Eat Forget & Laugh

When i go through some pages of my Hindi novel Punarbhava a detailed information about the punitive effect of music and drawing may be traced and although these descriptions may be true or not in present times, yet it had been realized in historical perspective through the characters and their respective attitudes shown in that narrative. At present punitive effect of food served in Maithil functions is not a hidden fact. In marriage functions as well as marriage day parties it becomes almost unimaginable to have food of normal quality. You are served a variety of very rich dishes full of calorie\fat content. At times you are served dishes unpalatable due to the whims of the hosts adament to push abominable items in the name of unusual menu. Simply you have to eat, forget and laugh.

Maithili Thakur and her musical performance in the TV contest

We had been watching a TV musical contest. One uniqueness of the contest was that it had allowed both classical and semi classical musical contestants to perform the preparations. Our interest slowly got momentum as the fusion of these two forms along with the Punjabi, Sufi or some other forms of musical presentations were put together and offered for the individual contestant's performance to be adjudged by the masses. This was a truly appreciable offer but it was a very difficult thing for the common people to classify and mark an individual's position among the contestants. Even for the three experts who had reared the talent of the performers. One of the contestants namely Maithili Thakur had been excelling all through till the final day of the contest. She lost her position then only defeated by a Punjabi singer, Bennet. Here we felt that despite a better classical presentation by Maithili Thakur on that day she had to lag behind by one point only. We feel that she has already been earmarked by great musical composers and her talent would be harnessed increasingly in future.

Social Customs and New Technology

The neighbourhood impacts our life and thought a lot. With its upliftment every individual becomes merrier and the vice versa. Urbanisation and industrialisation have rapidly soaked the better elements of our communities to shift from the countryside in such a haphazard manner which niether fulfill to shape our urban locations properly nor spare the rural areas to remain usually closely-knit as it had always been in the past. In Mithila the age-old panji-system for the sake of arranged marriages, sacred thread-bearing ceremony also known as Upnain sanskar and similar other family/social ceremonies are being arduous for those who adhere to their traditions. The modern analysts believe that these measures must break old traditions since which they strongly term to be mere wastage and societal sins. Contrarily, development, modernity and efforts to stick to old traditions and age-old ceremonies may be witnessed not only in our but even in the various so-called western civilizations. In UK we find so much propaganda over its royal wedding in the age-old tradition. President Trump in the US invited scholars and priests of different faith during oath-taking ceremony. Our PM Modiji always chooses to offer prayers in temples with detailed rituals. Under these conditions technique and knowledge to operate modern systems of communication need to support the immediate demand to maintain and improve such traditional activities and restore the feeling of age old closeness among people which once used to be our close circle.

The Infectious Circle

Loneliness and fatalism have an impact on us in spite of hectic efforts to keep afresh in day to day life. This may arise mainly due to our unlimited wants vis-a-vis very limited resources. Human nature never allows to feel satisfied if a given target is attained because no sooner we attain a certain goal we grab a new desire and start running after its fulfillment. This is like a rat race which has a price in terms of our internal restlessness. This is thus an infectious circle which so often we face. Various principles of economic studies always point out these features of human behaviour but no immediate solution has yet evolved except to control one's own mind. In fact this flow of wants constitute not only of material wants but also covers a bunch of non-material ambitions and expectations.

Wrong Choice

I was learning sitar in my school. During school holy days at home I used to forget lessons because the musical instrument could not be found. I still remember how my parents then had reacted, though only through their facial expression of repentance. One of the close relatives had desired to get sitar in father's possession for sometime. My father had fulfilled his desire but unfortunately he had broken it at his dwelling and this had been the end of the journey of the instrument at that period. However that was short-lived when i too started learning it and hence had bought one later during my last leg of school days which i play even now. Meanwhile out of love for the different musical instruments i also purchased a hawaian guitar. I often played the guitar those days. Time passed. I found one of my favourite nephews to be good academically, but devoid of any musical inclination. I then started to push him towards music. He too had shown some interest in it. Finally i in order to learn more of the instrumental music started guiding him on my guitar. Later i gifted it to him. Same was the incident with our taanpura. What i thus find right now is that at times we feel to forget a right decision.

Marriage Negotiator's Examination

In life we find many responsibilities. Most of these are someway tackled while a few are nicely fulfilled. Some pay dividend whereas most do not. One such responsibility is to make a marriage deal, attained between the families of the marriageable bride and the bridegroom, neatly performed. When you are the marriage mediator talks of both the sides are heard and have to negotiate safely. One advantage in such situations is your supremacy till the function is to finalize, once the hands are shacked- have also to nicely withdraw yourself in order to get replaced by the would be in laws etc. The positive or the negative dividend occasions after commencement of the marriage function. You wait till then.

Story of these Villages of Past, Present and Future

It was explained in Purnea College Seminar that the most influential native power in the old district of Purnea had hailed from Saurya, presently a village in Katihar district of Bihar state. A famous history professor Dr. Ratneshwar Mishra gave a lecture recently on the archaeological sights of the old district of Purnea in our college campus and revealed this fact during his speech. Earlier most of us were given an impression that the oldest native feudal lord or zamindar had belonged to another place, namely Pasraha near Raniganj block in Purnea. It was further held in the same discourse that the ancestor of the owners rooted from these places were same, Samar Singh. If we analyse this topic from another angle the local old brahman families of the entire region talk about the cultural geography or territorial division of the old Purnea main land into two parts. The eastern part is named as the Nesra or Nasira pargana whereas the western part is known as the Dharampur pargana. In Mithila we generally find divisions on the bases of caste, creed, race et cetra like elsewhere throughout India. In addition we find territorial identifications such as 'Soitpura', 'Jogpura', Dharampur' and 'Nesra'. The last two territorial identities might be linked to the two separate zamindari parganas owned by the successors of Samar Singh. The Dharampur pargana came later under the administrative as well as cultural grip of the ruling families of Darbhanga and Banaili. Similarly the Nesra pargana after the end of the Saurya family rule came under the direct influence of new ruling families. It is believed in our families mostly confined at Durgaganj village near Kumhari block that the first name or Durga out of the full name of the village might be either Babu Durga Narayan Rai { as the elder brother out of the two brothers } or Durga Prasad Chaudhuri, the owner of the earstwhile Malduar estate. Both these men were close relatives, the former being the husband while the latter, brother of the daughters of Ramlochan Chaudhuri, Malduar's founder of the last pedigree. The Rais are related closely with the old ruling house of Saurya. It is hence little debated that whoever be the real founder of the village after the fall of power rooted from the old place to the new one, the cumulative effect of the village phyche was a boon for the future generations of citizens. This village at present times has a unique position. While most of the surrounding places have a deserted appearance this represents a role model for the entire district at the least. The only thing that it has yet to acquire is to produce a son or a daughter as a state minister.

On Marriage Anniversary in Jocund Company

In Purnea we have a small group of music lovers. Raman, Bihariji and Amar are my musical associates aimdst whom i often present displays on instruments like sitar, flute, tabla and harmonium whatever i had learnt at home as well as at Netarhat. Unlike me, others prefer classical bhajans, khayals and several other forms of hindustani music which they had learnt from the royal Guru Kumar Shyamanand Singh of the earstwhile Banaili royalty. I too enjoy their variety of vocal presentations. The only performer amidst us is Amar who is also a music teacher. Raman is a good writer He has a command over languages and formats of literature. They are good happy go lucky travellers. They are religious and well known pilgrims. Unlike them i enjoy most in the company of undergraduate students in my department. There are less post graduate students these days since most of them have various engagements. Outside the college campus, i enjoy most in the aforesaid jocund company.Our group also has a rule to enjoy home made food on occasions like birthdays, musical gatherings, marriage anniversaries and so forth.I and Raman prefer less rich while Bihariji and Amar prefer rich food intake. We all enjoy to drive a vehicle to cover distant places in the region only though Raman and Amar prefer to drive for days together. Raman's son drives throughout the nation quite often. We also disagree but forget and forgive such lapses. As we are growing we find a trend to talk less and keep silence even sitting together.Music remains the whole and sole key factor to bind our souls with the growing age. Tonight we had a memorable round of musical rendezvous. Bihariji could not join.

Between Pedigrees: F E Part 3

An interesting piece of narrative belongs to a strange beginning of my connection with the Bengal-based royalty namely the mansab of malduar during or before the arrival of the British in the region. According to the famous three authors Datto, Majumdar and Roy Chaudhuri of The Classical Age, regarding the history of Bengal, they held their view that this maithil royal lineage had been founded during the 11th century under one Bengoli prince namely Ishwar Ghosh with a donation of five revenue villages to that princes family Guru, akin to the beginning of the Darbhanga royalty. Their such findings might be based on a copper plate inscription still in the possession of the family. My father and uncles had another story that a saint had given an idol of Shyamrai(Krishna and Radha) to a poor brahman family cautioning them that if they worship HIM, they would become highly influential but one day, their descendants must return the same to that sage. It is noteworthy that the owners always held themselves as caretakers and the family diety Shyamrai, held their superior lord and real owner of all their possessions. More precisely, after obtainment of the power as a result of the famous battle of Buxar amongst the East Ind. Co., the Nawab of Bengal and the Mughal emperor- the new ruler sent their revenue officers cum surveyors in their possessions, one of them had been J. Rennell (the Agent Surveyor) who had taken his detailed inquiries and had found a certain defined territory of the then Malduar ruler under undivided Suba of Bengal, through his first published Map on 15th of August 1779, also found in the present day revenue records in Purnea collectorate. The famous Bucanan Hamilton, an author of various gazetteers of Dinajpur and Purnea regions in early 19th century had given some details of this family. We can thus conclude from these sources of knowledge that the family lineage may take vexing and serpentine overtures regarding Malduar genealogy but the final part of the same had its relatively recent pedigree connected with a maithil shrotriya brahman infant adopted as the only successor of the Malduar family. The minor child was declared as the heir to the household and thus had started a fresh lineage of descendants. Subsequently the surname of the heir infant was changed. From Ramlochan Jha, he became Ramlochan Chaudhuri. The new seat of his royalty was shifted to Ramganj from the old one rooted at Rajour. According to Bucanan H. the surname of the former ruling family was Roy which had been more common surname for the chieftains under the Mughal Rule in India. Chaudhuri had become a popular surname among such families specially in the East India Company regime. To conclude i may add here that my grand fathers great grand father was the same person .

FE-Part 2 : About infatuation and the need

Just after the birth of father, grand father had been honoured by the British title for zamindars those days _ the raja of Ramganj as such some special care had been taken to bring up that child. A trusted relative and a caretaker for 24 hours besides other normal favours provided to all the offsprings of the raja were some speciality measures to look after his youngest son. The raja always had wished his sons and nephew to get high quality education as he had championed the issue of good education for the relatives and other deserving persons in general. Despite the said favours from his father, my father was deprived of his fathers care at the age of 3 due to the demise of the raja in 1928.The Dinajpur DM took charge of the estate as the crown prince - the eldest son of the raja- had desired that the govt. should handle the management of the Malduar estate after the demise of his father.My grand mother had been a caring mother as well as a strict guardian of all she had cared for.Still she had not lived for long and her life had ended in 1938. Under this situation as the youngest properietor my father had to live at their Dinajpur situated Malduar house with his pre-determined local guardian and one care-taker like a shadow besides others. He had learnt a very disciplined life as pre-empted by the DM who had even a weekly menu, place with route-path of visiting and a personal interview monthly for a long time till the court of wards had been lifted in 1944 when father had completed 18. Thus the actual independence for him had started then only. He had been fond of several things the first and foremost being the Bangla language which he spoke and wrote more fluently followed by his Bengoli friend circle which he had maintained allalong. He opted for the Bengoli cuisine more than his native one for a sizeable period, specicially till his old personal caretaker having been an excellent cook had not retired from his service in 1959. He was fond of talking to the people of Bengoli lineage. In distress due to the partition of the country he had personally cared for such people in his Bihar-phase of life who had become his life-long friends in Bihar at Sonaili and other properties since the Malduar estate had also a significant presence on the Indian side of West Begal and Bihar. This much of introduction is needed to understand his infatuation for the home-land in East Pak at Ramganj and also in Dinajpur township. After they had to abandon their home-land which truly constituted abundant resources in every perspective, they had to raise everything afresh in Bihar side except one prominent property which had been created long back in the name of grand mother Rani Jayarama Devi Chaudhurani (W/o the raja of Ramganj). This had been a property under one Tahsildar of the estate who had maintained his deep loyalty for this royalty. This property was also in existence till the enactment of land ceiling in Bihar. From 1947 end to 1951, his visits to the home-land had supported both physically and mentally to finally accept the reality that he should no longer re-visit the former and make the latter his fate. Indeed he had lived during a difficult period and had learnt to overcome the odds rather bravely. He always ignored his difficult times and never talked about any hardship. He told about the past in a light humour. His stories of encounter with crocodiles during bird-hunting, assembling after dismantling pistol, revolver, gun and rifle and devoting time in rectifying intricate electrical - electronic goods were amazing. My father and uncles had a deep interest in instrumental music. The musical interest is a long legacy for us. We had learnt from my father and uncles the lessons of simplicity amidst abundance, humbleness amidst confidence and futility to show off as an upstart culture with a Bengoli saying - China bamoner poita lage na.

Family Episode : Part I

In the past century, Mithila covered a vast tract of land in present parts of Nepal as well as Bangladesh nations. Nepal still has a vast land area known as Mithila because of the maithil inhabitants. Bangla Desh does not have this any longer, except some names in its google records so often shown in the political and geographical presentations. One such prominent name is King Tonkonath whose name is presented after his past zamindari area falling under police station Rani Sankoil, also known as the earstwhile Malduar estate with its head quater situated near Katiyar Haat. His palace ruins, ponds and more prominently his family diety in a small temple are quite preserved also through the govt. records available in the administrative offices. These facts were specially brought into lime light by a maithil gentle man who had been adament to know about this long forgotton place and its inhabitants. Indeed there are more maithil people to know the whereabouts of that place and the raja who still holds popularity in the mind of the present day inhabitants in that foreign land. The real story begins at this point. In short, so many zamindars owned their revenue estates during the British period. Some important maithil zamindars are still well known since their belongings had remained intact but this had not been as fortunate after losing significantly due to the partition of India witnessing lost as enemy properties. ere officials in the local govt. office had wished the heirs of that estate should come to take stock of their recorded land and other properties or if not interested then allow the govt. to take charge of the same. He further narrated that although the real owners had abandoned these, yet the family member of the last muslim manager of the estate had been receiving all the benefits and they had sent a message to the real owners never to look back or interfere in their interests and as such had shown the obvious hostility. Irrespective of these details, there are so many stories heard from the father and uncles who had themselves faced the burning times of partition. Jumping their vehicle across the big ditch dividing the two countries to safely come from Ramganj palace in August 1947 was an interesting narrative for us as we were then small children. My father had come after dodging some police constables to prevent him to leave his estate. In fact the division of India had witnessed a mass exodus of hindus and the then govt under Pak PM Liyaqat Ali Khan had wanted to save their face by trying to prevent the royal families to follow the suit at that time. Hence the govt. at that time wanted that my father as the only present owner of the Malduar estate must not be allowed to go to India. He was alone as the rest of the family members had already crossed the border. He finally rode on his motorcycle ariel along with two staff and left in the dead of night from Dinajpur town and through a jungle or countyside road crossed the border. In fact he had a deep love for that region and till the issuance of passport had not left the endeavour to shuttle between Sonaili as his later residence in Bihar and Ramganj the former one.The stories are still ripe in my memory of how tasty the Mandas, Lichus, mangoes, fine rice Katarivog and so many eatables had been carried from there. Only costly items like dosalas or zari materials were not allowed to be carried. Fathers last visit to Ramganj was perhaps in 1951 when the Dinajpur DM had issued a notice why he had visited his Dinajpur estate after several months and why therefore he should not be banned to go back to India if all his properyies had been located in Dinajpur district of East Pak? Due to his illness in 1950, he had not visited Dinajpur for more than six months or even longer. In ffact his regular visits had been noted by the administration but the interruption had raised their fear that he too as the only owner of the estate had shown an apathy to take stock of the estate. On the other hand my father had been making these visits to that region out of infatuation as well as a necessity. (to be contd.)

Problem of knowing

This excercise became an Achilees Heal(may have written a wrong spelling) despite constant control from an expert to pay the power bill online. Finally i choose to have a sip of tea rather than to opt for brainwashing leading to the same old point where i start.

Approaching Gungaram means arriving at BD

The Ganga Darjeeling road was an idea turned into reality by the British regime. The Britons were fond of climate full of  hills and cold and earmarked such areas during their early settlements of company rule in these regions. The gangetic region was hence tried to be linked with the so-called queen of hills and this roadmap and the entire idea  slowly evolved. Today this is also known as NH31. To travel along it gives you a joy of driving. The road is comparatively broad and smooth without  dense   habitation. A number of rivers fall however during this highway with  both short and long road bridges. Till recent times a wooden bridge used to be found in the Limka book of records as the only wooden roadbridge  on a national highway in India happened to be that. Once you start for Bagdogra airport which also happens to be the nearest and the only airport in the region a natural inclination arises to see a series of tea
estates. One has also to remember that the hilly region provides a world class crop of tea leaves through which the road advances towards the Himalayan foothills  covered thoroughly by one of the finest varieties of tea plantation side by side with thick  shades of forests atop hills in distant horizon. A vast tea estate nearest to BD  airport is Gungaram. Once you spot this gungaram you be sure that your journey  is almost to end.

Our Hallmark

We witness a rising trend in the whole world today to get the patent right, be it a new thought, new commodity or market property. India today stands on the path of witnessing our leaders, in a queue  for obtaining a different kind of patent right. On November 8, 2016 as well as January 21, 2017-they draw  attention towards how we should think and act. India has for long been a place of creativity. The world famous epics remind of that. Unfortunately our time-tested values of austerity and simplicity   have been  overshadowed. Our leaders today are well determined to reinstate such values in our day to day life.  "Sada Jivan Uchch Vichar" is our true identity because most people are instilled with this age-long mindset, Only after independence and there too with over-dependence on harping on unlimited growth concept our inclination towards new expenditure pattern- most of the people run after money and fall into a blind sort of rat race. This  is the new trend to find solution of some of our urgent problems. Our governments in the post-independence era radically banked on deficit economic measures creating huge chunks of currencies to fill  an endless corner of leakages in the societal and commercial spheres of activity. Our normal nature of charity is absent. We save less than we spend. We face corruption as an endemic. Our social discipline is somehow punctured. Locally-produced alcohol  pouches have been found in the possession of rural children, what to say about the adults. Under such critical conditions we can be taken aback due to the blatant decisions at the central and state levels on these two dates more or less similar in effects but these are  in some way or the other efforts to restore our financial and societal hallmark   of lasting importance.The philosophy of less cash paves way to save, strengthen and leap forward. This may be a painful idea since one is not thus habituated in a free economy like ours. Some rich people may equally feel pains in a dry state where alcohol-ban has been so enormously accepted by raising a great human chain. Both the events are debated at present as the people of the nation have not received such treatment since long. Let us wait and watch for a result.  

Father and Daughters

In those distant times when both girls used to travel in the company of parents on a small size two wheeler, the central focus  had been a small clean shop -Maheswari Sweets. The shopper would quickly serve sweets in separate plates to each but the father would take each plate to cut the sweets to smaller pieces before each daughter would start to eat and enjoy. As they started to grow up an understanding followed simultaneously. Time, place and characters changed. Father became old. Daughters lived at quite distant lands and wished to feed sweets to father at a long distance so they planned to fulfill  this desire in another way. One started to send some important health stimulants and the other took charge of resolving online services. Father always wished  to see them  honorably employed. In a foreign circumstances the elder one painstakingly fulfilled that desire too since both of them always cherished to see sugarfree sweet pieces in the mouth of the old man. 

Technically forced why i do

Knowledge renders us feel liberated while lack of it may force to satisfy with whatever little potency you may show or deserve. Friends suggest that knowledge is less and feelings are more real. So i first tried to feel and feel again. This filled within me  a bigger sense of courage and took a deep breath to have bigger courage before i sat to make online payment of power bills. Despite several attempts it did not materialise. Then i tried on piperbol.com, it did not move an inch ahead. I then had that big realisation to sail across the safest route where i foresaw my success.

Worship or Telepathy

When we worship we wish something to happen. This was how we prayed in a local temple. The next day we found a strange presence of a huge cobra snake within the household. Neighbours assembled to witness this strange scene, offered milk etc and bowed with folded hands in awe. This drama continued for more than an hour and definitely we had to make hard efforts to let it return to the safe wild life. Earlier we had consulted with an astrologer who had asked to worship Shiv with a Nag-headgear. Such events remind us of both, the effect of the unseen as well as of the science of telepathy. Truly there are mysteries of life, sometimes to be ascertained by mere faith and often by science. Is telepathy a possible answer of why someone is attached to the realm of god?

Unclear mind filling the T Mug

Once you adhere to filling the mug which quickly empties, you should also have a sort of tips beneath. It appears that the harsh cold weather blocks the tips  to continue your flow of thought. However the mug must be filled with whatever raw input you instantly have.                                               In fact when your dear one returns from one sweet-home to another, it creates some inherent void within your domain and that takes time to recover. It is another chance factor that no sooner you are ready to reinstal your inherent flow someone is also ready to say hi good evening sir.

When she reached Mumbai

We had arrived three hours back by four-wheeler but her flight had not  causes anxiety. Our nervous looks repeatedly seeks a callback from her. our mobiles had asserted that her mobile had been switched off despite the fact that it had been quarter past eight. But thanks to HE she responded with her usual sweet voice.

Sunshine Chat in the Workplace

In a void when one sits in a company of tired thinkers with a little workload, there is usually a chat. It takes an interesting turn if it is a sunny winter. If your vocal cords are unused and chocked the circumstantial reaction is to debate even without a logic. The most likely topic then  is Modiji vis a vis his opponents. It often appears   as if a serious matter or solution is to result. That never happens. Every participant here plays a decisive role as if the sky is to fall and the D-day comes just now before which his/her say has to prevail or heard or praised by one and all. The usual effect of such a collective effort is growing noise or a humdrum found most often after a show halts for an interval. In deed this is the prelude to a situation when the workplace resumes its normal functioning.No one cares whether there is sunshine or otherwise.

Good Morning Purnea

The very cold winter winds fail to reduce the enthusiasm to write at this fresh new forum.The farther I proceed here further boosts to go on. Many things attract these days. Many detract equally. The PM says to go cashless while the state administration commands vaguely to remain cashless. Hence a balance has to be drawn between attractions and otherwise. Prudence teaches the future benefits out of this puzzle and thus consoles inherently. What attracts is not but what detracts is the right choice, Man, so save and not spend[ in the market].

Ideas and Life

What would have happened,had the humans not have brain to think, laugh,hate and love. So one has to thank the biological system within the universe that enabled ideas and life,simultaneously flying.

Good Evening

The evening is good as my daughter  Mona is with us here at Pink House.