Ritendra's Blog

Cricket as we know it today has reached a stage in its evolution taking a trajectory particularly in the last two decade that most of the followers of the sport could not foresee. It must also be acknowledged as an universal truth that any activity controlled or executed by humans has to reflect the vagaries and social milieu of the human society as a whole. The sport of Cricket is no different to that universal truth. In the world order Socialism and communism has given way to Capitalism or consumerism. Manufacturing based Economy has given way to knowledge economy. Films and Television serials the world over bears ample testimony to that fact. Films like “Good Bye Lenin”, “Wall E” “Inside Job” are examples of it. In India the criminalisation of the post-Industrial economy and worshiping criminals as heroes is reflected in films like the Doom series, Don series etc. The laid back atmosphere of cricket has also given way to maddeningly dynamic t20. The smooth cover drives have given ...

It might seem abnormally strange for a person of Academics being an active motorbike enthusiast or rider. There would be long sadomasochistic gaze from students and other Professor colleagues when I entered the college on my Yamaha Fzs, while revving the tiny 150cc life out of it but with all the strength the 150cc heart could pump it failed to produce that roaring sound of a cruiser. But nonetheless the Yamaha FZS had sporting genes in its looks and that was appealing enough. It was also a paragon of ride and handling. I never hesitated to ride the bike and letting my car take a nap in my garage. Ever since the invention of fire and wheel changed the magnitude and scope of the human race and made humans settle in colonies which eventually turned into towns and cities, there was no invention that could reunite humans with the life of adventure he had long left behind. Layers and layers of domesticity woven around us by the unifying mechanical civilization was robbing us of our indiv...

My father being brought up in the socialistic upper middle class Bengali house of his maternal grandfather during 1960's had developed severe apathy to the idea of luxury, and he still maintains that apathy maybe owing to his hard working days as an officer at New India Assurance or maybe because of the subject accountancy which he studied at college. But this wasn't just him or that particular household. The working class of the Bengali society from clerks to Managing Directors were all followers of socialistic simple living. As my father's maternal grandfather was the Senior General manager of The Royal Insurance Company he unlike other Indians at that period was able to buy several cars. My fathers paternal grandfather Shri Rajendranath Bhattacharya had a GM Buick in 1940's. It is to be noted that during that era cars were an extreme luxury, only royal families could afford one. At that time in Burdwan only 2 families had cars, the Burdwan Maharaja and my grea...

Right at the start let me ask you, is not wit, liveliness and an attractive personality deceptive traits? Is complexity and ambiguity a good trait we look forward in people we want in our lives? After you have pondered enough over these 2 questions do read further. [Cautionary warning - you would be bombarded with my opinion and feelings. Proceed further at the risk of having to live the rest of your god damn lives with an intense repulsive opinion without being able to give vent to it or in the most unlikely scenario you might be charmed and captivated by my opinions] Now there is no definition of ‘kebla’.  It does not mean foolish, dull witted, idiot, prat, dork, moron, jerk and imbecile. Because people perceived as ‘kebla’ are not trying to play silly bugger. Any one with sloppy over sized clothes to nervous mannerisms, person with distorted speech to unnatural stomping gait are branded as ‘kebla’. Some easy going lazy person who has an air of reluctanc...

The doomsday predictions have oscillated from sanctified despair to amusement. Let me not spoil the party mood by juggling hideous consternation or brood about this never ending debate of whether this year is going to be the end of this civilization. Films like 2012, showing an orgy of violent destruction hardly provokes a thought in me other than titillation because I have no doubt that this should be the end. Another member of the nay Sayers group…. Well that is as far from the truth as you are from reality. The truth that we espouse is the convenient truth that is comfortable to digest and which is incessantly poured in our delirious minds by the ‘ corporate’ sponsored media. The same ‘Corporate’ who caress you with greed and at the same time makes our mind sick and tired and pushes you to a purgatory plane of existence. Well once our life is ensnared by the corporate behemoths, we find peace by gloriously calling it the discreet life of the bourgeoisie. The American Dream. Let...

It is often believed that Media is the Fourth Pillar, along with Judiciary, legislature and executive that is responsible for supporting democracy. But since the Media organizations are not sponsored by the Government unlike the other three pillars, continuous flow of revenue dictates Media’s survival. Moreover media does not exist in a vacuum nor does it enjoy monopoly power in most of the states. “Sensationalism” can be viewed as a cream that differentiates various cakes of same taste to get peoples interest and thereby ensuring the survival of the organization ‘making the cake’ that is Media Organization. In an environment where 24 hour news channels rule the roost, it is often very difficult for the media organizations to deliver the news to its target audience and do it successfully over a long period of time. It cannot be ruled out that sensationalism of news can hurt the interest or feelings of certain people or community. To ensure such incidents do not take place privacy law...

When I look at the mirror I see gloomy yellowing eyes covered by thick black glasses, replacing the rimless glasses of the years that have passed by. They were white and shinning and full of hope when I was younger. A fat, melancholic face framed preciously by drooping eyebrows and defeated lips that once threw snappy phrases. I am not bald, or even balding, but now the hair on my head is extravagantly spaced. I had once sported curly disheveled hair and gained an almost professional air with it. The hairs grayed and became extravagantly spaced with time. The shriveled skin of my face now glistens with sweat from the midday heat. Bare chest with a thick white thread running across the body, would give up my religious identity of being a Hindu. Crisp white Pajama on my lower part of the body would establish my identity as a Bengali. This appearance of mine would not reveal what socio-economic background I come from or what are my tastes and education. You have to look at the table at ...