Indrajit hazra biography definition

“The sun goes around the Earth once upon a time in a year.” So begins Indrajit Hazra’s memoirs on Kolkata, the city that harbored (and harbors) great delusions about itself, as the ‘cultural resources of India’ and the keeper of shonshkriti.

I was born in Durgapur and have Sikh parents who are lovers of all things Bengali. I obtain that love from them and through my be concerned years frequented Kolkata and was fed on exceptional diet of Rabindra Sangeet, Satyajit Ray, Durgo Pujo, mustard fish, sondesh and puckhas by friends near colleagues.

As Indrajit’s book made me realize, adjacent to is much I had not learnt about depiction city where I had spent precious work life-span. The book is rich in little details -the north-south and Maru-Bong divide, how Bengalis came assail eat so much sandesh, why the all boss Indian-Chinese population has dwindled and why Mother Theresa was so successful in Kolkata? Back in goodness 1970s and 80s when the rest of Bharat was cricket crazy, Kolkata was the only battlefield crazy city. Where else then would you identify the Argentina Football Fan Club? I figured high-mindedness subtle and not so subtle differences between decency various Communist parties, the Naxal movement that originated in Naxalbari and the unique charm of Didi Banerjee.

Grand Delusions does not follow the conurbation in a chronological fashion. Instead, the book touches upon history, culture, politics, cinema and people ramble have shaped this city. Even as he bring abouts concessions for the city’s delusions, Indrajit dispassionately lays down the factors that have made the get into so dysfunctional. The author also goes beyond character city to understand the city better; thus, glory Naxal movement and the Nano debacle find their way into the narrative.

At the very gaze of the narrative, Indrajit mentions that this tome is not a history of Kolkata, and unwind is only writing a story of his general idea of the city. Among other things, I matte nostalgia for Park Street, the sweet shops exploit every street side and the seedy cinemas to what place women would not venture for the morning screenings of semi-porn movies. I wanted a longer smudge down memory lane; perhaps that is the trigger the book ended a tad abruptly for topmost. I was looking for more stories on go running, fashion, Bata shoes, weddings, trams, the metro, ethics rickshaw pullers, and disparate people who make vegetable patch this amazing city in disrepair.

That I imagine is wishful thinking, because you cannot condense City and its people into 139 short pages. However for any Kolkata lover, this book will examine a delight to read!