Free To Fashion

Fashion fiestas have added a new dimension to the already exciting Puja flavour. Such programmes further boost the already booming apparel fashion sector which boasts of innovative designers and attractive models. Fashion photography has also kicked off in India in a big way, and more fashion programmes provide an ideal platform for the lensmen to showcase their talents—now also in the eastern part of the country.

Change For Good

With the new breed of style gurus ever ready with constant updates to their fashion kits, new ways of getting decked are hitting the market with amazing regularity. A new generation in a mood to innovate and experiment is all too willing not to let go by a single opportunity to continue creating a fresh appeal for every occasion. It is precisely here that makeover is creating magic. And the best thing about this bit of change is that, it is not really restricted to apparel and cosmetics; image makeover is very much a buzzword these days. No wonder, personality grooming workshops are supplementing salons.

Khao Kolkata

Kolkata cuisine has always been a delight. The trend is continuing, much to the joy of the Kolkatans. With food joints coming up at every nook and corner of the metro, competition among the eateries is always on the rise. Culinary arts, coupled with marketing skills are ensuring that more and more people are being allured to such eateries. Well-packaged ‘featured’ brunches ensure that it’s a teasing time for the taste buds on Sundays. With Kolkata offering delightful career opportunities these days, people’s purchasing power is on the rise, thus ensuring that these eating extravaganzas are not really hard on the pocket.

Pi-rated

Piracy has taken deep roots Kolakata. Repeated police raids in the pirated CD den in Chandni Chowk has led the pirated CD and DVD sellers to infiltrate into the numerous crossings of the city. It won’t really be an exaggeration to say that the more important and busier crossings of Kolkata are occupied by at least one such seller in each point. From Hrishikesh to Himesh, Suchitra Sen to Shreya Pandey, De Sica to DiCaprio, with a fair sprinkling of Ravi Kissen, Shakeela and Uttam Mohanty, as also – all available within twenty to sixty bucks set the crossings on fire. Dreamweaver and Delta Force might just be a bit harder on the pocket – but then again, just by the odd bit. That doesn’t mean print piracy has been relegated to a backseat. Pirated booksellers occupy the pavements between such important crossings, with Peter Drucker, J.K. Rowling, Dutta-Pal-Chowdury, Sayajit Ray lying in happy congregation. The arm of law isn’t that long after all.

No Preparation To Speak Of

The inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Cup will be kicked off on September 11. And India will be featuring in the final one-dayer of the ongoing Natwest series against England on September 07. It is astonishing to note that there is hardly any scope for practice and training for the mega event. The BCCI should be aware that putting out-of-form perishing stars like Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan in the team led by first-time captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is far from enough for making a mark at the world event. The officially recognized apex body of Indian cricket seems to be too busy in tackling the Indian Cricket League. The lack of professionalism on the part of the administrators is appalling. Prior to the first Twenty20 World Cup, India has played only one such game at the international level, where, of course, it emphatically overpowered the Proteas. India never recognized the importance of one-dayers and went to the 1975, as also the 1979, Prudential Cups virtually unprepared. Thirty years hence, the Board has become richer manifold, but its professionalism seems to be cooling its heels. Personal tussles against the likes of Jagmohan Dalmiya and Subhash Chandra, seem to top the priority list of BCCI. No less disgusting is the comment from veteran Sehwag, who was reported to have remarked at the inauguration of flood light facilities of a Kolkata cricket coaching centre, that Twenty20 is pure entertainment ahead of serious cricket. More refreshing and closer to ideal is the attitude of young Robin Uthappa, who observed after his match-winning knock at the penultimate Natwest ODI that he has been practicing innovative shots for the Twenty20 World Cup, even though such disclosures in front of the television camera for the world and the opposition cricket managers to watch, may not be regarded as something utterly professional and wise.

First Citizen Farce

It is disappointing to find that in all likelihood, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will be required to vacate his chair of the President of India. It is equally frustrating to digest the fact that Pratibha Patil will be his likely successor to the post of the first citizen of the world’s largest democracy. What is being projected as a symbol of women’s empowerment in India is actually a garbled form of women’s embarrassment. Someone with a history of fiscal fraud and favouritism could certainly be bettered by any other woman, if at all gender is an issue worthwhile enough to have any effect on Presidential election. India can do well without an empowered puppet, at the hand of subtly crude dynastic politics. If at all a woman has to be made the next President of India, why not approach Arundhati Roy, or Kiran Bedi or Lalita Gupte or Kalpana Morparia? Is a woman professor at IIT or IIM or IISc less fit than Ms. Patil for the post of President of India? It remains to be seen what Pratibha Patil or Bhairon Singh Shekhawat or even Pranab Mukherjee (a last-minute bid at sanity, perhaps) does with Kalam’s Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) plan.

Bus Woes

The West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation buses operating in the Newtown to Garia Station, Newtown to Jadavpur and Newtown to Rabindra Sadan routes are designed for discomfort of those passengers who have to remain standing. The space between the two rows of seats on either side being too large to accommodate a single file of standing passengers, the conductors are inclined to push in another file. But the space is simply too little to make room for this second file. That is why the conductor finds it too difficult to squeeze in for collecting the fare. Really, the West Bengal Government should have been wise enough to understand that employees at the Salt Lec Electronis Complex, who mostly board these buses should not be tortured this way on their way up to and back from office.