passing day. Heat strokes, dehydration, low pressure and nausea have become the basic and expected news of the season. Although doctors are prescribing all the necessary do’s and dont’s , nothing can redeem the irritating summers of Kolkata into anything that can be called pleasant. But, truly sunlight and sun is an integral part of our lives, nevertheless we cannot disagree with the beauty of light and shadow play forms around us…amidst the strong summers –both scorching and balming..

What can be the colors of life?

What can be the colors of life?...distinguished or blurred..
with my vision of deepest thoghts on the world of activities around
the gloomiest day can be called the brightest with my imgination unbound....
Can black symbolize endless strife...
or a subdued mystery about to reveal the spectrum..
Red shall speak of the color my heart has...
my love..my soul and my passion ablazzed..
Where the gentle cupid strikes with his tameless dart...
The sky shows me blue or maybe gray..
The snowy clouds with mjoisture within and grayish tint that rain can bring.... Colors show how life can change day by day...
Yellow in sunlight & orange for spring flowers
I bask in warm caressing of the sunbeam... hour upon hour..
The green emerald sea or the torquoise oceans.. have jewels hidden in unlimited portions..
White brings peace of mind and tranquility.
My dream angels fly around with wings of white.. cheering me of a day...lucky and bright...
The bright colors of my wing lift me off my feet to an ageless flight... arising a new query again..
What can be the colors of life?

Kolkata comes alive

Warmer days & longer nights

Make me nostalgic of my favorite sounds.

The buzzing of a lawn machine,

The kettle whistling for the morning tea and beverages

The sound of children's laughter from the neighborhood…

Filling the air as they played at the outdoors

Cricket, skipping and funny rounders ….just to name a few

The clip clopping of horses tongas….

Kolkata comes alive…………………………………………………………..

The milk man’s cycle calling to deliver his packets…

The bells ring at the temple with hurried worshippers from corners of the city…

Ganges flow by at its own pace…tired and resolved

Corporates hurrying down the steps, planning management chores..

While business fellows dot down their pens for new schemes….

The sound of the automobile’s horn to herald

Kolkata comes alive…………………………………………………………..

Women gossiping as they clean the doorstep

Sometimes a recipe sometimes a joke,

Men whistling as they hurry for buses and trams…..

Sad enough to agree that sounds have changed what we heard before……..

Because of progress… time have changed

But memories stay back…memories of Kolkata coming alive

When my heart craves…

How can I control the uncontrollable?

How can I understand the intricacies of understanding?

How can love move away when love stands so strong?

I often asks these questions to myself when my heart craves.

A heart that craves to be touched…by my soul mate

Loved…touched

Seen…felt

Wanted……conquered

And craved once again in return…for a lifetime

My heart craves your love…attention and satisfaction

At every instance…at every glimpse

The only contentment that can satisfy my every need…is your smile

My heart craves for you to fill me with you…

I can still feel your kisses

I can still see your eyes …though affairs have kept you away from me

I still crave to be next to you

Forbidden love or ignorant desire…whatever you may call..

My heart still wants and needs you…

At every instance…at every glimpse

No matter how much I feel to let you go… because

Nothing matters……………..

When my heart craves…

Some unknown facts to startle you..........

• More money is spent on gardening than on any other hobby!
• Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin!
• The average person laughs 13 times a day!
• Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.
• Dogs can hear sounds that you cant!
• Men are 6 times more likely to be struck by lightning than women!
• Of all the words in the English language, the word set has the most definitions!
• The worlds oldest piece of chewing gum is over 9000 years old!
• The dot over the letter "i" is called a tittle.
• Rubber bands last longer in refrigerator.
• The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley’s gum.
• Chocolates can kill dogs.
• The thumb nail grows the slowest and the middle nail the fastest.
• It’s impossible to sneeze with eyes open.
• Traffic lights were used even before the invention of cars.
• Pregnant women tend to eat more if they carry a baby boy.
• The real name of Albert Brook is Albert Einstein
• A group of owls is called a parliament.
• The diamond is the only gem composed of a single element.
• More people die playing golf than any other sport, the leading cause of death is heart attacks and strokes.
• The most popular reason for not voting in elections, according to the U.S. Census, was "Too busy."
• Cows can climb upstairs but not downstairs.
• A rat can last longer without water than a camel.
• Cats have a third eyelid, called a haw, which is rarely visible. If it is visible it could be an indication of ill health.
• Crocodile sheds tear while eating.
• The snake that is responsible for the most human deaths is the saw-scaled or carpet viper which resides from West Africa to India.
• The sky is shrinking and has been doing so for the past 40 years, scientists have discovered. About five miles of sky have been lost since 1958, and that figure may double over the next century. Researchers studying the Earth's upper atmosphere, 56 miles up, said the contraction is probably a result of the greenhouse effect.
• 40,000 people die each year, worldwide, from snake bites.

CHOCOLATE BURFI

You will need:
maida - 1 cup sugar 2 cups ghee - 1 cup milk - 1 cup milk powder - 4 tablespoons cocoa powder - 2 tablespoons finely chopped cashew, almods, pista, raisins put together 1/2 cup

How to make it:

Place a thick kadai on the heat.To this directly add all ingredients i.e., maida, sugar, milk,milk powder, cocoa powder and ghee and mix well together.

Keep stirring continuously for around 18 to 20 minutes when the mixture starts leaving the sides.

It forms into a thick round mould by about 20 minutes time and you start getting a good aroma.

Now add the chopped nuts and raisins and mix well. Remove from heat and pour on a greased plate and cut into desires shapes.

Allow to cool and it forms into burfi shapes.This is instant and can be done withint 25 minutes time.

You're the most important thing to me

I love the way I can talk my heart to you
And say what moves on my mind
I never needed to look away
Or keep any bit inside
Tears fill my eyes and pain throng within
when you're not around me.....
Or when you just don't seem to care ...
But I know in my heart you will always do what is right for me,
you will always dare ...

Materialistic assets will never matter
As long as you are with me
You make every day special that passes
and make them much easier to get along..

My worries are waned away when you're around
No thoughts of pain or doubt crunch me about..
I can feel your love when you hold me close within your arms..
And kiss my heart

I don't care what the world is talking about
All I care for is only for you
I can what is unimaginable to show you my love
If that's what I really have to do
I love you for everything that you are
Leaving back what you promise to be
I can't see any more vision...but only you...
and you're the most important thing to me

I'll paint you a rainbow

I'll paint you a rainbow and you hang it on the wall,
it shall brighten your heart when the grey shadows fall.
On the canvas of joy everlasting the years,
with a soft touch of the brush full of sweetness to dry all your tears.

I'll paint you a rainbow reflecting the colors of smiles
That shall glow with sincerity over all the miles.
On a palette of affectionate words
I will tenderly blend subtle hues and dark tones into treasures of sunlight and wind.

I'll paint you a rainbow that will reach acres wide,
Your sights and your sorrows will vanish inside,
And deep with each different hue,
A memory will be embedded especially for you.
So lift up your eyes and dont suspended them ever,
A rainbow designed by the fingers of love... comes for you from high above..........

Tui duur desher ek rakhaal jeno...

Tui duur desher ek rakhaal jeno...
haate surer baansi nie...ami kaajla mey chute asi..
bikelbela....matther teere....
halka bheja...chuler abesh chorie dii ghaser pore...
neel sarir sei anchal...jae ure ure ...kon deshete...?
tui rakhal ...tor baasir taane...

sune sune ..aakuul hoe...khuje barae ami taare...
raakhal jeno thekeo nei...
khuje berae baashir taane...
gacher tole...nodir dhare....dheu khelano dhibir paare...
koi se rakhal...j bojhe amar moner suur.....ar bajae tar e suure...

amar rong...aj rongeen tar e suure...
khujchi kothao...
kothae tumi...rakhal amar moner kone....?
roj raate j daki tomae....
sunte pecho se daak amar?
bujhe nie bojhona keno...sudhui bajao...tomar baashi..
roj bikele eseo keno dekhao na tomar misti haasi...?

kal asbe tumi...abar notun gondho...notun suur nie...
notun holeo chena amar....bohudiner pirit j e.....
tumi bujhbe na...ki konodin o...asbe na ki amar kache...?
chaibe naki...ei kajla meyer moner paane...?

ami roibo cheye tomar pother paane...
kobe asbe tumi sei suur nie....
nie jabe kone kore ...tomar kuure ghorer bou banie.....

tui duur desher ek rakhaal jeno...
haate surer baansi nie

Aj bristi saradin....

aj bristi saradin....

dhowasa hoe charidhar..

jeno boye eneche ek osadho sopno.....

teer tepantor perie sudhu jol o jol.......

kolkatar rastae manhole golur ek adbhut sorojontro dekhi....

thekeo jeno thakena....

jol kotha naala kotha....

tar nei kono hodiish...

tatei jolokeli te mogno school ferot bachara...

kisor kisorira....

sohorer arekprante ghono sobuj patae...fota fota bristir khela....

thanda shitol hawae...mon o mononer melaaa..

abantor kichu chinta khele othe proti muhurte..

jodi bristir rong hoto laal....

hoeto ei khipto prithibir manosikotar protibimbo hote parto..

nah...!!

bristi socho sorol...jolocchash er khela...

amar hath er prante duti phota...

chutir dine baradae darie..joubon er oisorgik ek anubhuti....

pete chae sei aponjon k...saradin er golpe addae...

tarpor bela gorale pate pae ...khichuri...

anek saadher...anek chawar ei aahar....

aj bristi saradin....

nei suru nei ses....

bristi sudhu bristi saradin.....

dhowasha sopno bises...ghum ghum chokhe dekhi bristi saradin.....

Rain........................

Rain hits the window
one drop, two, many more follow
each one set on a journey
which requires more understanding then I allow
I envy the short life of the raindrops
though pretty they are while falling
inspiration for many a poem and story
many a dark emotion
many many tears
Rain has to be one of the lease loved of the weather conditions
though through the dark, wet day
the kind of days where children stay inside to play
is a much greater purpose
each drop spreads water and moisture to the world
feeding plants, streams, rivers and the oceans...
watering food
for livestock to eat, for people to eat
Eroding earth
to make more room
to change things
so every time you look at something
it isnt the same as it was
all this duty placed into the significance of one little drop
of water
if water can have that much importance
just think...of all the wonderful things we can do...
with our thoughts ....our creativity....our laughter
our tears....our emotional moments
we are so much more complex then water
and look at all it does
so when you think the rain is annoying
and dark...
and wet
Think of the outcome
and remember you can change the world
with just one smile......and perhaps rain falling...rain...........

Ami j sagorer sei neel.........

Aami...sagorer jol....shoto toronge torongito...shoto ronge rongeen...

bhese jae kon duur dese..porone...sagor sei neel....

amar aanchole pabe....jhinuk...sada..golaper paaprir roop...

amar antore pabe betha...chonchol er ussringkholota...amar chokhe dekhecho ki...?
uthal..pathal dheu er mukhomukhi checho ki???

uttore pabe dhongser suur....sorbograsi...tae j modhuur...

amar paaare...bose chao...kar pane hridoy harao...???
ami j sagorer sei neel.....bhese jae seema...poriseema heen.......

ami tomar sei pagli....

jare bhalo baso....sei pagli ke..?

Tumi shunnyo pane takao fire...kare dekho noyon neere...???
jare bhalo baso....sei pagli ke..?
tumi prosno koro...mon byakuuul keno...??
chute pao na....sagor er atol bhuumi...rohossher gera jale....sudhu bujhte chao...
jare bhalo baso....sei pagli ke..?

tumi anek bochor ghure ele...tao take bujhte na pele...
se alada sobar tore...tomar chokhe chokh bhasale....bujhbe ki...??
jare bhalo baso....sei pagli ke..?
sei pagli....tomae sudhu tomae...anekta bojhae..ayeena banae....
ek mutho ek bhorsa nie....tomar biswas er bhikkha korae...tao debe na...ek fotao ki.....astha tomar..??
jare bhalo baso....sei pagli ke..?

Kotota poth perole...tobe pothik howa jae..

Aamr janlar pase ekta adhchera kolkagach ache janis....
keu dekhasona kore na emon baganer gach seta...
tao nijer motoe bere chole ...
kono ahonkar ba...spondon nei...gachtar...
fol udpadon korle parar bacha rae tene chire nae.....
bhabe na tar jontronar kotha...
amar janlar pase nuie....roj saradin dekhe amar kaj...
golpo kore amar sathe.....

prothom din bolechilo...."aj tumi bosle amar samne"...
ami chomke gechilam....oi addhek sukie jawa kolapatar roop dekhe....
ki sobuj ar ki sotej...jeno morte giyeo bachar apran chesta ...
aste aste deklam kichu kolka folche...sobae chire nie chole gelo...

keu proyojon bodh koreni gachtar jibon kotha janar...
amae bolto...prae saat bochor boyos or....
chawa fol...hawa sob e dieche
emonki...bristi te anek pothiker matha o dhekeche...
keu chine rakheni ok....

bastota ar jantrik jibone....harie jache sobuj...sotejota...
ekta sotej pran roj amar janlar pase suprabhat janae....prothom surjalok e....
sei kolagach ta...
aamr janlar pase adhchera kolkagach ta...........