নব আনান্দে জাগো

Life in 2028
















Aniruddha Basu




Our lives are going to change and change big time in next 10 years. We are in the midst of a huge
technology revolution which will cause our lives to change drastically in next few years.
Think about it. Artificial Intelligence, Augmented and Virtual Reality, Sensors, 5G and IoT have all
reached a disruptive phase from a deceptive phase and we are seeing the convergence of all these.

Without getting much into technology details let’s see how fiction is going to get real in our lives. I
have chosen three of your most loved areas and am going to discuss how these will change.

Travel

Shopping

Entertainment

Travel

Let’s imagine a situation:

You just finished your breakfast in Mumbai and heading for a Consumer meet in Pune followed by a
business meeting at Bangalore. Your personal AI knows your schedule so has an Uber Autonomous
(Driverless Car) on standby. The car takes you to the local Hyperloop station, transfers you to the
highspeed pod, which zipped you to Pune. You were wearing a sleep sensor and it was a perfect
opportunity for a catnap on the lay- down flat back seat of the Hyperloop pod. Your freshly rested
self is transferred into another Uber Autonomous which takes you to the consumer meeting.

Total time elapsed - 25 minutes.

After the meeting in Pune, an Ola Elevate (Ola Flying Car) flies you to Bangalore directly atop the
building where you have the meeting. You take the elevator down to the meeting room.
Total time elapsed 45 minutes.

This is the future of ‘Packet Switched Humans’ where you choose your priority – speed, comfort
and cost – specify your start and end point and the system does the rest.

Looks unbelievable. Not anymore. Let’s see where we are with respect to Autonomous Cars and
Flying Cars.



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Autonomous Cars

Since 2018/2019 most major car companies like BMW, Mercedes, General Motors and Toyota etc.
are preparing to compete for the emerging Autonomous Car market with tech giants like Apple,
Google (via Waymo), Uber and Tesla trying out different designs, gathering data and honing neural
networks. For example, Google self-driving car project Waymo has already developed an advance
AI system for its self-driving fleet.

Also, as more and more autonomous vehicles hit the road, they gather information: positions of
traffic signs, road conditions etc. More information means smarter algorithms equals safer cars.

Flying Cars

Idea of Flying cars is as old as the Ramayana. Even a helicopter was envisaged to achieve the same
purpose. But Helicopters are loud & dangerous as they use single gargantuan rotor to generate lift.

Three basic requirements of any Sharable Flying Car different from a Helicopter – Noise, Safety and
Price and technology is solving all these problems. Instead of one rotor, multiple synchronized
smaller electromagnetic rotours, which are extremely light, stealthily quiet and capable of carrying
heavy load, makes eVTOLs possible – electric vertical take off and landing on Distributed Electric
Propulsion (DEP).
Trilogy of Converging technologies – a) Machine Learning advances that allow to run complicated
flight simulations, b) Material Science breakthrough that allow to create parts both light enough to
fly and durable enough for safety and c) New manufacturing technique – 3D Printing that can
create these motors and rotors at any scale.

DEP system is computer controlled and what produces that level of control is another swarm of
converging technologies – a) AI gives computational processing horsepower, manipulates multitude
of electric motors & aircraft control surfaces in real time, b) Multitude of sensors capable of
processing gigabits of information all at once.

Finally, you need batteries- power density to lift pilot & 5 passengers & fly over 100 to 500 km.
Thanks to Solar power & Electric Cars, we have next generation lithium ion batteries.

It now seems that the Fiction of flying cars will become a reality by 2025.

Shopping

Let’s imagine you are supposed to meet your friends for lunch but forgot your coat. On the Uber
autonomous ride downtown, a quick online search reveals a Louis Philippe shop selling new eco-
friendly leather jackets. You click the ‘interested’ button on your screen and forget about it. The
Store’s AI interfaces with your phone’s AI and automatically redirects your taxi. Upon arrival, you
are greeted by Louis Philippe Store Saleswoman with the leather coat you were interested in. The
jacket fits perfectly - which isn’t a surprise. A couple of months ago you used the sensor in your
phone to map your body down to its every flap and fold.

No need to wait in line to pay for the item either. A variety of cameras and sensors track both you
and the jacket, so as you walk out of the door the price is instantly deducted from your bank
account using digital payment solution. At the same time your transaction settles, sensors built into
the rack where your jacket once hung alert the store’s AI. The AI orders another jacket from the

নব আনন্দে জান্দ া 96 2020

manufacturer and texts an employee to restock the new empty hanger. The inventory control
system notices the trend of third jacket sale in last 2 days and orders a couple of backup jackets to
prepare for the rush.

Welcome to the world of Frictionless Shopping.
Let’s see how real this situation is.

The mentioned scenario isn’t that far off. It requires ever expanding impact of IOT as more devices
are connected to the internet. Today, in select high end stores in US & China, upon entering, the
visitor scans the QR code on their phone and AI does the rest.

Cameras track customer movement down the aisles and weight sensors built into the shelves do
the same for the products. Just grab, what you want, drop into your backpack and head home. On
your way out the door, the cost is automatically charged to your bank account. Smart shelf
technology is already here, employing RFID, Radio frequency identification tags & weight sensors to
detect when an item has been removed. The innovation deters theft, automates restocking &
ensures that inventory is always in right spot. AI can detect patterns in data that humans cannot.
This means every link in supply chain - inventory levels, supplier quality, demand forecasting,
production planning, transportation management, and more is being revolutionized and fast.

Entertainment

Entertainment is absolutely personal in 2028. Assume you had a long day. You have less than forty-
five minutes to get ready for dinner, but first you want to have a drink and get entertained. Do you
pick a remote and flick through channels? Doubtful. Are you interested in holographic NDTV
floating above the coffee table? No. But the good news is neither of the questions matter – because
your AI already knows what you need. Your AI has ability to monitor and understand your emotions
– the highs and lows of your mood in considerable detail. It caught your grimace, when you ignored
the call of your brother – knowing you are stressed. And it can act on this information.

The moment you walk into the living room, projected onto the wall are your favourite clips from
Kapil Sharma Show. What makes this unusual is that you did not know you were Kapil’s fan, but
your AI noticed because it’s tracking your emotional history that laughter was your fast track to
feeling better

The crazy part is most of this technology is already here – ‘affective computing’ or the science of
teaching machines to understand and stimulate human emotion. It’s a tale of convergence, a new
field sitting at the intersection of cognitive psychology, computer science and neurophysiology,
combined with accelerating technologies like AI, Robotics and Sensors. Already affective computing
is being experimented in e-learning where AI adjusts the presentation style if the learner gets
bored; and social monitoring – like car engage additional safety measures if driver becomes angry.
But the biggest impact is on entertainment, where things are getting personal. Facial expressions,
hand gestures, eye gaze, vocal tone, head movement, speech frequency and duration are signals
thick with emotional information. By coupling next generation sensors with deep learning
techniques, we can read these signals and employ them to analyse user’s mood.

Let’s remain Fit and Fine friends to enjoy the roller coaster ride.







নব আনন্দে জান্দ া 97 2020

আমার বোলডেং জীেন
















দীপালল গে মুস্তালফ




ৃ
১৯৫৫ সানলর জােুয়াদর িাস, আিার তেে সাত বির বয়স। বাবার সনে সদরো রািকষ্ণ দিশে
সারিা িজের দবিযালয় আদি প্রনবশ কদর। খসোনে োওয়ার পর সুপাদরনন্টনন্ডন্ট দশবােী দি আিার
জজদেসপত্র একজে পদরচারকনক দিনয় ওপনর পাষ্টিনয় দিনলে এব়ং উাঁচ ু ক্লাস এর একষ্টট খিনয়
আিার খিেভাল করনব বনল দিনলে ।

খসই বনল দিল দেয়ি দক। ঘন্টা ধনর দেয়ি কনর চলনত হনব। সকাল পাাঁচটায় উিনত হনব। ঘন্টা
ু
বাজনব। হাত-িুে ধুনয় িাকরঘনর খেনত হনব। খসোনে ভজে ও পানির পনর োদড রুনি খেনত হনব।
ু
ঘন্টা প়োর পর ষ্টটদফে খেনয় আবার োদড রুনি খেনত হনব। স্নানের ঘণ্টা প়েনল পুকনর স্নাে করনত
হনব। প্রেি দিে আদি কনল স্নাে কনরদিলাি। পনর আিার বন্ধ ু রা বলল খকে পুকনর ড ু ব দিনয় স্নাে
ু
ু
কর। স্নাে করলাি, ভালই লাগল। খকােদিে কদরদে আনগ। পুকরটা েুব ব়ে এব়ং 'ি' আকানরর দিল।
ওনতই পনর সাাঁতার দশদে। তারপনর আিরা ভাত খেনয় েনল খগলাি। েল চারনট অদব্দ দিল।
ু
ু
িাঝোনে ষ্টটদফে দপদরয়নড দশবােী দি আিানির একটা কনর কিলানলবু খবাদডে়ং এর খিনয়নির
দিনলে। ি ু ষ্টটর সিয় খবাদডে়ং দফনর এনস জািা কাপ়ে খিন়ে িুে ধুনয় চ ু ল খবাঁনধ আিানির ষ্টটদফনের
ঘন্টা অবদধ খেলা। োওয়ার পর আবার সনন্ধয খবলার ভজে হনলা এব়ং কোিৃত পাি হল। তারপনর
আিরা োদড রুনি খগলাি। আিানির োবার ঘণ্টা প়েনল খেনয় আিরা রানত্র ঘুিানত খগলাি। এই
ু

খরাজোিচা । চতে েখশ্রণী অবদধ খিনল খিনয়নির একসানে েল, পঞ্চি খশ্রেী খেনক খিনয়নির আর
ু
ু
খিনলনির আলািা েল। আিার সানে ত ৃ তীয় খশ্রণীনত একষ্টট খিনল শুকনিব োনির প়েত,
প়োনশাোয় ভানলা দিল। দকন্তু একদিে খেনক আর আসনি ো। তারপর একদিে আিরা িাষ্টট কাটনত
খগলাি। সপ্তানহ একদিে আিানির গ্রানি দেনয় োওয়া হনতা এসব কানজর জানেয। তেে শুকনিব
হিাৎ এনস বলল ‘এই দিপালী’। আদি বললাি ‘দক, তই েনল আদসস ো খকে'? বনল ‘আদি আর েল
ু
ু
োব ো, এেে আদি িাষ্টট কাষ্টট’।
ু
এই কনর ত ৃ তীয় খশ্রদণ, চতে ে খশ্রদণর পনর, পঞ্চি খশ্রণীনত সারিা িজেনরর একািশ খশ্রণীর েল

ু
দবিযালয় আদি এলাি। তেে প্রভাতী দি, একজে দিদি শাদন্তদেনকতে খেনক আিানির েল এ এনলে।
ু
এনস আিানির খিাল পূদণ েিার দিে আদবর খেলা এব়ং োচ-গাে িাত্রীনির খশোনলে। আর খশোনলে
েুব সুের আলপো। তারপনর রত্না দি এনলে োগপুর খেনক। েুব ভানলা দহজে বলনত পারনতে আর
ইদতহাস প়োনতে েুব ভানলা। এনির খস্নহিায়ায় আিরা সবাই েুদশ দিলাি। েেে অিি খশ্রণীনত,
তেে রবীন্দ্োে িাকনরর জন্মশতবাদে েকীনত, তানত অদেিা, েীদলিা ওরা িুই খবাে েুব সুের অদভেয়
ু
কনরদিল। আবার েেে েবি খশ্রণীনত, তেে “চিাদলকা” হনলা। তানত প্রদতভা এব়ং প্রদতিা অদভেয়



নব আনন্দে জান্দ া 98 2020

কনর েুব সুের খিদেনয়নি। এিা়োও হনয়দিল "ডাকঘর" ও "তানসর খিশ"। এসব অেুোনের সিয় ৬
িাস আনগ খেনক দরহাস োল হনতা। গানের খিনয়রা খকাে িান্ডা োবার োনব ো ইতযাদি দেয়ি দিল।
গােগুনলা শুনে শুনে সবার খশো হনয় খেত! হনেল বা়েী খেনক দকনচে দবজল্ড়ং এ োবার পনে,

খজযৎস্না রানত সবাই গাইনত গাইনত চনলদি িনে পন়ে।
একািশ খশ্রণীনত আিানির খটনের পর োর োর বাদ়েনত পাষ্টিনয় দিনলে তেে েুব িে োরাপ হনলা।

তারপর পরীিা দিনয় খরজাট খবনরানলা। পাশ করার পর সদরোয় খগলাি, সবার সানে খিো কনর
এলাি। খসই আিার খবাদডে়ং এ খশে োওয়া। আর জীবনে খেনত পাদরদে। জীবে সায়ানহ্ন এনস
আিার এই খবাদডে়ং বানসর িধুর স্মৃদত িনে আেে খিয়।

(ছলে : পাদরজাত খবরা)









































প্রভাতী দি “বাজিকী প্রদতভা” করানলে।






















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কলেগরু -অলিজা চহটাপাধ্যায়













নব আনন্দে জান্দ া 100 2020

AWAKEN THE DURGA WITHIN-FROM CAGED TO CAREFREE
















Raisa Mitra





HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE INDIA?

A question that can have different answers. Some may say India is a country in South Asia, the
second largest country in terms of population; some may say the country that perfectly defines the
phrase “unity in diversity”; while some others may know it for the amazing cricket team it has.

If an Indian is asked the same question, the first thing that comes to our minds is the fact that India
is our Motherland-our Bharat Mata. But a strange difference seems to prevail across India. On one
hand, we refer to our country as a mother and celebrate various women role models while on the

other in large parts of the country, the ‘male’ reigns supreme, with women getting neglectful
treatment. Around a time when the country will be celebrating Goddess Durga through Durga Puja
and celebrations across India, the women of the country are struggling to save their dignity and
grace. Each one of us fight everyday-be it on roads, home or workplace.

Most of us refer to the Goddess Durga as the Devi or Maa, the matriarchal goddess figure. The story
of her victory over evil is well known to all of us. This story from our mythology is an example itself
which constantly reminds us of the immense significance of a girl child and the tenacity of a
woman. This story also points out certain characteristics of the Goddess that must be embodied by
each and every woman in this country who is constantly fighting a silent battle to protect her
honour.

Not a single day has passed when the self-respect of a woman was left untouched. Every instant
there appears a “Mahishasur” that has to be defeated and put to its place, which is supposed to
change the mindset of the rest, but the result yielded is almost nil. But Durga did not give in to her
fears. She chose to face them, which is a great lesson for the modern girls and women. We should
not give in to our fears instead let those fears push us to our goals.

At no point should we feel inferior and doubt ourselves. Goddess Durga just did not only kill

Mahishasura, but also put an end to many other demons to secure the world and uproot the evils
as and when the world needed it. Each of these tales teach us that whatever the circumstances
might be, we women should never feel too weak and keep our spirits alive.




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The tale of Devi Durga also teaches us the importance of mental strength and shows that always
muscle strength is not everything. Apart from being a physical warrior, she was also a character

with a strong mind. This again is an enviable quality that all young girls should imbibe in them.
The Goddess in her mother avatar is an epitome of love and compassion. While the world is filled
with hatred, we must spread love around us and help the needy.

This Durga Puja, let us all pledge that we as women will not give in to our troubles, instead give a
befitting reply to every demon which may try to harm us. Let us women identify our inner Durga
and let the Shakti of that Durga be present in each woman who fights her battles every day.





































































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প্রলতমা -অলিজা চহটাপাধ্যায়












নব আনন্দে জান্দ া 103 2020

Becoming Bengali















Ahana Ghosh







One of my fondest memories growing up was in the summer visits to the alleyways of a small part
of the bustling city of Kolkata, called Seal Lane. The landmark of the locality was a huge playground,
which people addressed as a “Maath”, and most houses in the area had alternate hear-say
addresses involving it! My maternal grandparents lived in one such house which was “on the corner

of the first-right, first-right, and first-left of the Maat”. The building was dilapidated, but the
windows were symbolic of the Colonial era. This was a trademark of most of the buildings in the
neighbourhood. There weren’t any high-rises in the area either. Most of the houses had fully grilled
balconies, something that I found a little strange having lived in the semi-grilled apartment
balconies in the South throughout. Coming from the south, Kolkata seemed to have its own
distinctly different signature; one that I found very lively. Kolkata introduced me to the concept of a
“city-vibe” for the very first time, and it is something that I have since then looked for in any new
city I visit. Mumbai and Paris are the only other cities in my limited exposure that also have one!



Each time our yellow cab pulled in close to the final turn of the “Maath”, my heart would start
racing in anticipation of seeing my grandparents. Each time we would find my Dadubhai (maternal
grandpa) sitting patiently in the bed near the balcony, and eyes perched outside, awaiting our
arrival. I would jump out of the car, and run to the grill as he unlocked it. Luggage and everything
else aside, we would rush in for a hug, and then head straight for the kitchen. We would find
Didama preparing a lemon drink for us there.



The house also had a tinge of colonial architecture. The ceiling was very high and the rooms all had
double doors with stoppers on the edges, also inspired by the old colonial times. Didama is very
good with handicrafts, and so the house would have craftwork in little nooks and corners. There
was a big “Babui” nest hung up in the living room, because she found it very inspiring and a symbol
of nature’s brilliant craft. There was also an intricate miniature model of an old building, which I
thought was of Victoria memorial but later found out (in the course of Ma proof reading this article)
that it was of Trichi fort. Ma’s childhood room was small, and had a black bookcase with ancient


নব আনন্দে জান্দ া 104 2020

Britannica books. It also housed the puja stall. I particularly liked the stall because of the tiny utensil
set with it. Every morning, after her bath, Didama would place “Nokul-dana: a sugary treat” in the

little plates, and water in the little glasses for the deities. And once the Puja was complete, I was
assigned the job of serving them to the rest of the family. Sometimes I insisted on setting all of this
up; for me this was a chance to play with the toy utensils, and of-course relish a few extra Nokul-
Danas in the process.


The rest of the summer vacation, we would wake up to hot and juicy Jilipis from the nearby sweet
shop. The sweet shops are also characteristic of Kolkata-- their unique scent, their classic mud pots.
In the morning they were stocked up with the Jilipis, while the evening had freshly made
“Shingaras”. Every day these were two delicacies we splurged on!



My memory of the dining hall in the house had the distinct smell of “Gondho Lebu”. Till date the
smell leaves me with a glimpse of the little hallway. Didama treated us to all the classic Bengali
dishes while we were there; Poster Bora, and Chingri Maach being my favourite. Her Dal was also
something I thoroughly enjoyed. No one could make it like her, and I never really enjoyed it
anywhere else either, including at home today. There was just something about the eating the Dal
in that hallway -- it added its own special flavor that cannot be reproduced anywhere. Dadubhai

occasionally slipped us a couple of “Coffee-Bites” and “Center-Fresh” during the day which he got
from the local store.


We visited Kolkata only once during Pujo. The streets during that time were a sight to see! Sparkling
lights, the aroma of fried fish and chaat everywhere -- it was a much livelier time! People were all
decked up, and the loud-speakers were in full blast! That year, our visit was a lot more eventful for
sure -- though I must admit I didn’t enjoy the crowds and the locality as much; I actually missed the
summer ambience! I enjoyed reading and fantasizing about the “The Kolkata Durga Puja” fever a
little more than actually experiencing it! This could be because we were used to our smaller and

more personal celebrations in the South.


All in all, that house and neighbourhood in Kolkata made me feel very secure and special.
Everything that is quintessentially Bengali, I largely related to that one house and neighborhood.
However, ever since Dadubhai passed away in 2016, Kolkata visits have felt a lot more dutiful than
exciting. Upon his passing, I realised that a lot of my perceptions of Kolkata, and Bengali culture
were influenced by him. With him no longer there peering through the balcony, awaiting our visit,

Kolkata for me, lost a lot of its charm. This also made me realise that our memory of a place and its
culture is only as important as the people it houses! I do still identify as a Bengali, but a lot of its
culture and quirks are customized to my experiences growing up outside of West Bengal, and are
very different from the considered standard.


Having been brought up outside Kolkata, those summer vacations were the only times we really felt
Bengali and related truly to our so called cultural roots. I do believe though, that each person’s


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roots are very specific to their own childhood experiences and upbringing, and to compare that to a
generic cultural root is a little unfair. The way in which a native Bengali would relate to

Rabindranath Tagore, is very different to the way in which a Bengali brought up outside would.
Growing up, I was a little confused about this identity because I related to a more cosmopolitan
culture -- I enjoyed Dandiya during Navratri as much and Holi too. On visits from cousins, I couldn’t
entirely follow their niche Bengali slangs -- in fact I still don’t! But over time, I have come to realise
that I am also very much Bengali in my own way -- one where I relate to Shakespeare idioms more
than those of Tagore. In fact our culture is growing and evolving everyday, and by embracing it in all
its colors, we can fully enjoy its grandiose. These were just my musings on finally Becoming
Bengali…!



































































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Answer





Durga Maa, Me and Dodo


Debangsi De






































































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Answer



Riddle: Silver the Hedgehog


Krishman De










































BONUS RIDDLE

There are 5 children Sonic, Silver, Charmy, Amy, Shadow.

Sonic gets 20 chilli-dogs and gives 15 to Silver, Silver gives 12 chilli-dogs to Charmy, Charmy gives 10
chilli-dogs to Amy, and Amy gives half chilli-dogs to Shadow. How many chilli-dogs does Shadow get?

ANSWER

Shadow gets 0.5 Chilli-dog. What you thought – 5 ?
Here is what everyone gets.

Sonic – 5 chilli-dogs
Silver – 3 chilli-dogs

Charmy – 2 chilli-dogs
Amy – 9.5 chilli-dogs

Shadow – 0.5 chilli-dogs



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