This is Asit, Live!

I was felicitated by Dr Jeppiar at SAE India students convention

Asit K.Barma — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:46:27 +0000

I was felicitated by Dr Jeppiar ,Chancellor of Sathyabhama University during the SAE India students convention 2010 . I was quite impressed by Dr Jeppiar’s simplicity, humbleness, wisdom and passion to promote education in the state. He appeared to be hugely popular among the students for his sense of humour and easily approachable character.

Lord Venkateswara becomes even richer with offerings from Apollo Hospital Chief and a Mumbai business tycoon

Asit K.Barma — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 10:44:30 +0000

This golden crown weighing 14.5 kg has recently been donated by a Mumbai based business tycoon to Lord Venkateswara of Thirumala temple. While the business tycoon prefers to remain anonymous for obvious reason , guess in whose presence the crown was offered ? Sri Jayendra Saraswathi , Chief Pontiff of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham !

As the saying goes ‘rich becomes richer” , looks like this applies equally to Lords as well. While I am not aware of any Forbes list of world’s richest deities , I understand Lord Venkateswara is the richest Deity next only to the Vatican Church. The Apollo hospital Chief has come forward with a further donation of jewellery weighing 4.03 kg to the Lord around the same time.

In India we have so many children suffering from congenital heart diseases. Just calculate 20 kg gold @ Rs 2000 per gram ( not even considering those pieces of diamonds and stones adorning the jewellery !) and assume Rs 2 lakh per surgery for correction of hearts. So how many hearts could we have corrected ?

While I cannot comment on how one should spend the hard earned money , I could not just stop commenting on such devotional hypocracy especially by those who are projected as the ones creating values in society and receiving national awards for their meritorious services.

I also have a suggestion to make – to have a nationwide common fund where all such donations received in various temples across the country will be deposited and a trustee ( not including Lalit Modi or Suresh Kalmadi) headed by someone like Ratan Tata would decide how to best utilize them in the society .What’s the point of having a deposit of tonnes of gold as idle asset when Americans are borrowing in America at 1-1.5% and investing the same in India ? I have seen how many temples across the country ( take for example temples in Kanyakumari or Chidambaram ) are struggling for fund for the much needed facelift and welfare of the priests.

Bengali food / restaurant in Chennai

Asit K.Barma — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 15:43:41 +0000

Recently received many queries on where to get decent Bengali dishes in Chennai. While Bangalore , Kolkata ,Delhi and Mumbai host several Bengali restaurants of various grades , Chennai unfortunately cann’t claim much on this front. One reason is that Bengali cuisines are usually not commoditised or marketed the way Chinese, Tondoori , South Indian , Thai or Goan cuisines are . In the last few years with many Bengali entrepreneurs getting into food business and a large population of Bengali opting for a career in catering and hotel management , the trend is fast changing throughout India. The traditional cuisines hitherto known only to moms , maasis and grand moms have now spread to the cooks in star hotels /restaurants . Even in Kolkata , you could hardly find any Bengali restaurant about a decade back. However now there is a wide choice of such restaurants. I understand ‘Oh Kolkata‘ is coming very shortly to Chennai just above Main Land China on Sterling Road , Nungambakkam. Annapurna hotel next to the police commissioner’s office in Egmore has been serving Bengali food for the last twenty years. Not very clean but I never had any trouble with the food there. They primarily target tourists and patients who come to Chennai . Priced quite modestly you would find fairly good spread of all popular Bengali cuisine. You would be pleased to find Bengali magazines and newspapers and of course paan in the stall here. However the place gets very crowded and I always prefer to visit them either around 12 noon or 2.30 pm. They don’t have good rest rooms and the ambience is little rustic . But here you get good vale for money . Over the years this place has become a popular meeting place of Bengalis especially the students and young professionals living in Chennai . Many seemed to have found their soul mates in this place – after all you can reach the heart through good food !
The Bay Leaf at No 14, 6h street, Gopalapuram , Chennai 86 is another Bengali food destination . To reach there you need to come along Radhakrishna Salai , take the lane adjacent to Gongotri sweets and opposite to Stella Marris college. The narrow lane would lead you to the destination. There is a food festival going on till Oct 31 but the price here is very much on the higher side. Don’t try Aloo posto, they don’t make it well.A complete dish per head can cost around Rs 350 to 500/- . Worth the try .They have a very limited parking space.Ambience and hospitality can definitely impress you.

And finally Bong foods are best made at home only !!!!!! In case you want to know about any specific cuisines, you could write to me.

Maa Durga Puja in Chennai

Asit K.Barma — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:48:18 +0000

Maa Durga in T Nagar Bengal Association.

Recently my blog got flooded with queries on the Puja venues . While I know all the locations , I didn’t have the exact addresses of the venue. You may however just try these venues and I hope you would not have much difficulty in reaching there.

Bessant Nagar - It is held at the community centre just opposite to the Bessant Nagar Bus Depo. You may come thru LB Rd , Beach Rd and take a left turn near Food World .You would be led to the destination.
Ramakrishna Mutt - Chennai has one of the oldest Ramkrishna Mutt at Mylapore. Come near Kapaleeswar temple tank and ask anyone for the Mutt. They organize very traditional Puja and you would love the serenity especially the prayer and song in the evening. You may also like to join them.
T Nagar - Has the first Bengali association . The addrss is 29,Giri Road ,Chennai 17 ,Ph: 28340557 .This is located close to hotel Benz Park on Thirumalai Pillai Road and Giri Road Junction . Another land mark is opp to Suriya sweets shop on Thirumali Pillai road . You can enter from Valluval Kottam as well as G N Chetty Road sides.
Anna Nagar – The Bengali Association is named Dakshini here conducting the puja at the PWD colony community cantre . Come along the road adjacent to Hi Style on 2nd Avenue and ask anyone for the PWD colony. In case you find it difficult to reach, you may contact Mr P K Mallick (9840730454) or Mr N R Kumar (99400 43903)
Besides there are Pujas celebrated in Kolathur ( Tamil Nadu Housing Board community centre) ,Avadi , Airport , Appollo speciality hospital on Mount Road and also at Kalpakkam Atomic Energy plant.

As the saying goes – two Bongs mean one Bengal Association and three Bongs mean two Bengal associations. Chennai did not bring any exception to the rule ! You can get Bhog prasadam, Puja Barshiki magazines and Bengali cuisines and sweets in all puja pandals including even evening meals on payment. All pandals organise cultural programmes , you may not like to miss. The immersion in Bessant Nagar Eliot beach is another unique attraction in Chennai . Please check out the Bijoya Sammilani programmes in all the venues .

A stall selling Bengali Puja Barshiki – a must to buy for all Bengali families .

Do let me know how you enjoyed.
Cheers,

Update 16 Oct 2010: I went to Besant Nagar Puja last evening and learnt it has shifted to Youth Hostel in Indira Nagar. It is off LB Road and one should take a right from Sony store and go about 100 yards. Youth hostel will come on the left. Rajesh has posted driving maps on his blog here which could be helpful, should you need so.

The new look Annanagar Tower Park

Asit K.Barma — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 17:50:47 +0000

The new look tower park in Annanagar was inaugurated by the Dy CM a few weeks back. Perhaps the largest park in Chennai city over 35 acres of land ,recently got a major facelift. A huge lake full of lotus flowers, skating ring, an open air theatre , bird watching decks ( to see if those migratory birds fly in during Dec-Jan – little sceptical though with many of the trees and bushes removed). There are some beautiful fountains ideal for a light and sound show and I really hope the corporation does it soon. I begin my day with an early morning walk for an hour in this park.Not only refreshing for the mind ( and heart too!) , you also get to make many friends .One such friend of mine is Mr Shenai , ex Director General of Police(TN) who , now in his nineties, knows every morning walker by name .

Poetry recital at the World Poetry Society Intercontinental

Asit K.Barma — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:34:39 +0000

Recently read a poem written by me at the world poetry society intercontinental function at hotel Woodland in Chennai. My mentor Dr Daisaku Ikeda was conferred with the title of World Peace Poet by the WPSI. It was a very veryb proud moment for me personally . After ages I took to composing a poem “will time remember you ?”. Reproduced below and hope you like this.

Will time remember you ?

The setting Sun

Leaving behind the last rays of the day

Across the shore temple

One day at Mahabalipuram.

The Chola heritage comes alive

Touching the millennium

Lost into eternity.

Dynasties come and go

Journey continues

Journey of human beings

Innumerable –of many hues and cultures

Mighty and the weak , haves and have nots.

Battle of thoughts

Tien Tai to Tao

Gandhi to Marx

Dance of religious fanatics

Diwali extravaganza

Glamour and glitz of Christmas celebration

Crucified Christ

War bugles of power hungry monarchs

Flags of progress –green, red, saffron, blue

Only to color blind us

Kargil to Jaffna

Marching sound of army boots

Silent cries of humanity

I am running, running , and running

away from

those starving naked skeletons on pavements and slums.

They haunt me!

Sculptors in Mahabalipuram

turning history alive.

Those stone carving sound

Knocks me

Whispers to me,

Are you awake?

Will time remember you ?

we are family

Asit K.Barma — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:44:06 +0000

Saw today another Karan Johar film We are family – a Hindi remake of the Chris Columbus’ Hollywood movie Stepmom . It was good to see Kajol , one of my most favourite Bollywood star rocking again in her comeback series of performances . I bet Kajol is definitely going to win some awards for her performance .

Tamil Nadu – the world automotive hub ?

Asit K.Barma — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:34:16 +0000

Rajeev Ranjan, Kazuo Minagawa, P Murari and Asit K Barma

Spoke at the FICCI Manufacturing conclave .Joined with me are Japanese Consul General ,Principal Secretary-Industry(TN) and Mr P Murari ,Advisor to FICCI President .Excerpts from one of the news published : The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) had organised a seminar on manufacturing excellence in Chennai recently. While speaking at the event, Rajeev Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Tamil Nadu said that overseas automotive players are evincing keen interest in investing in the state and Tamil Nadu would remain and attract further investments for a sustainable progress. "The Government of Tamil Nadu have formed State Manufacturing Competitive Council, similar to the National Manufacturing Competitive Council under Government of India. Tamil Nadu has become a destination of choice as overseas investors are finding it more attractive, compared to other regions across the country".

While taking part in the event, Kazuo Minagawa, Japanese Consul General opined that more Japanese firms are setting up their base in Tamil Nadu. Citing that there are over 1050 Japanese companies that had already set up their operations in the country, the Consul General said that 170 of them are in Tamil Nadu. Asit K Barma, Manufacturing Panel Convenor of FICCI of was of the opinion that Chennai is already a hot spot for global OEMs in the automotive arena. "Chennai is fast emerging as the Detroit of Soiuth Asia and the Tamil Nadu has the prospect to be the most industrialised state in India", Barma added. P Murari, former civil servant and advisor to FICCI President added that the manufacturing of auto components have got a major boost with Chennai emerging as the hub of global producers of automobiles

My father’s room

Asit K.Barma — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:15:30 +0000

We have decided to convert my father’s room into one with all his memorabilia – his pen , spectacles , watches , certificates he received , the books he was regularly reading , his note books , his personally made telephone directory , pictures and so on. We would not use the room for our personal need.

Geeta Chanting – part of Hindu death rituals

Asit K.Barma — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:06:12 +0000

Chanting Geeta is a part of the death rituals . Here Bapi Acharya , one Sanskrit scholar and an eminent astrologer from Nabadwip is chanting Geeta in my father’s room. His father was a very close friend of my father. He was so shocked at my father’s death that he came down all the way from Nabadwip on his own just to recite Geeta for my father’s peace. He spent almost six hours and end of it he rather thanked us for giving him the opportunity to recite Geeta in my father’s room. I really dont know how to pay debts of gratitude to such people.