Pochishey Baishak Anjali 2011

Pujari Newsletter || Pochishe Baisakh Issue || 7th May 2011 ||

VOL. #2 | ISSUE #1

Anjali Celebrating 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore

Beauty is truth's smile when she beholds her own face in a perfect mirror.

- Rabindranath Tagore

Pujari Newsletter || Pochishe Baisakh Issue || 7th May 2011 ||

VOL. #2 | ISSUE #1

A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it.

- Rabindranath Tagore

Pujari Newsletter || Pochishe Baisakh Issue || 7th May 2011 ||

VOL. #2 | ISSUE #1

By plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower.

- Rabindranath Tagore

Pujari Newsletter || Pochishe Baisakh Issue || 7th May 2011 ||

VOL. #2 | ISSUE #1

Expect The Unexpected By: Suporna Chaudhuri, Age: 15 Weary fingers turn shiny knobs Sweltering heat fills the enclosure Agonizing minutes of impatience pass by A wild scream echoes along the walls...

My brother's bathwater is too hot.

Fast-moving feet dart in and out A robotic face hides its furious thoughts A thousand hands swoop back and forth Acid drips down a parched throat...

A waitress takes a dish back to the chef.

Muscles tense under the skin Pupils dilate at a rapid pace Savage animals bare their teeth at one another A maniacal shriek shatters every ear...

A girl has caught the bride's bouquet.

Hundreds of eyes beam and grin Backs arch gracefully out of shackles Roars burst out of heaving chests Thunder rolls throughout like waves...

My audience applauds as my poem ends.

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”

Rabindranath Tagore

Pujari Newsletter || Pochishe Baisakh Issue || 7th May 2011 ||

VOL. #2 | ISSUE #1

Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time.

- Rabindranath Tagore

Pujari Newsletter || Pochishe Baisakh Issue || 7th May 2011 ||

Drawing by Hiya Ray, 5 years

VOL. #2 | ISSUE #1

Pujari Newsletter || Pochishe Baisakh Issue || 7th May 2011 ||

VOL. #2 | ISSUE #1

Pujari Newsletter || Pochishe Baisakh Issue || 7th May 2011 ||

VOL. #2 | ISSUE #1

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দুিট কিবত~

ঠাকুেরর পূেবর ্ বাউ ল স�দায়িট পূবর্ এবং পি�মবাংলার মানুষ েবাধহ েকবলই উদাসীন, েখপা, ছ�ছাড়া িভ�ুেকর পযর্ায় েফল। তােদর রিচত গান িনছক পাগলািম বেল �িতভাত হ'ত। শুমা � �চাের র অভােব বা, চারণ কিবর রিচত গান কত উ�মােগর্র েলাকগান তা বুঝেত সম� েয ভারতবাসীরও অেনক সময় েলেগিছল। িক� যুগযুগ ধের এই েখপািম ও উদাসীনতার তাড়নায় এই স�দায় বাংলাসং�ৃ িতর ভা�ারেক েয কতখািন সমৃ� কের এেসেছ তা আমরা এই ২০১১ সােল এেস দাঁিড়েয় খুব ভাল ভােব উপলি� কেরিছ। মু� হেয়িছ আমরা এেদর রচনাৈশলীেত। ঋ� হেয়েছ বাংলা গােনর সং�ৃ িত। আধয্ািত্মক এ েদহতে�র ওপর এই েলাকগান ছিড়েয়েছ মুেখ মুেখ। এই বাউলগােনর �িত�া পাওয়ার মূেল আেছন েসই মানুষিট িযিন লালমািটর েদেশ বাউেলর ৈগিরক বসেনর রঙ ছিড়েয় িদেয়িছেলন তাঁর �িতি�ত শাি�িনেকতেনর রাঙা ধূলায় । রবী�নাথ বড় কাছ েথেক বাউলেক েদেখিছলন এবং বুেঝিছেলন তােদর জীবনদশর্। েকাথায় েযন এক আিত্ম অনুভূিতর সুের তাঁর একতারায় েবঁেধিছেলন বাউেলর েদাতারার সুর। বাউল স�দায় েযন বীরভূেমর রাঙামািটরই ফস। এেক চচর্া করেত হে, বুঝেত হেব এর েদহত� বাদ এেদর রিচত েলাকগান মানুষেক েদেব েলাকিশ�া। িঠক েযমন রবী�স�ীেতর বাউল অের গােনর সুের মানুষ হািরেয় িগেয় উপলি� কের বাউলগােন আধয্াত্মবাদ এবং আত্মতয্ােগর মূছর্না েদেখ � আমােদর এই �ােণর কিবিটর গাের ভাষায় েকাথায় েযন িমল খুঁেজ পাই। �া�ধমর্াবল� হেয়ও েয কিব �িতিনয়ত তাঁর গােনর কথায় বয্� কেরেছন েসই আত্মতয্াগ ঈ�েরর �িত আকুি। তাঁর পূজা পযর্ােয়র গােন ঈ�ের �িত আকুিত উজাড় কের িদেয়েছ। তাই তাঁর জ� সাধর্ শতবেষর্র দরজায় দাঁিড়েয় বাউল কিব বেও এক একবার �ণাম জানাই মেন মেন। বাউল েযমন তার গােনর কথায় �কাশ কের ে�ম, পূজা ও �কৃ িতর কত রঙ, গ� এবং �শর্ আমেদর রিবঠাকুরও েদেখিছেলন েসই রঙ গীতিবতােনর কয্নভাস ভের েগিছল তাঁর তুিলর টােন। েকাথায় েযন অ�েরর েছাঁয়া েসই ছিবেত। েযমনিট আমরা পাই বাউেলর সুের আর কথায়। বাংলােদেশর িবখয্াত বাউল েযমন িলেখিছেলন "আমার িভতর বািহের অ�ের অ�ের আেছা তুিম হৃদয় জুেড় " রবী�নাথ েযন েসই সুের সুর িমিলেয় বেলিছেলন " "ধায় েযন েমার সকল ভালবাসা, �ভু েতামার পােন, েতামার পােন, েতামার পােন" িক�া যখন েকান এক অনামা বাউলকিবর একতারায় েবেজ উেঠেছ "েতামায় হৃদমাঝাের রাখব েছেড় েব না"। তখন রিবকিবর ভাষায় বেল উঠেত ইে� হেয়েছ "আিম হৃদেয়েত পথ েকেটিছ, েসথায় চরণ পেড়, েতামার েসথায় চরণ পেড়"। এই ভােব ছ�ছাড়া য�ত� �াময্মান বাউলেদর মােঝ রবী�নাথ েযন িনঃশে� েরেখ েগেছন তাঁর গােনর পূজার ৈনেবদয্খাি। বাউলেক েকউ েকউ বেলন তাঁরা "The master singers of Bengal" যারা িনেজেদর ৈতরী য�ানুষ� িনেয় গান েগেয় েবড়ায় মেনর আনে�। িক� েসই গােনর �িতিট কথায় �কাশ ঘেট তােদর িচ�াশীলতা

আর জীবন দশর্। কিবগু র ‍র গােনও আমরা পাই এমন েযখােন গান শু, েযন কিবতা "বাচহ উবাচম"। আর তাই বুিঝ রবী�নাথ হেয়িছেলন েসই রাঙামািটর পেথর পিথক আর িলেখিছেল"�ামছাড়া ঐ রাঙামািটর প, আমার মন ভুলায় ের..." েযখােন অেজা বাউল েগেয় েবড়ায় কিবর গান "আমার ভাঙাপেথর রাঙাধূলায় পেড়েছ কার পােয়র িচ�..." বাউেলর কথা বলেত েগেল সবর্াে� মেন পেড় যায় লালেনর কথা িযিন �ান-কাল-পা� েভেদ অমর বাউল কিব রূ িবখয্াত । ভারতীয় সং� িতর অনয্তম স�দ হল লালেনর গান। কবীেরর মত দির� লালেনর েকােনা �থাগত িশ�া িছল না।

ি�িটশ শাসনাধীন ভারেতর তথা বাংলার

�াধীনতা অে�ালন মুখী বাংলা সািহতয্ সমৃ� হেয়িছ লালেনর গােন। কিথত আেছ েয রবী�নাথ বাংলার িক�দ�ী বাউল লালন ফিকেরর েখাঁজ েপেয়িছেলন তাঁর েযৗবেন। এবং আকৃ � হেয়িছেলন লালেনর গােনর কথায়। আ�ত হেয়িছেলন তার কিবতার ভাবাদেশর্ কৃ ষক পিরবােরর স�ান এই দির� বাউলিট রবী�নােথর"ৈবরাগয্সাধেন মুি� েস আমার ন" এর মত তাঁর গােনর কথায় েরেখ িগেয়িছেলন সবর্জনীন েদহত� বাদ। �িত�া কেরিছেলন আত্মার মু। তাই রবী�নাথও অকপেট �ীকার কেরেছন সম� বাউল স�দােয়র কােছ তাঁর অপিরেশািধত ঋেণর কথা। আমরা ধনয্ হেয়িছ তাঁর বাউল অে�র গান শু । রবী� নাটেক েপেয়িছ েসই বাউল চির�িট ে শু, িনমর্ল িচে উপলি� কেরেছ তার মানব সত্তা। কিব েগেয় উেঠেছন -

রবী�নােথর েসই িবখয্াত ইংেরজী ��"The Religion of

"এই আকােশ আমার মুি� আেলায় আেলায়..."

Man" এ িতিন িলেখেছন : রবী�নাথ একবার বেলিছেলন -

"Where shall I meet him, the man of my heart?

“One day I chanced to hear a song from a

He is lost to me and I seek him wandering from land to land

beggar belonging to the baul sect of Bengal.. What struck me in this simple song was a religious expression that was neither grossly concrete nor metaphysical in its rarefied transcendentalism..." ইউেরােপ বসবাসকােল ১৯৩০ সােল রবী�নাথ তাঁর িবখয্াত Hibbert Lecture এ বাউল স�েকর্ বেলিছেলন| তাঁর িব�ািরত আেলাচনা িলিপব� কের ব ইেয়র আকাের �কািশত হেয়িছল েয ব ইেয়র নাম "The Religion Of Man" [NEW YORK, THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1931]. রবী�নাথ এবং বাউেলর আেলাচনায় এেস যায় ৈব�বধমর, েবৗ�ধমর্ এবং ত� সািহেতয্র িবদ� েলখক শশীভূষ

I am listless for that moonrise beauty which is to light my life, Which I long to see in the full vision in gladness of heart". [pg 524] এিট বাউল গগন হরকরা রিচত িবখয্াত গা "আিম েকাথায় পাব তাের, আমার মেনর মানুষ েযের.." কিব েসই গ� িনেয়ই বুিঝ িলেখিছেলন "আিম তােরই খুঁেজ েবড়াই, েয রয় মেন আমার মেন.."

দাসগু ে�র কথা িন তাঁর িবখয্াত �� "An Introduction to Tantric Buddhism" এ বেলেছন" We, for the past few decades, have been influenced by the ideas propagated by the poet Tagore in his poems and writings, and also by the writings and speeches of his them

close

associate

Pandit

Khitimohan

baul

represents

more

a

unconventional

approach

to

divinity

anassumed

love

and

piety

than

Sen,

for

spirit

of

any

through precise

religious call." নদীয়ার বাউল স�দায় িব�াস কের েয কিবগু র সােথ লালন ফিকেরর সা�াত হেয়িছল। পরবত�কােল বাউল গগন হরকরা রবী�নােথর িশলাইদেহর কুিঠবািড়েত িগেয়িছে। এবং বাউেলর মেন তখন েথেকই রবী�গােনর �ভাব পড়েত থােক। এই বাউল-ঠাকুর ব�েনর েরশ িক� েথেক েগেছ শাি�িনেকতেন আেজা েপৗষেমলা �া�েণ উড়েত েদিখ বাউেলর ৈগিরক উত্তর। বাউেলর একতারায় বাজেত থােক বাউলগােনর পাশাপািশ রবী�গান। আর যার জনয্ই বুিঝ রবী�না, অবনী�নাথ এবং ন�লাল বসুর আঁকা ে�সেকা, িমউরাল এবং �া�চাের �ান পায় বাউল অনুষ�। শাি�িনেকতেনর েপৗষেমলার পাশাপািশ বীরভূেমর েকঁ দুিলেত জয়েদেবর জ��ােন েকঁ দুিলর েমলােতও বাউল আ�া, বাউল গান মািতেয় রােখ েমলা �া�ণ। েকাথায় েযন রবী� স�ীত আর বাউলগান িমেল িমেশ এক হেয় যায় তখন।

এভােব কিবর অেনক গােনর কথায় এবং সুের আমরা েদখেত পাই বাউলগােনর েসই মািটর েছাঁয়া এবং েমেন িনেত বাধয্ হই েয রবী�নাথ কতখািন বাউেলর �ারা �ভািবত হেয়িছেলন। রবী�নােথর "ডাকঘর" নাটকিট ম�� হবার িঠক পূব মূহ‍েত্তর্ িতিন মেন কেরিছেলন একিট গােনর �স� ডাকঘেরর "অমল" চির�িটেক একিট সাথর ্ক রূ পাের বেল তাঁর মেন হয় । আবার েসই েকান এক কােলর ে�ােত েভেস যাওয়া নিথহীন বাউেলর গান"েদেখিছ রূেনর মানুস কাঁ েসানা, তাের ধির ধির মেন কির ধরেত িগেয় আর েপেলম না..." এর অনুকরেণ অিত অনায়ােসই সৃি�র সাবলীলতায় িতিন রচনা কেরিছেলন েসই গান "েভেঙ েমার ঘেরর চািব িনেয় যািব েক আমাের, ও ব�ু আমার! না েপেয় েতামার েদখা একা একা, িদন েয আমার কােট না ের..." আেরা একিট রবী স�ীেত আমরা পাই লালেনর েদহ ত�বােদর �� ইশারা। েবাধ কির লালন ফিকেরর েদহ সাধনা এবং মন সাধনায় অনু�ািণত হেয়ই কিব িলেখিছেলন এই গান খািন। "আমার �ােণর মানুষ আেছ �ােণ, তাই েহির তায় সকল খােন আেছ েস নয়নতারায়,

আেলাক ধারায় তাই না হারায় ওেগা তাই েদিখ তায় েযথায় েসথায় তাকাই আিম েয িদক পােন ..." যার ইংেরজী অনুবাদিট হল : The man of my heart dwells inside me.

Everywhere I look, it is he.

In my every sight, in the sparkle of light Oh, I can never lose him Here, there and everywhere, Wherever I turn, he is right there!

অধয্াপক ি�িতেমাহন েসন এবং কিব এই �ে� তাঁর �িত কৃ ত�তা �কাশ কেরেছন এবং ঐ পিরে�দ গুল তাঁর �ে �ান ও েপেয়েছ। ি�িতেমাহন েসেনর েলখায় আবার উেঠ আেস েসই সূ� েদহ বাদ এবং সহজ মেনর ত�। এক জায়গায় িতিন বলেছন বাউেলর গােনর ভাষায় :

The Baul sings:

Ah where am I to find him, the man of my heart?

Alas, since I lost him, I wander in search of Him.

েয গােনর মেধয্ বাউেলর মানব স�ায় তার মেনর মানুেষর েচহারািট একদম িমেল েগেছ রবী� ি�ায় তার �ােনর মানুষিটর সাে। রবী�নােথর "The Religion of Man" ব ইিটর এেপি�ে�র একিট অধয্ায় রেয়েছ যার না "The Baul Singers of Bengal"। কিবর িহবাটর্ েলকচাের বাউল স�ে� এই িব�ৃ ত আেলাচনা কেরিছেলন িব�ভারতীর

Thro' lands near and far. আেলাচনার সব েশেষ অধয্াপক ি�িতেমাহন েসন বেলেছন চ�ীদােসর েসই িবখয্াত উি� "সবার উপের মানুষ সতয্ তাহার উপর নাই"| কিব রবী�নাথ ঠাকুর হাতেড় েবিড়েয়েছন এই অেমাঘ সতয্েক আর তাই িশকােগা িব�িবদয্ালেয়র ভাষাতে�র অধয্াপক এডওয়া . িস. িডমক রবী�নাথেক বেলেছন "The Greatest Of The Bauls Of Bengal"!

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A WISH UNFULFILLED Amrita Bera

It was scintillating early April morning, sunny and breezy. I, in a buoyant mood was paying for my favorite yogurt at the counter of the mother dairy booth of my local market. My cell phone rang displaying an unknown number. My hello was replied by calm, determined & direct voice “Is that Amrita Bera?” Before my “yes” could slip out completely from my mouth, I heard “This is Prof. P. Lal from Writers Workshop, Kolkata. I have gone through your manuscript and I am ready to publish it on the terms………….” Awestruck, I could mumble just a few words and before my “Thank you sir” reached the other end, the line snapped.

Vaguely seeing the attractive, handloom cloth bound cover page of a slim poetry book of some unknown poet at one of my friend’s place, I was given a suggestion to try along with other publishers, Writers Workshop, Kolkata to get my first ever work of translations of poems and Ghazals from Hindi to English, published. My translations of poems and Ghazals were not of any legendary, past era poets, but of my own friend who is steadily making mark in the Hindi literary arena and is relatively well known poet and writer of U.P and the Northern belt of India, especially Delhi, where he lives.

Interactions began through e-mails and by the time I sent my manuscript to Prof. Lal, realizing the stature and the kind of respect he owns in India and worldwide as a scholar, professor, publisher, poet, writer and transcreator, I was certain that my work would not see the day of light, atleast from Writers Workshop.

Born on 28th August, 1929, Professor Purushottam Lal, called “Profsky” by his friends was known as ‘The Bhishm Pitamah of publishing Indian writing in English’ and also mentioned as ‘The cornerstone of Indian writing in English’. Writers Workshop was founded in 1958 and over the years Prof. Lal published innumerable poets and writers, who became big names and celebrities be it Vikram Seth, Agha Shahid Ali, Keki N.Daruwala, A.K.Ramanujan, Chitra Bannerjee Devakurni, Ruskin Bond, Jayant Mahapatra, Nissim Ezekiel or Kamala Das to name a few.

P. Lal was professor of English in the prestigious St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata for over 35 years. He was also special Professor of Indian Studies at Hofstra University, New York and as distinguished visiting Professor and Consultant he visited Great Britain, USA & Australia at various colleges, like the

Albion College, Ohio University, Hartwick College, Berea College and Western Maryland College.

He completed the mammoth work of transcreating, (Prof Lal chose to use the word ‘transcreation’ and not ‘translation) 18 volumes or

‘parvas’ of the epic Mahabharata by Vyasa in English, which is longer than collected works of Shakespeare or both Iliad & Odyssey, consisting 100,000 slokas.

Prof. Lal used to say that, “perhaps the most famous sloka of the epic, the most quoted is the one that says, “What is in this epic on Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha may be elsewhere. What is not in this epic is nowhere else” (1.62.67).” He also transcribed the Brihadarankya and Mahanarayana Upnishads.

It was in October 1999, near the turn of the millennium, that Prof. P.Lal, D.Litt, Padma Shri and Nehru Fellow, began to read his transcreation to a live audience. The Sunday one hour morning session was devoted to a sloka-by-sloka reading by him at the Sanskriti Sagar Library in Kolkata, of his complete English transcreation of the Mahabharata.

Writers Workshop is a non-profit and non-political publishing house which survived only due to tremendous efforts and personal fund of one man with the vision to give platform to serious creative writing and writers who are sympathetic to the ideals and principles commonly accepted as embodied in creative writing and not impressed by desire for quick fame and money.

Over 51 years (1958-2009), Writers Workshop has published close to 3500 works and that too without any office, modern publishing infrastructure and even

a secretary. It operated from his residence 162/92, Lake Gardens, Kolkata-700 045, from the living- room and a multi-purpose bedroom. Prof. Lal used to do the herculean task of proof reading, correcting, editing and publishing, all by himself. At the initial stage of setting up of printing press, his neighbor P.K.Aditya moved out his car from his garage and installed a hand-operated printing machine that cost him all of Rs.6000/-. Then there was Tulamiah Mohiuddin, who meticulously for years (now done by his sons) did the binding of each book with handloom cloth with borders taken from Orissa saris.

Each book is goldembossed, hand stitched, hand pasted and hand bound.

Tulamiah Mohiuddin has even received the President’s award for binding. The hallmark of WW and Prof. Lal is the calligraphy. The layout & lettering of each book was done with a sheaffer calligraphy pen by him. There is a particular incident as narrated by Pritish Nandy (a poet, painter, journalist, politician, television personality, animal activist and film producer) “Prof Lal was inconsolable when the nib of his pen broke after decades of use. That particular model was no longer available in stores. He wrote a letter to Sheaffer, wondering whether they could help him locate a nib. They sent him a new pen, with a similar nib specially made for his use. I will never forget the childlike delight with which he told me the story, showing off the pen as a priceless trophy.” His different colored bird logo for different genres of writing is also exclusive. So the end product of Prof.

Lal is always distinctive, ethnic and unique. There is no distribution network except for a kiosk “Book Nook”, a retail outlet at his residence, where all his products are available.

The book “LIGHT THROUGH A LABYRINTH”, poetry of Vivek Mishra, transcreated from hindi to English by me, saw the light of the day in November, 2009.

After the first very short telephonic conversation with Prof. Lal, I did not happen to talk to him anymore and all communications were through e-

mails only. Prof. Lal’s sweet granddaughter Ms. Shuktara always reciprocated by sending informations, instructions promptly. I expressed my desire to her to meet Prof Lal, as I planned to go to Kolkata, in the beginning of the year, 2010. I never had inkling that the Prof. was unwell and was on regular transfusion. After my manuscript got accepted and already knowing the greatness of the man I was now associated with, I had an intense longing to personally meet him, hear him, thank him and pay my regards in person. I am myself born in Kolkata, though shifted to Delhi at an early age; I visited the city almost every year. My wish to meet him was gaining in strength, each day, but my schedule to go to Kolkata kept getting delayed.

Do all wishes get fulfilled in a lifetime?

Certainly, NOT. When I heard the dreadful news of his demise on 3rd Nov, 2010, I could not react for a few minutes. A sense of loss of not having met him numbed my heart, so much so, that I could not bring myself to send my condolences to the bereaved family, in time.

I ponder; do people like Prof. Lal ever fade away from hearts, minds, society, country or history?

No they cannot. Such people become immortal

through their exemplary life and work, their greatness, their dedication and the indelible mark they leave in the history of time. He will always be there through his writings, books, works and the difference he brought in the lives of those who wrote from their hearts and aspired to make a little space for themselves in the world of literature.

After many sulky days and rumination, I observed what I had overlooked - that I had been so fortunate that my book was published from WW which in itself is an endorsement that I need not to be apprehensive about the quality and standard of the work (the original substance of the poetry, as well as the translations) and that - my very first work with just the name of WW placed me in the best of literary circle and amongst the distinguished writers. My heartfelt thanks to Vivek Mishra, whose meaningful, sensitive poetry and Ghazals gave me an opportunity to bring out my best in the translations.

I feel the best way to pay tributes to this great man is by knowing him more through his works and treasuring them as many one can. Prof. Lal’s own writings and works of other writers published through WW are available on his website www.writersworkshopindia.com.

The Haunted House Richik Ray, 10 years

“Sssssslurp,” I went, drinking a

seen in my life!!!

juice

enormous,

box

and

driving

to

the

old,

It was an

black,

house.

I

grocery store. I turned my head to

stopped the car in front of the

the right to find where Indian

house, walked up the stairs and

Plaza was. I saw Walmart, Home

rang the broken doorbell that was

Depot, Dollar Tree, and other

hanging. I heard a loud diiiiiiiiing

stores. Then I saw the scariest

dooooooooong. There were bats

thing I had ever seen in my life. I

coming out of the windows and

saw it in books and on tv, but I

the windows were opening and

never saw it in real life. I freaked

closing really fast. A bat flew

out and almost fell off my chair.

right over my head. Now I knew

It was the scariest thing I had ever

that it was a haunted house. Then

everything went quiet and the

lights on. It was vacant but huge.

doors

slowly

She told me to stand against the

walking in. “Slam!” went the doors

wall and BAM!!! Went the lights.

right behind me. They shut closed. I

It was pitch black.”Clang.clang,

tiptoed a little more. The wooden

clang,” went the witch. She was

floor

really

doing something with a chain. The

frightened because the house was

witch ran away and the lights

prodigious. Then I heard something.

went

Is it a tiger, or a lion? Then a

screamed. I was chained to the wall.

spooky

I’m

She was a malevolent witch. I tried

was

many different ideas but none of

thinking in my head who was that.

them worked. Finally I thought of

Then before I could look at the

one more plan and hoped that it

long dark stairs, a witch flew down

would work. My hands were free

with a long broom stick. She had a

but my body was chained. If I

grotesque countenance. The witch

could call Randy and tell him to

swirled around my head a couple of

come help. It’s going to be a hard

times and then stopped in front

mission but he is brave enough to

of me .She said,” what brings you

handle it. He answered the phone

here my dear friend .”I didn’t

and I asked if he could come help

know what to say so I told her

me.

that I just came here for a visit.

questions

The witch said in a mean voice,”You

couldn’t go through the front

can stay here for now.” I had no

door because it was locked. He had

other choice of what to say, so I

to break through the window

replied “ok”, in a fearful voice. The

because there was no other way.

witch took me to a room with the

Randy busted the window and it

creaked

open.

squeaked.

voice

comiiiiiiiiiiiiing

I

I

was

yelled,” down.”

I

on.

Randy

“Heeeellllppp!!!”

asked .Randy

a

bunch

arrived

I

of but

shattered into pieces. He jumped in

thought no one would notice him

and hid behind a chair. He had to

if

get to the top but there were

footsteps were getting closer and

guards everywhere. He would be

closer. Randy stood frozen beside

dead if he got seen. Randy ran

the statues acting like one with

quickly to the first stair and got

those clothes on. Then he saw a

in the dark area. The guard heard

shadow. It was the witch. She saw

him moving and they raced to the

each statue but didn’t notice my

chair Randy was under. Good thing

friend. Then witch went away. This

Randy

or

was my only chance to escape. I

otherwise it would be the end of his

quickly ran without the witch

life. Randy sprinted up the stairs

seeing me. Randy got into the

but then the most horrible thing

room I was trapped in. “He let me

happened. He was face to face

free .”How are we going to get

with a lot of nasty creatures. My

out?’ I asked.” just

friend has an acute brain and got

Randy said. He led me out without

past the creatures by tricking

the witch spotting us. We were out

them. When he got to the top,

of the witch’s dungeon and we

Randy was exhausted. Suddenly he

thanked each other. Randy and I

heard footsteps coming towards

went home. We never forgot this

him. “What can I do?”He said.

story.

moved

from

there

Then Randy saw some statues and

he

dressed

up

as

one.

The

follow me,”

Pollution Solution

Together We Can

Archisa Ghosh, 9 years

Akash Chakravartty, 13 years

Together we can save the Earth,

Brick by brick,

Let's go and plant some seedlings in the dirt.

We built the world.

Let the lions get back to their den,

From every home to every skyscraper,

Get best eggs from the hen.

From every car to every boat,

Don't let the sound break your ears,

From every phone to every satellite.

Don't let acid be in God's merry old tears.

We put our heads together,

Never spoil oil on a good old beach,

In such a way,

Don't pollute the state of peach.

We accomplish,

Just let nature have her way,

Something one man,

Don't let there be a hot and humid day.

Could never achieve by himself.

So please don't destroy the air,

Together we find cures,

The birds have not been unfair.

For diseases that kill.

Don't pollute the bluish bay,

Together we make,

She doesn't want to be blackish-grey.

The world a better place.

Let also the cars be on mute,

Separated we only fail.

Please don't pollute!

Together we are invictus, And only together we can.

What He Means to Me His smarts and knowledge are like aged wine,

By: Kriti Lodh, 12 years

He helps me become a better person, so I may shine, The way he sings lifts up my soul,

He helps me through the times that are tough, No matter what the situation is, not even how rough,

It is so heavenly, like the church bell toll!

The way he jokes keeps me on the edge,

Who is this person that is like a dream, He is my father, together we make a wonderful team!

He is the light that shines brighter than any star, When I am in need he comes to help me, no matter how far,

When he promises, it’s worth more than a pledge, He teaches me things that inspire me, He also provides me the shade under his tree!

I love him, no doubt,

No one can compare to a man like him,

With him, I will never pout,

His best ideas come to him as a whim!

I will love him until the end and more, as you can see,

He keeps me going,

This and much more is what he means to me!

Through this stream of life, he keeps me rowing, I love him dearest from the core of my heart, And I know that we can never be apart!

Manisha Gupta, 11 years

PUJARI at a glance Next Event Announcements

Pujari Picnic 2010

PUJARI ANNUAL PICNIC

Fort Yargo State Park SATURDAY, 4TH JUNE 2011 FACILTY: BEACH WITH SHELTER Address: 210 S Broad Street Winder GA 30680

Pujari celebrates 25th year!

Pujari has been successfully and enthusiastically quenching the cultural thirst of the Atlanta Bengali community for more the last 25 years.

Started by a group of highly energetic and passionate volunteers living in and around Atlanta, Pujari began as a convention to celebrate the culture and rich heritage of India to fulfill the nostalgic affinity.

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.

Pujari celebrates Baisakhi 2011 Marking the 150th birth anniversary of

Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore

Pujari welcomes new writers/artists for Next Issue: Sharadiya ANJALI 2011 Please send your articles before 30th July 2011

Email: editor@pujari.org

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President

P K Das

Abhijit Hazra

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VP, Cultural

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VP, Finance

Swapan Mondal

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VP, Revenue Generation VP, Public Relations VP, Publication

Subhojit Roy

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