Today is Bishwa Matri Bhasha Dibosh, International Mother Language Day. For Bengalis it’s especially significant, because ours is the language that started it all. On this day, 72 years ago, our fellow […]
Tongues of Our Mothers
Memories of Fading Days and the Road Ahead
In this series of articles, Cuckoo News documents the revival of a music genre, Bangla Khayal, by a musical genius, Kabir Suman. At dusk, on April 18, Kabir Suman writes: “The day draws to a close…..perhaps […]
A Room… and a Window of Our Own
When Cuckoo News editor Dola Mitra dropped in at the Artsy – Coffee and Culture (“led there by the aroma of coffee and cake” in her own words) she decided to write […]
Gift of Music and Memory
Cuckoo News readers know all about our recurring feature of the maestro Kabir Suman’s on-going work in Bangla Khayal revival. You might also know from the series of related articles written about […]
Thirst and Quenching
In this series of articles, Cuckoo News documents the revival of a music genre, Bangla Khayal, by a musical genius, Kabir Suman. Lyrics by Kabir Suman (in the original Bengali): “Mati pran paye borshay/ Mati […]
“Riveting Read”
A review of Arindam Basu’s collection of short stories, “Every Thing You Never Expected”. A journalist is sent to investigate a haunted mansion in a remote district. Is it really inhabited by […]
The Treasure Trunk Comes to Calcutta
On November 7, 2020 contents of a trunk containing rare treasures had spilt out into the public domain. Private letters from nearly a century ago exchanged between Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, his […]
The Living Legend Live
In this series of articles, Cuckoo News documents the revival of a musical genre, Bangla Khayal, by a musical genius, Kabir Suman. “Electric,” is how a fan of Kabir Suman describes the live performances of […]
The Bengal Book (an excerpt)
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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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