The history of Bengal goes long back archaeologically, wherein tools from the Stone Age era dating back to almost 20,000 years have been found from various excavated sites. In historical texts, we find that the epic Mahabharata talks of this area as divided into different kingdoms: Magadha, Banga, Pundra, Anga, and Suhma. Each part was…
Category: bengal
Gaganendranath Tagore- A forgotten part of Bengal Art History
Few days back I came across a news link that spoke of the recent installation of paintings by Gaganendranath and Abanindranath Tagore in the Victoria Memorial museum gallery (Kolkata). The first feeling was of immense happiness seeing the two artists finally receiving their due places in the hall of fame. The second feeling was of…
Paintings by the colonial era Company artist: SitaRam
During the late 18th century as the East India Company expanded its control over Bengal and parts of northern India, Indian painting technique and style underwent revolutionary changes. The Mughal style of painting using natural pigments and minerals were abandoned for the newly learned watercolour technique, and old painting themes that were based on historical…
Exploring the history of tea
Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things ~ Chaim Pot. “I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea.” ~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky Origin of Tea – China or India? Some historians believe that tea originated in China and is said to have been…
Gone Fishing ~ A Bengali’s undying love for fish, and the history of Bengali food
Khai khai koro keno, esho bosho ahare, Khaobo ajob khaoa, bhoj koi jahare. ~ Sukumar Roy A seven course menu? No sir. Ours is a 9, 10, or even better, an 11 course service! A Bengali meal is a fine balance of vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes. A complete lunch menu would ideally start with…
Traversing the Ganges, from Old Times to New – Part II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=GGpybbYBOfI Once upon a time, when man did not bind waters for his own selfish needs, rivers moved freely. They traversed borders, crossed countries, beginning from one and ending in another; sometimes merging with rushing brooks, and sometimes branching away into runnels. They formed a network of waterways, which seamlessly interwove varying cultural, religious, and social…
Traversing the Ganges, from Old Times to New – Part I
A lifeline that has defined human civilisation. A river that holds a cosmos in itself, a fascinating world of flora and fauna, unseen from above, yet pulsating below, under tranquil waters. (Pic – Yamuna in Agra. Yamuna is the largest tributary of the river Ganges) In a land where infrequent monsoons are held as the main season,…
Durga Puja : A Daughter’s Homecoming
Durga Puja. The very name sounds musical to the ears of any Bengali. The festival, which celebrates the worship of the devi Durga, is synonymous with clear blue autumnal skies, white fluffy clouds, bright sunshine, and fields full of kash phool. The festival also signifies a long holiday: to the Bengalis that stay in Kolkata,…
The Journey of Kalighat Patachitra
“Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder” as Plato had once said and it holds true for Kalighat patachitra. With their lack of symmetry in human figures and sense of proportions, they often fail to impress the eyes of a realist. However, these paintings appeal to many art lovers with their bright colours, bold…
Calcutta- The Colonial City
Calcutta, once the city of palaces, so beloved of the British, has various interesting theories regarding its name and origin. The name Kolikata first appeared in the 15th century writings of the Bengali poet, Bipradas Pipilai, and later in the 16th century, on the payroll list maintained by Akbar’s court. Some contend that it is this name…
Moni Gāthā 