Kumartuli or Kumortuli is located in the northern part of the city of Kolkata . The locality is a traditional habitat of the potters for nearly three hundred years. The potters or the artisans or the artists settled here during the restructuring of the Kolkata colonial region by the British East India Company . Earning a livelihood by making earthen pots and utensils first they gradually shifted to the making of the idols of Gods and Goddesses for various festivals round the year. With increasing demand and quality of their creations over time the artisans became famous and Kumartuli came to be known as the hub of idol makers supplying thousands of idols, particularly of Goddess Durga , to whole of the state of West Bengal and to NRIs of around 90 countries across the globe. At least three months before Durga Puja , the biggest festival of West Bengal and one of the biggest across Eastern India, more than five hundred workshops come alive with hyper activity day and night. Fir...
In an elite social networking site inhabited by most educated liberated and enriched individuals, a hot debate raged on the topic of a celebrity artiste hounded out of India for insulting religious sentiments who recently accepted foreign citizenship. Was it a shame for Indians? 'NO! NO! NO!' shrieked all barring a few hesitant voices. 'You dare insult us? You deserve to be hounded out!' Well, recently a political stalwart was expelled from a national party for writing a book that contained things not acceptable to some. There is no mercy in the largest democracy of the world. All creative souls can no longer afford to express opinions here in any medium that may not please some. Make one mistake and prepare for an exile or get humiliated or even killed. Ideals of a few intolerant groups are cited and followed ecstatically. In the land of Gandhiji tolerance no longer exists. Social networking sites seem to be entirely bereft of any socializing thoughts! SHAME needs to b...