“Right to information has to be exercised to transform India from a representative democracy to a participatory democracy, whereby transparency and accountability of the government can be ensured”, said Prof. Sunil Behera, Chairperson, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Berhampur University, speaking as the Guest of Honour at a seminar on ‘Right To Information And The Role Of The Media’ organized on 28-29 March by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC), University of Calcutta (CU) at the Darbhanga Hall, CU Asutosh Siksha Prangan, College Street. The role of media is to create awareness for effective use of the Right to Information and unearth malfunctioning in different quarters.
Noting Kolkata as the birthplace of journalism in most Indian languages, Prof. M.R. Dua, UGC representative of the host department’s Departmental Special Assistance Programme said, “Sense of responsibility is expected on the part of the media in the context of multiplicity of news channels”.
Emphasising the tendency of media to try to take the position of the other three estates, Prof. K.V. Nagaraj, Chairperson, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Mangalore University, noted, “How the Official Secrets Act can run in tandem with the Right to Information Act?”, later corroborated by CU-JMC faculty Asim Kumar Mitra. The latter demanded a provision for direct public interactions with politicians failing to honour their own promises.
As Prof. R.M. Pathak, Director, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Kashi Vidyapith said, “Mission has to be there for success in professional journalism”, CU Prof. Samir Kumar Bandopadhyay emphasised that clarity of definitions and explanations is required to enable smoother statutory interpretations, shortcomings of which, as also those of any public utility system, are pointed out by the media.
Highlighting that “In the current era of sophisticated warfare a journalist can cover the same only being a part of either of the warring parties”, Santanu Sanyal from Hindu Business Line and the host department noted that in corporate reporting information obtained out of in-depth study and confidential sources cannot be published without ratification from the company bosses, who may be silent or may dish out ambiguous remarks when approached for clarification.
The students-teachers interactive sessions on ‘Media Ethics And Development Communication’ and ‘Journalism At The Crossroads’, saw the CU-JMC students battering the distinguished panelists with queries on cricket reporting to crime reporting, right to information to right to privacy, media ethics to media council, sting operation to spiced-up stories, with the eminent speakers, with all their experience and wisdom, catering to the wannabe journos’ rights to exercise their freedom of speech and expression, and to access information.
While sumptuous lunch packets ensured the stomach its share of fulfillment, a cultural programme on Day One afternoon, at the Ritwik Hall in the same campus, satisfied the finer faculties with songs, dances, recitations by the CU-JMC students and staff-member, to go with the performance of Chandan Sen’s play ‘Gopon Kothati’ in English by Theatre Spandan.
Among the other dignitaries attending the session, were Prof. B.P. Sanjay, Chairperson, S.N. College of Communication, Hyderabad; Prof. S.N. Misra, Co-ordinator, Department of Journalism & Mass Comunication, Utkal University; Prof. Dr. Tapati Basu, Head of the host department and its other faculty members, teachers from different colleges and universities.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Forward-looking Tradition Revisited At Convocation
Speaking at the University of Calcutta (CU) Annual Convocation on March 27 2006, at the CU Centenary Hall, at the University’s Asutosh Siksha Prangan, College Street, the Chancellor Andre Beteille, Chairman, Indian Council of Social Science and Research and an alumnus of the University, said, “While a modern university must aim at being inclusive, the degree of inclusiveness cannot be the only measure of its success”. “As a public institution in a democratic society it must be socially inclusive; as a center of teaching and research, it must be academically discriminating”. He highlighted that in England, France and Germany, the changes in social outlook and orientation began largely outside the universities which responded to those changes slowly and often reluctantly. In contrast, he emphasized, in India, the wider society remained set in the hierarchical mould of kinships, caste and religion while the universities, as open and secular institutions, were in the forefront in creating a new social outlook and orientation. Guarding against shortcuts to achieve social inclusiveness in universities, that may subvert their very purpose of attaining scholarship through disciplined teaching and research, he noted, “Universities cannot become socially more inclusive and at the same time maintain and enhance their academic standards unless the supply of the talent is constantly augmented”.
As the CU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee gave accounts of the additions to the University library, Asutosh Museum, as well as the introduction of new courses like MBA Finance and M.A. in Comparative Indian Literature, affiliations to new colleges, he made the point that the University will continue to remain the degree-conferring authority to students of autonomous colleges, affiliated to it. He said that entrance tests for admission to post-graduate courses offered by the University are in the horizon, to bring parity among the candidates from autonomous and non-autonomous colleges affiliated to it, and seeking admission to such courses. Expressing his desire to continue maintaining linkages with other universities and institutes across the country, and share the fruits of the funds allotted to CU, with other universities in the state, he asked the University’s student fraternity to work for “development of the country and progress of mankind”.
Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy were awarded to students from the faculties of Agriculture; Arts; Commerce and Business Management; Education, Journalism, and Library and Information Sciences; Home Science; Medical Sciences; Science and Technology. Honorary Doctorate of Literature degrees were also conferred upon Prof. Beteille and Prof. Purusottama Lal, while Prof. Sankar Adhya was awarded the Doctor of Science degree Honoris Causa. Special awards were given to M.S. Swaminathan, Dr, Chandrika Prasad Sharma, Prasanta Kumar Pal, Subhendu Chattopadhyay, Leele Mazumdar, Nabanita Deb Sen and NCC cadets SUO Jitendra Das, CSM Ananta Singh, SUO Odissi Chakraborty and students Arnab Mondal an Arpita Ghosh. Eminent Teacher awards were given to Prof. Arun Kumar Dutta Gupta, Prof. Archana Sharma, Prof. Indu Bhushan Chatterjee, Prof. Mihir Chowdhury, and Prof. Kajal Sengupta posthumous.
In his Bengali address, the CU Chancellor and Governor of West Bengal Gopalkrishna Gandhi said, “the utilization of the grants receivable by the University will be successful only when the fruits thereof can improve common people’s lives and gain recognition from them as beneficial in their day-to-day lives”.
Among the other dignitaries gracing the ceremony on the occasion of the post-centenary golden jubilee celebrations of the University, were the CU Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Registrar and Deans of the faculties. The event which kicked off with the University Anthem culminated into the National Anthem. Silence was observed in memory of politician Anil Biswas, an alumnus of the University and who was member of the University Senate for three consecutive terms.
As the CU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee gave accounts of the additions to the University library, Asutosh Museum, as well as the introduction of new courses like MBA Finance and M.A. in Comparative Indian Literature, affiliations to new colleges, he made the point that the University will continue to remain the degree-conferring authority to students of autonomous colleges, affiliated to it. He said that entrance tests for admission to post-graduate courses offered by the University are in the horizon, to bring parity among the candidates from autonomous and non-autonomous colleges affiliated to it, and seeking admission to such courses. Expressing his desire to continue maintaining linkages with other universities and institutes across the country, and share the fruits of the funds allotted to CU, with other universities in the state, he asked the University’s student fraternity to work for “development of the country and progress of mankind”.
Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy were awarded to students from the faculties of Agriculture; Arts; Commerce and Business Management; Education, Journalism, and Library and Information Sciences; Home Science; Medical Sciences; Science and Technology. Honorary Doctorate of Literature degrees were also conferred upon Prof. Beteille and Prof. Purusottama Lal, while Prof. Sankar Adhya was awarded the Doctor of Science degree Honoris Causa. Special awards were given to M.S. Swaminathan, Dr, Chandrika Prasad Sharma, Prasanta Kumar Pal, Subhendu Chattopadhyay, Leele Mazumdar, Nabanita Deb Sen and NCC cadets SUO Jitendra Das, CSM Ananta Singh, SUO Odissi Chakraborty and students Arnab Mondal an Arpita Ghosh. Eminent Teacher awards were given to Prof. Arun Kumar Dutta Gupta, Prof. Archana Sharma, Prof. Indu Bhushan Chatterjee, Prof. Mihir Chowdhury, and Prof. Kajal Sengupta posthumous.
In his Bengali address, the CU Chancellor and Governor of West Bengal Gopalkrishna Gandhi said, “the utilization of the grants receivable by the University will be successful only when the fruits thereof can improve common people’s lives and gain recognition from them as beneficial in their day-to-day lives”.
Among the other dignitaries gracing the ceremony on the occasion of the post-centenary golden jubilee celebrations of the University, were the CU Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Registrar and Deans of the faculties. The event which kicked off with the University Anthem culminated into the National Anthem. Silence was observed in memory of politician Anil Biswas, an alumnus of the University and who was member of the University Senate for three consecutive terms.
Tête-à-tête With CM
On March 25 2006, the Students’ Federation of India(SFI) University of Calcutta(CU) Zonal Committee organized an interactive session ‘Praktanir Sange Mukhomukhi’ with the West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at the University Institute Hall. Much to the delight of the five hundred-odd CU students gathered at the hall, the CM said that the West Bengal students are the best in the country in academics. Emphasizing the utility of infrastructural development in the state, he zeroed down on the need to enhance the quality of higher education imparted in the state. In the hour-long question-answer session with the students moderated by SFI President Durjoy Ray, Bhattacharjee said, “There are many schools but the quality of teaching has to be improved.”
Monday, July 23, 2007
Way Of The Winners
The University of Calcutta (CU) Centenary Auditorium at the Asutosh Siksha Prangan (College Street) swayed to the foot-tapping beats of the upcoming Bangla band 4WD on March 2 2006, on the occasion of the prize distribution ceremony for the annual sports and cultural competition organised by the Calcutta University Students’ Union (Day). As the winners went ga-ga over the glittering medals specially manufactured on the occasion of the post-centenary golden jubilee celebration of the University, the excitement mercury kept rising inside the unfortunately sparsely attended cultural extravaganza. Those lucky few attending the programme were treated to an onstage student’s performance of popular movie songs with other students gyrating among the rows of seats in the dimly lit auditorium.
Universities Eves Prove A Point On 22 Yards
Osmania University, Hyderabad defeated Devi Ahilya University, Indore at the Rajdanga Ground, Kolkata, to retain the Gunavati C.K. Naidu Challenge Trophy awarded to the winner of the All India Inter University Cricket (Women’s) Tournament, organized by the University of Calcutta (CU) from February 15 to 27 2006. Fifty-five universities from Jammu to Kerala, Gujarat to Kolkata, featured in this tournament out of the sixty-five originally enrolled.
While Ritika Bhopalkar of Devi Ahilya University set the East Calcutta District Sports Federation Ground on fire as she blazed her way to a swashbuckling 209 not out against Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Sabari Chatterjee of Vinoba Bhave University sent the stumps for a tumble at the Hastings Ground as she ripped apart the Aligarh Muslim University batting line-up with stunning figures of six wickets for eight runs.
University of Calcutta was the only university from West Bengal to participate in the second edition of this tournament held in ten grounds spread from Khardah to Narendrapur, Sodepur to Salt Lake in and around city of Eden Gardens.
Emphasizing on the need for inter-college tournaments for development of women’s cricket, Sports Officer and Joint Secretary, Sports Board, CU Sudarshan Biswas said, “Physical education should be dwelt with more seriously right from the primary school level with long-term sports coaching after plus-two”. Advocating a State-level inter-university women’s cricket tournament as a preparation for national-level championships, he observed, “The combined Indian universities team should make foreign tours, and foreign teams should be invited to participate in national-level women’s cricket tournaments”.
“We are praising the Indian youngsters for quickly graduating to the highest level in men’s cricket. For similar results in women’s cricket, we should promote the game at the university level, as is done in other countries”, said Dr. Srirupa Basu, who has been associated with sports as a player, coach, commentator, administrator and educationist. “Better media coverage of women’s sports is an urgent necessity in India, to boost public interest and actual participation in women’s sports”, she noted.
While Ritika Bhopalkar of Devi Ahilya University set the East Calcutta District Sports Federation Ground on fire as she blazed her way to a swashbuckling 209 not out against Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Sabari Chatterjee of Vinoba Bhave University sent the stumps for a tumble at the Hastings Ground as she ripped apart the Aligarh Muslim University batting line-up with stunning figures of six wickets for eight runs.
University of Calcutta was the only university from West Bengal to participate in the second edition of this tournament held in ten grounds spread from Khardah to Narendrapur, Sodepur to Salt Lake in and around city of Eden Gardens.
Emphasizing on the need for inter-college tournaments for development of women’s cricket, Sports Officer and Joint Secretary, Sports Board, CU Sudarshan Biswas said, “Physical education should be dwelt with more seriously right from the primary school level with long-term sports coaching after plus-two”. Advocating a State-level inter-university women’s cricket tournament as a preparation for national-level championships, he observed, “The combined Indian universities team should make foreign tours, and foreign teams should be invited to participate in national-level women’s cricket tournaments”.
“We are praising the Indian youngsters for quickly graduating to the highest level in men’s cricket. For similar results in women’s cricket, we should promote the game at the university level, as is done in other countries”, said Dr. Srirupa Basu, who has been associated with sports as a player, coach, commentator, administrator and educationist. “Better media coverage of women’s sports is an urgent necessity in India, to boost public interest and actual participation in women’s sports”, she noted.
Bengal and Globalization bridges Kolkata and Tokyo
The Department of History, University of Calcutta (CU) and the Institute of Oriental Culture (IOC), University of Tokyo(TU) have signed an MoU to promote academic exchange and partnership between the two institutions through mutually beneficial programmes of joint research, conferences, publications and exchange of faculty. “IOC is a leading institute in Japan in South-East Asian history and political studies, and we look forward to an enriching educational interchange with them”, said CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Suranjan Das.
The agreement signed on January 19 2006 by Prof. Samir Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Registrar, CU and Prof. Teruo Sekimoto, Director, IOC, TU, will focus on history and politics of Bengal and globalization from the South Asian perspective. The agreement, which remains effective for a period of five years, may be extended by mutual agreement.
Reciprocity and parity will be maintained between the parties in the sharing of responsibilities of funding, manpower and logistics, and fruits of findings of joint research projects. Visiting scholars will be responsible for their own financial support, while the host institution will assist them in their accommodation and access to library resources and research contacts.
A seminar on ‘Human Security and Globalization in South Asia’ will kick off the joint conduction of programmes under this inter-university collaboration in December 2006 in Kolkata, said Prof. Das. “We have applied to the Japan Foundation for fundings, but irrespective of their financial support, we will hold this seminar”, he added.
The agreement signed on January 19 2006 by Prof. Samir Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Registrar, CU and Prof. Teruo Sekimoto, Director, IOC, TU, will focus on history and politics of Bengal and globalization from the South Asian perspective. The agreement, which remains effective for a period of five years, may be extended by mutual agreement.
Reciprocity and parity will be maintained between the parties in the sharing of responsibilities of funding, manpower and logistics, and fruits of findings of joint research projects. Visiting scholars will be responsible for their own financial support, while the host institution will assist them in their accommodation and access to library resources and research contacts.
A seminar on ‘Human Security and Globalization in South Asia’ will kick off the joint conduction of programmes under this inter-university collaboration in December 2006 in Kolkata, said Prof. Das. “We have applied to the Japan Foundation for fundings, but irrespective of their financial support, we will hold this seminar”, he added.
Leaf Out Of Bangla Book For Mother Tongue In Administration
Recalling the support lent by India, Pakistan, among the countries, while Bangladesh proposed the worldwide celebration February 21 each year as the International Mother-tongue Day, Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner to India Mohammad Imran said, “The researchers of both the Bengals can work in unison to formulate a standardized Bengali language”. Speaking at the inauguration of the week-long mother-tongue festival organized by the University of Calcutta (CU) on February 21 2006, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the festival, Imran dwelt on mother tongue being a national asset.
While the Calcutta University Students’ Union General Secretary Anupam Pramanik urged for the presence of Bengali along with English in the University nameplates, CU Registrar Samir Kumar Badopadhyay in his presidential address, declared his plans to make the presence of Bengali felt in the identification of the various photographs and paintings in the university premises, nameplates of the various campuses and halls under the university, and letter correspondences by the University within the state, within a year.
Speaking on the importance of the day from a historical perspective, West Bengal Library Minister Nimai Chandra Mal advocated lending equal importance to all languages. Emphasizing on the two-fold emotional and social relevance of celebrating the occasion, CU Vice-chancellor Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee said in his welcome address, “Make others conscious of their mother tongue, alongside reminding yourself of the same always, to further social advancement”.
Hailing the mother tongue festival as “the University of Calcutta’s blossoming rose”, CU Deputy Registrar Nitish Biswas announced the involvement of the Dhaka and the Calcutta Universities in joint programmes in the future. Inaugurating a folder consisting of a poem composed by Biswas under the inspiration of the Bengali address delivered by the West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi on January 17 2006 at the inauguration the CU post-centenary golden jubilee celebrations, CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Suranjan Das said, “We have to take the precedent of Bangladesh where Bengali can now be used for administrative works”.
At a seminar on the use of mother tongue in administration, Bhabesh Moitra said that the financial, political and cultural dominances are detrimental for improvement of mother tongue, while Dr. Biplab Chakraborty said, “language is identity of people”, as he emphasized on translation for knowing others.
Urging the CU authority to introduce Bengali in a big way in the university administration, CU Employees’ Committee General Secretary Anjan Ghosh that the CU laws should occur in Bengali, as well as the university should issue advertisements in Bengali.
In the ceremony strewn by Bengali songs and recitations, other dignitaries gracing the occasion were CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Finance) Prof. Tapan Kumar Mukhopadhyay, CU Librarian Soumitra Sarkar, ex-parliamentarian and poet Prof. Chandrakala Pandey, among others.
While the Calcutta University Students’ Union General Secretary Anupam Pramanik urged for the presence of Bengali along with English in the University nameplates, CU Registrar Samir Kumar Badopadhyay in his presidential address, declared his plans to make the presence of Bengali felt in the identification of the various photographs and paintings in the university premises, nameplates of the various campuses and halls under the university, and letter correspondences by the University within the state, within a year.
Speaking on the importance of the day from a historical perspective, West Bengal Library Minister Nimai Chandra Mal advocated lending equal importance to all languages. Emphasizing on the two-fold emotional and social relevance of celebrating the occasion, CU Vice-chancellor Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee said in his welcome address, “Make others conscious of their mother tongue, alongside reminding yourself of the same always, to further social advancement”.
Hailing the mother tongue festival as “the University of Calcutta’s blossoming rose”, CU Deputy Registrar Nitish Biswas announced the involvement of the Dhaka and the Calcutta Universities in joint programmes in the future. Inaugurating a folder consisting of a poem composed by Biswas under the inspiration of the Bengali address delivered by the West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi on January 17 2006 at the inauguration the CU post-centenary golden jubilee celebrations, CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Suranjan Das said, “We have to take the precedent of Bangladesh where Bengali can now be used for administrative works”.
At a seminar on the use of mother tongue in administration, Bhabesh Moitra said that the financial, political and cultural dominances are detrimental for improvement of mother tongue, while Dr. Biplab Chakraborty said, “language is identity of people”, as he emphasized on translation for knowing others.
Urging the CU authority to introduce Bengali in a big way in the university administration, CU Employees’ Committee General Secretary Anjan Ghosh that the CU laws should occur in Bengali, as well as the university should issue advertisements in Bengali.
In the ceremony strewn by Bengali songs and recitations, other dignitaries gracing the occasion were CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Finance) Prof. Tapan Kumar Mukhopadhyay, CU Librarian Soumitra Sarkar, ex-parliamentarian and poet Prof. Chandrakala Pandey, among others.
To Down-under for Advancement of Learning
The Department of English, University of Calcutta (CU) signed an MoU with the Centre for Postcolonial Writing, Monash University, at the International Conference on ‘Globalisation and Posatcolonial Writing: An Australia-India Exchange’, on February 7 to 9 2006, held at the Centre for Social Sciences and Humanities, Shahid Khudiram Bose Shiksha Prangan, CU Alipore Campus. The tie-up will include faculty exchange, cross-cultural research and joint-publications between the two departments. Also, by virtue of this collaboration, a CU English literature scholar can avail a three-year fellowship, which can be extended by upto six months, for pursuing research at the Monash University.
Signing the MoU at the three-day conference CU Vice-chancellor Asis Kumar Banerjee observed, “We hope that this is the beginning of an enduring friendship”. “It is a critical time for Australia to improve relations with India as some of the best literature in English is being written by Indians”, noted Australian postcolonial writer Bill Ashcroft.
CU Arts Faculty Dean Arun Bandopadhyay and Monash University Arts Faculty Associate Dean Research Denise Cuthbert enlightened the gathering consisting of teachers and students alike on the opportunities for postgraduate research in Australian universities at a workshop during the conference.
As Australian High Commissioner John McCarthy stressed on the permanence and dynamism of globalisation of education, Monash University VC Richard Larkin said, “We are looking to expand our opportunities to other departments”.
Signing the MoU at the three-day conference CU Vice-chancellor Asis Kumar Banerjee observed, “We hope that this is the beginning of an enduring friendship”. “It is a critical time for Australia to improve relations with India as some of the best literature in English is being written by Indians”, noted Australian postcolonial writer Bill Ashcroft.
CU Arts Faculty Dean Arun Bandopadhyay and Monash University Arts Faculty Associate Dean Research Denise Cuthbert enlightened the gathering consisting of teachers and students alike on the opportunities for postgraduate research in Australian universities at a workshop during the conference.
As Australian High Commissioner John McCarthy stressed on the permanence and dynamism of globalisation of education, Monash University VC Richard Larkin said, “We are looking to expand our opportunities to other departments”.
JU Enlivened By Arts Culture
As winter began to fade out, it was time for the fifty years young Jadavpur University to heat up to the annual cultural extravaganza of the Arts faculty. The open-air theatre at the heart of the sprawling sylvan campus on Raja Subodh Chandra Mullick Road was witness to the pulsating rhythms of Sanskriti 2006 on week two of month two. Cultural competitions among students saw the ‘Jadavs’ vie for top spots in quiz, debate, extempore, to name a few of the events that set up the tone for the joyous jingle of a fest.
As Jagannath Bose and Urmimala Bose set in the cultural aura by recitations of classics and Rupankar soared up the mercury with his pulsating musicals. Bangla Band Fossils with their usual frenzied gyrations with whatever instruments they had at their disposal and wacky modulations of voices to sing out their experiments with language, was a big and instant hit, with fun reigning supreme in the entire arena, as crowds just kept gushing in from inside and out of the campus.
As Jagannath Bose and Urmimala Bose set in the cultural aura by recitations of classics and Rupankar soared up the mercury with his pulsating musicals. Bangla Band Fossils with their usual frenzied gyrations with whatever instruments they had at their disposal and wacky modulations of voices to sing out their experiments with language, was a big and instant hit, with fun reigning supreme in the entire arena, as crowds just kept gushing in from inside and out of the campus.
Zoom In To Movie, Pan To TV
“Television has integrated with our lives alongside the bed, the dressing table, the refrigerator and other such utility furniture”, said poet and movie expert Partha Raha as he expressed his hopes about the future of movies, at a seminar on television being the ultimate destination of movies, organized by the Post-graduate Diploma in Media Studies: Film and Television wing of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calcutta (CU). Referring to the inherently ‘Fascistic’ nature of movie-watching in cinemas, where the viewer has little scope to exercise freedom of choice, he highlighted the modern trend towards packaged entertainment in multiplexes that also serve movies. Observing that “18 out of 24 hours of programmes beamed by a television channel per day are based on movies”, he hailed television as entangled in the “worldwide trap of globalization” in criminalizing formative minds by instilling violence into them. He praised telefilms for experimentations and innovations, but reminded that many of them are influenced by movies screened at film festivals.
Dismissing the need to deliberate on the topic, Rupkala Kendra director and Jadavpur University Film Studies professor, Sanjay Mukhopadhyay highlighted the interruptive distractions associated with television viewing and hailed multiplexes as “televisions one can walk into for widow shopping”. Denouncing the modern trend to outsource thinking and decision-making and delivery of judgement, he urged the audience to decide as to whether they would go in for television or opt for movies.
Emphasizing movie and television as two distinct mass communication media, Nandan CEO Nilanjan Chattopadhyay regarded the two as complementary to each other. Defending the present popularity of movies, he noted, “Young movielovers are willing to sit on floor at Nandan to watch classics”. People’s current loyalty to television, as against the closure of a number of the city cinemas, is not indicative of the declining appeal of movies, he added.
The session was conducted by Dr. Soumendra Nath Bera, Co-ordinator, P.G. Diploma: Film and Television, and Head, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calcutta, with CU mass communication student Avirup Mukherjee delivering the vote of thanks.
Dismissing the need to deliberate on the topic, Rupkala Kendra director and Jadavpur University Film Studies professor, Sanjay Mukhopadhyay highlighted the interruptive distractions associated with television viewing and hailed multiplexes as “televisions one can walk into for widow shopping”. Denouncing the modern trend to outsource thinking and decision-making and delivery of judgement, he urged the audience to decide as to whether they would go in for television or opt for movies.
Emphasizing movie and television as two distinct mass communication media, Nandan CEO Nilanjan Chattopadhyay regarded the two as complementary to each other. Defending the present popularity of movies, he noted, “Young movielovers are willing to sit on floor at Nandan to watch classics”. People’s current loyalty to television, as against the closure of a number of the city cinemas, is not indicative of the declining appeal of movies, he added.
The session was conducted by Dr. Soumendra Nath Bera, Co-ordinator, P.G. Diploma: Film and Television, and Head, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calcutta, with CU mass communication student Avirup Mukherjee delivering the vote of thanks.
Talk Books, Bring Out Books
A seminar on ‘Publishing Course: Future Prospects” was organized on January 27 2006, under the aegis of the Post-graduate Diploma in Book Publishing course of the University of Calcutta. Speaking on the occasion, Jayanta Bagchi recounted he history of publishing in Bengal.
Dr. Soumendra Nath Bera elucidated how in the scenario of new challenges, a well-structured, institutionalized course like this is needed to impart necessary professionalism. While Dr. Bera thanked the publishers for being part of the course, Mukul Guha asked the publishers to read the market well and work accordingly in order to survive the test of time.
As Samir Goswami pointed to the importance of packaging in the present publishing business, Abhijit Bhowmick advised the existing and budding publishers to improve at the levels of content development, publicity, public relations and copyright. Hailing the course as an initiator of a movement for books, Debasish Chakraborty made an open appeal to protect civilization and ideas.
Dr. Soumendra Nath Bera elucidated how in the scenario of new challenges, a well-structured, institutionalized course like this is needed to impart necessary professionalism. While Dr. Bera thanked the publishers for being part of the course, Mukul Guha asked the publishers to read the market well and work accordingly in order to survive the test of time.
As Samir Goswami pointed to the importance of packaging in the present publishing business, Abhijit Bhowmick advised the existing and budding publishers to improve at the levels of content development, publicity, public relations and copyright. Hailing the course as an initiator of a movement for books, Debasish Chakraborty made an open appeal to protect civilization and ideas.
Reporting And Writing Live
The Confedration of Indian Industry Partnership Summit 2006 provided a golden opportunity to budding journalists to work as outsourced newsletter and proceedings content providers for the organizers. Apart from the absorbing and interesting plenary and luncheon business sessions, there were special spouses’ programmes like introduction to Kolkata fashion, Kolkata architecture and the Sunderbans and art exhibition with an interactive session with The Asia Society President Vishakha Desai, heritage tram ride, and not to forget the sumptuous lunches and snacks at ITC Sonar Bangla and Oh Calcutta!
Both the technical and the leisure coverages were great learning experiences for the student scribes, trying to make a foray into the exciting challenge called journalism.
Both the technical and the leisure coverages were great learning experiences for the student scribes, trying to make a foray into the exciting challenge called journalism.
Computer-friendly Calcutta University
A computer awareness programme for the University of Calcutta (CU) non-teaching staffs was inaugurated by the CU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee on January 24 2006 on the occasion of the post-centenary golden jubilee of the University. CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Suranjan Das unveiled the manual framed for this purpose.
Speaking on behalf of the CU members of staff, Anjan Bose said that university computer jobs need not be outsourced if the staff-members acquire working knowledge of computers under this programme.
Among other dignitaries gracing the occasion were CU Pro-Vice Chancelor(Business and Finance), Tapan Kumar Mukherjee; CU Registrar Samir Kumar Bandopadhyay; CU librarian Soumitra Sarkar.
Speaking on behalf of the CU members of staff, Anjan Bose said that university computer jobs need not be outsourced if the staff-members acquire working knowledge of computers under this programme.
Among other dignitaries gracing the occasion were CU Pro-Vice Chancelor(Business and Finance), Tapan Kumar Mukherjee; CU Registrar Samir Kumar Bandopadhyay; CU librarian Soumitra Sarkar.
Glorious Chapters Re-visited At CU
On the occasion of the post-centenary golden jubilee of the University of Calcutta (CU), ‘A Heritage Revisited’, an exhibition on the history of development of the university was inaugurated by the University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee at the CU Central Library situated at the CU Asutosh Siksha Prangan, College Street. Brief description of the twelve academics, agriculture, health, sports campuses of the university were illustrated by Rathin Mitra’s sketches. The sprawling list of memorable events ranged from the British Government’s proposal in 1845 to form the university, to the UGC recognizing CU as a University with Potential for Excellence in 2005. Also on display were photographs of some of the CU affiliated colleges of the past and the present, portraits of noted educationists, the university’s first graduates, CU seals and songs, information on CU students’ enrolment per year, CU publications, patents, research collaborations, UGC fundings. A special kiosk sported a textual-pictographic montage of the CU cricket team’s triumphant campaign at the Indian Ocean Rim Asian University Games held in Perth in 2005. An exhibition of rare books, both from home and abroad, was also hosted at the Central Library, to mark the hundred and fifty years of the university.
For Advancement Of Learning At University of Joy
The University of Calcutta (CU) colourfully celebrated its post-centenary golden jubilee on Tuesday, January 24 2006 at the University Centenary Auditorium of Asutosh Siksha Prangan, College Street. Unveiling the proposed model of the CU technology campus at Salt Lake, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said that there should be more stress on human utility research. Referring to the University as the first modern university in the sub-continent, the CM guarded against globalization sweeping through the institution’s task of nation-building.
Emphasizing on the uniqueness of the University, West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi highlighted the need for a flexible choice of subjects and right conduction of project fundings and campus placements.
Among other dignitaries gracing the occasion were Kolkata Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, CU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee, and West Bengal Higher Education Minister Satya Sadhan Chakraborty.
The inaugural session was preceded by four processions, from Bethune College, Rajabazar Science College, Moulali Crossing and Moulana Azad College converging at the College Street campus, followed by a vivacious song-n’-dance medley by Calcutta Choir.
Emphasizing on the uniqueness of the University, West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi highlighted the need for a flexible choice of subjects and right conduction of project fundings and campus placements.
Among other dignitaries gracing the occasion were Kolkata Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, CU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee, and West Bengal Higher Education Minister Satya Sadhan Chakraborty.
The inaugural session was preceded by four processions, from Bethune College, Rajabazar Science College, Moulali Crossing and Moulana Azad College converging at the College Street campus, followed by a vivacious song-n’-dance medley by Calcutta Choir.
In Search Of New Destinations Past 150 Years
At the inauguration of the post-centenary golden jubilee programme of the University of Calcutta, on January 17 2006, Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam said that entrepreneurship as a subject should be included in the syllabi of colleges and universities for reducing the now alarming unemployment in the country. “The country produces three million graduates every year and seven million who have completed their Plus Two. Of these four million remain unemployed. Every university should see that those who do not go into higher education have a set of vocational skills to see them established in life”, he added. Commenting on the online interconnectivity of the three Universities of Calcutta, Madras and Mumbai, he said, “Not only should the three universities share their knowledge and resources, CU should also have the facility to connect all its three hundred affiliated colleges”. Kalam urged the University’s researchers to design a silicon cell to be used in carbon nanotube technology to produce solar energy.
Speaking in Bengali, West Bengal Governor hoped that the students would endeavour to uplift people’s lives instead of just making a career and a living. Referring to the joint hundred and fifty years celebrations of the Universities of Calcutta, Madras and Mumbai, he said, “they should ensure that they do not create generations of digital clerks, but spirited youngsters”.
Other dignitaries gracing the occasion were West Bengal higher education minister Satya Sadhan Chakraborty, University Grants Commission Chairman V N Rajasekharan Pillai, Calcutta University Vice-Chancellor Asis Kumar Banerjee, Madras University Vice-Chancellor S P Tyagrajan, Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor Vijay Khole, among others.
Speaking in Bengali, West Bengal Governor hoped that the students would endeavour to uplift people’s lives instead of just making a career and a living. Referring to the joint hundred and fifty years celebrations of the Universities of Calcutta, Madras and Mumbai, he said, “they should ensure that they do not create generations of digital clerks, but spirited youngsters”.
Other dignitaries gracing the occasion were West Bengal higher education minister Satya Sadhan Chakraborty, University Grants Commission Chairman V N Rajasekharan Pillai, Calcutta University Vice-Chancellor Asis Kumar Banerjee, Madras University Vice-Chancellor S P Tyagrajan, Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor Vijay Khole, among others.
Over The Moon At Chandipur
While we were at the Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, we, the the then second-year English Honours pupils, went for an ‘educational excursion’ to Chandipur. That was September 2003, a fortnight or so before the Pujas and…as it turned out,- roughly a week before the declaration of our undergraduate Part-I results.
After virtual bargaining for conveyance concession, it was fun – embarking on seemingly miles-long expeditions on hot sand before reaching our coveted Bay of Bengal; making mincemeat of our accompanying teachers’ pockets with a ‘chicken-roti’ dinner with bites at green chillies and onion; night-time rendezvous with our teachers on the Panthanivas lawn; mimicking our teachers, in front of them, on our boulder ‘amphitheatre’, adjacent to the beach; early dawn stroll down the beach bathing in the golden beach light - as if exploring the Mars.
On afternoon one I managed to get myself lost. It was a heavenly experience firstly to gaze at the sea stretching beyond horizons; the roaring waves, crowned with glowing phosphorus were as if calling me. That was only the second look at the real sea for me who had been long in city pent. Secondly, it was only a shade less heavenly to walk barefoot through seawater flowing over my feet…So far so good, in fact, great, so much so that the mild rebuke from our teachers, when I finally got back to our tea-talk, hardly bothered me.
While the ever-jovial Sibendu managed to pluck a dead sea fish out of the Bay, one of our teachers(I dare not name him – I still fear his serio-comic forehand slaps!), on the final morning, went to the sea, with a mug, to have a bath….And I, along with Pritish, time and again during our stay, did feast our eyes on a Sonali Bendre poster in a pan stall.
After virtual bargaining for conveyance concession, it was fun – embarking on seemingly miles-long expeditions on hot sand before reaching our coveted Bay of Bengal; making mincemeat of our accompanying teachers’ pockets with a ‘chicken-roti’ dinner with bites at green chillies and onion; night-time rendezvous with our teachers on the Panthanivas lawn; mimicking our teachers, in front of them, on our boulder ‘amphitheatre’, adjacent to the beach; early dawn stroll down the beach bathing in the golden beach light - as if exploring the Mars.
On afternoon one I managed to get myself lost. It was a heavenly experience firstly to gaze at the sea stretching beyond horizons; the roaring waves, crowned with glowing phosphorus were as if calling me. That was only the second look at the real sea for me who had been long in city pent. Secondly, it was only a shade less heavenly to walk barefoot through seawater flowing over my feet…So far so good, in fact, great, so much so that the mild rebuke from our teachers, when I finally got back to our tea-talk, hardly bothered me.
While the ever-jovial Sibendu managed to pluck a dead sea fish out of the Bay, one of our teachers(I dare not name him – I still fear his serio-comic forehand slaps!), on the final morning, went to the sea, with a mug, to have a bath….And I, along with Pritish, time and again during our stay, did feast our eyes on a Sonali Bendre poster in a pan stall.
Voice Of The Masses From People In Power
On Tuesday, January 03, 2006, the University of Calcutta Centenary Auditorium at the Asutosh Shiksha Prangan hosted the fortieth anniversary celebrations of the Bengali daily, ‘Ganashakti’.
‘Ganashakti’ editor Narayan Dutta emphasized on the view that newspapers cannot be dissociated from society and history.
Pointing out that socialist ideals are gaining prominence in Latin American countries, noted politician Anil Biswas regarded credibility as the most important aspect of journalism. Having said that industrialization cannot accrue from feudalism or semi-feudalism, he held the view that a new revolution will emerge from industrial socialism.
Reminiscing through the creative process that went into the foundation of ‘Ganashakti’, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee emphasized on its anti-imperialist stance. Denouncing blind fundamentalism, he stressed on such processes of nation-building as development of rural economy including land reform, self-reliance, independent foreign policy, among others. He was of the opinion that capital is needed for industrialization and infrastructure development, which would lead to employment generation and income enhancement, especially if due support is provided to agro-based and small and medium-scale industries. On the one hand, he dwelt on increasing the literacy rate through increased emphases on such schemes for basic education as ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ and mid-day meal, and on the other he stressed on increased support for the unorganised labour sector. He laid stress on highlighting the positive aspects of health administration in the state, trying to do off with the sensationalisation of negative aspects of the state healthcare. Dwelling on urbanization with consideration to the interests of the slum-dwellers, he zeroed down on his stance against opportunist power-mongering politics.
While Anil Biswas, Biman Bose and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee gave away prizes to the leading buyers of ‘Ganashakti’, PLT presented a performance of ‘Bibighar’.
‘Ganashakti’ editor Narayan Dutta emphasized on the view that newspapers cannot be dissociated from society and history.
Pointing out that socialist ideals are gaining prominence in Latin American countries, noted politician Anil Biswas regarded credibility as the most important aspect of journalism. Having said that industrialization cannot accrue from feudalism or semi-feudalism, he held the view that a new revolution will emerge from industrial socialism.
Reminiscing through the creative process that went into the foundation of ‘Ganashakti’, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee emphasized on its anti-imperialist stance. Denouncing blind fundamentalism, he stressed on such processes of nation-building as development of rural economy including land reform, self-reliance, independent foreign policy, among others. He was of the opinion that capital is needed for industrialization and infrastructure development, which would lead to employment generation and income enhancement, especially if due support is provided to agro-based and small and medium-scale industries. On the one hand, he dwelt on increasing the literacy rate through increased emphases on such schemes for basic education as ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ and mid-day meal, and on the other he stressed on increased support for the unorganised labour sector. He laid stress on highlighting the positive aspects of health administration in the state, trying to do off with the sensationalisation of negative aspects of the state healthcare. Dwelling on urbanization with consideration to the interests of the slum-dwellers, he zeroed down on his stance against opportunist power-mongering politics.
While Anil Biswas, Biman Bose and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee gave away prizes to the leading buyers of ‘Ganashakti’, PLT presented a performance of ‘Bibighar’.
Déjà Vu - Remembrance Of Things Past
It was a journey down the memory lane for the alumni of the Ramkrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur, at the eighteenth edition of the biennial reunion. Each ex-student was presented with a copy of the ex-students' magazine, 'Arghya' published by the Mahavidyalaya Praktani. In the post-lunch rendezvous at the Shakespeare Gallery of the English department, the alumni of the department introduced themselves to the senior and the junior ex-students of the Department. The re-introduction set afoot by the Bappaditya Banerjee (2000-04) singing John Denver's 'Country roads' was spiced up by interesting anecdotes from the college and hostel life. Pages were turned through the meal bells at the hostel, the love and care from teachers, late afternoon strolls in the campus. After the group photo session involving the teachers and the ex-students, it was the hour to bid adieu to sylvan campus once again.
A Century Of Existence
The concepts of life and freedom were elucidated at a seminar on the occasion of the birth centenary of Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-80) organized by the Department of English, University of Calcutta (CU) on December 21 2005.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Chinmoy Guha from the host department made the point that Sartre refused Nobel Prize so that that his revolt did not become institutionalized. Furthering his argument on ‘Sartre’s Self-Examinations’, he emphasized that in a television interview just twenty-five days before his death, Sartre stated that he himself never suffered from loneliness or existential crisis.
In her paper on ‘Sartre’s Novels’, Prof. Paromita Das from the CU French department highlighted Sartre’s concept of democratization of Communist politics, as she dwelt on the philosophical unity of his novels. Among other dignitaries attending the session were poet Sankha Ghosh; drama critic Samik Bandopadhyay; Prof. Tapan Ghosh from the University of Oxford; Prof. Amiya Deb, former Vice-chancellor, Vidyasagar University.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Chinmoy Guha from the host department made the point that Sartre refused Nobel Prize so that that his revolt did not become institutionalized. Furthering his argument on ‘Sartre’s Self-Examinations’, he emphasized that in a television interview just twenty-five days before his death, Sartre stated that he himself never suffered from loneliness or existential crisis.
In her paper on ‘Sartre’s Novels’, Prof. Paromita Das from the CU French department highlighted Sartre’s concept of democratization of Communist politics, as she dwelt on the philosophical unity of his novels. Among other dignitaries attending the session were poet Sankha Ghosh; drama critic Samik Bandopadhyay; Prof. Tapan Ghosh from the University of Oxford; Prof. Amiya Deb, former Vice-chancellor, Vidyasagar University.
To Cap-off In Style
A two-day long colourful cultural extravaganza was organized at the Jadavpur University (JU) to crown off its golden jubilee celebrations. On December 20 2005, former physics teacher at JU, Soumya Chakraborty, and alumnus Sudipto Chatterjee rocked the open-air theatre with soulful renderings of folk songs by Lalan Fakir, and also from North Bengal and Assam. Another ex-student, Sugata Nag mesmerized the gathering with a sitar recital. This was followed by the performance of the Rabindranath Tagore’s play, ‘Totakahini’ by a band of JU students.
The following day was reserved for Kavi Sammelan and paintings on poetry at the Indoor Stadium, followed by the release of commemorative stamp by P.K. Chatterjee, Chief Post Master General (West Bengal circle) and unveiling of portrait of Satis Chandra Mukhrjee by the Higher Education Minster, Government of West Bengal, Prof. Satya Sadhan Chakraborty. ‘Jadavpurer Gaan’ and performances by instrumental fusion band, ‘Indian Blue’ and Mamata Sankar’s ballet group, followed by spectacular fireworks were as if three red cherries on the top to convey three cheers to this fifty years young university.
The following day was reserved for Kavi Sammelan and paintings on poetry at the Indoor Stadium, followed by the release of commemorative stamp by P.K. Chatterjee, Chief Post Master General (West Bengal circle) and unveiling of portrait of Satis Chandra Mukhrjee by the Higher Education Minster, Government of West Bengal, Prof. Satya Sadhan Chakraborty. ‘Jadavpurer Gaan’ and performances by instrumental fusion band, ‘Indian Blue’ and Mamata Sankar’s ballet group, followed by spectacular fireworks were as if three red cherries on the top to convey three cheers to this fifty years young university.
Showcasing Journalism On Stage
The Governor of West Bengal, Gopal Krishna Gandhi spoke on ‘Freedom Of ex-pression: Whose Freedom? Whose Expression’ on the occasion of the Fifth Pranabesh Sen Memorial Lecture organized by the Pranabesh Sen Memorial Committee and Sohini, at the Sisir Mancha, Kolkata on December19 2005. The session was marked by the striking presence of journalism students in large numbers, glued to the proceedings with rapt attention and intermittent applauses, as they geared up for their futures in empowering people through information.
Emphasizing on the news media’s seminal role in segregating free speech from loose talk, the governor highlighted the impact of ‘Young India’ and ‘Harijan’ in the Gandhian era. While dealing with advertisements and news as modes of free expression, he observed that business surpluses are essential for the running of news media. Mr. Gandhi concluded by sharing that he has seen tremendous free expressiveness in West Bengal, in the faces of welcomers, in the hands raised from behind seats reserved for important persons and in the hesitant gaze of by-standers.
Special Guest for the evening Nirendranath Chakraborty, pesident of Paschim Banga Bangla Akademi formally inaugurated ‘Tothyer Odhikar’, ‘Aaro Ak Guchchho Sambad Parikrama’ and ‘Kan Pete Roi’ based on the variegated experiences of radio journalist Pranabesh Sen (1935-2000).Particularly interesting and inspiring for the enthusiastic and excited mass of budding journalists was Tarun Chakraborty’s reading of Sen’s radio message to the Bangladeshis originally broadcasted at ten at night on the eve of erstwhile Pakistan’s surrender in the then East Pakistan.
Emphasizing on the news media’s seminal role in segregating free speech from loose talk, the governor highlighted the impact of ‘Young India’ and ‘Harijan’ in the Gandhian era. While dealing with advertisements and news as modes of free expression, he observed that business surpluses are essential for the running of news media. Mr. Gandhi concluded by sharing that he has seen tremendous free expressiveness in West Bengal, in the faces of welcomers, in the hands raised from behind seats reserved for important persons and in the hesitant gaze of by-standers.
Special Guest for the evening Nirendranath Chakraborty, pesident of Paschim Banga Bangla Akademi formally inaugurated ‘Tothyer Odhikar’, ‘Aaro Ak Guchchho Sambad Parikrama’ and ‘Kan Pete Roi’ based on the variegated experiences of radio journalist Pranabesh Sen (1935-2000).Particularly interesting and inspiring for the enthusiastic and excited mass of budding journalists was Tarun Chakraborty’s reading of Sen’s radio message to the Bangladeshis originally broadcasted at ten at night on the eve of erstwhile Pakistan’s surrender in the then East Pakistan.
Science And Humanity
On Thursday, December 15 2005, eminent scientist Prof. Yash Pal, former Chairman, UGC delivered a lecture on 'Besides our Basic Humjanity, only the Perspectives of Science can provide Social and Personal Values', at the Centre for Social Sciences and Humanities auditorium, at the University of Calcutta Shahid Khudiram Bose Shikshangan, Alipore. He was speaking on the occasion of the Third Dr. Syamaprasad Mookerjee Special Lectureship.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Pal asserted that the concept of symbiotic living, which centres round mutual co-operation, is better than the competitive notion of survival of the fittest. Writing off the notion of mere expertise in certain well-defined fields, he appealed to the gathering consisting of students and professionals alike, to share their own ideas and experiences so as to work out new and more effective ways for fruitful living. He highlighted that "Humanity is impossible without intimacy." Pointing out that "cultures are created and preserved through intimacies", he was quick to note that they also produce and preserve prejudice, bigotry and fundamentalisms of various varieties.
Speaking at length on the vital need for scientific consciousness for one's spiritual betterment, Prof. Pal zeroed on "More than specific scientific discoveries, the non-denominational perspectives implied therein have a deeper significance for human ethics and values." He added, "All we need in addition is the fact of our humanity." Among other dignitaries gracing the occasion were eminent jury Chittatosh Mookerjee and University of Calcutta Vice-Chancellor Professor Asis Kumar Banerjee.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Pal asserted that the concept of symbiotic living, which centres round mutual co-operation, is better than the competitive notion of survival of the fittest. Writing off the notion of mere expertise in certain well-defined fields, he appealed to the gathering consisting of students and professionals alike, to share their own ideas and experiences so as to work out new and more effective ways for fruitful living. He highlighted that "Humanity is impossible without intimacy." Pointing out that "cultures are created and preserved through intimacies", he was quick to note that they also produce and preserve prejudice, bigotry and fundamentalisms of various varieties.
Speaking at length on the vital need for scientific consciousness for one's spiritual betterment, Prof. Pal zeroed on "More than specific scientific discoveries, the non-denominational perspectives implied therein have a deeper significance for human ethics and values." He added, "All we need in addition is the fact of our humanity." Among other dignitaries gracing the occasion were eminent jury Chittatosh Mookerjee and University of Calcutta Vice-Chancellor Professor Asis Kumar Banerjee.
Dance With Me
In 2005, the lead up to the joint freshers' welcome and farewell ceremony, 'Bonhomie 2005' organised by the final year Masters course students of our Calcutta University Journalism and Mass Communication department students was no less memorable for me than the programme itself. For about a week leading up to the occasion, I was busy practising a dance composition to the tune of 'O ri chhodi'. This was the first time I was to dance on stage.
I was a bit jittery at the beginning. But thanks to my co-dancers and another choreographer, all of whom are my classmates, I got my steps correct. Of course, I had to modify the movements according my comforts. On day one of the rehearsals, I was in formal dress and my movements got stifled. Still I had the confidence to sort things out and so was it. But come day two, the steps appeared so unnatural that I felt leaving out would be the best option, for I did not want to be a laughing stock. But, one of my partners was finally able to convince me that our dance would be a hit. I kept on remembering my steps and practising hard. However, it was an altogether different ball game practising alone in the absence of my talented partners.
On D-day, it took our dancer-choreographer, who also happened to be the 'entrepreneur' for our performance, to deck me up. This was the first time in twenty-three years of my existence on planet Earth, that I had put on so much of colour on my face. I was even wearing wooden bangles!And finally I managed my dhoti well, even while dancing, which received astounding response, from the teachers and students alike. Our Head of the Department was quick to respond, "Arjun is lucky. He has got the opportunity to dance with two girls."
I was a bit jittery at the beginning. But thanks to my co-dancers and another choreographer, all of whom are my classmates, I got my steps correct. Of course, I had to modify the movements according my comforts. On day one of the rehearsals, I was in formal dress and my movements got stifled. Still I had the confidence to sort things out and so was it. But come day two, the steps appeared so unnatural that I felt leaving out would be the best option, for I did not want to be a laughing stock. But, one of my partners was finally able to convince me that our dance would be a hit. I kept on remembering my steps and practising hard. However, it was an altogether different ball game practising alone in the absence of my talented partners.
On D-day, it took our dancer-choreographer, who also happened to be the 'entrepreneur' for our performance, to deck me up. This was the first time in twenty-three years of my existence on planet Earth, that I had put on so much of colour on my face. I was even wearing wooden bangles!And finally I managed my dhoti well, even while dancing, which received astounding response, from the teachers and students alike. Our Head of the Department was quick to respond, "Arjun is lucky. He has got the opportunity to dance with two girls."
Well – Come And Enjoy
Friday, December 09 2005 was the time to rock at 'Bonhomie 2005', the freshers' welcome for the 2005-07 batch and the farewell for the 2003-05 batch Masters students of the Department of Journalism and Mass Comunication, University of Calcutta. The cultural extravaganza kicked off with Suman from M.A. final year creating the harmony with the song, 'Yaaron dosti'. There was deafening applause from the crowd, as Arpita, Bidisha and Arjun hit the stage with the dance composition of 'Ori chhodi'. Arpita and Arjun romped home with the honours of the champions of the quiz involving teams from all the three batches of students present at the Ritwik Hall, at the College Street campus of the University.
The awesome Amit and the sensational Sushmita emerged victorious at the fashion show meant exclusively for the freshers. Later Sushmita set the stage on fire and drove the crowd to frenzy with her solo dance portrayal of 'Salaam namaste'.The outgoing students were felicitated with golden mementos presented to them by Prof. Dr. Tapati Basu, head of the host department. Sabina and Sunipam were adjudged the best dancing couple from the outgoing batch, as the hall pulsated to the foot-tapping tunes of peppy numbers. Among the guests gracing the occasion was noted journalist, Anjan Basu, an alumnus of the host and organising department.
The awesome Amit and the sensational Sushmita emerged victorious at the fashion show meant exclusively for the freshers. Later Sushmita set the stage on fire and drove the crowd to frenzy with her solo dance portrayal of 'Salaam namaste'.The outgoing students were felicitated with golden mementos presented to them by Prof. Dr. Tapati Basu, head of the host department. Sabina and Sunipam were adjudged the best dancing couple from the outgoing batch, as the hall pulsated to the foot-tapping tunes of peppy numbers. Among the guests gracing the occasion was noted journalist, Anjan Basu, an alumnus of the host and organising department.
Begin On A High
The students' union of the University of Calcutta College Street campus evening section organised the annual freshers' welcome ceremony, 'Parichay 2005' on Wednesday, November 23 2005 at the Ashutosh Hall, in the Ashutosh Building of the campus.
A thoroughly enjoyable performance of Rabindranath Tagore's play by the students, ushered in the joyous mood. The stars among the student performers from the host campus, Hazra Road campus and the Alipore campus were final year M.Com students, Anindyamoy Biswas and Sweta Gupta, who set the stage on fire and drove the audience to frenzy by a scintillating presentation of popular movie songs. Emerging Bangla band 'Richter Scale' did create a few tremors in auditorium with an exciting mingling of melody and noise.
A thoroughly enjoyable performance of Rabindranath Tagore's play by the students, ushered in the joyous mood. The stars among the student performers from the host campus, Hazra Road campus and the Alipore campus were final year M.Com students, Anindyamoy Biswas and Sweta Gupta, who set the stage on fire and drove the audience to frenzy by a scintillating presentation of popular movie songs. Emerging Bangla band 'Richter Scale' did create a few tremors in auditorium with an exciting mingling of melody and noise.
Kick-start To Campus Career
As the University of Calcutta is gearing up to reach the climax of its post-centenary golden julbile celebrations in a big way, it is very much nurturing young talents. The freshers' welcome ceremony for the students enrolled in the current session to study at the College Street campus was celebrated at the Centenary Hall, on Thursday, November 24 2005, under the aegis of the University Students' Union (Day).
After the students' cultural extravaganza, the packed gathering at the 'Parichay 2005', swayed to the tunes of Bengali and Hindi movie numbers sung by university alumnus, Moloy Dutta. 'Band-e-Mataram' champion Bangla band, 'Ishaan' hit the stage and was an instant hit as the students, juniors and seniors alike, clapped and danced to the invigorating music. Particularly impressive was Ishaan's own composition, 'Shishura Prithibi Chay', dedicated to those born and trapped to perish in red-light areas.
However, the other band, 'Richter Scale' was a big let-down, as the exuberant lead vocalist blasted a substantial chunk of the audience out of the auditorium. However, their choreography and music did salvage some pride for them.
After the students' cultural extravaganza, the packed gathering at the 'Parichay 2005', swayed to the tunes of Bengali and Hindi movie numbers sung by university alumnus, Moloy Dutta. 'Band-e-Mataram' champion Bangla band, 'Ishaan' hit the stage and was an instant hit as the students, juniors and seniors alike, clapped and danced to the invigorating music. Particularly impressive was Ishaan's own composition, 'Shishura Prithibi Chay', dedicated to those born and trapped to perish in red-light areas.
However, the other band, 'Richter Scale' was a big let-down, as the exuberant lead vocalist blasted a substantial chunk of the audience out of the auditorium. However, their choreography and music did salvage some pride for them.
Budding Scribes Enlightened With Ethics
On Wednesday, November 16 2005, a seminar on 'Media Ethics : Fetters or Freedom' was organised jointly by the Mass Media Centre, Department of Information and Culture, and the Press Club, Kolkata, for the students of journalism and mass communication, on the occasion of National Press Day. The venue was the Press Club.
In his introductory address, Press Club Secretary, Anindya Sengupta emphasised on honesty and purpose of effort on the part of a budding journalist, to survive in the present competitive mass media scenario.
Prof. Amalendu Dey, talked from the historical perspective, which is academic as contrasted with the professional interpretation of the issue by the other speakers. Prof. Dey gave the instances of Surendranath Banerjee and Aurobindo Ghosh as two of the leading practitioners of ethical journalism in pre-independence India. He pointed out the fact that Bankimchandra Chattopadyay's reading of the courageous struggles of freedom fighter Vasudev Balwant Phadke, prompted the former to write the novel, 'Anandamath'. Prof. Dey cited the examples of the unveiling of the Bofors and the defence scams following the Kargil fights, as among the instances of ethical journalism in post-independence India.
Journalist Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya asked the budding journalists to abstain themselves from getting biased towards objectivity. Denouncing the trend towards 'infosensation', he asked the journalism students to set and follow their own guidelines for practising journalism. However, he was of the view that the Press Council should still be there as a guardian of mass media.
Defining the purposes of journalism as, to educate, to inform and to entertain, retired All India Radio journalist Sankar Dasgupta was of the opinion that society cannot be served without commitment to ethics. "Ethics arise from self-restraint", he said.
Columnist Swati Bhattacharya opined that the right to information should be inherent and imbibed in any democracy. Regarding adherence to ethics as a fetter in the case of collection of news, she pointed at the perpetual moral dilemma of journalists in the matter of suppressing information on humanitarian grounds.
Rounding off the enlightening seminar, Mass Media Centre President, Krishna Dhar advised the budding journalists to guard against allowing their news 'stories' become 'stories' in the common literal sense of the word. He had special praises for the resurgence of 'patriotic journalism' in a big way following the Gulf War of the 1990s.Journalism and Mass Communocation students of Surendranath College for Women took this opprtunity to release the National Press Day issue of their laboratory journal, 'Campus Sojourn'.
In his introductory address, Press Club Secretary, Anindya Sengupta emphasised on honesty and purpose of effort on the part of a budding journalist, to survive in the present competitive mass media scenario.
Prof. Amalendu Dey, talked from the historical perspective, which is academic as contrasted with the professional interpretation of the issue by the other speakers. Prof. Dey gave the instances of Surendranath Banerjee and Aurobindo Ghosh as two of the leading practitioners of ethical journalism in pre-independence India. He pointed out the fact that Bankimchandra Chattopadyay's reading of the courageous struggles of freedom fighter Vasudev Balwant Phadke, prompted the former to write the novel, 'Anandamath'. Prof. Dey cited the examples of the unveiling of the Bofors and the defence scams following the Kargil fights, as among the instances of ethical journalism in post-independence India.
Journalist Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya asked the budding journalists to abstain themselves from getting biased towards objectivity. Denouncing the trend towards 'infosensation', he asked the journalism students to set and follow their own guidelines for practising journalism. However, he was of the view that the Press Council should still be there as a guardian of mass media.
Defining the purposes of journalism as, to educate, to inform and to entertain, retired All India Radio journalist Sankar Dasgupta was of the opinion that society cannot be served without commitment to ethics. "Ethics arise from self-restraint", he said.
Columnist Swati Bhattacharya opined that the right to information should be inherent and imbibed in any democracy. Regarding adherence to ethics as a fetter in the case of collection of news, she pointed at the perpetual moral dilemma of journalists in the matter of suppressing information on humanitarian grounds.
Rounding off the enlightening seminar, Mass Media Centre President, Krishna Dhar advised the budding journalists to guard against allowing their news 'stories' become 'stories' in the common literal sense of the word. He had special praises for the resurgence of 'patriotic journalism' in a big way following the Gulf War of the 1990s.Journalism and Mass Communocation students of Surendranath College for Women took this opprtunity to release the National Press Day issue of their laboratory journal, 'Campus Sojourn'.
Footprints To Crossover
On Saturday, November 12 2005, a workshop on 'Crossover: its Different...!?' was organised by the Symbiosis Institute of Mass Comunication(SIMC) as a part of 'Footprints '05' at Rotary Sadan, Kolkata.
In his address, Shyamal Sengupta, ex-Dean, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute dwelt on the topic 'Has crossover evolved a formula?' He was of the opinion that Bollywood movies underwent a look-change since 1993 primarily due to influx of technically proficient new breed of filmmakers and support staff with crossover movies making their presence felt since 1998, as a fallout of the liberalisation of the Indian economy that encouraged an enhanced power of consumption, questioning the sense of commitment and self-indulgence, mainly on the part of the youth. He marked out new stories, new values and low budget as the defining characteristics of crossover movies, as he hailed Kaizad Gustad's 'Bombay Boys' as a trend-setter in this genre.
Arijit Dasgupta, a noted movie distributor centred his discussion round the commercial viability of crossover movies. Pointing out that regional language movies are doing better than their Bollywood counterparts in India, he emphasized that the Hindi movie industry is currently targeting the foreign market. He was of the view that that one of reasons why crossover movies fail to take the box-office by storm is that they have very low budgets for publicity.
Noted actor, director and singer, Anjan Dutta emphatically harped on the point that a movie has to be made in the English language for it to be called a crossover. This is because it is a common language for the educated Indians, as he extolled the distinct identity of Indian English. He reserved his praises for the emerging genre of independent moviemakers who do not depend on private producers or the government for funding of their movies, which may not be technically of the highest class, but still have small pockets of the audience spread the world over that add up to a respectable whole. He was quick to add this potentially large market has to be properly tapped for increasing the commercial viability of crossover movies.
The interesting and enlightening interactive session among the students and the guests the following the discourse of each speaker dwelt on diverse topics ranging from precursors of crossover movies; commonness of life portrayed in crossover movies; restricted audience base of such movies; degeneration of such movies to formulas; approach towards sex in crossover movies; Indian conception of what the West thinks of India; to NRI audience base of Indian crossover movies; Hollywood as the greatest producer crossover movies, projection of India in such movies; 'Pather Panchali' and 'Crouching Tiger, Hiden Dragon' as crossover movies or otherwise; Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai still not being transcultural centres, as opposed to Bangalore which already is one.
In the debate on 'Are Indian films ready to crossover?', Subhojoy Roy from Asutosh College speaking against the motion, emerged triumphant, followed by Rohini Ghosh of Gokhale Colage and and Nivedita Bhattacharya of St. Xavier's College.
A hard-hitting documentary, 'Khilawdi', on the 'Banchara' tribes of Madhya Pradesh created by the students of the organising institute was also shown.
Amitabha Dasgupta, teacher of Journalism at SIMC answered to the queries of the students regarding courses offered by the Institute.
In his address, Shyamal Sengupta, ex-Dean, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute dwelt on the topic 'Has crossover evolved a formula?' He was of the opinion that Bollywood movies underwent a look-change since 1993 primarily due to influx of technically proficient new breed of filmmakers and support staff with crossover movies making their presence felt since 1998, as a fallout of the liberalisation of the Indian economy that encouraged an enhanced power of consumption, questioning the sense of commitment and self-indulgence, mainly on the part of the youth. He marked out new stories, new values and low budget as the defining characteristics of crossover movies, as he hailed Kaizad Gustad's 'Bombay Boys' as a trend-setter in this genre.
Arijit Dasgupta, a noted movie distributor centred his discussion round the commercial viability of crossover movies. Pointing out that regional language movies are doing better than their Bollywood counterparts in India, he emphasized that the Hindi movie industry is currently targeting the foreign market. He was of the view that that one of reasons why crossover movies fail to take the box-office by storm is that they have very low budgets for publicity.
Noted actor, director and singer, Anjan Dutta emphatically harped on the point that a movie has to be made in the English language for it to be called a crossover. This is because it is a common language for the educated Indians, as he extolled the distinct identity of Indian English. He reserved his praises for the emerging genre of independent moviemakers who do not depend on private producers or the government for funding of their movies, which may not be technically of the highest class, but still have small pockets of the audience spread the world over that add up to a respectable whole. He was quick to add this potentially large market has to be properly tapped for increasing the commercial viability of crossover movies.
The interesting and enlightening interactive session among the students and the guests the following the discourse of each speaker dwelt on diverse topics ranging from precursors of crossover movies; commonness of life portrayed in crossover movies; restricted audience base of such movies; degeneration of such movies to formulas; approach towards sex in crossover movies; Indian conception of what the West thinks of India; to NRI audience base of Indian crossover movies; Hollywood as the greatest producer crossover movies, projection of India in such movies; 'Pather Panchali' and 'Crouching Tiger, Hiden Dragon' as crossover movies or otherwise; Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai still not being transcultural centres, as opposed to Bangalore which already is one.
In the debate on 'Are Indian films ready to crossover?', Subhojoy Roy from Asutosh College speaking against the motion, emerged triumphant, followed by Rohini Ghosh of Gokhale Colage and and Nivedita Bhattacharya of St. Xavier's College.
A hard-hitting documentary, 'Khilawdi', on the 'Banchara' tribes of Madhya Pradesh created by the students of the organising institute was also shown.
Amitabha Dasgupta, teacher of Journalism at SIMC answered to the queries of the students regarding courses offered by the Institute.
Culture And Education Kindled At Kendur
During the Puja vacation girls and ladies are blasting sixes at the village school playground. Prior to that there has been a students' career camp. The twilight of the dusk is fading out into the darkness of the evening. The mobile phone of Sourav Gupta, the director of the Kolkata-based group theatre, 'Theatre Spandan' "cannot be reached". The 'Bornoporichoy Moncho' wherefrom Subhajit Dutta, the founder-secretary of Cultural and Educational Forum(CEF) and the CEF co-ordinator, Debdeep Bhattacharya had been doing the women's cricket commentary in the afternoon, was swept over by Theatre Spandan's portrayal of 'Shobdogaon' at night.
These are montages from the second day of the three day-long 'Sharadiya Shamabartan 2005 - Ebar Aalor Baan Dekechhe', the fifth anniversary celebration programme of the Cultural and Educational Forum, a students' NGO. The venue was the green and brown ground, the red path and the hazy waterway, adjoining the Kendur High School, at the Kendur village at the border of the districts of Barddhaman, Hoogly and Bankura, in the Barddhaman district.
The other competitions organised during the Olympian convergence of heart and soul included such unique contests like playing of the country drum, preparation of milk-based items, panchali recitation, slow cycle race, blind kick and blind hit, apart from elocution, recitation, swimming, debate, quiz, drawing, slogan-writing, musical chair and what not.
Double-wicket women's cricket was a big and instant hit, with prizes galore, ranging from 'Most Valuable Player of the Tournament' to 'Best Body Language and Team Spirit'. The 'Talent of the Tournament' award was jointly shared by Babli Dawn and Sudeshna Roy.
Kabadi was given a boost by awarding medals to each member of the winning and runners-up team, and a shield to the champions.
Earlier on Day One, speakers Raj Krishna Dutta, Advisor to the CEF and Uday Chand Hazra, Secretary, Kendur High School, in a session on 'Education-Culture-Society' expressed concern over the ill-effect of alien cultural imperialism on the subconscious mind especially in the formative years.
On the final day, before the staging of the play, 'Chapa Pora Manush' by local kids and CEF members, the stage was lit up and the crowd enthralled by the message delivered by Swami Suparnananda, Principal, Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur. Referring to CEF as "the forum the unification of all", the Maharaj urged CEF to build up an emergency fund called 'Jeevan Deep Project' for all-round development of the rural masses, in the lines of the Ramakrishna Mission Lokshiksha Parishad.
Uday Shankar Sarkar, Sabadhipati, Barddhaman Zilla Parishad, urged CEF to excel in multifarious human development by rising above the corrupting influence of petty politics.
A highlight of the cultural extravaganza was the presentations of Adivasi songs and dance by Babulal Mandi and his troupe and the opening of the stage for public cultural performances linking the two parts of the prize distribution and felicitation ceremony on the final evening. Not only were the local highest scorers in Madhyamik and Higher Secondary examinations felicitated, the unique 'Nabin Pratibha' award for lifetime achievement in the field of education and culture was also bestowed.
These are montages from the second day of the three day-long 'Sharadiya Shamabartan 2005 - Ebar Aalor Baan Dekechhe', the fifth anniversary celebration programme of the Cultural and Educational Forum, a students' NGO. The venue was the green and brown ground, the red path and the hazy waterway, adjoining the Kendur High School, at the Kendur village at the border of the districts of Barddhaman, Hoogly and Bankura, in the Barddhaman district.
The other competitions organised during the Olympian convergence of heart and soul included such unique contests like playing of the country drum, preparation of milk-based items, panchali recitation, slow cycle race, blind kick and blind hit, apart from elocution, recitation, swimming, debate, quiz, drawing, slogan-writing, musical chair and what not.
Double-wicket women's cricket was a big and instant hit, with prizes galore, ranging from 'Most Valuable Player of the Tournament' to 'Best Body Language and Team Spirit'. The 'Talent of the Tournament' award was jointly shared by Babli Dawn and Sudeshna Roy.
Kabadi was given a boost by awarding medals to each member of the winning and runners-up team, and a shield to the champions.
Earlier on Day One, speakers Raj Krishna Dutta, Advisor to the CEF and Uday Chand Hazra, Secretary, Kendur High School, in a session on 'Education-Culture-Society' expressed concern over the ill-effect of alien cultural imperialism on the subconscious mind especially in the formative years.
On the final day, before the staging of the play, 'Chapa Pora Manush' by local kids and CEF members, the stage was lit up and the crowd enthralled by the message delivered by Swami Suparnananda, Principal, Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur. Referring to CEF as "the forum the unification of all", the Maharaj urged CEF to build up an emergency fund called 'Jeevan Deep Project' for all-round development of the rural masses, in the lines of the Ramakrishna Mission Lokshiksha Parishad.
Uday Shankar Sarkar, Sabadhipati, Barddhaman Zilla Parishad, urged CEF to excel in multifarious human development by rising above the corrupting influence of petty politics.
A highlight of the cultural extravaganza was the presentations of Adivasi songs and dance by Babulal Mandi and his troupe and the opening of the stage for public cultural performances linking the two parts of the prize distribution and felicitation ceremony on the final evening. Not only were the local highest scorers in Madhyamik and Higher Secondary examinations felicitated, the unique 'Nabin Pratibha' award for lifetime achievement in the field of education and culture was also bestowed.
Learning The Tools Of The trade From The Horse’s Mouth
On October 4 2005, a workshop on anchoring for television was organised by the Media Studies: Film and Television wing of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calcutta. The session took place at the Ritwik Hall of the university's Asutosh Siksha Prangan, College Street.
In his introductory lecture, Dr. Soumendra Nath Bera, a reader of the host department said that in the modern television world, the news reporter and the news anchor have merged into the newcaster.
In his discourse with the students, Jagannath Basu from Doordarshan emphasized on clarity, meaningful pause, correct application of stress and emphasis as the key aspects of newscasting and anchoring in the audio-visual media. His advice for the budding television anchors was a no to smoking and drinking, especially before presentation of a programme. Laying stress on the projection of one's voice, as opposed to shouting before the microphone, he highlighted following the house style and the standardized language, and the ability to read different types of handwriting as some of the other key aspects of television anchoring. Onscreen appearance, including colour of dress, glitter of ornaments, application of make-up, as also state of health and fitness of the anchor, are vital determinants of the viewer's response, he added. He also laid stress on the knowledge base for enhancing speaking ability, gauging the body language of the interviewee and understanding the psychology of the target audience, as vital ingredients for successful anchoring.
The other guest speaker for the occasion was Anjan Bandopadhyay from Akash Bangla. As opposed to the general notion that the entertainment value of television newscasting has increased, he was of the opinion that the degree of involvement of the newscaster has enhanced these days. He urged the budding media persons not to copy anyone blindly, but to develop one's own style through adopting the latest trend and modifying it through one's unique innovations. Since each person is different from the other, he was of the opinion, that a media house should not have the same style for all anchors. If the level of acceptability is high, the same anchor can present different types of programmes, he said. Pointing out that field journalism is vibrant, whereas studio journalism is composed, he was quick to mention that basically, journalism has remained same, the changes having come up in presentation and the technicalities.
In his introductory lecture, Dr. Soumendra Nath Bera, a reader of the host department said that in the modern television world, the news reporter and the news anchor have merged into the newcaster.
In his discourse with the students, Jagannath Basu from Doordarshan emphasized on clarity, meaningful pause, correct application of stress and emphasis as the key aspects of newscasting and anchoring in the audio-visual media. His advice for the budding television anchors was a no to smoking and drinking, especially before presentation of a programme. Laying stress on the projection of one's voice, as opposed to shouting before the microphone, he highlighted following the house style and the standardized language, and the ability to read different types of handwriting as some of the other key aspects of television anchoring. Onscreen appearance, including colour of dress, glitter of ornaments, application of make-up, as also state of health and fitness of the anchor, are vital determinants of the viewer's response, he added. He also laid stress on the knowledge base for enhancing speaking ability, gauging the body language of the interviewee and understanding the psychology of the target audience, as vital ingredients for successful anchoring.
The other guest speaker for the occasion was Anjan Bandopadhyay from Akash Bangla. As opposed to the general notion that the entertainment value of television newscasting has increased, he was of the opinion that the degree of involvement of the newscaster has enhanced these days. He urged the budding media persons not to copy anyone blindly, but to develop one's own style through adopting the latest trend and modifying it through one's unique innovations. Since each person is different from the other, he was of the opinion, that a media house should not have the same style for all anchors. If the level of acceptability is high, the same anchor can present different types of programmes, he said. Pointing out that field journalism is vibrant, whereas studio journalism is composed, he was quick to mention that basically, journalism has remained same, the changes having come up in presentation and the technicalities.
At Home In Remote Classroom With Universities Interconnected Online
On Mahalaya, October 3 2005, the University of Calcutta (CU) Asutosh Siksha Prangan at College Street was expectant,- not really for the divine family of Devi Durga to pay their annual visit to the earth. It was time for tele-conference with the Indian President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He inaugurated the 'Virtual University' programme, on the occasion of the hundred and fifty years celebrations of the Universities of Calcutta, Madras and Mumbai, the three oldest of the modern Indian universities. These hubs of higher education got connected with each other through the Tele-Education Delivery System via EDUSAT from the Rashtrapati Bhavan Multimedia Studio at New Delhi, with technical support from BSNL, IGNOU, ISRO, MTNL, among others. Apart from the students and members of staff of these three universities, representatives of the Anna University, the Indira Gandhi National Open University and the Madurai Kamaraj University also participated in the conference.
Announcing his mission to make India a developed country by 2020, Dr. Kalam emphasised on the implementation of the 'Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas' (PURA) programme, which includes physical, economic, electronic, knowledge and spiritual connectivity. The three Indian colleges to pursue the PURA programme will be Faqirchand College, West Bengal; Sonepat Arts, Science and Commerce College, Maharashtra and Vedachallam Government Arts College, Tamil Nadu. He also envisaged the formation of a knowledge grid for high-speed connection among academic and research institutions, research and development organisations and related industries, and set round-the-clock interonnectivity as one of the key guidelines for a model virtual university. Establishing a link between economic growth and societal transformation, he stressed on the development of knowledge economy. Development of a youth satellite system is among India's goals, he said. He also asked for the creation of two global youth resource cadres - one with special knowledge skills and another with higher education.
The participants from CU in the students' interaction session with the President were Mili Das(Pharmaceutical and Fine Chemical Technolgy), Bhaswati Bhattacharya(Bioinformatics), Arunava Roy(Biotechnology), Pradipta Kundu(Biotechnology), Kunal Chatterjee(Microbiology). Five students each from the Universities of Madras and Mumbai also participated in the question-answer session with the President. The issues covered were herbal medicines to biodegradable products; food distribution system, research as a career option to success of Indian professionals abroad UN Human Development Report, to Mumbai floods; future of Indian women and role of remote villages in politics to right to education bill; role of tele-education in helping teachers to educational website for the visually challenged; cost-effectiveness of tele-education to importance of education. Answering to one of the questions, Dr. Kalam said that tele-education cannot eradicate illiteracy, but individual efforts by educated people to teach illiterate people can make India score high in literacy in no time.
CU Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Asis Kumar Banerjee in his short address to the President and the other participating universities, announced that the first batch of students from the Universities of Madras and Mumbai would visit CU soon, followed by frequent visits of such other batches.
It was truly a red-letter day for all concerned, as pointed out by the University of Madras Vice-Chancellor, Prof. S.P. Thyagrajan, as Vijay Khole, the University of Mumbai Vice-Chancellor highlighted the fact that the universities are on the path to share each other's infrastructure for empowering India with expansion and extension of education.
Announcing his mission to make India a developed country by 2020, Dr. Kalam emphasised on the implementation of the 'Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas' (PURA) programme, which includes physical, economic, electronic, knowledge and spiritual connectivity. The three Indian colleges to pursue the PURA programme will be Faqirchand College, West Bengal; Sonepat Arts, Science and Commerce College, Maharashtra and Vedachallam Government Arts College, Tamil Nadu. He also envisaged the formation of a knowledge grid for high-speed connection among academic and research institutions, research and development organisations and related industries, and set round-the-clock interonnectivity as one of the key guidelines for a model virtual university. Establishing a link between economic growth and societal transformation, he stressed on the development of knowledge economy. Development of a youth satellite system is among India's goals, he said. He also asked for the creation of two global youth resource cadres - one with special knowledge skills and another with higher education.
The participants from CU in the students' interaction session with the President were Mili Das(Pharmaceutical and Fine Chemical Technolgy), Bhaswati Bhattacharya(Bioinformatics), Arunava Roy(Biotechnology), Pradipta Kundu(Biotechnology), Kunal Chatterjee(Microbiology). Five students each from the Universities of Madras and Mumbai also participated in the question-answer session with the President. The issues covered were herbal medicines to biodegradable products; food distribution system, research as a career option to success of Indian professionals abroad UN Human Development Report, to Mumbai floods; future of Indian women and role of remote villages in politics to right to education bill; role of tele-education in helping teachers to educational website for the visually challenged; cost-effectiveness of tele-education to importance of education. Answering to one of the questions, Dr. Kalam said that tele-education cannot eradicate illiteracy, but individual efforts by educated people to teach illiterate people can make India score high in literacy in no time.
CU Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Asis Kumar Banerjee in his short address to the President and the other participating universities, announced that the first batch of students from the Universities of Madras and Mumbai would visit CU soon, followed by frequent visits of such other batches.
It was truly a red-letter day for all concerned, as pointed out by the University of Madras Vice-Chancellor, Prof. S.P. Thyagrajan, as Vijay Khole, the University of Mumbai Vice-Chancellor highlighted the fact that the universities are on the path to share each other's infrastructure for empowering India with expansion and extension of education.
In Awe In Animation
On October 1 2005, the Toonz Webel Academy (TWA) organised an interactive seminar on the prospects of a career in animations, at the Kala Mandir, Kolkata. Speaking on the occasion, Mike Nicolls, Dean, TWA, narrated his experiences of writing personal letters in the form of comic strips. Admitting that attending an animation workshop at the age of twelve changed his life, he said that the fear of other students doing better than him, was the early motivation which strove him to bring the best out himself whenever he worked with cartoons and animations.
S. Prasad from Rhythm & Hues Studio Mumbai, zeroed down on passion and dedication, specialization and understanding the needs of the market as the keys to lasting success in the field of animation. He was of the opinion that the need of the hour is artists and not computer professionals. Anish Mulani from Crest Studio, Mumbai singled out gaming and mobile phones sectors as potentially the two largest recruiters of animation professionals in the near future. Hari Verma from Toonz Animation, Thiruvananthapuram stressed on the understanding of sculpture and acting, on the part of the animators.
The sessions were illustrated by animation clips made by the participating organizations. Short animated movies,- 'A Superhero's Story', 'The Castle of El Dorado', 'Sugar Free' and 'Dried Up' made by TWA students screened intermittently during the seminar were testimonies to the entertaining implementation of artistic ideas of creative minds. There was also a quiz on animation for the audience, conducted by Prosenjit Ganguly from TWA. Young Upamanyu Bhattacharya was the star of the show bagging two of the six prizes on offer. Eight short animated movies made by children within the age-group of eight to fourteen years, during the Children's Animation Workshop 2004 were also screened. It was announced that Upamanyu's 'Bathroom Bash' has been selected for screening at film festivals in the USA and Italy.
S. Prasad from Rhythm & Hues Studio Mumbai, zeroed down on passion and dedication, specialization and understanding the needs of the market as the keys to lasting success in the field of animation. He was of the opinion that the need of the hour is artists and not computer professionals. Anish Mulani from Crest Studio, Mumbai singled out gaming and mobile phones sectors as potentially the two largest recruiters of animation professionals in the near future. Hari Verma from Toonz Animation, Thiruvananthapuram stressed on the understanding of sculpture and acting, on the part of the animators.
The sessions were illustrated by animation clips made by the participating organizations. Short animated movies,- 'A Superhero's Story', 'The Castle of El Dorado', 'Sugar Free' and 'Dried Up' made by TWA students screened intermittently during the seminar were testimonies to the entertaining implementation of artistic ideas of creative minds. There was also a quiz on animation for the audience, conducted by Prosenjit Ganguly from TWA. Young Upamanyu Bhattacharya was the star of the show bagging two of the six prizes on offer. Eight short animated movies made by children within the age-group of eight to fourteen years, during the Children's Animation Workshop 2004 were also screened. It was announced that Upamanyu's 'Bathroom Bash' has been selected for screening at film festivals in the USA and Italy.
Learning The Practicalities At Examination
Examination can be fun sometimes, as was the radio news and the television documentary projects, the M.A. Part I examinees of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of the University of Calcutta were asked to do as a part of the second half of their fifth paper (practical). The class was divided into ten groups with two groups having six students each and each of the remaining having seven students.
Each of the groups was supposed to film a ten-minute audio-visual documentary and record an eighteen-minute radio news. Each member took up tasks according to his or her liking, as per the needs of the hour. Obtaining permission for the documentary was a part of the delayed process, that was a learning experience nonetheless. Most of the groups had to hire cameramen and editors. The shootings were usually day-long affairs, and the video editing coupled with the audio recording for a group or two actually extended to the wee hours of the morning after toiling hard with the dope sheet, video clips and microphone all through the previous day. That was learning the tools of the trade and the rules of the road trough practical hands-on experience.
The topics of the documentaries ranged from hand-pulled rickshaws to arsenic pollution, montessori schools to Nandan. The scripting was an important part of the radio and the television projects, as was recording the finished products in CDs and cassettes. The process was expensive and time-consuming, with the creative and the organising abilities of the students put to test. As the fortnight-long process reached fruition, the students burst into ecstatic outpourings of the magical creations. It was a matter of realising the inspirational theory of artistic creations through the process of scoring marks.
Each of the groups was supposed to film a ten-minute audio-visual documentary and record an eighteen-minute radio news. Each member took up tasks according to his or her liking, as per the needs of the hour. Obtaining permission for the documentary was a part of the delayed process, that was a learning experience nonetheless. Most of the groups had to hire cameramen and editors. The shootings were usually day-long affairs, and the video editing coupled with the audio recording for a group or two actually extended to the wee hours of the morning after toiling hard with the dope sheet, video clips and microphone all through the previous day. That was learning the tools of the trade and the rules of the road trough practical hands-on experience.
The topics of the documentaries ranged from hand-pulled rickshaws to arsenic pollution, montessori schools to Nandan. The scripting was an important part of the radio and the television projects, as was recording the finished products in CDs and cassettes. The process was expensive and time-consuming, with the creative and the organising abilities of the students put to test. As the fortnight-long process reached fruition, the students burst into ecstatic outpourings of the magical creations. It was a matter of realising the inspirational theory of artistic creations through the process of scoring marks.
Eloquent Politics Welcomed By Overwhelming Participation
On September 26 and 27 2005, a two-day seminar on 'Involvement of Youth in Political Decision Making' was organised by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calcutta and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (F.E.S.), under the Asihss Programme.
The first day saw the packed Asutosh Hall at the College Street campus listen with enormous enthusiasm the learned discourse by teachers of the organising department andn guest speakers from different media houses and higher educational institutes on the subject.
On Day Two eminent politician and professor of Physics, Sougata Roy mesmerised a gathering at the Ritwik Hall in the same campus by his insight into the changing response and level of involvement of youth in political decision making. He attributed the root cause of the general apathy of today's youth in politics to the failure of the post-independence political upheavals like the Naxal, the Navanirman and the Assam Movements. He regarded the implementation of voting rights from the age of eighteen as a major step forward for Indian youth and emphasized on total participation in politics as opposed to tokenism. Highlighting the point that the modern society is sitting on the mouth of a volcano ready to erupt, he urged the youth to join NGOs for all-round rural development. However, alluding to Mahatma Gandhi, he was quick to point out that politics can wait but swaraj cannot.
However, the highlight of the seminar on both the days was the overwhelming students' participation in an elocution competition on the topic of the seminar. Hundreds of students from such educational institutions as Surendranath College for Women, South Calcutta Girls College, East Calcutta College, Loreto College, Netaji Nagar College, Victoria College, Visva Bharati University, Dum Dum Motijheel College, Asutosh Colege, Jadavpur University, St. Xavier's College, Acharya Prafulla Chandra College, Maharaja Manindra Chandra College(Day), Sikkim Manipal University, and of course, the host, University of Calcutta, participated in the contest.
The judges were from the journalism department of several colleges and universities, and the CU journalism and mass communication department head, Prof. Dr. Tapati Basu, proudly declared that each of them had been her students at some point or the other.
Shreemonti Mukherjee, a first year student of the post-graduate degree course of the host department emerged triumphant, bagging the top spot, with twenty-seven other prizes awarded to the best student speakers of the session.
A novel feature of the competition was that apart from the certificates of merit awarded to each of the student speakers, certificates acknowledging the tireless efforts put in for the success of the seminar, were also issued to those students of the host department, whose helping hands made the programme a memorable one.
The other distinguished speakers on the occasion included Prof. Anangya Chanda, Inspector of Colleges; Prof. Ranjit Basu; Prof. R.C. Matthew, Principal, St. Xavier's College; Prof. Ranjit Dhar, Principal, Manindra Chandra College; Rajeshwar Dayal, Senior Advisor, F.E.S., among others.
The first day saw the packed Asutosh Hall at the College Street campus listen with enormous enthusiasm the learned discourse by teachers of the organising department andn guest speakers from different media houses and higher educational institutes on the subject.
On Day Two eminent politician and professor of Physics, Sougata Roy mesmerised a gathering at the Ritwik Hall in the same campus by his insight into the changing response and level of involvement of youth in political decision making. He attributed the root cause of the general apathy of today's youth in politics to the failure of the post-independence political upheavals like the Naxal, the Navanirman and the Assam Movements. He regarded the implementation of voting rights from the age of eighteen as a major step forward for Indian youth and emphasized on total participation in politics as opposed to tokenism. Highlighting the point that the modern society is sitting on the mouth of a volcano ready to erupt, he urged the youth to join NGOs for all-round rural development. However, alluding to Mahatma Gandhi, he was quick to point out that politics can wait but swaraj cannot.
However, the highlight of the seminar on both the days was the overwhelming students' participation in an elocution competition on the topic of the seminar. Hundreds of students from such educational institutions as Surendranath College for Women, South Calcutta Girls College, East Calcutta College, Loreto College, Netaji Nagar College, Victoria College, Visva Bharati University, Dum Dum Motijheel College, Asutosh Colege, Jadavpur University, St. Xavier's College, Acharya Prafulla Chandra College, Maharaja Manindra Chandra College(Day), Sikkim Manipal University, and of course, the host, University of Calcutta, participated in the contest.
The judges were from the journalism department of several colleges and universities, and the CU journalism and mass communication department head, Prof. Dr. Tapati Basu, proudly declared that each of them had been her students at some point or the other.
Shreemonti Mukherjee, a first year student of the post-graduate degree course of the host department emerged triumphant, bagging the top spot, with twenty-seven other prizes awarded to the best student speakers of the session.
A novel feature of the competition was that apart from the certificates of merit awarded to each of the student speakers, certificates acknowledging the tireless efforts put in for the success of the seminar, were also issued to those students of the host department, whose helping hands made the programme a memorable one.
The other distinguished speakers on the occasion included Prof. Anangya Chanda, Inspector of Colleges; Prof. Ranjit Basu; Prof. R.C. Matthew, Principal, St. Xavier's College; Prof. Ranjit Dhar, Principal, Manindra Chandra College; Rajeshwar Dayal, Senior Advisor, F.E.S., among others.
Poetry Praised, Recitor Renowned
Soumitra Chattopadhyay was awarded the 'Abritti Shiromani' title for the year 2005, by 'Samantaral', an organisation of poetry lovers, at the Fifth National Recitation Festival held at the Gyan Manch on September 19. The previous recipients of the honour are Debdulal Bandopadhyay(2002), Amiya Chatterjee(2003) and Ashok Palit(2004).
Chattopadhyay narrated his childhood experiences as an admirer of poetry and dubbed recitation as a part and parcel of his existence. He was against making any distinction between acting and recitation. Declining to regard recitation as solely a performing art, he declared that he recites for others to listen and for himself to enjoy.
Speaking on the occasion, Ashok Palit, who happens to be Chattopadhyay's childhood friend, drew a parallel between Brahma and Soumitra Chattopadhyay. He was of the opinion that like Brahma, Chattopadhyay has four mouths, one each for acting, direction, recitation and language.
Syed Mujtaba Siraj narrated interesting anecdotes from his introduction to Chattopadhyay in Coffee House, and made the remark that the latter fit in naturally to the movie roles assigned to him.
Among other dignitaries gracing the occasion were television journalist Debanjan Chakraborty, Lok Sabha MP Mohammad Salim and others.
The speakers were unanimous in acknowledging the giant leap that the recitation culture has made in Kolkata, from a handful of competitions and performance in a few programmes in educational institutions, to the current craze of enrolment in recitation coaching classes conducted by experts.The programme which started with Ajanta Sinha's Rabindra Sangeet followed by Sougata Chatterjee reciting his own poems, 'Smriti' and 'Chhutte Chhutte', ended on a musical note courtesy Sanchita Bhattacharya's Odissi dance recitals dedicated to the evening's awardee, and invoking Goddess Durga.
Chattopadhyay narrated his childhood experiences as an admirer of poetry and dubbed recitation as a part and parcel of his existence. He was against making any distinction between acting and recitation. Declining to regard recitation as solely a performing art, he declared that he recites for others to listen and for himself to enjoy.
Speaking on the occasion, Ashok Palit, who happens to be Chattopadhyay's childhood friend, drew a parallel between Brahma and Soumitra Chattopadhyay. He was of the opinion that like Brahma, Chattopadhyay has four mouths, one each for acting, direction, recitation and language.
Syed Mujtaba Siraj narrated interesting anecdotes from his introduction to Chattopadhyay in Coffee House, and made the remark that the latter fit in naturally to the movie roles assigned to him.
Among other dignitaries gracing the occasion were television journalist Debanjan Chakraborty, Lok Sabha MP Mohammad Salim and others.
The speakers were unanimous in acknowledging the giant leap that the recitation culture has made in Kolkata, from a handful of competitions and performance in a few programmes in educational institutions, to the current craze of enrolment in recitation coaching classes conducted by experts.The programme which started with Ajanta Sinha's Rabindra Sangeet followed by Sougata Chatterjee reciting his own poems, 'Smriti' and 'Chhutte Chhutte', ended on a musical note courtesy Sanchita Bhattacharya's Odissi dance recitals dedicated to the evening's awardee, and invoking Goddess Durga.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Howabouts Of Newsfield
On Tuesday, May 24 2005 the Additional Director-General of Doordarshan News, Indian Information Service officer, Mr. Amitava Chakraborty, was invited to the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calcutta, Asutosh Siksha Prangan, College Street, to share with the faculty members and Masters students of the department, anecdotes from his long and rich experience as a foreign correspondent. The informal session kicked off with a brief introduction by professional journalist and journalism teacher, Mr. Snehasish Sur, with Prof. Dr. Tapati Basu presenting a memento to Mr. Chakraborty on behalf of the host department.
Mr. Chakraborty embarked on his thrilling yet humorous narration with a sweeping overview of his journalistic adventures during September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks, followed by inside stories of Operation Black Thunder, Amritsar; Operation Cactus, Maldives; 1992 Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid crisis and 1987 Colombo assassination attempt on Rajiv Gandhi. The vivid descriptions were animated by his personal takes on several stray incidents. His keen insight into the intricacies of the operation procedures was enlivened by his exuberance.
The equally absorbing interactive session with the teachers and the students covered such variegated topics like embedded journalism, media lobbies, building up of sources in alien situations, media management, winning the confidence of the news sources and the news consumers alike, among others. He advocated self-censoring during sting operations. Talking of the challenges of journalism, he mentioned that fear is overwhelmingly overpowered by the intoxicating excitement, which holds the key to the enjoyment factor associated with journalism. He opined that due to so-called security reasons, reporting from the battlefront is often reduced to 'schoolboy journalism', depending on the war stances taken by different countries. Emphasing the need for innovative updates in news presentation techniques, he zeroed down on credibility and transparency as the hallmarks of meaningful and successful journalism.Among the other dignitaries gracing the occasion were Mr. Debanjan Chakraborty, Director of News, Doordarshan, Kolkata; Mr. Bikash Chakraborty, senior teacher of Political Science, Vidyasagar College(Evening); and CU journalism and mass communication faculty members, Dr. SoumendraNath Bera and Mr. Jay Sircar.
Mr. Chakraborty embarked on his thrilling yet humorous narration with a sweeping overview of his journalistic adventures during September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks, followed by inside stories of Operation Black Thunder, Amritsar; Operation Cactus, Maldives; 1992 Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid crisis and 1987 Colombo assassination attempt on Rajiv Gandhi. The vivid descriptions were animated by his personal takes on several stray incidents. His keen insight into the intricacies of the operation procedures was enlivened by his exuberance.
The equally absorbing interactive session with the teachers and the students covered such variegated topics like embedded journalism, media lobbies, building up of sources in alien situations, media management, winning the confidence of the news sources and the news consumers alike, among others. He advocated self-censoring during sting operations. Talking of the challenges of journalism, he mentioned that fear is overwhelmingly overpowered by the intoxicating excitement, which holds the key to the enjoyment factor associated with journalism. He opined that due to so-called security reasons, reporting from the battlefront is often reduced to 'schoolboy journalism', depending on the war stances taken by different countries. Emphasing the need for innovative updates in news presentation techniques, he zeroed down on credibility and transparency as the hallmarks of meaningful and successful journalism.Among the other dignitaries gracing the occasion were Mr. Debanjan Chakraborty, Director of News, Doordarshan, Kolkata; Mr. Bikash Chakraborty, senior teacher of Political Science, Vidyasagar College(Evening); and CU journalism and mass communication faculty members, Dr. SoumendraNath Bera and Mr. Jay Sircar.
Visiting In Between The Lines
From Monday, May 16 to Friday, May 20, 2005, a book exhibition-cum-sale was organized at the Central Library of the University of Calcutta, Asutosh Siksha Prangan, College Street. The programme was a part of the language and biblioculture celebrations being held at the library this year. Incidentally, all the language oriented post-graduate courses offered by the University are conducted at this campus.
The University publications, ranging from text books to syllabi, departmental journals and bulletins to model questions were put on sale at discounted rates. Rare books and documents, including copies of university acts, speeches delivered at the university over its long history of a couple of years short of completing a century and a half, were held on display. The event witnessed a steady and encouraging footfall, thanks to the systematic organisation and adequate publicity. And of course, it is a well-established fact that books are man's best friends.
The University publications, ranging from text books to syllabi, departmental journals and bulletins to model questions were put on sale at discounted rates. Rare books and documents, including copies of university acts, speeches delivered at the university over its long history of a couple of years short of completing a century and a half, were held on display. The event witnessed a steady and encouraging footfall, thanks to the systematic organisation and adequate publicity. And of course, it is a well-established fact that books are man's best friends.
Jump In The Air
On Wednesday, May 4 2005, the Calcutta University Students' Union College Street(Day) Autonomous organised the prize distribution for its annual sports and cultural competitions, at the latest edition of its cultural extravaganza, 'Campus 2005' at the Centenary Hall, Asutosh Shiksha Prangan. The programme kicked off to a musical beginning by the lilting tunes of 'Tobu Mone Rekho' by Piyali Bandopdhyay, and was followed by Ramkrishna Mondal's spirited recitation of ’Aamari Chetonar Ronge'. The spectators were then witnessed to the fascinating gyrations of Shampa Das, Moumita Ghosh and others rocking the stage with their spectacular dance performances, ranging from classical Indian to Santhali. While the heat was well and truly on, the comic relief was provided by the hilarious enactment of Bonani Chattopadhyay's 'Bibomisha' by Subroto Ghosh and Rehana Sultana. And of course, there were the SJs - Stage Jockeys – the awesome Arpita, the marvelous Monami and the rocking Rajiv to spice up the linkages.
The prizes for various events like cricket, football, table tennis, chess, musical chair, carom, debate, quiz, creative writing, singing and extempore speech, were handed over to the winners in turn by, CU Deputy Registrar, Mr. Nitish Biswas; Students' Union President, Debasish Biswas; General Secretary, Goutam Roy and other student leaders.
Traditional Bengal was then enlivened in the heart-rending 'Bhatiyali' and 'Baul' song-n’-dance performance by Nayan Sarkar's troupe. Melody rained on stage as Goutam Ghosh with his orchestra made his way from Rabindranath Tagore to Kishore Kumar with spontaneous elegance - 'Aami Chini Go Chini Tomare' led to 'Noyone Soroshi', to be followed by evergreen chartbusters like 'O Hansini', 'Mere Saamnewali Khidki Mein', 'Neele Neele Ambar Pe', 'Dekha Na Hai Re', 'Main Hoon Don', setting the frenzied audience to fire. Bangla band 'Prohor' provided the icing on the cake by 'Sadher Lau', 'Jibone Ki Pabo Na', 'Nishsho Korechho Aamay', ' It's My Life, 'Summer Of 69', 'Doriya', 'Telephone', with their very own 'Neelima' and 'Moushumi' providing the red cherry on the top. However, the foot tappings, pelvic thrusts and shoulder jerks reached their peak with 'Besh Korechhi Chul Rekhechhi - Rakhboi To' - in the true carefree Gen-Y spirit, late into the evening.
The prizes for various events like cricket, football, table tennis, chess, musical chair, carom, debate, quiz, creative writing, singing and extempore speech, were handed over to the winners in turn by, CU Deputy Registrar, Mr. Nitish Biswas; Students' Union President, Debasish Biswas; General Secretary, Goutam Roy and other student leaders.
Traditional Bengal was then enlivened in the heart-rending 'Bhatiyali' and 'Baul' song-n’-dance performance by Nayan Sarkar's troupe. Melody rained on stage as Goutam Ghosh with his orchestra made his way from Rabindranath Tagore to Kishore Kumar with spontaneous elegance - 'Aami Chini Go Chini Tomare' led to 'Noyone Soroshi', to be followed by evergreen chartbusters like 'O Hansini', 'Mere Saamnewali Khidki Mein', 'Neele Neele Ambar Pe', 'Dekha Na Hai Re', 'Main Hoon Don', setting the frenzied audience to fire. Bangla band 'Prohor' provided the icing on the cake by 'Sadher Lau', 'Jibone Ki Pabo Na', 'Nishsho Korechho Aamay', ' It's My Life, 'Summer Of 69', 'Doriya', 'Telephone', with their very own 'Neelima' and 'Moushumi' providing the red cherry on the top. However, the foot tappings, pelvic thrusts and shoulder jerks reached their peak with 'Besh Korechhi Chul Rekhechhi - Rakhboi To' - in the true carefree Gen-Y spirit, late into the evening.
Records Down The Road
On Friday, April 29 2005, the Press Club, Kolkata organised a talk with audio-visual support, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Satyajit Ray's 'Pather Panchali' (1955). The air-conditioned hall gathering consisting of mediapersons, mass media and mass communication students from George Telegraph, Jadavpur University and University of Calcutta, were witnessed to an enlightening discourse on the classic Bengali movie that revolutionised the world of Indian movies. Press Club Secretary, Mr. Snehasish Sur introduced the subject to the audience and Press Club Cultural Sub-committee Convenor, Mr. Saibal Biswas extended his thanks to the collectors who had contributed the Apu trilogy posters for display at the venue. The programme had an auspicious beginning with the panelists, including Press Club President, Mr. Raj Mithaulia, paying their floral tributes to the portrait of Satyajit Ray.
Dr. Ashoke Mitra shed light on the profound impact that the contemporary social scenario and Ray's familial environment, as also his personal experiences, had on the making of the path-breaking classic. The speaker's anecdotes enlivened the nostalgic journey down Satyajit Ray's path to Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's 'Pather Panchali'.
Prof. Sanjoy Mukhopadhyay kept on waxing poetic, in support of Dr. Mitra's point of emphasis that Ray started this movie with a meagre resource of eight thousand rupees. Clarifying the point that evergreen classics like 'Pather Panchali' elevate movie to the status of academics, Prof. Mukhopadhyay emphasised on some technical aspects of movie-making with reference to 'Pather Panchali'. He described how Ray translated a great novele into the audio-visual medium. Satyajit Ray was primarily attracted by the fact that 'nothing happens' in 'Pather Panchali' (1928), the novel. He worked this 'lack of action' in the source novel to his advantage to depict the nuances of the characters. Prof. Mukhopadhyay highlighted the constant tonal variation of light in the movie to depict the subtle changes of illumination between dawn and dusk and from season to season. Ray rejected the usual wordiness of Bengali movies in favour of soul-touching silence, where the use of background music reached new heights of aestheticism, as realism blended with humanism to beautify the strangeness associated with the central perspective of Apu's way of looking at the ways of the world. The establishment of Durga, the train sequence and Durga's death were shown to establish the fact that 'a film is made with images, not ideas'. Prof. Mukherjee was apt to comment that Ray knew how to bathe in light and his camera knew how to discover the same. The speaker was visibly ecstatic over the darkness-n-brightness chiaroscuro effects and particularly the rain scene in the movie. Ray in 'Pather Panchali' narrated the story through 'objective correlatives'; like the English poet, Thomas Stearns Eliot, Ray preferred not to say but to show, not to present but to represent.
Even nature outside seemed to pay homage to Ray's rain of montages, by a drizzle accompanied by a cooling breeze, as the enlightened student community in particular, relished the tea to go with the snacks, at the Press Club lawn.
Dr. Ashoke Mitra shed light on the profound impact that the contemporary social scenario and Ray's familial environment, as also his personal experiences, had on the making of the path-breaking classic. The speaker's anecdotes enlivened the nostalgic journey down Satyajit Ray's path to Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay's 'Pather Panchali'.
Prof. Sanjoy Mukhopadhyay kept on waxing poetic, in support of Dr. Mitra's point of emphasis that Ray started this movie with a meagre resource of eight thousand rupees. Clarifying the point that evergreen classics like 'Pather Panchali' elevate movie to the status of academics, Prof. Mukhopadhyay emphasised on some technical aspects of movie-making with reference to 'Pather Panchali'. He described how Ray translated a great novele into the audio-visual medium. Satyajit Ray was primarily attracted by the fact that 'nothing happens' in 'Pather Panchali' (1928), the novel. He worked this 'lack of action' in the source novel to his advantage to depict the nuances of the characters. Prof. Mukhopadhyay highlighted the constant tonal variation of light in the movie to depict the subtle changes of illumination between dawn and dusk and from season to season. Ray rejected the usual wordiness of Bengali movies in favour of soul-touching silence, where the use of background music reached new heights of aestheticism, as realism blended with humanism to beautify the strangeness associated with the central perspective of Apu's way of looking at the ways of the world. The establishment of Durga, the train sequence and Durga's death were shown to establish the fact that 'a film is made with images, not ideas'. Prof. Mukherjee was apt to comment that Ray knew how to bathe in light and his camera knew how to discover the same. The speaker was visibly ecstatic over the darkness-n-brightness chiaroscuro effects and particularly the rain scene in the movie. Ray in 'Pather Panchali' narrated the story through 'objective correlatives'; like the English poet, Thomas Stearns Eliot, Ray preferred not to say but to show, not to present but to represent.
Even nature outside seemed to pay homage to Ray's rain of montages, by a drizzle accompanied by a cooling breeze, as the enlightened student community in particular, relished the tea to go with the snacks, at the Press Club lawn.
JU Physics Bonanza
On the occasion of the golden jubilee year of Jadavpur University, the Nuclear And Particle Physics Research Centre, Department of Physics, JU organised a Students Programme on 'Physics 2005 And Beyond - Few Glimpses', to jointly celebrate the International Year of Physics and centenary of the 'Miraculous Year'(1905) when Albert Einstein wrote his path-breaking articles which helped formulating the bases of the Theory of Relativity, the Quantum Theory and the Theory of Brownian Motion.
As a part of the event, an International Conference on 'Contemporary Issues in Nuclear and Particle Physics'(CINPP-05) was organised by JU. A special programme for motivating UG and PG students of the colleges and the universities in and around Kolkata, was held on at the Dr. K.P. Basu Memorial Hall, Raja S.C. Mullick Road Campus, JU. This programme offered a unique opportunity to the youngsters to enjoy the excitement of probing challenging Physics problems with distinguished physicists from all the world over.
Later an exhibition-cum-demonstration of 'Radioisotopes and Radiation Technology:Application for Human Welfare' was organised by the Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology, DAE, Govt. of India at the University.
As a part of the event, an International Conference on 'Contemporary Issues in Nuclear and Particle Physics'(CINPP-05) was organised by JU. A special programme for motivating UG and PG students of the colleges and the universities in and around Kolkata, was held on at the Dr. K.P. Basu Memorial Hall, Raja S.C. Mullick Road Campus, JU. This programme offered a unique opportunity to the youngsters to enjoy the excitement of probing challenging Physics problems with distinguished physicists from all the world over.
Later an exhibition-cum-demonstration of 'Radioisotopes and Radiation Technology:Application for Human Welfare' was organised by the Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology, DAE, Govt. of India at the University.
It's The Time To Celebrate
As the academic session drew to a close, it was the time to gyrate to the pulsating tunes of Bangla music bands, 'Lakkhichhada' and 'Bhoomi', at the Calcutta University Students' Union Central Standing Committee's annual prize distribution and cultural extravaganza, 'Campus 2005', held at the Centenary Hall, University of Calcutta (CU) Asutosh Siksha Prangan, College Street, on May 26, 27.
On day one, chief guest, Mr. P.K. Banerjee, ignited the latent passion for festivity in every young heart, to go with the inspirational speeches made by CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), Dr. Suranjan Das and CU Registrar, Dr. Ujjal Kumar Basu.
Following the inaugural Rabindra Sangeet presentation by Ms. Krishnakali Dasgupta, the prize distribution for the annual sports and cultural competitions threw the winners as also their supporters to frenzy. Sanity was restored to the proceedings by the second Rabindra Sangeet presentation of the day,- this time by Ms. Debarati Some. CU's own Bangla band, 'Neel' then set the stage on fire, providing the right lead up to the rocking performance by 'Lakkhichhada'.Day two was kickstarted in a hilarious mood by the Natasena's performance of the slapstick comedy, 'Gorur Gadir Headlight'. Following suit were the foot-tapping 'Baul' songs and the students' song-n'-dance performances, thoroughly appreciated by the packed crowd, consisting of students from all the CU campuses. Bangla band, 'Prohor' performing for the second time at the venue within a month, provided unprecedented momentum to the mass dance hitting the gallery. As 'Bhoomi' hit the stage, the noise was deafening, with the dance fever picking up with every song. The invigorating appeal of the performances, together with enthusiastic response of the students, etched the memories of the evenings once and for all among one and all present.
On day one, chief guest, Mr. P.K. Banerjee, ignited the latent passion for festivity in every young heart, to go with the inspirational speeches made by CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), Dr. Suranjan Das and CU Registrar, Dr. Ujjal Kumar Basu.
Following the inaugural Rabindra Sangeet presentation by Ms. Krishnakali Dasgupta, the prize distribution for the annual sports and cultural competitions threw the winners as also their supporters to frenzy. Sanity was restored to the proceedings by the second Rabindra Sangeet presentation of the day,- this time by Ms. Debarati Some. CU's own Bangla band, 'Neel' then set the stage on fire, providing the right lead up to the rocking performance by 'Lakkhichhada'.Day two was kickstarted in a hilarious mood by the Natasena's performance of the slapstick comedy, 'Gorur Gadir Headlight'. Following suit were the foot-tapping 'Baul' songs and the students' song-n'-dance performances, thoroughly appreciated by the packed crowd, consisting of students from all the CU campuses. Bangla band, 'Prohor' performing for the second time at the venue within a month, provided unprecedented momentum to the mass dance hitting the gallery. As 'Bhoomi' hit the stage, the noise was deafening, with the dance fever picking up with every song. The invigorating appeal of the performances, together with enthusiastic response of the students, etched the memories of the evenings once and for all among one and all present.
Literary Remembrance
On the occasion of the hundred and fourth birth anniversary of littérateur, late Professor Pramathanath Bishi, the Viswakosh Parishad organised the 'Pramathanath Bishi Memorial Lecture' on Saturday, June 11 2005, at the Darbhanga Hall, University of Calcutta, Asutosh Shiksha Prangan, College Street.
In his presidential address, Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder shared with the audience interesting anecdotes from his interactions with Professor Bishi. Guest-in -Chief, Sabitendra Nath Ray, dwelling on the topic for the session, 'Pramathanath Bishi: Literateur And Personality', shed light on the chequered life of Professor Bishi, with keen insights into the latter's noteworthy role as a votary of communal harmony during India's freedom struggle and his inspirational service to the student community in the capacity of the Rabindranath Tagore Professor of Bengali at the University of Calcutta.
Among the other dignitaries present were, Professor Bishi's son, Kanishka Bishi and Partha Sengupta, Secretary, Viswakosh Parishad.
In his presidential address, Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder shared with the audience interesting anecdotes from his interactions with Professor Bishi. Guest-in -Chief, Sabitendra Nath Ray, dwelling on the topic for the session, 'Pramathanath Bishi: Literateur And Personality', shed light on the chequered life of Professor Bishi, with keen insights into the latter's noteworthy role as a votary of communal harmony during India's freedom struggle and his inspirational service to the student community in the capacity of the Rabindranath Tagore Professor of Bengali at the University of Calcutta.
Among the other dignitaries present were, Professor Bishi's son, Kanishka Bishi and Partha Sengupta, Secretary, Viswakosh Parishad.
Civil Service
On Thursday, June 23 2005, the West Bengal State Centre of The Institution Of Engineers (India) organised the hundred and fifty-second birthday celebration of the renowned engineer and entrepreneur, the late Sir R. N. Mookerjee. In his commemorative lecture delivered on the occasion at the Sir R.N. Mookerjee Hall at the Institution's premises in Kolkata, Dr. B.K. Basak, President Indian Institute of Foundrymen, Kolkata, dwelt on the origin, growth and development, and present problems and prospects of the foundry business, both in the domestic and the international circuits.
Earlier, the Joint Honorary Secretary of the Centre, Sujit Kumar Banerjee, narrating the life sketch of late Sir Mookerjee, enlivened the latter's rise and establishment as a civil engineer and an entrepreneur of repute in British India. His contribution in the capacity of a civil engineer, towards the building of the Victoria Memorial was also highlighted.
In his address, Dr. N.R. Bandyopadhyay, President of the Centre, dwelt upon the current enhanced importance of the civil engineer fraternity in view of the increasing emphasis being applied to water conservation and preservation, and rainwater harvesting in particular, and water resource management in general.
Earlier, the Joint Honorary Secretary of the Centre, Sujit Kumar Banerjee, narrating the life sketch of late Sir Mookerjee, enlivened the latter's rise and establishment as a civil engineer and an entrepreneur of repute in British India. His contribution in the capacity of a civil engineer, towards the building of the Victoria Memorial was also highlighted.
In his address, Dr. N.R. Bandyopadhyay, President of the Centre, dwelt upon the current enhanced importance of the civil engineer fraternity in view of the increasing emphasis being applied to water conservation and preservation, and rainwater harvesting in particular, and water resource management in general.
Om Drama-nama
Theatre is very much alive and bustling with raw vitality right here in our very own Kolkata. In fact, long after the so-called golden age of Bengal theatre is deemed to be over, Kolkata-based theatre group, 'Rangakarmee' is all set to set the stage on fire at the UNESCO-promoted International Theatre Festival - Theatre der Welt 2005 to be held in Stuttgart, Germany from July 3 to July 12, 2005.
Setting aside language barriers, the twenty-nine years young group, will stage three shows of its an hour and fifty minutes long Hindi play with German subtitles, 'Kashinama', staged seventy times thus far, mainly on different Kolkata stages. The play based on the story "Pande Kaun Kumati Lagi" written by Dr. Kashinath Singh and comprising of forty actors from the age of six to seventy, was awarded the Best Production of the Year Award, 2004 by the Paschim Banga Natya Academy, Government of West Bengal.
Narrating the story behind the origin of the play set in the backdrop of Varanasi, director, Usha Ganguly said, "I was slightly stirred by the story initially, but the idea of a play from it was obscure.’’ “Then I went through other stories by Dr. Singh and started getting my visions", she added. "Each ghat of Varanasi is a world in itself. I could see a whole nation on the ghats with all its diversities. It became our nation where every thing today is up for sale - honesty, values, morality, truth, heroism - anything man could lay his hands on. The question that stood up", she noted,” was how are we going to save ourselves from this consumerist onslaught? Where is this greed for consumerist onslaught going to end? What is the result of this change? In trying to find answers to these questions I created a new form which is essential for each play to give it novelty. And a fresh team of fifty energetic and vibrant boys and girls spent months and months in rehearsals to bring perfection to the choreography. After eight months of painful excitement, the play 'Kashinama' was finally born." She was visibly inspired by her own creation.
In the forthcoming international festival being held every three years since 1981, the play happens to be the sole representative of the theatrical form as practised in India. In fact, the entire onus of Asia falls on Ganguly's 'Kashinama', it being also the only play to be selected from Asia for this edition of the festival. At Stuttgart, it will brush shoulders with productions from England, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, USA and still others.
Setting aside language barriers, the twenty-nine years young group, will stage three shows of its an hour and fifty minutes long Hindi play with German subtitles, 'Kashinama', staged seventy times thus far, mainly on different Kolkata stages. The play based on the story "Pande Kaun Kumati Lagi" written by Dr. Kashinath Singh and comprising of forty actors from the age of six to seventy, was awarded the Best Production of the Year Award, 2004 by the Paschim Banga Natya Academy, Government of West Bengal.
Narrating the story behind the origin of the play set in the backdrop of Varanasi, director, Usha Ganguly said, "I was slightly stirred by the story initially, but the idea of a play from it was obscure.’’ “Then I went through other stories by Dr. Singh and started getting my visions", she added. "Each ghat of Varanasi is a world in itself. I could see a whole nation on the ghats with all its diversities. It became our nation where every thing today is up for sale - honesty, values, morality, truth, heroism - anything man could lay his hands on. The question that stood up", she noted,” was how are we going to save ourselves from this consumerist onslaught? Where is this greed for consumerist onslaught going to end? What is the result of this change? In trying to find answers to these questions I created a new form which is essential for each play to give it novelty. And a fresh team of fifty energetic and vibrant boys and girls spent months and months in rehearsals to bring perfection to the choreography. After eight months of painful excitement, the play 'Kashinama' was finally born." She was visibly inspired by her own creation.
In the forthcoming international festival being held every three years since 1981, the play happens to be the sole representative of the theatrical form as practised in India. In fact, the entire onus of Asia falls on Ganguly's 'Kashinama', it being also the only play to be selected from Asia for this edition of the festival. At Stuttgart, it will brush shoulders with productions from England, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, USA and still others.
Entrepreneuring University-Industry Enterprise
The Department of Journalism And Mass Communication, University of Calcutta (CU), in collaboration with the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) conducted an interactive session on 'University And Industry' for "reorganising corporate communication and rejuvenation of industrial image". The programme was held on Friday, June 24 2005, at Darbhanga Hall, University of Calcutta, Asutosh Siksha Prangan, College Street, and organised as a part of the University's hundred and fifty years celebrations.
In his introduction to, and thematic analysis of, the PRCI, Bibhatsu Kumar Sahu, Zonal Chairman(East) of the Council, emphasised the need for good publicity for the sustained popularity of a university. He stressed on the judicial selection of public opinion while framing public policies in general.
Chief Guest, Dr. A.K. Chanda, IAS and Chairman, Kolkata Port Trust, dwelling on the pride associated with history, was apt to point at history not being the be-all and end-all of affairs and that, praise of history should not make people oblivious of challenges. He was of course, drawing a parallel between the Kolkata port being the first of its kind in India, and the University of Calcutta being one of the first universities of modern India.
CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Suranjan Das was at his usual eloquent best as he, in his keynote address, sought to guard against the unregulated university-industry partnership in the form of privatization of education.
Presiding over the programme was Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee, Vice Chancellor, University of Calcutta. He sought co-operation and support from industrialists and media houses and expressed his intentions to interact with academicians, students, professionals and industrialists, so that, as he said, "in this new era of information society, our University can build up the image of the premier university throughout the world with the help of education-loving citizens of the country".
He promised the gathering consisting of industrialists, media persons, teachers and students, "Our University will organise many programmes and many national and international collaborations for the development of the University as well as for the development of the Indian education system for celebrating our hundred and fifty years".
In his introduction to, and thematic analysis of, the PRCI, Bibhatsu Kumar Sahu, Zonal Chairman(East) of the Council, emphasised the need for good publicity for the sustained popularity of a university. He stressed on the judicial selection of public opinion while framing public policies in general.
Chief Guest, Dr. A.K. Chanda, IAS and Chairman, Kolkata Port Trust, dwelling on the pride associated with history, was apt to point at history not being the be-all and end-all of affairs and that, praise of history should not make people oblivious of challenges. He was of course, drawing a parallel between the Kolkata port being the first of its kind in India, and the University of Calcutta being one of the first universities of modern India.
CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Suranjan Das was at his usual eloquent best as he, in his keynote address, sought to guard against the unregulated university-industry partnership in the form of privatization of education.
Presiding over the programme was Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee, Vice Chancellor, University of Calcutta. He sought co-operation and support from industrialists and media houses and expressed his intentions to interact with academicians, students, professionals and industrialists, so that, as he said, "in this new era of information society, our University can build up the image of the premier university throughout the world with the help of education-loving citizens of the country".
He promised the gathering consisting of industrialists, media persons, teachers and students, "Our University will organise many programmes and many national and international collaborations for the development of the University as well as for the development of the Indian education system for celebrating our hundred and fifty years".
Mainland Cricket Fiesta
The fifteen members of the Mainland Sambaran Cricket Academy (MSCA) team, which won the Ambar Roy Memorial Sub-Junior(under thirteen) were felicitated on June 29 2005 along with their coaches, Debopam Sarkar and Debabrata Bhattacharya, by the Academy's title sponsor, the Mainland China chain of restaurants at its Kolkata outlet. MSCA won the tournament by defeating Durgapur Cricket Club on June 23 under lights at the Eden Gardens.
Barasat Satyabharati School student, skipper Subhajit Banerjee, who scored in excess of nine hundred runs, including a double century and three other tons in eight matches during the course of the tournament in sweltering heat, having remained unbeaten on five occasions, received a cash prize of Rs. 11,000.
Subhajit, who like his idol, Sourav Ganguly, bats left-handed and bowls right-arm medium pace, said, “I’ve been playing cricket since I was six, and nowadays, I practice for four-five hours a day."
Best bowler, Asif Pradhan an off-spinner, and a Harbhajan Singh fan, and best allrounder, Swagatam Sur, who regards Sachin Tendulkar as his role model, received a cash prize of Rs. 7,500 each, while the other twelve cricketers in the squad received Rs. 5,000 each.
Apart from the cash prize, each of the players received cricket gears and a memento.
Emphasising on the need for scientific training, professional attitude and healthy nutrients intake, former national selector and MSCA coach and founder, Sambaran Banerjee dwelt on basic education as the groundwork for lasting success. The MSCA will be taking care of Subhajit's education expenses, he announced.
"Subhajit has a tremendous concentration level and is not at all carried away by his past performance. He starts afresh in each and every match and is very mature in his approach. He is a stylish batsman and bowls medium-fast with élan, has good leadership qualities and great temperament", Sambaran Banerjee remarked.
Subhajit is expected to be sent either to Australia or to England for a few weeks' training, said the founder coach.
"This international exposure will help him prepare himself for the big time", said the Mumbai-based Anjan Chatterjee, Director, Mainland China. He also announced that talks are on to send Subhajit to Mumbai for a longer period of training.
MSCA, formed in 2003, recently utilized the services of Erapalli Prasanna as a bowling coach, and is looking to rope in either Dilip Vengsarkar, or Gundappa Vishwanath, or Mohinder Amarnath, as a batting coach on a temporary basis, said Sambaran Banerjee, expressing his goal of producing international cricketers from his Academy.
Barasat Satyabharati School student, skipper Subhajit Banerjee, who scored in excess of nine hundred runs, including a double century and three other tons in eight matches during the course of the tournament in sweltering heat, having remained unbeaten on five occasions, received a cash prize of Rs. 11,000.
Subhajit, who like his idol, Sourav Ganguly, bats left-handed and bowls right-arm medium pace, said, “I’ve been playing cricket since I was six, and nowadays, I practice for four-five hours a day."
Best bowler, Asif Pradhan an off-spinner, and a Harbhajan Singh fan, and best allrounder, Swagatam Sur, who regards Sachin Tendulkar as his role model, received a cash prize of Rs. 7,500 each, while the other twelve cricketers in the squad received Rs. 5,000 each.
Apart from the cash prize, each of the players received cricket gears and a memento.
Emphasising on the need for scientific training, professional attitude and healthy nutrients intake, former national selector and MSCA coach and founder, Sambaran Banerjee dwelt on basic education as the groundwork for lasting success. The MSCA will be taking care of Subhajit's education expenses, he announced.
"Subhajit has a tremendous concentration level and is not at all carried away by his past performance. He starts afresh in each and every match and is very mature in his approach. He is a stylish batsman and bowls medium-fast with élan, has good leadership qualities and great temperament", Sambaran Banerjee remarked.
Subhajit is expected to be sent either to Australia or to England for a few weeks' training, said the founder coach.
"This international exposure will help him prepare himself for the big time", said the Mumbai-based Anjan Chatterjee, Director, Mainland China. He also announced that talks are on to send Subhajit to Mumbai for a longer period of training.
MSCA, formed in 2003, recently utilized the services of Erapalli Prasanna as a bowling coach, and is looking to rope in either Dilip Vengsarkar, or Gundappa Vishwanath, or Mohinder Amarnath, as a batting coach on a temporary basis, said Sambaran Banerjee, expressing his goal of producing international cricketers from his Academy.
Frankly Speaking, Finning Up, Ahead And Away
Frankfinn Institute of Airhostess Training inaugurated its new classroom designed as a mockup aircraft, at its Camac Street centre, on Thursday, June 30 2005. The classroom with thirty-odd seats is specifically designed for training cabin crew aspirants. The students, mostly college-goers pursuing this professional hospitality course, along with their regular academic undergradute courses, will thus be able to get familiar with various aspects of in-flight hospitality services.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rakesh Agarwal, Managing Director of the Institute, encouraged the students to make best use of the opportunity of first-hand experience of acquiring and learning the nuances of in-flight services during the course of the thirty-hours training inside the Institute's own leased Airbus A-300 parked at Delhi.
Institute chairman, Mr. K.S. Kohli announced his plans to set up a third Frankfinn Kolkata centre at Gariahat within a fortnight, after the current ones at Camac Street and Salt Lake, and two more in the city by the end of this year.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rakesh Agarwal, Managing Director of the Institute, encouraged the students to make best use of the opportunity of first-hand experience of acquiring and learning the nuances of in-flight services during the course of the thirty-hours training inside the Institute's own leased Airbus A-300 parked at Delhi.
Institute chairman, Mr. K.S. Kohli announced his plans to set up a third Frankfinn Kolkata centre at Gariahat within a fortnight, after the current ones at Camac Street and Salt Lake, and two more in the city by the end of this year.
Gandhi’s Communication At Asutosh
The inauguration of the new session of the Bhavan's Asutosh College of Communication and Management coincided with the 2005 edition of the annual Sir Asutosh Memorial Memorial Oration on Monday, June 4 2005 at the Asutosh Memorial Hall. The grand evening session organised jointly by the Asutosh Mookerjee Memorial Institute and the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kolkata Kendra saw the Governor of West Bengal, Gopalkrishna Gandhi deliver an oration on 'Gandhi In The Grip Of Violence'.
Referring to the facts that the 'Father of the Nation' was never comfortable with the title' 'Mahatma' and that the two most popular terms used to refer to Gandhi, 'Mahatma' and 'Father of the Nation' were given by two Bengalis, Rabindra Nath Tagore and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose respectively, the Governor cited several instances where Gandhi was involved in violence, both in South Africa and in India.
Stressing on Gandhi's belief that justice should come with clean hands, the Governor identified several contemporary issues, like arresting communal violence, dialogue with Pakistan, enforcement of women's rights, solution of ecological crisis, especially water resource management, fighting poverty, opposing commercialism and corruption, wherein Gandhi's involvement would have proved beneficial.
The Governor also drew a line between fasting and hunger strike as modes of agitation for prevalence of truth. According to his perceptions, fasting deals with changing the other party's mind and heart whereas, hunger strike seeks to obtain favourable decision.
Earlier, Mr. Gopalkrishna Gandhi paid homage to Asutosh Mookerjee by referring to him as having "Himalayan stature and Gangetic vigour".
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kolkata chairman, Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder in his presidential address, praised Sir Asutosh for converting the University of Calcutta from an examining university to a teaching university. On behalf of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kolkata, he handed over a cheque to Governor Gandhi for the December 26, 2004 tsunami victims.
Among the other dignitaries gracing the occasion were Calcutta High Court Chief Justice, V.S. Shirpurkar; Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Director, K.V. Gopalkrishnan and Asutosh Memorial Institute President, Justice Chittatosh Mukherjee.The programme which started with a musical invocation from the Bhavan's School teachers and students ended with the rest on the dais and those in the gallery singing the National Anthem along with them.
Referring to the facts that the 'Father of the Nation' was never comfortable with the title' 'Mahatma' and that the two most popular terms used to refer to Gandhi, 'Mahatma' and 'Father of the Nation' were given by two Bengalis, Rabindra Nath Tagore and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose respectively, the Governor cited several instances where Gandhi was involved in violence, both in South Africa and in India.
Stressing on Gandhi's belief that justice should come with clean hands, the Governor identified several contemporary issues, like arresting communal violence, dialogue with Pakistan, enforcement of women's rights, solution of ecological crisis, especially water resource management, fighting poverty, opposing commercialism and corruption, wherein Gandhi's involvement would have proved beneficial.
The Governor also drew a line between fasting and hunger strike as modes of agitation for prevalence of truth. According to his perceptions, fasting deals with changing the other party's mind and heart whereas, hunger strike seeks to obtain favourable decision.
Earlier, Mr. Gopalkrishna Gandhi paid homage to Asutosh Mookerjee by referring to him as having "Himalayan stature and Gangetic vigour".
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kolkata chairman, Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder in his presidential address, praised Sir Asutosh for converting the University of Calcutta from an examining university to a teaching university. On behalf of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kolkata, he handed over a cheque to Governor Gandhi for the December 26, 2004 tsunami victims.
Among the other dignitaries gracing the occasion were Calcutta High Court Chief Justice, V.S. Shirpurkar; Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Director, K.V. Gopalkrishnan and Asutosh Memorial Institute President, Justice Chittatosh Mukherjee.The programme which started with a musical invocation from the Bhavan's School teachers and students ended with the rest on the dais and those in the gallery singing the National Anthem along with them.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Ghalib Re-visited
On March 28-29, the Department of Urdu, University of Calcutta organized a National Seminar on 'Ghalib Aur Kalkatta' at the Asutosh Hall, CU College Street campus, in association with the Ghalib Institute, New Delhi. The programme was inaugurated by CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Suranjan Das. In their inauguration speeches, CU Registrar, Prof. Ujjwal Basu, Jb. Shahid Mahuli, Prof. Sadiqur-Rahman Qidwai, Prof. Khalique Anjum and Janab Md. Amin (MIC - Labour, Govt. of W.B.) dwelled upon different aspects of the deep-seated bond between Kolkata and Mirza Ghalib. The pre-tea session was rounded off by the ceremonial release of Dr. Khalique Anjum's book, 'Ghalib Ka Safar-e-Kalkatta'. The late afternoon session saw Shabina Nishat Omar paying a tribute to Ghalib. The day melted away in the poetic musicality of the 'Sham-e-Ghazal' by Sohail Rana, Mohna and Toshi Kaur.
The following and final day passed away in a jiffy amidst much enlightening speeches and discussions on topics ranging from 'Nai Nasl Aur Ghalib Ka Khauf' to 'Ghalib Aur Ahl-e-Bangala', from 'Ghalib ke Shairon mein Dramaieyat' to 'Ghalib ke Shayaron Mein Ghar Ka Tassauwar' by renowned men of letters like Nadeem Ahmed, Maulana A.M.K. Masumi, Dr. Khwaja Nasim Akhter, Jb. Shahid Mahuli, Prof. Shamim Hanfi, among others. The participating students got to have a taste of the best of Ghalib, and the best on Ghalib as well.
The following and final day passed away in a jiffy amidst much enlightening speeches and discussions on topics ranging from 'Nai Nasl Aur Ghalib Ka Khauf' to 'Ghalib Aur Ahl-e-Bangala', from 'Ghalib ke Shairon mein Dramaieyat' to 'Ghalib ke Shayaron Mein Ghar Ka Tassauwar' by renowned men of letters like Nadeem Ahmed, Maulana A.M.K. Masumi, Dr. Khwaja Nasim Akhter, Jb. Shahid Mahuli, Prof. Shamim Hanfi, among others. The participating students got to have a taste of the best of Ghalib, and the best on Ghalib as well.
Judicial Idealism And Practicality
Recently, the second Dr. Syamaprasad Mookerjee Special Lectureship endowed by his younger daughter, Mrs. Arati Bhattacharya, was delivered by Mr. Soli Jahangir Sorabjee, former Attorney General of India, at the Auditorium, Centre for Social Sciences and Humanities, Calcutta University Shahid Khudiram Bose Shikshangan, Alipur.
The topic for the session was 'Judicial Activism-Boon Or Bane'. Mr. Sorabjee elucidated the vital legal role of judicial activism and how far the judiciary has a say in human rights, liberty, equality, justice and fraternity. He stressesd on hearing before condemnation, transparency and openness in governance, minimisation of arbitrariness, and rationality as cornerstones of judicial activism for sound administration. He reproached the practice of violation of human rights due to non-implementation of laws, at the same time, making the point that Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is not a pill for all ills. Criticising the practice of treating PIL as private, political or publicity interest litigation, he advised the judiciary not to confuse judicial activism with judicial adventure or judicial authoritarianism. The entire revelation was simplified by constant references to court cases. He concluded by asserting that fundamental rights are ornamental declarations and teasing allusions without judicial activism.
The previous year's lecture by the distinguished scientist, Mr. A.P. Mitra was formally released by Mr. Sorabjee.
Among the other dignitaries gracing the occasion were Prof. Bhaskar Chakraborty, Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee, Sri Chittatosh Mookerjee and Prof. Suranjan Das.
The topic for the session was 'Judicial Activism-Boon Or Bane'. Mr. Sorabjee elucidated the vital legal role of judicial activism and how far the judiciary has a say in human rights, liberty, equality, justice and fraternity. He stressesd on hearing before condemnation, transparency and openness in governance, minimisation of arbitrariness, and rationality as cornerstones of judicial activism for sound administration. He reproached the practice of violation of human rights due to non-implementation of laws, at the same time, making the point that Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is not a pill for all ills. Criticising the practice of treating PIL as private, political or publicity interest litigation, he advised the judiciary not to confuse judicial activism with judicial adventure or judicial authoritarianism. The entire revelation was simplified by constant references to court cases. He concluded by asserting that fundamental rights are ornamental declarations and teasing allusions without judicial activism.
The previous year's lecture by the distinguished scientist, Mr. A.P. Mitra was formally released by Mr. Sorabjee.
Among the other dignitaries gracing the occasion were Prof. Bhaskar Chakraborty, Prof. Asis Kumar Banerjee, Sri Chittatosh Mookerjee and Prof. Suranjan Das.
En-masse Communication Between Sports And Management
On Monday, March 28, 2005, the newly-introduced one-year two-semesters Post-graduate Diploma in Sports and Mass Communication Management course was formally inaugurated at a seminar organised by the parent Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Calcutta, at the Darbhanga Hall, CU Asutosh Shiksha Prangan(College Street Campus). The seminar was a part of the University's 150 years celebrations and was sponsored by the University Grants Commission's Departmental Special Assistance(DSA) programme.
In her welcome address, Prof. Dr. Tapati Basu, Head of the Department, CU Journalism and Mass Communication department, briefly narrated the rich history of the department as well as of the DSA programme. Mementos were presented by the students on behalf of the host department to Chief Guest, Mr. Subhash Chakraborty, honorable Minister of Sports and Transport, Government of West Bengal and Guest of Honour, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, Patron-in-Chief, Board of Control for Cricket in India and President, Cricket Association of Bengal. The new job-oriented academic course was then formally inaugurated in unison by Mr. Chakraborty, Mr. Dalmiya and , CU Registrar, Prof. Ujjwal Kumar Basu.
Emphasising the need for a sports and mass communication management course for meeting the huge demand for sports administrators, managers and organisers, Mr. Dalmiya in his speech, hailed this as the right hour to introduce such an academic discipline. He highlighted the role of mass communication media in the globalisation of sports by narrating from his own experience of China getting interested in cricket by watching the 1996 Cricket World Cup on television; China now has 185 schools, 12 grounds and five-year plans for promotion of cricket in the country in its bid to become a cricketing power by 2020. He also cited instances from other practical anecdotes to stress the importance of modern information technologies like video-conferencing etc. for enabling better functioning of sports management.
In his speech, Mr. Subhash Chakraborty, emphasised the need for bringing in more and more tribal people and women to the arena of sports in the country. Denouncing the traditional practice of looking down upon those who preferred sports to studies, he laid stress on physical fitness for mental development and urged for full-fleged intoduction of sports and other physical activities in the country's academic curricula, as in earstwhile USSR and China down the ages. He sharply critcised the lack of government financial assistance for the extension and expansion of sports in the country.
CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Suranjan Das regarded sports and mass communication management as the link between active sports and present-day commercialisation of sports.
Prof. Ujjwal Basu pointed out that though the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management already has a course on sports management, CU's initiative in commencing a sports and mass communication course directed both at journalist and administrators, is novel and unique in its own right.
The other dignitaries gracing the occasion were Mr. Dhurjoti Prosad Dey, Secretary, Faculties of Arts, Commerce and Journalism and Mass Communication, CU; Mr. Santanu Sanyal, Logistics Editor, The Hindu Business Line; Dr. Soumendra Nath Bera, faculty member, CU Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, and a host of others.
The programme ended on a thanksgiving note by Prof. Sudipti Bandopadhyay, emphsising the long-lasting commitment between university and sports. Not to forget, the delicious refreshment provided the icing on the cake.
In her welcome address, Prof. Dr. Tapati Basu, Head of the Department, CU Journalism and Mass Communication department, briefly narrated the rich history of the department as well as of the DSA programme. Mementos were presented by the students on behalf of the host department to Chief Guest, Mr. Subhash Chakraborty, honorable Minister of Sports and Transport, Government of West Bengal and Guest of Honour, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, Patron-in-Chief, Board of Control for Cricket in India and President, Cricket Association of Bengal. The new job-oriented academic course was then formally inaugurated in unison by Mr. Chakraborty, Mr. Dalmiya and , CU Registrar, Prof. Ujjwal Kumar Basu.
Emphasising the need for a sports and mass communication management course for meeting the huge demand for sports administrators, managers and organisers, Mr. Dalmiya in his speech, hailed this as the right hour to introduce such an academic discipline. He highlighted the role of mass communication media in the globalisation of sports by narrating from his own experience of China getting interested in cricket by watching the 1996 Cricket World Cup on television; China now has 185 schools, 12 grounds and five-year plans for promotion of cricket in the country in its bid to become a cricketing power by 2020. He also cited instances from other practical anecdotes to stress the importance of modern information technologies like video-conferencing etc. for enabling better functioning of sports management.
In his speech, Mr. Subhash Chakraborty, emphasised the need for bringing in more and more tribal people and women to the arena of sports in the country. Denouncing the traditional practice of looking down upon those who preferred sports to studies, he laid stress on physical fitness for mental development and urged for full-fleged intoduction of sports and other physical activities in the country's academic curricula, as in earstwhile USSR and China down the ages. He sharply critcised the lack of government financial assistance for the extension and expansion of sports in the country.
CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Prof. Suranjan Das regarded sports and mass communication management as the link between active sports and present-day commercialisation of sports.
Prof. Ujjwal Basu pointed out that though the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management already has a course on sports management, CU's initiative in commencing a sports and mass communication course directed both at journalist and administrators, is novel and unique in its own right.
The other dignitaries gracing the occasion were Mr. Dhurjoti Prosad Dey, Secretary, Faculties of Arts, Commerce and Journalism and Mass Communication, CU; Mr. Santanu Sanyal, Logistics Editor, The Hindu Business Line; Dr. Soumendra Nath Bera, faculty member, CU Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, and a host of others.
The programme ended on a thanksgiving note by Prof. Sudipti Bandopadhyay, emphsising the long-lasting commitment between university and sports. Not to forget, the delicious refreshment provided the icing on the cake.
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