tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653188975343905818.post3996882696447161928..comments2024-03-23T15:12:26.734+05:30Comments on Reinventing memories: I never heard my mother …Santanu Sinha Chaudhurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15062744470522359652noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653188975343905818.post-2955133437741511952011-12-03T07:10:07.123+05:302011-12-03T07:10:07.123+05:30I agree with you, Santanu. These are tiny steps bu...I agree with you, Santanu. These are tiny steps but they're sure and positive ones in the right direction.Courtjesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07957702448731005675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653188975343905818.post-17185839906138986112011-12-02T09:41:00.685+05:302011-12-02T09:41:00.685+05:30Sucharita and Damu,
Thanks for your beautiful com...Sucharita and Damu,<br /><br />Thanks for your beautiful comments. There is nothing much to add to what you have written, but let me jot down a positive note.<br /><br />I have been thinking about what positive social changes I have seen in my lifetime. Not much really, if you leave out the significant improvement in lifestyle of the middle-class.<br /><br />One incontrovertible positive change that has happened is in the status of women in large parts of our country. I love it when I see a young girl openly hugging her boyfriend in public. I love to see girls in spaghetti tops not because of the usual reason, but because it is a sign of the sexual freedom enjoyed by our women today. And the change is not restricted to cities alone. It is not uncommon to read news of underage girls going complaining to police about their being married off.Santanu Sinha Chaudhurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15062744470522359652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653188975343905818.post-22050651266776698832011-11-29T14:55:19.762+05:302011-11-29T14:55:19.762+05:30Santanu, I had spoken briefly on this theme when I...Santanu, I had spoken briefly on this theme when I was asked to address my staff on Women's Day. Nearly half my team are women. They agreed with me that, on that day, apart from celebrating the success of women, we should use the opportunity to recall the millions of geniuses among women across the country, over generations, who would have suffered suffocation at not being able to bring forth their talent and their passion. All of them have gone back to the lap of mother earth, without the world having known their true worth. The world would have been a different place, had we let them bloom.Damunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653188975343905818.post-1096302101132884802011-11-28T23:40:41.580+05:302011-11-28T23:40:41.580+05:30Loved the poem, the pathos, the translation, the t...Loved the poem, the pathos, the translation, the tragedy of silenced woman, and the irony of her son wanting to hear his mother's 'voice', but too late. The 'naphthalene' stings, even as it discovers and disinters the bones of silence.Sucharita Sarkarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802171314546508539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653188975343905818.post-51056321756429028332011-11-28T09:08:48.229+05:302011-11-28T09:08:48.229+05:30Anirban, the Bangla poem begins with "Kakhone...Anirban, the Bangla poem begins with "Kakhone amaar make kono gaan gaite shunini ...". I read it in Shamsur Rahmaner Sreshta Kobita.Santanu Sinha Chaudhurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15062744470522359652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653188975343905818.post-46902548455629386782011-11-28T09:06:56.212+05:302011-11-28T09:06:56.212+05:30Thanks a lot, Anirban and M, it has been great to ...Thanks a lot, Anirban and M, it has been great to read your comments.<br /><br />I am sure almost every person of my generation will think of their own mothers when they read the poem. These few lines beautifully capture the lives of almost all women who lived in our country until recently. The story has changed significantly for many of my daughter's generation, although, as M has rightly pointed out, it continues to be the same for countless others.Santanu Sinha Chaudhurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15062744470522359652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653188975343905818.post-82840957926839621112011-11-28T07:11:47.653+05:302011-11-28T07:11:47.653+05:30Santanu, I can't speak two words of Bengali to...Santanu, I can't speak two words of Bengali to save my hide but your translation is just superb! And the poem is so very touching. Reminded me of my own mother. Why does our society continue to smother the gifts and talents of girls and women?! Such a pity really. Once again Santanu, I must say your translation of Shamsur Rahman's poem is so extraordinary! Shamsur must be smiling with pride.....Courtjesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07957702448731005675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653188975343905818.post-5685371881218160052011-11-26T16:14:59.026+05:302011-11-26T16:14:59.026+05:30Santanuda, I have not read or heard the original o...Santanuda, I have not read or heard the original one but through your translation I could imagine how beautiful it must be. <br /><br />Though your letter might have reached him a week late but I am sure had he been alive, Shamsur Rehman would have approved it with pleasure.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing this with us.Anirban Dasguptahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04847011686718409552noreply@blogger.com