From the chapter, Casting Shadows in the Soul of “The Bengal Book”, published on October 10, 2021 by Rupa Publications. The photographs do not appear in the book but are presented (courtesy […]
The Bengal Book (an excerpt)
Dola Mitra
“Please Do Something”
This is a plea from the islanders of the Sundarban delta to the world leaders discussing climate change at the 26th Conference of Parties in Glasgow, Scotland. The day will come when […]
The Grassroots is Greener on this Side
During an interview in the run-up to the Assembly elections of 2011, when Mamata Banerjee defeated the three-decade old Left Front government, I had asked her if we would witness a greener […]
Water Water Everywhere
Sagar Deep is a remote delta island where the river Ganges flows into the Bay of Bengal. What do people here do during a health crisis? The storm struck on a moonless […]
A Year of Music in the Mother Tongue
In this series of articles, Cuckoo News documents the revival of a music genre, Bangla Khayal, by a musical genius, Kabir Suman. Cuckoo News is honoured and humbled to have received this gift from […]
They Come Riding on Clouds
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 […]
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 […]
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