Aadvika_2017

San Antonio Bengali Cultural Community
Presents

Aadvika

Sharodiya 2017

San Antonio Bengali Cultural Community

ওঁ জয়ন্তী, মঙ্গলা, কালী, ভদ্রকালী, কপাললনী। দূর্গা, লিবা, ক্ষমা, ধাত্রী, স্বাহা, স্বধা নমমাহস্তুমে।। এষ
সচন্দন র্ন্ধ পুস্প লবল্ব পত্রাঞ্জললিঃ, ওঁ হ্ীীং দূর্গায়য় নমিঃ॥

ॐ जयन्ती, मङ्गला, काली, भद्रकाली, कपाललनी। दगु ा,ा लिवा, क्षमा, धात्री, स्वाहा, स्वधा
नमोऽस्तु त॥े एष सचन्दन गन्ध पुष्प लिल्व पत्राञ्जलल, ॐ ह्रीं दगु ाायै नमः॥

Om Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalini। Durga, Shiva, Kshama,
Dhatri, Svaha, Svadha Namostu Te॥ Esha Sachandana Gandha Pushpa

Bilva Patranjali, Om Hreem Durgayai Namah॥

May the divine Mother bestow on you & your
family blessings of prosperity and happiness

Since time immemorial, Bengalis are accustomed to the ritual of worshipping idols representing the
pantheon of Hindu gods and goddesses including Durga, Saraswati, Lakhsmi, Kali, Shiva and
many more. Amongst them, the most cherished of all is the goddess Durga who has proverbial
influence on the hearts and souls of all Bengalis. We believe that each year, goddess Durga arrives
from Heaven to Earth at the end of monsoon season and the beginning of autumn. This auspicious
time is marked by the crisp blue sky, cool breeze and soft sunlight shining over kash flowers by the
riverbank. This visually charming beauty of nature creates a heavenly atmosphere on earth and at
this joyful moment Bengalis start the preparation for welcoming Ma Durga - the goddess of strength
or shakti. This autumn festival signifies the victory of good over evil and the triumph of peace all
over the world.
We Prabasi Bengalis left our motherland and traveled far to settle here in America. The irony is,
although we live thousands and thousands of miles away in another part of the world, our
memories of the early morning Mahalaya Chandipath, the pulsing sound of dhak and beautifully
decorated Puja pandals everywhere, are still strongly embedded in our hearts. We still remember
how every corner of the big city and small villages of West Bengal used to light up during those
days of Durgotsav – an unforgettable experience that we carry with us to this day.
2017 is a remarkable and historic year for the Bengali Cultural Community here in San Antonio.
Through the tireless efforts and extreme enthusiasm of the entire community, we have been able to
organize Durga Puja for the very first time in San Antonio. We are grateful to rekindle our memories
of Durgotsav by celebrating this important festival with our friends and families. Through our
communal efforts, we are also able to transmit our rich cultural heritage to the next generation- the
future Bengali-Americans.
As a part of this celebration, we are proud to announce the launch of Aadvika, our Sharodiya 2017
magazine. Our cover features an illustration of Aadvika (an alternative name of Durga) portrayed in
a striking light - she is a unique, confident and independent woman who possesses magnificent
energy to be triumphant over the evils of the universe. The success of a magazine depends on the
literary excellence and artistic expression of one’s mind. I am proud to say that this magazine
showcases the incredible talents of our community members and I hope that their creative
contributions will bring you much joy. In addition, I hope that our readers will be intrigued by the
lush originality and visual diversity offered by the artwork presented in this inaugural issue.
Finally, I have been fortunate to work with truly wonderful people, especially Samrita Neogi and
Arindam Ray, who have sacrificed countless hours over the past several months for the design and
production of this magazine. All of you deserve my sincerest gratitude and I hope you had as much
fun along the way as I did - thanks to all of you.
From the magazine’s behalf, I wish you a very happy and blessed Durga Puja!

Aruna Haldar

I

San Antonio Bengali Cultural Community (SABCC)

2017 Board of Directors

Dr. Bhaskar Mazumdar - President
Dr. Tuhin Chaudhuri - Vice President
Dr. Goutam Ghosh Chaudhury - Secretary
Mr. Sanjay Sen - Treasurer
Mr. Jayanta Das - Fundraising & Social Chair
Mrs. Anindita Bhattacharjee - Cultural Chair
Mrs. Samrita Neogi - IT Chair

Artist’s Statement: After Gravitational force, Cultural force is the only concept which can cross boundaries
of space-time!
By virtue of my job, I have lived in many different places in India and now in US and each time I get amazed
to see the richness of the culture of each place and the diversity of the people therein! But somehow, I
always manage to find some or other common elements in their lives – It seems that all those cultures are
like beads, tied with a common thread underneath!
Durga Puja is not just a festival for us Bengalis, rather it is a celebration of this beautiful cultural bonding
that lies in our core among the diversity of the world!
In my painting, the boatman in a small river of Bengal and the beautiful sun set of a small village
somewhere get unified with celebration of the life in a colorful evening on the River-walk of San Antonio,
the Alamo city.
Here, Durga Devi is portrayed not just as a mother but also as a beautiful, strong and independent woman
who has the power to conquer the world with her presence!

Illustrated by — Amit Paul (Cover Page Artist)

II

Many years ago, as a young boy growing up in Jamshedpur, India, Durga Puja was my favorite
festival. After the heat of summer had passed and the monsoon season had thundered through,
the month of September came and so did the anticipation! In those days, I would come home
from school, grab a snack and run out to the little pandal (tent) just down the street where the
pratima (idol) of Ma Durga was being sculpted. Imagine the excitement, as day by day, sticks, hay
and clay began to magically take shape into the form, features, and face of Ma Durga. As I sit
here today to write this piece, I am reminded of that feeling of anticipation from the days of my
childhood.

Durga Puja is a major festival in eastern India, and the most prominent festival of Bengal. It is a
celebration of the victory of the mother goddess Durga over a shape-shifting demon called
Mahishasur who had laid waste to the world. As human beings prayed to the mother goddess to
deliver them from this evil, Ma Durga came down from her abode on Mt. Kailash to slay the
demon.

In early 2017, as our community celebrated the New Year, a discussion had started of celebrating
Durga Puja in San Antonio for the first time. With a goal in mind, we founded an organization
that we had longed to create for years: San Antonio Bengali Cultural Community (SABCC). A
successful SABCC formation engendered a new self-belief, and unbounded enthusiasm. The work
began; committees were formed and soon overflowed with volunteers. Planners planned,
performers practiced, and volunteers tirelessly dedicated their time for this auspicious endeavor.
The anticipation built as the community began to realize that its dream was truly coming to
fruition.

In this endeavor, I must thank our board of directors: Tuhin Chaudhuri, Goutam Ghosh
Choudhury, Sanjay Sen, Jayanta Das, Anindita Bhattacharya and Samrita Neogi. I must also thank
the chairs of all our Puja committees especially Asok Banerjee, Aruna and Subrata Haldar, as well
as their enthusiastic volunteers, without whom none of this would be possible. Finally, I would
like to thank all our sponsors and donors, who have helped us financially to make this Puja
feasible. My hope is that this celebration is the start of bigger things that will bring the greater
Bengali community together. Happy Durga Puja!

Bhaskar Mazumdar
President, SABCC

III

Durga Puja 2017 Committees

Puja Committee Food Committee Cleaning & Kitchen Committee

Asok Banerjee (Head) Arindam Ray (Head) Sanjay Sen (Head)
Mohua Banerjee Saheli Datta Anindita Bhattacharjee
Nandini Ghosh-Choudhury Anindita Bhattacharjee Satyajit Pattadar
Priyanta Ghosh Somesh Dasgupta Sourav Das
Poulami Mazumdar Paromita Dutta Poulami Mazumdar
Avanti Mitra Banashree Sen Soumya Maity
Parijat Dasgupta Samrita Neogi
Subrata Debnath Bedabrata Bhattacharjee
Amit Bhattacharyya Shree Paul
Indrani Neogi Poulami Mazumdar
Anindita Bhattacharjee Dwaipayan chakrabarty
Rama Saha Anindita Gupta
Smita Bhattacharyya Nandini Ghosh-Choudhury
Devi Ghosh Mazumdar
IT Committee
Security/Venue/Social Committee Accounts Committee

Rajesh Ghosh (Head) Nandini Ghosh-Choudhury (Head) Sanjay Sen (Head)
Arindam Ray Samrita Neogi Bhaskar Mazumdar
Sourav Das Sanjay Sen Priyanta Ghosh
Samrita Neogi Arindam Ray Sanghamitra Das
Amit Bhattacharyya Jayanta Das Banashree Sen
Sumit Sarkar Rajesh Ghosh Tuhin Chaudhuri
Anindita Bhattacharjee
Fundraising Committee
Decoration Committee Cultural Committee

Parijat Dasgupta (Head) Sanjay Sen (Head) Subrata Haldar (Head)
Priyanta Ghosh Baishakhi Debnath Jayanta Das
Avanti Mitra Anindita Bhattacharjee Sumanta Mitra
Samrita Neogi Sayontini Ray Somesh Dasgupta
Amit Paul Paromita Datta Amit Bhattacharyya
Shree Paul Sourav Das Sourav Das
Anindita Bhattacharjee Amit Paul Tuhin Chaudhuri
Banashree Sen Falguni Das Satyajit Pattadar
Smita Bhattacharyya Aparajita Ghosh Abhijeet Trivedi
Devi Ghosh Mazumdar Tuhin Chaudhuri Sanjay Sen
Bedabrata Bhattacharjee Arindam Ray

SABCC sincerely recognizes all committee members and volunteers for their dedication and
hard work for ensuring successful celebration of the first ever Durga Puja in San Antonio.

SABCC is also grateful to chairs of all the committees-Dr. Asok Banerjee, Mr. Arindam Ray,
Mr. Sanjay Sen, Mr. Rajesh Ghosh, Dr. Nandini Ghosh Choudhury, Mrs. Parijat Dasgupta
& Dr. Subrata Haldar for their leadership.

IV

Advertisers  for 2017 Durga puja Souvenir

Businesses: Kalalaya
KM Computers & Printing 
Ali Baba International Little India Salon
Arathi School of Indian Dance Leopard Landscaping
Bangla Bazar Indian Grocery My Rainbow Arts
Biryani Pot Mustafa & Adiba Grocery 
Biva Dance School Napa Flats
Bombay Hall Nawabi Travel
Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio, Pequeno Real Estate 
Seasons Alzheimer’s Care & Four Seasons Hospice Phalanx Realty Group 
Castle Hills Family Practice PJ Travel & Tours
Comfort Boys Air Planet Fitness
Hampton Bodywerks Massage Spa Precious Moments Photography, Alankar 
Desi Mart Royal Cuisine 
Emillio Bernal’s Flooring Service Shivam Medical Group 
Evans BBQ & Grill SMK Consulting LLC
Farhan Real Estate Teentaal Nritya Academy 
Genghis Grill UC Smiles Orthodontics
Himalayan Bazar Urban Bricks 
India Store VaduAplu LLC
Women’s Health Center & Medical Office

Greetings: Dr. Subrata & Dr. Aruna Haldar
Dr. Tuhin & Mrs. Mukta Chaudhary
Dr. Lalatendu & Mrs. Tapasi MIsra Dr. Bhaskar & Mrs.Devi Mazumdar
Mr. Soham & Dr. Paromita Chaudhary Dr. Asok & Mrs. Mohua Banerjee
Mr. Tapan & Mrs. Rama Saha Dr. Animesh & Mrs. Sonia Nandi
Mr. Sumanta Mrs. Avanti Mitra Mr .Anirban & Mrs Sushmita Sircar
Mr. Abhijeet & Mrs. Tina Trivedi

San Antonio Bengali Cultural Community sincerely appreciates all the Advertisers
(Businesses & Greetings) for your support and participation in the celebration of
Inaugural Durga Puja Festival.

V

Sponsors for 2017 Durga Puja

Name Sponsorship Amout 
$3500
Dr. Bhaskar & Mrs. Devi Mazumdar Platinum  $2500
 $1000
Mr. Sanjay & Mrs. Banashree Sen Gold $1000
$1000
Dr. Tuhin & Mrs. Mukta Chaudhuri Silver $1000
$1000
Dr. Asok & Mrs. Mohua Banerjee Silver $1000
 $500
Dr. Subrata & Mrs. Mona Talukdar Silver

Dr. Animesh & Mrs. Sonia Nandi Silver

Dr. Sanjay Kumar & Dr. Nishi Thakur Silver

Dr. Rama Krishna Rao & Dr. Kamala Rao Silver

Dr. Bandana Chatterjee

CMIT Solutions of San Antonio NE donated $500 to SABCC for the
Souvenir Production Cost.

San Antonio Bengali Cultural Community expresses its
sincere gratitude to all the Sponsors for their generous support
in the celebration of 2017 Durga Puja.

VI

2017  Durga Puja Tentative Schedule

Saturd   a   y  ,   S   e  p   t  e   m     b  e   r   2  3   r d     2 0   1 7   

9 am         General Puja Procedures
10 am          Saptami Puja
12 Noon          Aarati & Pushpanjali
1 pm - 2:45 pm  Lunch Served
3 pm - 4 pm       Kids Cultural Program

4 pm - 6 pm MahaAshtami Puja
Kumari Puja

6 pm - 7 pm       Sandhi Pujo
6:45 pm          Snacks Served
7 pm - 7:30 pm Dunuchi Naach
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm Cultural Program
8:30 pm - 10 pm     Dinner
10 pm - 11:30 pm       Cultural Program

Sun    d  a   y   ,  S   e   p  t   e m     b   e  r 24th 2017

10 am - 12 pm  Maha Nabami Puja
12:30 pm - 2 pm  Havan
 Fruit Bolidan
 Aarti & Pushpanjali
 Lunch

2 pm - 4 pm Dashami Puja
 Immersion Ceremony
Sindur khela

5 pm - 8 pm    Cultural Program
8 pm - 10 pm  Dinner        

* Dis  c  la   i  m   e  r     :  T        im     in   g     s  m     a  y   va  r y   a   b it 

VII

Short Story Vedabrata Basu Page(s)
Article Sourav Das
Sports Column Arindam Ray 22
Poetry 70
Dr. Kalpana Iyengar (Guest Writer) 1
Letter Samrita Neogi
Amit Paul 6
Sonali Sarkar 40
Hrishikesh Sen 45
47
Sourav Das 44

Vedabrata Basu 68
Aarav Bhattacharyya
Geeta Bhattacharjee 10
Ariana Chaudhary 38
Shreya Chaudhary 32
Falguni Das 50
Prabha Das 38
Sourav Das 34
Shaumprovo Debnath 32
Samrita Neogi 23, 24
Amit Paul 35
Arindam Ray 12
Piyali Sarkar 14
28
Rashmi Rani Basu 72

18

VIII

Drawing & Sketch Page(s)

Aarav Bhattacharyaa 48
Shreya Chaudhary 30
Anindita Das Bhattacharjee 60
Anshuman Das 26
Jayanta Das 38
Sanghamitra Das 19, 20
Shaumprovo Debnath 35, 37
Subrata Debnath 32
Aparajita Ghosh 38
Shree Ghosh 16
Kumar Nandi 36
Samrita Neogi 12
Deepshikha pattadar 26
Amit Paul 14
Shaunak Saha 48
Samriddha Sarkar 19
Sanjana Sen 16,77
Shriya Sen 60
Samara Sheikh 26, 36
Aspaan Trivedi 37

Handcraft 18

Rashmi Rani Basu 42
42
Computerized Art
30
Ariana Chaudhary 69
Shreya Chaudhary

Photography

Shree Ghosh
Arnab Guha

IX

বিজয়া

অবিন্দম িায়

শিীিটা কোননা মনে বিছানা কেনে েু নে ধিনো বিজয়া। আজোে খুি দুিবে োনে বননজনে, শিীিটা কেন আি আনেি মনো
েো কশানন না। কশািাি ঘি কেনে দশ হাে দূনিি েেেোটা কেন এখন দশ কোজন দূনি। টু েব্রাশটা হানে বননয় েেেোি
বদনে কেনে কেনে ডােনো- দীপু!
সাড়া না কপনয় েোি স্বিটা এেটু িাড়াে কস।
- দীপু! দীপু!
- কোোয় কে োয় কছনেটা সোে কেনে! কেবদন কেনে ঠােু নিি মূবেব িানাননা শুরু হনয়নছ, কছনেি িাবড়নে বটবে কদখা োয়
না। এপাড়া ওপাড়া ভিঘুনিি মনো কদৌনড় কিড়ানে!

বিজয়া ভানি পুনজা কো আি এনসই কেে, েয়বদন পনিই কিাধন - অোে কিাধন! োিপি মহােয়া, মহাষষ্ঠী, আি সিনশনষ
বিজয়া। কোনে কো এনে শুভবিজয়া িনে। কে োনন েেটা শুভ! মা কো নামটা শুভ কভনিই কিনখবছে-

- মা, আমায় ডােবছনে?
হাঁাপানে হাাঁপানে এনস দীপে িেে।
- সোে কেনে উনঠই পাড়া কিড়াননা? এেটু মানয়ি োনজ হাে কো োোনে পািবেস।

েবদও বিজয়া ভানো েনিই জানন, এই সাে িছনিি কছনে োি িয়নসি েু েনায় অননেবেছু েনি মানয়ি জনয। বিজয়াি মনন
পনি কসইবদনটা, কেবদন পাড়াি চািজন কোে ধিাধবি েনি োনে টাবিনে কোনে, কসবদন খুাবঁ ট ধনি চু প েনি দাাবঁ ড়নয় োো
পাচাঁ িছনিি িাোি ছেছে কচাখদুনটা। ওই কচাখদুনটাি বদনে োবেনয়ই কো আজ োি কিানঁ চ োো।

দীপে কদৌনড় এনস মানয়ি েোটা জবড়নয় ধনি। বিজয়াও োি মাোয় হাে িুবেনয় কদয়।
- ছাড় িািা, অননে োজ পনি আনছ।
- মা জাননা, কোাঁসাইপাড়াি অসুিটা কসাজা দাবঁা ড়নয় আনছ, মাবটনে পনি োওয়া অসুি না!
- হ,ঁা িুঝোম। ো এিাি, োজ েিনে কদ।

োে পানশি গ্রানমি কেবিওয়াোটা এনসবছে। সিুজ িনেি জামা দীপনেি খুি পছনন্দি। বিজয়াও বননজি জনয এেটা মযাবচিং
েনি ছাপাশাবড় বেনন কিনখনছ। দীপনেি িািাি খুি কচনানশানা কোেটা। আজও বিশ্বাস েনি ধাি কদয়।

িান্নাঘনিি বদনে কচাখ পড়নেই বিজয়া কদনখ দীপে টু নেি উপি দাবঁা ড়নয়।
- দাাঁড়া িািা আবম আসবছ। ওই টু েটাি ওপি উনঠ মুবড় পািনে োসনন, পনড় োবি।
- মা, আমায় আি এেটু আনখি গুড় কদনি?
- আিাি েোয় োোবে! কন জে খা।

1

- এেটু আনে খা কসানা, এে োড়া বেনসি কোি?
- িোই বমস্ত্রী পােপাড়াি ঠােু ি দুনমনট েিনি। োড়াোবড় না কেনে শুরু হনয় োনি মা। এিাি ওনদি এেচাোি না, আোদা
আোদা ঠােু ি, খুি ধুম।
- বঠে আনছ, কদবি েবিস না এেদম, োড়াোবড় এনস স্নান েনি কখনয় বনস।
এেছুনট কিবিনয় োয় দীপে।

- সোনে ওপাড়াি দাসুি মা েু নচা বচিংড়ী বদনয় কেনছ, কদবখ বে িানাননা োয়! কছনেটা খুি ভানোিানস কখনে।

*****

অননেবদন পি এেটু সূনেবি মুখ কদখা কেে। কসই মহােয়া কেনে শুরু হনয়নছ। কিবডওনে েবদও িনেবছে বনম্নচাপ, চাি-
পাাচঁ বদন োেনি। আি িৃবি হনিই না িা কেন! এিাি কো মানয়ি কনৌোয় আেমন। ো, এিাি েবদ এেটু ইন্দ্রনদি মুখ েু নে
োোন! েবচোাচঁ াগুনোি বে আি ভানো োনে! পুনজাও কো আিাি এিছি বেনবদননি। উমািও ভীষণ েি, িানপি িাবড়নে
এেবদন েম োেনে পানি। পবিো অনুসানি মহাঅিমী আি মহানিমী এেবদনন।

েে দুবদন দীপেও খুি িযে, সি পাড়াি ঠােু নিি িে েিা শুরু হনয় কেনছ কে!

এে প্রনেি উত্তি জাননে দীপে কদৌনড় িাবড়নে মানয়ি োনছ আনস।
- মা, ও মা!
- বে হনো? কদখবছস না িান্না েিবছ।
- কশাননা না।
- ো িোি বশেবেি িে।
- োবত্তেব -েনননশি মানয়ি দশটা হাে কেন? কোমাি কো দুনটা।
- ধুি কিাো কছনে! আবম বে ঠােু ি?
- কেন? েু বমও কো মা।

বিজয়া কভনি পায় না এটাি বে উত্তি কদনি।

- মা জাননা, েু েীনপাড়াি অসুনিি িে সিুজ।
- বঠে আনছ, ো, িাইনি বেনয় কখেনে ো।

*******

পুনজা শুরু হনয় কেনছ। িাোেীি কেি উৎসি। কমানড়ি মাোয় মাইনেি শনে োন পাো দায়। োি সানে োে বমবেনয় িাবজ-
পটো। পযানেনে-পযানেনে হনড়াহবড়। নেু ন শাবড় পিা সদয কেনশাি পাি েিা কমনয়বটনে কদনখ বিজয়া হঠাৎ োি কেনে আসা
অেীনে বেনি োয়। মনন হয় এইনো কসবদন, হাে িাড়ানেই কছায়ঁা া োয়।

2

নেু ন জামা পনি দীপে মানয়ি সামনন এনস দাাঁড়ায়।
- মা, কদনখা, কেমন োেনছ।
- ভানো কেনেনছ কোি? কোি জনয অননে কদনখ সিুজ িনেি জামা বেননবছ।
- হা,ঁ খুি ভানো। োই বেবন্ননে কদবখনয় আবস। মা, বেবন্ন িেে আনািেবে জামা পনড়নছ, কসটা বে মা?
- ো কো জাবন না িািা। বেছু এেটা হনি।
- োহনে আবম োই মা?
- োই িেনে কনই িািা, িনো আবস।

**********

কদখনে কদখনে পুনজাি েয়টা বদন বেভানি কেনট কেে। আজ বিজয়াদশমী। কসই বিষানদি সুি। উমাি কেিাি পাো। আিাি
এে িছনিি অনপক্ষা। এিাি কদিীি পােবেনে েমন। বিজয়াি হঠাৎ বননজি িানপি িাবড়ি েো মনন পনি কেে। েেবদন
োওয়া হয়বন। িািা-মা কিঁনা চ না োেনে সি কমনয়িই কিাধহয় িানপি িাবড় োওয়া েনম োয়।

বিজয়াি হঠাৎ কখয়াে হে দশমীি োত্রা েনি আনা হয়বন।
- দীপু কোোয় কেবে িািা! োত্রাটা েনি বননয় আয়।
- মা, আবম ধুবে পনি োনিা না। সিাই খুি িাোয়।
- বঠে আনছ। আেনায় োচা জামা-পযান্ট িাখা আনছ, পনি ো।
- মা, এটা বে রুনপাি পয়সা?
- হযাাঁ।
- কোো কেনে এে?
- ো বে আি জাবন! কোি ঠােু মা এটা আমায় বদনয় কেনছ। োত্রাি কেৌনটায় িাখনে হয়।

সোে কেনে বিজয়াি শিীিটা আনিা খািানপি বদনে। বিনেনে রুমাবদ এনস প্রসাদী েু ে বদনয় কেনছ। দীপে িযে বসাঁদুিনখো
কদখনে। বশিেোি ঠােু নিি খুি ধুমধাম। এেটু আনে িায়নিনাঁ শি কখো কশষ হে। সনে হনে না হনেই সি পাড়াি কছনেিা
কেবি োনদি বননজনদি প্রবেমা বিসজনব ন বননয় োিাি জনয। বিজয়া শিীিটা বিছানায় এবেনয় কদয়।

- মা, ও মা! বিসজবন কদখনে োনি না? সি ঠােু ি কো বিসজনব হনয় কেে।
- মা, ও মা!
- মা-

দূনি বিসজবননি ঢানেি সুি কভনস আনস।।

3

Best Wishes From

Dr. Bhaskar, Mrs. Devi,
Nihar & Supriya Mazumdar

4

Happy Durga Puja

Best Wishes From

Dr. Tuhin & Mrs. Mukta Chaudhuri

5

Sarat Chandra Chatterjee’s Parineeta:

Explication of Social Categories

Dr. Kalpana Mukunda Iyengar

Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching, UTSA

Parineeta, a Bengali novella by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, is one of my favorite novels. His other
novels include Srikanta, Devdas, Palli Samaj, Charitraheen, Pather Dabi, etc. Malobika Chaudhari translated
many of these Bengali novels to English. Bengali writers make unique contributions to the literary world and
provide readers with stories, where authors expose their communities and the characters as if they were
real-life related.

The title Parineeta literally translates to ‘espoused’. According to Ganguly (2005), “when in a crucial
scene…Lalita garlands Shekhar and Shekhar reciprocates, it becomes what linguists have called performative
act-the exchange of garlands is not just symbolic of a Hindu marriage, it is the marriage” (para 1). Although
Parineeta accepts Shekhar as her husband based on the exchange of the garland at an auspicious moment,
she has to struggle with multiple social categories such as power relations, class, gender, and morality.
Shekhar, on the other hand tries to move on by accepting to marry a girl from a rich family of Shyambazar,
based on his father’s coercion, mistaken circumstances, and imposed morality, “Ma will not want to accept
you. She has heard that your uncle has accepted a lot of money from another. Besides, now all of you are
Brahmos and we are Hindus” (p. 64).

Gurucharan’s niece (Lalita) has to live life with insults and defame brought upon by Shekhar’s father,
the avaricious and class/caste conscious Nabin Roy who retorts to Gurucharan, “Get out and never show
your face to us again! Seek the company of the likes of you. Get your daughters married off in any bedeviled
household! (p. 59). Nabin Roy is furious about Gurucharan’s conversion to Brahmo creed and that Roy could
not usurp the mansion from Gurucharan infuriated him.

In sheer anger, with his pride hurt, Nabin Roy felt like taking some sort of revenge on Gurucharan,
but could not figure out what to do. The thought that Gurucharan had escaped completely from his clutches
and that it was highly improbable that he could be trapped again in the near future agonized him not a little.
Ultimately, not able to hit upon any other solution, he called some workmen and got them to build a
massive barricade between the two adjoining houses, blocking the easy access through the terraces (p. 59).

Thus Lalita and Shekhar are separated and there was no possibility of them getting back together
with this power/class relation in play between the families. In spite of Bhuvaneshwari Devi’s affection to
Lalita, she could not intervene until Nabin Roy dies suddenly. However, Shekhar had developed abhorrence
for Lalita based on the circumstances and Nabin Roy’s ploy.

Shekhar seemed to burn up in shame and disgust. It seemed to him that by standing in proximity
with Lalita, he too had become sullied…he stretched out on the bed and with the purpose of burning to
cinder Lalita’s poisonous memories, fanned the flames of disgust all through his heart. In the agony of being
seared through and through, he chided her in the harshest of terms; a matter of fact, he did not even
hesitate to call her a fallen woman (p. 83).

It is not only Nabin Roy’s compulsion on his family to abrade Gurucharan’s family members, but it is
also Shekhar’s perceptions based on the circumstantial evidence and Girin’s entry to Gurucharan’s family
that cerates a wall between Lalita and Shekhar. Nabin Roy’s son (Shekhar) is unable to truly understand

6

Lalita’s affection for him and her composure is misunderstood in the novella. Additionally, Shekhar despised
this new comer, Girin, who loans money to Gurucharan and is now engaged to be married to one of the
Gurucharan girls in order to fulfill Gurucharan’s death wish, “In his heart of hearts Shekhar had always felt a
distaste for Girin, which had in the course of time grown into acute disgust” (p. 87).

Ultimately, it is Girin’s pristine character, Lalita’s devotion to her secret marriage to Shekhar, and
Bhubaneshwari’s longing to have Lalita as her daughter-in-law that unites Shekhar and Lalita, “Tears of joy
streamed down Bhubaneshwari’s face, she dearly and truly loved Lalita…Whether my husband
acknowledged me or not was up to my husband…Bhubaneswari affectionately caressing her said, “Of course
your husband acknowledges you, my dear! (p. 91). Lalita and Girin emerge as beautiful and realized people
steadfast to their beliefs in spite of accusations and denigration they face in the novella.

Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyaya gives us this timeless classic, where certain characters capitalize on
their power relations and abuse good people in the community. The novella also helps us understand how
characters transcend injustice, blemish, and harshness and remain untarnished in spite of social categories
they are placed in based on people’s perceptions.

Reference:
Ganguly, Swagato (2005). "Introduction". In Parineeta by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. New Delhi,
India: Penguin Books.

About the Author:
Our Guest Writer Dr. Kalpana Mukunda Iyengar teaches interdisciplinary courses to pre-service
teachers at UTSA. She is also active in postdoctoral research and publishes articles in peer-reviewed
journals. Her current projects involve:
1. Dynamic Cultural Preservation: Story Telling Through Multiple Modalities
Program Background: Each of the many cultural groups that have come to Texas, bring with them
their heritage, their experiences and their world view. If acknowledged and respected, this diversity
becomes a source of strength. An important tool among all cultures is storytelling. By storytelling we mean
any type of performance in its varied modalities, e.g., dancing and singing, audience engagement (e.g.
listening, applauding, call-response), reading, and/or writing that presents a narrative. One common
narrative among all cultures is their immigration, or more exactly in this case, how they came to Texas.
2. Editor of a special themed edition of the Journal of South Asian Literary Association (SALA) - Asian
Indian Children: Growing up in the Diaspora.

7

Best Wishes

From

Asok, Mohua & Ayan Banerjee

8

Happy Durga Puja

Best Wishes From

Animesh, Sonia & Kumar Nandi

9

েুপ্ত অেীে

কিদব্রে িসু

───────

এখানন এখন আোশচু ম্বী ইমািে
এখানন এখন েিংক্রীনটি িাো
এখানন এখন অেযাধুবনে োড়ীি সমানিাহ আি বনঃশ্বানসি সানে িুেভিা োিনব মননািাইড
এখানন এখন কমবে সভযো, অন্তঃসািশূণয মানুষ, অবিধ কপ্রম আি েু সেু নস েযানসাি
এখানন এখন মাি এি িাজত্ব, বিপুনদি উৎসি, পানপি কহাবিনখো।
আজনে এই জায়োয়, এই সমানজি িুনে দাঁাবড়নয় েু বম েখনওই অনুভি েিনে পািনি না ---
িহোে আনে এেবদন এখাননই অিবিে বছে এে বিশাে অিণয,
োি সীমা বিেৃ ে বছে অসীম পেযব ন্ত
োি িুনেি উপি েনিাব দ্ধেভানি দাঁবা ড়নয় বছে সূেবনে চু ম্বন েিনে উদযে অসিংখয িনস্পবে
বছে ঊষাোনে কমানিানেি কক্রাশন, বছে েভীি বনশীনে শ্বাপনদি েজনব , বছে ক্রু দ্ধ হেীি িৃিংহন
বছে শীণেব ায়া খিনস্রাো নদী, বছে সিুনজি সমানিাহ, বছে পবিশুদ্ধ িাোস।
---- আজ কস সি কোমাি োনছ অদৃশয, বেন্তু িহেুে আনে এখাননই এেবদন এেবট িৃনক্ষি কোটনিি বভেনি
এে পক্ষীমাো োি শািনেি মুনখি বভেি উেনি বদবেে দু চািবট শসযেণা আি অননে, অননে ভােিাসা;
বনিু ি বেিানেি অনমাঘ শায়নে বিদীণব হনয়বছে এেবট হবিণীি হৃদয়
োি রুবধনি িবিে হনয়বছে এখানোি েৃ ণিাবশ।
এখানন িেবমাননি প্রািনেয অেীে আজ মৃে
খাবে বিচিণ েনি বেছু োয়াহীন স্মৃবে, বেছু িুেচাপা দীঘশব ্বাস, আি বেছু অশিীিী হাহাোি।

10

Arathi School of Indian dance

Visit: www.arathidance.com E-mail: [email protected]

Offering Classes in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi

Founded in 1981, Arathi School of Indian Dance is the oldest premiere
dance organization for Bharathanatyam in San Antonio. We offer classes in
Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, to all ages and levels of experience.

With a wealth of knowledge under the tutelage of Asha Joseph, Priya
Jagadeeswaran and Senior Gurus Dr. Rajam Ramamurthy and Dr. Malathi
Koli our students receive well-rounded training in Bharatanatyam and
Kuchipudi as well as various styles of dance.

Classes are offered on: Tuesdays Near Babcock and Huebner Rd
Fridays IASA Community Center
Saturdays Helotes

We are currently enrolling students for our Saturday morning classes in
Helotes.

For details on our new and current classes call: 312-375-8057

11

She will understand ..! By
Samrita Neogi
But She is a daughter
 She will respect her parent's decision

But  She is a wife
  She will follow her husband 's wish

  But She is a mother
  She has to sacrifice her career

  But She is an employee
  She has to struggle for her existence

  Oh, she is alone !
  She failed to make the "home"

  But She shouts for truth,
  She's short tempered !
  But She drinks,

  What's her background?
But She has created this fantastic thing,

  Oh she has lots of free time,
  But She's faithful,

  She's an emotional fool,
 But  She's sociable

  She has nothing else to do,
 But She's an ideologist
  She's pretending

But  She doesn’t want to leave him alone
 She has nowhere to go

 But She has a beautiful heart
 What a face !

But  She's strong
 She lacks feminism
 But She has self respect

 She has ego
 But She wants peace

 She's a loser
 But She's tired
 She's detached
But she's confused
She's so unpredictable

  B  u   t  S   h  e   ' s   a   w    o  m    a  n  
Of course she's!!!

12

4081 Medical Dr, 5712 Wurzbach Rd,
San Antonio, TX 78229 San Antonio, TX 78238
Phone: (210) 615-7861 Phone: (210) 465-9692
Website : www.mustafagrocers.com

Groceries & Staples, Fruits & Vegetables,
Bread, Dairy, Eggs, Beverages, Branded

Food, Household, Imported Items,
Gourmet Food, personal care etc.

Puja Leaves, Holi Colors,
Diwali Sweets from India,
largest variety of Diyas &
Sparklers are also available .

Wide Variety of Fish, Goat Meat, Chicken & Beef
Home Delivery Coming Soon Within 10 miles

13

A moment in the train by Amit Paul

ডােবটবেট অবেস-েনেি জাঁাোি মানঝ পনড়
এখন কেনে েন্ত্র হনয় চো;
অবমে পাে বচনেনোঠাি বক্রনেট-িযাট টা কদনখ
মুহেব এই েন্ত্র জীিন কভাো...
োনজি কধাঁয়া ায় েু েনছ জীিন োনুস,
উড়নে বেনয় হাবিনয় কেবছ আবম; জীিন েুনদ্ধ মৃে এখন আবম,
এে বদেভ্রি আোশোমী মানুষ স্বপ্ন গুনো ডাস্টবিনননে পনড়;
ডােঘনি োি স্বপ্ন কিনাবম... েিু হানেি মুনঠায় শক্ত েনি ধনি
আশাি আঠঁা ায় সাঁাটা ডােবটবেট..!
কমঘ-ছাড়াননা বিশাে িঙ্গীন খাঁাচা,
কপাষ-মানা িা কপাষ-না-মানা পাবখ;
খাচঁা াি বভেি কস্মাবেিং-কজাননি কধাাঁয়া;
খাঁচা াি িাইনি পুনিাটাই কে োবঁা ে…

14

Best Wishes

Aruna & Subrata Haldar

15

Art by Sanjana Sen
Age-12 years

(Left Side)

(Right Side)

Varanasi
Art by Shree Ghosh

Age-12 years

16

Best compliments  from

Dr. Subrata Talukdar

Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio

12709 Toepperwein Road, Suite 300,
  Live Oak, TX 78233. Phone: (210) 967-0096

Dr. Talukdar is affiliated with Methodist Hospital,
  Methodist Speciality & Transplant Hospital and

  Metropolitan Methodist Hospital.

Mrs. Mona Talukdar

  5170 Nacogdoches Rd      
    San Antonio, TX-78247
    Phone: (210) 584-4238

15420 Nacogdoches Rd, San Antonio, TX 78247
Phone: (210) 767-3870

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Dear Maa Durga,
As we celebrate the first ever Durga puja in San Antonio, I would like to write what the letters of your
name mean to me ….
D is for the divine and beautiful image I see of you today
U is for the unlimited love and belief I have for you
R is for the respect I have for you and all the other Hindu Gods and Goddesses
G is for the goodness and gifts you have bestowed upon us
A is for my admiration of you as well as my asking you for safety and good health

and happiness for everyone
You are my past and you are my future.
But in the present you are here with all of us today
and I shall enjoy this day to the fullest.

Love Always and Forever,
Rashmi Rani Basu - Age 10

Crochet Work by Rashmi

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Art By  Sanghamitra Das

Art by Samriddha Sarkar (Age-5 years old)

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20

Best Compliments from

Women’s Health Center & Medical Office

A total Health Care Facility for Today’s Woman
Complete Pregnancy Care, Annual Gynecological  Check up,

 Family Planning, Sonogram, Infertility Counseling

Dr.Rama Krishna Rao
MD, FACOG

Diploma of American Board
 of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dr. Rao is affiliated with Baptist Medical Center, Methodist
Hospital, Metropolitan Methodist Hospital and North Central

Baptist Hospital.

Our Offices

San Pedro (Main Office) Leon Valley
234 San Pedro Ave 5995 Health Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78205 San Antonio TX 78250

(210) 224-9091 (210) 680-3300

21

Realization

Vedabrata Basu

The little boy could not believe he finally had her. He did not remember when he saw her first.
However, he first took notice of her at the age of eight and fell in love with her instantly. Since then he had
always wanted to have her, but never knew when that opportunity would arrive. Therefore, when he
suddenly had her on his tenth birthday, he was more than happy; he was ecstatic.

She was round; she was black-and-white; she weighed four-hundred-and-thirty grams. She was
rubber inside and leather outside. She smelled fresh and seductive; her skin was smooth and glossy. She was
inviting him to cherish her all he could.

He slept with her that night. He did not want to be separated from her when it was time to go to
bed. Therefore, he took her to his bed with him. At the tender age of ten, the innocent little lad experienced
the pleasure of sleeping with his beloved.

The next day he could not wait to start enjoying her. However, that would mean he would have to
share her with his friends. Every afternoon for the next few months, he and his friends cherished her with
great excitement. She did not mind at all; all she wanted was to be kicked and passed around. However, at
the end of each afternoon, when it was time to return home, she belonged to him, only to him. The days,
the weeks, the months passed very happily for him and for them ─ all the players.

On that ominous day ─ the game was on, the fun was on, the kicking and passing were on, and goals
were being scored. Suddenly one of the players kicked her hard and high. She flew right over the dwarf
fence of the field, into the busy road. The oncoming truck did not see her. Within a moment, there was a
big, bursting sound. When he and his friends reached to her, she was ruptured and completely destroyed.
There was no chance to recover her; she was DEAD.

He was at first so shocked that his face looked as emotionless as a stone. But then, within a few
seconds, he started crying, and so did his friends.

He walked home, slowly, carrying her dead body very gently. As he walked, he yearned for some
consolation from his parents. When he finally reached home, he did not get what he needed; instead he
learned that the pet parakeet, whom he knew from his crawling days, had also died that afternoon. The bird
was his best friend; although the two spoke different languages, they perfectly understood each other. He
lost two of his most loved entities that afternoon; he also learned the two most profound lessons that
fateful afternoon: First, “you do not possess anything or anybody; the concept of “possession” is an illusion!”
and second, “nothing and nobody in this world is permanent; everything and everybody will leave you, or you
will leave them ─someday!”

22

েনয়েটা বদন আনেই কহানো এবে কহানো আমাি
আমাি আবিভাব ি আবম ভাবি বদিস বনবশ

িহ শুক্ল পক্ষ েৃ ষ্ণ পক্ষ কেনো িাধেব য নাবে এটা?
আমাি এখন িড় িড় ভাি প্রায়ই, েমবছ কিবশ কিবশ

কহনস কখনে বদন আমাি োনট সিাি কশনষ বদনটা এনো
কশশি কেনো, হবে আনিা িড় হোম আবম েুপ্ত,

কছাট্ট কছাট্ট ইনবক্রনমন্ট-এ কস পবিনিশ না কদিো
িাড়বছ কেমনন, জানা বে আনছ োনিা? কসই েেয এখননা গুপ্ত

আনিেটু িড় হনেই আবম েুপ্ত হনয় বচন্ময়ী,
িুঝোম এে েুবক্ত কনই আমাি কোননা োয়া

কোননা অদৃনশযি অিদাননই, ব্রহ্মানেি সমে জ্ঞান
হনে োয়া িৃবদ্ধ এখন আমাি ছায়া

এবদে ওবদে খুঁানজ কদবখ জানোম কস কদিো কে,
আমাি মনো আনিা আনছ জানোম কে িা আবম

কেউ িাড়নছ কিবশ কদিো আসনে মানুষ,
আিাি কেউ এেটু েম িাড়নছ আি আবম?

জীিনটা কমাি ভানোই বছে দুঃনখি েো,
বচন্তা ভািনা ভু নে আবম বছোম শুধুই োি -

কোন অদৃশয শবক্ত গুনো সঞ্চয় খাো!
আমায়, েু েবছনো োাঁবপনয় েু নে
েনি এেটা েো িবে আবম
কেউ িনে কস কদিো কশাননা কহ জনেণ,
কেউ িনে পবিনিশ,
আমায় ভাবেনয় েেই েনিা কোমিা
কে কে েিনো শুরুটা “Settlement”,
আমায়, েিনি কেউ বে কশষ?
কজনন কিনখা কোমিাও সিাই
হঠাৎ কেন কহানো বে “প্রেৃ বেি Investment”!!
োেনো এেটু ঝাঁাবে
----ইবে Savings Account
অননেটা েনম কেবছ আবম (To all account holders)
েনি অননেটাই এখননা িাবে penned by কসৌিভ দাস

23

Koyektaa din aagei holo Eki holo aamaar
Aamar aabirbhab Aami bhabi dibas nishhi

Anek Shuklo poksho Krishna paksho gelo Baardhakya naaki etaa?
aamaar ekhon boro boro bhaab Praayi, komchhhi besi besi

Hese khele din aamaar kaate Sobaar sheshe dintaa elo
Shoishab gelo, hochhi aaro boro Holaam ami lupto,

Chhotto chotto increment-e Se Poribesh naa debotaa
Baarchi kemone, Jaanaa ki aache kaaro? Sei tathya ekhono gupto

Arektu boro hotei ami Lupto hoye chinmayee,
Bujhlam ek yukti Nei amar kono kaayaa

Kono adrishyer abodaanei, Brahmaander somosto gyan
Hoche kaayaa briddhi Ekhon aamaar chhaayaa

Edik odik kujhe dekhi Jaanlaam sei debotaa ke,
Aamaar moto aaro aachhhe Jaanlaam ke ba ami

Keu baarchhhe besi Debota asole manush,
Aabaar keu ektu kom baarchhe Aar ami?

Jibantaa bhaaloi chhhilo Dukher Kothaa,
Chintaa bhaabnaa bhule Ami chhilam sudhui tar -

Kon adrishya Shakti gulo Sanchay khaataa!
Amay, tulchhilo fapiye fule
Tabe ektaa kotha boli aami
Keu bole se debotaa, Sono he janogon,
Keu bole poribesh Aamay bhaangiye jotoi koro tomraa

Ke je korlo shurutaa “Settlement”,
Aamaay, korbe keu ki sesh? Jene rekho tomrao sobai

Hathaat jeno holo ki “Prokritir Investment”!!
Laaglo ektu jhaaki
----Iti Savings account
Anektaa kome gechhi ami (to all account holders)
Tabe anektaai aachhhe Baaki penned by Sourav Das

24

Best Wishes From

Rama, Tapan, Joyita & Ankur Saha

25

Fancy Bunny Art by Deepshikha Pattadar
Art by Samara Sheikh Age -10 years

Age-4 years Art by Anshuman Das
Age- 6 years

26

Best Wishes & Puja Greetings

From
Abhijeet, Tina & Aspaan Trivedi

27

িক্ত-িিং সমীেিণ

অবিন্দম িায় অবিন্দম িায়

এেটা নেু ন জামা পিনে িনেবছনে কে আজ েেটা হনো িনড়া,
সিাি এেটা নেু ন জামা োনে, খযাবে-অখযাবেি ভ্রুেু বট,

কপাড়া সূনেবি িনেি হনি হয়নো চাওয়া-পাওয়াি দ্বন্দ্ব হনে কশষ,
কশানাি আনেই িুনেট বিঁধা নো িুনে- বহসানিি খাো-
অজস্র োটােু বট।
কিাঁনচ কেবছ-
েিু ক্ষেটা আজও িনয়নছ কিনঁা চ, পদাব ি আড়ানেনে োিা,
িাোি পানশ িনক্তি োে দােটা োনদি িনো কদখনো বে কেউ,

এে পশো অশ্রুনে কেনছ মুনছ- কিোেনটি দূনিি কোননা িােু,
ভানি িনস ছুানঁ ো না কো কঢউ।
োনে আবম সমেবন েবি জাবন না
শুধু জাবন মৃেু যটানে নয়, কভনস োওয়া আোছা-জিাে,
কোোয় োনি-
হাসপাোনে েু ঁােনড় ওঠা েন্ত্রণা কোোয় োনদি েীি,
আজও আবম সমান েবি ভয়-
হঠাৎ কোমাি এেো চোি পনে,
োিপি এেটা হানাহাবন- আনে-বপনছ অননেখাবন ভীড়।
োনো পোো, বিনরাহ,
ভাইনয়ি হানে ভাইনয়ি িুনেি িক্ত ভীনড়ি মানঝ আমিা না হয় হোম,
নাম জানা িা কিনাবম কোে,
হাসপাোনেি মনেব সাজাননা কদহ-
বশেড়গুনো আমিা হনেই পাবি,
োনেি বনয়নম সিবেছু কেনছ কেনম োছটা না হয় অনয কেউ কহাে।।
োগুননি োনন নেু ন কশাভা িননি,
আমানদি এখন োে জামা-
নেু ন!
বেন্তু, িনক্তি না িিং-এি?

28



















Art by Jayanta K Das Art by Aparajita Ghosh

Is all lost when nothing has gone If I go sailing one day,
I will spot some whales in May,
Shreya Chaudhary Of course I will stay,
And the whales and me will play.
Is all lost when nothing has gone
Yet the sensation spreads worthwhile? Aarav Bhattacharyya
When the nexus of my heart is nothing but stone
Where griefs upon griefs rot in a pile?
Where then does thy untiring love go
Whilst my heart has no place to store?
Would it traverse and sink into land of woe
Or kill my heart, begging for more?
Would it sing in the passing wind
Tickling my soul with a melancholy groan?
From myself, then, would it soon unbind
Leaving me hollow and once again alone,
Watching my sun set upon my malign town
Hearing my breath dying, watching it slowly drown.

38

Best Wishes From

Sohom, Paromita, Shreya and Ariana Chaudhary

39