In this series of articles, Cuckoo News documents the revival of a music genre, Bangla Khayal, by a musical genius, Kabir Suman. Day breaks. Kabir Suman wakes up, haunted by tunes humming in his […]
They Come riding on Clouds
Dola Mitra
It’s A Jungle Out There
Humans and animals coexist in the Sunderban delta and the super cyclone Yaas which ripped through it recently highlighted the plight of each. “Did you get mauled by a tiger or clawed […]
I’ve Stared into The Cyclone’s Eye, Up Close
They were cowering in their car at the side of the road which had turned into a river that was swelling every second. It was too late for the disaster management team […]
A Tune for the Tigress
In this series of articles, Cuckoo News documents the revival of a musical genre, Bangla Khayal, by a musical genius, Kabir Suman. “Banglai jitbe, tai gaan badhi,” (Because I know that Bengal/Bengali will win……. that’s […]
Blossoms of the grass have bloomed
Trinamool (TMC) won the state elections of West Bengal and on May 5, three days after the results were declared, Mamata Banerjee was sworn in as chief minister for the third time […]
A Tale of Two Flowers
The countdown has begun. Today, May 2, 2021, the much-debated, long- awaited results of the eight-phase elections to the West Bengal Assembly will be declared. Four other Indian states went to the […]
Bitter Battle for a “Sweet State”
West Bengal has been described by ruling Trinamool as “the sweetest part of India”. The sobriquet could have been conferred on the eastern state not just because it boasts some of the […]
For the Love of the Language
In this series of articles, Cuckoo News documents the revival of a musical genre, Bangla Khayal, by a musical genius, Kabir Suman. February 21, 1952. Dhaka (capital city of then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh). Since […]
Love Letters
On February 14, Saint Valentine’s Day, the world celebrates love in unique ways. In Mumbai, “Readings in the Shed,” a group of passionate writers and thespians, digs out and reads out the […]
Vagabond Visitors and Foliage Filters
In this series of articles, Cuckoo News documents the revival* of a musical genre, Bangla Khayal, by a musical genius, Kabir Suman. “Light filters through foliage”. Photo by Koli Mitra On the cold morning of […]
The Mind behind the Mask
The glassy waters of a gurgling brook reflect the changing colours of the day like a mirror. Gray-blue in the cool morning air. Red-orange in the heat of midday. A burst of […]
A Trunk Full of Treasures: Letters from a Legacy
On November 7, contents of a trunk containing rare treasures will spill out into the public domain. Private letters from nearly a century ago exchanged between Netaji Subhas Bose, his elder brother […]
Of Memories and Music: the Continuing Saga of Apu
“Apu, ei Apu, Where are you?” The voice of the young girl, calling out to her kid brother, floats in. And we know who she is. Or rather who she was. And […]
Every Song Has Its Day
In this series of articles, Cuckoo News documents the revival* of a musical genre, Bangla Khayal, by a musical genius, Kabir Suman. August 27, 2018. Exactly two years ago today. Kabir Suman, singer, song-writer, composer […]
Khudiram’s Last Smile
On August 15, India’s Independence Day, I am thinking about how long and laborious a march it had been to get to that day in 1947. A march on a path beaten […]
