Srishti Magazine - May 2012 Edition.indd

Arani
INAUGURAL ISSUE MAY 2012
An Expression of Srishti
Srishti Bengali Cultural Association
Charlotte, North Carolina

Content:
Forward (Gautam Bose)............................................................................2
Editorial (Saswati Collam).........................................................................3
Spiritualism (Salomi Mukherjee)................................................................4
Sanatan Dharma (Jay Chakraborty)..........................................................5
Historical Journey of Idian Music (Amrita Biswas)................................6
Notes from Pupae Didi’s Diary (Sudeshna Hazra)...................................7
Squaring Away Your Health with a Garden (Sudip K. Roy).................8
Grandma’s Garden (Nandini Gangopadhyay)...........................................10
Fundamentals of American Football (Abhijit Sengupta)........................12
SPCC - the Champions of Carolina (Ramki Krishnamoorthy)................14
Coming to America in Seventies (Santanu Sarkar)................................16
Summer Receipies & Household Tips (Assorted Authors).....................18
Bonterra Restaurant Review (Salomi Mukherjee)..................................21
Roman Holiday (Sohini Chatterjee).........................................................22
No Trouble in Algeria (Manojit Kayal)...................................................23
A World of Travel (Kaushik Ganguly).....................................................24
Parenting Young Kids (Shoma Sengupta)...............................................26
The Sky Over The River (Artist: Anasuya).............................................28
Pondering Parent (Shyama Parui)...........................................................29
The Importance Of Drawing in your Child’s Life? (Karli Halder).....30
Little Achievers Felicitation Program (Manisha Singh)........................31
Kid’s Art Showcase(Assorted Artists)......................................................32
Kid’s Musings & Poems (Assorted Authors)...........................................34
Quiz (Prithvi)..........................................................................................36
Looking Forward – Srishti 2012 (Abhijit Sengupta)...............................37
Team Arani:
Magazine Oversight
Samiksha Bose
Abhijit Sengupta
Editorial Team
(in alphabetical order)
Chandraboli Dutta
Dipta Majumdar
Kinshuk Agarwal
Prithviraj Ghosh Dastidar
Shyama Parui
Saswati Collam
Art & Graphics
Munmun Naskar
Contact:
If you would like to provide
comments and feedback to
the editorial team and discuss
advertising opportunities,
please email to:
srishtimagclt@gmail.com
1

Foreword for Srishti Magazine
By Gautam Bose
When Srishti started a decade ago our primary motivation was to have a forum to enjoy our culture, share it
with our children and the greater community. Over the years we have been remarkably successful in the fi rst
two, namely setting up a forum and then sharing with our children. But it has been primarily through live
events – performances during different festivities. We all know how proud we are of our literary heritage and
always wanted to have that literary forum within Srishti. My sincere hope is that the Srishti Arani will allow us
to fulfi ll that deep yearning inside all of us.
As I said before our heritage is one of great literary success from Rabindranath Tagore and Nazrul Islam to
Arundhati Roy, Amitava Ghosh and Jhumpa Lahiri. So it is fair to set a high expectation, to have a qualitative,
authentic and innovative magazine published at regular intervals. At the same time we all know that we lead a
very busy daily life in America between raising our children, meeting the expectations of our jobs, worrying
about our parents and relatives in India, and fulfi lling our social obligations towards the community we live in.
So we are always in a time crunch, yet I believe writing and creating art may provide diversion/relief/respite
from the chores of daily life. This is why I want to encourage all Srishti members and their families to fi nd the
time necessary to contribute to this magazine. It is not enough to just have your children write, we want to know
and learn from your own life experiences. It will be fun. Believe me.
Given the fact that we will be living away from Charlotte over the next few years, we will have a special
interest in contributing to this magazine. It will give us an opportunity to remember our life in Charlotte,
share our experiences in Australia and learn how life is changing in Charlotte. We will also look forward to
learning all of your stories, so it should make for a wonderful read. I wish the readers of the new Srishti Arani
a fantastic read and loyal readership.
2

Editorial
“Chance favors the trained mind” – so said Louis Pasteur, the French Chemist and Bacteriologist. And to train
those bright minds out there, we need a nurturing platform. We need a potent medium for the seeds of creativity
to germinate. We need an inert catalyst to get the bits of ideas to innocently come together and explode into a
cataclysm of innovativeness. As I pen the editorial for the maiden edition of our very own Srishti magazine, we
dream of it to be just that – the nurturing platform, the potent medium, the inert catalyst. No wonder that it has
been christened as ARANI – meaning “Flintwood” – wood used to spark a fi re.
Members of Srishti aptly justify the group’s name (which by the way means “Creativity”) as each family is a
powerhouse of talent. Many of them are known to us but yet many more exist whose talents are hidden,
unknown. We’ve, amongst us, quiescent poets, shy authors, introverted political pundits, reticent sports gurus,
reserved travel experts, unobtrusive photographers, consummate culinarians, passionate artists, unsung singers,
quiet pianists …the list is long. Thanks to Arani, in this era of “declarative living”, I was pleasantly surprised
to stumble upon this goldmine of accomplished but yet-to-be-recognized stalwarts. And I’m quite confi dent
that as you turn each page of this magazine, you’ll be too!
Refl ective of the multitude of talent, you’ll fi nd several sections that bring out this wide spectrum of topics
- all the way from spiritualism to travel to sports to cooking to household tips. In many cases, the write ups
are supplemented by beautiful pictures or illustrations that are again contributions from Srishti’s talent pool.
Bringing this magazine together was a fun experience in itself. The series of late night telecons (on bridge
lines –yes!), the meticulous project plan from soup to nuts put together by Prithvi Da (who also happens to
be the spark for this spark, the initiative taker for ARANI), the laser sharp guidance by Samiksha Di and
Abhijit Da, the astute suggestions from Shyama , Kinshuk, Chandra on the sections, content, fl ow
etc, the beautiful cover and logo designs by Moonmoon, Anindita, the web design suggestions from Dipta,
the constant follow ups (or rather hounding members for contributing articles), debates, editing – was a
collaborative effort in true sense.
After 6 months of non-stop relentless effort, it gives a sense of immense satisfaction to see this magazine
come together and take its fi nal shape. I marvel at how quickly these months passed by. Perhaps the old
adage is true…time does fl y when you are having fun. And yes, we did have our moments. The drive and
initiative to get it out of the door went thru its series of troughs and crests. There were times when the fi re
of enthusiasm roared and bellowed thru and then there were those days when it was reduced to just glowing
embers. But the spark once lit never went out completely.
Arani kept us going and it is our dream and aspiration to keep Arani going.
And with the talented close knit family of Srishti that we are, we’re confi dent that we will, we sure will.
-Saswati Collam
3

Spiritualism
By Salomi Mukherjee
Religion, religious beliefs and spiritualism are very controversial topics. Many have different point of view and arguments
about spiritualism. Some even have an atheist point of view where they refuse to believe in any form of worship or
God. I do believe in science and its interesting to know how it helps us to understand the universe but that cannot stop me
from worshiping God.
I am a Hindu born and I come from a Brahmin family. Brahmin is a name used to designate a member of one of the four
varanas (castes) in the traditional Hindu society. Varana refers to the categorization of the Hindu society by four castes,
hypothesized by the Brahmins and their sacred texts. Growing up in a Brahmin family, I saw my dad chanting mantras
( words considered capable of “creating transformation”) in front of God before his meals. I come from a God fearing
family. They taught me that life is going to be beautiful if I offer my prayers to God in true spirit and even in the time of
suffering. God puts us through tests so always keep faith in God.
Since my teenage days, I worship Krishna, central fi gure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the
Bhagavad Gita. He is known as the eighth and “complete” avatar of Lord Vishnu, come to restore Dharma (spiritual/moral
law) to earth in a time of great dharmic imbalance. Krishna is identifi ed as a historical individual who participated in
the events of the Mahabharata. I have a room in my house where I have placed Krishna idol and offer my prayers to him.
I worship Him because I fi nd my strength through Him. My devotion and love for Him gives me peace and harmony. I
can spend my whole day in front of Krishna in meditation for relaxation of my mind and soul. Believing in Krishna is my
belief in God.
Nobody has seen God or heard Him but some of us do believe that God exists. For me God is always with us. It is within
us, Krishna, Allah, Guru Nanak and Jesus are different in religious perspective but there purpose is the same. I respect all
religion and their point of view because I respect human beings with all my heart. And I believe that Heart is a holy place
with God in it. “The way to the shore is through the sea within you.” ― Meeta Ahluwalia.
4

Sanatan Dharma
By Jay Chakraborty
Before I comment on recent developments in Charlotte, it may be helpful to share my perspective of history of Sanatan
Dharma from around 500BC The Hindu civilization was mired under priestly dominance in all aspect of life by rituals
and superstitions. Then came the great Buddha and Mahavira. Their work helped unshackle the clutches of priesthood.
King Ashoka propagated the doctrine of Buddhism with its emphasis on non-violence. Best of the society became
monks in search of Nirvana. Average and the weak were left to raise family and thus progeny suffered. The framework
of Hindu way of life deteriorated due to lack of cohesive Hindu doctrine and in just a matter of few centuries, two
thirds of India followed Buddhism.
Then came great Adi Shankara and established supremacy of Advaita (which professes one God and all is God. It is
illusory power of God, “Maya”, that colors our perception and we see this universe as many). Adi Shankara gave
fi rm footing to Hindu religion and established a framework for its practice that is followed till date.
However, strict emphasis on non violence for over a thousand years had its effects. Foreign invaders conquered and
subjugated the mighty land of India which witnessed the widespread (and sometimes coerced) conversion to Islam.
Adi Shankara’s work held the Hindu faith through diffi cult times. By late eighteen hundred, other doctrines became
well accepted such as “Dvaita”(God and Nature are eternally separate and coexisting) and “Vishishta Advaita”
(a compromise between Advaita and Dvaita). Hindus got divided into various sects and each bitterly argued supremacy
of its own sect and doctrine. With the onset of British rule, the divide deepened when Christian missionaries seemingly
leveraged the situation to further their own cause , Then came Ramakrishna who gave a grand unifying message that all
sects lead to salvation and no doctrine or sect is superior to another.(He reenforced the Vedic message “Ekam Sat Vipra,
Bahuda Vadanti” which says “That One which is eternal; we call It by different names or describe It by different
doctrines”.) His world famous disciple Vivekananda propagated his preachings world-wide and ended the bitter division
of sects. He also argued successfully that each doctrine sees “One Infi nite Eternal Truth” from its own perspective and
that these are all true perspectives.
This message of unity had a grand effect on the attitude of Hindus towards religion. Today each sect has its rightful
existence but no serious doctrinal difference is the focal point of discussion. The priests/preachers are making no serious
effort to establish supremacy of their belief.
A very well written article was published last month in Saathi magazine by Roshan Attrey on Hindu Center of Charlotte.
Hindu Center of Charlotte serves the Hindu community admirably, by catering to its religious and social needs.
But its effort to bring various sects of Hindus under one roof is truly grand and historic, as per my perspective of history.
The founders of Hindu Center of Charlotte and the current leadership deserve credit for their wisdom and dedication.
My hope is that it is just a beginning. Let this be a beacon for the Hindus all over the world. Let similar effort spread
in other cities in US and India. May God help us establish unity in diversity and let harmony prevail.
5

Historical Journey of Indian Music
By Amrita Biswas
Vedic Period:
This period of the history of Indian music begins with the inception of music as an art. There are various theories about
the origin of music. According to the ancient Hindu belief, God Brahma, the creator of the universe is the father of
Indian Music. Vedas were created by the great ‘Rishis’ (sages). The practice of chanting of Vedic hymns in a highly
codifi ed manner became an integral part of many types of ritual ceremonies. This practice was known as Samagana.
Ancient period:
Music in India was used predominantly for religious purposes in this period. The hymns of Samaveda were recited at
the time of Yajnas (the Vedic worship). Musical instruments such as Veena (Lute), Pushkar (a kind of drum), Vanshee
or Bansuree (a fl ute) and Dundubhi (a sort of large kettle drum) were generally used. In this period there was a great
development that started taking place in Indian music. Different terms of music and the Naatya Shastra of Bharatmuni
were written such as Moorchhana System, Maargee and Desi Sangeet,Raga system, Prabandha- gaana, Dhruvapad
styles etc.
Medieval Period:
There was remarkable progress in Indian Music during the medieval period. But the spiritual piety and fervor, which
are the very soul of Indian music, suffered a great setback. Over the centuries it turned out only to be a means of
sensual pleasure in the Palaces and harems. However, there was immense progress in all the three branches of music
- Vocal, Instrumental and Dance Music. New ragas were invented, various musical instruments were manufactured
as well as the Time theory of presentation of ragas was developed.
Modern Period:
In the modern times, two great Indians have done a Yeoman’s service to Indian Music by reconstructing its damaged
framework. Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande and Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar are the two doyens of Indian
Music, who made extensive tours of the country, met different scholars of music, maestros, Rajahs and Nawabs and
collected valuable material on both, practical and theoretical branches of Music. They introduced music in the
educational institutions. Thanks to the efforts of these two pillars of modern music, in Addition to Khayal, semi
classical styles, namely Thumari, Tappa, Bhajan, Qawwali and Gazal have also become very popular in the present
era. In the instrumental music space - Veena, Sitar, Sarod, Santur (Santoor), Violin, Shahnaaee, Harmonium, Tabla,
Mridangam, Dholak etc. have formed great public appeal. Tanpura serves giving the base notes in the vocal and
instrumental music.
All the three branches of music, i.e. vocal, instrumental and dancing have made great advances in the modern time.
This is a good sign of developing interest of this great performing art of India.
6

Notes from Pupae Didi’s Diary
By Sudeshna Hazra
Here’s to a darling I made friends with, when I was still in my kindergarten, which grew up to a wonderful thing that’s
worth remembering, cherishing and refl ecting upon. This is for you Madhu!!!
I was still in my lower kindergarten school and I came back home to fi nd mom has appointed a new maid called Shanti
- an aged, tanned lady ...torn down by life. Her not so smooth skin spoke of her tryst with the world in various forms. She
seemed to have borne many illnesses, children and yes, undying hunger for food. Her ten year old daughter, named Madhu
would accompany her to work always. Initially, we thought Shanti Mashi (Mashi in Bengali although means aunt happens
to be an endearing way of addressing elderly ladies) needed support from her daughter at work. We later understood that
was a clever way of organizing Madhu’s day meals. At our place, all domestic workers were treated to a good meal after
work.
Madhu was a sharp little wench who picked up the art of housekeeping and then cooking quite meticulously and quickly.
I had to bribe her often to get a little room service out of her, like bringing in those absolutely prohibited chocolate chip
biscuits or pieces of mom’s vanilla cake or the green mangoes to be squashed with green chillies, oil and her magic spice.
The bribe would often be some hours of television viewing. I found her sinking into the funny and almost nonsensical
Hindi movies and transporting herself to a distant world. I have never been a fan of television and never of the genre of
fi lms she watched. She could read and write though and she supposedly went to school till standard four and then her family
could not sponsor her education any further.
She was not one of those who quite missed school. My mom would often ask her to keep a watch on me, when she
would be away and I had home-work to fi nish. Madhu was a strict disciplinarian and she would not give in, if I told her I
was done with an assignment until she verifi ed that herself. The next holidays brought with it some wonderful books and
behind them my grand mother, my darling and a great friend.
Soon she discovered our little wench, Madhu and her sharp head. So, with me she was also put to education, at home
though. I remember how happy I was. Finally, I thought I had avenged myself on her. Now she perhaps got an idea how it
felt to complete inhumane assignments. We read a lot together, discovered our passion for acting and performed in numerous
plays in the city then. She was brilliant and we struck a wonderful camaraderie. My grandmother almost forced her to
take the school fi nal examination, as a private candidate, around the time I took my boards in school. She passed. Thereafter,
she would not want to go to college and she decided to marry and bear children. My family was after her life to get her
to do higher studies but she was determined to have a husband. Soon she got plucked by a man from a nearby village, in
one of the weddings. This man was barely educated and barely handsome. So, I was not convinced Madhu was enamored
in a way of her favorite movie actor, Govinda.
The marriage was brisk and I remember her only long speech to me before she took her plunge.” Pupae didi, I choose to
be married and have a home for myself because all my life I haven’t seen one. I have never ever seen my father as a man
I would look up to but a beast who returned home for money, to beat us all up and bruise my mother and curse her.” Thus,
quite unlike all my family, I never could stop her since it seemed like her dream come true, no matter how insensible it
might have appeared. All that I knew I would do with her was be with her whenever she needed me and I also remember
cornering her husband post wedding and warning him with a sweet smile, “If you ever try torturing Madhu, I’’ll break your
bones” and we all have a hearty laugh over it, even today.
I’ve been to her home in the village and broken chunks of coal into pieces to light her mud baked oven and then cut the
hay stacks for her roof. She did not live there for long. Her man made a job in the middle-east and she fl ew off with him.
She is happy now with two lovely daughters and I trust her on all her Bollywood fi lm reviews now. I dote on her daughters
and every time I meet her, she makes me believe in life and love.
7

Squaring Your Health Away with a Garden ...
By Sudip K. Roy
When the Srishti Magazine team fi rst contacted me about writing on a health topic I was not exactly sure which topic
would be best suited for the magazine. We all are acutely aware of medical issues such as heart disease, diabetes, high
blood pressure and high cholesterol. One can easily learn about these problems with a simple Google or Bing search.
After much contemplation on the subject for this issue, I decided I would focus on something much dearer to the Roy
family’s heart - the subject of gardening and in particular the Square Foot Garden.
You may ask how I went from writing about medical issues to gardening. Every day I am confronted by patients with all
of the above aliments and more. Most of the diseases today are a direct result of our stressful modern times and wanting
everything quick and easy. We make no time to stop and smell the roses or observe the abundance of nature around us,
without stress or hurry. To this end, most of us are rushing between balancing long hours at work and the few hours we
have at home with family and friends in the evenings and weekends. Sometimes the weekends are used for work as well.
This inevitably leads to lack of exercise, interaction with the outdoors and over reliance on processed foods.
While that may decrease preparation time at home, it is often at the expense of our health.
Two books that have profoundly affected the way I look at preventative health include In Defense of Food by Michael
Pollan and All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew . These are readily available at any public library or
book store. The more I have read regarding disease prevention and health the more I have found a few recurring themes.
First, we must all try to eat food closer from the ground to the table and if possible in season as well. Second, the less
pesticides, inorganic fertilizers, growth hormones and antibiotics that are used in our produce and meats the better.
Finally, all dietary fats are not the evil that the American Heart Association has been ardently advocating for years.
In fact the lack of good fats seems to be actually increasing heart disease in people. Good fats in nuts and olive oil are
actually essential in balancing appropriate cholesterol levels in the body. Fat does not increase cholesterol.
However, refi ned sugars (high fructose corn syrup in soda and other processed foods) increase cholesterol secondary
to the overall infl ammatory effects on the liver, but I digress.
As you can gather I am passionate about where our food comes from and the effects it has on our health. For this reason,
Lalita and I started growing some vegetables in a Square Foot Garden about four years ago. It is quite simple to do and
very sustainable. The book outlines the process for building the garden. One garden only takes up a 4 by 4 foot area.
Usually all of us have a 4 by 4 area in our lawns that we can dedicate to this process. These are above ground gardens so
no signifi cant ground preparation is required. Fabric weed block is used in the designated 4 by 4 area followed by a
frame made of untreated 2 by 4 foot lumber to enclose the 4 by 4 area. This is easily done by going to Lowes or Home
Depot where they cut the lumber to the four pieces of 2 by 4. The frame takes about fi fteen minutes to assemble
(with an additional person) with wood screws and a drill. The most important step is the soil. This is a mixture of
about 1/3 sphagnum peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite (must wear mask when handling) and 1/3 mixture of different composts
i.e. black cow manure and others. All of these natural products are available at garden supply stores.
The soil is all mixed on top of a tarp or in the 4 by 4 enclosure. YouTube videos regarding these procedures for the
Square Foot Garden are available too. The mixture results in a very spongy, black and mineral dense soil unlike the
8

hard red Carolina clay we are accustomed to here. The entire process of assembly and fi nishing takes approximately
2 hours. Our garden and soil has remained intact for four years without any maintenance or fertilizers. It continues to
provide an abundance of vegetables every year. Weeds grow very poorly in this soil and come out with a gentle yank.
Once the garden is ready, the fun begins.
In the 4 by 4 square, one can grow a total of 16 different vegetables. What? Yes, the 4 by 4 area is divided into 1 ft by
1 ft squares by rope if one wishes. Nikhil, our son who is eight, loves being involved in the planting process. The soil
is very porous and little fi ngers do not need much more than a pair of gardening gloves. Watering is only required for a
minute or so every 2 to 3 days at best. For the last two years, we have completely grown our salad mixes in this garden.
We have grown unbelievable large beets. Look at the attached photo. We experimented and grew Lal Shaak one year.
Over the years we have grown basil, cucumber, zucchini, varieties of lettuce, beets, bell peppers and yellow squash in
the same area depending on their growing season. A few pictures are attached.
The garden has helped us all get outside more instead of remaining confi ned within the walls of our home. Seeing the
fruits of our labor has been very fulfi lling. Harvesting and sharing the vegetables with our neighbors has been a delight.
In fact one of our neighbors followed suit with a larger garden and we often trade different vegetables and tomatoes
during the growing season. The benefi ts for us have been fresh air, contact with the outdoors and time spent with family.
The known quality of fruits and vegetables grown devoid of fertilizer or pesticides has been compelling for us to
continue with this garden. We would be happy to share our experience and insights with anyone.
Who knows we could even begin a Srishti Square Foot Garden Club!
9

Grandma’s Garden by Nandini Gangopadhyay
(Author Nandini Gangopadhyay writes out these beautiful anecdotes for her equally beautiful daughter, Neeva, to
preserve these precious memories in sands of time…)
You and I drove to Grandma’s garden house in Barasat with Grandma and Bhochku (Grandma’s pet boxer) on the 6th
day of December, 2011. We were visiting the grandparents in India and had just arrived from Charlotte a few days ago.
Unlike the bustling metropolis that Kolkata and the rest of suburban Kolkata was, Barasat and the surrounding areas
still happened to be very quaint, rustic and village-like; bhedis or fi shing ponds doted the neighboring areas while old
bash-bons (bamboo groves) and thick aam-bagans (mango gardens) where no ray of sunlight could penetrate kept the
dark, serene and cool atmosphere intact all year around. Oh to be able to just lie all day on a blanket in such an
aam-bagan and read a book! Huge bagan-baris (garden houses) were in abundance in the area; city dwellers from
Kolkata looking for a little bit of greenery and solace often constructed lavish second homes here. There was also the
lovely, old Ma Sheetala temple where villagers held a yearly festival and the Goddess herself was invited to the grand
feast. A very tranquil and picturesque Ramkrishna Mission with lovely gardens and a free clinic and school for young
children was a two minute walk from Grandma’s house. We frequently went on early morning walks or drives in
Grandma’s car to appreciate the beauty and laid back life-style of the area.
The highlight of the trip was of course your garden-crazy Grandma’s garden. Though modest, the garden was truly a
labor of love. With a cute little lawn in the center of the garden, fragrant fl ower bushes and trees surrounded the perimeter
of the lawn. Seasonal fl owering plants of marigold, chrysanthemum rose, dahlia, pansy and petunia grew in abundance
as did perennials such as bougainvillea, champa and mogra. There were also several fruit trees like betel lenut, papaya,
banana and chikoo. Because of the abundance of trees and fl owers, brightly colored tropical birds like mynahs and
bulbuls visited the garden and the neighboring bash-bons and added to the ambience. A small, rustic outdoor kitchen
with a fully functional tandoor (clay oven) completed the pretty picture. We spent many a lazy day lounging outside in
a super comfortable lazy chair or lying down reading a book or a newspaper on a sheetal-pati (straw blanket) in the
garden. Picnic meals were cooked in the outdoor kitchen and you, of course had the time of your life be it just running
around the garden or riding your toy car or teasing poor Bhochku who seemed to take it all in his stride or enjoying
outdoor baths lovingly administered by Grandma on the sun soaked terrace.
And what made the trip more colorful was the interesting bouquet of characters whose lives were intertwined with the
garden. There was of course, Grandma with her crazy love for plants and trees and your blossoming friendship with her.
Garden scissors in hand (a pair of garden Fiskars which she had bought during her last trip to the US), she spent the
majority of her day in the garden. She pruned bushes, clipped away dry fl owers and branches, propped up weaker plants
10

with sticks, made new fl ower beds and planted new fl owers. She made grafts from older plants, prepared and applied
khol (a kind of organic fertilizer made from crushed mustard seeds) to the plants and often turned heaven and earth in her
search for unique and interesting plants and state-of-the art tools for her garden. Her prized possession was a lawn mower
which after much research, she managed to track down a lawn equipment wholesaler in Entally who sold her a tiny little
lawn mower. When she was not in the garden, her time was spent either reading up on plants (she had quite the library of
plant books inside the house and often proclaimed that she should have done her Masters in Agriculture instead of Archeology!)
or going to the Ashram where she volunteered every evening teaching English to orphaned kids. Her strict rules
for garden maintenance and upkeep of course didn’t apply to you. You were allowed free reign of all parts of the garden,
you could trample (albeit unknowingly) any plant that came in your path of ahem…destruction! And you were allowed to
pluck any fl ower that you wanted from the garden! So unfair! But how can rules apply to a bubbly 2 year old who happens
to be her granddaughter!
Among the other characters related to the garden, there was the family of four brothers and sisters and their parents who
lived next door by the pond who helped around the house and garden. The father, Bichitra (which means unique!) was
a gardener in one of the bagan-baris in the neighborhood while his wife worked as a domestic help in people’s homes.
Manju, Mandira and Babu – the youngest members of the family dropped by all the time (driving your anti-social mom
insane!) to play with you and entertain you, help with odd jobs and climb on tall trees to pluck fl owers for you or accompany
Grandma and you to the local park. Even though your mom complained all the time about the lack of privacy and
constant humdrum around the house, it was endearing to see a snapshot of their lives - the love the siblings shared and
their joy in simple things in life – be it climbing a tree, tending to a fl ower which you had unknowingly trampled, going
shopping to the local market to buy goods for the picnic lunch which your Grandma was sponsoring, lighting the clay
oven and keeping the fi re burning or just going for a ride in Grandma’s car. Mandira, the youngest one’s prized possession
(which she shared willingly with her elder sister Manju) was a fake necklace she had won as the fi rst prize of a diya-lighting
contest from the last Durga Puja festivities, the test was basically to see how many diyas (clay oil lamps) you could
light using one match stick (and we will have to ask your Grandma how many), Mandira actually ended up lighting to win
the contest! It was also a revelation to encounter their big hearts, how can people with such meager means be so thoughtful
and giving? Though kids themselves, they often brought small little gifts for you; be it some candy or potato chips
from the mom & pop store in the corner or a pretty fl ower or a balloon…
Then, there was the Mali (gardener) the “Truck Driver” from Aligarh with an intensely colorful personality who always
carried his interesting snack of choice - coconut pieces in a small pouch tied to his waist and which he doled out to anyone
who cared to have a bite. He, of course, didn’t ever have to buy any coconuts; he got plenty from the other garden where
he served as the Mali. During his erstwhile truck driving days, he and his brother had rescued this poor Bengali girl by
paying an exorbitant sum of money to traffi ckers and had set her free. Charmed by his personality and truck driver good
looks, she was smitten and decided to stay back in Aligarh and marry him. He was here because he had followed his wife
to Barasat when she ran away from him because they were having way too many children (four in a span of 11 years!) and
had to hence give up his original profession to take up the profession of his ancestors (who were all farmers) to become a
mali.
There was also the Doi-wala who brought the freshest and best tasting Doi (yogurt) every day that you or I had ever
tasted that he made each night from milk his cows gave! It was a long, painstaking process that he followed to milk
the cows, boil the milk and then curdle it in “bhads” or earthen pots. When the weather cooled down in the winter, he
would use blankets to warm the bhads to get the milk to curdle. Your Grandma who was a daily and year-around
customer of the doi-wala also noted with amusement how the consistency and creaminess of the doi changed over the
months in the year. In the summer, the doi was lighter because the cows grazed on grass growing in the fi elds all day
while in the winter, when grass got scantier, their diet was supplemented with corn and hay that the doi-wala supplied,
hence the creamier texture! Best of all, the poor man, again of meager means always left a little bit of extra doi free of
charge for Bhochku who loved his doi as well! In return, even though Bhocku had quite the reputation of barking at anyone
and everyone who had the guts to enter the garden was always very nice to the Doi-wala and let him come into
the garden without any opposition and even wagged his tail at times!
As our trip to Grandma’s house and to India drew to an end, you and I were sad but also enriched with the lovely
memories of the people and places surrounding the lovely garden….hopefully, we will be back there soon enough to
enjoy another delightful holiday in Grandma’s garden!
11

fundamentals of american football
By Abhijit Sengupta
For a fi rst generation immigrant from India, American football at fi rst always seems mystifying. The point of
confusion begins with the classic misnomer “football” which implies that it is same as soccer, when it is not.
The game is primarily played by throwing, catching and running with the football all using hands and very little time
is spent kicking the ball. The name confusion is only the beginning. It is followed by a blizzard of terms like offense,
defense, special teams, punt, kick, touchdown, fi rst downs, Super Bowl, NFL, tailgating, quarterback, offensive lineman,
so on and so forth. My exposure to this unique sport started seventeen years back, when I landed up in the college town
of Iowa City, Iowa for my graduate studies. I quickly found out that this “American Football” is the number one spectator
sports in America and people are as passionate about this game as much as they are about cricket back home in India.
Iowa City is a small college town in the Midwest with a population of nearly sixty thousand, including students.
On weekend College football home games, the local stadium with capacity of about sixty-fi ve thousand, more than the
town’s population would be brimming to the capacity and the streets would be virtually deserted. Nearly the entire city
would be in the stadium including visitors from neighboring towns. As I got more used to the surrounding, I was
intrigued by the mystique of this game and started watching the game either on television or actually going to the
Kinnick stadium (The University of Iowa sports stadium). And, seventeen years later I still enjoy this game as much for its
intense mix of entertainment, physicality and strategies as the element of luck and its attendant uncertainties. In this piece,
I wanted to share my understanding of the game and hope to convert few of my friends to become passionate fan
of American football.
For background, everyone talks about “football” season. Generally, the season starts in August and lasts through early
February, culminating in the “Super Bowl” played on the fi rst Sunday in February. There are three levels of football
played in the country –high school football, college football and professional football, better known as the National
Football League (NFL). The rules across these levels vary to a certain degree. The basic premise of the game is to move
the ball from one end of the playing fi eld (self side) to the other side of the playing fi eld (opponent’s side). The playing
fi eld measures one hundred yards long and fi fty three yards wide. The end of the playing area is called “End Zone”
which is an additional ten yards on each side of the fi eld. When the team gets to opponent’s end zone, they score a
touchdown or 6 points. The playing time of a typical game is sixty minutes divided into four quarters of fi fteen
minutes interval, with a twelve minute halftime break after the completion of the second quarter. Even though the
playing time is listed as sixty minutes, generally each quarter lasts for an hour with the total game time averaging about
four hours.
12

Now let’s discuss how the two teams are made up. Each team has three separate units: the offense, the defense, and the
special teams. The team with the ball is referred to as the “offense” while the team without the ball is the “defense.” The
offense tries to move the ball across the length of the fi eld to score points. The defense tries to stop the opposing offense
and get the ball back for their offense. Only eleven players are on the fi eld from one team at any one time. A game starts
with the kickoff. The ball is placed on a kicking tee at the defense’s thirty yard line, and a special kicker (a “placekicker”)
kicks the ball to the offense. A kick return player from the offense will try to catch the ball and advance it by running.
Where he is stopped is the point from which the offense will begin its drive, or series of offensive plays or downs.
Each “drive” starts with both the teams lining up on an imaginary line, called line of scrimmage, with the offensive unit
of one team facing the defensive unit of the opposing team. All progress in a football game is measured by how many
yards the offense moves closer to the opponent’s end zone. Each time the offense gets the ball, it has four downs, or
chances, in which to gain ten yards. If the team on the offense successfully moves the ball ten or more yards, it earns a
fi rst down, and gets another set of four downs to continue repeating the process till it reaches the end-zone. If the offense
fails to gain ten yards, it loses possession of the ball. The defense tries to prevent the offense not only from scoring, but
also from gaining the ten yards needed for a fi rst down. If the offense reaches fourth down, it usually punts the ball
(kicks it away). This forces the other team to begin its drive further down the fi eld.
The start of the play is generally interaction between two players of the offensive unit. At the line of the scrimmage, a
player playing the position called the “Center” holds the ball and throws it backward under his leg to another player
known as “Quarterback” who generally lines up behind the center. From there, the quarterback can either throw (pass)
the ball to players called “receivers” or “tight ends”, hand it off to a player called “running back” or run with it, himself.
The selection of whether to pass or run is a critical element of the strategy and is infl uenced by multiple factors, like the
time available, which down the play is in, how much distance to cover to get another set of downs, weather conditions,
defensive pressure, etc. This requires a very quick and thoughtful decision making. Remember the quarterback knows
the defensive players (some of them can weigh as much as three hundred pound) are coming after him to pound him
and he has to release the ball quickly.
As the quarterback and offense keeps on pushing towards the opposing team, they fi nally reach the end zone and score
touchdown or six points. Immediately following a touchdown, the ball is placed at the opponent’s two-yard line, where
the offense usually will kick the ball through the goal posts, and earn one extra point for a total of seven points. There is
another alternative to scoring touchdown. If the offense cannot score a touchdown or get bogged down moving up the
fi eld, it may try to kick a fi eld goal. Field goals are worth three points and are kicked by fi eld goal kicker (fi nally someone
is using the “foot” as in football). They can be attempted from anywhere on the fi eld on any down, but generally are
kicked from inside the defense’s forty fi ve yard line. For a fi eld goal to be “good”, the fi eld goal kicker must kick the
ball through the goal-post uprights and over the crossbar. The defense tries to block the kick and stop the ball from
reaching the goal post.
After a touchdown and extra point conversion or a fi eld goal, the “offense” unit is sent off the fi eld and the “special team”
units of both the teams come to the fi eld. The “special team” unit of the offensive team kicks the ball and the “kick return”
player from the opposing special team catches the ball and runs towards the opposing end until stopped.
Now the opposing team brings its offensive unit and
gets possession of the ball and the “defensive” unit
from the other team faces them down and the series
goes on. The winning team you guessed is the one
with the most points.
There are lot more rules and subtleties to the football
game than what I attempted to put in writing in this
piece. It takes time to get familiar with the game,
but the patience and effort is worth the wait.
13

spcc - the champions of carolina
cricket league 2011
By Ramki Krishnamoorthy
Friendship, Cricket, weekly workouts in the nets, family, casual get-together, networking - these are few of the
things (amongst many others) that come to mind of those who are familiar with the South Park Cricket Club,
popularly known as the SPCC in the Carolinas. SPCC joined Carolina Cricket League (CCL) in 2010, after being a
member of the Mid Atlantic Cricket Conference (MACC) from 2004 to 2009. The club was inaugurated in 2002 by a
group of residents of the South Park area of the metropolitan Charlotte.
What started off as a group of casual cricketers getting together for an occasional game of cricket, soon grew into
something bigger. The thought of taking the game to the next level soon came up. It was time to be part of a
professional cricket league and hence it made perfect sense to register the team as the South Park Cricket Club.
In early years, the team did struggle to gather enough players week in and week out and ended up winning only a
few matches. But that did not deter the initial set of club members who started SPCC from realising their dream.
Soon they successfully built a strong club whose vision was based on commitment, respect and friendship.
Based in Charlotte, NC with its home ground being Reedy Creek Park(until last year), today SPCC is one of
the strongest, highly recognized and well respected cricket teams in the Carolinas. Since its beginning, SPCC has been
striving continuously and relentlessly to promote the game of cricket not just locally, but in and
around the Piedmont area of the Carolinas. The management and the team, backed by its advisors, gets
involved actively in touring around the Carolinas, visiting other cricket clubs and hosting their home games
at the Reedy Creek Cricket Ground. The tournaments and the friendly matches are aimed at promoting
awareness about the game of cricket. Over the past few years, SPCC as a team, has made tremendous
improvements in all areas of the game and has exhibited healthy competitiveness within the cricket league.
14

With the club making its mark over the years and with overwhelming infl ux of new members, a decision was made
in all fairness to the members - SPCC evolved with two new teams to represent the club, the SPCC BLUES and
the SPCC REDS. While most of the existing members of the club represent the BLUES, the rest of the members
and the new joineess came together to represent the REDS in the CCL. The decision of having two teams provided
excellent opportunity to all the members and each teams to put up an excellent display of talent and passion for t
he sport. Both teams reached the playoffs and the BLUES went on to become the Champions of the CCL
After a fruitful 2011 season, both teams look forward to another promising season in 2012. With a dual
divisional schedule within CCL for 2012, each of the SPCC teamsThe Blues and The Reds will represent
SPCC in divisions A and B respectively.
The club currently boasts of 25+ members and strives to encourage new members to join the family.
If you are interested in playing cricket with SPCC, or just want to come out and watch a good game of
cricket, please be our guest and attend either a scheduled match or a practice session. The club always
welcomes new members and is certainly excited to have new visitors. SPCC plays most Saturdays and
Sundays during the season (mid-March until late-October). Practice sessions are scheduled on weekday
evenings and weekends.. The team has continued its efforts to promote the game of cricket in the area and
is now in the process of building a new cricket ground with excellent facilities. Details of the new ground,
which is currently under construction, will soon be posted in our website http://www.southparkcc.org/.
SPCC is looking forward to another exciting year in its new home ground, and would appreciate your
continuous support!
15

COMING TO AMERICA IN SEVENTIES
By Santanu Sarkar
In 1972, Kolkata and India were different and yes America was different too. In fact, we all were different.
At that time, I did not know how to drive. We had no internet. The only TV I had seen was at a college exhibition,
a closed circuit TV. Yes, I had had a glimpse of that black & white TV picture in New Delhi.
Getting VISA
Initially, I did not know what the green card was. Me & twelve of my class mates were working with the same company.
A fellow classmate (and co-worker), who owned a car (considered a luxury those days), lectured us and took us to the
American Consulate in Kolkata. I still remember him telling us “we all need to expand our horizon. We must cross
Howrah Bridge and see the world”.
So off we went to the Consulate. There were no queues . We got the forms, completed them and handed them over to the
clerk (a gentleman of South Indian origin). He argued that I did not fi ll the form correctly as I had not used BOLD letters.
Since I had no real intention of coming to US I said “take it or leave it. I do not want any further hassle”. To my surprise,
he took it!
A few days later, we had to submit all documents. There were no Xerox machines. We had to make photocopies, which
means we took actual photographs using a camera and then enlarged them. It was rather expensive and I spent nearly 700
rupees for all documents and fees. In those days it was good money. And all in all, we did have a decent salary in those
days (close to Rs 1600 per month with free lunch, transportation, free medical etc). This made me all the more reluctant to
abandon a secure and reasonably comfortable life and travel to a distant foreign land, an unknown place with a different
language and so on.
Getting the passport proved to be quite an arduous exercise. I had to go to the passport offi ce several times just to expedite
it. Getting the VISA (Green Card) was in fact easier. We got the approval from Washington DC quickly . Doctors,
Engineers and Chartered accountants were in high demand and had blanket certifi cation for US green card.
Finally when it was time to get the Visa, I was not ready. There were ten of us who had initially embarked on this process.
Finally only two us were brave enough to even consider getting the fi nal Visa. Some typical excuses from those who had
backed out were: –“I got married. Cannot go there with out wife, Cannot leave without my mother. What is the use of
leaving a certain job and a place to live in an unknown country, without a job”.
16

On the other hand, my company offered me a 50% raise if I continued with them. I looked at my fi nances once more.
I had spent Rs 700 on the visa processing and therefore had to go to the USA to get my moneys worth. At that time, a
dollar was worth Rs 7.50 . My airline round-trip fare from Kolkata to New York was Rs 4875 .
Anyway I took some extension and fi nally got the visa. Once again, there was no queue. Our oath was administered
by the Consul General herself. The other memory I have of the event was a nice waiting room at the Consulate.
The bottomline: I got the visa and subsequently completed the medicals in Kolkata.
Some of the next steps involved quitting the job getting my Provident fund etc. And yes, it was during this time that we
got married. We traveled on a Air-India (a big Boeing 747) and the ticketing was not straight-forward either.The route
went something like: Kolkata-Delhi-Beirut-Rome-Frankfurt-London-New York! Yes, that was pretty much like a
passenger train. This was my fi rst air travel. Infact, I had not seen an aircraft on the ground before this! I was allowed
to carry only one suitcase, 23 kg max.
I told my mother-in-law that I might return to India if I did not get a job or did not like the place She advised me to stay
there for atleast a few years, citing an example that someone had cut short his stay in the US/UK and was being branded
as a ‘good-for-nothing’ by everyone back home. Obviously she would not like to hear the same about her son-in-law.
So returning to India was ruled out, even though I had an offer from my previous company to continue with my job on
return.Eventually it was the day to set sail. The farewell at Kolkata Airport was a big affair: family, friends, colleagues.
I was not afraid even though I knew a big adventure lay ahead of me. And fi nally I arrived at the JFK and got the Green
Card on arrival.
Let me make it brief now.
I came to Detroit on a cold February day and saw snowfall for the fi rst time. I was lucky enough to get a job quickly and
moved to a small town in Kentucky. The town had never seen anyone from India before. When my wife joined me she
became famous for her saree. The Town newspaper carried a big picture of her and the town bank even advertised with
her picture, citing her as the bank’s international client. The mayor of the town went to Kolkata and we became friends.
We invited him to our house.
I stayed by myself for a long time and also learnt cooking (the hard way). The Town never asked for an ID card. We
would not lock our doors as it was a safe place. The southern accent was a bit hard to follow. However, there were no
problems at work. I remember receiving a parking violation ticket one day. It was a $1 ticket for parking on the street
on Sunday.
I had to register for military draft but I was not accepted as I was over 25 years. And did I not mention about fi sh? Fish
was sold clean and the head was free. A trip to the groceries would not even set you back by $20. We looked for a Bengali
friend and fi nally found a family a hundred miles away.
I was a executive offi cer in the company. We had meetings in a country club.Just like India we had separate tables for
workers offi cers. That was then and things have certainly changed now.
Life was not that exciting. One day I got one interview in a big town “Louisville, KY”. My friends told me not to drive as
I might be lost in the big city. They advised me to park the car and take a cab. And yes, we moved to Louisville, KY , the
big town . It was in Louisville that I bought my fi rst color TV. Our neighbors came to see the TV. It was a big event. One
day there was a tornado, that narrowly missed our apartment. It was devastating. It uprooted all big trees and threw cars
around.
Next winter, I saw the mile long Ohio river, completely frozen. People were walking on the river bed covered with solid
ice. The temperature was -14F. It was too cold for me. So we moved to Houston, TX . The weather there was like Kolkata
in spring and summer. By this time we had got used to the American way of life.
When I fi rst went to Kolkata after 3 yrs, I considered Kolkata s my “home”. However, after my third or fourth trip, USA
was more like home and Kolkata a place to visit.
Those are some of my memories from my early days in the US.
17

18
Procedure:
• Cut each fi sh steak into 4 quarters as evenly as possible. Wash and drain the fi sh and place in a bowl;
rub the pieces with 2 teaspoons turmeric powder and one teaspoon of salt and let sit about 15-20 minutes.
• Heat the oil for deep frying in a small deep vessel (like a karhai) at “medium high” heat. Deep fry the fi sh a
few pieces at a time - 5 mins. each side and then set them aside.
• Heat 6-8 tablespoons of the oil the fi sh was deep fried in, in a large pan. When the oil is hot, crumble the dried
red chilli peppers into it and add the panchphoran. When the panchporan begins to sputter, reduce the
heat to “low” and add the ginger and garlic and stir fry for 30 sec to a minute
• Next add the onions and stir fry them on “medium” heat until they are soft and golden brown. Now reduce the
heat to the lowest setting and add the remaining turmeric powder, chilli powder, corriander powder and
cumin powder. Stir fry for 2-3 mins.
• Add the yogurt and stir fry for another minute or two and then add water and bring it to boil. Cover the pan,
reduce the heat to “low” and let it cook for 15 mins.
• Now add the fi sh and stir once. Cover and cook some more. Sprinkle the garam masala and take off from the
heat. Pour into a serving bowl, let it sit 10 mins. before serving.
Serving:
Serves: 4-8 people
Serving ideas: plain rice or Pulao
Ingredients:
Macher Kalia
By Amrita Biswas
• 2 large steaks of a fi rm fi sh like salmon or rohu or any paka maach
• 3 teaspoons turmeric powder
• 3 teaspoons salt
• oil for deep frying
• 1 large onion, fi nely chopped
• 2” ginger root , peeled and grated
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, fi nely sliced
• 2 dried red chilli peppers
• 2 teaspoon panchphoran
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 2 teaspoons corriander powder
• 3/4 teaspoon chilli powder
• 1 Tablespoon plain unsweetened yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala

Ingredients:
• Gallon Whole Milk
• 1 Qt. Butter milk
• Table spoon Lemon Juice
• 1/2 tsp Saffron
• 1 Cup (8 oz) Powdered Milk
• 1/4 (20 oz) Cup Sugar
DELKHOSH (MAKES YOU HAPPY!)
SANDESH OF BENGAL
By Bhabani Sarkar
METHOD :
1. Make the Paneer as follows:
Heat milk to boiling stirring continuously. Add butter milk & Lemon juice slowly to boiling milk.
Continue stirring until the milk breaks (Solid & water ).
Remove from heat and let it cool. Pour the whole thing in a strainer lined with cheese cloth to drain the water.
Squeeze the cheese cloth to remove as much water as possible.
2. Knead paneer for 2-3 minutes until it becomes a soft dough.
3. Mix paneer, milk powder & sugar thoroughly. Use a heavy pan to heat the mixture over medium heat stirring
continuously for 10-12 minutes and then 4-5 minutes in low heat to make the dough, making sure that the
paneer is cooked. Let it cool. If you over do it , it will crumble. In that case use a food processor with little
milk to make it soft 2-3 minutes.
4. Spread the dough on a plate and make rectangular or square about 1” thick
5. Put silver foil on top it and cut into rectangular or square shape –like “Borfi ”
You can make it small or big –your choice. Store at room temperature .
Ingredients:
• One -- 14 oz Condensed Milk
• One –14 oz Half & Half
• One –1 pound plain yogurt ( from whole milk)
SWEET YOGURT:
1. Mix the above ingredients in a bowl using a hand mixer.
2. Pour the mixture in a rectangular or square pan. Preheat the oven at 250F. Put the pan in the oven at 250 F
for 30 minutes. Turn the oven off but leave the pan in the oven for another 2 hours. Make sure that
the mixture is solidifi ed. If not , heat the oven again at 300F and keep it for 15 minutes.
It should do the job now.
19

20
Ichar Mura from Barisal
By Samiksha Bose
I have a very strong connection with my heritage from Barisal, now in Bangladesh. My Adi house was in Kanchabalia,
Barisal and both my paternal grandparents were from the same place. My grandma’s infl uence was quite
strong and because of her I came across a very authentic sweet dish from Barisal.
Barisal division, located close to the sea and being full of rivers, tended to have a larger use of coconut and
ofcourse, fi sh.
ICHAR MURA is a sweet specialty of Barisal. Literally the name means lobster head. Bengalis from Barisal are
so fond of prawns and lobsters that we even make sweets resembling lobster head.
I still remember the days when as a small girl I would sit beside my beloved Thumma (my grandma) and watch
her make Ichar Mura. So here is what you need to make Ichar Mura:
Ingredients
• 1 cup of grated coconut
• ½ cup of sugar
• ¼ cup of powdered milk
• ¼ tsp green cardamom powder
• Cooking oil
How to make Ichar Mura:
Mix and cook grated coconut and sugar on a nonstick pan till the mixture thickens and starts leaving the sides of
the pan. Add milk powder and the cardamom powder and mix well. Stir for another fi ve minutes on low heat and
remove. When cool enough to handle, shape into small oblong rolls. Place on a tray and keep in an airy place for
half an hour or a little more to dry them a little bit. Then shallow fry them till light brown.
Now you have cooked a beautiful sweet dish from Barisal.
Household Tips:
1. Place lemon/lime pieces at different place or a bowl of vinegar
inside the refrigerator to get rid of foul smell. - Amrita
2. To make Idli soft, and no time for fermentation add one ENO
packet. Idlis will be soft - Amrita
3. To make rice nonsticky/ jhor-jhor’e, add a pinch of salt and little
oil(canola/vegetable) – Amrita
4. To shine silverware, rub the silver articles with whitening
toothpaste and wash with mild soap and warm water – Saswati
5. To shampoo your hair when you’re out of shampoo, husband’s
shaving foam can be a great replacement - Saswati
6. To make potato chips/fries crispy, soak the cut potato slices /
juliennes in salt water for 20 min before frying – Saswati
7. To battle smoke in a smoking room (without making it obvious),
light a candle in the room! If it is one of the scented ones
then all the better - Saswati

Bonterra Restaurant Review
By Salomi Mukherjee
Saturday evenings are usually lazy ones for me and the last Saturday was no exception.. (Ofcourse, this is no secret for
my husband). So last Saturday,when I asked my husband if we should go out to eat (as I did not feel like cooking after a
tiring week), he immediately agreed and with a smile, asked me to get ready. I didn’t take much time and dressed up immediately,
looking all happy. I thought it would be a neighborhood restaurant affair. I quickly realized that we are headed
for Dilworth. I got all excited and asked him where are we going? He just said, “you like seafood, don’t you?”. That got
me curious and I kept on asking him questions because I had no idea where we are going and he won’t tell me. And he
simply kept me guessing. I had been to Copper and Thai Taste in that area, so naturally those were my initial guesses, but
we soon passed them and arrived at a residential area. He fi nally disclosed that we are having dinner at an old church. I
was rather hungry and not in a mood for jokes but was surprised to see the beautiful restaurant with a fairly sophisticated
crowd, when he opened the door of the church.
It was the back door of a converted church that lead to Bonterra Dining and Wine room. I was pleasantly surprised to see
this elegant church-looking-restaurant from inside. It looked like a church but had been converted beautifully with low
lighting and high accents. In the center was an indoor balcony, which really made the place special. We walked through
the restaurant to get to the reception area and made a reservation for the evening. I was all smiles and started looking
around. In front of the waiting area they had a bar with a collection of over 300 wines and looked really classy. The host
took us to our table and the server was really nice and offered us a great service.
We started with complimentary bread that was house made with herbs. Olive oil was offered as a dipping for the bread.
The wine we ordered was personally chilled by the server all the time when we were dining. I had a French onion soup,
very creamy. We then had a healthy portion of fi eld greens with cranberry-champagne dressing. Dinner entree was seafood
comprising mussels, shrimp, scallops, lobster tail in a creamy sauce and corn bread. It was absolutely yummy, but
even more unforgettable was the dessert. It was a white chocolate pecan cake. I am not a big fan of white chocolate but
this one was delicious.
While exiting the restaurant through the front gate, I noticed that they also had valet parking.
My experience of the restaurant can simply be termed as ‘romantic’. It is the perfect place for a romantic dining for two.
Some of my other favorite places are Melting Pot (where you get to cook your own food) and Del Frisco with its cozy
environment and fi ne ambience. Now Bonterra has become one of my favorite places for a romantic dinner with my husband.
We will defi nitely go back and you should check it out too.
21

ROMAN HOLIDAY
by Sohini Chatterjee
A few years ago I planned a trip to Rome, thrilled that at last I would get to visit the city that I had read so much about
since I was a child. Prior to our trip, I spent days poring over guidebooks and maps, planning in detail which of the sights
we must see, fi lled with excitement about visiting the “Eternal City”. I was not disappointed in any way, indeed Rome
turned out to be everything I had imagined…historic, beautiful and timeless, fi lled with artistic sights.
We started our holiday with a trip to the Vatican City which is a short bus ride from the center of Rome. Though there
was an extremely long wait of over an hour to enter St. Peters Basilica which is a holy shrine for Catholics, it was very
much worth it. The central Square of the Vatican with tall decorative columns and the cobblestone courtyard with
fountains spraying water glittering in the sunlight, was a spectacular sight. Once inside the basilica, we were
mesmerized by the numerous treasures housed there…more sculptures and artwork than we could possibly appreciate
during that short time. We were especially captivated by the grand paintings on the ceilings of the domes depicting
holy scenes with exquisitely crafted detail.
When I was in school, one of my history teachers was an ardent admirer of Michelangelo and the Italian Renaissance,
and I along with many of my classmates acquired her enthusiasm for his work. One of the most famous ….the statue of
the Pieta with the Madonna holding Christ…so lifelike that the marble folds on the Madonna’s robes look like real folds
of cloth, can be seen inside St. Peters Basilica. Michelangelo’s famous artwork in the Sistine Chapel, which was my most
favorite sight in all of Rome, depicts the Creation of Adam painted on the ceiling of the chapel. I allowed myself to stand
there for a long time, joining the other onlookers gazing reverently at the grand paintings, wondering how Michelangelo
created this masterpiece while lying for days on a piece of scaffolding suspended below the ceiling.
Some of the other places we visited were the Capitoline Museum, housing many works of art including the famous s
tatue of Romulus and Remus (founders of Rome) as babies with the wolf who raised them. We walked down the ruins at
the Roman Forum (the ancient Roman marketplace), imagining what it must have looked like thousands of years ago,
marveling that we were standing at the same location where the Romans used to carry out their daily tasks and chores.
While we were at the forum, we witnessed a photo shoot for a magazine where models were being photographed in
bridal attire. Experiencing the sight of the models up close, dressed in beautiful creations of silk and lace, leaning
against one of the ancient stone walls of the Forum was exciting, like watching a page from a Vogue magazine
being brought to life.
Some other highlights of our trip were visiting the Trevi Fountain, where I insisted on hunting through my purse to fi nd
a coin to throw into the water while I made a wish. The fountain is a massive stone structure with engravings of Neptune
(the Roman god of the sea) and is said to have the power to make wishes come true. We also visited the Colosseum
(arena where the gladiators fought) several churches and the Spanish Steps (a very long and artistic fl ight of steps in one
of the main city squares).
Throughout the city, the colorful street side cafes were thronged by people and were a great way to get some rest after
hours of walking. We tried out various delicious varieties of pizza, pasta and a selection of Italian wines in the restaurants.
The Espresso coffee we had in the cafes was unlike any coffee we had ever tasted before, served in tiny cups but
intensely strong and concentrated.
I had lots of fun shopping in the picturesque shops and stores lining the streets, admiring the clothes and shoes which
seemed so fashionably different from anything I had ever seen in the States. Of course Abhijit stood behind me the whole
time with a bored expression on his face, making comments like “Everything here looks exactly the same as in Carolina
Place Mall”, and “All of this stuff is available on Amazon.” After trying in vain to make him realize how unique some of
the things were and how they had that great vintage look, I fi nally gave up. (Guys will be guys!)
Overall, the architectural beauty of the city, so strikingly different from the straight lines of the ultra-modern buildings
and perfectly tidy roads of the U.S. cities, made a lasting impression in my mind. The ancient ruins, the cobblestoned
streets, the skyline with the tall spires and domes, and the beautiful works of art make Rome a truly wonderful vacation
destination and one that I hope to visit again.
22

No Trouble in Algeria - Algerie - Al Jajair (Many Islands)
By Manojit Kayal
People ask me if it is safe in Algeria. I couldn’t risk going by myself, but since someone else was paying for the
security, I tried once. Most travel advisory seemed to be old. It is not a dangerous place and actually it is much safer
than in India. Now, I really like Algeria, and Algerian Embassy information is more close.
I reached Charles De Gaulle (airport in) Paris on time but, by the time I could locate the transit bus station and take
the half an hour long bus ride from Terminal 2E to 2F, the boarding gates had closed, and I had to take a later fl ight to
Alger/Algiers. CDG - Paris is huge. I get lost there easily. Originally a ‘Dokhno’ (somebody who is from South,
South 24 Paraganas to be precise, who have a totally different dialect and manner of speaking) but after having lived
in the Carolinas for 28 years, I have become a good ol’ southern country boy, different from the all-dressed-up-and
-serious -lookin’ smart city boys. I like Gatwick-London, Schiphol-Amsterdam airports and the likes of it all.
At least at these places, I know whether I am coming or going.
Algerian people seem to be nice, friendly and helpful. In spite of not knowing French or Arabic, it wasn’t diffi cult
to fi nd my ways around in Algiers. Some of them look like Europeans while few others are darker hued like Anwar
Sadat. Benlabed Reda, in our offi ce told me about the Indian restaurant in town
Algerian airport personnel are friendly and helpful, not much questioning at Immigration or strip searching my suit
cases by Customs. They all seemed to know that I was from India and appeared to have high regards for India and
Indians. There were Military and Police personnel everywhere at the airport, but they were also very polite and
eager to help. One thing is different in Algeria though, travelers are allowed to smoke everywhere including the airport
Terminal and the hotel lobby.
I fl ew to Oran from Algiers, an hour’s fl ight in the West on the Mediterranean coast. Oran is the place, where Albert
Camus’ novel ‘The Plague’ unfolds, and the Great soccer player Zinedine Zidane was born. The driver picked me up at the
Airport and brought me to Oran Sheraton. Most people looked like they were Europeans. According to law, foreigners
travelling outside the city are always escorted. So three policemen on motor bikes, two on the front and one on the back or
one SUV, with guns, blue lights and all, escorted me while directing the other cars to the right lane with my driver driving
at 140 Km/hour in a 80 KM zone , taking me to Marsat and back for work, a 40 km run. There is an Indian restaurant in
Oran. The hotel manager Madan Moray from Delhi, living in Oran for 5 years told me, “unlike eastern Algerian people in
Algiers, western locals in Oran don’t like stress, if you are tough, they quit, high turnover of personnel. And they watch
Indian movies, and think all Indians are romantic, with great culture, and like Indians very much”.
After Oran, I fl ew to IN SALAH, - a 3 hour fl ight from Algiers, in the south of Sahara. I saw dry rivers from the plane.
In Salah is an oasis with one reasonable hotel with restaurant for the drilling industry. Curiously, there are few drumstick
plants in the hotel compound, but the locals don’t know that the fruits, leaves and the fl owers are edible. People are
mostly dark skinned like Africans, different than Algiers or Oran, but with similar Algerian sharp features. It is possible;
Mali, Niger and other people migrated here from further south. Someone asked me, if I knew Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh
Bacchan, SRK and others. “I have seen their movies only but I don’t know them” , I answered. Dates and some Palm
plants are found all around. During winter, the temperatures are around 46’F (8’C) in the morning and 77’F (25’C) in
the afternoon. There are occasional rains, following sand storms. Sahara’s 131’F (55’C) summer temperatures produce
the best In Salah dates in the world. Buildings have typical Sahara design - different. I noticed petrifi ed wood around.
There must have been trees long time ago. People are nice, very religious Muslims, honest and sincere, but a bit
diffi cult to communicate without knowing to speak French or Arabic and I didn’t know either.
23

24
A World of Travel
Photgraphy by Kaushik Ganguly

Parenting Young Kids – The “Decision” Dilemma
By Shoma Sengupta
Being a mother of two boys –a three year old and an eight year old and as a student of Early Childhood Education at a
local University, I constantly compare the theoretical aspect of parenting taught at school with the practical application
of raising my two kids. The theoretical and practical dichotomy of parenting is exacerbated by our unique situation as
fi rst generation immigrants in the United States. The pressure to fi t into a different societal, economic and educational
system complicated by the absence of any applicable point of reference leaves us second guessing our choices regarding
the appropriate style of parenting. The burden of expectation regarding our children’s future performance and our
awareness that if our children turn out to be less than stellar (our South Asian culture has a unique framework for setting
expectation) does not help the case of “poor” parents. The question is can parenting be taught or they are always “jobs
in training” and evolve as both the child and parent mature. So, here I am trying to gauge my performance as a parent to
my two boys, constantly swinging from a sense of despair and foreboding on one hand to self-congratulation on the other.
Theoretical literature defi nes four styles of parenting. I believe and majority of parents will agree with me that we may
never like to practice to be an “uninvolved parent”. The other three styles are “Authoritarian style” where the parents are
the source of all rules and regulations with limited freedom of choice for the children, the “Permissive style” where
parents are very lenient and of nurturing type and the “Authoritative style” which is more like Authoritarian style but
allows more open communication between the parents and the children. The styles I believe are contextual in nature
and mooring to one style for all circumstances could prove to be counter-productive. Also, the styles need to evolve as
children grow up and become more independent. Whatever style is selected, the effect of parenting style is very critical
to the growth of child’s character in the initial stages.
26

Parenting could be seen as series of decisions, which could be sequential but not
necessarily independent. There are signifi cant interactions across this decision
framework. One of the most signifi cant decision parents struggle right after birth
is whether to raise the kids at home or send them to day care. For families with
dual earners, it is virtually impossible to raise the kids at home. The various
alternatives available includes hiring nannies or au pair, one of the parents
becoming at home mom or dad, and in some cases in South Asian households
“importing” parents or parent-in-laws to help with rearing the child.
The choice becomes more diffi cult for parents with more than one child.
The effect of these decisions not only impact children’s mental and physical
development, but also impacts the self-growth of the parents as well.
Parents may have to take hiatus from careers which may hinder their future
earnings and growth potentials. The benefi cial effect of sending children to outside care can range from children acquiring
enhanced social, linguistic and motor skills, to children becoming more independent at an earlier age. However, the day
care setting may reduce the opportunity of forming natural bonds between parents and children in the initial days after
birth, which may engender a sense of insecurity in children that can persist for a long time. The parents, especially
mothers frequently suffer from guilt pangs after they put their kids in a day care or pre-school at a relatively young age.
Another choice or responsibility parents have is to provide the basic resources that are needed, like a home, food and
clothing. They are also responsible for taking good care of these resources, such as insuring that the home environment is
safe and clean, and that foods and beverages are healthy and nutritious. There are so many choices at the grocery store, it
become hard to balance the selection of “nutritious” food versus the “junk” foods. Inculcating healthy eating habits at an
earlier age is extremely important, but I believe parents generally like to be permissive than authoritarian in this area.
The junk foods are so tempting, it is very hard to resists those products, not only for kids but also for the parents.
Creating a balanced diet is an art and science and feeding a balanced diet to children requires an act of congress – dose
of discipline, cajoling, bribing, repetition and inexhaustible supply of patience. It may sound very basic, but sometimes
the battle between children and parent can leave both sides tired and exhausted. Children with their renewal power tend
to recover faster than their parents.
Choice of schooling even though primarily oriented to public school education serves to be another example of parental
decisioning. The contrast between US and Indian education system becomes apparent in this setting. In India, most
middle class parents send their children to private schools and so called “public” schools run by the government are
generally the preserve of economically challenged classes. In US, the public schools are the primary venue for imparting
education, with private schools, charter schools, and magnet schools fi lling the gaps. I believe every kid is different and
they learn differently. Availability of economic resources also play a critical role in the choice of school. The overriding
theme needs to be that any academic establishment should provide a safe and nurturing environment and at least strive to
provide a holistic education. The choice of after school activities is another area where parental decision plays a critical
role. The selection of afterschool activities are driven by parental interest, time commitment, and economics of such
activities. The rule of thumb is to expose children to wide swath of activities early in their childhood and observe which
activities they like to participate the most and then steer towards those activities.
The three choices, home care versus day care, food, schooling are just samples of multiple decisions parents have to
make constantly. My practical experience seems to suggest that parental decision making is more of an “art” and there
is no simple guidebook to help make the choices. I have reconciled to the fact that choices at times may seem wrong,
but I keep moving on with the hope that I have the interest of the children in the right place.
27

28
The Sky Over The River (Abstract) -By Anasuya
an expression of bloom where the hues are inspired from the changing
colors that one fi nds across the sky over a water body. Memories from
my childhood when I visited the riverbanks of one of the thousands
of tributaries of the Ganges where once my grandparents lived.
Please not e that in this piece the colors are a highlight rather than the form.

PONDERING PARENT
By Shyama Parui
Refl ections:
This year on the occasion of Saraswati Puja, I spent some time thinking….
One of my early childhood memories is of “hathekhodi” – the Bengali tradition of writing your fi rst letters in the
presence of MaaSaraswati. MaaSaraswati – our goddess of learning was and still is a favorite deity of children
particularly in the Bengali community. She was the one we fervently prayed for good grades and my suspicion is that
our parents prayed just as hard…. perhaps harder. As I grew up, I realized the beauty of our beliefs and traditions as
well as the importance of carrying them on. For example, we have learned to revere education and value the learning
opportunities we receive. The image of MaaSaraswati holding the scriptures in one hand and a veena in the other
always reminds me that arts and academics were never meant to be separated. We need them both to enrich our world.
Goals:
In my six year journey as a parent, one of my goals has been to introduce my daughters to the valuable lessons of our
heritage. And one of my guiding principles as a parent has been to ensure that these lessons are not forced. It is important
to me and my husband that our daughters are willing to embrace the tradition with pride, enthusiasm and having fun in
the process. Personally we feel successful when they have understood the spirit of the tradition rather than mere
imitation of actions.
Ideas:
It is my guess that many immigrant parents face the challenge of keeping up with our holiday traditions. This section is
dedicated to them. Here are some Saraswati puja traditions we created in our family tohelp teach our daughters the
signifi cance of the celebration:
A trip to the bookstore where the children could select books and music of their choice. Setting a budget for the purchase
is always a good idea. Discussing how we should treat symbols of the Goddess such as books can be a way to allow
children to ask questions and share their thoughts. Starting lessons in some form of art around the time of the puja.
As an example, last year my daughters started their theatre class on the day of the puja. Share stories like the story of
Kalidas and how he became a famed writer with the blessing of MaaSaraswati. Present it in an engaging manner and
invite questions. Create a simple quiz like the one included. Spend time together as a family and come up with the
answers. Add follow up comments or questions based on your child’s age.
Find a picture of MaaSaraswati at home or on the internet. What objects do you see her holding?
Pot of rice
A sword
Books
Veena (musical instrument)
On the day of Saraswati Puja, people generally dress up in __________ (Hint: see puja photos taken on your mom or dad’s phone)
Red and green
Shades of yellow
Turquoise
White and blue
Circle what you would consider as MaaSaraswati’s favorites.
Select one: Owl, Swan, Peacock
Select one: Violin, Axe, Rose petals
Saraswati Puja is usually held in the month of _________ (no hints needed)
January or February
May or June
29

WHAT‛S THE IMPORTANCE OF DRAWING
IN YOUR CHILDREN‛S LIFE?
By Karli Halder
Learning to draw has a strong connection with history,math and science.
All drawings are related to some form of shapes – geometrical,,alphabetical etc. So the process not only helps
grow your child’s imagination power but also nourishes their academic skills and capabilities along with it
Children who are accustomed to doing regular observation drawing practice,learn to focus on a task for an extended
period of time early on. Japan is probably the only country with a universally prescribed national art curriculum
that requires working from observation from a very young age (grade one and kindergarten).
This early attention to extended observation and focus on a task may be the reason that their minds are prepared to
think and focus better in other disicplines.
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that infl uences and affects one or more of the
senses, emotions, and intellect. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression,
including music, literature, fi lm, photography, sculpture, and paintings. The meaning of art is explored in a branch of
philosophy known as aesthetics, whereas disciplines such as anthropology, sociology and psychology analyze its
relationship with humans and generations.
How important is drawing in developing writing skills? Understanding the shapes,arm/hand movement, pencil grip,
hand-eye coordination – etc all goes into improving a child’s handwriting skill. It develops and strengthes the fi ne
motor skills so essential in children of this age.
Cathy A. Malchiodi, ATR, LPAT, LPCC, Director, Institute for the Arts & Health and
advisory board member, The National Institute for Trauma & Loss in Children says “
A drawing can provide information on developmental, emotional, and cognitive functioning. (It),
hastens expression of hidden traumas, and conveys ambiguous or contradictory feelings and
perceptions.” With the advent of brief forms of intervention and the increasing pressure
to complete treatment in a limited number of sessions, drawing
helps children to quickly communicate concerns and problems.
30

Little Achievers Felicitation Program (Lafp).
By Manisha Singh
Little Achievers Felicitation Program, (Lafp), as the name suggests, is an initiative started by some members of Srishti
to promote the varied talents in kids. It’s a talent contest open to kids between 3 and 13 years of age and is divided into
three categories based on different age groups. We believe that every child is unique. Their success in school or life
begins with strong words of affi rmation, encouragement & appreciation in every little thing they do or can do.
The competition not only allows the kids to show their knowledge and dedication for learning Indian culture but
also boosts their confi dence and encourages them to excel in every endeavor in life .
The program is also focused on promoting the cultural talent in kids, talent that they have acquired at home or with
friends and families and is talent that is usually not recognized beyond family and friends. This is one platform where
they can perform anything that they consider their talent.
We don’t just felicitate the kids but we also appreciate all the young talent who dare to show what they got!
The details of Lafp contest for 2010 & 2011 may be found on the Facebook profi le “Lafp Lp” and at Saathee.com/lafp.
We are grateful to our sponsors and media partner (Saathee magazine) who have shown their support and appreciation
by providing us with gift certifi cates & hampers, snacks, and event promotion announcements. The event was sponsored
by Enopi of Charlotte , Best Western Plus Sterling Hotel and Suites , & Maharani Indian Cuisine.
Team Lafp: Manisha Singh, Shoma Sengupta & Rituparna Mukherjee
31

32
DHRUBOJYOTI SIKDAR
AARIN SAHA

DHRUBOJYOTI SIKDAR
AARIN SAHA
RAHUL GUHA
33

Stars
By Stuti Banerjie
The backdrop….
On a clear, dark night, a child could see the shining moon
and the twinkling stars through the window by her bed
and asked her mother “What are those things glittering
away”? This poem is a dialogue between a daughter and
her mother.
What are those things glittering away?
Those are stars far far away.
Stars are just big balls of gas,
shooting stars are stars that pass.
Stars are gems that lie in space,
and here we are looking at it’s glaze.
Those are stars that give us light,
when we’re in our beds in the night.
A moon is just a bigger star,
that is also very far.
Now I think this is too much science for you,
now to the stars I say to-da –loo.
Funny Incident
From Prabuddha’s parents.
The incident goes back a couple of years. The gentleman
in the back seat of the car (albeit under-age and still on
an elevated car-seat), had formed distinct ideas on the
qualities his life-partner should have. And of course, he
also had some preferences on how his summer evenings,
particularly on weekends, should be spent. So it was only to
be expected that one would hear deep frowns from the back
seat, when his mother would learn to drive with his father
mostly focused on the road instead of on him. The slow
monotonous route and most un-exciting surroundings had
him thoroughly disenchanted and fi nally Prabuddha chose
to make a the following statement: “I’ll make sure I marry
a girl who has a driver’s license”.
And even much prior to having contemplated on the virtues
his own life partner should possess, he had some advice to
offer to his mother. As a father I would often over-emphasize
on the need for woolens in winter and be rather adamant he
wears that thick red cap, that adequately covers his ears and
chin (and almost makes him resemble an Eskimo). When I
went a bit overboard, insisting on the same in the month
of March (in 2009), he decided to take the bull by its horns,
with the following question for his mother: “Ma, why did
you marry this man”?
34
Dinosaur Alphabet Jingle
By Ayush Sengupta
Dinosaur, Dinosaur, big and small
How many do you see stomping around?
They are so different, they are so strong
Let’s make a jingle as we move along
Ankylosaurus has a heavy tail club
Long necked Brachiosaurus gets a drink from a tub
Centrosaurus looks like a Unicorn
But it has only one horn
Dilong from China means an emperor dragon
But in real life appears to be T. Rex’s cousin
Eoraptor is the fi rst one to come
Fruitadens are the tiniest one
Gigantosausurs weigh more than 10 tonnes
Hadrosaurus are the civilized ones
Iguanadon is the second dinosaur discovered
Jeholornis is actually a large, turkey shaped bird
Kentrosaurus has row of small plates
Not sure why Ligomasaurus cannot pass through a gate
Microraptor has four wings instead of two
Nominga has peacock tail, but not colored blue
Oviraptor is an egg thief and gets a bad rap
Protoceratops has a head that looks like a horn with a cap
Qanatssaurus is named after an Australian airline
Rajasaurus and my dad’s name shares couple of lines
What am I to say about Stegosaurus with plates,
spikes and sound
T.Rex is the guy who throws his weight around
Utahraptor may scare me, but I am so brave
I can tame herd of Velociraptors and call them babes
Wannanosaurus and Xiaosaurus are not so well known
Maybe when I grow up, I will get them home
Yaleosaurus, Zephyrosaurus, not sure who are they
But, if they come in front of me, I will feed them hay
Tired of alphabets, going to sleep
Will dream of Dinosaurs, maybe little bit

My Exciting Space Voyage: Year 2060
By Prabuddha Ghosh Dastidar
In the year 2050, I took my fi rst trip around the Solar System. The spacecraft took off at 3.18 PM from Orlando, Florida. I
had planned to get back to Earth in 7 to 10 days.
My fi rst destination was the Moon. It only took me 10 hours to get there. When I took my fi rst step on the Moon, I could
see the fl ag Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin had planted on the Moon. I looked around the Moon and saw Moon communities
were being constructed. I explored the Moon for two days. I feel that sometime in the future people will live on the
Moon!
Soon, I left Moon and fl ew past Venus. I did not stay there for too long as Venus is the brightest planet in the Solar System.
Did I tell you about my encounter with a Comet which had zoomed toward the spacecraft? It was huge and was moving
very fast toward the spacecraft. Luckily I dodged it. In the distance I could see it crash into an asteroid with a big boom!
I quickly passed Mercury because it was very hot there. Then, I fl ew past Mars and saw its two beautiful moons, Deimos
and Phobos. Mars is bright red in color.
Suddenly, three giant asteroids hit my spacecraft. This time, I could not dodge them as Jupiter’s sixty moons were too
bright and I was very close to them. Luckily the damage was not much and after that I quickly fl ew past Jupiter. Jupiter’s
red spot has the most storms. Did you know that they have found bugs on Jupiter? Looks like we have found some life
outside Earth!
Then I moved away from Jupiter and soon approached Saturn. Saturn’s rings are magnifi cent. I wish I could have got down
on Saturn’s beautiful rings but the temperature was too low and it was very cold. I felt, going around Saturn’s rings was
like going around a big race track with a big ball in the middle.
Next I saw a superfast UFO. There were three big green aliens inside the UFO. The aliens abducted me. At fi rst, I was
very scared but the aliens told me that they will not harm me. They abducted me because they wanted to know about Earth
facts. They also promised me that they would leave me after asking a few questions. After I replied to all their questions,
they safely sent me back to my spacecraft.
After that, I continued my journey and spotted Uranus. I loved the blue color of Uranus and its rings amazed me. When I
looked closely I could see Neptune. I noticed that Neptune’s rings are vertical. Neptune is light blue in color. Uranus and
Neptune are almost like twins.
After day 10, I fi nally got back to Earth. I realized I got a little taller after the space journey. This happens to all astronauts
who travel into space. I loved everything that I saw during my space trip. I am already planning my next Space Mission
and I hope to discover new planets on that trip.
Witty Comments:
By Shoma Guha
This is from a conversation I had with my son Rahul
when he was about 7 years old. I had posted it on my FB
page a year back.
My husband loves listening to the Radio, so much so that
we have one in every corner of our house. In the car the
Radio blurts out “You are listening to NPR at ......”.
One day Rahul and me were having a talk about the
importance of listening to parents.
I ended up “When Boys grow up and get married that’s
when they stop listening to their parents and start
listening to their wives’ “.
He quipped “So Daddy is married to the Radio, because
he listens to it all the time.”
Fun During Pujo
By Sourodeep Bhattacharya (Piku)
One day I went to the temple to celebrate an Indian Pujo.
I like to go there because I get to play with all my
friends…Ayush, Rahul, Prabuddha and Nikhil.
While we were playing we saw a lizard behind the stage.
Some people started screaming and some tried to poke it.
When it fell on the fl oor, we got a little scared. Then my
friend Rahul tried to attract it with a grape lollypop but
then it would not follow the lollypop!!
Then we did not know what to do but we came up with a
plan. We took the lollypop wrapper, caught the lizard and
threw outside on the sidewalk. Then I chased it into the
bushes and we felt really happy.
Note from Piku’s parents: On behalf of Piku we wanted to share
this article with all Srishtians to tell you that what our kids do
backstage while the parents are busy with pujo arrangements
35

Quiz:
By: Prithvi
1. Who was the voice narrator in Mrinal Sen’s fi lm Bhuban Shome?
2. How do we better know Anges Gonxha Bojaxhiu?
3. Who is the only Indian bowler to take two wickets in the fi rst two balls of his test career?
4. What is the fourth state of matter?
5. Which is the fi rst fi lm in which Manna Dey sang for Uttam Kumar? (hint: ke kakhon…)
6. How do we better know Frontier Gandhi?
7. Who completed the construction of the Qutab Minar?
8. He refused a role in Lawrence of Arabia that fi nally went to Omar Shariff. Which Indian actor are we referring to?
9. How is Laika related to space travel?
10. The Hindi movie Man Pasand (Dev Anand, Tina Munim) is based on which famous English play?
11. Identify persons A and B from the script below:
Person A – “ God sent me to Earth to play football”.
Person B – “ I don’t remember sending him”.
12. The capital of which state in the US is named after a famous English explorer, also known for popularizing
tobacco.
13. “ for men may come and men may go but I go on forever”. These are the lines from which famous poem?
14. The invention of the tabla and the sitar is attributed to which famous literary fi gure of the Delhi Sultanate?
15. Which state in the US is closest in shape to a rectangle?
16. “Never let school interfere with your education”. Who said this?
17. From which fi sh would one source the fi nest and most expensive variety of caviar?
18. Which is the highest mountain in Continental Europe? (hint: think pens)
19. What is common to the US Presidents William Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Warren Harding, Frank Roosevelt?
20. Who was the fi rst woman to become the Governor of a state in India?
21. Which famous poem begins with the line “April is the cruellest month” and ends with the Sanskrit phrase
“Shanti, Shanti, Shanti”.
22. The dream sequence in Satyajit Ray’s Nayak is believed to have been inspired by the work of which
famous artist?
23. According to Ramayana, who was Ram’s sister?
24. When this certain mechanic from Italy was slighted by Ferrari, he decided to launch his own brand of car.
Identify the brand.
25. Whose last words were “Get my swans ready”?
36
1. Amitabh Bachchan
2. Mother Teresa
3. Balwinder Singh Sandhu
4. Plasma
5. Sankhabela.
6. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
7. Emperor Iltutmish
8. Dilip Kumar
9. The fi rst dog in space
10. Pygmalion (GB Shaw)
11. A: Christiano Ronaldo, B: Messi
12. North Carolina (Sir Walter Raleigh)
13. The Brook (Lord Tennyson)
14. Amir Khusro
Answers:
15. Wyoming
16. Mark Twain
17. Sturgeon
18. Mont Blanc
19. They all died naturally while in offi ce
20. Sarojini Naidu
21. The Wasteland (T.S Eliot)
22. Salvador Dali
23. Shanta
24. Lamborghini
25. Anna Pavlova.

Looking Forward – Srishti 2012
Abhijit Sengupta
Exhilaration is the word that best describes my feelings as we publish the inaugural issue of SRISHTI’s magazine.
This exemplifi es the “can do” spirit of the members and the editorial team that dedicated considerable time, effort and
thoughts to bring it into fruition. We are also revamping our website to provide an interactive communication media
for our members. The name “SRISHTI” connotes creative energy and these efforts are evidence of the creative energy
across the organization. The question is whether this spirit and commitment can be harnessed to drive the organization
to a greater level. 2012 could be that transformative year.
We are a small group of fi rst generation immigrant families valiantly attempting to promote the “Bengali” culture in this
corner of southeast United States. Our efforts and resources may appear puny, but the intent is not. Bengali culture and
heritage is truly unique in its breadth and depth across the spectrum of arts whether it is in literature, music, painting, and
poetry. We are the recipients of this largesse and it is imperative that we pass it on to the next generation. Our children
are growing up in a different milieu. They are exposed to different infl uences and they will make choices as they grow
up – but if we do not provide them the opportunity to be exposed to this rich cultural heritage, it will be a disservice to
both us and them. This does not take away from the fact that SRISHTI parents in general are making every bit of an
effort to impart these learning. SRISHTI enhances that process by providing a larger platform where the children come
across a mosaic of thoughts and actions of lot of different families and not just their own. This platform is invaluable.
Let us all renew our commitment to nurture, nourish and embrace the platform and unleash the energy and propel
SRISHTI to another level.
Question is how we will do it. All of us have consciously made a choice to disconnect from the safety net that existed
in India and made a trade-off with opportunities available in the United States. But that trade off has implicit costs
– we are encumbered with responsibilities to hold a job, build a career, provide care for the immediate family as well
as parents back home, raise our kids, take care of household chores – and it seems that we are running on a treadmill
24X7 and there is nothing left to squeeze in. These are fair questions and there are no prescriptive answers and each
family with their unique circumstances has to make that personal choice.
But we have seen that commitment exists with its attendant ebb and fl ow. The proof is in the pudding – SRISHTI is
approaching its fi rst decade of existence in a couple of years. It has put down its roots and grown from a sapling to a
small tree.
Let us all celebrate the coming New Year and commit to the “can do” spirit and make 2012 the year when we
relearned – how to celebrate life.
37

Arani
Srishti Bengali Cultural Association | Charlotte, North Carolina
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