Back from Kolkata

jyotirmoy · Jan 30th, 2006, 10:59

Returned last night after a short & hectic trip to Kolkata after what seems like ages. Was very lucky I suppose, both flights Delhi to Kolkata by Airdeccan & Kolkata to Delhi by Spicejet were on time!
Somnath came over to meet on 27th. evening, had a few beers & a lot of discussions. Started early on 28th. morning with my daughter & went to Kumartuli where I had spent my childhood & early youth. This is the area where the famous "Kumor" community lives & work. They are master artists who make idols & statues of clay. Along with this there are craftsmen who make decorative items from pith. We spent some time watching them work & since Saraswati(Goddess of learning) puja is coming soon we saw fantastic idols of Saraswati being readied. Went in to the intricate lanes & bylanes to locate the house we used to live in. This part of Kolkata is full of ancient buildings of the rich men of past. Grand mansions of Victorian & Gothic styles complete with statues & wonderfully crafted window shutters & remains of the stained glass windows. I was transported to the time where as a child I had walked down these streets with my beloved uncle in the evenings, sounds of Sarengi, Ghungoors, Kheyal, Thumri & Ghazals wafted out of these houses so did the fragrance of Ittars. Vendors sold garlands Of fres Jasmine & the Kulpiwallah did his rounds. Finall reached the river & sat on a pier. The fresh cool wind blew over the flowing waters of the Ganges. Boardea a steamer & after changing at the Howrah station pier reached Babu ghat. From here we began our trip to Imperial Kokakata leaving behind the feudal part at north. Walked in the mellow sunshine past the Eden gardens, Governers' house, Supreme court all grand colonial buildings. Then enterd Dekker's lane to see the hundreds of street food vendors dishing out delicious food & thousands relishing these. Walked to Esplanade totally dehydrated & to relive my adventures(or misadventures?) got in to the sleaziest bar Saqi. Ordered beer the waiter drew my attention to the fact that a bottled soft drink would cost me Rs50/- No waiter in Delhi would do that though. So we shared the beer & walked to Aminia for the meet up. Again here while looking around to find a table the management informed me that we could sit in the airconditioned dining hall & the price of food is the same!
Only Somnath turned up with yousaybenares. So we four had a wonderful meal of Biriyani, Mutton Champ, Amini special mutton curry & rounded off with Phirni. I am very glad to report that Aminia has maintained the quality of its food & sad that our visit to Royal restaurant wasnt very satisfying, the quality has taken a nose dive very very sad.
After the so called meet up went to the New Market(Hogg market in our time) to look for a butcher I used to know to buy some famous gram fed mutton of Kolkata. A tout informed me that this person is no more I was escorted to his shop which is run by his son now. Bought a wonderful leg & came back home to cook it.
Our taxi rides in central Kolkata would remain as nightmares, never experienced such rash & dangerous driving. The smog & pollution of central Kolkata really killed me, breathed the proverbial sigh of relief reaching home at Salt lake.
Very very enjoyable trip.

jyotirmoy · Jan 30th, 2006, 11:31

No luckywoman I am not so lucky, this visit was after a very very long time but I think I would now I go more often. The warmth of the inhabitants of this great city is legendary.
The Kolkata of my early youth exists at some places in the northern part where time stands still, the vibrations are the same, the smell, the noises around the shared water tap on the lane is same, the same fragrance of food being cooked in the kitchens, but behind these the great Kalpurush of time has done his work!

somnath · Jan 30th, 2006, 12:05

It was easy to spot Jyoti da. (Thanks to Radz

). The meeting place was SaltLake city center at 7 pm. Then we went to Silver Sand. Spend some time there and Jyoti da described about another era of Kolkata. Our Delhi IMers will be agree with me that Jyoti da has the quality to become the ‘life-blood’ of any adda.
I was a bit angry with my dad that he preferred to build our house away from Kolkata. Because I couldn’t respond to the invitation for dinner from Jyotida. Jyoti da, I’ll not miss it. I’ll remind you when I’ll be in Delhi. Probably, Kashmiri food !!!!
Next day at 1 pm : ONLY RockyS confirmed me that “I am in China, sorry”. Anyway, yousaybenaras called me at 1.20 pm – “I am around the bus stop, how to go there”? then he handed over to the owner of the telephone booth.
After 2-3 min I saw a tall man in a olive green jacket and the MASK is crossing the place (let me tell you friends, the speed was not less than 40 KM per hour). I didn’t know his name so just shouted “Benaras……..” Ohhhh…… all the pedestrians looked at me with tons of surprise and fun. So kept quiet and I was waiting for the next phone call. Finally both of us went to Aminia to meet Jyoti da and her daughter.
Yousaybenaras is having a tough time here in Kolkata. He’ll go to Puri from Kolkata, hope he’ll be comfortable there.
Sorry friend there is no meetup pix this time.
Thyanks to Jyoti da and yousaybenaras (and Jyoti da, your daughter deserves credit for her patience, didn’t complain

against such boring and lengthy discussion).

- Somnath

jyotirmoy · Jan 30th, 2006, 12:09

No Somnath my daughter really enjoyed it, she is used to such "addas" from her infant days!
Thank you for sparing your time Somnath, do visit us in Delhi.

SHIMLA · Jan 30th, 2006, 12:10

Hey Jyoti,

No mention of roshogullas and sondesh ??

Didn't you have any ?

jyotirmoy · Jan 30th, 2006, 12:14

Oh come on Shimla ofcourse I had them, had to visit plenty of relatives and at every home we ate them. The fresh rosogollas in Gur made from the sap of date palm trees were heavenly so were the Sondesh!

SHIMLA · Jan 30th, 2006, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyotirmoy

Oh come on Shimla ofcourse I had them, had to visit plenty of relatives and at every home we ate them. The fresh rosogollas in Gur made from the sap of date palm trees were heavenly so were the Sondesh!

Good ! Now how about sending some to Yangon ???

You just cannot leave me high and dry after making my mouth water, can you ??

jyotirmoy · Jan 30th, 2006, 12:28

Shimla I really dont know how much of the stash will remain when I reach my home after office today.
Better is take your holiday now, board a plane & together we will relish these and many other delicasies too like Kobiraji Cutlet!

SHIMLA · Jan 30th, 2006, 12:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyotirmoy

Shimla I really dont know how much of the stash will remain when I reach my home after office today.
Better is take your holiday now, board a plane & together we will relish these and many other delicasies too like Kobiraji Cutlet!

Your invitation is tempting, thanks ! Alas, I do not think I'll be able to leave this place till end of April !

vinayverma · Jan 30th, 2006, 12:33

wow...great write-up Jyoti-da and Somnath.
I feel like going back to Kolkata again and roam around the areas where I spent my childhood. We used to live in Dum-Dum (near Gora bazar, Jessop and HMV ). I used to go to Salt lake for school..long way on the Airport road to Lake Town along the small river till Ulta Danga and then turn towards Salt lake...oh those were the days..<sigh>

Anyway....
Now Jyoti-da where is my packet or handi?????

sadhuji · Jan 30th, 2006, 13:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyotirmoy

....... I am very glad to report that Aminia has maintained the quality of its food & sad that our visit to Royal restaurant wasnt very satisfying, the quality has taken a nose dive very very sad.......

good recomendation. aminia will be in my itinerary next time. somnath, please note.

somnath · Jan 30th, 2006, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by sadhuji

good recomendation. aminia will be in my itinerary next time. somnath, please note.

Sure. Aminia is my favorite.

Vinay: Try to visit Kolkata, you'll love the new look.

mobilerug · Jan 30th, 2006, 15:48

It was my bad luck to miss my first chance of IM meet-up. Hope to catch you all the next time.

somnath · Jan 30th, 2006, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobilerug

It was my bad luck to miss my first chance of IM meet-up. Hope to catch you all the next time.

Don’t worry, there will be another meet very soon

.

Somnath

tintin8801 · Jan 30th, 2006, 22:54

it seems i missed the meet up!...........

Jan 30th, 2006, 10:59	#1
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 3,955	Back from Kolkata Returned last night after a short & hectic trip to Kolkata after what seems like ages. Was very lucky I suppose, both flights Delhi to Kolkata by Airdeccan & Kolkata to Delhi by Spicejet were on time! Somnath came over to meet on 27th. evening, had a few beers & a lot of discussions. Started early on 28th. morning with my daughter & went to Kumartuli where I had spent my childhood & early youth. This is the area where the famous "Kumor" community lives & work. They are master artists who make idols & statues of clay. Along with this there are craftsmen who make decorative items from pith. We spent some time watching them work & since Saraswati(Goddess of learning) puja is coming soon we saw fantastic idols of Saraswati being readied. Went in to the intricate lanes & bylanes to locate the house we used to live in. This part of Kolkata is full of ancient buildings of the rich men of past. Grand mansions of Victorian & Gothic styles complete with statues & wonderfully crafted window shutters & remains of the stained glass windows. I was transported to the time where as a child I had walked down these streets with my beloved uncle in the evenings, sounds of Sarengi, Ghungoors, Kheyal, Thumri & Ghazals wafted out of these houses so did the fragrance of Ittars. Vendors sold garlands Of fres Jasmine & the Kulpiwallah did his rounds. Finall reached the river & sat on a pier. The fresh cool wind blew over the flowing waters of the Ganges. Boardea a steamer & after changing at the Howrah station pier reached Babu ghat. From here we began our trip to Imperial Kokakata leaving behind the feudal part at north. Walked in the mellow sunshine past the Eden gardens, Governers' house, Supreme court all grand colonial buildings. Then enterd Dekker's lane to see the hundreds of street food vendors dishing out delicious food & thousands relishing these. Walked to Esplanade totally dehydrated & to relive my adventures(or misadventures?) got in to the sleaziest bar Saqi. Ordered beer the waiter drew my attention to the fact that a bottled soft drink would cost me Rs50/- No waiter in Delhi would do that though. So we shared the beer & walked to Aminia for the meet up. Again here while looking around to find a table the management informed me that we could sit in the airconditioned dining hall & the price of food is the same! Only Somnath turned up with yousaybenares. So we four had a wonderful meal of Biriyani, Mutton Champ, Amini special mutton curry & rounded off with Phirni. I am very glad to report that Aminia has maintained the quality of its food & sad that our visit to Royal restaurant wasnt very satisfying, the quality has taken a nose dive very very sad. After the so called meet up went to the New Market(Hogg market in our time) to look for a butcher I used to know to buy some famous gram fed mutton of Kolkata. A tout informed me that this person is no more I was escorted to his shop which is run by his son now. Bought a wonderful leg & came back home to cook it. Our taxi rides in central Kolkata would remain as nightmares, never experienced such rash & dangerous driving. The smog & pollution of central Kolkata really killed me, breathed the proverbial sigh of relief reaching home at Salt lake. Very very enjoyable trip.

Jan 30th, 2006, 12:05	#3
somnath Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Calcutta Posts: 2,265	Another meetup. It was easy to spot Jyoti da. (Thanks to Radz ). The meeting place was SaltLake city center at 7 pm. Then we went to Silver Sand. Spend some time there and Jyoti da described about another era of Kolkata. Our Delhi IMers will be agree with me that Jyoti da has the quality to become the ‘life-blood’ of any adda. I was a bit angry with my dad that he preferred to build our house away from Kolkata. Because I couldn’t respond to the invitation for dinner from Jyotida. Jyoti da, I’ll not miss it. I’ll remind you when I’ll be in Delhi. Probably, Kashmiri food !!!! Next day at 1 pm : ONLY RockyS confirmed me that “I am in China, sorry”. Anyway, yousaybenaras called me at 1.20 pm – “I am around the bus stop, how to go there”? then he handed over to the owner of the telephone booth. After 2-3 min I saw a tall man in a olive green jacket and the MASK is crossing the place (let me tell you friends, the speed was not less than 40 KM per hour). I didn’t know his name so just shouted “Benaras……..” Ohhhh…… all the pedestrians looked at me with tons of surprise and fun. So kept quiet and I was waiting for the next phone call. Finally both of us went to Aminia to meet Jyoti da and her daughter. Yousaybenaras is having a tough time here in Kolkata. He’ll go to Puri from Kolkata, hope he’ll be comfortable there. Sorry friend there is no meetup pix this time. Thyanks to Jyoti da and yousaybenaras (and Jyoti da, your daughter deserves credit for her patience, didn’t complain against such boring and lengthy discussion). - Somnath

Jan 30th, 2006, 12:10	#5
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,129	Hey Jyoti, No mention of roshogullas and sondesh ?? Didn't you have any ? __________________ Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

Jan 30th, 2006, 12:33	#10
vinayverma Maha Infrequent Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 1,250	wow...great write-up Jyoti-da and Somnath. I feel like going back to Kolkata again and roam around the areas where I spent my childhood. We used to live in Dum-Dum (near Gora bazar, Jessop and HMV ). I used to go to Salt lake for school..long way on the Airport road to Lake Town along the small river till Ulta Danga and then turn towards Salt lake...oh those were the days..<sigh> Anyway.... Now Jyoti-da where is my packet or handi????? __________________ If Life is a journey....travel on...and on..on..on.....

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Jan 30th, 2006, 11:31	#2
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 3,955	No luckywoman I am not so lucky, this visit was after a very very long time but I think I would now I go more often. The warmth of the inhabitants of this great city is legendary. The Kolkata of my early youth exists at some places in the northern part where time stands still, the vibrations are the same, the smell, the noises around the shared water tap on the lane is same, the same fragrance of food being cooked in the kitchens, but behind these the great Kalpurush of time has done his work!

Jan 30th, 2006, 12:09	#4
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 3,955	No Somnath my daughter really enjoyed it, she is used to such "addas" from her infant days! Thank you for sparing your time Somnath, do visit us in Delhi.

Jan 30th, 2006, 12:14	#6
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 3,955	Oh come on Shimla ofcourse I had them, had to visit plenty of relatives and at every home we ate them. The fresh rosogollas in Gur made from the sap of date palm trees were heavenly so were the Sondesh!

Jan 30th, 2006, 12:28	#8
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 3,955	Shimla I really dont know how much of the stash will remain when I reach my home after office today. Better is take your holiday now, board a plane & together we will relish these and many other delicasies too like Kobiraji Cutlet!

Jan 30th, 2006, 15:48	#13
mobilerug Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kolkata Posts: 55	It was my bad luck to miss my first chance of IM meet-up. Hope to catch you all the next time.

Jan 30th, 2006, 22:54	#15
tintin8801 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: calcutta Posts: 223	it seems i missed the meet up!...........

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