But there was a wealth of fascinating family history before these popular figures made their way into public consciousness and Chandak Sengoopta enlightens us about this in his exhaustive work, The Rays before Satyajit: Creativity and Modernity in Colonial India. There is a marked thrust in focusing on extraordinary women of the times and Satyajit Ray’s mother, widowed early, is described as a woman of sterling qualities. The volume zeroes in on the multi-faceted figure of Upendrakishore, taking a tertiary route to dwell on Dwarkanath Ganguli — a remarkable Brahmo crusader and Upendrakishore’s father-in-law — who worked tirelessly for women’s emancipation. Kankana Basu is a Mumbai-based writer. Over the decades, various family members would find themselves involved in some capacity or the other in the regular publishing of the iconic magazine. The first of two women graduates of Calcutta, the first Indian woman medical practitioner, the first woman lecturer at an Indian medical school and the first Bengali to visit England entirely alone Kadambini’s incredible story in this volume climaxes with her supervising the birth of Sukumar and Suprabha Ray’s baby, who would grow up to be the famous Satyajit Ray.

It is fascinating to note how the inborn love for print technology, fonts, writing, illustrations and children’s fiction kept popping up in every generation of the Rays. The lives of Dwarkanath and the woman he married, Kadambini Basu, entwine constantly and the figure of Kadambini stands out by sheer merit of her personal achievements. Perceiving the same event from different angles (the recurrent mention of the birth of Satyajit Ray under the supervision of Kadambini being a case in point) could be a bit repetitive but by and large the book comes across as nearly flawless. Enlivened by constant social, political and religious commentary and packed with the details of technological evolution in the fields of printing and photography, the book stands out with its impartial and non-judgmental approach. A lengthy introduction gives a detailed synopsis of the book’s contents and cast of characters; the definition of modernity with its multiplicity of meanings makes for a memorable passage. A man of astonishing talents, Upendrakishore is described as a passionate musician, a technological genius, a photography enthusiast and a pioneer in half-tone technology and photomechanical innovations. Spanning many generations and embracing a wide sweep of events that occurred around the time the first stirrings of the swadeshi movement were being felt and much before, the book etches an intricate picture of a crucial period in the nation’s history. A valuable and Wholesale Spring machine price Suppliers scholarly record of Bengal’s awakening, the book is a must-have for every book shelf.The Tagores and the Rays have always evoked interest, the two premier families of Bengal having spawned multiple luminaries over the decades. Firmly debunking the historian’s view of Indian modernity being "western wisdom poured into an oriental void", Sengoopta dives into the heart of Bengal’s checkered history. Combining creativity with domesticity with a rare skill, Suprabha took up a job (unheard of in those days), tutored her son at home and being a talented singer, sang songs composed by Rabindranath Tagore. Sengoopta dwells on the oddity of the Ray family who sidestepped the three most popular professions of the time (law, engineering and medicine), opting to follow off-beat occupations instead. Dwarkanath is remembered as a figure who took a strong stand against such malpractices. Likewise, for most of us, Sukumar Ray will always be associated with the nonsense rhymes of Abol-tabol while his son Satyajit will be synonymous with the Apu trilogy of films and his path breaking forays into the areas of illustration and fonts. The sepia book jacket featuring priceless portraits (designer Pinaki De at his best) is underplayed and captures the zeitgeist of a bygone era perfectly; the picture of a young Satyajit with his mother Suprabha is particularly endearing.

The technical details of halftone printing and the revolutionary methods devised by Upendrakishore, all of which was destined to change the look of magazines, photographs and print, are intricately covered. Think Rabindranath Tagore and the Gitanjali and soul lifting songs of the Bengali bard spring to mind. An illustrator and children’s fiction writer blessed with a distinctive style of writing, Upendrakishore in 1913 founded the immensely popular children’s magazine Sandesh. No luminary or ideology is exalted enough to be above a spot of criticism (the social work done by the Brahmos was immense, writes Sengoopta, and yet they could frequently descend into "narrow-minded puritanism"). An entire section of the book is devoted to the discovery of a native tea plant in Assam, the subsequent rise of tea plantations, the procuring of labour from nearby places and the atrocities committed by the tea planters on the bonded labourers, facts frequently swept under the carpet by historians. The family history begins with Harikishore Ray, a member of the new landed gentry adopting Kamadaranjan Ray, the five year old son of a cousin, and renaming him Upendrakishore Raychaudhuri (1863-1915). A bulk of the volume is reserved for notes at the end of every couple of chapters and though these may frequently break the fluid flow of reading, they make for fascinating reading in themselves. An interesting snippet of information is carried here about how traditional portraits of "Muslim tyranny" tend to overlook the fact that Hindu Kayastha employees adept in both Persian and Sanskrit were very happy to serve the Mughals, often attired in Persianised attire. Such lack of blind adulation on the part of the writer for his celebrated subjects is rare and refreshing. Her published works of fiction include a collection of short stories, Vinegar Sunday, and a novel, Cappuccino Dusk.

Along with densely informative passages about prominent figures like Brajaram, Lokenath and Kalinath (Sukumar Ray’s grandfather) and Saradaranjan Ray (the father of Bengali cricket) we learn how sports blossomed in Bengal in retaliation to the colonists’ disdainful opinion of the Bengali gentleman as being intellectually endowed but physically weak and effete. We are informed that the Rays were originally Debs but received the honorific title of Ray from the Muslim notables. What could have been a mind bogglingly intricate mesh of familial relationships comes across as effortlessly comprehensive under Sengoopta’s competent penmanship. Thus, we are privy to the information that the Rays were Kayastha Bengalis who belonged to the scribal community of administrators, clerks and judicial officials. Meticulous research has gone into putting this vast work of writing together, the book positively creaks under the weight of historical information. Tagore, a family friend, we are informed, took immense pleasure in teaching Suprabha his new songs. Not just for cinephiles, bibliophiles, history buffs, followers of early feminism or the technologically inclined, The Rays before Satyajit offers an immensely enriching read for every kind of reader. One reads with horror how the tea garden coolies were often punished brutally and how one of every four labourer died, their deaths being dismissed by the tea planters as being caused by disease or failure to adjust to climatic conditions.. The rise of the Brahmo movement, its core philosophy, its merits and drawbacks are analysed extensively, along with the eventual breaking up of the sect and the forming of splinter groups. Satyajit Ray’s growing up years are touched upon fleetingly in a book that is dominated almost entirely by his father, grandfather, grand uncles and his neonatal doctor.

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These attacks can be carried out via air raids, airdropping special operation teams or a ground operation. External intelligence is vital to carry out these strikes.Sharif also warned that Pakistan's intent for peaceful neighbourhood should not be mistaken as its weakness, Radio Pakistan reported.The surgical strikes coordinated by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval along with Army chief, were carried out in Bhimber, Hot Spring, Kel and Lipa sectors.These surgical strikes are the first major military action taken by India against Pakistan after the Uri attack in which 18 soldiers were killed as terrorists from Pakistan crossed into an Army camp earlier this month. Almost 20 infiltration attempts have been foiled by Army successfully this year," said Ranbir Singh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pledged that the attack will not go unpunished.According to reports, special commandos of the Indian Army entered 3 kms inside Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir for the operation and total six terror camps were demolished."Infiltration of terrorists across Line of Control has been a matter of serious concern.President, Vice President, Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Governor and J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti were briefed on the surgical strikes by the Indian Army.Sharif paid rich tributes to jawans who have been killed in the firing.

It also prevents escalation to a full blown Wholesale Machine for making spring Manufacturers war."Pakistan is guilty of increasing infiltration by terrorists along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and even the recently captured terrorists have confessed to their training and arming in Pakistan.Islamabad: Strongly condemning "unprovoked and naked aggression" by India along the LoC, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said Pakistan's armed forces are fully capable of defending the territorial integrity of the country.Surgical strike is a swift attack undertaken by military on specific target which aims to neutralise them while ensuring minimum collateral damage to the surrounding areas and civilians, and return to primary positions.He strongly condemned the "unprovoked and naked aggression of Indian forces along the Line of Control".Indian Army carried out ‘surgical strikes’ to prevent Pak terrorists who were positioned at launch pads along the Line of Control.Indian Army carried out ‘surgical strikes’ on Wednesday to prevent Pakistani terrorists who were ‘positioned at launch pads along the Line of Control with aim to carry out strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and other metros’, the Army said on Thursday.

All three Indian armed forces have their separate special ops teams.He said Pakistan can thwart any "evil design" to undermine its sovereignty.He further said that India’s intention is to maintain peace and tranquillity in the region but certainly can’t allow terrorists to operate along LoC and we expect the Pakistan army to cooperate with us with a view to erase menace of terrorism.DGMO said there has been continuing and increasing infiltration across the Line of Control and the same is reflected in attacks in Poonch and Uri. It requires detailed and extensive planning to carry out surgical strikes and achieve the objective. The Global positioning systems (GPS) recovered from them established their Pakistani connect," said Lt General Ranbir Singh, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO). Meanwhile the Pakistan military said two of its soldiers were killed in ceasefire violation by India along the LoC today.

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"This book is not for those looking for an in-depth account or analysis of Kabul or Afghanistan. This was a period of great hope in Afghanistan and Anand came across many Afghans on the streets, at shopping malls and restaurants. That perception and much more were to change over the years. "Fridays and Saturdays were reserved for water colouring, trips to Chicken Street, and lunch or dinner with friends. For instance, a section on the psychological trauma, caused by continual violence, raises questions that transcend the situation in Afghanistan and reminds us of that country's unending tribulations.Kabul Blogs: My Days in the Life of Afghanistan is Anita Anand’s personal account of the many beautiful moments she witnessed in the strife-torn country during her visits between 2006 and 2015.As she ends the book, Anand acknowledges the generosity of the spirit of the average Afghan, unbroken by the decades of continuous violence: "The Afghans I met — in shops, markets and streets and the support staff of the organisations I was contracted by — all shared their stories, wit, and down-to-earth pragmatism, which were refreshing and heart-warming. She quickly rediscovered the city, its bazaars and cafes, and started the blog that would eventually become a book. The book is a collection of blog posts written by the author during her many visits to Kabul between 2006 and 2015. This is what makes it indispensable for those looking for a feel of the place.The author first visited Kabul in 2004 on a short UN assignment. "

As I was enjoying my semi-idyllic life, the human security situation in Afghanistan was precarious."But already the shadow of a renewed insurgency was falling over the country. When the author left the country in mid-2006, majority of Afghans (nearly 54 per cent) was still hopeful about the future. Each spring fightings resurface as does suicide bombings and assassinations. The word of mouth was generally the best way to learn about distant lands, their people and life styles. Yet her narrative comes the closest to describing what it feels like to be in Kabul. She left Kabul feeling excited about the possibilities of a new Afghanistan."A sad prognosis perhaps, but the country has shown no sign of escaping its violent past. For, that is something only a human narrator can convey. It is amazing that Anand manages to penetrate beyond all that and reach down to the reservoir of goodwill still latent in thousands of Afghans clinging onto a semblance of normal life in their country.In days not so long ago, a traveller would find China Spring machine supplier Price a ready audience at any gathering. Her collection of blogs does not provide a comprehensive picture of the city or the country. Rather, Anita Anand's book is a personal window into a sad but curious city so close to the hearts of many Indians.The writer is an independent security and political risk consultant. Sometimes, there were picnics and day trips out of Kabul. She got familiar with some of the best-known parts of the city, including the Flower Street and Chicken Street.

While local and international news media focused on the insecurity and violence in the country, life went on as usual for most people in Kabul," Anand recalls.Her perspective is from the point of view of an expatriate and not a local."Anand goes on to quote Peter Bouckaert, Emergencies Director at Human Rights Watch, who has worked in war zones across the world: "People get used to using violence to settle their disputes, and it is difficult to find a way to unlearn those behaviours You end up with a warlord economy which is incredibly hard to break and which does lead to a constant renewal of conflict — as it will in Afghanistan.Kabul Blogs: My Days in the Life of Afghanistan is full of little insights that nudge the mind towards new notions. Today’s Afghanistan has experienced almost four decades of violence, leading to a huge accumulation of grief, trauma and anger.The book talks about everyday life in that conflict-prone city, about the things she saw, the people she met and the changes apparent over the years she visited Kabul. The insurgency was intensifying, especially in the southern provinces, which were the most volatile in the country and considered to be highly dangerous. Anand returned to the country in 2006 on a three-month assignment to train Afghan journalists. Today, we have a surfeit of information on every nook and corner of the world, but we can rarely ask what a place feels like. There was very little TV watching and no newspapers — and I didn’t miss it.Anita Anand’s book on Kabul is interesting because it is an unpretentious chronicle of her experiences in that city."I have often wondered how Afghans have coped with the endless cycle of violence and uncertainty", Anand writes, adding, "Anna Badkhen of the Pulitzer Centre, writes that in a war-wrecked country like Afghanistan, the trademark symptoms of individual war trauma — depression, anguish, and hyper aggression — leave whole populations envenomed with sectarian and ethnic mistrust, and with the belief that only violence can end violence.

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Till next time- Keep it sharp!Really long sleevesBelled or otherwise elongated sleeves accentuate and stretch the silhouette to look more extended. It’s always a confusion when layering evening wear or clubwear with out ruining the look of the garment."A China CNC spring forming machine Price fashion aficionado, film maker, script writer, stylist and marketing junkie.It’s an inexplicable quality (je ne sais quoi), an X-factor that makes your wardrobe stand out. So let your imagination run wild and you will make the right impactWhat makes an outfit chic, I think is that little touch of drama, eccentricity, indulgence, restraint; what I choose to call the "je ne sais quoi" factor. It definitely my pick for a must-have as we inch closer to fall.

Adding layer and embellishing the silhouette capeletes are quite on trend this season.Every year that goes by, we see these little trends emerge in fashion. A few little additions make a real difference to an ensemble and add a whole new dimension to a wardrobe. Whether on dresses or tops; Spring flirty fashion or Fall muted layers-the long sleeved look seems to cut across casual, urban chic, work wear and couture in one clean stroke.One sleeve topsIt’s that point where we couldn’t decide whether we wanted to have sleeves or not and decided go for gold — take it all! Asymmetric design at its best, this style is sharp enough to be chic and eccentric enough to have its own personality.CapeletsFor those days or evenings when you need the littlest of cover-ups. Capelets seem to fill this gap quite easily adding more to a look than taking away from it. I hope you find my little list of Je ne sais quoi as definitive as I have. We’ve seen the off shoulders, asymmetric design influnces doing the rounds since the 80s, this season these elements are painted a shade 2016. Inspired from varied spaces that cover Japanese kimonos and metallic minimal architecture, these trends find their way into the world of pret.. Surprisingly enough, a few of these really do "go out on a limb.This season there’s a whole lot of eccentricity thrown in with structured silhouettes and playful overtures. Blending with all the go-to trends of the season monochrome, peasant bourgeoisie, pinstripes, renaissance influences, etc. The writer indulges in the latest fashion and currently drives marketing for youth fashion brands in Indus League — a division of FLF. An element showcased by many designers of the New York and Paris runway, this trend has comfortably found its way into prêt lines across the board. Here my little list of "Je ne sais quoi"; that stick out as eccentric and aesthetic combined to deliver a little bit drama but whole boat of style.

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