Chinese delegation to meet Indian IT and ITeS cos

For Indian software outsourcing companies, electronic information products manufacturers and talents’ training service provider, here is a golden opportunity to do business in China. A high-powered Chinese delegation from Guangxi Province is visiting India to engage Indian companies in these sectors. 

The 18-person delegation consists of 10-top Chinese companies and 2 Government officials. They will be visiting Mumbai (March 26, Hotel Park Plaza Royal Palms, Goregaon), Delhi (April 2, Jacaranda Hall, India Habitat Centre) and Kolkata (March 27, Hotel Hindustan International, A.J.C. Bose Road). 

If you are interested, please send your request at rajkumarrishi1@gmail.com

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Bishnupriya Manipuri
E – World
English Grammar

Bishnupriya Manipuri in Kolkata on Dec 7 discussed upon raising of fund, registration of the Society

In a meeting held at Prince Anwar Shah Road, Kolkata on December 7, the Bishnupriya Manipuri Awakening Society discussed upon Registration of Society under the society act and ways and means of raising fund for the plot of land either in South or North Kolkata. 

The meeting was presided by Dr.Bani Kumar Sinha as President. The General Secretary, Shri Nirmalendu Sinha and Rebati Mohan Sinha as special invitee were also present in the meeting. The attendees held one-minute silence for the Assam blast victims. 

Finding registration of the Society not getting ground due to absenteeism of few members, the meeting drew a time period of three months to get the registration done. 

However, on the topic of finding a suitable location for a plot of land in Kolkata, no final decision came out from the meeting. 

The raising of fund came out as the main topic in the meeting. It was decided that rigorous collection drive should be made to the nook and corners of the city, where our Bishnupriya Manipuri people are residing. It was also decided to tie-up with Bishnupriya Manipuri residing in foreign land. 

Rebati Mohan Sinha who came from visiting blast victims in Guwahati briefed the meeting about the donation made to Guwahati bomb blast victims.

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Biswananda Sinha releases his second novel

In a glittering function held in Kolkata on October 16, 2008, and which was attended by renowned personalities from literature, art and culture, government and films space, Biswananda Sinha released his second Bengali novel ‘Tomai Amai Milon Hole‘. His first novel was ‘Pratishruti‘, published in 1992.

Son of Mani Kanta Sinha, Biswananda Sinha hails from Bhakatpur, Cachar, Assam. A GSM Engineer by profession, he holds a top level portfolio in Bhatri Airtel Ltd. Kolkata.

The function organised at Press Club, Kolkata got underway with the inaugural speech by Prof. Subodh Sarkar, eminent poet and novelist.

Other dignitaries in the presence of which the novel ‘Tomai Amai Milon Hole’ was released included Srikanto Acharjjyo, singer, writer and composer; Krishna Kumar Mukherjee, film personality; Partho Bannerjee, Publisher and Nitin Ganguly, Director of Art and Culture, Government of West Bengal.

Mrs. S Ganguly, Adviser to Chief Minister, West Bengal and P Ghose, Chief of News Bureau also had their presence in the book release. Prosenjit De, Director Hyatt Regency, is among many top guns who were present in the Biswananda Sinha D’ day.

They all thanked Biswananda Sinha for his immense contribution which he had done to the enrichment of the Bengali literature, despite being a non-Bengali, more so not being a non-Kolkatan.

Giving his speech in front of the packed media that saw participation from Star Anando, 24 Ghanta, SrisTV, CTV, Protidin, Anando Bazar, Doordarshan and the high profile attendees, Biswananda Sinha spoke in detail about the Bishnupirya Manipuri community, its culture and the relationship the community had with the Bengali literature. He further went on describing the connection the community had with Rabindra Nath Tagore and Shanti Niketan.

The book which the readers will find as their own story is about a Bengali boy, whose romantic life ultimately gets transformed into his philosophical and spiritual quest.

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The Grand Festival – Durga Puja

By BN Sinha, Kolkata

Among the many festivals we observe, there is always a controversy or difference of opinion which is the major festival observed by us or our community, may be Shree Krishna Janmastami , Raas Utsav or Rath Yatra , it is rather very easy to confess that the most celebrated festival in Bishnupriya Manipuri community is Durga Puja. Reason may be any or many; the fact is that Durga puja always witness us to visit our native place, as often it becomes the official visit to home for the people who are out of their native places. While acknowledging every individuals wish list I must add another that holds good every year when most of us declare ” Ebosor te pujat gore jitouga” ( I will go home puja this year).

As I belong to the city Silchar, Assam, I have always witnessed Durga puja as the most celebrated among all the Hindu festivals. Puja always meant homecoming. In the childhood days we used to anxiously wait for the autumn to arrive that we may receive the compulsory annual gift from parents precisely known as “pujar footi”. As a child it was always waiting patiently for the presets to arrive. A new set of cloths somehow signified the arrival of Goddess into our life and pandals. In the teen days, puja was more about fun. No studies and most importantly four new dresses for the four days. The best to be kept for the Astami, the evening were engaged in eating out and pandal hopping to each and every corner of the city.

From the very childhood I have seen that Puja starts with Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s immoral chandipath at four in the morning on Mahalaya. And it was spectacular to see that thousands of people irrespective of ages come out on the streets in the wee hours in the morning and the street witness a packed crowd. It is probably the unique way for the Silcharites to welcome Ma Durga which we generally don’t see in any part of the world.

It was always believed that the best pujas are only in Kolkata. For me, I have been to Kolkata only twice during Puja. First time in 1996, that year I was totally overwhelmed by the crowds everywhere to the extent that I even felt slightly scared despite being with friends. This year I am again in Kolkata in pre-puja days and will celebrate till Astami as I am scheduled to go to Silchar, Assam on Navami to celebrate half of the puja days with parents.

The pre-puja days atmosphere in Kolkata is incredibly awesome and the jubilant. The mood of euphoria among the people is just cannot be expressed in words. It is a human flood in the markets and in the streets.

There have always been two sides of Durga puja , the economical and conventional. The two stands interlaced, now working in tandem now bumping. And keeping with changes in the nature of festivities, the idea of homecoming during Puja seldom remains inert, motionless. Rather it evolves and transforms itself.

This year Puja in my village reaches its twentieth year and consequently the budget for Puja also reached all time high till now. Thus it is definitely a must to go home in my village for Puja celebration this year……..

A very Happy Durga Puja to all.

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The maximum town: Silchar

By Rebati Mohan Sinha, Mumbai

The Silchar town is still synonymous to our native places because whenever some one ask me, where am I from? I say, form Silchar. Here in Mumbai, we are the people of erstwhile Cachar district (Hailakandi &Karimganj included), running an NGO, named “Sreehatta Sammilani”. I would come up later, with a write up on this Sanstha.

We, most of us are from Silchar and when ever there is a great Bengali function in the city, we are always remembered and even Assamese never forget to call us in Assam Bhavan. The name Silchar is quite famous among the Bengalees living in Mumbai, immaterial whether they are from east or west Bengal.

I was born and brought up in Baromuni; but my paternal village is Bhubaneshwar Nagar, located east of village Mohanpur. My present village, South Bekirpar (Panibhora) in Baromuni is east of Mr.Rajkumar Rishi`s maternal village, Katakhal. During my boyhood, I never went to Silchar, because there was no motorable road up to Kabuganj from where people used to go to Silchar by bus. Whenever any villager comes back from Silchar, we the children anxiously looking at him as if he came back after winning a war. It was really a dream for us to go to town (Silchar), leaving apart seeing a movie. First of all, where was the money for a child of my age? Those days we had never heard of any pocket money, for children like us, studying in H.E.schools, which five kms. away from our village. We used to cover 10 km every day with bare foot on a kacha rasta, full of stones.

It was in 1955; one of my friends took me to town, stayed in a hotel at Premtola, named Smriti hotel. I still remember the charges, it was one rupee a day for both of us.The meals.. ‘maser jhol-bhat’ was costing sowa taaka (Rs.1.25 p) ‘daal-bhat’ aat anna ( daal-rice, costing 50 paise). I was not having even a pie with me, all expenses borne by my friend, even for the movie. I would not forget the name that was “Sadhu Ramprasad”. In those days, the younger generation used stand in front of cinema halls (Oriental,Annapurna and Kalabati) listen filmy songs operating for crowd pulling. We took two third- class tickets having no seat numbers, costing only six annas per head. No sooner had the gate opened than we rush in, occupied the front row to view the picture comfortably; but it was our wrong calculation, we could not see even the figures properly. We thought it would be like a ‘jaatra’performed in villages. As we went out of the hall,I felt paining at my neck. So, that was the first hand experience about a town. I would not like to go in detail about the best town in Barak valley.Even today; it is one of the best business centres of North East region. It is a Bengali populated town from the British era and during Bangal kheda,the Bengalees from upper Assam left their business and settled down in Silchar and another exodus from Bangladesh during 1971 war. Due to increase in population and absence of infrastructure, now it is about to be burst at it’s seems. I could find hardly any change in main arteries, the streets of town. There are city buses but ‘naam ke waste’. One has to either walk or avail of cycle rickshaws or wait for a point to point auto service for example: to reach the northern part (Tarapur) of the town from southern end (Rangirkhari), one has to avail of such services; but can not reach the destination at one go i.e., to get down at midtown, wait for another point to point auto service.

It is obvious, one should have allergic at looking at the infrastructure available; but there is no other option. In my case, whenever I go on leave from Mumbai, sometime I do marketing in kolkata, even vegetable and sweet, to avoid buying anything from the town. Once landed at Kumbirgram I proceed straight way home. It is not that I would not be buying anything during my stay and I would not say, it is a solution.

RK Rishikesh Sinha: What Rebati Mohan Sinha has divulged here in this article has really made me to jot down that the town Silchar what today is, was not the same that this write-up describe it. I didn’t know Silchar was indeed inaccessible to the villages here mentioned. I am imagining, if this bit of information is so important today, what would be its importance after 10 years down the line. Good thing, the information has been archived.

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I have no regret, now

By Rebati Mohan Sinha, Mumbai

It was year 1972, I and my family, wife and year-old daughter traveling from Vishakhapatnam to Silchar via Calcutta. In those days, Air line passengers were to report to city office first, then to Dum Dum Airport by airline’s own bus. On that fateful day, I reached Howrah Railway Station and took a taxi to air office at Rasbehari Avenue. As the taxi driver about to park the vehicle near the air office, a porter came running and started helping us to take out the luggage from the taxi and at the mean time I was paying the fare to the driver. And on reaching the counter, saw a black attaché was missing, I immediately turn around and saw the taxi was taking a U turn. I started running after the taxi and some how reached nearer and tapping on, to stop but it didn’t. It was dusk and streets were becoming dark and the streets light were started burning. I kept on running after it; but how long a human being ran against a machine? I had to give up and headed towards the taxi union office to hand over my particulars as well as taxi`s and went back to brief my wife at air office, where I could see, my daughter was crying non-stop for the want of milk and my wife was trying her best to console. It was night 9 o clock, I saw a restaurant nearby and went straightway there and pleaded for a glass of milk for my daughter. On hearing my unfortunate tale, the shop-owner oblized to me. After having some snacks I went straight to Lalbazar Police Station (HQ) to lodge a complaint. The officer on duty heard me patiently on looking at my identity card and instructed his subordinate to do the needful. The immediate action taken was to instruct wireless control room to send messages to traffic police to detain the taxi. It was my bad luck; there was no sign of taxi even after my two hours of waiting at the Police Head Quarters. At around 2 o clock in the morning, I went back to air office.

The next day, my second ordeal started on the issue of duplicate air tickets on the basis of police report; but the Station manager expressed his inability to issue the same, saying that there was no such clause existing. The loss of ticket is loss of money, he said. Then I asked him to issue tickets on payment; but he refused saying, no seats available. I asked, my tickets were ok ones, why couldn’t he issue? He said, waiting listed passengers would be given the first preference. The co-passengers were requesting him to accommodate us on humanitarian ground; but he did’nt, saying that I could avail of Gauhati flight where seats were in plenty, I had no other option; but to by tickets and some how board the plane. We reached safely at Gauhati. The train for Silchar was to depart at the evening; I had contacted a coolie to arrange two seats on premium, in an unreserved compartment, which he agreed. Then we went for buying some clothes as our dresses were in that lost attaché case. The next day we reached Silchar, stayed at home for a month and enjoyed a lot with nearest and dearest and went back to Vishakhapatnam.I have no regret now, what so ever happened is happened.

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Phira Raath (kaang) in Kolkata

Phira Raath (kaang) was celebrated on 12th of July 2008 by the Bishnupriya Manipuri people of Kolkata at the residence of Sri Kunja Singha at Bagher Khol with great keenness.

Ranita Sinha, Kolkata

Unlike the first day of Rath Yatra, the crowd was meager. Only 40-45 devotees assembled for the occasion but there was no lacking in enthusiasm.

The brightly decorated Kaang was drawn and taken out on the road by chanting Hari Naam. This time though the professional Isalpa was not present, yet the devotees chanted Hari Naam with full warmth and devotion while drawing the chariot.

Later the Raath was brought back and Senda Arti was performed followed by the Joideb. Everybody, who were present, participated in the Joideb and was of great fun.Finally, the prasadam- Khechuri and usheir khaar was served which was mouth watering.

But the day did not end here. There was a singing mehefil where most of the people participated which was fun filled and at last thirty minutes past midnight everyone proceeded towards their home.

Shri Shri Jagannath`s Rath Yatra (Kaang)

By Rebati Mohan Sinha

The Bishnupriya Manipuris living in the metro cities of India seemed to be charged with their cultural and spiritual roots sown by their ancestors. The Bishnupriya Manipuri living in Kolkata had celebrated last year`s Rath Yatra on 15th July 2007 by a own built Rath, and Pune was not lagging behind in this celebration. Brishnupriya Manipuri people residing there have promised to build a Rath to celebrate this auspicious occasion on 04th July 2008. The preparations are afoot to build the Rath at Range Hill, Pune. Shri Kulajit Rajkumar, an engineer, is entrusted with the job.

Other day, while offering the shradda of late Guru Devendra Sinha at Pune, I was casually briefing the gathering about the building of a Rath at Kolkata, suddenly a renowned gentleman, named, Shri Ramsena Sinha, rose to his feet, interrupting my speech, assured me that they will also build the Rath at Pune. I continued with my briefing, saying that last year the custom built Chariot, bearing sacred images of Lord Krshna and his associates, festooned with colorful canopies, flower garlands and other decorations by a team of devotee-volunteers lead by an engineer, named Shri Nirmalendu Sinha, the architect of building the Rath at Kolkata. This festival brings the Bishnupriya Manipuri residents of Kolkata and it`s suburbs together during it`s 9 day`s celebration.

It is a demonstration of universal peace, goodwill and equality of all in the eyes of God. Like many of the young volunteers helping to keep the parade running smoothly. It was heard; some youngsters credited such festivals with connecting them to their cultural & spiritual roots. `Being a part of the organization has helped us to understand and better appreciate the amazing gift that we were given.’

The day`s show stealer, however, was a father-daughter duo`s splendid performance with` Mridanga Chalan’, that had the audience of our adults and children spell bound. It would not be out of place if we would mention the unnamed personalities, who had carried the celebration in a greater scale.

The festival of the chariot plying is modeled after the festival of Rath yatra,
one of the most important annual events in the calendar year of Hindu faith. This festival is especially sacred to Bishnupriya Manipuri community as a whole, the vaishnavas (devotees of Lord Krishna) in particular. In the sea side of holy city of Jagannath Puri every summer, at the beginning of monsoon season, the deity is taken out of the temple amidst great fan fare, and placed on the bright and colorful chariot for annual visit to his aunt’s home at Gundacha Mandir which is 2 km. away from Puri Temple. On 9th day, Lord Krishna comes back to his abode ie Puri Temple.(Fira Rath).

The Rath yatra, or a journey on Chariot is a popular event high lighting richly decorated Rath pulled along the streets of Puri, where devotees gather to catch glimpse of Lord and his associates Subhadra and Balabhadra.

In the yesteryears the king of Orissa swept the streets, on which the Chariot plied, with broom, made up of gold. In a country, where pilgrimages are of immense value, they represent an inward journey through hardship and hurdles to attain salvations or God. It is this journey of experience leading to truth, knowledge and light.

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The International Society for Shri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur Foundation Stone laid

A foundation stone for the ‘International Society for Shri Shri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur Sevashram’ was laid by the sevait of Gobinda Mandir, Nabadwip, on the 11th. November 2007. The ceremony took place on the occation of Akhil Bharatiya‘s first celebration of 137th birth anniversary of Shri Shri Sadhu Thakur at Pune, Maharashtra. It witnessed a huge public gathering.

The main purpose of the International Society for Shri Shri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur Sevashramma, which is an institution, is to build Sevashrams in Delhi, Kolkata, Pune and Bangalore and other cities with the help of NRIs and the people residing in those cities.

The International Society for Shri Shri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur Sevashram strives for the spiritual, social and educational upliftment of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community and mankind at large. It’s philosophy is based on the universal religion of Naam Sankirtan which is to impart service to the people irrespective of caste, creed, color and gender. The Society request all people to come forward to fulfill its objectives.

“To forecaste whether Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur would have been a major force of our times one has to be aware that we are talking about one of the most religiously astute spiritual leader in our B.M.history. However, has anyone wondered how Shri Sadhu Thakur managed to stay in step through years of rapidly changing scenario of Nabadwip?.”

The original text sent by Rebati Mohan Sinha has been changed with some addition and deletion.

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Meeting held to built Shri Shri Bhubhaneshwar Sadhu Thakur Mandir

On 23 rd March 2008, a meeting took place at Mr. Shiva Prasad Sinha’s residence at Fort William, Kolkata to discuss upon acquiring a plot of land either in North or South Kolkata for the construction of a Mandir of Shri Shri Bhubhaneshwar Sadhu Thakur. People present in the meeting were requested to search for a better plot and they have agreed to do so.

Mr. Rebati Mohan Sinha, the Working President of Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha (NBMM) presided over the meeting. In his speech he expressed his happiness to be a part of the gathering where Shri Shri Bhubhaneshwar Sadhu Thakur’s teachings were discussed. He even pressed upon the unity among the Bishnupriya Manipuri inhabitants of Kolkata and its suburbs.

Mr. Nirmal Sinha assured in the gathering that they will continue celebrating Bishnupriya Manipuri festivals along with the Birth Anniversary of Sadhu Thakur. Mr. Rajat Sinha who was present in the meeting expressed his sorrowness to the deteriorating standard of education prevailing in the B.M.villages in Assam and Tripura. He requested the gathering to find a way out to improve the quality of education in those villages. He also told the gathering that they can not just scalp of their responsibilities towards the Bishnupriya Manipuri society which they are part of it.

On this point, Mr.Rebati Sinha intervened, saying, “the parents and guardians should be held responsible for the present affairs because they have no time to even look at the Progress Report of their wards. They are busy in ‘Village Politics’ i.e (Dola-Doli)”.

People present there have cheered up by clapping their hands. There were no points to dwell upon for the day, the president called off the meeting in a happy note.

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