" See Jehane...I remembered the roses ." These poignant words form an abiding part of my childhood memories. It is not as if I have always remembered this line or the story it came from. But,sometimes, like a ray of glimmering sunlight through dark clouds,or like the melody of a long-forgotten song, it used to come back me to me,crystal clear. It still does... It was in the early '90s. My elder sister was in standard ten, preparing for her public exams. Her English curriculum comprised of this book called 'A Treasury of Short Stories'. I was probably in standard three or four, and devouring her English books counted as one of my favorite occupations.This story was featured last in that book. The name 'Remember the Roses' immediately struck a cord in my heart. I found something very beautiful,yet heartbreaking, very close yet intangible in this name. What added a touch of mystery and enigma to this alluring title was the fact that information on th...
“You never really leave a place or person you love, part of them you take with you, leaving a part of yourself behind.” The perfect lines to begin my ode to Stockholm, the city where I spent the most amazing eighteen months of my life. I have loved Stockholm in all its moods, maybe sometimes a little less and at other times a little more, but have loved it nonetheless. Work took me to Stockholm in late autumn of 2011. The fall colours were still there, the red, brown, gold leaves on the trees and in colourful carpets on the ground, a very pleasant and welcoming sight. The beauty of Stockholm lies in its proximity to Nature. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most stunning capital cities in the world in this aspect. On a bright,sunny day the city might well be a painter’s lessons in different shades of blue and green. A year in Stockholm reveals the grandeur of the four seasons; spring, summer, autumn, winter p...
At a distance of about 220 km by road from Calcutta, lies the old city of Murshidabad on the southern banks of the river Bhagirathi, a tributary of the mighty Ganges. In the annals of the history of Bengal, and also of India, Murshidabad holds a place like none other. Dynasties and conquests, glory and prosperity, pomp and prestige, wealth and lucre, conspiracy and deceit - the history of this city is replete with such captivating tales. During the Mughal rule of India, Murshidabad was the capital of Bengal from 1717 to 1790. It particularly flourished during the reign of Nawab Shuja-ud-daula and Nawab Alivardi Khan when it reached the pinnacle of prosperity. However, ironically, the name Murshidabad today resonates mostly with one of the darkest chapters in the history of India, one which changed the fate of our nation for the next two centuries. The defeat of Nawab Siraj-ud-daula, the last independent ruler of Bengal, at the eponymous Battle of Plassey (the town of Plassey or Palas...
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