We are in the midst of the third 'heat wave' in West Bengal this summer, and it simply goes on and on and on. The real monsoon, of course, never starts before mid-July, but officially at least we get to know that on the first of June it has arrived in Kerala, so that we can expect its formal arrival in this state in about ten days after that, even if only to grace us with a token shower or two. This time round the monsoon has officially halted somewhere around the Andamans and has been stuck there for the last fortnight, with the Met having no idea when it will finally deign to start moving northwards again. So there is not even hope to sustain us through the gruelling heat. Even the occasional thundershowers that relieved us through May seem to have decided to go on strike...
After two and a half months of working every single day I took a two-day break and made a quick trip to Mukutmanipur with two old boys, Sahnik the newly-minted doctor and Swarnava, on his way to becoming a high-energy physicist (good fiction writer too, God willing). We ate well and slept well, but that is about all that can be said, because it was baking hot from eight in the morning till nearly midnight. My mother - God bless her strength and spirit - made a round trip to Digha without mishap, and she at least enjoyed it thoroughly, the weather by the sea being apparently much better. I don't know whether I should envy her. Given a different roll of the dice, I would have spent the entire summer somewhere lush above 6000 feet.
And now, to add to our woes, our street in particular is in the throes of incessant power outages and voltage fluctuations. An overloaded transformer burst, and we stewed for twelve hours straight, starting from 2 a.m. The replacement was quick, but has not apparently solved the problem fully. Yesterday I shepherded a few seriously-old local residents (the sort of dodderers who still regard me as a young man!) on a deputation to the Station Manager of the WBSEDCL Customer Service Centre. The lady at least heard us out politely, and accepted our written plea to do something urgently and prevent further misery. Let us see whether things improve, and how soon.
Meanwhile, I am soldiering on, and asking readers yet again to suggest things they want me to write about. Right now, I can't think of a thing by myself... as Sukumar Ray wrote long before all this ballyhoo about global warming and climate change began to be heard, 'raja boley brishti naama, noile kichhui milchhe na'!
4 comments:
Good evening sir
I am sikha
Sir, is it correct that this year India will receive less rainfall because of El Nino effect?
Dear Sir,
I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. Since you mentioned Sukumar Ray, I wanted to take a moment to express my deep admiration for your profound understanding and genuine love for Bengali literature, which has resonated with me since my school days.
While I predominantly read books in the English language, I have always made a conscious effort to stay connected to the rich tapestry of Bengali books. Regrettably, accessing a wide range of Bengali books here in the US proves challenging, as they are not readily available outside of select libraries and are often ridiculously expensive to purchase online. It is in this context that I particularly cherished your recitation of Satyajit Ray's 'Septopasher Khide'. Your voice breathed life into the story in an extraordinary manner.
Considering your extensive expertise and deep connection to Bengali literature, I am eager to hear your reflections on works that have left an indelible mark on you. Whether it involves delving into the introspective depths of Tagore's masterpieces, savoring the evocative storytelling of Bibhuti Bhushan, or relishing the wit and charm of Rajsekhar Basu's narratives, I am keen to gain a deeper understanding of the profound influence these literary giants have had on your own intellectual and creative pursuits. Moreover, I would greatly appreciate any recommendations you might have regarding other noteworthy authors, books, or poets deserving of exploration.
Shifting gears slightly, I am also intrigued to hear your perspective on the current AI boom and its implications for various aspects of our lives, including literature and creativity. As artificial intelligence continues to advance at a rapid pace, it raises thought-provoking questions about the future of human expression and the role AI may play in shaping our artistic endeavors. I believe your unique insights and discerning intellect would provide a fascinating lens through which to contemplate this intriguing intersection.
With best wishes,
Arit
ICSE 2009 batch
When the 'experts' can't be sure, who am I to offer opinions, Sikha?
Dear Arit,
Thanks for commenting.
I hardly consider my knowledge of Bengali literature to be 'vast': what is really sad is that the average modern-day 'educated' Bengali's knowledge of his own literature is so poor. Keep reading. The Internet provides lots of resources in Bangla, too, if you search the right way.
As for AI, I am deeply underwhelmed, perhaps because I have been hearing the hoo-ha for much longer than you. I heard about AI painting pictures and making music and beating chess grandmasters twenty years ago, and since then nothing more was heard about it, just as you never again hear about board examination toppers after they have once been feted in the papers for their tremendous 'achievements'. But if you are interested, you might look up my review of the book 'Home Deus' in this blog. As I have written before, I am much more concerned about 'natural' intelligence dropping to animal levels...
Post a Comment