Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Former child prodigy leads naval band to Kolkata

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Kolkata :

He claims that he only managed to chew on the harmonica that his father gifted him at the age of four. His father, however, believed that there was something in the way he played it. By the age of six, he was playing a piano and barely six year’s later, he was invited to the Teen Murti Auditorium in New Delhi to play the piano on the occasion of the bicentenary celebrations of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This child grew up to be Lt CdrSatish K Champion, principal conductor of the Navy’s Eastern Command Band that is presently in Kolkata.

“I am from Chennai but was born and brought up in Mumbai. My father was in the Navy as well. After starting with the piano, I passed a series of examinations under the aegis of the Royal School of Music, London. Even then, I had not planned a career in music but took up computers. This was when the two officers from the music wing of the Navy retired and they started looking for talent. I was selected,” Champion told TOI.

Joining was not even half of the job done. Over the next few months, he had to gain sufficient mastery over several musical instruments and had to pass several rounds of tests. After all, he was to be a conductor. Champion is also formally trained on the trumpet apart from the piano and has several musical compositions to his credit.

On Sunday evening, Champion and the members of his band mesmerized the audience at Lascar Memorial. The selection of tunes was done to suit the occasion. While numbers like Colonel Bogey (of Bridge on the River Kwai fame) got people clapping, many in the audience were tapping their feet during the Rock and Roll medley. The Xylophone solo ‘Tipy Toes’, composed by Champion was also a hit as was Henry L Kling’s composition ‘Piccolo Duet’.

On Monday, the band performed at the ICCR Auditorium. On Tuesday, it is scheduled to perform at the Tollygunge Club. This back to back schedule hasn’t been easy for the band.

“We are hardly getting any time to rehearse. After all, the selections will have to be different for every location. The compositions will depend on the audience and the ambience. We have to adapt to the changes at each location. However, I have full confidence in the members of the band and they are doing their best,” Champion added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / by Jayanta Gupta, TNN / November 10th, 2014

Healing touch for Bible society

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinion

Kolkata :

Over two centuries, Bible House on Jawaharlal Nehru Road has played a pivotal role in translating and publishing the best-selling book of all time — the Bible. Ravaged over time, the Romanesque building has received superficial attention but never undergone a thorough repair. Now, various churches have come together to fund the first major restoration and offer the heritage building a fresh lease of life.

“The Bible is the reason why churches exist. Hence the significance of the building where the Bible has been translated and published for two centuries. It has served as the cradle of Christianity in the country,” said Bishop Ashok Biswas, chairman of the Kolkata auxiliary or chapter of Bible Society.

The Bible Society movement in India started from the Bible House, which was built in 1811. It is the second oldest Bible House in the world, built barely seven years after the Bible House in London. Till the mid-20th century, its jurisdiction extended up to Sri Lanka and Myanmar. It was the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society that was established in 1811 and the Bible Society of India came into being 33 years later.

Conservation architect Manish Chakraborti, who has been appointed the project consultant, is finalizing the plan for the building’s authentic restoration.

“A cast iron column in the building appears to be buckling under pressure and needs to be immediately repaired. Thereafter, the flooring system has to be strengthened by repairing the supporting wooden beams and runners, and splicing steel joist where necessary. A leak in the roof also needs repair. Woodwork and joinery of doors and windows will also be restored and the Burma teak wooden staircase will be cleaned and polished,” said Chakraborti.

Beyond restoring the building, the architect has chalked out a detailed plan for its appropriate adaptive reuse after detailed discussions with Bible Society officials. “Three fourth of the ground floor is occupied by a tenant. The rest of the building is occupied by us. This section will be internally revamped. On the first floor, a full-fledged modern auditorium with a seating capacity of 180 persons will be set up.

There will also be an archive, reading room, library and a special room for the translation board to meet. On the second floor, we will have a guest house with four rooms,” said senior auxiliary secretary Sajal Kumar Sarkar.

Another important aspect is the development of a fire-retardant store-room at the rear of the building for storing Bibles and Biblical texts published by Bible Society. Chakraborti expects the KMC Heritage Committee to give the project its nod soon.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / by Subhro Niyogi, TNN / November 11th, 2014

Bengal’s Dutch link on Presi site

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion

Kolkata :

Dutch history in India has been ‘e-mortalized’ by Presidency University and Netherlands Embassy, with the launch of a web portal documenting and geo-tagging the total area of the Dutch cemetery in Chinsurah. At the same time, ‘The Dutch East India Company in India’, a book by anthropologist Bauke van der Pol was released on Friday.

“This book looks at the larger picture of the Dutch in India, and Dutch trade relations with India have existed for far longer than those with say, America or Australia,” said van der Pol, who presented a comprehensive compendium of the Dutch East India Company heritage in India by guiding the reader through country houses, settlements, trading posts and cemeteries.

The website and the book was launched by Presidency University vice-chancellor Anuradha Lohia and the Honorary Consul of the Netherlands, Namit Shah. “The ‘Dutch Cemetery in Chinsurah’ database, that’s available online at www.dutchcemeterybengal.com, tells the story of a centuries-old colonial settlement that produced some of the key figures involved in the shaping of trade, polity and culture in the Indian subcontinent. Less well-known than its British namesake, the Dutch East India Company, Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC), once managed the vast inter-continental trade from 17th to 19th century through its settlements in coastal India. As a hub between the western trade capital Amsterdam and its Eastern counterpart in Batavia, Chinsurah occupied a key position in VOC and indeed, in Dutch history as well,” said Souvik Mukherjee of the English department, who headed the digital humanities project.

Mukherjee outlined the objectives of the project. “We photographed the gravestones and tombs in detail, accessed and digitized the research matter from offline sources. We also transcribed headstone inscriptions and inserted architectural, biographical, geographical, demographic, literary and historical metadata,” he said.

The Dutch anthropologist also gave a sneak peek into his next book, ‘Dutch on the Ganges’, scheduled to be released next year.

While explaining how the Dutch settled at Baranagar, van der Pol said, “It was a small settlement where big ships would anchor before heading out. It was also known to have a widely-known brothel, with beautiful ladies from Malaysia.”

He also gave a brief description of Prince Hendrik van Oranje’s three-month stay in Bengal back in 1837.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / TNN / November 07th, 2014

LANDMARK MOMENT – Eden Gardens turns 150

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Sports
A panoramic view of the Eden Gardens ground during the match between New Zealand and Zimbabwe during the Reliance World Cup 1987. / The Hindu Archives
A panoramic view of the Eden Gardens ground during the match between New Zealand and Zimbabwe during the Reliance World Cup 1987. / The Hindu Archives

The heroes of the first test victory at the historic venue came together to mark this milestone

The duo of former cricketers Salim Durani and Chandu Borde — architects of India’s maiden test victory at the Eden Gardens – Thursday came together to launch a book marking the 150 years of the iconic cricket stadium.

The launch of “Eden Gardens, Legend & Romance”, penned by former Bengal cricketer Raju Mukherjee, was part of series of events by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to mark the occasion.

The book covers the entire journey of the ground, which came into existence as the Auckland Circus Gardens named after the then governor—general to its modern day existence.

The celebrations by the CAB included launch of a special gold coin, felicitating 150 oldest members of the CAB as well as the M.A.K. Pataudi Memorial Lecture by former India great V.V.S. Laxman.

Taking a trip down memory lane, Durani and Borde who scripted India’s memorable 187 victory against England in 1961—62, regaled tales of their association with Eden – which they described as dream ground of every cricketer.

Durani said he become a cricketer only because of the Eden Gardens where he first played as a school cricketer in 1949.

I wouldn’t have been cricketer but for Eden Gardens where my performances help me get into the Ranji team and then in the national team. Playing at Eden along with Lord’s is dream of every cricketer. There remains an emptiness if you haven’t played here,

“I wouldn’t have been cricketer but for Eden Gardens where my performances help me get into the Ranji team and then in the national team. Playing at Eden along with Lord’s is dream of every cricketer. There remains an emptiness if you haven’t played here,” said Durani.

Former Indian Cricket all-rounder Salim Durani and Chandu Borde with Sourav Ganguly, light the lamp, celebrating 150 years of Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday. / PTI
Former Indian Cricket all-rounder Salim Durani and Chandu Borde with Sourav Ganguly, light the lamp, celebrating 150 years of Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday. / PTI

On the occasion, “Eternal Eden” a documentary chronicling the historic journey of the ground which besides cricket greats of several generations, witnessed football legend Pele in action in 1977 playing for the New York Cosmos against Mohun Bagan in exhibition tie.
Talking about his memories of the ground, Borde singled out the appreciative but intimidating Eden crowd.

“Playing against Bengal at the Eden Gardens always used to be challenge besides being a good team they had backing of the crowd which was intimidating for the opponents,” said Borde who said the crowd turning riotous during the 1966–67 West Indies tour has remain etched in his memory.

“The way West Indian players were running back to the team hotel, they must have broken several Olympic records,” said Borde with a chuckle.

Several former cricketers including ex–India captain and CAB joint secretary Sourav Ganguly were also present on the occasion.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> In Schoom> Sports – Landmark Moment / by IANS / October 20th, 2014

French return to Park Mansion

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, World Opinion
Director Stephane Amalir inspects the book racks at Park Mansion. (Amit Datta)
Director Stephane Amalir inspects the book racks at Park Mansion. (Amit Datta)

Alliance Francaise, the city’s cultural bridge with France, is returning to the address where it stood for 59 years till a fire ousted it in 1999. The shift to Park Mansion is slated to take place in mid-December.

“Khaleel Munzil (the current rented address on AJC Bose Road) is a nice building but it is up for sale. We want to move out before we are asked to,” says director of Alliance Francaise du Bengale (AFB) Stephane Amalir.

AFB operates out of Khaleel Munzil and Bimal Villa on West Range, a few buildings away. “We will retain Bimal Villa but the library and the administrative offices will shift to Park Mansion, where we have acquired a 3,500sq ft apartment on the second floor on a 10-year lease,” Amalir says.

The French culture hub, then called Alliance Francaise du Calcutta, was housed at Park Mansion ever since it opened in 1940. It is the second in India after the Pondicherry centre, which turned 125 this year. “Back then, Alliance Francaise had 8,000 sq ft over two apartments in the first and the third floor. The consulate too was there as was the Trade Commission in separate apartments. I would pick up a book from the Alliance library upstairs before going home,” recalls Fabrice Etienne, the consul-general, who was posted at the Trade Commission here for two years in 1995-96.

The fire broke out in the wee hours of April 18, 1999. “We were rendered homeless and moved around to Max Mueller Bhavan, Nehru Children’s Museum and Sukhsagar Building in Elgin Road till we settled at West Range,” says Kaushik Chakraborty, a teacher at Alliance since 1981. Veteran staff members, like him, Mirza Salim Baig and Amitabha Ghosh, are nostalgic about the return to the old address.

Of course, much has changed. The wooden staircase is gone, gutted completely by the fire. It has been replaced by marble steps. Amalir is busy supervising the renovations. “We were handed an empty shell. The idea is to accommodate modern needs while keeping the charm of the old building.” Fire-proofing gadgets are being installed. In the library, there will be tablets to access Culturetheque, the upcoming e-library platform. “Members will be given passwords to log in from home as well to magazines, books, films and reading material online.” An 800sq ft room will host film screenings and conferences while bigger cultural events will use outside venues. The 18ft high ceiling will be retained as also the wooden doors and windows.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Calcutta / Front Page> Calcutta> Story / by Sudeshna Banerjee / Tuesday – November 04th, 2014

Tanuja to renew ties with Bengal

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Kolkata :

She is keen to renew her ties with Kolkata, but rues that she doesn’t have the energy to bridge the gulf created by years of disconnect. Yesteryear actor Tanuja, who enthralled the Bengali audience in films as “Anthony Firingi’, ‘Deya Neya’ and ‘Adalat O Ekti Meye’, will be visiting the city next week after almost two decades to attend the 20th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) beginning on November 10. Tanuja has been invited to inaugurate a retrospective of her Bengali films to be screened at KIFF.

“It will be nice to return to Kolkata, which was once like my second home, after so many years. Sadly, I have lost touch with most of my friends there. On this trip, it won’t be possible to meet them since I will be in Kolkata for just two days. But I plan to visit again in January to attend Saumitra Chatterjee’s 80th birth anniversary celebrations. He is the one in Kolkata I have been in touch with,” Tanuja told ToI from Mumbai on Monday.

It was way back in 1962 that she had starred in her first Bengali film ‘Deya Neya’ opposite Uttam Kumar. She followed it up two more with the Mahanayak — ‘Anthony Firingi’ and ‘Raajkumari’. But Tanuja, now 72, doesn’t have many memories of her working days in Kolkata. “It was so long ago and I was so young. The memories have failed me. Perhaps going back will rekindle some of those,” she said.

Even though she had been part of several Bengali films, Tanuja doesn’t get the chance to watch them any longer. “I have not been able to keep track of Bengali films for many years. I am told that good films are being made there, but here in Mumbai it’s difficult to catch them,” she explained.

Now that she will be in Kolkata, is she open to offers to act in Bengali films? “Well, I am not through with films, nor have I retired from cinema. You need to get tired to retire. I am not tired yet, so……” the actor trailed off.

Tanuja will be reaching the city on November 11.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / by Prithvijit Mitra, TNN / November 04th, 2014

Paulites bid farewell with toy train ride

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Darjeeling :

The ‘toy train’, puffing along the Hill Cart Road, has been such an intrinsic part of the Darjeeling experience of yore that no back-to-school programme here is complete without a glimpse of this legacy of the British Raj.

Former students of St Paul’s School, here to celebrate 150 years of their school’s coming to Jalapahar, did one better – they took a ride on a train pulled by one of the oldest engines here. For some, it was truly a ride down memory lane because the ‘toy train’ and its ridiculously small compartments were what used to bring them up from the plains for their nine months as boarders at ‘SPS’.

Saturday’s journey, undertaken by many with their families, was only as far as the Batasia ‘loop’ and back; any trip longer is powered these days by the quieter and more efficient diesel engines. With time allowed at the ‘loop’ for photo-shoots and another clear day offering the Kanchenjunga as a breathtaking backdrop, it made for a memorable morning.

At Batasia, the driver revealed that the engine was 130 years old. “Oh, it’s still far less than our school,” someone quipped.

“We had just one holiday, and it began before Christmas. The toy train journey would start at 1.20pm and it was six hours before the train pulled up alongside the waiting metre-gauge train at Siliguri,” said Joe Hammond, who used to live in the school compound because his father was a teacher. “In between, there would be this stop for tea at Kurseong,” added Hammond, who now lives in England.

Julius Mirza, who came from Iran to be part of the celebrations, recalled when he first came up in 1947, he was surprised by the size of the compartment.

Lunch at Keventer’s, Glenary’s and the many restaurants they would swarm as students on the rare outings to town heightened the nostalgia before the ‘Old Paulites’ went up Jalapahar for that final hurray.

‘M-n-M’, a professional band from Mizoram, enthralled the audience with retro numbers that began with the 1960’s giving way to recent songs. School students and some ‘Old Paulites’ with an inclination for music took the stage too.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / by Arup Chatterjee, TNN / November 01st, 2014

Calcutta captures King – Superstar dances and dimples his way into 10,000 hearts

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders

Shahrukh01KOLKATA31oct2014

Shah Rukh Khan rocked St. Xavier’s College on Wednesday evening with his dimpled smile, star appeal and snappy quips, giving a 10,000-strong crowd of screaming fans plentiful “happy” moments to remember the evening by.

If a kiss each on the forehead was a fairy tale come true for three second-year students, SRK’s spontaneity ensured that everyone else had something to take away from the hour-long Happy New Year show “Indiawaale Kolkata Mein Chha Gaye!” — presented by t2 in association with CenturyPly and Gameplan, powered by Glamour World Ayurvedic and partnered by the St. Xavier’s College Alumni Association and 91.9 Friends FM.

Chants of “We want Shah Rukh” had rent the air from 5.30pm with half the crowd already on the playground by then, armed with posters professing their love for King Khan and wishing HNY “good luck”. By the time SRK, Farah Khan and the rest of the Indiawaale team arrived from The Oberoi Grand, the crowd had doubled.

First on the stage was director Farah, who promised the audience King Khan in exchange for another promise. “Promise me, all 10,000 of you will go and watch Happy New Year again tomorrow, then I’ll ask Shah Rukh to come on stage,” she said.

For SRK, this crowd would have promised her the moon.

Shahrukh02KOLKATA31oct2014

Shah Rukh jogged onto the stage clad in ripped denims, black tee, tan leather jacket and his trademark dimpled smile. Delirium.

“There is no place like Calcutta for the love that I get and this is even beyond that. So, thank you very much. I am going to be here. I will talk for you, I will dance for you. I will do everything that you guys say,” promised Shah Rukh.

He proceeded to do just that and more.

The crowd would roar in approval whenever Shah Rukh said something, the screaming continuing when his HNY co-stars Sonu Sood and Vivaan Shah or director Farah endorsed the Bolly Badshah’s love for his adopted hometown. “Shah Rukh told me that when you come to Calcutta with him, you witness love like you have never before, and I am witnessing it right now,” Farah said.

“I genuinely feel like a king of the world because of everyone in Calcutta. I was born in Delhi and brought up in Mumbai, but I can tell you, absolutely, unquantifiably, the love that I get in Calcutta I get nowhere else. As long as I am working I want to come back and do something special for Calcutta so please pray for me that I can do so,” Shah Rukh added.

He went on to repeat a dialogue from Happy New Year that he said was closest to his heart and one which students could learn from — “Duniya mein do tarah ke log hote hain, winners and losers, lekin zindagi har loser ko woh ek mowka zaroor deti hai jismein woh winner ban sakte hain.”

While Shah Rukh the non-stop entertainer didn’t come as a surprise, at Xavier’s on Wednesday it was his turn to be entertained by his fans. Ten Xaverians got the opportunity to perform not just for, but with King Khan, Sonu, Vivaan and Farah.

While Moubani Roy Choudhury tried a dialogue from HNY, to which Shah Rukh responded with a “You are breathtaking”, fellow Xaverian Virender Singh sang Indiawaale. But it was when four students chosen to dance with the star took the stage that the fun went up a notch.

“I am switching to the Xavier’s team. I am in Calcutta, I have to be with my city. You guys (Farah, Vivaan and Sonu) can represent HNY,” SRK said, slipping between the Xaverians.

After the group had danced to various songs from HNY, Shah Rukh announced that it was time to groove to something different. “Can we have Lungi dance, please?” he hollered.

The audience went wild, as did everyone on stage.

Shahrukh03KOLKATA31oct2014

When Class VI student of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School Divyansh Agarwal was reported missing in the crowd crush, SRK did his bit in locating him. “Divyansh, your parents are a little worried. Can you come in front of the stage? You can use this as an excuse to come up and see us from up close as well,” Shah Rukh said, prompting the ladies in the audience to call out that they were all “lost”.

SRK immediately flashed a dimpled smile and flipped a thumbs up sign.

While Shah Rukh hugged, danced, sang along and blew kisses at the audience every few minutes, what he didn’t do despite several requests was take off his black tee and show his eight-pack abs.

The audience did get a glimpse of hunk Sonu’s pectorals though, thanks to director Farah’s bullying.

The HNY team was felicitated by Father Felix Raj, principal of St. Xavier’s College, and also cut a cake to celebrate the success of the film.

Each member of the HNY team got a Xaverian T-shirt and a cap.

The best gift, of course, was reserved for the audience: SRK up close and personal.

What makes SRK a winner each time he takes the stage? Tell ttmetro@abpmail.com

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Calcutta / Front Page> Story> Calcutta / by Chandreyee Chatterjee and Pramita Ghosh / Thursday – October 30th, 2014

CSM, Goethe Institut ready for twin treats

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, World Opinion

Kolkata :

The Calcutta School of Music and Max Mueller Bhavan have joined hands to continue the school’s centenary celebrations as well as commemorating iconic composer Richard Strauss, whose 150th birth anniversary fell this year.

CSM will host ‘Bach-A Benediction and Theatre as Music’ — a fundraiser to boost their orchestra facilities on Friday evening at The Oberoi Grand, with Max Mueller Bhavan flying in eminent pianist-scholar Siegfried Mauser and vocalist Amelle Sandmann-Mauser, who will perform with the CSM Chamber Orchestra. “Since this is a fundraiser, there are no tickets but donor cards priced at Rs 750 each. The cards can be picked up from the school till Friday afternoon and also at the venue in the evening,” said Dickoo Nowroji, CSM president.

On Monday, the venue will shift to the Victoria Memorial, where the German pair will perform Beethoven, Wolfgang Rihm and of course, Strauss, among others. “The event is titled ‘Towards Modernity’ as what will be reflected in the concert is that classical music has not only survived for centuries but it’s still dynamic and progressive,” said organizers from the Max Mueller Bhavan. This programme is open to public, they added.

Sanjib Mondal, the resident conductor of the CSM Chamber Orchestra, was busy on Thursday rehearsing for the first time with Mauser. “Despite the time crunch, we are very happy after practicing together. Normally, before major concerts like these, we have many rehearsals but somehow, this time, after only one rehearsal we have become comfortable to each other’s style and pattern. Two more rehearsals will follow on Friday before we hit the stage in the evening,” he said.

“A fun trivia about Strauss is that the opening bars of his composition ‘Thus Spake Zarathustra’, a tone poem inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche’s novel of the same name, was used in the famous movie ‘2001: A Space Odessey’,” said Nowroji. The Oscar-winning film was produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1968.

Apart from being a pianist, Mauser is a professor of musicology, the president of the College of Music and Theatre in Munich and the designated rector of the University Mozarteum in Salzburg. He was also honoured with the German Federal Cross of Merit and the Bavarian Order of Maximilian. His wife Amelie was trained in Barcelona, Rome, London and Munich and she is also and actress in theatre and opera.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / TNN / October 31st, 2014

Old Paulites rally to hills

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

Darjeeling :

St Paul’s School will turn 200 in another nine years. But it is time now for the institution to mark another milestone.

The school may have been raised in Calcutta, but most feel it is only when it moved to the mountains, and Jwalapahar on particular, that the school acquired its halo and high ground. Rather literally.

Some 300 Old Paulites have converged at this favourite tourist destination to celebrate 150 years of their school’s coming to the “Burning Mountain”, a name believed to have been acquired from the explosion of flaming rhododendrons that used to bloom there.

Over the next three days, Paulite Forever, as the celebrations have been christened, will see former students from round the world and as far back as the early fifties reliving their school days and sharing space with the current crop and teachers.

“The Quad”, “Dawkins”, “Lower Field”, “Dorms”, “Prep Hall”… Words that meant the many nooks and corners of boarding life in one of the premier institutes of the country will come alive once more for them.

Men who have moved on to their many distinguished paths will shed all that for school blazers, flannels, grey suits and the many little things that made life at what used to be a boarders-only school. “Several Darjeeling schools have this legacy of the British education system. But, St Paul’s was a little more into the British way than the others,” gushed film distributor and entrepreneur Arijit Dutta shortly after checking into a hotel at Darjeeling on Wednesday evening.

“You see, we looked down upon others from our perch high above Darjeeling town,” joked the 1983 pass-out.

As the first whiff of winter grips this hill town and the heavy woolens come out, the month-long cultural festival on the Mall nears its end and the hotels prepare for off-season discount offers, the Paulite party is set to begin. The nippy air is thick with a sense of anticipation.

“It will be a terrific reunion,” added an Old Paulite.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kolkata / by Arup Chatterjee, TNN / October 30th, 2014