Bengalis love for Paash/Kol Baalish - The Side Pillow!

Be it in a government office or a road trip, a train journey or a flight  Bengalis are known to be “accommodative sleepers”. All they need is a good hefty meal and then a peaceful hour’s rest. But, this nap has a lot pre requisites. So, let me take my readers through how a traditional Bengali bedroom would look. Normally, people use one or two pillows and leg rest, although very rarely. As you walk across a Bengali household, you would notice that the biggest room would be the bedroom and the biggest object would be the bed! We Bengalis just do not sleep or rest we celebrate it and such celebrations require certain requisites. There needs to be two fluffy pillows at the head side and another one at the leg side. Now comes the icing on the cake, let me introduce you to another object which is mandatory for every Bengali bed - The 'Paash Baalish" - or "Kol Baalish" Side Bolster Pillow.

Surprised?... Well, if you are from West Bengal, especially from Kolkata, you shouldn’t. But for those who are not used to experiencing such a sight, for them, this Bolster Side Pillow is no ordinary pillow as far Bengalis are concerned. They are sourced from the best hosiery makers, if it’s made by grandmothers it’s considered to be even more pious and eternal. Bengali’s have a lot of respect for how their bed must look like and most importantly it must be arranged in the best possible manner.  The tradition of Paash Baalish dates back to the British era when the royals used to have big fat “pillows” at all sides. In fact, the more decorated their beds and sitting arrangement would speak about their royalty. This was then passed on to the zamindars who took forward this legacy by ordering designer bolster side pillows.

As time passed on entering into the modern age, Bengali kids born in early 90’s would understand how these side pillows would act like an intoxicating object while sleeping. Saturday and Sunday mornings would never have been so rejoicing had not these objects would be there. Walking down the memory lane, I remember being in my house at Hindustan Park, while my mother would content herself to two pillows, I would on the other hand order for at least four of them along with one of these side pillows which was a must for me. Side pillows also had a nostalgic connect for me because come every winter, I

would see my grandmother neatly knitting away the covers for these side bolster pillows and then she would send them to me. During my stay in the UK, I would specially order my mother to carry two Paash Baalish for me, and although it was difficult to fit in both the pillows, but there was always room for one. Today with so much of stress amongst the young generation, couples are using it so that they can maintain some distance on the bed. 

To some it might sound like it is just an ordinary object but to every Bengali it’s a matter of an emotion! So what are you waiting for just grab your side bolster because... 

HAPPY WEEKENDS 😉

My Tryst with Bengali Food.

During my college days at Heriot Watt University, I along with a few of my friends used to stay in a shared accommodation in Edinburg.  I was quite homesick of the fact that it would be the first time that I would be away from home. But, to make up for this depression I decided to treat myself to some great Bengali food. It was one of the weekdays and also my day off from work and I along with my friends decided to discover Bengali food in Mumbai.  We hired a taxi and in those days that was a luxury, so we decided to share the fare. And, then began my search for Bengali food, which at the end of it died down because I was aghast, shocked and yet again depressed to find out that there was just not one single food joint that served Bengali food. 

 It was October of 2006 and my first Durga Puja in UK. I had decided that I would for sure not have the mess food and the hard truth was that I did not have so much money to go and dine in a restaurant. It was a Sunday and I was yet again into one of those semi depressed moods, when one of my room mates, Sunil pushed me to pally with him out for a brunch followed with some drinks. As we were entering the pub, a lady was handing over pamphlets to a nearby food festival.  I noticed it said “Authentic Indian Cuisines” and I grabbed my friend who was just about to take a bite of his steak and next we found ourselves standing in a ground with a never-ending line of stalls. I thought to myself how am I going to discover this stall until I sensed a whiff of fish curry that some other guests were having. I just asked them directions to the stall they got it from and finally we arrived.

There was a British local cooking Bengali Fish and Chicken Curry. This was it I told to myself that I need to get this person to deliver us food, but how? I struck up a conversation with the chef and we both came to know that we had a common journalist friend. So, with much deliberation, I requested this friend of mine to persuade the chef to provide us a tiffin service. But, the Chef outrightly refused.  Next was I figured out that it was his birthday and reached his house with a bottle of wine, which of course he could not refuse. And the next was I had cooked some Malpua (an authentic Bengali sweet made with jaggery) to bribe him with. And then placed my proposal that we would provide him with the fish and that too cut in pieces, while all he had to do was to cook it for us!  Although it was not the best but at the end of it for me it was soul food.

 My story now moves into 2010. It was raining heavily in London and I was working and also pursuing my higher studies at Kingston University. On usual Sunday afternoons or evenings, we would have these small pot meals in our house which had twelve occupants and luckily all of them were from different countries.  It would be nothing elaborate but just a typical confluence of different meals. And, then my friends just kept calling me and asking me when would they next crash to have this meal again! In fact, one of my very close friends and a very renowned person in the British Theatre called me to say that it’s time that I start this hobby of mine on a commercial front.

For the moment I had shrugged off the idea since it was just not one fine morning you could start off. There was a lot of homework to be done and the first being naming the baby! My love for Bengali food has even been a part of all my travelogues. My wife and I had not travelled out for a very long time and then in the March of 2017 we decided to go to Bangkok for a few days. While the first three days I enjoyed the food culture of the Thai’s starting from Sushis, Yakitoris and Noodles, I slowly started to get withdrawal syndromes towards accessing Bengali food. It was afternoon and we had an early breakfast hence our hunger levels had shot up. I was bent upon finding a Bengali restaurant and I asked our driver cum local guide to help us. After a lot of struggle, he mentioned a place but the only way to go was on foot. After a while, both my wife and I were literally panting to reach to the place, in fact I even sprained my ankle. Although, my wife had got frustrated and irritated with this uncalled adventure of mine, I finally managed to push myself and her spirits to get to a place called, Amaar Bangla Kitchen… Yes! you heard me right, we finally found a place in the heart of a bustling neighbourhood which truly turned out to be place worth its name!

 My work included travelling abroad for shoots, This was such an incident where I had to travel to Wales with a client and family friend as they were shooting for a car.  I had to be there for almost a week.  So, while for the first three days I somehow managed experimenting with Welsh food (and the experience, well the less I say would be better). It was a Saturday afternoon and I proposed to have some Indian food, not pronouncing my dying wish to pounce on Bengali food! We started our journey and yet again I was experiencing my younger days in Dubai as there was no Indian food, forget about Bengali food in miles!

I had almost given up hope and I could well sense the irritation of my colleagues as their hunger pangs were leaping off limits. We were near a sweet shop and I enquired if there were any Indian restaurants nearby when one of the customers in the shop mentioned to check in of the by lanes. Unfortunately, we had to leave the car at a distant and walk and as soon as we entered the lane the first restaurant that was there said Bengal Village, Words will fall less to express the immense glee that showed on my face. Not only did I order almost everything they had on their menu but also took take away packets. Even my client and our local friend was overwhelmed with the food they had!

It was summer in Amsterdam and I along with my friends decided to holiday. Now, the problem with one of my friends is that he cannot stay without nothing but only Bangla food. But, its Amsterdam after all, I said to myself and I was sure that it would not be so bad as my previous experiences. And, it was dinner time as we were scanning places, I was surprised that there were a number of Bengali restaurants including a big community in Amsterdam that called itself ‘Hoichoi’.      

At the end of it while every country would laud about their own cuisine, but for me there is no better love than the love for Bengali food. And as the saying goes, “Shob khabar ek baar, kintu Bangali khabar… Baar Baar” Because, for Bangla food, every Bengali will go to limits that is beyond any one’s imagination!

 

Naari - The Inner Shakti

Travel across the Indian landscape and you can experience the widespread worship of the Goddess in numerous forms starting with Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati and Kali. Women were initially made to believe that their central role is nothing but being a home maker. The men of the family would take the women for granted. As western perspectives came into being women started to enter into the work force, taking up a number of roles. But still in a masculine controlled society, women had not still got their share of respect for their inner qualities. And then came the awakening of a sacred power - Shakti

The traditional concept of women has been given a parallel synonym of Goddess. Their inner qualities are the power that lies within them. But, Shakti, here is not the power of incorporation that creates a divide between conflict and aggression, instead it’s a bond that unites souls, feelings and brings peace. It’s the amalgamation of wisdom and enlightenment which gives refinement and sensitivity. Today, this power is misconstrued and wrongly promoted. While, Shakti is seen as a power that encourages personal self assertion as the prime objective, it also contradicts itself to its actual meaning of building a community, relationship that extends to the world as a single entity.

Shakti is synonymous to Dharma, a power to uphold, support and formulate giving us vitality and making us aware to accomplish our goals and decision- making skills. It’s the power that helps us to unify our individual nature with the Universe, thereby energizing Dharma in the outer world and Yoga within the individual. Contrarily, the inner Shakti has no ideology but moves as a ‘flow of grace’.  Today, being in a democratic society, Shakti works best in a community that encourages like-minded individuals to work together for their self-well- being.

Its time that India take a stand to promote the power of Shakti through education - by educating women, young girls and empowering them with the belief that they too are a part of the community. In India, women is only seen as an object who handles household chores. In this realm of a fast- paced environment they are left behind in the education. Education for women is crucial for them to address the gap between modernism and feminism. Today, women have excelled far better than the masculine gender both professionally and creatively too.

Lets all look towards building a nation that is strongly upheld with feminine powers as Ma Durga and Ma Kali. Because, the day the woman changes the nation will change, since in every aspect of our life whether it be art, culture sports or even politics, the sole identity has been NAARI - The Inner Shakti.