VIEW FROM NO 7 SUDDER STREET GATES,

 

There is always a calmness before the storm The clouds are all darkened as they form Thundering skies echo across the land Untold signs are washed from the sand It becomes all quiet and not a sound is heard You can listen for voices but you hear not a word Then like some magical wonder from above The rain god keep pouring down their love The rain drops keep  falling for you and for me To touch us all and to set us all free The drops come down t with such beauty and grace I lift up my head and let them  touch my face Washing our souls from the hurt that we feel Washing our souls from the pain that is real And when the rain  drops have  finished   Those clouded skies depart to bring out the sun And if you watch closely and look way up high You will see a rainbow of colors appear in the sky Colors of joy that are warm and not cold God's given promise for us to hold CLUELESS NANETTE I LOVE THE RAIN, IT BEAUTIFYS MOTHER EARTH

THE INDIAN BOTANIC GARDENS CALCUTTA

The Botanical Gardens, situated on the west bank of the Hoogly river, is spread over an area of 109 hectares and is home to a wide range of plants. The Botanical Gardens is home to over 12,000 specimens of plants some of which are extremely rare.

The garden was founded in 1786 by Robert Kyd, an army officer in the East India Company with the aim of identifying new plants of commercial value. The tea now grown in the hills of Assam and Darjeeling was originally developed here. Over the years and after several changes in policy the garden became home to several ornamental plants as well. Today the Garden is famous for enormous collections of orchids, bamboos, palms, and plants of the screw pine genus The biggest attraction of the garden is the 200 year old Banyan Tree also claimed to have the second largest canopy in the world with a 330m circumference.

look at the smiling kids, they are smiling because they are in front of a camera, they are not smiling because they are joyful and content.
The city of joy has a long way to go before it  can live up to its name.
they are rag pickers they salvage what is our refuse,what is discarded is their necessity, when I look back at my childhood I am grateful for which family I was born into, but the plight of these kids are no fault of theirs, the promised equality is yet to be seen, I  pray that that some miracle happens and that kids never have to go through what these have gone through, give generously till it hurt's, if not in money go out and feed a few kids, give them  clothes and toys.toys that are stored and  are of no use to you now,your small gifts will bring plenty of smiles and gratitude. Do not just stand and take pictures, although a picture tells a story, make sure it reaches viewers
clueless Nanette 

 

The Hogg Market better known as New Market, is arguably one of Calcutta's best shopping centres. Designed by an East Indian Railway Company architect, it was opened in 1874 and named after the commissioner, Sir Stuart Hogg. Earlier it had a garden with a beautiful fountain & benches for tired shoppers. Today, it continues to be a premier shopping area despite a part of it being incinerated in late 1985. Its red-brick Gothic clock-tower bears testimony to the past grandeur. Linen to cakes, fruits to fish everything is available here at a reasonable price. There are 2000 stalls which are arranged in an order of merchandize. There are rows of stalls dealing with one particular line of goods. Opposite the Tower was Keventers' Milk Dairy on Lindsey Street. As kids we loved their milk drink.

I remember a few like the line of Flower Stalls, Jewellery, shoe shops, Magnolia's Ice Cream Parlour, Nahoom's Cake Shop, D'Gama's Confectionery. Then there were shops selling bread, biscuits, cheese, butter etc. I loved the bandel cheese and the guava cheese, not forgetting the barley sugar sweets and the mazipan sweets, during a shopping break it was puffs and American Ice cream cold drinks at a little shop at the back.
 the midnight ride  to the new market to have kati rolls at  the side of the new market Karco's  road side foodie shop.
most of the cinema halls were around, the Globe the Light house the New Empire and the Elite. New  Market had every thing shopping entertainment and all within walking space.
Christmas the middle of the market was full of chinese shops fill with christmas trees and decorations that was a time of joy and happiness when toy shops and clothe shops must have had good sales

To day there are a lot of changes,  lot of the old shops are no more, D'gsmas is no more, but change is certain, but who want to forget yesteryears, no  not I for sure
clueless nanette
 NAN

FORT WILLIAMS

The Fort William stands solemnly on the Western bank of The Ganga. It stretches from the Western flank of the Red Road. The Battle of Plassey ended in June, 1757. Robert Clive was deeply worried about the British destiny and what lay in store for Calcutta because the erstwhile fragile fort was easily captured by Siraj-ud-daula. Consequently, Clive decided to build a formidable fort to resist enemy onslaughts effectively. On account of their victory in the Battle of Plassey, the British received a whopping 75,00,000 silver coins. After a few days, they received another 4000,000 coins. With this money, started the mammoth task of building the fort. Previously this place was a hamlet named Gobindapur. The local people were evicted from this place after paying a nominal compensation money. The 'Thakur' family had meanwhile abandoned Gobindapur and came to stay at Sutanuti. The construction of the fort was rounded off in 1781. This was renamed Fort William after the erstwhile fort of the same name. The fort was octagonal with three sides facing the river Ganga. Five other sides were towards the Maidan. Ditches surrounded the fort which covered 2½ square miles. They could be filled with river water as and when required. Inside the Fort is the St. Peter's Church which was constructed in 1928. Swimming pool, Boxing stadium, Firing Range and other necessary arrangements are present within the Fort. There is also a provision for ten thousand interns of the Fort. The Fort has huge archways, one of which is known as 'Plassey Gate'. It is said that this is the only Fort in the world from where not a single bullet or cannon-ball has ever been shot.  MY MOM, EVELYN PHYLLIS RYAN USED TO WORK AT FORT WILLIAMS Women's Auxiliary Corps Established 1942. Non-combatant corps providing support services for the Indian Army and Burma Army in World War II. The equivalent of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (A.T.S.) in the UK.

THE RICKSHAW WALLA

The rick Walla
As a kid i loved to travel in a rick, and enjoyed the ride till one day, by brother who had come from abroad paid the rick walla a large some of money ,and I told him he was spoiling the fare structure for us in the future, when he looked at me and said, "he is not a beast of burden he is a human and he deserves to be treated kindly" , I felt a pinch and realized, the truth of it all.  I could not change a system that was there, but I should not put a spoke into his earnings as well. I learned a very small lesson in the dignity of labour and its  value

 

THE HOWRAH BRIDGE

I stood on the Bridge at midnight,

And gazed at the waters below,
And thought of the fanciful dreams that
From the brains of our Councilors flow.

Then I thought of the quick intuition,
Which these schemes had engendered and said,
“Will these schemes ever come to fruition?”
Then I quietly stood on my head.

For I’d looked at the question sideways,
And from both sides of the town,
Taking careful account of the tideways,
But never from upside down.

So I‘ve got a new angle of vision,
As bright and as fresh as wet paint,
Which will take off the general attention?
Away from the New Market Saint

Up my sleeve I’ve another red herring,
“The Scare of the Bidyadhari Silt”,
Which will merrily keep the ball rolling?
Ere The Bridge on the Hooghly is built.

-Diogenes, in the “Englishman”
(Appeared in The Calcutta Municipal Gazette dated 11 th July 1925)